Marilyn M Fair , mfair@kc.rr.com
Reed Family of Green Co. Ky. James M. Reed (possibly James Matthew or James Madison).
James M. Reed was b.ca 1813-16 in Ky. He married 1. Nelly Cravatt, or Gravatt, daughter of ? and Nancy Cravatt., in 1832 in Green Co. Ky…..2. Ellen ? possibly by 1842 in Green Co. Ky., 3. Sarah M. Hutchison 13-Oct.-1853 by in Green Co. Ky. note….I have listed all this information because at this time it is all logical but not proven by documentation except for the US Census listings.
First let’s start with a will found in Green Co. Ky. Will Book 3, pg.82-84 dated April 1845.
Will of Phillip Read…..My real estate and personal property goes to my wife, Nancy
During her lifetime. Note…..Marriage in Green Co. Ky. Marriage Book pg.51 Phillip Reed m. Nancy Morris 7/April/1825…..will continues, or widowhood. If she marries, she gets 1/3 during her lifetime, then it goes to my children, Thomas M Read, Elizabeth Overstreet note….Green Co. Marriages Book 1836-61 Elizabeth Reed m. James W. Overstreet 7/Jan./1845, will continues, James Read, Henry Read and Philip Milton Read. Exec., my wife, Nancy Read and my friend Thomas Waring. Signed Philip Read, witnesses, R.Robinson, George Pickeral. Alteration made on 23/April/1845…James W. Overstreet gets a Negro boy named Tom, about 9yrs. old , at the decease of P.Read. signed Philip Read, witnesses Jesse Morris, John W. Love, Faris Bennett. ………Produced 21/July/, proven by R.Robinson and George Pickeral, and codicel proven by Jesse Morrris and Farris Bennett, recorded 31/July/1845 by John Barret. (marriage in Green Co. Phillip Reed & Nancy Morris,7/April/1825, she could not be the mother of my James Madison Reed). So if this is James M. Reed’s father, he was married before Ms. Morris), So if not the father, he could be a brother of my James M. Reed.)
The above will shows that Philip Reed and Nancy Morris Reed had the following children…..Thomas M., Elizabeth (who married James W. Overstreet), Henry, James, and Philip Milton. It also shows that Philip Reed Sr. died between April and July 1845.
Marriages in Green Co. Ky. all in Green Co. Books and online at US GenWeb .
Elizabeth Reed married James W. Overstreet, 7/Jan./1845
Nelly Cravatt married James Madison Reed 8/Aug./1832
E.J. Reed and B.M. Smith made bond 1860 Green Co.Ky. ,witness James Reed.
Jane Reed and James Salsman married in Green Co. Ky. 1860, witnesses Elisha Lane
And B.M. Smith.(this Jane Reed may be the sister of Nancy Mary Reed who married Elisha Lane, she may be the same Mary J. Reed still living with her father in the 1860 census , a 24 yr. Old female, and probably the daughter of Nellie Cravatt Reed.)
James Reed married Sarah Hutcheson 13/Oct./1853
So we have at least two marriages of James Reed on record. 1. to Nelly Cravatt in 1832 and 2. to Sarah Hutcheson in 1853.
1840 Census Green co. Ky. southern district, #4 left, line 2, image 25 at Ancestor.com.
James M. Reed ,farmer, total of 5 in house. No wife. Continue next page…….
3males under 5yrs. 1 male 20-30 and 1 female 5-10.
Note….I believe this is showing that James M Reed and Nelly Cravatt had at least 4 children and that the female 5-10 is Nancy Mary Reed who married Elisha Lane, and that Nelly Cravatt Reed had passed away sometime before this census was taken.
1850 Green Co. Ky. census, Dist.1, pg.100B, fam. #305, dwell.#305, line 13, image #44 at Ancestry.com.
Mat Read age 37, farmer, b.Green Co. Ky. , white
Ellen Read age 36, white b. Barren Co. Ky.
Mary Jane Read age 16 white, b.Green Co. Ky.
Joseph H. or N. Read, age 14, white, b. Green Co. Ky.
William Read, age 12, white b. Green Co. Ky.
James D. Read, age 10, white b. Green Co. Ky.
Elizabeth Read, age 8, white b. Green Co. Ky.
Berry Read, age 6, white b.Green Co. Ky.
John H. or N. , age 4, white b. Green Co. Ky.
Martha A., age 2, white b. Green Co. Ky.
