George Peter Reedy is the progenitor of all the Reedy clan who are from Southwest
Virginia and Western North Carolina. There is another clan of Reedys from Virginia,
mainly from Shenandoah and Rockingham Counties. These can trace their lineage back to a
common progenitor named John Bernard Reedy, whose origination is uncertain and still
being researched. Our George Peter Reedy entered Virginia about the year 1790 from the
state of Pennsylvania, where he was a second generation immigrant from the Palatinate.
Tracing the steps of George Peter and proving him to be of the Reedy family in Eastern
Pennsylvania has taken years of painstaking research most of which can be credited to the
Perseverance and dedication of John Edward Reedy, Jr. Born in Rugby, Virginia in 1926,
John was Professor of English in New York State University before his retirement. He
and his wife spent many a summer researching the problem of George Peter Reedy and
much of the writing here is from the results of his labor.
His Ancestry: George Peter Reedy was born about 1749 near present-day Goshenhoppen
in Montgomery County, PA. He was the second child of Johann Jacob Riedy and his first
wife Maria Elizabeth. At this time her maiden name remains unknown. His father had
entered this country with his family on the ship Samuel bound from Rotterdam to
Philadelphia arriving in August of 1739. Shortly before they had departed from the
hamlet of Irtzweiler, the parish of Ulmet, district of Lictenberg in the duchy of
Zweibrucken, Elector of Palatine, Germany. Jacob was born there to Hans Otto and Anna
Margaretha in 1717. Her maiden name also remains an unknown, but their marriage record
states that she was "the widow of Nickel Koch of Frohnbach". Jacob was their first born
child. In 1720 they had Johann Peter, and in 1723 they had Anna Margaretha, all whose
baptismal records can be found in the Ulmet Reformed Church in Bromholder.
Even though they were born in Germany, they were not of German ancestry. In fact,
Reedy is not even a German name. Hans Otto was born in Filisur, Switzerland, in the
Canton of Graubunden about1682 to Jachem and Anna (Janet) Riedi. Jachem was the son
of Hanzet L. Riedi of Filisur whose grave can be found there with a date of death of 15
March 1700. He is buried next to his wife Ursina Pol Caspar, who passed away 20 August
1693. We have Frank Reedy of Franklinton, LA to thank for the extensive research done
on the German and Swiss connection.
After the Thirty Years War in Germany many villages with prime farmlands were left
nearly devoid of human life. Many Swiss people left the alpine areas and inhabited these
farming areas of Germany. In Swiss history this is referred to as the First Swiss
Immigration. This is how our Hans Otto Riedi ended up in the Irtzweiler / Bromholder
area of the Palatinate, which was at that time ruled by a protestant ruler. Later, the
protestant ruler was replace by his brother, a devout Catholic, and life in the Palatinate
became increasingly more unbearable for the Reformed Lutheran German and Swiss people
living there. In fairly large numbers they began moving from there to the Netherlands,
England, and to America starting around 1710 until around 1750. Thousands of Palatinate
Germans immigrants settled between Philadelphia and Reading, Pennsylvania.
In my research and in my contacts with Riedi's still living in Switzerland, they tell me that
the name Riedi is a very old name there. It can be traced back to the old Rheatian-
Romantic language spoken when Switzerland was called Rheatia and the celtic tribes living
there were under the rule of the Roman Empire. The name Riedi has citizenship in the
towns of Papspels and Schmitten, with Filisur just ten miles from Schmitten high on the
side of a mountain. The name has been there for a long time.
Their departure from Irtzweiler in 1739 was by boat up the Rhine River. There were
many stops at custom houses where the travelers were taken advantage of and relieved of
much of their money. By the time they reached Rotterdam, their resources were getting
low. At Rotterdam the pilot of the ship would deliberately "lose" their sea chests with all
of the belongings and food stored for the trip, and then come to their rescue by offering
to provide their way to America. Once they arrived in Philadelphia, the pilot would have
them take the Oath of Allegiance the next day and then "sell" them into indentured
servitude for a period of years to pay for their voyage. The younger the person, the more
they were worth. This was the way of it for thousands of Palatinate immigrants. We can
tell by the ships passenger list for the "Samuel" that this was also their plight, because all
of the male passengers are given ages much younger than they actually were. This is
probably why Hans Otto and Johann Jacob were in Montgomery County, while younger
brother Johann Peter is found in Berks County where he remains for the rest of his life.
Many of his descendants are still found in that area.
The Problem. The problem here is to be reasonably certain that the George Peter Reedy,
son of Johann Jacob Riedy of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, is the same Peter Reedy
who shows up in Grayson County, Virginia, land records on 1806.
What we know of George Peter Reedy of Montgomery County, PA is listed in the follow
paragraphs. He has a Revolutionary War service record starting in 1778 until 1782.
1. General Muster 1778, he was a Corporal of the 7th Company, 3rd Battalion, Northampton
County Malitia.
