JOHNATHAN READ (1752-1795) Johnathan Read, son of Col. Clement Read and Mary Hill Read, was born at "Bushy Forest". Charlotte County, Virginia, on September 6, 1752, being the youngest of eight children. His parents were among the earliest settlers of the newly explored territory of south central Virginia, going there from New Kent County and settling first in Brunswick County and later moving on to a 10,000 acre tract on the Roanoke River in what is Charlotte County, which Col. Read had purchased about 1725-30. Johnathan Read was only ten years old when his father died and lived his entire life on this frontier estate known as "Bushy Forest", which his parents had established. When he was twenty-four years old, he eloped with Jane Lewis, age sixteen. They were married by a magistrate in North Carolina. When he and his bride returned home, nine days later, his mother demanded that they be married again by her Chaplain of the Established Church of England. Johnathan Read served as an officer in the Charlotte County Militia during the Revolution and continued to serve with this unit at least until 1789. He died at age forty-three on October 5, 1795 at "Bushy Forest". This estate now lies, in part, in Charlotte County. (Members of the Jacob Flournoy Chapter, DAR who are descendants of Johnathan Read are Mrs.J.A. Hornbeak and Mrs. W.L. Holland) Taken from the Fulton Daily Leader, Fulton, Kentucky, and April 19, 1974.