James Reed, born at Woburn, Mass., on Jan. 8, 1723, and died at Fitchburg, Mass., on Feb 13, 1807, was one of the proprietors of Monadnock No. 4 and a founder of this town. He was a leader in its civil and religious life, served for many years as a colonial officer in active military service during the French and Indian Wars, was colonel of the 2nd regiment of New Hampshire Volunteers at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and became a brigadier general in the Continental Army.