James Reynolds, of Plymouth & Kingstown

Supposedly John Reynolds, of Rhode Island was his brother but Y DNA testing does not so far support it.

[http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/s/i/m/William-L-Simpson-...]

James [supposedly] had a twin brother named John. On May 13,1665, he signed the petition for land in Kings Province, and on May 20, 1671, he took 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 as 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.

family

From http://www.geneajourney.com/reynldj.html

Reynolds of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island

James Reynolds [a] b 13 May 1625, of Plymouth, MA, d Aug 1700, North Kingstown, Washington, RI. He md Deborah 1647, North Kingstown, Washington, RI. She was b 1628, North Kingstown, Washington, RI, d 15 Oct 1692, North Kingstown, Washington, RI.

Children of James Reynolds and Deborah were:

1. John Reynolds b 12 Oct 1648, Plymouth, MA, d bef 3 Jun 1699, North Kingstown, RI; md Sarah Ayres abt 1669, North Kingstown, RI.
2. James Reynolds b 28 Oct 1650, Plymouth Colony, d bet 1703-1713, North Kingstown; md [1] Mary Greene 19 Feb 1685, and [2] Joanna Potter.
3. Joseph Reynolds b 27 Nov 1652.
4. Elizabeth Reynolds b 1654.
5. Henry Reynolds b 1 Jan 1655/56, Plymouth, MA, d bef 28 Apr 1716; md Sarah Greene abt 1685.
6. Deborah Reynolds b 17 Feb 1657/58, prob Plymouth, MA, d bef 12 Aug 1714; md John Sweet 1677, Warwick, RI.
7. Francis Reynolds b 12 Oct 1662, prob North Kingstown, Washington, RI, d 14 Apr 1722, North Kingstown, Washington, RI; md Elizabeth Greene 1688, Warwick, Kent, RI.
8. Mary/Mercy Reynolds b 22 Dec 1664, prob North Kingstown, Washington, RI; md Thomas Nichols abt 1685, North Kingstown, Washington, RI.
9. Benjamin Reynolds b abt 1666, of North Kingstown, Washington, RI.

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This from the Reynolds Family Association site (www.narnet.com/rfa/line14/index.html), 1/24/02:

https://www.reynoldsfamily.org/line13/index.php

A Genealogy of James and Deborah Reynolds of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, and Descendants. 1st ed. Stephen C. Roth, compiler and editor.

In 2 vols., 1785 pp plus 486-page annotated index. Salem MA: Higginson Book Co. For information about price and shipping, please contact Higginson Books at http://www.higginsonbooks.com/r.htm.

Steve Roth, a descendant of James and Deborah Reynolds, has been compiling this genealogy for many years, before and after the time he served as Registrar for the Reynolds Family Association.

James Reynolds was born in 1625, probably in England, and died in 1700 in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. Various theories as to the possible ancestry of James Reynolds are presented and discussed. James Reynolds was an early settler in New England, known to be living in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1643, and later obtaining land and establishing himself and his family in the Quidnessett region (now North Kingstown) of Rhode Island prior to 1669.

Deborah died prior to October 1692, also in North Kingstown. James and Deborah had seven children (John, James, Joseph, Henry, Deborah, Francis, and Mercy), and this book traces the generations forward through these seven offspring. In some cases, information is presented on descendants who are more than 15 generations removed from James and Deborah.

In addition to giving the usual vital genealogical information such as birth, marriage, and death dates and locations, biographical information is included where possible. More than 10,000 descendants of James and Deborah Reynolds are included in this book.

The 486-page index is alphabetized by surname (both married and maiden surnames are given for women), birth and death years are given when known for each entry, and each entry is referenced to its location in the manuscript.

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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 Aug 1627" and "1630" as other possible dates. She also indicates him a twin, "to John Reynolds." ___ B. Reynolds has this long entry re James Reynolds:

James REYNOLDS (William3, Christopher2, Robert1)(1927) was born in North Kingston, Washington County, Rhode Island May 13, 1625. James died August, 1700 in Kingston, Washington County, Rhode Island, at 75 years of age.

He married three times. He married Susannah SHELDON. He married Ann HOLBROOK. He married Deborah ? Abt 1647. Deborah was born 1620. Deborah died Bef October 15, 1692 at approximately 72 years of age. Possibly a twin... In 1664, 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, 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 Torn 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)...

