THOMAS READ, a tailor of Chelmsford was born about 1656; parentage unknown. He was not a son of Obadiah and Anna Read, as stated in Read Genealogy, 1861. He was a freeman, April 1, 1679, and a soldier in King Philip's War, 1676. He married, probably in 1679, Hannah Blanchard, daughter of Dea. John and Elizabeth (Hills) Blanchard, see. On the warrant of warning or caution against settlement in Chelmsford issued June 10, 1679, under date of June 14, 1679, the constable made a return: "Thomas Read and Hannah Read, his wife, is fled away out of our town we know not whither," and a second return dated September 27, 1679, the constable says: "Thomas Rade and Hanna Blanchar are run away out of this county and I am informed they are gone to the southward." If he lived elsewhere a number of years it is certain that he returned to Chelmsford. He was a member of the garrison there 16 March 1691 and in 1727 was one of several petitioners in regard to placing the town line between Chelmford and Westford. In 1717, he sold to Joseph Blanchard of Dunstable the land willed to his wife, Hannah, by her grandfather, Joseph Hills, and by her father, Dea. John Blanchard. In 1725, the selectmen of Chelmsford petition the General Court, saying Thomas Blanchard "an ancient and infirm man" had petitioned the town for assistance and that his sons John, Thomas, William and Jonathan, who were able, had refused to assist him. Very probably Thomas and Hannah (Blanchard) Read had more children than are named in this register.

i. JOHN, born 1685; married January 10, 1706, Jane Chamberlain;
lived in Westford, where ten children were born.
ii. THOMAS, born 1687; married March 14, 1709-10, Sarah
Fletcher; lived in Westford, where he died December 24,
1773. He was prosperous and respected. Of their children,
Timothy is named hereafter. The late Elbridge Gerry
Reed is a descendant.
iii. WILLIAM, married Hannah Bates of Chelmsford. He lived
in Westford. His son, Robert, born December 25, 1720,
married May 11, 1743, Mary Abbot of Andover, and was a
leading citizen of Litchfield and Amherst. His second son,
William, born February 25, 1724-5, married Lucy Spald-
ing. He settled in the north part of Litchfield. He was
an ensign in Col. Gilman's regiment, 1755, and was com-
missioned a captain soon after. He established a ferry
between Litchfield and Merrimack, about 1728, known as
"Read's Ferry." He died 1768, being killed at the raising
of a building. In 1789, the legislature made a grant of
a ferry to his son, William Read.
iv. JONATHAN. married Margaret. Two children born in West-
ford.
v. BENJAMIN, born October 23, 1698; died in Westford, April 2,
1778