Program

DAR Revolutionary America

Subject

People

Location

3228 Penn Ave, Hatfield, PA 19440, USA

Lat/Long

40.29405, -75.3104

Grant Recipient

NSDAR - Treasurer General

Jacob Reed (AKA Riedt) was a patriot, local farmer and church elder. He served as Lt. Colonel of the 1^st Battalion of the Pennsylvania County militia and was invaluable to Gen. Washington for his knowledge of this area and its populace. In June 1778, after the British army evacuated Philadelphia, Washington broke camp at Valley Forge in pursuit the enemy. On June 19, General Washington and his staff paid a brief visit to Reed’s home where they shared a meal with the Reed family (Pennsylvania Historic Resource Survey, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1998).

After three years of service, Reed was elected Major of the 5^th Battalion, Pennsylvania Troops in which he served until the close of the war. His dedication to the American cause brought attempts on his life in addition to an attack on his home (Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (1895), p. 84). Reed was in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown and at General Burgoyne’s surrender. (Pension record, Fold3.com)

Reed first occupied this tract of land on the leasehold plan under the Penn Partnership as early as 1756. The patent for this land was finally granted to him in February 1770. The oldest portion of the house, a log dwelling, dates from between 1756 and 1770. Later additions date from 1800-1820.

Land today is 32 acres including barns, homes and other outbuildings. Reed’s log home still exists as part of the expanded farmhouse.