Posted 10/14/11  Surnames Reed, Alexander

I'm looking for any information on my ancestor Benjamin Franklin Reed.  He was the father of William T Reed and grandfather of Ezeziel Thomas Reed. He would have been born sometime between 1840-1860. I believe him to be the son of Thomas Reed 3rd Sgt in the Confederate Army Company B 4th Calvary out of Lexington. Thomas Reed was married to Lutitia F. (Vanarden) Alexander. I just can't seem to find any verification of this.  Laura Moore

 

Laura Moore: You've no doubt searched Ancestry.com thoroughly already and dismissed what I found based on your knowledge of the family's oral history. However, I did run across a Benjamin F. Reed in nearby Grant County in the 1850 census. His father would appear to be Nathan W. Reed.  Given his age, Benjamin, himself, could have fought in the Civil War for the Confederacy as many Owen County men did. Just suggesting that you might be going back a generation too far ... that it could be Ezekial Thomas' grandfather, rather than his g-grandfather, who fought.

From the 1850 census:
Benjamin F Reed
Age:    17
Birth Year:     abt 1833
Birthplace:     Kentucky
Home in 1850:   Grant, Kentucky
Gender: Male
Family Number:  317
Household Members:
Name    Age
Nathan W Reed   49
Susan Reed      53
James F Reed    19
Benjamin F Reed 17
Arminta Reed    13
Dandridge C Reed        12
Eliza Ingram    24

And I find this same Benjamin F. Reed in 1880 census, but this time in Lusby Mill precinct in Owen County. A 20 year old son named William Reed is listed in the household.
Ben F. Reed
Age:    47
Birth Year:     abt 1833
Birthplace:     Kentucky
Home in 1880:   Lusbys Mill, Owen, Kentucky
Race:   White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House:      Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name:  Susin Reed
Father's Name:  Nathian Reed
Father's Birthplace:    Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace:    Kentucky
Neighbors:      View others on page
Occupation:     Farmer
Cannot read/write:


View image
Household Members:
Name    Age
Ben F. Reed     47
Susin Reed      50
Joseph Reed     22
William Reed    20
Illian Reed     18
Mary L. Reed    15
Cidney Reed     13
Malisia Reed    10
Nathian Reed

William Thomas Reed - according to Dr. James Bryant's book Mountain Island: The Settlers and their Churches ... says that William Thomas Reed was baptized ca. 1880 at the Pleasant View Baptist Church which was located at Natlee;  was Sunday School Superintendent 1905; dismissed 1920 to New Columbus Baptist Church.

Contributed by: Georgia Green Stamper