A marker telling the story of Hatfield Revolutionary-era Lt. Col. Jacob Reed was dedicated on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, and is seen with Towamencin SAR members in the background. (Photos courtesy of Towamencin DAR)
Forst family honored for helping preserve historic home
On Saturday, September 6, the Towamencin Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution in collaboration with the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, the Hatfield 250 committee, and the Hatfield Historical Society and Museum hosted a plaque dedication ceremony in memory of one of Hatfield’s most prominent early citizens and a Revolutionary War hero, Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Reed.
Jacob Reed was a local farmer and church elder and the highest ranked military officer from Hatfield.
He served as lieutenant colonel of the 1st Battalion of the Pennsylvania County militia and was invaluable to Gen. George Washington for his knowledge of this area and its populace.
Reed was in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown and at General Burgoyne’s surrender.
Members of the Towamencin Sons of the American Revolution, fire muskets at a ceremony dedicating a marker for Hatfield Revolutionary-era Lt. Col. Jacob Reed. (Photos courtesy of Towamencin DAR)Reed first occupied this tract of land on the leasehold plan under the Penn Partnership as early as 1756.
The patent for the land was finally granted to him in February 1770. The oldest portion of the house, a log dwelling, dates between 1756 and 1770. Later additions date from 1800-1820. Today the property is 32 acres including barns, homes, and other outbuildings.
Reed’s log home, which exists as part of the expanded farmhouse, survives to this day largely due to the efforts of William Forst of Hatfield. In the late 1990s at the age of 60-plus years, he took out a mortgage to purchase the property and save it from being torn down.
Using his own money and time, he worked at restoring the home to what it is today.
Descendants of Jacob Reed sported red, white and blue at a ceremony dedicating a marker for Hatfield Revolutionary-era Lt. Col. Jacob Reed. (Photos courtesy of Towamencin DAR)
Fay Forst Younger, currently a resident of the historic home of Hatfield Revolutionary-era Lt. Col. Jacob Reed, poses with a marker dedicated on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (Photos courtesy of Towamencin DAR)
Members of the Towamencin Sons of the American Revolution, Scout Troop 51 and 511 members, Regent Grace Seelig, and the NP Select Choir present the colors at a ceremony dedicating a marker for Hatfield Revolutionary-era Lt. Col. Jacob Reed. (Photos courtesy of Towamencin DAR)
Wendy Forst Ferrell, Fay Forst Younger, State Senator Maria Collett, Hatfield Commissioners President Tom Zipfel, state Representative Steve Malagari, and Deputy District Director for Congressman Fitzpatrick – Peter Chong pause at a ceremony dedicating a marker for Hatfield Revolutionary-era Lt. Col. Jacob Reed. (Photos courtesy of Towamencin DAR)
Members of the Towamencin C.A.R speak at a ceremony dedicating a marker for Hatfield Revolutionary-era Lt. Col. Jacob Reed. (Photos courtesy of Towamencin DAR)The William G. Pomeroy Foundation has partnered with the National Society Daughters of the Revolution to celebrate the semiquincentennial of the nation in 2026 by offering grants to commemorate historical points of interest significant to the Revolutionary War Period.
One of the historical sites awarded this grant was the homestead of Lieut. Col. Jacob Reed, on Penn Avenue in Hatfield. Towamencin, NSDAR 2nd Vice Regent and America 250 chair, Holly Hayick, with the assistance of the Hatfield Historical Society and Museum, applied for the grant.
Hayick and Chapter Regent, Grace Seelig, spent months organizing the event. There were so many people who helped with this celebration: the Forst family (current homeowners), members of the Towamencin Chapter, the Sons of the American Revolution Philadelphia Continental Chapter, the Towamencin Society of the Children of the American Revolution, PSSDAR representatives Beth Watkins and Christyn Olmstead, the North Penn Select Choir, Boy Scout Troop 51 and 511, Hatfield 250, and local, state, and national dignitaries.
State Sen. Maria Collett, Rep. Steve Malagari, Hatfield Township Commissioners President Thomas Zipfel, and the District Director for Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick spoke to the audience which included seven descendants of Lt. Col. Reed.
Holly Hayick and Grace Freret Seelig planned the event.
DAR is a non-political service organization that promotes historic preservation, education and patriotism, and is open to any woman 18 years or older who can prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence.
For more information about DAR visit www.dar.org.
