James Reynolds (1625-1700)

James Reynolds (1625-1700)

James Reynolds married three times. He married Susannah Sheldon. He married Ann Holbrook. He married Deborah Potter about 1647. Deborah was born 1620. Deborah died Before October 15, 1692 at approximately 72 years of age. He was possibly a twin. In 1664, he settled on the Potowomut River; before 1669, lived in King's Province not far from present village of East Greenwich, Rhode Island, on south side of Potowomut (Reynolds River). October 1667, was in Newport, Rhode Island. Quidnessett, land tract 150 acres. October 1667, appointed Constable of Quidnessett. In 1673, gave 150 acres to his son, John. In 1683, he deeded 50 acres to youngest son, Francis and the other 100 acres to eldest son, James. In 1687, was made Overseer of the Poor. In 1690, was made Conservator of the Peace.

Negro slavery was prevalent in the Rhode Island Colony in the time of James and he evidently owned several negroes, most of whom he gave to his children in his lifetime. Deeds show April 3, 1692, he gave negro slave, Elizabeth and her child sucking at her breast to his son-in-law Thomas Nichols and Mercy (Reynolds), his wife. April 16, 1695 of a negro "born in my house" by the name of Tom or Thomas, of Jay, of Doogint to his son, James. And on January 25, 1698/1699 of a negro John to son, Francis. In his will, he bequeathed a negro girl Betty to his daughter, Deborah Sweet. Before he died, James expressed a wish that all his former slaves be given their freedom when they reached 30 years of age. This wish was honored by the grantees.

Information from David Lee Doll (DDollHouse@aol.com)...

Notes for James Reynolds:

According to the LDS pedigree, this James Reynolds was a twin. McLaughlin has Westerly, Washington County, Rhode Island; list DOB 13 May 1625 but also shows "16 August 1627" and "1630" as other possible dates. She also indicates him a twin, "to John Reynolds."

http://wjra1.fortunecity.com/Reynolds/ps01/ps01_061.html

James Reynolds from Plymouth Colony

James Reynolds is the first authenticated immigrant. At some point it is believed that he landed in the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts for in August 1643 there was a "James Renell" in Plymouth who was counted among those "Sixteen to Sixty years of age" able to bear arms. Plymouth Colony Records, Miscell, 1633-89. Edited by Nathl B Shurtleff, married died (1857) Vol. 8; p. 188. It is reasonable to assume James Renell was our James Reynolds. George Louis Nichols, A Nichols Genealogy, (1988). After settling in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1643, he later obtained land and lived in the Quidnessett region, which is now North Kingston of Rhode Island before 1669.

His wife Deborah died before October 1692 in North Kingstown. They had 7 children.

http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/ViewStory.aspx?tid=11773105&pid=-141777186&oid=8fde7cd6-0b3c4b18-85cc-1c474a51de8a&pg=32768

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**Editors Note: The material Below was obtained from the book: A Genealogy of James and Deborah Reynolds of North Kingstown, Rhode Island and Descendants.

1. James Reynolds was a young man when he came to America (probably born in England) According to family tradition, he landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts

2. In August 1643, there was a James "Rennell" in Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts.

3. 1643 of James was listed as one of those aged sixteen or over and able to bear arms. So William might not be his father.

4. He was listed as a son of William Reynolds of Providence by Austin, but William may have married in 1638.

5. Family tradition says that William Reynolds was one of three brothers, William, John, & Christopher, all weavers who migrated to Bermuda from Gloucestershire, England.

6. According to this tradition, William then came to New England, John remained in Bermuda (but his son John went to Pennsylvania), and Christopher settled in the Carolinas.

7. While the "three brothers" tradition has been disproved many times, and is common to many families, it is still wroth investigating.

8. Bertha Stratton suggests that some branches of the Reynolds family in America might be descended from the family of Reignoldes in Suffolk. No effort has been made to check possibly extant records of the London weavers guild.

3. James Reynolds married Deborah (surname and place of marriage and place of settling all unknown).

4. They were probably in Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts, but they may have been in Newport, Rhode Island or in the wilderness.

