by Laura Knight
~~~
1625 Feb 16 - Christopher Reynolds (Reinolds) came to Virginia in 1622 on the John and Francis. On February 16, 1624, he was living in Warresqueak (26) and was one of Edward Bennett’s servants. On February 7, 1625, Reynolds was still residing in the Bennett household. On March 13, 1626, Christopher Reynolds testified that he had seen the contract of Peter Collins, another Bennett servant (CBE 42, 62;MCGC 97) (Virginia Immigrants and Adventurers 1607-1635 by Martha W. McCartney, p. 597)
1625 Mar 13 - At the General Court at Jamestown: "Christopher Reighnalls, sworne and examined sayeth that he did see and read Peter Collins indenture and that by [the said] indentures he was bound to serve Mr. Bennett four years." [Minutes of the Council and General Court of Colonial Virginia, H. R. McIlwaine, ed. (1924), p97]
1634 Dec 21 - Deed: Robert Sabine [Savin] to Christopher Reynolds of Warwickqueak (sic), 100 acres. Witness: Robert Cramporne and Thomas Coarkman. (Isle of Wight Deeds & Wills Book A, p103 abstracted by Hopkins)
Baird Note: This sale is also mentioned in a patent to John Mungoe, which describes the land as being on the west side of the Pagan River near its mouth: “the said Sabin (sic) conveyed to Christopher Reinolds the 21 December 1634 and by the sd Reinolds conveyed to Peter Hull the 1 May 1639.” (See entry below for 21 Oct 1684)
1635 – Probable date of Marriage of Christopher Reynolds an either unknown wife number one, or Elizabeth “Widow Rivers” who had a newborn infant, George. She was probably just barely sixteen as girls often were married at 15 in those times. (See notes accompanying Will of Christopher Reynolds, Immigrant.)
1636 – Birth of Christopher Reynolds JR. (Probable date though could be several years earlier. See Will notes.)
1636 Sept 15 – Land Patent: Christopher Reynolds, 450 acs. Warrisquick Co., 15 Sept 1636, p. 382. Bounded with a back Cr. Running Ewd. Behind the Pagan shore some 3 mi. upwards the land lying on the S. side of the Cr. & old Indian field belonging to the land, also running into the woods S. W. & lying on the main Cr. N.E. Trans. Of 9 servants. (Virginia Patent Book 1, p382, p. 47 Cavaliers and Pioneers, Nugent)
Baird Note: In his will, Christopher Reynolds identified this patent as the land he was not living on. He gave 241 acres of it to his son Christopher Reynolds and 209 acres of it to his son John Reynolds.
1638 Birth of Abbasha Reynolds (Probable; see will notes.)
1639 May 1 - Deed: Christopher Reynolds to Peter Hull, the 100 acres purchased in 1634. Witness: John Spackman, John Oliver. (Isle of Wight Wills & Deeds Book A, p103 abstracted by Hopkins)
Baird Note: Also mentioned in a patent to John Mungoe, which describes the land as being on the west side of the Pagan River near its mouth: “the said Sabin (sic) conveyed to Christopher Reinolds the 21 December 1634 and by the sd Reinolds conveyed to Peter Hull the 1 May 1639.” [See entry below for 21 Oct 1684]
1639/40 – Birth of Elizabeth Reynolds. (See Will Notes.)
1640 - Inferred Deed: John Roe to Christopher Reynolds. [see 21 Mar 1643/4] (Baird note)
1641 - Birth of son John Reynolds. (See Will notes.)
1642 – Birth of son Richard Reynolds. (See Will notes.)
1642 Feb 18 - Inferred deed: Christopher Reynolds to Henry Snayle [see 23 Feb 1652/3 and 10 May 1653] (Baird note.)
1643 Mar 21 – Inferred Deed: “Gov. Wm. Berkeley confirms to Arthur Smith 350 acres on main branch of Bay Creek called Cypress Swamp, first granted to James (sic) Roe by Pat. 10 Dec 1640 and by him assigned to Christopher Reynolds who assigned to Arthur Smith provided said Smith do not plant or seat for a term of three years. Dated 21 March 1643. (Endorsed on back) George Smith does assign this pat. To Chris. Hollyman except 100 acres that was given to Arthur Long by my father Arthur Smith in his will and 100 acres that was sold Wm. Oldis. Assignment dated 11 Jan. 1661. Teste, John Jackson ?, Richard Jordan, Jr. Arthur Smith disclaims all right to this land which my brother George assigned to Chris. Holliman and may have by the death of my brother George assignment forever. 11 Jan 1611. Recorded 9 Aug. 1665. Anne Smith wife of George Smith also assigns. ” [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 1, no page given, abstracted by Boddie on p541]
1645 – Birth of Jane Reynolds. (See notes to Will.)
Baird NOTE: Many deed records between 1648 and 1688 are missing.
1649 April 7 - Deed: Ambrose Bennett to Ambrose Meador, 300 acres, part of patent of 1100 acres to Ambrose Bennett dated 23 June 1641, bounded by Christopher Reynolds and Ralph Warriner. [Isle of Wight Wills & Deeds Book A, p111 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird note: Boddie gives this date as 9 April, Hopkins as 7 April. A portion of this patent may have been the home plantation of Christopher Reynolds, which from later records appears to have been purchased from Ambrose Bennett.
1652/3 Feb 23 - Will of Robert Fowler devises to his son Robert Fowler 200 acres part of the land bought of Mr. Christopher Reynolds. Recorded 16 May 1653. (Lower Norfolk County Minute Book 1637-1646, p47 abstracted in Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Beverley Fleet, Vol. 31, p60)
1653 May 10 - At a court in Lower Norfolk County “In dif between Mary Fowler, widow, extrx of Robert Fowler decd, and Henry Snayle, concerning 350 acres a the head of the southern branch of the Little Creek, and assigned over by X’pofer Reynolds to the sd Fowler in his lifetime. The court orders that Henry Westgate, Giles Collins, Thomas Workeman and Henery Brakes lay out the 350 acres according to agreement betw Snayle and Reynolds dated 18 Feb 1642 (? - this date blotted and impossible to read). (Lower Norfolk County Minute Book 1637-1646, p46 abstracted in Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Beverley Fleet, Vol. 31, p58)
1654 May 1 – Will of Christopher Reynolds:
(Abstract found in Wills and Administrations of Isle of Wight County, VA, 1647-1800, Chapman)
Reynolds, Christopher, Planter: Leg. Son Christopher land that Richard Jordan liveth on; son John; son Richard; daughter Abbasha; daughter Elizabeth; daughter Jane; George Rivers; unborn child; wife Elizabeth. May 1, 1654. Wit: Sylvester Bullen, Anthony Matthews. Page 46, P.2.
