# George Reade (colonial governor)

George Reade (October 25, 1608 – November 21, 1671) was a prominent landowner, military officer, judge, and politician who served as a member of the House of Burgesses and as Acting Governor of Virginia Colony. He is the great-great-grandfather of the first President of the United States, George Washington.

## Early life and family

Reade was born on October 25, 1608, in Linkenholt, Hampshire, England, the son of Sir Robert Reade and Mildred Windebank Reade. He descended from Magna Charta Sureties. His paternal grandparents were Andrew Reade and Alice Cooke, and his maternal grandparents were Frances Dymoke and Sir Thomas Windebank. His uncle was Sir Francis Windebank, Secretary of State to King Charles I. After his mother died, Reade traveled to Virginia in January 1637 at the age of 28 as a member of John Harvey's staff.

### Marriage and children

In 1641, Reade married Elizabeth Martiau, daughter of Nicolas Martiau and first wife Jane Berkeley. They were likely married in what is now known as Yorktown in York County, Virginia. They had seven children, including:
* Mildred Reade (1643–1694), married Augustine Warner Jr.
* Robert Reade (1644–1722/23), married Mary Lilly
* George Reade Jr. (born c. 1648)
* Francis Reade (1650–1694), married Jane Chisman
* Elizabeth Reade (1654–1717), married Capt. Thomas Cheesman
* Benjamin Reade (born c. 1667), married Mary Gwynn
* Thomas Reade (birthdate unknown), married Lucy Gwynn

## Career

Reade settled first in a plantation home in Williamsburg, and later resided in York and Gloucester Counties. Reade acquired considerable land holdings throughout Virginia colony. He was granted 600 acres of land in Lancaster County in 1651, 500 acres in Northumberland County in 1653, 2,000 acres in Westmoreland County in 1657, and 2,000 acres of land along the Piankatank River by the General Assembly in 1667. Reade served in the Virginia Militia beginning in the late 1630s, achieving the ranks of Captain, Major, and Colonel.

### Virginia political career

After Charles I restored John Harvey to the post of Governor of Virginia in 1636, Reade joined him as a member of his party to return to Virginia. Reade worked as an advisor to Harvey and resided at the governor's mansion for a period. From 1638 to 1639, Reade served in the post of Acting Governor of Virginia during Harvey's absence, and until Sir Francis Wyatt was appointed to succeed Harvey. Reade worked closely with Richard Kemp who was the Secretary of the Virginia Colony, and he assumed the post in an acting capacity during Kemp's absence from 1640 until 1642.
From 1649 until 1656, Reade served as a member of the House of Burgesses representing James City County. Reade served as a member of the Virginia Governor's Council from around 1656 until his death. On August 25, 1656, Reade was a justice of the General Court of Virginia, sitting for York County.

## Death

Reade died in 1671 at the age of 63. He is buried at the Grace Episcopal Churchyard in Yorktown.

## Notable descendants

* George Washington (1732–1799) – General of the American Revolutionary War, first American President; 2nd great-grandson
* Thomas Nelson Jr. (1738–1789) – Brigadier General, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Governor of Virginia; 2nd great-grandson
* Meriwether Lewis (1774–1809) – American explorer, Governor of Louisiana Territory; 3rd great-grandson
* George S. Patton (1885–1945) – General of the United States Army during World War II; 7th and 8th great-grandson
* Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022) – Queen of the United Kingdom; 9th great-granddaughter