2. General Muster 1780, he was a Sergeant of the 7th Company, 6th Battalion, Northampton
County Militia.
3. Muster Roll 1781, by Colonel Balliet. George Peter is Sergeant. Older brother Conrad
is a private and younger brother Abraham is a drummer in the same outfit. However,
Peter hired a substitute to serve for him. "Peter Reidy, Serg. Northampton 6th Battalion,
Capt. George Smithers Company, 7th Class Serg. Nathan Beach to serve in his place May
12 - August 7" Dated July 17, 1781.
4. General Muster 1782, he is listed as Sergeant, 7th Company, 6th Ballalion, Northampton
Malitia.
5. George Peter Reedy is listed in two different Bicentennial publications for Synder
County, PA, as number 323 in the list of soldiers resident in Synder County during the
Revolution, but buried elsewhere. Also, when he was living in Penn's Township in
Northumberland County, PA, he was listed as Sergeant, 7th Company, 6th Battalion,
Northampton County Militia.
In 1768, Peter Reidy applied for a land warrant in Northampton County, but he never filed
for a survey on the land, so the warrant was not honored. He had moved from
Goshenhoppen where he was born in Montgomery County (now Lehigh County) to
Heidelburg, in Northampton County. As seen, during the Revolution he served in the
Northampton County Militia. (Sometimes his name is listed as George Peter and
sometimes just Peter. But all time he is a Sergeant 7th Company, 6th Battalion. It was
common practice among the Germans to use a "rufnamen" or middle name. This could be
why he appears as Peter Reedy on land records but on military records as George Peter. )
Peter disappears from Heidelburg, Northampton County records after 1785. In 1787
Peter Reedy paid state tax on 150 acres of land in Penn's Township in Nothumberland
County. We know that this Peter Reedy is the same Peter Reedy of Northampton County
due to the following facts. His older brother Conrad also bought land in Penn's Township
and lived there until he died in 1809. His land was located in Buffalo Valley on the west
bank of the Susquehanna River just west of present-day Lewisburg, PA. His younger
brother John also bought land in Penn's Township, but later disappears from records and
may have moved to the Ohio country. Also we have the Snyder County booklet published
for the 1976 bicentennial, page 186 lists Peter Reedy as a soldier resident of Snyder
County but buried elsewhere. The Snyder County Historical Society, Bulletin 1, Numer 1,
claims Peter Reedy as a resident of Penn's Township in 1787 and gives his Northampton
County military records. This fact alone confirms that he left Heidelburg in Northampton
County and settled over 100 miles west across the Susquehanna River in Penn's Township,
Northumberland County during the later years of the war. Today this is part of Snyder
County, PA. By the year 1790 George Peter Reedy disappears from Pennsylvania records
altogether.
It is interesting to note that in the General Muster Roll of 1781 Peter Reedy has found a
substitute for himself, while he takes a 3 month break. At this same time, a Peter Reedy
receives a warrant for 122 acres in Montgomery County, Virginia. Is this the same Peter
Reedy ? We believe it is for the following reasons:
Peter disappears from Pennsylvania records in 1790, and Peter's forth child John Reedy
reported on the 1850 and 1860 Ashe County, North Carolina Census that he was born in
Virginia in 1791. In the 1860 Grayson County Census, sons Peter, Christopher, and Michael
all report their birth place as Pennsylvania. If Michael was born in 1785 and claims
Pennsylvania, and John was born in 1791 and Claims Virginia, and the last official record of
George Peter in Pennsylvania was the 1787 Northunberland County Tax List, Then
sometime between 1787 and 1791 they moved to, what is now, Grayson County, Virginia.
It is difficult to try to trace the line of George Peter through land records. Virginia
records for George Peter are as follows:
1. On October 15, 1781, David Allen received a warrant for lot #93 for 1000 acres
on Quyandott Creek in Montgomery County, Virginia. At the time, Montgomery
County was the parent county of Wythe, Grayson, and part of Carroll Counties.
Grayson was form from Wythe in 1792.
2. On January 25, 1782, Peter Reedy received a warrant for 122 acres as an
assignee of David Allen. The land was on the North Fork of Little River adjoining
the lands of Nicholas Allen on Quebbler's Branch. This land is located today east
of Independence, near the Baywood area. This land was not surveyed until April 13,
1794 and the warrant was not recorded until October 17, 1796. Records of this
warrant can be found in Montgomery County and in the State of Virginia at
Richmond. (Index to Virginia Grants, 1779-1825, number 36, 1796-1797)
The warrant for this land was in Montgomery County, but by the time it was
recorded it was in Grayson County. There are no records of this land being sold in
Grayson County. It is possible that Peter did not pay David Allen in full, or pay the
state in full, and the land was repossessed. Or it is possible that the sale is
recorded somewhere in Wythe or Montgomery County records.