(Following transcript from document image by Laura Knight):
In the Name of God Amen the first day of May 1654, I Christopher Reynolds of the Isle of Wight County in Virginia, planter, being healthful in Body and sound in Mind & Memory make this my last Will & Testament in manner and form as followeth: First I give and Bequeath my Soul into the Hands of God my Creator and Maker and my Body to be Buried in sure and certain Hope of Resurection to Eternal Life thro the only Merit & Satisfaction of Jesus Christ my only Saviour & Redeemer.
Imprimis I Give & Bequeath unto my Son Christopher Reynolds all my Land on the Southerly side of the Cypress Swamp that Richard Jordan now liveth upon.
And I give unto my Son John all my Land on the Northerly side of the said Cypress Swamp and one Cow and he to enjoy the said Land at Twenty one Years of Age.
And unto my son Richard I give all my Land I now live upon and one Cow and he to possess this land at twenty one Years of Age.
And my Daughter Abbasha I have given unto her a Portion already which was two Cows and two Calves.
And I give unto my Daughter Elizabeth one Heifer of two Years old besides the Stock I gave her formerly.
And unto my Daughter Jane I give one Cow and on Yearling heifer.
And I give unto George Rivers one Yearling Heifer.
And I give unto the Child my Wife now goeth with if it lives two Cows to enjoy them at three Years old.
And if any of my Children dye my Will is that the other should Succeed what Estate they leave.
And unto Elizabeth my loving Wife I give all the rest of my Estate both Goods & Chattles Movable & Unmovable and Debts that are due to me from any person or persons whatsoever and my two Servants she paying all my Debts truly & justly.
And I do Constitute and Ordain Elizabeth my loving Wife my whole & sole Executrix.
And my Will is that my Wife Elizabeth shall have the ordering & bringing up John & Richard my Sons until they be sixteen Years of Age And Elizabeth & Jane until they be fifteen Years of Age.
In Witness whereof I, the sd Christopher Reynolds have hereunto set my Hand & Seal this Day & Year first above written.
Signed and seal.
Sealed Subscribed and Delivered in the Presence of Sylvester B. Bullen, (mark) Anthony A. Mathews (mark)
Examined and truly Transcribed Teste. Ja. Baker Clerk
Baird note: Christopher Reynolds Jr. was the eldest son, according to a later patent [see entry below for 10 May 1679] and was evidently already of age when this will was written. Note that sons John and Richard were to receive their land at age 21, but Christopher received his immediately. The will also tells us that John and Richard Reynolds were under 16, and Elizabeth and Jane were under 15. Abbasha was apparently over 15 but not yet married. The “child my wife now goeth with” almost certainly refers to an unborn child. George Rivers, later called “brother ” in the will of John Reynolds, was apparently a stepson.
LK note: Contrary to Baird, I do not think it is impossible that Elizabeth “Widow Rivers” was the mother of all his children. It was not common, but a child-bearing span of 18 to 20 years did happen then and since. If Christopher and Elizabeth married in, say, 1636, after he was established, and if she was pregnant at the time (a not unusual condition in those days) or had only recently given birth, then George Rivers would be only a year older than Christopher JR.
On the other hand, the probable gap between the birth of the older children and the fact that Elizabeth was again pregnant at the time of the will raises questions. More than that, there is a division between the families of Christopher and Richard (John dies young) that becomes more and more apparent as one looks at the documentary record that is available.
As for Christopher’s reference to “my sons”, that wasn’t unusual at all as an expression. Also, frequently, a father would assign guardianship away from the wife in his will. The sons were, effectively, the property of the father. That he made no stipulation about George Rivers doesn’t tell us much. Was George under age, but under the guardianship of his mother? Or was he of age to receive an inheritance? The fact that he was only given a cow suggests that he might have had his own inheritance either already in hand or pending. If George Rivers was of age (16 at least), then his mother was probably Reynolds only wife.
The date of birth of Jane Reynolds is completely unknown. We don’t know if she was a very small child, or close to the age of maturity. It may be that there was not such a large child-bearing gap after all.
I agree with Baird that it is interesting that Christopher divided land he did not live on between his sons Christopher and John, and left his home plantation to Richard. This suggests something of favoritism toward Richard; perhaps he was seen by his father as stronger, smarter and more competent. And, referring back to my speculation that there is some fundamental difference between the lines of Christopher and Richard, a difference of character, perhaps the best solution is that Christopher and Abbasha were children of a different mother?
1654 - Jordan, Richard and Elizabeth Reynolds, daughter of Christopher Reynolds. 1654. Bk. A, p. 46. W.&D. B. 2, p. 62
LK Note: Since Elizabeth was apparently under the age of 15 at the time of her father’s will above, she must have turned 15 shortly after and was thus permitted to marry. Of course, it is difficult to know for sure because many marriages from Chapman’s compilation are inferred.
1657 Nov 25 – Land Patent: Christopher Reynolds [Younger] (Reinolds-Reynolls), 350 acs. Isle of Wight Co., 25 Nov. 1657, p. 164 (243). Beg. At miles end of land patented by Christopher Reynolds, deceased, running along Cypress Cr. To land lately in possession of Mr. Nutt. Trans. Of 7 pers: Joseph Kerby, Jno. Becham, Jno. Moode, William Seller, Edmond Howsden, Margaret Langridge, Susan Stubbers.
Baird Note: This is Christopher Reynolds Jr. His father’s will implies he was of age by 1654, and this is clear indication that he is 21 or older by this date, as only persons over 21 could obtain patents. (Persons under 21 could obtain patents only via their guardians.)
LK Note: That is to say, he was at least 16 in 1654, and this land transaction would confirm that he had now attained the age of 21 putting his birth year at 1636. Also, he probably now married and started his family so I’ll place the birth of his first son Richard here.
1658 – Birth of Richard Reynolds, son of Christopher JR, grandson of Christopher Immigrant Reynolds.
