Reed Family Papers, MS 126, MS 127: Folders 1-11, MS Size C

Reed Family Papers, 1806-1894 MS 126, MS 127: Folders 1- 11, MS Size C Introduction The Reed Family papers consist of correspondence between Hezekiah...
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Reed Family Papers, 1806-1894 MS 126, MS 127: Folders 1- 11, MS Size C

Introduction The Reed Family papers consist of correspondence between Hezekiah Hutchins Reed (1795-1856), his wife Martha Pitkin Barnard Reed (1800-1846), and their five daughters of Montpelier, Vermont. Other correspondents include Hezekiah's second wife Amanda G. Lamb Reed (1806-1857), and the Barnard Family (Martha Barnard Reed's siblings), 1806-1822. The collection spans the period 1806 to 1894 and is housed in two archival flip to boxes, and one oversize folder. It consumes one linear foot of shelf space. Provenance The Reed Family papers were donated to the Vermont Historical Society by Paul Page Austin, Jr. (1891-1980) of San Francisco, California, in 1968. Paul Austin, Jr. was the son of Gertrude Reed May (1855-1934) and Paul Austin, the grandson of Eliza Spalding Reed (1830-1911) and Alpha C. May, and the great-grandson of Hezekiah and Martha Reed. Biographical Note Hezekiah Hutchins Reed was born on May 21, 1795, in Hamstead, N.H., the son of Patty Hutchins (1770-1857) and Thomas Reed (1766-1839). Patty and Thomas Reed subsequently moved their family to Enfield, N.H., and then settled in Montpelier, Vermont, in 1804. Hezekiah spent the remainder of his childhood in Montpelier, was admitted to the bar in 1819, and went into partnership with his brother Thomas Reed. The two brothers became successful land speculators in Vermont and western states, and had a number of other successful investments. Hezekiah was a member of the Council of Censors in 1841, and a state representative from Montpelier from 1851-1852. He was president of the Vermont Bank from 1849-1856. Hezekiah Reed and Martha Barnard were married on September 21, 1825, in Montpelier, and they had five daughters. Hezekiah was often away on business trips in the mid-west and as far away as Louisiana, and wrote profusely to his wife and daughters. He was a strong advocate of the education of youth, particularly the education of his daughters. The Reed family had a school house built in their yard, where the daughters were taught as young girls. In about 1837, Hezekiah Reed brought his family to see the Shaker village in Enfield, N.H., which he was familiar with as a boy. As the daughters grew older, they were sent away to study. Hezekiah Reed died June 15, 1856, of "inflammation of the lungs." Martha Pitkin Barnard Reed (Ma) was born in 1800 in Wethersfield, Connecticut, the daughter of Dr. Samuel and Mehitable Barnard. She moved with her family to Mamakating, New York, in about 1809. She came to Montpelier to live with her widowed brother John Barnard (1791-1823) and his son John Hinckley Barnard (c. 18211823) in about 1821. When Martha came to Montpelier, "she had very pretty clothes, handsomely carved high topped combs of shell and pretty gloves and large capes of lace Vermont Historical Society • Barre 05641-4209

