Read family.

Residents of Hobcaw Plantation, near Charleston, S.C.; Jacob Read was the husband of Catherine Read, brother of William Reed (1754-1845) and brother-in-law of Charles Ludlow; Catherine Read was sister of Elizabeth Ludlow, sister-in-law of Charles Ludlow and aunt of Polly Clarkson.

The Read family was outstanding in the accomplishments and activities of its members. John Read, was a land owner and was progenitor of the American branch of the family. His son, George Read was a lawyer and was active in the cause of American independence. He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and served as president of the Continental Congress from 1777 to 1778. His son, John Read was also a lawyer and was deeply involved in several Philadelphia banking firms. John Merideth Read was a lawyer and served as Pennsylvania Attorney General and was a judge on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He was the son of John Read and grandson of George Read. John Merideth Read, Jr. was also a lawyer. He served as New York State Adjutant General from January to August, 1861 and was American consul general at Paris, 1869-1873. He was also minister resident to Greece, 1873 to 1876. His son, Harmon Pumpelly Read was a genealogist and an expert in heraldry. He was active in the Royal Geographical Society and the Sons of the American Revolution. He was a resident of Albany, N.Y. and was active in many local affairs. Harmon's brother, John Merideth Read, III was an artist and rare book collector. He studied art under Dumaresque and dabbled in the occult. He eventually married the Countess Alix de Foras of France.

Thomas Buchanan Read was a poet, a portrait and history painter, and sometime sculptor, and worked in the U.S. and abroad.