John Reade family papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0482

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The John Reade Family Papers consist of .6 linear feet of material spanning the dates 1709 to 1879 with the bulk of the material between the years 1793 to 1808. The papers are arranged chronologically and consist primarily of correspondence to John Reade, a successful businessman and land speculator of Red Hook and Poughkeepsie, New York, from various family members, several of whom moved to New York City, and occasionally from acquaintances and business contacts such as Jacob Bogardus and Garrit Van Horne. The majority of letters are from Joseph Reade to his father concerning a variety of business matters in addition to domestic issues. These letters trace Joseph’s progress from Princeton student until he represents his father’s business in New York City. Correspondence is also included from Catharine Livingston (Reade) Stuyvesant, in New York City, regarding her family and household matters, as well as letters from John Reade’s other children, Helen, Ann, and Robert Reade.

Many of the letters dated after 1808 and 1809 are addressed to Robert Reade, who, following the deaths of his father and brother Joseph, assumed leadership of the family and control of the family business. Robert Reade’s correspondents include his uncle Gilbert Robert Livingston, his brother-in-law James Hooker, and members of the De Peyster family. Interspersed in the collection are a few letters addressed to Mrs. John Reade (Catharine Livingston Reade) as well as letters addressed to James Hooker (husband of Helen Reade). In addition to the correspondence, the collection contains various receipts, legal papers, and genealogical information related to the Hooker family. Many of the receipts and legal papers date from the early eighteenth century, including a receipt dated March 1709.

Dates

Creation: 1709-1879
Creation: Majority of material found within 1793-1808

Language of Materials

Materials entirely in English.

Access Information

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library, https://library.udel.edu/static/purl.php?askspec

Historical Note

John Reade Esq. was born in 1745 and died on October 25, 1808. He moved from New York City to Red Hook, New York, near present day Tivoli. While at Red Hook, he established a freighting business and storehouse with Jacob Bogardus, where his clients included such prominent families as the Van Hornes, the Ludlows, and the De Peysters. Although his partnership with Bogardus was dissolved in 1794, he maintained the business under his own name. In 1774, he married Catharine Livingston (1756-1829/30?), daughter of Robert Gilbert Livingston and a cousin of Henry Livingston, of nearby Poughkeepsie. Together they raised at least six children: Catharine Livingston Reade, Helen Maria Reade (1790-1879), Joseph Reade (1780-1809), Ann Livingston Reade (b. 1783), William Reade, and Robert L. Reade. Eventually, the family moved to Poughkeepsie where Reade continued his successful business and expanded into land speculation. His sons, Joseph and Robert, both joined the family business and conducted affairs from New York City, including collecting on accounts and maintaining relationships with existing and potential customers. In an effort to enlarge their business and establish contacts, both sons made trips abroad. Robert traveled to the West Indies in 1806 and Joseph to Europe in 1807. In fact, Joseph would become ill and die while on a trip to Antigua in 1809.

Reade’s daughters were also prominent in New York City society. Catharine Livingston Reade married Nicholas William Stuyvesant in 1795 and throughout her married life maintained a close relationship with her parents. Helen Reade married James Hooker in 1816 and Anne Reade married Robert Kearney in 1810. Until their marriages, however, Helen and Ann both visited Catharine and often spent prolonged periods in their sister’s home assisting with homemaking and child-rearing responsibilities. In addition, they maintained contact with family acquaintances and fulfilled many social commitments.

With the death of John Reade in 1808 and the death of his brother Joseph in 1809, Robert Reade assumed the position of head of both the family and the company and continued the freighting business begun by his father.

Van Deusen, Mary, “Henry Livingston’s Cousins,” Retrieved February 6, 2003 from http://www.iment.com/maida/familytree/henry/genealogy/cousins.htm Hadden, James Smith. History of Duchess County, New York. Syracuse: D. Mason, 1882.Additional historical information is derived from the collection.

Extent

.6 linear foot (2 boxes)

1 oversize removal

Additional Description

Abstract

The John Reade Family Papers consist primarily of correspondence to John Reade, a successful businessman and land speculator of Red Hook and Poughkeepsie, New York, from various family members.

Arrangement

The John Reade Family Papers are arranged in chronological order, revealing a family history of business affairs and personal news through correspondence and other documents regularly exchanged between geographically dispersed family members.

The vast majority of the collection is correspondence addressed to John Reade; the bulk of the collection, 1793-1808, dates from around the time John Reade took private ownership of his freighting business until his death in 1808. Unless otherwise noted, all correspondence is from Joseph Reade to his father John. Any exceptions to Joseph Reade as sender or John Reade as recipient are also noted. There are three letters from John Reade (JR) to his wife and another associate.

Unfortunately, the letters and documents were once taped to sheets of paper and bound into volumes. The volumes were disbound and documents were opened and housed in mylar sleeves for flat storage. Nearly half of the documents are stored in oversize manuscript boxes, though this finding aid presents a single chronological list for the collection.