1658 May 17 - Inferred Deed: Richard Jordan Sr. to Christopher Reynolds [Jr.], 100 acres, part of a patent to Reynolds which was assigned to Jordan. [See entry below for 18 March 1662/3 and also the entry for 10 May 1679]
1662/3 Mar 18 - Land Patent: Richard Jordan, 350 acres in Isle of Wight County. A patent dated 25 November 1657 to Christopher Reynolds [Jr.] contains the marginal note: “This patent renewed in Richard Jordan’s name the 18 March 1662 to whom it is assigned by the said Reynolds.” The land description states: “.. .Beginning at a marked red oak on a hill by the west freshet by the miles end of 450 acres patented by Christopher Reynolds deceased and running along the said freshet for length 32 poles and for breadth west southwest 50 poles [totaling 100 acres]. then beginning at the upper side of the forementioned patent on the Cypress Creek for the other 250 acres and running along the said Cypress to the marked trees of the land lately in the possession of Mr. Neall and the forementioned patent of Christopher Reynolds deceased to the miles end.” being due to Christopher Reynolds for transportation of seven persons. [Virginia Patent Book 4, p243-4]. The persons are not named in the recorded patent, but seven names are given in Nugent’s abstract, apparently from the original patent.
Baird Note: The date of assignment is not noted, only the date of the later renewal. Title would have passed to Richard Jordan when the assignment was made. The assignment must have been made before 17 May 1658, for a later record gives that as the date Richard Jordan sold part of this patent back to Reynolds [see entry for 10 May 1679].
LK Note: Baird points out further on that Abbasha and Christopher JR were probably already dead by the time of the death and will of brother John in 1668, I would suggest that the above Land Patent of the Reynolds land by Richard Jordan, husband of Elizabeth Reynolds, might be an indication that it was around this time that Christopher JR. died.
1662 – Death of Christopher Reynolds JR.
1663 Feb 2 – John Nevill of Nansemond, planter, and Eliz. His wife sell to John Marshall of Isle of Wight … 400 acres of land granted 6 Mar. to Henry Bradley and Bradley sold to Nevill, Feb 2, 1663. Rec. in Nansemond, John Lear, Clerk. Rec. in I of W. Jno. Jennings Clerk. Teste, Arthur Skinner, Wm. Burgh.
LK Note: This is John Nevill SR, father of the John Nevill who will later marry the daughter of Richard Reynolds SR, Elizabeth.
1663/4 – Birth of Richard Reynolds, JR. (Inferred; see note to 1672 Nov 21 entry.)
1664 – Death of Abbasha Reynolds. (Inferred)
1664 Feb 1 - Land Patent: Anthony Mathews, 640 acres in Isle of Wight for transportation of 13 persons, one of whom was a “Tho. Reighnolds”. [Virginia Patent Book 5, p153]
Baird Note: This, and the fact that Mathews witnessed the 1654 will, is evidently the source of the theory that Christopher Reynolds’ wife was a Mathews. There is no evidence whatsoever that this Thomas Reynolds was in any way related to Christopher Reynolds, or that Anthony Mathews was in any way related to either. I would also note that recent research comparing importation certificates from court records in several Virginia counties to the patents in which they were used has suggested that nearly 80% of the headrights claimed in patents were actually imported by someone other than the patentee.
Further, there is no evidence that Matthews had children. The will of Anthony Mathews, dated 6 May 1681 recorded 9 January 1681/2, names no children or grandchildren as legatees. Rather, he left his land and property to two stepsons, children of his wife by her prior marriages. [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 2, p224]
1668 Mar 11 – Death of John Reynolds. Leg. My brother George Rivers; brother Richard; sister Jane; sister Elizabeth Rivers; to Robert Driver; to Elizabeth River’s daughter Mary; to my sister Elizabeth Jordan a bill of Robert Clothier’s at her decease to her son Richard Jordan. D. March 11, 1668. R. May 3, 1669. Wit: Anselm Baylie, William Bradshaw. Richard Reynolds executor, with securities Ambrose Bennett and Benjamin Beale. [Isle of Wight County Deed Book 2, p 62] P. 7 Chapman.
Baird Note: We can safely infer that John Reynolds died unmarried and childless. This will seems to clarify that George Rivers was a stepbrother. The use of “brother ” together with the fact that he leaves him a legacy suggests the possibility (but doesn’t prove) that he and George Rivers may have had the same mother. Note also that he mentions four of his siblings but not Christopher or Abbasha, who were perhaps already dead.
The identity of “sister Elizabeth Rivers ” is mysterious, as Christopher Reynolds ’ will doesn’t mention her - his daughter Elizabeth was married to Richard Jordan who is still alive at this time. Elizabeth Rivers could be a stepsister, but she had a child, thus Rivers was presumably her married name. Although the language in this will does not indicate she was the wife of George Rivers, that seems to be the most plausible possibility.
LK Note: I think it is also interesting that John left no legacy to the son of his brother, Christopher, i.e. Richard (b. 1657); after all, he left a legacy to the son of his sister, Elizabeth. Why would he exclude a boy who may have been only 14 yrs old? (Or younger.) Nor did he mention a widow of his brother, Christopher. Again, this may suggest two sets of children of Christopher Reynolds, Immigrant, from two mothers.
1668 Nov 30 - Deed: John Reynolds, planter, to William Boddie, planter, land in lower parish where John Reynolds liveth... to pine on Pagan Creek side... house Arthur Shoomach lately lived in ... to swamp where Roger Waters did live. and other side of Henry King. to red oak standing by a great swamp. to land Andrew Shields lived and land where John Reynolds now liveth. Witness: Wm. Mayo, Mathew Waikley. [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 1, no page given, abstracted by Boddie on p554]
Baird Note: John Reynolds had retained all of his inherited land, so this must have been land purchased via one of the missing deeds of Isle of Wight. It appears that a number of deeds before 1688 (the first actual deed book) may have been lost.
LK Note: All fine and good but please explain to me how John sold land after he was dead? Was a transaction started before he died completed by his executors?
