John Mullin Reading

Source: Excerpt from "The Reading Family Genealogy" by Nell Downing Norton.

Col. Geo. {3} Reading wrote many letters back to N.J. copies of which are in Mr. J. Granville Leach's "Memorial" to the Reading-Howell, etc., Families." In one letter dated July 16, 1779 he writes "I purpose sending John down to Kentucky and the falls of the Ohio, in a month or six weeks to take up and secure landWe have the most favorable account of that country. It is land to be desired, where the winter (not like Pharoah's lean kine) don't devour the summer; withal very healthy __ where I hope to ____ my days." In a letter dated Mar. 12, 1780, he writes he has made arrangements to go down the Ohio in a craft which he had built for this purpose. He had faith in the new territory is shown by "I should be glad to know what son Sam is about, and where he is, if in the army, or has left the service, and a mind to enter the trade. If he is, I know of no place equal to the Falls of Ohio for a young man to push his fortune in. There is a large town laid out, and a great number of inhabitants already _______ in it, and a considerable trade __________the Spaniards on the_________The Falls of Ohio bids the _______for the largest trading inlandway in North America, and will be the metropolis of a new State in a few yearsI would strongly recommend it to Sam, if he has or intends to leave service, to immediately push for the new settlementand bring with him his sister Betsey, where, if she is unmarried, she need not be afraid of her having pick and choice of a husbandI should think it the greatest pleasure of my life in my aged days to have one of my daughter and son Billie with or near mePray do take care of my books. John says when he comes he will bring them away with him. He and George take great delight in reading" (page 45, Memorial to the Reading-Howell, etc., Families, by J. Granville Leach, 1898). In several letters he refers to the "long captivity" of his son John, and the pension records of John Mullin Reading state that he was taken prisoner by the Indians at Ruddles Station, Ky., June 15, 1780 and held until May 1783.