George Read

Painting of George Washington in historical attire with white wig, dark coat, and white shirt.

BORN – September 18, 1733, on the family farm near North East, in Cecil County, MD. Parents (English and Welsh ancestry) – John Read (b1688-d1756) and Mary Howell Read (b1711-d1784). Children – George Read (b1733-d1798), Thomas Read (b1740-d1788), James Read (b1743-d1822), Mary Reed Bedford (b1745-d1820). When George was an infant his family moved to New Castle, DE.

DIED – September 21, 1798 (age 65), in New Castle, DE. Religion – Anglican / Episcopalian. Buried - Immanuel Episcopal Church Cemetery, New Castle, DE.

APPEARANCE – The picture above is a portrait of George Reed painted by Robert E. Pine. Tall, slight, graceful, with strong but refined features, and dark brown eyes. His manners were dignified and formal, yet courteous and at times captivating. Dressed with great attention to detail, style and elegance, evidenced by the amethyst studded shoe buckles he wore the day he signed the Declaration of Independence.

FAMILY – Married – Gertrude Ross Till (b1732-d1802) in 1763. Five Children – John Read (b1764-___, died as infant), George Read, Jr. (b1765-d1836), William Read (b1767-d1846), John Read (b1769-d1854), Mary Howell Read Pearce (b1770-d1816).

OCCUPATION – LAWYER, LEGISLATOR, U.S. SENATOR, JUDGE. Attended the Philadelphia Academy. Established a law practice in New Castle in 1754. Member of the Continental Congress representing Delaware from 1774 to 1777. Governor of Delaware from 1777 to 1778. Member of the Constitutional Convention from in 1787, and was one of the 40 Signers of the U.S. Constitution. U.S. Senator from Delaware from 1789 to 1793. Chief Judge of the Delaware Supreme Court from 1793 until his death in 1798.

AT SIGNING – Age 42 at signing. Voted against independence on July 2. Changed his mind and signed the Declaration on August 2. First to sign the Declaration of the three member delegation from Delaware. Later, George Read’s leadership resulted in Delaware becoming the first state to ratify the Declaration.

AFTER SIGNING – Continued to serve in Congress in Philadelphia until 1777. Captured by the British, let go - they did not know who he was. His home was confiscated by the British, his wife was taken captive and he was driven from place to place to avoid capture for six years. Worked to raise money, troops and supplies in support of the American Army.

HISTORIC SITES

Son’s Home – George Read Jr. House Museum, New Castle, DE (1803). Located at 42 The Strand, New Castle, DE 19720, Now houses the Historical Society of Delaware, Phone (302) 322-8411, Website www.hsd.org. Located next to the original George Reed House which was destroyed by fire in 1824.

Gravesite - Immanuel Episcopal Church Cemetery, New Castle, DE (1708). The church is located at 100 Harmony Street, New Castle, DE 19720, Phone 302-328-2413, Website www.immanuelonthegreen.org.

Country Home – Stonum (George Read House), New Castle, DE (1730). Located at 9th and Washington Streets, New Castle, DE 19720. Privately owned.

Court House – New Castle Court House Museum (1732). Located at 211 Delaware Street, New Castle, DE 19720, Phone 302-323-4453, Website history.delaware.gov/museums. One of the oldest continuously used court houses in America.

A large three-story brick house with white trim, multiple windows, and a small front porch with steps leading up to the door. The house is surrounded by trees and a brick wall.

George Read II House Museum, New Castle, DE (1803).

Located at 42 The Strand, New Castle, DE 19720, Now houses the Historical Society of Delaware, Phone (302) 322-8411, Website www.hsd.org.

George Read had a town house on the Strand in New Castle which was destroyed by fire in 1824. It was next door to the George Read Jr. House, built by Read’s son, George Jr. This 22 room, 14,000 square-foot, mansion was the largest house in Delaware when completed in 1803. The original house was located in what is now the garden of the current house.