It's another case of a disappearing family. The first immigrant family is fairly well documented, the next generation not so much, and this one? Well, let's just say the challenges go way beyond my available time. Some of the children are relatively easy to learn about, some seem to have gone into a deep, dark hole somewhere, and some have been so thoroughly mixed up with someone else of the same name that I don't know if the truth can ever be determined. And again, there are many different spellings for the last name. Most of the children used the last name Reed, but they may have been born as a Reith or Reidt, making it even more interesting. But here we go...
Michael was born in Tulpehocken, Berks County, Pennsylvania in 1732, a son of Johann Caspar and Anna Margaretha Barth (or Bart) Reith. He married Maria Catherina Haag, daughter of Johann George and Maria Apolonia Dieter Haag. Michael was a private in the Revolutionary War, mostly in 1777, and died in 1832 in Tulpehocken, Berks, Pa. Michael and Maria Catherina had at least nine children together. (I have gathered this information mostly from Wikitree, Ancestry and FamilySearch, and have struggled to find any documentation for some of this post, so I am very open to corrections and additions.
Michael was born in 1759 and lived long enough to have several children, but I haven't found a reliable death date or location for him. He married Anna Elisabeth Braun, the daughter of Philip and Anna Barbara (Karger or Schaeffer?) Braun. Their children are John Jacob, Maria Catherina, Daniel, John Adam, Maria Barbara, Anna Marie, Samuel, Elizabeth and Johannes. (I think I have eliminated several other names as spouses, but if I'm wrong, I think that Anna Elisabeth is the mother of the children.)
Daniel was born in 1761 and I know nothing more about him. I have an indicated death date of 1850, but with no location and no intervening information the 1850 date could belong to any of several other Daniel Reeds, all across the country.
Maria Magdalena was born in 1763 and died in 1820 in Upper Mahoney, Northumberland County, Pa. She married John Haag, who may or may not be related to Maria Catherina above. I have not found a record of children for this couple.
Sally Ann may also have been born about 1763. She died in 1826 in Lincoln County, Kentucky. She married George Gabbert, the son of Mathias and Christina Bumgardner Gabbert. Their children are Goerge, Jacob, Thomas, Elizabeth known as Betsy, James, William, Michael, Sally, Nancy, and Rachel.
Benjamin was born in 1765 and apparently died in 1832 in Jefferson County, Ohio. He married Jemima Edgington, the daughter of George and Margaret Broome Edgjington. Their children are Lydia, Elizabeth, Agnes (known as Nancy), Margaret, Sarah, John, Drusilla, Hannah, George and James. Some sites say that this Benjamin fought at Kings' Mountain in the Revolutionary War, but I'm not convinced about that.
Catherine Elisabeth was born in 1769. She married John Michael Lindenmuth, not further identified. Their children are Maria, Katherine (more likely Catherine), Esther, Michael, Jacob, Lydia, and William. It is possible that John Michael's parents are John Michael and Anna Geschwindt Lindenmuth, or that there is some relationship between them, as that older couple is also located in Berks County, Pa.
Maria Elizabeth was born in 1774. She may have died in 1775, but I'm not certain of that. I have no further information at this time.
George Adam was born in 1772 and died in 1825, probably in Stark County, Ohio. He married Magdalena Mountz, the daughter of Johann George and Maria Elizabeth Schell Mountz. I've located just two children for this couple, Ann Maria and Catherine. However, in Magdalena's estate records in Stark County, Elizabeth, Susana, Michael, Margaret, and John Reed all bought personal property from the estate. These may very well be children or other relatives of George and Magdalena. I hope to have more information about this family before I write my next blog post!
Finally, there is Anna Margaretha, born in 1777 and died in 1851 in Loysville, Perry County, Pa. She married George Loy, the son of Michael and Mara Margaretha Lambert Loy. Their children are Elizabeth, Sarah, Jacob, George, Michael, Ann, Mary, John, and Margaret.
This is a very rough, likely incomplete and riddled with errors, account of Michael and Catherine's family. Likely there is military service involved here that I didn't locate, perhaps in the battles of the 1790s with the indigenous peoples, or in the War of 1812. Regardless of whether there was military service, the children in this family lived through the Revolutionary War and the fascinating beginnings of our country, and, for some, into the middle of the 19th century. They all contributed to making our country what it is today, and for that, I am grateful.