Histories

In his 1820 will in Rutherford County, Tennessee, John Sanford Fagan, a Revolutionary War soldier, named his five children, including Sally Jones Reed, and named Lemuel Reed as an executor. Sally Fagan and Lemuel Reed were married in Rutherford County in 1815. One of their older children, Alexander A Reed, may have come to Texas in the 1830s, and a child was born in Texas in 1841. Sally Fagan Reed moved to Texas with her children in 1847, and Lemuel died either before the move or enroute. Listed with Sary J. Reed in the 1850 federal census in Shelby County, Texas, were four of her children. Other married children lived nearby, including daughter Mary Ellen, who had married James Savage. Sally Reed was ill for several months before her death in 1853. Some of her sons were blacksmiths in Shelby and Wood counties, and Reedsville was named for son Richard G. "Dick" Reed, a sawmill owner. James Savage, husband of Mary Ellen, farmed in Shelby County, where they raised a large family. Their grandson, Willie Savage, served a term as State Representative beginning in 1915. Many Reed descendants continue to live in East Texas today.

Obituary for Sarah J Reed, Methodist Louisville and Nashville Christian Advocate, June 1853.

Last Will of John S Fagan, 20 March 1820, Rutherford County, Tennessee, 5:58.

James G M Ramsey, The Annals of Tennessee, Charleston: John Russell, 1853, pp. 241, 786.

John Feagan, US Revolutionary War Rolls, Virginia, 7th Regiment, Muster Roll of Capt Wm Johnston.

1840 US census, Rutherford County, Tennessee [need details].

1850-1940 US censuses, Shelby County, Texas [need details].

1870, 1880, 1900 US censuses, Wood County, Texas [need details].

Wood County Historical Commission plaque, "The Pine Mills Community," Reed Cemetery, Wood County, Texas.

Headstones, Reed Cemetery, Wood County, Texas.

Civil War and Confederate pension applications for numerous family members [need details].

Winnie Savage Smith, "Reed Family", Shelby County Historical Commission, History of Shelby County, Texas, 1988, p. 737.

John Fagan was wounded at the Battle of King's Mountain, Revolutionary War. His name appears on King's Mountain Battle Monuments. The Shelby County Courthouse was destroyed by fire, along with early county records. People were asked to refile records they had. Fortunately, a deed from Mary E. (Reed) Savage et al. to F. M. Fulsom, 5 November 1874, was refiled on 10 June 1894. Listed are Mary E. Savage, surviving wife of James Savage, deceased, and then living heirs: S. E. Savage and James L. Yarborough; Martha Savage and Alonzo Hilliard; Mary Savage and A. L. Oliver; Harriet Savage and N. G. Fulsom; Ann Savage and F. M. Fulsom; Susan Savage and Marion Sanches; James F. and Lavisa Savage; R. A. Savage; Louisa Savage; Aliza Savage. 

James Savage was said to have served in the British Navy at age 14, on a ship of which his uncle was captain; he was said to have jumped ship when it arrived in New Orleans and joined uncles in Virginia. 

Y-DNA of James Savage's great-great grandson, Kenneth Savage (deceased) is haplogroup R-M269 (R1b1a2) [This is thought to be the haplogroup of Niall of the Nine Hostages, but in 2021 there is some controversy on this.] TX000062 has numerous DNA matches with Savage and Reed descendants.