5. All 7 of their children were born before they settled on the Potowomut River.

6. Early Rhode Island history had a long and difficult dispute concerning lands on the western shore of Narragansett Bay which were claimed by Rhode Island and Connecticut because both colonies were given grants to this area by England. The land James Reynolds settled in included this area.

7. An appointed Commission named the area that was fought over King’s Province, but by 1675, it was named Kingstown.

8. James Reynolds applied 13 May 1665 asking officially for land in King's Province from the Rhode Island General Assembly.

9. James Reynolds was the first actual settler to live on the 150 acres Call Quidnessett, he appears to have been granted.

10. Quidnessett was in in the northeast part of King's Province Quote: (Aquitawaset by the Indians who sold the land in 1659 to the Atherton Company which allocated this particular parcel of land to Walter Cunnigrave who apparently never occupied it and there is no known deed of this land to James Reynolds from Walter Cunnigrave or the Atherton Company)

11. James Reynolds settled in Quidnessett before 1669 and on 29 January 1669 he purchased adjoining land there.

12. James Reynold's Farm was 150 acres.

13. His farm was near present-day East Greenwich, Rhode Island on the south side of the Potowomut River (a small stream also known as Reynolds River and Mill River and Green's River over the years).

14. James Reynolds’s homestead was built on the 50 acres west of a little brook that runs north through this land into the Potowomut River, now called Sand Hill Stream.

15. James Reynolds too the Oath of Allegiance at the 20 May 1671 General Assembly of Rhode Island.

16. He confirmed ownership of the land he had settled and was appointed Constable. 17. James Reynolds was made Tax Assessor In 1675.

18. The home of James Reynolds was burned down in 1675 and his oldest son John was killed by the Indians as the family fled to a blockhouse near Wickford, Rhode Island. (The blockhouse was owned by Richard Smith, who had purchased it in 1641)

19. John Reynolds was buried in front of where Jame Reynold’s home was.

20. James Reynold’s home was rebuilt in the same spot as the old home.

21. James Reynolds deeded 50 acres west of the brook where the family homestead was to Francis Reynolds (Isaac Mitton Stewart’s direct ancestor)

22. James Reynolds and his wife continued living at the homestead and son James also (until he should build on his inheritance). The deed to Francis was recorded on 20 January 1690 and the deed to James was recorded on 29 April 1684. (*Direct quote from book, I, the editor don’t know how to summarize this.)

23. After King Philips War, James Reynolds got 100 acres more land.

24. James Reynolds and other were arrested by officers in Connecticut, 24 May, 1677. 25. He was arrested and imprisoned at Harford Connecticut for refusing to “acknowledge allegiance to the Colony of Connecticut”.

26. James Reynolds was released later that year. Also in that year, Rhode Island received jurisdiction in the Narragansatt Country.

27. James Reynolds became Overseer of the poor on 16 June 1687.

28. James Reynolds became Conservator of the Peace on 16 June, 1687.

29. James Reynolds had slaves that he deeded to his children.

30. The slaves were deeded to his children with the wish that the slaves be freed when 30 years old. The children agreed to this in formal statements September 1700.

31. James Reynolds died about 1700 in Kingston Rhode Island. Sources: Reynolds Family Records by J. married Seaver, 1929; Reynolds Family Association by S. R. Clement, 1992; James Reynolds of North Kingstown, Rhode Island by V. H. Linley, 2000; Ancestors and Descendants of William and Elizabeth Reynolds by T. A. Reynolds and W. A. Reynolds, 1903

http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/ViewStory.aspx?tid=13326403&pid=-84055884&oid=38bb1854-23cc-45cda4d4-3b2f5d7b1985&pg=32768

Notes about James Reynolds on page 52 of the New England Families Genealogical and Memorial, Vol. 1.(The part concerning his children are found in the More About.... of each children information page.)

