Reed, Abbot, Binford, and Hatch family papers

The Reed, Abbot, Binford, and Hatch families lived primarily in the Maine towns of Roxbury, Rumford, Mexico, Byron, and Freeport for generations. While many members of these families are represented in this collection, below are brief biographies of the primary creators and subjects.

John Reed (1809-1873). Reed was a farmer, owned John Reed & Son, and traded in lumber. He also served as an Oxford County commissioner, Justice of the Peace, member of the 1846 legislature, Inspector of Hops, and postmaster. Reed and his wife, Hannah Richards (1814-1903) had eleven children: Cordelia (1833-1898), Oliver (1835-1837), Stillman (1836-1913), Abner (1839-1907), Alverado (1840-1915), Almira (1843-1904), Alonzo (1845-1864), John F. (1847-1849), Frank (1850-1927), Fred (1852-1920), Hannah (1855-1922), and John Jr. (1859-1935).

John Reed Jr. (1859-1935). Son of John Reed and Hannah Richards, John Reed Jr. owned various businesses, including Swain & Reed, Inc. He married Sarah Goff (1862-1940), and the two had Marcia (Binford), Mira (McMaster), and Marshall Reed (1890-1958).

Marcia "Tickie" Reed Binford (1887-1958). Marcia Reed was a graduate of Smith College, avid family genealogist, active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Roxbury town treasurer. Marcia married Victor Abbot Binford and had Sarah Reed Binford (Hatch). Marcia, Marshall, and other Reed family members managed the Roxbury Mutual Telephone Company.

Mira "Midie" Reed McMaster (1894-1947). Mira married Don McMaster, an executive at Eastman Kodak, and the two lived in Europe until her death.

Horace Jose Binford, M.D. (1856-1944). Son of Cyrus Binford and Olive Sawyer, and a medical doctor. He married Bertha Abbot (1868-1894) and the two had Victor Abbot Binford. After Bertha’s death, Horace Binford married Lula Abbot (1863-1961), Bertha's sister.

Elizabeth Ann Foster Abbot (1838-1938). Daughter of Joseph Foster and Sarah Knapp Holman, Elizabeth married Victor M. Abbot, M.D. (1831-1885), and the two had Lula (Binford), Bertha (Binford), and Valley Abbot. Elizabeth and Victor Abbot owned extensive property and infrastructure in Mexico, Me., including local waterways and sewer systems.

Victor Abbot Binford (1887-1960). The son of Bertha Abbot and Horace Jose Binford, Victor was adopted by Lula Abbot Binford after his mother’s death and her marriage to his father. He married Marcia Reed and was the father of Sarah Reed Binford (Hatch).

Sarah Reed Binford Hatch (1916-1978). Daughter of Marcia Reed and Victor Abbot Binford, Sarah spent a year living in England in 1937, married Philmon G. Hatch, and bred Arabian horses at their farm, Butternut Hill. Sarah and Philmon Hatch had three children: Ann (Watson Raymond), Patricia (Hebblethwaite), and Stephen.

Philmon Gordon Hatch (1912-1997). Son of Mary Henrietta Snow and James Gordon Hatch of Freeport, Me., Philmon Hatch served in the Pacific during WWII, and ran Butternut Hill with his wife Sarah Binford Hatch.

Ann Hatch Watson Raymond (1943-2023). Daughter of Sarah Reed Binford and Philmon G. Hatch. Ann grew up in Freeport, participated in a Jackson Memorial Laboratories summer program at 15, attended Hunter College and NYU, and was an avid family genealogist. Her son Doug Watson gifted this collection to MHS.