The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
Author: Jesse McIntyre III
John Rea was born 27 January 1755 at Rea’s Mansion near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
He married Elizabeth Culbertson in 1805. Their marriage is blessed with eleven children.
At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, he enlisted in Capt. William Hendrick's company of Colonel Thompson's rifle battalion. They were the first armed force to leave Pennsylvania for General Washington's camp at Cambridge, Massachusetts. Leaving Carlisle, Cumberland County, on July 15, 1775, they reached Cambridge on August 8, having been more than three weeks on the way. His next service was as lieutenant of a company in the 5th Battalion of Cumberland County Militia, his commission bearing date Jan. 20, 1777. On July 31, 1777, he was promoted to captain of the 8th Company in the 8th Battalion, Colonel Smith commanding, being recommissioned May 14, 1778. On May 10, 1780, he was made captain of the 2nd Company, 1st Battalion, Cumberland County Militia, Col. James Johnston commanding, thus being virtually in active service during the entire struggle, serving under Colonels Armstrong, Smith and Johnston.
At the close of the war, Captain Rea became an officer of the Pennsylvania Militia, rising through the several grades to the rank of brigadier-general. During the War of 1812 he was major-general of the 7th Division of Pennsylvania Militia, in active service. His services as a civilian were not less distinguished than those which he rendered as a soldier. On October 1784, Rea was commissioned the first coroner of Franklin County, Pennsylvania. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly, from Franklin County, in the sessions of 1789-90, 1792-93 and 1796-97. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District from 1803-1811 and to the House of Representatives from Pennsylvania’s 5th District from 1813 – 1815.
He passed on 26 February 1829 in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania and is buried in Rocky Spring Churchyard near Chambersburg.
Sources: Family History page on Rea:
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rea_(politician) http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000089 http://genealogytrails.com/penn/franklin/bios/Rea_family.html
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