Joseph Reed, born in Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in 1724, served during the French and Indian War. In 1765, he settled at Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire. When news of the battle of Lexington reached this peaceful neighborhood, he volunteered with many of his neighbors, and marched away to the camp at Cambridge, reaching there in time to participate in the battle of Bunker Hill, where with John Stark and the left wing of the army, posted behind a rail-fence, he aided in keeping the British at bay and covering the retreat of the main body from the redoubt. In 1776, he was ordered to join the reinforcements under Sullivan, marching to the relief of the American army in Canada. Reed, with many others, was attacked by small-pox, and after a long illness rose from his bed incapacitated for further active service. Congress, on the 9th of August, 1776, promoted him to the rank of brigadier-general, and he retained command for a while, hoping to regain his health and strength. Finding himself, however, unfit for duty, he retired shortly after on half-pay, and returned home nearly deaf and blind. He passed the remainder of his life in Fitzwilliam, enjoying the esteem and respect of all who knew him, and died at Fitchburg, Massachusetts, on the 13th of February, 1807.