1669 – Birth of Elizabeth Reynolds who later married John Nevill, JR. Daughter of Richard Reynolds SR, obviously. She is described in the inferred marriage record as being the sister of Richard Reynolds. It’s possible that Christopher JR may have had two children before he died young, but again, that is a problem because no such child is mentioned in the will of John Reynolds. I’m basing this inferred birth date on the inferred date of marriage which, according to Chapman is strong, but not proven. (LK)
1672 Nov 21 - Richard Reynolds, James Bagnall, Arthur Smith, Richard Jordan, Anthony Fulgham, Nicholas Fulgham, William Rufinn, Giles Driver, Tristram Knowles, William Body, Robert King, and William Oldis (foreman), served on an escheat jury to determine whether “Capt. John Upton at the time of his death was seized of 800 acres of land or thereabouts lying at a place called the White Marsh in this county and by him held by pattent which had been formerly in the possession of Mr. James Bagnall, Mr. Francis Slaughter, and one Morris, and since a parte of the land hath beene purchased by Coll. Joseph Bridger, and whether Capt. John Upton disposed of the land by will, legall conveyance or otherwise.” Jury found that the land escheated. [The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 20, p174-5]
Baird Note: Escheat means that the land reverted to the Crown due to a lack of heirs. See the record in 1698 in which Richard Reynolds refers to having served on this jury 26 years earlier.
LK Note: This seems to be the first activity of Richard Reynolds, son of Christopher the Immigrant. In the collection, I don’t notice any deed or patent showing him affirming his inheritance so it is difficult to determine his age/DOB without that clue. He would probably be somewhat more than just 21 to serve on an escheat jury; probably closer to 30 which means that there must have been a patent record somewhere around 1663 that is lost. It might have been done around the same time Richard Jordan received his patent in the 1662/3 Mar 18 entry. They may have all gotten together to go take care of business around the same time. If that is the case, it might suggest that it is around that time that Richard married and started his family. That would put the birth of his son, Richard, in 1663/4. Notice also the associated names.
1672 – 1678 - Skipping here a number of notices of Richard Reynolds serving as witness or on juries.
Baird Note: There is apparently no need in the above records to identify which Richard Reynolds this is, suggesting that Richard Reynolds the younger (son of Christopher Reynolds Jr.) is not yet of age - and (by inference) that all of the above refer to Richard Reynolds the elder.
1672 – Will of George Williams, a tailor, naming minor children William, George, and Elizabeth, with Pharoah Cobb, Arthur Smith and Henry Applewhaite overseers. [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 2, p114].
Baird Note: The will assigned all three children to guardians (implying that all three children were under the age of 14 when the will was written on 12 February 1671/2), with Elizabeth Williams assigned to William Bressie. The estate was divided among the same three children on 9 Jan 1673/4 by Richard Sharpe and Thomas Harris. [Ibid., p119] William Williams, the son, later died and his share of the personal estate was distributed to his brother and sister.
LK Note: Based on her later date of marriage to Richard Reynolds, Elizabeth must have been about 3 years old at the time of the will. See the 1699 Jan 22 entry for the Will of William Brasie (Brasseur).
1679 April 6 - Will of Henry Reynolds [spelled Rennells in one record and Reynolds in another]: Leg - wife Joyce, children Henry and Sarah. Debts to Robert Kae to be paid. Recorded 9 June 1681. [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 2, p218, abstracted by Chapman] Appraisal dated 9 June 1681 by George Hardy, Roger Archer, Robert Kae Sr., presented by Joyce Page alias Rennells. [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 2, p219, abstracted by Chapman] By will appointed his relict Joyce executrix, her securities Thomas Ward and Henry Clark, 18 June 1681 (apparently the bond date). [Isle of Wight Administrations and Probates, p51, abstracted by Chapman]
Baird Note: This person appears to be unrelated to the Christopher Reynolds family.
1679 May 10 - Land Patent: Richard Reynolds the younger, 566 acres in the lower parish of Isle of Wight, on northwest side of the head of the Lower Bay Creek... “beginning at a hickory marked three ways standing in an island surrounded with marsh near the head of the lower Bay Creek. tree in Chr. Bly's line thence along the sd Blys line. Hen. King’s line thence along the sd Kings line. corner tree of Col. Smith thence by the lines of Col. Smith and Mr. Driver. to a small sycamore at the head of West freshet. thence by various courses down the sd freshett or swamp to lower Bay Creeke & so up the sd Creeke to the first station. due to the sd Reynolds as follows: 241 acres part thereof being part of a pattent of 450 acres granted to Mr. Chr. Reynolds late of the aforesaid County the 15 September 1636 & by the last will & testament of the sd Chr. Reynolds given to his eldest sonn Chr. & his heirs forever & by him the said Chr. by his last will & testament likewise bequeathed to the sd Richard the only sonn & heire of the said Chr.; & 100 acres part of the residue being part of a pattent for 350 acs. granted to Mr. Richard Jordan Sen. the 18 March 1662 & by the said Jordan sold & conveyed to Chr. Reynolds the 17 May 1658 & by the last will & testament of the sd Chrstr. together with the former land bequeathed to the said Richard; the remaining 225 acres being wast[e] land which together with the aforementioned 341 acres is likewise due to the sd. Reynolds by & for the transp. of twelve persons in to this Colony.” Of the 12 persons only four are named: Danl. Hinnon(?), Jno. Champion, Lewis Davis, Edwd. Goodson. [Virginia Patent Book 6, p684-5]
Baird Note: This is obviously the son of Christopher Reynolds Jr. This patent clarifies that (a) Christopher Reynolds Jr. was the eldest son of his father and (b) that he died before 1679 leaving only one son. There doesn’t seem to be any record of his death in the Isle of Wight records, though this patent clearly says that he left a will. This record identifies Richard Reynolds the younger as his only son.
Note that from this point onward, the two Richard Reynolds - uncle and nephew - are frequently differentiated as “Senior ” and Junior.” Where they are not so identified, it is difficult to determine which is meant, since they lived adjacent to one another.
LK Note: It is here, in that last paragraph, that I disagree strongly with Baird. There is a record that we will see further on that makes it clear that Richard, son of Christopher the Immigrant, also had a son named Richard, and it was this latter who was known as Richard JR. in most cases where that appellation was used, and in some where it was not. Richard, son of Christopher was sometimes referred to as “The Younger”, and possibly a couple of times as JR before the real Richard JR came of age c. 1684. He was also sometimes referred to without the qualifier which is why it is difficult to separate things.
