Wednesday, November 28, 2012

John Reid (1656-1720)

John Reid was Gardener to the Lord Advocate, went to the famous Hamilton Gardens for study, and wrote a book entitled the "Scotch Gardener." Sent over by the Proprietaries of New Jersey as a surveyor, he came to America in 1683, settled at Freehold, was Member of Assembly, and appointed Surveyor-General of New Jersey, in 1702. He m. Sept. 29, 1678, Margaret Miller.

 The following is an account of John Reid, written by himself: "At Niddrew Castle, the parish of Kirkliston, was born the 13th Febr. 1655-6, and there baptized, where my father was gardener, and my grandfather before him. I was bound apprentice to a wine merchant in Edinburgh in Jan. 1667, but my master dying before the expiration of my apprenticeship, I returned, 9br, 1673. My father being dead, and my mother married again, I went to the famous Hamilton Gardens for improvement. Here I was deluded to embrace Quakerism. From thence I went to Drummond in 9br, 1675. Thence to Lawres, alias Fordiny, 27th 9br, 1676. There I wrote the Scotch Gardener, and was married 29th 9br, 1678, to Margaret, daughter of Henry Miller, of Cashon, in the parish of Kirkintilloch, where she was born and baptized anno 1644-5. She had likewise embraced Quakerism. My eldest daughter, Anna, was born at Lawres the 24th Jan. 1679. We came to Shank 4th 9br, 1680. My second daughter, Helena, was born there the 2nd October, 1681. My third daughter, Margaret, was born there the 11th May 1683. We went to Leith for our voyage to America the 2nd Augt. 1683, came on board ship the 10th, and next day at Aberdeen, where we staid to the 28th 10br. Entered Sandy Hook and landed on Staten Island the 19th, went to Elizabethtown the 23rd, and to Woodbridge 10th Jan. 1683-4. My daughter, Margaret, died the 15th, and was buried the next day at Amboy. We removed to the House in the field at Amboy, 13th 10br, 1684. My son, John, was born there 27th July, 1686, came to Hortensia 26th 9br, 1687. My daughter Anna was married to Capt. John Anderson, 7th 10br, 1701. I first received the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in Church of England, 28th March, 1703.My daughter Helena was married to John Bartow, Rector of Westchester, 17th 9br, 1705. My daughter Anna was delivered of a son May 18th, 1710; baptized 23d July, and named Kenneth. My daughter Helena was delivered of her 7th son the 24th Dec. 1715; baptized 5th Jan. and named John. My son John was married to Mary Sands, at Hempstead on Long Island, the 17th Dec. 1721. His wife was delivered of a woman-child 28th Nov. 1722, and she was baptized, 22d Feb. 1722-3, and named Mary. My daughter, Anna Anderson, died July 6th, 1723, aged 43 years, 5 mos. and 12 days."
Source:Bolton's W. Co., ii. 209; Bolton's W. Ch., 51; Whitehead's Perth Amboy; Scot's Model; Rev. George Keith's Journal. pp. 58, 79; N. Y. Gen. Rec., Jan. 1872.
Found at: http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=uncle_bud&id=I11894




Old Topanemus Cemetery
 [This cemetery is situated about one mile west of Marlboro, N. J. Here was located in its early days, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, which was afterwards moved to Freehold village.]. 

John Reid, died Nov. 16, 1723, aged 67 years. He came from Scotland his native country, with his wife Margaret and three daughters, to New Jersey, Dec. 19, 1683. (Noted surveyor and map-drawer). Margaret Reid , died May 1, 1728, aged 84 years, wife of John Reid.



Gardener of Niddry Castle

One of the earliest books about gardening in Britain, The Scottish Gard'ner, was published in Edinburgh in 1683. The author was John Reid, who was born at Niddry Castle, the son and grandson of the castle gardener (Hope 1988). Though no details are recorded of the gardens attached to the castle during Reid's life (1656-1723), his family background attests that there were managed gardens at Niddry as early as the mid-16th century. A charter of 1506 refers to 'the orchart of Winchburgh' (Reg Mag Sig 2, 637-8, no 2995) and another of 1548 records 'orchards, enclosed gardens within and outside, protected by the defences (of the castle)' (Reg Mag Sig 4, 54-5, no 222). Gardening appears to have been a concern of the Lords of Seton. There is a record of a 'garding' at Seton Palace, East Lothian, in 1478 (Seton 1896, 103); and Maitland (1829, 52) recorded a yard and orchard, along with the garden, at Seton in 1560. Hynd's observation (1984, 269) that 'Scotland was a major exponent of gardening, particularly throughout the 17th century, with origins well-rooted in the 16th century' is clearly reflected at Niddry too.

John Reid * (1656 - 1720)
is your 5th great grandfather
Son of John Reid
Daughter of John Reid
Son of Jean Reid
Son of James Stewart
Daughter of Noah Stewart
Son of Mary Lou Ella Stewart and Charles William Lute

1 comment:

  1. Donna-Mae,
    Impressed with your lineage chart. I too trace my lineage to the family of John Reid, the Scots Gard'ner. I would be very much in your debt if you could supply me with the primary sources you've found that connect John Reid (1656-1720), the Scots Gard'ner to Major John Reid (1574 1665) "our 7th great grandfather."
    Thanking you for any consideration you give this inquiry,
    Mel Reid
    reidings@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete