William Hellier Reed was born 5 December 1831 at Bovey Tracy, Devon, England. In 1841 he was with the Hellyer family in Newton Abbot, Devon, England (not with his parents, but with his grandparents on his mother’s side). He was about 12 years old when he came to the U.S.A. with his parents and siblings about 1843. He was a son of Rev. George Reed (Methodist Minister) and Ann Hellier.

The Reed family settled in Clinton, Maine. William moved to Lowell at an unknown date, but probably about the time he married Delphina. In 1850, he was described as a farmer, but still attending school (age 18). In 1860 census he was in Ward 4 of Lowell, described as a Mill Hand with an estate of $100. In 1870, William was a worker in a cotton mill in Lowell, with a personal estate worth $200., but no real estate. He died at Cornwall, Ontario, 1875 January 27. Cause of death: Apoplexy 4 or 5 hours.

In 1870 Lowell Directory, is listed as “Operative, Appleton Corporation.” In 1872, adddress is 27 Appleton.

Not listed in 1874 Directory. He is listed as a councilman in Ward 2 in 1874 Directory.

Baptised 1832-03-11 at Axminster, Devon, England.

Delphina, or Delphinia (both spelling found) was raised at Roxbury, living there until at least the age of 19.

Delphina married William Hellier Reed on 31 March 1859 and they settled in Lowell, Massachusetts. They could not be found in the 1860 census for Lowell, but William H. Reed appears in the 1861 City Directory.

On 28 March 1872, Delphina died at Lowell, from heart disease. She was survived by her husband and only child Marinda Anna Reed.

Cause of death: Heart disease.

Marriage registration indicates this was her first marriage and her husband’s second
Married by George S. Chadbourne.
Possibly listed as “Mary Reed” widow in 1875-76 Lowell Directory. Not listed in 1874 Directory.
Name listed as Mary D. Reed, widow, in marriage registration at Toronto to Charles R. Shaw in 1880.
Religion listed as Methodist in marriage registration.