This patent indicates that Richard the Younger, son of Christopher II, had come of age 21, and it is probably at this time that he also married though there is no record as to whom he married. Baird notes elsewhere that there is a deed of sale by Christopher Reynolds dated 1749 May 10, in which Christopher identifies himself as the grandson of Richard Staples meaning that his father, Richard Reynolds had been married to a daughter of Richard Staples. As will be seen further on, the first record (1693) of the wife of Richard Reynolds, son of Christopher II, shows her name to be Joyce, so we may assume that her maiden name was Joyce Staples. However, as Baird notes, Christopher Reynolds must have been born at least 15 years earlier, that is 1678. That fits perfectly with this patent record being the sign that Christopher the Younger had come of age. I think it is safe to assume that the marriage of Richard Reynolds, son of Christopher, to Joyce Staples took place c. this time, as well as the birth of Christopher Reynolds, son of Richard the Younger.
Another interesting point is that Joyce Staples was, apparently, the daughter of Richard Staples and a Brasseur (Bressie/Brasie) woman, probably sister to Margrett Brasseur who married Thomas “The Quaker” Jordan.
What I do find interesting, from the 1679 April 6 entry, is the availability of a Joyce Reynolds, relict of Henry Reynolds, on the local marriage mart at this exact time, though I agree with Baird that there is no connection. Note that another of her names is “Page” apparently, she had already re-married. (See entry: 1679 April 6 - Will of Henry Reynolds)
1679 Early – Marriage of Richard Reynolds the Younger, son of Christopher, to Joyce Staples, daughter of Richard Staples.
1679 May 10 - Land Patent: Arthur Smith [Jr.], 2275 acres, being 1500 acres patented by his father Arthur Smith on 10 September 1643 plus an additional 775 acres of new land. to a stake in Richard Reynolds Senior his line thence along the sd Reynolds his line. [Virginia Patent Book 6, p683]
LK Note: This is the same parcel of Col. Smith’s mentioned in the previous patent, but Richard Reynolds “the younger” and Richard Reynolds “Senior” are on different sides of it. This implies that the parcel which Christopher Reynolds’ will left to his son Richard was close (if not adjacent) to his patent of 1636.
1679 May 10 - A patent to Richard Jordane Senr.: “on northwest side of the head of Lower Bay Creek & mouth of the maine Cyprus Swamp... beginning at a small island surrounded by marsh. a hickory a corner tree of Richd. Reynolds Junr. [Virginia Patent Book 6, p684]
LK Note: The Richard Reynolds JR here could be Richard, son of Christopher, and this was simply a convenient way for the recorder to distinguish him from Richard SR the son of Christopher the Immigrant. On the other hand, Richard Reynolds SR may have already apportioned some land to his son, Richard Reynolds JR who, by now, is 16.
1679 Nov 13 - Deed: Richard Jordan, Sr. to Joseph Woory, 360 acres formerly granted by Gov. Chichely at head of Lower Bay Creek and mouth of Cypress Creek, to corner tree of Richard Reynolds Jr. Witness: Wm. Crawford, Jno. Combe. [Isle of Wight County Deed Book 1, abstracted by Boddie, p583]
Baird Note: Boddie gives the year as 1672, which is surely incorrect. For one thing, this land is the same 363 acres patented by Richard Jordan on 10 May 1679. For another, the “Gov. Chicheley ” referred to is Deputy Governor Sir Henry Chicheley, who filled that office only from 1678-1680 and who was the grantor of the 10 May 1679 patent to Richard Jordan. And finally, there was no patent issued to Richard Jordan that fits this description other than the one in 1679. This is important, because it obviously bears on when Christopher Reynolds Jr. died. The land identifies this Richard as Richard Reynolds Jr. (the younger), son of Christopher Reynolds Jr.
LK Note: See my note above. As I said, the “JR” in these two cases could very well be the recorder’s way of making a distinction between an elder Richard Reynolds, and a younger one involved in land transactions and did not imply anything more than that. And, taking a cue from Baird, it could very well be related to the fact that Christopher Reynolds is now dead. Or it could be that Richard SR has transferred a parcel to his son and we just don’t have the record of that transaction.
1680 - Robert Coleman, Thomas Giles, Ambrose Bennett, and Richard Reynolds appraisers of the estate of John Bromfield. No date on appraisal or recording, but recorded circa December 1681 or January 1681/2. [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 2, p225, abstracted by Chapman]
LK Note: The above is obviously Richard Reynolds SR. It is unlikely that Richard Reynolds the Younger would have been given such a task when he was just 22/23.
1680 Aug 30 - Will of Ambrose Bennett: Legatees - Wife Elizabeth and the child she now goes with, reversion to Mary Beale, daughter of Benjamin Beale, Alice Blackit, Martha Rutter, daughter of Walter Rutter, Isacke Williams. Wife Extx. Overseers, Col. Arthur Smith and Richard Reynolds Sr.. Wit: Walter Rutter, Christopher Wade. Recorded 9 December 1680. [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 2, p214, abstracted by Chapman]
1681 April 23 - Land Patent: Richard Reynolds Senr., 380 acres “on the north west side of the lower Bay Creeke in the Isle of Wight County in the lower parish. 209 acres part thereof being part of a patent for 450 acres granted to Chr. Reynolds late of the county aforesaid by patent dated the 15 September 1638 & by the sd Chr. by his last will & testament given to his sonn John Reynolds & by the sd John by his last will & testament given & bequeathed to the sd Richard & the remaining 171 acres being wast land within his ancient bounds & due to the sd Richard by & for the transportation of foure persons. beginning at a marked hickory on the Lower Bay Creeke side being Col. Arthr. Smiths uppermost corner tree. to an ash standing on the northwest side of west freshet thence down the run of the said freshet to the Lower Bay Creeke & so down the sd Creeke to the first station.” The four persons are: Jno. Dale, Tho. Leese[?], Tho. Otly, Mary Howly. [Virginia Patent Book 7, p71]
Baird Note: This is Richard Reynolds the elder, son of Christopher Reynolds the immigrant. The succession of this land can be traced to show that this Richard Reynolds is the same Richard Reynolds who died intestate in 1707.
