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Reminiscences of Dr. William Read, Arranged From Notes and Papers (Part I) Dr. William Read was the second son of the Hon. James Read, formerly one of his Majesty's Counsellors of Georgia. His mother was Rebecca, the daughter of Jacob Bond, Esq., of Christ's Church Parish. Dr. Read was born on 12th April, 1754, at the seat of his grandfather, Jacob Bond. He remained at his grandfather's until he was about five years old, when he was carried to Georgia, where his parents had settled. His early education was received at the boarding school kept alternately at Mr. Joseph and William Gibbons'. Here he exhibited a bold, enterprising spirit, which accompanied him through life, in resisting a tyrannical master; and, running home after that, he was put to a school of select young gentlemen in Savannah, classical masters being brought from Europe for the purpose. His aptness and facility in acquiring the dead languages were remarkable. He being intended by his father for the British navy, was particularly directed to attend to mathematics; to this his mother was adverse, and he chose physic as a profession. It suiting his father's purpose, he was taken from school at fifteen years of age, and attached to the pharmacopolist shop of some eminent practitioners, Messrs. Cuthbert, & Brady, of Savannah, (afterwards Brady & Irvine.) William Read was remarkable for a hardiness of constitution, undaunted by any difficulties; he conducted himself so in this service, as to obtain the entire good will and confidence of his masters. In the summer of 1774, he was sent to Philadelphia, in further pursuit of a medical education. His father perceiving a degree of roughness in his manner, contracted the laborious life he lead, and being addicted to personal conflicts (the fashion of that day), introduced by certain English boys from Oxford and Eton schoolHarris, Jackson and Jenkins, &c.placed him with Dr. Benjamin Rush, of Philadelphia, remarkable for his mild, gentlemanlike manners. W. Read was domesticated with Dr. Rush, who was instructed to associate him much with him (Dr. Rush), and to permit his attending his clinical practice. Mr. Read, ever attentive to his children's welfare, thought that sort of example better to mend the manners of his son than any precept. Mr. W. Read lived as a student with Dr. Rush in the utmost harmony, and was much esteemed by him and his family. During his residence there, the contest between Great Britain and her colonies commenced. Mr. Read, after the manner and politics of his father, and the better sort of people of Georgia, was a monarchist in principle. He had read of the baneful effects of Democracy in the Grecian States, and dreaded its want of stability in Government. Dr. Rush used to hold friendly conversation with Mr. Read and his fellow students, James McHenry, (afterwards Secretary of War,) and with William Johnston, (afterwards a Captain in the British army.) Dr. Rush was mild and persuasive in argument, and soon convinced Mr. Read and McHenry that Kings were not omnipotent, or Parliament supreme; that the American community should govern themselves. In one of Mr. R.'s walks with Dr. Rush, they perceived a company of gentlemen, associated for the purpose of learning the military exercise, under difficulty for an instructor, when Mr. R. asked permission of Dr. Rush to give them a lesson, he having, during his education in Savannah, attended to the instructions of a Prussian officer. His service was well received, and Mr. R. was requested to attend them as often as he could. He did so, and completed them in the manual exercise, and certain useful evolutions. The said company being organized and officered, Mr. Read was offered a lieutenancy, and presented with a handsome sword; the late General Cadwallader was elected captain. Mr. R. was at pains to tutor the company in the art and exercise of long marching, equipment, encamping and swimming, and all the circumstances and etiquette of war; he exhibited a wonderful instance of his own skill, and continuance in the art of swimming, so useful to a soldier. Mr. R. at the especial instance of his father, refused the commission; but he had formed a resolution to enter the service afterwards, and had prepared to march, was to have joined and accompanied John McPherson in the Canada expedition, when he was influenced by Dr. Rush to relinquish the design, and return home, his father promising forgiveness for past errors, and to send him to Europe to complete his medical education. Mr. R. reluctantly gave up his adventurous scheme, distributed his articles of equipment among certain friends, and returned home. He carried with him an honor which he dared not avowGeorgia being still in allegiance to the Crown of Great Britainviz., a handsome sword, presented him by a vote of said company for services. He, also, in these various occupations, was obliged to study hard, often burning the midnight lamp, and had obtained the medal annually competed for in the College in Chemistry, given by the Professor, Dr. Rush. He carried with him the affections of Dr. Rush and his amiable family; also, very particular letters to Drs. Huck and Fothergill, from Dr. Rush. It was not, however, Mr. Read's lot to prosecute this intentionthe circumstances of the war came on, and put a stop to all intercourse with the mother country. Among Mr. Read's intimate acquaintances were James McHenry (afterwards Secretary of War), and James Wilkinson (late General), Horace Belt and Walter R. Cole, and William Johnston, of Georgia. On Mr. R.'s return to Savannah, he found things in great perturbationthe opposition to Governmental measures had commenced, was conducted by a small irregular band, headed by Joseph Habersham (late Col. Habersham), which gathered daily. Mr. R. found his father much agitated by reflections in Council, on "members of that Board, who had sons actually employed in training soldiers to oppose regal and legal authority," fostered by him. The fact being so, Mr. Read could only say that his son was of age, and now circumstanced as things were, beyond his control; that the principle had taken deep root, and he feared it had done so in thousands more than the Governor and Council were aware of; that they should rather rejoice provided the opposition was to go on, that some young men of honor and principle should join in it, and take a lead, rather than that the reins should get into the hands of a rabble, who would show no mercy. All this, however, was adverse to the opinion of Sir James Wright, and a majority of his Council; they were for crushing it in the germ, and for imprisoning every one who showed a disposition to rebellion. It was agitated in Council that Mr. Read should be sent to the British fleet for safety; his father opposed it, and called the measure insidious, treacherous. Warm arguments ensued, violence was threatened, and Mr. Read, with several members of the Board, rose, and stood with their hands on the hilt of their swords. A measure had been adopted in a secret meeting of the Board, which was to make head against the opposition by means of the British fleet, which lay below at Five-Fathom Hole. Troops were hourly expected, when Sir James intended to head the expedition, and oppose force to force. In the meantime, a popular meeting of the revolters had sent express to summon men from the distant Western parishes, and, also, resolved to make the Governor and Council prisoners. These separate things were known to Mr. W. Read, and to Thomas Lee, messenger of Council, whose heart being with the people, secretly communicated with Mr. Read, he being able to hear a part of the measures of the Board. About this time, Mr. W. Read heard his father summoned to a secret midnight meeting of the Council; he knew that things were nearly ripe for the above measurerose hastily, armed himself, and followed his father without his knowledge. As he passed, several mobbish collections of people were on foot, and bonfires lit; they generally knew Mr. Read, and respected him, gave him the time of night as he passed, who civilly returned the compliment, saying: "Fellow subjects, had you not better be abed?" he little suspecting the state of things, that he was to be made prisoner, and never again to be out of bondage parole. Mr. Read went to the Government House, and, while sitting in Council, the Governor and his officers, and Board, were made prisoners, by a deputation from the meeting of the people, who had constituted themselves a Council of Safety. Joseph Habersham was chairman, and one of the committee; Mr. W. Read refused to act. He thought the task too indelicatehis father was implicatedhis agitation now became extreme. He truly loved and honored his father, and deeply lamented the circumstance that had brought about the measure. Mr. W. Read remained on the ground all night. (From Documentary History of the American Revolution, by Gibbes, Volume 2, pp. 248-293) Doc ID: Gibbes, v. 2, p. 248a Date: various |
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