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__ Per Rivera: "Notes about James Reynolds on page 52 of the New England Families Genealogical and Memorial, Volume 1.(The part concerning his children are found in the More About.... of each children information page.) "First, it mention 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, assisstance 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." ___ Sandy: "James REYNOLDS * "BIRTH (undocumented date): DEATH (abt Sep 1700; Kingston, RI): MARRIAGE (abt 1647; Deborah): Carl Boyer III's Ancestral Lines at the Orlando Public Library. "NOTE - James Reynolds, born, according to Tillman, who gave no substantiation or detail to support the allegation, 13 May 1625, died in Kings Town, RI, about Sep 1700. He married Deborah about 1647. It is unlikely he was a son of William Reynolds of Providence, as Austin suggested; Paul Prindle has pointed out that he might have been a brother. "On 13 May 1665 he was one of those applying to the RI General Assembly for permission to settle in Kings's Province, an area then in dispute between RI and CT. Befoe 1699 he was living on the Walter Cunnigrave allotment on the Potowomut River in Quidnesset in the King's Province, now North Kingston. Nearly all the 1665 petitioners were from Newport, RI, so it may be that he went to Kings Town from Newport, where a "James Renolds" was listed as a jurorin a case dated 23 Oct 1667. The first house he built in Kings Town, on land through which the Sand Hill Stream flows into the Potowomut, was burned in King Philip's War in 1675. In 1671 he was listed as "Mr. James Reynolds", a distinction at that time. On 3 Mar 1690 he was made Conservator of the Peace. He deeded away much of his land to his family before he died. His will, dated 15 Oct 1692, was proven 14 Oct 1700. According to formal statements executed in Sep 1700 it was apparently his wish that his Negro slaves be freed when they attained the age of thirty. "Research Note: James Reynolds was apparently in Plymouth as early as August 1643, as "James Renell." He was listed as a son of William Reynolds of Providence by Austin, but it would appear that William married in 1638, and the listing in 1643 of James was one of those aged sixteen or over and able to bear arms. Nonetheless, family tradition persists in stating that his father was one of three brothers, William, John and Christopher, weavers who migrated early from Gloucestershire, England, to Bermuda. According to this tradition, William then came to New England, John remained in Bermuda (but his son John went to PA), and Christopher settled in the Carolinas. The "three brothers" tradition is common to many families and has been disproven a great number of times. However, one cannot afford to ignore any tradition until it has been throughly investigated. "The late Paul W. Prindle, FASG, was concerned with the work of Stephen F. Tillman of 3212 Cummings Lane, Chevy Chase MD 20015, who published "Christopher Reynolds and His Descendants" in 1959. The book contains data attributed to a mrs. Thelma de Shazor of Portland, OR, but Mrs. de Shazor could not be located; no one in Portland of the name could remember her or knew who she was, and Mr. Tillman could shed no light on her. "Bertha Stratton has suggested 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. "None of the data following in this introduction to the Reynolds ancestry should be accepted, but it is presented here as an offering of unsubstantiated material which needs further investigation. According to Tillman, a man named Reynolds of County Kent, England, had three children, Christopher born in Kent in 1530, Nathaniel of London, and Dorothy, who died 21 Nov 1572, having married 11 Aug 1567 William Tilghman. Although Tillman gave specific dates he mentioned no specific places. "Christopher Reynolds, born in Kent in 1530, settled in London, where he was a merchant. Tillman listed the children as follows: 1) George, born in Kent in 1555, died in London in 1634, married 20 Jan 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. "According to Tillman, William Reynolds, who was born in Kent in 1560 and married Esther Ruth (or Roth), died apparently in Bermuda. Tillman listed the following children: 1) Stephen, married Sarah Bradford and settled in CT, 2) Jonathan, settled in Stamford, CT and died in 1673, 3) William married 30 Aug 1638 Alice Kitson and settled in Kennebunke, ME 4) Christopher, 5) John, born 13 May 1625, married Anne Holbrook, lived in Westerly, RI, and died in 1691, 6) James (the one listed here): also born 13 May 1625, 7-8 Catherine, and another daughter: Carl Boyer III 1993." ___

James Reynolds, emigrant and colonist was born in England sometime prior to August 1627 and died in North Kingstown before October 1700. He married undoubtedly in Plymouth Colony 1647 or before, Deborah_________, born in 1600, died in North Kingstown after Feb.25, 1684 but before 1692. Children born in Plymouth Colony:

John b. October 12 1648 James b.October 28, 1650 Joseph b.Nov. 6, 1652 Henry b. Jan. 1, 1656 Deborah b. Feb. 17 1658 Francis b. Oct. 22, 1662* Mercy b. Dec, 22 1664

James Reynolds from Plymouth Colony 1643, Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts

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, M. D. (1857) Vol. 8; p. 188.) It is reasonable to assume James Renell was our James Reynolds. George Louis Nichols, A Nichols Genealogy, (1988).

Links

• http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/s/i/m/William-L-Simpson-...
• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jonsaunde...

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  from https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.2.1/S1NY-CVV

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• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Jan 25 2017, 3:49:50 UTC

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• Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jan 25 2017, 6:36:09 UTC

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• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Jan 25 2017, 15:47:54 UTC

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GEDCOM Note

Biography ==James Reynolds, son of William Reynolds, lived in Kings Town Rhode Island, and died in 1700. On May 13, 1655, he signed the petition for land in Kings Province, and 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...