LK Note: Contrary to Baird, when we come to the relevant records, I will argue that the Richard Reynolds who died intestate in 1707 was Richard son of Christopher II, who married Joyce Staples, and was father of Christopher who clearly stated that his grandfather was Richard Staples. This is the land left to Richard SR by his brother, John. And we already noted that there was no legacy to either Christopher his brother, or to Christopher’s son, Richard “the Younger”.
1682 April 20 - Land Patent: Richd. Reynolds, 450 acres “of land according to the most ancient and lawfull bounds thereof. wch Ambrose Bennett died seized of and was found to escheat [by a jury on] 16 June 1681.” [Virginia Patent Book 7, p174]
Baird Note: This is Richard Reynolds SR, the son of Christopher Reynolds the Immigrant, who died in 1707. The original patent to Ambrose Bennett was apparently a patent for 1,450 acres. It would appear that this land was adjacent to the home plantation which Christopher Reynolds left to Richard Reynolds in his 1654 will.
LK Note: Note also that Richard SR was the executor of the Bennett will. And again, I will argue that Richard SR was NOT the Richard who died intestate in 1707.
1685 – Marriage of Richard Reynolds JR, son of Richard Reynolds SR, and Elizabeth Williams, daughter of George Williams, 1685. W.& C. B. 2, p. 243. C.B. 1, Chapman, p. 90.
LK Note: Right on schedule according to the inferred date of his birth based on the estimated date when Richard Reynolds SR must have come of age, married and started his family, we see JR getting married. This is not Richard Reynolds the younger, son of Christopher. I believe that Chapman has inferred this from the next record.
1685 – April - Richard Reynolds Jr. and wife Elizabeth and brother-in-law George Williams, orphan of George Williams, receive the estate of William Williams, decd. Pharaoh Cobb to produce the will. [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 2, p243,
LK Note: Refer back to the will and assignment of guardianship dated to 1672 above for background on this transaction.
1685 Feb 9 - Deed: Richard Reynolds to William Murfrey, both of Isle of Wight, no compensation noted, 100 acres in the lower parish (being land conveyed by Richard Webb to Richard Gadsbey and now in the occupation of said William Murfrey).. ,”wherefore was required thereunto as for Eliza. my wife”. Witness: John Nevill and Robert Driver. Signed: Richard Reynolds, Eliza. (x) Reynolds. Recorded 9 Feb 1685/6 on oath of Richard and Eliza his wife. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p216]
LK Note: Again, Richard Reynolds Jr has begun to transact business, having come of age; notice also that here he does not use JR, nor does the recorder. Note the witness John Nevill. This is undoubtedly John Nevill JR as John Nevill SR was noted as being “of Nansemond”.
1685 – Marriage of John Nevill the younger and Elizabeth Reynolds. (Inferred by LK.) Chapman notes this marriage as being at least by 1689. “Marriage of John Nevill and Elizabeth Reynolds, sister of Richard Reynolds, 1689. D.B. 1,” (Chapman, p. 25.)
LK Note: The only thing that would incline one to assume that Elizabeth was the daughter of Christopher II Reynolds, is that she is here named as “sister of” (By the extractor, Chapman) rather than “daughter of”, and we know that Christopher II is already deceased (as did Chapman who may not have wanted to make a call on the father). However, due to the Nevill association with Richard JR, son of Richard SR, noted above, I’m going to assume that she is sister of Richard JR and daughter of Richard SR. Also, the sister of Richard SR assuredly married Richard Jordan, and it is unlikely that Christopher II produced a daughter, dying as young as he did. Further, his son, Richard, declared himself to be the “only sonne and heire”. See also notes to 1690 April 3 entry. It can be supposed that Chapman inferred this relationship from the next record.
1686 – Birth of Richard Reynolds III, son of Richard Reynolds JR and grandson of Richard Reynolds SR. (My inference based on prev. and future docs. LK)
Baird NOTE: Deed records resume at this point though there are gaps and missing items.
1688 Mar 29- From pages 8-9 of: Early Quaker Records in Virginia compiled by Miles White, Jr. (Clearfield, 2008) we find the marriage of James Jordan, son of Thomas Jordan of Chuckatuck; among those listed as present are two John Nevills and an Elizabeth Nevill. The second John Nevill is listed as “cuzon” to one of the newlyweds. The only “cuzon” connection I can see is that the younger John Nevill was married to the niece of Elizabeth Reynolds who was married to Richard Jordan, the uncle of the groom.
LK Note: 25 years earlier, there was a John Nevill and his wife Elizabeth selling land to John Marshall. See entry 1663 Feb 2. So, now we know for sure that there were two John Nevills in 1688. And we know from records further on here that a John Nevill was hanging around the courthouse with Richard Reynolds JR so they were probably of an age, and there was an Elizabeth Nevill present at this wedding, but no other female Nevill, so it is likely that this was the wife of John Nevill the younger and the inferred association appears to stand.
1690 – April 3 - Division of a tract of land between Richard Reynolds and John Nevill and his wife Elizabeth Nevill. Witness: Joseph Woory and Samuel Swann. Signed by twelve persons, apparently a jury resolving a dispute over the land. Recorded 9 Apr 1690 [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p25, abstracted by both Hopkins & Boddie]
Baird Note: It would be very helpful to see the original of this record. Chapman, in her marriage abstract book, uses the same source to give Elizabeth Neville as the sister of Richard Reynolds but neither Hopkins nor Boddie adds that information to their abstracts. If Chapman is correct, then Richard Reynolds would have to be the younger, son of Christopher Reynolds Jr., since the other Richard Reynolds had a sister Elizabeth who had long since married Richard Jordan. However, John Neville was married to an Elizabeth as early as 1665, seemingly too early for that wife to have been a sister of Richard Reynolds the younger - unless Christopher Reynolds II was older than we surmise him to be. Furthermore, a sister would have had no rights to the land of her father unless provided for in a will. We know from the earlier patent that Christopher Reynolds Jr. did leave a will, but Richard Reynolds had declared himself to be the only son and heir in 1672. And why there would be a dispute twenty years later is unclear.