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and embroidered on the edge which were called Van Dykes.” The year after marrying Hezekiah in 1825, they had their first daughter, Mary, and four others followed. Martha was a literate women concerned with the physical and spiritual health of her family. The family attended the First Congregational Church (the Brick Church, later Bethany Church) in Montpelier. She suffered from ill health for years before dying of consumption September 15, 1846. Amanda Lamb Reed (1806-1857) (Mother) was Hezekiah Reed's second wife. She was first married to Center Lamb, who died in 1842. Amanda Lamb and Hezekiah Reed were married in 1848. Amanda and Center Lamb had a son, James Center Lamb (1836-1869), who lived with the Reed family for a while. Mary Bowland Reed (1826-1859), the eldest daughter of Hezekiah and Martha Reed, was born in Montpelier in 1826. She attended the Yonkers Female Seminary, Miss Dwight's Gothic Seminary in Northampton, Massachusetts, and Troy Female Seminary, graduating in 1846. She married the Professor and Reverend Nathaniel George Clark in 1854. "She was a woman of rare intellectual and social gifts and of high culture; of a Christian faith too…" ("Memorial of the Rev. Nathaniel G. Clark") During most of her married years, her health was poor, and she sought milder climates to improve her health including the south of France and Florida, where she died in 1859. Cornelia Agnes Reed (1828-1847) was the second daughter. She attended Miss Dwight's Gothic Seminary in Northampton, Massachusetts, and Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary (1845-1846). She wrote lively letters to her family and was quite possibly her father's favorite--Hezekiah's letters to her were often addressed to "my dear dark eyed Cornelia." She was the first daughter to die (probably of consumption), after lingering ill health, in 1847. Emily Doane Reed (1830-1886), and her twin sister Eliza Spalding Reed (18301911), were born in Montpelier in 1830. They both attended St. Johnsbury Academy, Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary (1846-1848), and graduated from Troy Female Seminary in 1849. Emily Reed married Charles W. Willard (1827-1880) in 1855. They had two sons and two daughters. Charles W. Willard, a lawyer, served as Vermont's Secretary of State from 1855-1857, and was a U.S. Representative from 1869 to 1875. They spent most of their married life in Montpelier, though they lived in Washington, D.C. while he was a Representative. Emily Reed Willard died days after an operation in Boston of "Paral of lungs" in 1886. Eliza Spalding Reed (1830-1911) married Alpha Child May in 1853. They had three daughters, and made their home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Alpha May, a lawyer, served as County Judge for a number of years. Eliza, who out-lived all her siblings, died in 1911. Gertrude Huyck Reed (1833-1854) was the youngest daughter. She attended Bradford Academy, Yonkers Female Seminary, and Troy Female Seminary (1848-1850). She died (probably of consumption) in 1854. Vermont Historical Society • Barre 05641-4209

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John Barnard (1791-1823), was Martha Barnard Reed's brother. He was born in Wethersfield, Connecticut, and moved to Montpelier, Vermont, circa 1806 to clerk in a store for James H. Langdon. In 1812, he became partners with Langdon. He married Fanny Hinckley, circa 1820, and they had a son, John Hinckley Barnard. Fanny died March 6, 1821, and Martha Barnard (Reed) moved from Mamakating, New York, to Montpelier to become part of her brother's household. John Hinckley Barnard died May 12, 1823, and John Barnard died May 23, 1823. Lieutenant Sylvester Barnard (1790-1812), was Martha Reed's other brother. (She had three sisters and two brothers). Sylvester moved to Windsor, Vermont, circa 1806, to clerk in a store. He died March 13, 1812. Nancy Barnard (Royce) (1787-1834) was Martha Reed's oldest sibling. Nancy moved with her parents and sisters from Wethersfield, Connecticut, to Mamakating, New York, in about 1809. She married Dr. Timothy Royce in 1820. She moved to Montpelier sometime after her husband’s death in 1828, and died in Montpelier December 7, 1834. Scope and Content The Reed Family papers consist of correspondence between Hezekiah Hutchins Reed (1795-1856), his wife Martha Pitkin Barnard Reed (1800-1846), and their five daughters Mary Bowland Reed (1826-1859), Cornelia Agnes Reed (1828-1847), Emily Doane Reed (1830-1886), Eliza Spalding Reed (1830-1911), and Gertrude Huyck Reed (1833-1854) of Montpelier, Vermont. The papers give an intimate glimpse into the lives of a well-to-do Montpelier family in the early to mid 19th Century. Their lives and experiences might be considered a microcosm of the society of which they were a part. There are a number of letters from Hezekiah Reed, primarily to his wife Martha, in the 1830s when the children were young. The letters were written during his business trips to Portland, Maine; Chicago and Quincy, Illinois; Little Rock, Arkansas; Vicksburg [?Michigan?]; New Orleans, etc. He wrote often of his affection for his family and his concern for the education of his daughters. He gave advice about the running of the "family school--to prevent the great waste of time which is consumed in common schools". The letters rarely concern his business dealings. In an April 1836 letter written to "my lovely black eyed Cornelia", Hezekiah described his encounter with Indians in Michigan. Few letters written by Martha survive, though there are some. There are copious letters written in the 1840s between family members in Montpelier and the Reed daughters at Yonkers Female Seminary, Miss Dwight's Gothic Seminary in Northampton, Massachusetts, Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary, and the Troy Female Seminary, as well as letters from Hezekiah Reed on his business trips. The letters from Montpelier give news about family, neighbors and friends, as well as descriptions of Election Day, various fairs, and other current events. The letters from school concern studies, health, friends, clothes and more. A May 1842 letter from Hezekiah (in New York City) to Eliza and Emily reported that a doctor removed a tumor from their "Ma's breast". In 1844, Mary wrote her father "Don't send the twins to Northampton…the girls are rude and not refined." There is at least one letter (September 1844) from Mary Lyon, Vermont Historical Society • Barre 05641-4209

