Captain Daniel Ryerson Reading, Sr

Pennsylvania Gazette

27 Oct 1768

Amwell, New Jersey, Oct. 17, 1768.

On Wednesday the 5th inst., a melancholy accident happened here. On the afternoon of the same day, Captain Daniel Reading, son of the Honorable John Reading, Esq., late of this place, deceased, and two other gentleman, each with his fowling piece, charged with some shot, went out to divert themselves, in the pursuit of game in the neighboring woods, and they having discovered a squirrel on a tree, one of the gentlemen presented, but the object moving, he took down his piece, and, as he confidently thinks, half cocked it.

Whilst they were walking about the tree, in order, again to discover the same game, the gun of the gentleman, who had presented, being in his hand, accidently went off, and Captain Reading, being at a little distance, in a direction nearly straight before the muzzle of the gun, unhappily received the charge in his right arm above the joints of the elbow, which not only lacerated the flesh and fractured the bone where it struck, but broke it off short a little above where it entered.

With some difficulty, he got home, and in most excruciating pain, which continued for some days. Skillful surgeons were immediately called to his relief, who willing, agreeably to his own desire, and that of his friends, to use the utmost endeavors to save his arm, did not proceed to an amputation. Little or no fever ensued, and after a few days the pain abated, and the wounded part began to supporate.

But notwithstanding many flattering symptoms of a favorable issue, yet, on the morning of the 15th inst., he unexpectedly and suddenly expired without any visible mortification in the parts, unless livid and blueish streaks under his wounded arm, and on his side might be judged indications of it.

Captain Reading’s placid, easy, and of a benevolent engaging disposition and conduct, had rendered him the object of universal esteem and affection, wherever he was known; hence his death is very justly and greatly regretted. It is not only an unspeakable loss to a deeply afflicted widow, and a large family of children, but to the particular Society to which he belonged, of which he was a useful member, and to all his acquaintances. He was one of the most loving and affectionate of husbands and tenderest of fathers, and a steady friend, and his immature and unexpected death, in the prime of his days, and in the midst of his usefulness, shows the vanity of man, in his best estate, and the great necessity of attending to our Lord’s admonition, “Be ye also ready, for in such hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.”

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jul 31 2017, 18:00:06 UTC

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