LK Note: The obvious solution here is that Chapman made an assumption about this Elizabeth Nevill, that she was the sister of Richard, but she made no claim about the father because she simply didn’t know. I think that this, and evidence further on will show she was actually the daughter of Richard Reynolds SR and sister of Richard Reynolds JR, and that the John Nevill married to an Elizabeth in 1665, 25 years earlier, was the father of John Nevill the younger who married Elizabeth Reynolds. In fact, that 1665 date would perfectly fit: If John Nevill Jr was born as late as 1668, he would have turned 21 right about the time of his inferred marriage or shortly before. Elizabeth and her new husband may have had plans and needed to settle a boundary. There must have been something in the document that persuaded Chapman, and she certainly must have known that Elizabeth Reynolds, dau. Of Christopher and sister of Richard SR, married a Jordan. Finally, Richard Reynolds SR was in his late 40s by this time, and so, certainly, were the elder Nevills, and unlikely to have come to such a dispute as this so late in their lives. Thus, I would say that this case is between Richard Reynolds, son of Christopher, and his cousin, Elizabeth and her new husband.
1691 Sept. 4 – Hugh Campbell, Richard Reynolds are witnesses to a marriage contract between John Portis and Jane — regarding her rights over her prior property. [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 2, p312
LK Note: Richard SR because of the association with Hugh Campbell.
1691 Dec. 2 - Richard Reynolds, Giles Driver, and Richard Reynolds Jr. witness deed from Robert Driver and wife Elizabeth. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p47 abstracted by Hopkins] Boddie’s abstract substitutes the name of Theophilus Hearne for Richard Reynolds Jr. and gives the year as 1692 rather than 1691. [Boddie, p. 607]
LK Note: Here we see father and son acting together. At this point, Richard Jr. is about 28 years old.
1691 Dec 13 – Will of Richard Lewis: Legatees: wife, Sarah; to son Richard the plantation on which William Duck lives, said Duck to take in tuition my son Richard; to son Thomas the land I have rented James Cullie, Mr. Thomas Giles to take my said son, if Mr. Giles should die then he may be free, daughter Ann to be placed in the care of Mr. Bressie, daughter Elizabeth in the care of Richard Reynolds and his wife Elizabeth, unborn child. Overseers: Thomas Joyner Jr. and Richard Reynolds Jr. D. December 13 1691. R. March 26 1692. Wit: Joshua Turner, Alexander Mathews, Hugh Bressie, Luke Kent. Page 314 (p. 33-34 of Chapman)
LK Note: Notice that one child goes to Bressie (Brasseur) the same family that raised Elizabeth Williams. Keep in mind that Richard, son of Christopher, is married to Joyce Staples, so this Richard JR is clearly the son of Richard SR.
1693 Dec 1 - John Butler, Richard Reynolds and Joyce (x) Reynolds witness deed from John Luther and wife Mary Luther and Robert Mercer for land given to Mary Luther by the will of Ambrose Bennett. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p80 abstracted by Hopkins]
LK Note: Baird thinks the husband of Joyce is Richard Reynolds SR because he has been assuming all along that the other Richard Reynolds is only and ever the son of Christopher and that there are only two Richards. Now, we know that Richard son of Christopher came of age in 1678 and most probably married shortly after and had issue and the most likely candidate, based on inferences from a later document, is Joyce Staples. So this is the first appearance of Joyce as wife of Richard Reynolds on a document, but they have been married for some years now and have a son, Christopher, probably born in 1678 or not long after.
1693 Feb 7 – Deed: Richard and Elizabeth Hutchins to Richard Reynolds Jr. “Whereas Pharaoh Cobbs and Ann his wife by their deed, dated 10 April 1671, confirmed to George Williams a tract of land. which land was sold by Pharaoh Cobbs and Elizabeth, his mother, to Saml. Haswell and is now in the possession of Richard Reynolds Jr., and Eliz. his wife the dau. of the said George Williams and lawful inheritrix. Now, we Richard Hutchins and Eliz. his wife, the dau. of Joseph Cobbs, Jr., decd. the eldest son of Joseph Cobbs, Sr., decd. for 1000 lbs. tbco. sell to Richard Reynolds, Jr., and confirmed by Richard Hutchins and wife Eliz. of Western Branch Nansemond.” [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, no page given, abstracted by Boddie p. 613] Hopkins’ abstract gives the land as 100 acres [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p 90 abstracted by Hopkins]
LK Note: Again, Baird assumes that this is Richard son of Christopher. Yet, as the dates of activity show, and further records demonstrate, this is clearly Richard JR, son of Richard SR Reynolds.
1694 April 9 - Richard Reynolds vs. William Jolley (no details) [Isle of Wight County Court Orders 1693-1695, p31 abstracted by Hopkins]
LK Note: The above item belongs to Richard Reynolds SR. See item 9 June 1694.
1694 April 20 - Land Patent: Richard Reynolds of Isle of Wight County, 720 acres “on a branch called the Cabbin Branch in Nansemond County” The patent contains no mention of adjacent lands, nor of other watercourses. Due for “transportation of fifteen persons in to this Colony”: Mary Lawrence, Richard Ansly, Robert Brewer, Thomas Hill, Geo. Brooks, Tho. Hinson, Wm. Farmer, Tho. Loyd, Joyce Wilson, Mary Biss, Dorothy Sexton, Tho. Giles and his wife, Patrick Wall, William Parker. [Virginia Patent Book 8, p347]
LK Note: Contrary to what Baird has assumed, the above item belongs to Richard Reynolds son of Christopher. As Baird points out, we can know this because later, this Richard and his wife, Joyce sold part of this patent in 1697.
1694 May 1 - Mr. Henry Baker as [High] Sheriff and Richard Reynolds as subsheriff. [Isle of Wight County Court Orders 1693-1695, p34 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: The office of High Sheriff was arguably the most important in the county, and certainly the most lucrative. Sheriffs were typically members of the very highest level of society and were usually rich men padding their estates with the substantial fees sheriffs earned. They seldom dirtied their own hands by doing the actual work, and appointed subsheriffs [also called under-sheriffs] to handle the day-to-day duties like executing court orders and collecting taxes. Perhaps their most significant duty was the collection of the annual tithes, for which Virginia sheriffs were paid a percentage of the tax collected.
LK Note: As I suggested earlier in respect of the will of Christopher the Immigrant, the branch of the family coming down through his son Christopher to Richard the Younger, seems a bit “off”. So it would be entirely in keeping with Richard son of Christopher to seek political appointment to improve his financial standing rather than working and building up a plantation as Richard SR and JR were doing. It is unlikely that this was Richard SR who was busy with his plantation and was, besides, getting up in years, being 52 years old or thereabouts by now. Richard JR was also busy with his plantation and handling the affairs of orphans etc.