Note…..By analyzing this census you can see that if this is indeed our James M. Reed, then he would have been married to this Ellen by 1842 when Elizabeth Read was born, and that the first 4 children would have been the children of Nelly Cravatt Reed. What is puzzeling is the oldest child being a Mary Jane age 16. Was she the female age 5-10 in the 1840 census? (instead of the female 5-10 being Nancy Mary Reed). If so, where was Nancy Mary Reed dau. Of Nelly, in 1840? So there is a possibility that this is not our James M. Reed, but I think it is more likely that it is with some sort of error on the 1840 census that did not include another female who would have 5-10. This information remains to be proven.
1860 Green Co. Ky. Census Dist.2, Greensburg, pgs.2 and 3, family #15, dwell.#15, line 36, image #2 at Ancestor.com.
James M. Reed, age 47, white, b.Ky. ,laborer
Sarah M. Reed, age 34, white , b.VA (Sarah M. Hutcheson)
Mary Jane Reed, age 24, white, b.Ky
William A. Reed, age 22, white ,b.Ky.
James D. Reed, age 20, white , b.Ky.
Elizabeth Reed, age 18, white, b.Ky.
Berry Reed, age 16, white , b.Ky.
John Reed, age 14, white, b. Ky.
Martha A. Reed, age 12, white, b.Ky.
Ermine Reed, age 10, white b. Ky.
Sarah E. Reed, age 3, white b. Ky.
David M. Reed, age 5/12 , white, b.Ky.
Note….In analyzing this census it certainly appears to prove that the 1850 census of Mat Read is the same person as this James M. Reed. It also shows that the female Sarah E. would have been the child of Sarah M. Hutcheson and James M. Reed. Leaving Ermine who does not appear on the 1850 census to also be the child of Ellen Read and Mat Read with Ellen passing away before his marriage to Sarah Hutcheson in 1853.
1870 Green Co. Ky. Census precinct #1, pg. 416 right, line 22, family #53, dwell. # 51, image # 31 at Ancestor.com.
Reed, James M. age 60, farmer, white, b. Ky.
“ , Sarah M. age 40, white, b. Ky.
“ , Ermine age 18, white , b. Ky.
“ , David M. age 9, white, b. Ky
“ , Benjamin P. age 5, white, b. Ky.
Note….This is definitely the same James M Reed as the one in 1860.
Have not found James M Reed in 1880.
So, as you can see, James M. Reed may have been married at least 3 times, 1.Nelly Cravatt, 2. Ellen ?, and 3. Sarah Hutcheson. We can see that is he was married to the Ellen (and looks like it to me , ) he would have been the father of all these children.
Hope this is not too confusing, but it is all pretty logical, but remains to prove.
Compiled by Marilyn M. Fair 2004
Note……..
There was also a Philip Reed located in Adair Co. Ky. Some confusion exist because of this, however, the Adair Co. Philip Reed was born in Pennsylvania and also had a son named James M. Reed who was born 1816 in Adair Co. My James M. Reed was born 1813 in Green Co. Ky. The Philip Reed of Adair Co. was married to a Mary Scott and had the following children…..Sally Jane, Emanuel, Hannah, Nancy b.1805 , Andrew, Amos K., Elizabeth, Matilda J. Willis Boone, Minerva, and Phemira. All the children before Andrew were born in Virginia. This is just not my family.
After 1870, James M. Reed cannot be found, however either he and his whole family or just his last wife, Sarah Hutchison, and the youngest children moved to Illinois by 1880.
James M. Reed either died in Ky. before she moved or he died in Illinois between 1870 and 1880, Sarah is listed as a widow in the 1880 census. Of Scott Co. Illinois. Two of the children can be found in 1900 Scott Co. Illinois census and Sarah cannot be found in 1900.
1880 Scott Co. Illinois census, Exeter, Dist.240, pg.2B, dwell.15, image #2 at ancestry.com.
Reed, Sarah…..55…white…b.Va…Fat.b.VA…Mot.b.VA…..widow
Reed, David M..20…white…b.Ky…Fat.b.Ky…Mot.b.VA…..son….single
Reed, Ben P…...17…white…b.Ky…Fat.b.Ky…Mot.b.VA…..son….single
Miner ?, Loucinda…57…white..b.Ky…Fat.b.VA…Mot.b.TN…boarder..wash woman
Miner, Clara E……..14…white..b.ILL..Fat.b.Ohio…Mot.b.Ky…dau. of above woman
Note…I would think that Sarah Hutchison Reed died between 1880 and 1900.