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the founder of Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, to Hezekiah Reed. In 1845, there are a number of lively letters from Cornelia (at Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary) about school life to various family members. An October 1845 letter from Hezekiah to Cornelia reports that her mother was "still afflicted with pain in her side and finds relief only in the preparation of opium." An October 1845 letter from Mary related her conversation with Miss Emma Willard (founder of the Troy Female Seminary) about her studies. In April, 1846, Hezekiah beckoned his daughters to come home, because their mother's health was failing. Martha Reed died of consumption September 15, 1846. In the fall of 1846, Hezekiah related his thoughts about the expulsion of Mr. John Gridley, pastor of the first Congregational Church. An October 22, 1846, letter from Gertrude in Montpelier to the twins in South Hadley describes Election Day and the death of a legislator. Cornelia had "disease of her lungs." In a January 3, 1847, letter to Cornelia at Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary, Hezekiah instructed Cornelia to return home immediately out of concern for her health and gave detailed instructions on how to best travel by stage from South Hadley to Montpelier. Cornelia died on May 21, 1847. In a December 17, 1847, letter marked "confidential" from Hezekiah to Eliza and Emily, he wrote that he wanted to marry Mrs. Amanda Lamb, though expressed desire for their approval. The 1850s correspondence show more changes in the family. There are a number of letters from Gertrude (who was in Troy and St. Johnsbury) to Mother (Mrs. Amanda Reed). There are a couple of letters from a young Charles W. Willard (future U.S. Representative and husband of Emily Reed) to Mary Jane Cleaves (1827-1900) of Montpelier in 1852-1853. There is correspondence from the Reed family in Montpelier with Eliza, who married Alpha Child May in 1853 and moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Emily wrote Eliza on March 25, 1854, the day of Gertrude's death, "Gertrude has gone to her savior." A week later, Mary wrote to Eliza about the gifts Gertrude gave to family members before she died, and described her funeral. A May 10, 1854, letter from Mary to Eliza includes a lock of Gertrude's hair. The letter related that Mary put a lock of Gertrude's hair under glass, and that she sent some of Cornelia's hair to be made into ear ornaments; she said she would like a bracelet braided of "Ma's hair". The correspondence is less abundant after the late 1850s. Hezekiah Reed died in 1856 and his wife Amanda in 1857. Mary Reed married Nathaniel George Clark in 1854, and they lived primarily in Burlington. There are letters from Mary from Europe and Florida, where she went to improve her ailing health. Mary died in Florida in 1859. There are letters Emily wrote to Eliza (Emily married Charles W. Willard in 1855) from Washington, D.C. where her husband was a U.S. Representative. One letter describes the Ulysses Grant's inauguration in March 1869. The Barnard family correspondence (1806-1822) consists of thirty letters and one partial letter. Included are letters between Martha Barnard Reed’s siblings Sylvester Barnard (1790-1812), John Barnard (1791-1823), Nancy Barnard (Royce) (1787-1834), Vermont Historical Society • Barre 05641-4209

