Joseph Reed, born in Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in
1724, served during the French and Indian War. In 1765, he settled
at Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire. When news of the battle of Lexington
reached this peaceful neighborhood, he volunteered with many of his
neighbors, and marched away to the camp at Cambridge, reaching there
in time to participate in the battle of Bunker Hill, where with John
Stark and the left wing of the army, posted behind a rail-fence,
he aided in keeping the British at bay and covering the retreat of
the main body from the redoubt. In 1776, he was ordered to join the
reinforcements under Sullivan, marching to the relief of the American
army in Canada. Reed, with many others, was attacked by small-pox, and
after a long illness rose from his bed incapacitated for further active
service. Congress, on the 9th of August, 1776, promoted him to the rank
of brigadier-general, and he retained command for a while, hoping to
regain his health and strength. Finding himself, however, unfit for
duty, he retired shortly after on half-pay, and returned home nearly
deaf and blind. He passed the remainder of his life in Fitzwilliam,
enjoying the esteem and respect of all who knew him, and died at
Fitchburg, Massachusetts, on the 13th of February, 1807.