352 James B. Reid, Member of the Continental Congress. JAMES R. REID, MEMBER OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, 1787-1788. BY WILLIAM H. EGLE, M.D. James R. Reid, son of James Reid, a native of the north of Ireland, was born in Chanceford Township, York County, Province of Pennsylvania, in the year 1747. He received a classical education in the school of Dr. Ali son, and was intended for the law. Like many of his school-mates, when the French and Indian war broke out he entered the military service, and was with Forbes's as an It is doubt expedition against FortDuquesne ensign. ful if he returned to the study of the law, as he possessed an fortune. At the outset of the ample Revolutionary struggle he became an active partisan, was commissioned, January 6,1776, first lieutenant of Captain Thomas Church's company, Colonel Anthony Wayne's (Fourth Pennsylvania) battalion ; promoted captain November 3, 1776 ; promoted major of Hazen's (" Congress's Own") regiment September 1, 1777, and the history of that contingent is that of this gal lant officer. Pie was one of the original members of the Society of the Cincinnati. On the 13th of November, 1787, the Assembly of Pennsylvania elected him a member of the Continental Congress. He took his seat on the 19th of De cember following, serving until the expiration of that body under the Federal Constitution. Major Reid died at Car lisle, to which place he removed, on the 4th of April, 1790. By his will, proved April 30, that year, he left a large estate to his wife Frances, brothers John, Thomas Samuel, William, and Benjamin, and to his sisters, Mrs. Stephens and Mrs. McKarson. To his nephew, James Stephens, he left one thousand acres of land in Kentucky ; toW illiam Irvine, son of General William Irvine, the land in Yirginia assigned by General Henry Lee ; to Callendar Duncan, son of Thomas James R. Reid, Member of the Continental Congress. 353 Duncan, the land granted by the State of Pennsylvania. To Thomas Shippen, son of Dr. William Shippen, he bequeathed " his eagle, in hopes that the Society of Council [Cincinnati] will admit as member a man who abroad has done so much to honor his country." His library went to Thomas Dun can. Although Major Reid wrote his name with a mid dle letter,?"R,"?this was assumed by him to be distin guished from other James Reeds, Reads, and Reids, of whom there were a large number. His mother, however, was a He left no children. Ramsey. Vol. xv.?23