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Continental Congresses

James Randolph Reid (c. 1747–c. 1789)

A delegate from Pennsylvania in the Continental Congress (1787-89), James Randolph Reid also served in the Continental Army.

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He was born in Pennsylvania. In “Thru the Years” genealogist May N. Riley states that Reid was born in 1735, contrary to all other sources. She also states that Reid was born in Chester County (now Adams County), Pennsylvania, [1] not the official birthplace of record, Hamiltonban Township, in York (now Adams) County, Pennsylvania [2] Reid’s parents’ names are James and Margaret Reed—why his name became “Reid” remains unknown. In a will that Reid wrote prior to his death, and which was first published in 1897, he signed his name as “James R. Reed.” [3]

Historian William Egle wrote in 1891 that Reid’s father was a “native of the North of Ireland,” but that he was born in Chanceford Township, Pennsylvania, in 1747. Egle states that Reid “received a classical education in the school of Dr. Alison, 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 [General John] Forbes’s expedition against Fort Duquesne [now Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania] as an ensign.” [4]

According to his official congressional biography, Reid “graduated from Princeton University with a bachelor of arts degree,” although the year is not given. [5]

Reid volunteered for service in the Continental Army at some point early in the war against England. Historian William Egle reported that Reid was “commissioned [on] January 6, 1776 [as a] 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 gallant officer. He was one of the original members of the Society of the Cincinnati.” [6] Further, there is a rather unusual notation in an orderly book from 1780: From the Fourth New York Regiment, there is an order stating that on 12 September 1780, in regards to Morning Orders, “Major [Lebbeus] Ball is Appointed [a] Member of the Court of Inquiry[,] Vice Major Reed [sic] on Detachment.” The work, with a footnote, reported that the “Major Reed” refers to “Major James Randolph Reid, 2d Canadian Regiment.” [7]

On 13 November 1787, the Pennsylvania Assembly elected Reid to a seat in the Continental Congress, even as the body was being phased out following the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, which, in the summer of 1787, had drafted the new US Constitution, laying out a blueprint for a bicameral national legislature. Reelected on 13 November 1788, Reid ultimately served in the Continental Congress on 18 December 1787, from 21 January to about 7 August 1788, 26 August to 10 October 1788, and on 1 January 1789. [8] There is little on Reid’s work, if any, in the body during its closing months; historian Edmund Cody Burnett wrote that in the final weeks few delegates, if any, showed up: “Thus, on the last day of December, it was: ‘Mr. S. A. Otis from Massachusetts.’ Then, on the first day of January, 1789, it was: ‘Mr. J. R. Reid from Pensylvania [sic] [and] Mr. R. Barnwell from South Carolina.’” [9]

To George Ross, his fellow Pennsylvanian, Reid penned, “The depreciation of our paper money is a serious peice [sic] of business with public Officers. I find I shall have occasion for one month’s pay, which I wish I could be favoured [sic] with on account, as we got before.” [10] To the Vice President of Pennsylvania, Peter Muhlenberg, he explained on 5 May 1788, “Sir, I am under the necessity of applying for a draught on your treasury, there is a considerable sum due me, and as it is a custom with other States to be three months in advance with their Delegates, I presume Pennsylvania are not less disposed to accommodate their delegates than any State in the Union, and therefore beg leave to ask for five months [sic] pay or £350 on account. [P.S.] I need not mention the State of the paper money, nor do I expect to draw the money bad as it is but can make such use of the order as will answer present purposes.” [11] He complained to William Irvine, also of Pennsylvania, on 30 May 1788, “Yesterday we had Ten States upon the floor, this day Mr. Swan Colleague to Mr. Williamson has been innoculated [sic] and I do not expect he will be able to attend! [W]e have made considerable progress in the land Ordinance, having got to the last paragraph but one.’ this day is big with the fate of Kentucky and the world.’ I will write you next monday [sic] or as soon as we finish the Ordinance and liberate Kentucky I received your letter dated at philadelphia [sic]. Mr. Brown received his Bill[.] The authentic resolution with respect to delinquents accompanies this. Give my love to our friends and expect punctual and early information of what is going on here.” [12]

His official congressional biography says that Reid “died in Middlesex, Cumberland County, Pa., 25 January 1789.” [13] However, historian William Egle reported that “Major Reid died at Carlisle, to which place he removed, on the 4th of April 1790.” [14] No contemporary obituaries were found, and Reid’s place of burial is unknown. Additionally, some sources do not mention Reid’s wife, or that he married. Historian May Riley says that “he married in 1770 a widow, Mrs. Frances Callender, in Lancaster County, with a son and daughter by Robert Callender from Virginia.” The couple would have four children on their own—three sons and a daughter. [15]

According to Reid’s will, published in 1897 by historian William Egle, there was no mention of children.

[1] [1] Reid official congressional biography, online at http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000147.

[2] [2] Riley, May N., “Thru the Years” (Privately Published, 1999), 11. This work can be found online at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~paadams/Books/TTY.pdf.

[3] [3] Egle, William Henry, ed., “Notes and Queries, Historical and Biographical and Genealogical, Relating Chiefly to Interior Pennsylvania. Annual Volume, 1896” (Harrisburg: Harrisburg Publishing Company, 1897), 66.

[4] [4] Egle, William Henry, “James R. Reid, Member of the Continental Congress, 1787-1788,” The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, XV:3 (1891), 352.

[5] [5] Reid official congressional biography, online at http://­bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000147.

[6] [6] Egle, William, “James R. Reid,” op. cit., 352.

[7] [7] Tallmadge, Samuel, ed., “Orderly Books of the Fourth New York Regiment, 1778-1780, the Second New York Regiment, ­1780-1783” (Albany: The University of the State of New York, 1932), 495.

[8] [8] Edmund Cody Burnett, ed., “Letters of Members of the Continental Congress” (Washington, DC: Published by the Carnegie Institution of Washington; eight volumes, 1921-36), VIII:xcv.

[9] [9] Ibid., VIII:lx.

[10] [10] James Randolph Reid to George Ross, 4 January 1788, in ibid., VIII:693.

[11] [11] James Randolph Reid to Peter Muhlenberg, 5 May 1788, in ibid., VIII:742.

[12] [12] James Randolph Reid to William Irvine, 30 May 1788, in ibid., VIII:822. The “Mr. Swan” whom Reid referred to was ­delegate John Swann of North Carolina.

[13] [13] Reid official congressional biography, op. cit., ­online at http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000147.

[14] [14] Egle, William, “James R. Reid,” op. cit., 353.

[15] [15] Riley, op. cit.

Citation Types

MLA 9th
"James Randolph Reid (c. 1747–c. 1789)." Continental Congresses, edited by Mark Grossman, Salem Press, 2016. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=Cong_0359.
APA 7th
James Randolph Reid (c. 1747–c. 1789). Continental Congresses, In M. Grossman (Ed.), Salem Press, 2016. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=Cong_0359.
CMOS 17th
"James Randolph Reid (c. 1747–c. 1789)." Continental Congresses, Edited by Mark Grossman. Salem Press, 2016. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=Cong_0359.