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                  David Reese.

David Reese, a native of Wales, was
among the Protestant emigrants who were
induced to settle Ireland.
He was a Presbyterian preacher and took
part in the terrible siege of Londerry,
which lasted eight months in scanty
allowance.  He subsequently returned to
Wales, where his son David Reese was
born in 1710—and came to Amwerica
when a lad about 13 yrs. old.
He settled in Pennsylvania where in due
time, he married Susan Polk a near
relative of Thomas and Ezekiel Polk,
where their own Thomas was born in
1742, who subsequently became a distinquished
clergyman in the Presbyterian church.
About 1750 David Reese migrated with
his young family and located in Poplar
Tent settlement of the Catawba county.
Well educated for his day, he became
a prominent man, and was chosen
one of a bench of Poplar Tent Church
elders in 1751.  Waightsville Avery in Diary of
September 1767- records: “Went to David Reese’s,
plotted a piece of land for him”,

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and “wrote a deed for him to his son”
which would indicate wealth in the
rich land of the country.  He is one of
the (*) delegates to the Mecklenburg
(*) of May 1775; was long a magistrate
and member of the Court.
Though too old to take the field he
was appointed by the Provincial Congress
of April 1776, with Thomas to procure,
purchase and receive fire arms for
the use of the troops of Mecklenburg.
He lived to see his country free and
happy.  His will bears dates of February
b. 1787—and was admitted to probate in
Sept. following.  He must have died not
long before the latter date at the
age of about 77 yrs.  His remains lie
buried in Poplar Tent burial ground
in an unknown grave.
“He was born a statesman” writes Hon.
W. L. Harris and”one of the best men.”
He was commanding in appearance,
fine looking, with bright black eyes.”

History of Mecklenburg County N. C.
by J. B. Alexand, M. D. p. 418-419.

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Thomas Reese, Clergyman, b. in Pennsylvania
in 1742, d. near Pendleton S. C. in August
1794.  He was graduated at Princeton
in 1768, studied theology and was admitted
to the ministry of the Presbyterian church in
1773.  He then became pastor of Salem Church,
Sumter district, S. C., where he continued
until the Revolution.  During the war he
eached in Mecklenburg Co. N. C. but in
1782 he returned to his previous charges,
and in 1792-8, he was pastor of two
churches in Pendleton district.

Princeton gave him the degree of D. D. in 1789.

Dr. Reese was an eminent scholar and
a successful teacher and did much to
promote the religious life of the
colored race in his district to whom
he lectured regularly.  He published
a valuable essay on the “Influence of
Religion on Civil Society” (Charleston S. C> 1788) &
three sermons on the “American Preacher.”
“Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography”,
p. 213, Vol. V.

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David Reese, Signer, was of Scotch-Irish
descent, a native of Pennsylvania,
who (lived or died?) near Poplar Tent.  He
was an entensive Landowner on Coddle
Creek.  He had three sons and three
daus.  One of his sons was educated
at Princeton—studied for the ministry—
and died at Pendleton, S. C. One of his
daus. married Hon. William Sharp.  She
was the grand-mother of Judge David
(*) and Hon. Joseph P. (Credmill or Credwell or ?)

George Reese, one of his grand-sons
lived at West Point, Troop Co. Ga.

“Wheeler’s Reminiscences”, p. 275.

P. S. Have not found anything if
the descendants of Samuel Martin.

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Transcription and scan by G. Anne Sloan