1. ***The following data is unsubstantiated, and needs further investigation:

2. According to Tillman, a man named Reynolds of County Kent, England, had three children, (a) Christopher born in Kent in 1530, (b) Nathaniel of London, and (c) Dorothy, who died 21 November 1572, having married 11 August 1567 William Tilghman. Although Tillman gave specific dates he mentioned no specific places.

3. Christopher Reynolds was born in Kent in 1530.

4. Christopher Reynolds was a merchant and settled in London.

5. Tillman listed the children of Christopher Reynolds as follows: 1) George, born in Kent in 1555, died in London in 1634, married 20 January 1585 Thomasyn Church, and had children who settled in Virginia and New England, 2) Christopher, 3) Mary, who died young, 4) William, born in Kent in 1560, married Esther Ruth, 5-7) John, Thomas and Cornelius, 9) Robert, and some daughters in addition to Mary, mentioned above.

6. Tillman says that William Reynolds was born in Kent in 1560, married Esther Ruth (or Roth), and died in Bermuda.

7. Tillman listed the following children: 1) Stephen, married Sarah Bradford and settled in Connecticut, 2) Jonathan, settled in Stamford, Connecticut and died in 1673, 3) William married 30 August 1638 Alice Kitson and settled in Kennebunke, ME 4) Christopher, 5) John, born 13 May 1625, married Anne Holbrook, lived in Westerly, Rhode Island, and died in 1691, 6) James (History 11, this history) also born 13 May 1625, 7-8) Catherine, and another daughter: Carl Boyer III 1993.

It first mentions his name, his father name, place of residence and the death year. The second line reads that on May 13, 1665, he signed the petition for land in Kings Province, and on May 20, 1671, he took the oath of allegiance. He served as constable in 1671, overseer of the poor in 1687, grand juryman in 1688, conservator of the peace in 1690. On May 2, 1677, he was one of those who petitioned the assembly for instruction, assistance and advice, as to the oppressions they suffered from Connecticut, and on May 24, 1677, he and the others who had been taken to Hartford ad prisoners, received the following from the Rhode Island authorities in a letter: "That you might receive all suitable encouragement that as you continue true to your engagement to this colony and upon that account are kept prisoners, we shall equally bear your charges of imprisonment, and with all expedition address ourselves to his Majesty for relief." On July 29, 1679, his name was on the petition to the King for an end to the troubles between

the two colonies.

This is a transcription of the will of James Renolds (Reynolds). The original will was burned badly in a fire. The edges were burned and part of the will is no longer legible. This transcription of what is left is readable. The copy of the was proved by the Rhode Island Historical society Library 121 Hope Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02906-2098. It can be located in Volume I of the “North Kingstown Probate Records”, Page 7. . . .

.Make and ordaine this my. . . . . .?m manner and form following that. . . . . .? I commend my soule into the hands of. . . . . .the Merritts Death and Paszsion of my savaiour . . .and free Pardon and forgiveness of all my sins a. . . . . .ng Life and my Body I commit to the earth to be. . . . . .discretion of my Executor hereafter named and. . . . . .sssition of all such temporal Estage as it hath p. . . . . .to bestow upon me I give and dispose thereof as. . . . . .ia?; my Debts and Funeral charges shall be p. . . . . .ive unto my son Francis Renolds Fourty Shillings. . . . . .ivolent. I give unto my Daughter Deborah Five. . . . . .Betty for Ever and one feather and Bolster on. . . . . .Blanketts and one coverlette and doe give unto married . . . . .cy Nicholas Five Pounds in money or Equivolent to . . . . . .ve unto my grandson John Renolds Tenn Shillings. . . . . .I give unto my granddaughter Sarah Renolds. . . . . . .ney. All the Rest and Residue of my personal Esta. . . . . .cilly whatsoever I Doe give and bequeath unto my Le. . . . . .s Renolds whom I appoint full and sole Executor of. . . . . . .and teastament and I doe hereby Revoke Disanul An. . . . . .nmer wills and Testaments by me heretofore made. . . . . .I the said James Renolds to this my last will and . . . . . .sett to my nand and scale this fifteenth day of October . . . . .ond god one thousand six hundred ninety two 1692. . . . . .in presence of The Mark