Stephen Reed

A probable older generation of Mary Reed’s family. His dates, his wife and his children come from a Find a Grave memorial and linked trees without cited sources, all perhaps from one research circle. Other researchers call several of the Reeds who married children of Vincent Hollingsworth his children: Rhoda (m. William Hollingsworth), Stephen Jr (m. Winnifred Hollingsworth), Celia “Sely” (1790-1860, m. a Richardson), and, per a memorial note, Polly (Mary) Reed, who married John Henry (Jonathan) Hollingsworth. Whether James Reed was also his son, or a nephew or cousin, is not known.

The records. No Stephen Reed head has been found in Wilkes County in 1790; the search hit “Stevens Reed” is “Rd Stephens,” a man alone. Virginia’s 1790 census does not survive, so a family then on the Virginia side of the line has no 1790 schedule. A Stephen Reed was head of 6 “other free” in Ashe County in 1800 (Heinegg), and bought land from James Reed in Ashe in 1802 (Deed Book B, p. 375; Attride). In 1810 “S Reed” of Ashe, p. 81, has a man 16-25, a man 45 and over and a woman 45 and over, counted white, which fits Stephen Sr, his wife and a son, and not Stephen Jr, who had married about 1802-05.

Open questions

• His estate in Ashe County (c. 1812): an heirs’ list would show whether James was a son.
• The 1802 James-to-Stephen deed: does its wording state a relationship, and which Stephen bought?
• Where was he in 1790? Search Wilkes under variant spellings and neighboring Surry.
• The DNA claim (that he was Rhoda’s father) is stated without the evidence.