Sources ==New England families, genealogical and memorial: a record of the ..., Volume 1

edited by William Richard Cutter

AKA Rennells Rennell

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Reynolds-221

Reynolds-221 created 12 Sep 2010 | Last modified 29 Mar 2023

Biography

James Reynolds is the 1st authenticated ancestor of the Rhode Island branch of the Reynolds Family. First records have him landing in Plymouth, Massachusetts as a young man, where a James Renell was recorded in August 1643.

James Reynolds married Deborah (of unknown maiden surname) and their children included [1]...

John Reynolds, b: 12 Oct 1648; killed by the Indians 1675

James Reynolds, b: 28 Oct 1650; m1: Mary Greene; m2: Joanna ???

Joseph Reynolds, b: 27 Nov 1652; m2: Mercy ???

Henry Reynolds, b: 01 Jan 1656; m: Sarah Greene

Deborah Reynolds, b: 17 Feb 1658; m: John Sweet

Francis Reynolds, b: 12 Oct 1662; m: Elizabeth Greene

Mary or Mercy Reynolds, b: 03 Dec 1664; m: Thomas Nichols

Robert Reynolds, m: Deliverance Smith

Benjamin Reynolds.

He settled his family on the Potowomut River.

On 13 May 1665 he petitioned the Assembly for accommodation of land.

He took oath of allegiance 30 May 1671 and the same year was Constable.

In 1687 he was overseer of the Poor and a Conservator of the Peace in 1690.

He died about 1700 and was buried in North Kingstown, Washington County, Rhode Island. [2] [3]

Research Notes

Tradition would have it that James was the son of William, but William married in 1638 which was too late to have been James' father.

1637 William Reynolds was of Providence.

1637/Aug/20 or a little later, William Reynolds and 12 others signed the following compact ... "We whose names are hereunder, desirous to inhabit in the town of Providence, do promise to subject ourselves in active and passive obedience to all such orders or agreements as shall be made for public good of the body in an orderly way, by the major consent of the present inhabitants; masters of families, incorporated together in Town fellowship, and others whom they shall admit unto them only in civil things".

1640/July/27 William Reynolds and 38 others signed an agreement for a form of government.

1644/Jan/30 William Reynolds and others of Providence, testified as to the outrage on Warwich settlers by Massachusetts.

1646/Apr/27 William Reynolds sold some land. The name of his wife was not given. He had 1 child named James. [1]

C. 1647 he married Deborah Jordan in Plymouth Colony where some of their children were born. By 1669 they resided in Quidnesset, part of what became North Kingstown Twp., Rhode Island. C. 1681 they conveyed realty in East Greenwich, RI. James was administrator for his father's estate; James's brothers Henry, Joseph and Francis receipted for their shares of that estate. Items in this paragraph given in Roth, Stephen, Reynolds: A Genealogy of James and Deborah Reynolds of N. Kingstown, RI ... (1999).
The birth date of 5-13-1625 is unsubstantiated. It appeared in the discredited 1959 book on Reynolds descendants by Tillman, a collection of unvetted data submitted on 3x5 cards by persons claiming a Reynolds ancestor.

James Reynolds (1625 - 1698)

James Reynolds

Born 13 May 1625 in Plymouth, Devon, England

Son of William Reynolds [uncertain] and [mother unknown]

Husband of Deborah (Unknown) Reynolds — married 1648 [location unknown]

Father of John Reynolds, James Reynolds, Joseph Reynolds, Elizabeth Reynolds, Henry Reynolds, Deborah (Reynolds) Sweet, Robert Reynolds, Francis Reynolds, Mercy (Reynolds) Nichols and Benjamin Reynolds

Died 27 Apr 1698 at age 72 in North Kingstown, Rhode Island

Sources

↑ 1.0 1.1 Boddie, John Thomas. Boddie and Allied Families (Chicago, 1918) Page 161.
↑ Cemetery records
↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #87042231 for James Reynolds, b: 13 May 1625; d: Aug 1700; buried: Reynolds Lot, North Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island
Ancestors & Descendants of William & Elizabeth Reynolds of North Kingstown 1903
"United States Rosters of Revolutionary War Soldiers and Sailors, 1775-1783," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7JL1-QC2M : 16 April 2020), James Reynolds, 1687; citing Military Service, Rhode Island, United States, Citing various published state rosters, United States; FHL microfilm 103140772.
Genealogical records submitted to and accepted by the Sons of the American Revolution by William Henry Reynolds Reynolds-18835
Rhode Island, US, Birth Index 1636-1900
North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 for Mercy; Family charts, illustrations, & Coat-of-Arms: Ancestry.com. North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61157/images/46155...

• birth date seen as 05/13/1625 in Kent, England.