3. In August 1806, Peter Reedy purchased 140 acres from Rob and Ann Parsons
located on the "waters of Wilson Creek". This is in Deed Book 2, page 415.
4. In May 18, 1820, Peter Reedy purchased 60 acres again from Rob and Ann
Parsons located on the "waters of Wilson Creek". This is in Deed Book 4, page 155.
5. After Peter's death in 1837, the land was carried on the Grayson County Tax
Records as the "Peter Reedy Estate" until the year 1844. After that, his first
born son Peter was taxed. This date must closely coincide with the death of
George Peter's wife, Mary. On the 1840 Grayson County Census, she is listed as
head of household at age 80-90 years.
On March 1, 1859, Peter, Ruthy Reedy (Frederick's widow), Barbary, and Mary
Reedy sold the "lands which had been bought from Robert Parsons by Peter Reedy
on the headwaters of Grassy Creek." to William Spencer for $160. Peter received
the money and they all signed with an "X" beside their names. Deed Book 2, page
544. By the description, it looks like this land was located around York Ridge,
above Wilson Creek and the headwaters of Grassy Creek.
It is really difficult to try to trace the line of George Peter through land records. He
pays taxes in Heidelburg, Northampton County, PA, but there is no record of him ever
buying or selling the land. He pays taxes in Penn's Township, Northumberland County, but
again, there is no record that he ever owned the land. In Grayson County he received
another warrant but there is no record of taxes being being paid or the land being sold.
This must be a case of default. The first official land record for Peter Reedy is in 1806
when he purchased 160 acres from Robert Parsons. For that matter there are no records
of any of Peter's sons buying any land in Grayson County. But when they are older there
are records of them selling off hundred's of acres of land.
George Peter and Mary had ten children, all who can be traced through Grayson and Ashe County records. They were:
1. Peter Reedy 1780 bn. in PA died in Grayson County
2. Christian 1783 bn. in PA died in Grayson County
3. Michael 1785 bn. in PA died in Grayson County
4. John 1791 bn. in VA died in Ashe County, NC
5. Samuel 1794 bn. in VA died in Grayson County
6. Henry 1798 bn. in VA died in Ashe Coounty, NC
7. Barbara 1800 bn. in VA died in Grayson County (Never married)
8. Frederick 1802 bn. in VA died in Grayson County
9. David 1803 bn. in VA died in Ashe County, NC
10. Mary 1805 bn. in VA died in Grayson County (Never married)
After tracing all the Pennsylvania Reedy's and checking the records for any other Peter or
George Peter Reedy we have come to the conclusion that the George Peter Reedy of
Montgomery, Northampton, and Northumberland Counties of Pennsylvania, is the same
Peter Reedy of Grayson County records and that during his break from the war in 1781, he
must have come to Virginia and started the purchase of the 122 acres on Little River.
There is a short history of the Pennsylvania Reedy's written by Hollenbach several years
ago. He does list another George Peter Reedy as the son of Johann Jacob Riedy, and
further states that he died in 1826 in Hemlock, Columbia County, Pennsylvania. The
Columbia County Reedy's claim decent from this George Peter. But if one investigates the
records carefully they will find that Hollenbach made a mistake. The George Peter Reedy
in his records was much younger than our George Peter and he died early in life from an
accident. He is the son of Jacob Reedy, half-brother to the older George Peter. This can
be confirmed by census records, church records, as well as, by the wills of Jacob Reedy
(he has two of them). The other George Peter, who Hollenbach says disappeared from
Heidelburg, can be traced down to 1790 in Pennsylvania with certainty.
There are certain member's of this Reedy family who, through family stories, claim
ancestors other than George Peter Reedy. They are listed as follows:
1. John and Anna Reedy Some descendants of John Reedy of Ashe County claim
his parents were John and Anna (Anderson) Reedy. I think this is based on an
entry in a Anderson Family Bible. Careful review of the county records will show
there was not a John and Anna Reedy in Ashe County, or for that matter, Wilkes or
Allegheny Counties.
2. Shadrack Reedy In the 1940's Rev. Edward Napoleon Reedy, born in Dickenson
County, VA, interviewed John Melvin Reedy of Rugby, VA. At the time John Reedy
was 94 years old. He stated that the George Reedy was the first Reedy to
Grayson County, and he came from Reedy Island, PA. E.N. Reedy later concluded
that George's father was Shadrack Reedy. Shadrack was in Virginia in the Clinch
River and Holston River area, and he is said to have had a son named George and a
daughter named Nancy. This Shadrack did not stay in Virginia long, but moved on
to Eastern Tennessee and later to Alabama where he died. There are no records
available to indicate that Shadrack Reedy was ever near Grayson County. When
John spoke of George he must have been speaking of George Peter Reedy of
Pennsylvania.
Written by Dave Reedy, March 2000
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© Mar,2000 Larry Reedy larry@reedy.org