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and letters from John Barnard to Martha Barnard (Reed). John’s letters were written from Montpelier, Sylvester’s from Windsor, Vermont, and Nancy’s mainly from Mamakating, Sullivan County, N.Y. Among this group of letters, there are no letters from Martha Barnard Reed, and it is clear to the exasperated John that Martha did not like to write letters (at least to him). The letters convey family news yet also reveal something about the history of the time in which they lived. It is evident from the letters that the store John Barnard clerked in benefited from the newly built State House. There are a number of letters concerning the effect on trade due to the Embargo Act of 1807. Sylvester wrote to John in July 1809 about his fear of war with Great Britain, and in Nov. 1812, John wrote that the war was hurting business. In a June 1813 letter from John to Martha, John wrote that farmers were "alarmed about their crop of wheat." In February 1820, John wrote to Martha that he was unable to assist Martha (she was still in Mamakating) not only because he was a newly married man, but also because of current hard times and a "sudden depression of almost all sorts of produce…" A letter from John to Nancy dated April 27, 1812, concerns Sylvester's death. Apparently Nancy had asked John if there was a miniature or profile of Sylvester. John wrote that when he arrived in Windsor after the death of Sylvester, someone was at work drawing a miniature of his deceased brother. Since his eyes were closed, the artist drew John's eyes. The last letter of this group of letters, dating Jan 20, 1822, John wrote his sister Mrs. Nancy Royce that he had visited Wethersfield, Connecticut, and picked up the family pictures. He also stated "our family at present consists of my dear little boy, Martha, Caroline [his dead wife's sister], W. Dutton, (my partner) a clerk, a boy for the store and one for the house and my brother [B.] W. Hinckley…" Included are family accounts, from 1824-1887. Martha Barnard’s accounts from 1823-1825 provide insight into her life after her brother John Barnard died and before she married Hezekiah Reed. An 1827 account book gives an itemized list of the cost of building and furnishing the family house. (As of 2014, the house, at one time known as the home of the “Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance Company,” still stands at 89 State St., Montpelier, Vermont). There are 1830s inventories of the assets and liabilities of Hezekiah and his brother and partner Thomas Reed. Other documents include 19th Century female educational institution catalogs and brochures, as well as some school assignments of the Reed daughters. Included are deeds, appointments and family genealogical material. In a “Montpelier Day” undated essay by Mary Jane Cleaves (1827-1900), she recalls a group of Indians camping behind the State House when she was a young girl. Related Collections Additional manuscript collections at the Vermont Historical Society relating to the Reed Family: • •

Letters to Hezekiah H. Reed of Montpelier, 1851-1855: MSA 411:16C Charles W. Willard (1827-1880) papers, 1840-1906 (Doc 24-29) Vermont Historical Society • Barre 05641-4209

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George B. Reed (b. 1829, nephew of Hezekiah Reed) Montpelier, Vermont scrapbook, 1805-1903: 974.31 M769R George B. Reed Montpelier, Vermont scrapbook, 1761-1905: 974.3 R252 Civil War documents, 1865 (relating to George B. Reed and Edward D. Reed): Misc 1313

Inventory MS 126:01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 MS 127:01 02 03 04 05 06 07 Size C 08 Size C 09 10 11

Reed Family, Correspondence, n.d. _____, _____, 1821, 1828-1839 _____, _____, 1840-1844 _____, _____, 1845 _____, _____, 1846 _____, _____, 1847-1849 _____, _____, 1850-1859 _____, _____, 1865-1882 _____, Accounts, 1824-1887 _____, Catalogs, brochures, etc. (Female educational institutions), 1845-1894, n.d. _____, School assignments (Reed daughters), etc., 1840s _____, Legal documents (Deeds, etc.), 1825-1832 _____, Genealogical material, Reed, Hutchins & Willard families, n.d. _____, Photos of Reed, Hutchins & Willard gravestones, n.d. _____, Genealogical material, Austin family, n.d. _____, Alpha May, Appointment, 1852 _____, Alpha May, Appointments, 1870-1871 _____, Barnard family, Correspondence, 1806-1822 _____, Barnard family, Correspondence, 1807-1820 _____, Mary Jane Cleaves (c. 1827-1900), “Montpelier Day” essay and Scrapbook, n.d. _____, Walton’s Vermont Register (1870) & The Acorn (1872) _____, Miscellaneous and unidentified, 1872-1890 Christie Carter April 2014 ReedFamily.doc

Vermont Historical Society • Barre 05641-4209