Family:Samuel Rea and Ann McCracken (1)

Samuel Rea, son of Alexander Rea, was born in 1734 in New Jersey, soon after the arrival of his parents from Ireland. It was his boast that he was begotten in Ireland, bred on the ocean and born in America. At an early age he settled on Martin's creek, in Lower Mount Bethel township, Northampton Co., Penn., and owned a tract of land lying between Martin's creek and the Great Bethel Church (Presbyterian). He was a colonel in the Revolutionary war, which commenced in 1775. He was married to Ann McCracken, September 22, 1761, and to Rebecca Nelson December 10, 1782. He died September 19, 1813, in his eightieth year, and was buried in Great Bethel graveyard. The marriage with Rebecca Nelson was without issue, but the following children were born to him by his wife Ann McCracken: William, intermarried with Jane Mason; Sarah, with Robert Lyle; Janet, with Mr Sillimen; John, with Rebecca Cox; Alexander, with Miss Jones; Isabel, with Jeptha Orison; Mary, with William McKibben; Ann, with Rev. George M. Scott, grandfather of ex-President Harrison's wife (deceased). Ann McCracken died March 27, 1781, aged forty-five years.

1.   Beers, J. H. and Co., in Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania
   pg. 491, 1893.