1694 June 9: Richard Reynolds Sr. vs. William Jolley (no details). [Isle of Wight County Court Orders 1693-1695, p37 abstracted by Hopkins]
Same court: Mr. Richard Reynolds Sr. to shingle the courthouse. [Isle of Wight County Court Orders 1693-1695, p49 abstracted by Hopkins] Boddie adds that he was “to shingle the court house with good durable cypress shingles and to put the porch belonging to the said courthouse in good and sufficient repair. all of which work he doth promise to perform and finish by Christmas next, in consideration whereof the court doth promise to pay him 5,500 lbs of good tobacco and to furnish nails for the said work.” [Boddie p173]
1694 Aug 9 - Deposition of Charles Durham and Nathaniel Permento states that June last there was a dispute between Richard Reynolds and John Davis. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p176 abstracted by Hopkins] Boddie’s version says Reynolds and Davis were defendants in suit of Durham and Permento, who demanded possession of Davis’ place. [Boddie, p623]
LK Note: It’s difficult to make a call on this one. Joyce Staples Reynolds, was the daughter of Richard Staples and a Brasseur daughter. Margrett Brasseur, a sister of Joyce’s mother, married Thomas Jordan, and Margrett Jordan, sister of Thomas, married James Davis. So, there was a Davis to Staples connection. On the other hand, Elizabeth Reynolds, daughter of Christopher the Immigrant married Richard Jordan, brother of both Thomas and Margaret Jordan Davis. It appears that the Richard Reynolds in this case was aligned with a kinsman, John Davis who might have been son of James and Margaret Jordan Davis. Additionally, if the John Davis in question was a son of James and Margaret, he would be a contemporary in age of Richard Reynolds JR, son of Richard SR. So, this case could refer to him.
1694 June 10 - Richard Reynolds Jr., John Nevill, jurors in the case of Robert Coleman and Malurk [Malachi?] Hawley. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p144 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: We know from later records that Richard Reynolds Jr.’s son Christopher was married to Ann Coleman, daughter of Richard Coleman. It is extremely unlikely that Richard Reynolds would have been selected to this jury if that marriage had already taken place. That would have made him a near enough relation to Robert Coleman to force reclusion.
LK Note: Baird’s objection is not relevant because Christopher, the son of Richard Reynolds JR, (son of Richard Reynolds SR), was barely a toddler at this time. The grandson of Christopher Reynolds II, also a son of a Richard Reynolds and Joyce Staples, apparently married one Elizabeth Brock, as records will show. He was about 16 at the time of this case. The parsimonious solution is that this Richard Reynolds JR is exactly what it says: Junior, i.e. son of Richard Reynolds SR, enacting his social responsibilities with his brother-in-law, John Nevill.
1694/5 Feb 9 - Richard Reynolds Jr., John Nevill, jurors in the case of Captain Robert Godwin vs.. Jacob Durden. [Isle of Wight County Court Orders 1693-1695, p76 abstracted by Hopkins]
LK Note: Again, an association between Richard JR and John Nevill, the husband of his sister.
1695 Feb 11 - Mr. Richard Reynolds Sr. vs. William Jolley for the year 1688. Jury members named. [Isle of Wight County Court Orders 1693-1695, p80 abstracted by Hopkins]
Deposition of Giles Driver, age 25, that Wm. Jolly removed from the plantation of Richard Reynolds about the middle of Jan. and James Jolly remained there at his trade. [Boddie p618] Deposition of John Luther, aged 39, states he was at the house of William Jolley when the Sheriff seized some of his goods. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p138 abstracted by Hopkins] Deposition of James Tullaugh, age 46 years, speaks for Mr. Richard Renald [Reynolds] and William Jolley. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p139 abstracted by Hopkins]
LK Note: Recall that a Richard Reynolds was sub-sheriff to Mr. Henry Baker as noted May 1694. That puts a peculiar cast on this case.
1695 - Deed: John Luther and wife Mary Luther to Richard Beale, 20 acres (being part of the land Ambrose Bennett willed to said Luther’s wife) bounded by Luther, Giles Driver, Ambrose Bennett, and Richard Reynolds old plantation where Robert Driver now lives. Witness: William Bradshaw, Elizabeth (x) Bradshaw, Theop (x) Joyner. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p172 abstracted by Hopkins] Deposition of Benj. Beale Sr., age 62, and his wife Mary Beale, age about 60, that the land on the other side of branch between John Luther and Giles Driver was rented. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p174 abstracted by Hopkins] Boddie’s abstract says that the land on the other side of branch between John Luther and Richard Reynolds (sic) .no one ever paid rent or was possessed of same by Ambrose Bennett. [Boddie p622]
Baird Note: This refers to Richard Reynolds Sr. Richard Reynolds “old plantation” appears to be the 200 acres which “Ambrose Bennett gave to Christopher Reynolds ” [see 23 April 1711] and which was evidently the land Christopher Reynolds was living on at his death in 1654. We know from later records [see 1706 entries] that Richard Reynolds Sr. was not living on this land. Apparently, he had leased it out to Robert Driver.
1695-96 Skip a few odd records here where Richard Reynolds witnesses or appraises this or that with no connections to other docs.
1696/7 Feb 9 - George Norsworthy, Richard Wilkinson Jr., James Tullaugh, and Richard Reynolds witness deed from Jane Rigane [Regan], daughter of Richard Gross, to Nicholas Casey, an assignment of a patent to Richard Gross. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p225 abstracted by Hopkins] Similar entry on p230 carrying the same date, omitting James Tullaugh as witness.
LK Note: This is probably Richard son of Christopher II as he is found in association with Nicholas Casey whose probable son, Richard, later married his daughter, Jane.
1697 June 9 - Deed: Richard Reynolds of Isle of Wight to William Butler of Nansemond County, 220 acres in Nansemond County, part of a patent of 720 acres on Cabin Branch. Signed: Richard Reynolds, Joyce (x) Reynolds. Witness: John Council, William Brown, Robert [Driver]. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p309 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: This is part of his own patent [see 20 April 1694]. It is not clear at all why this deed would have been recorded in Isle of Wight if the land were in Nansemond. There are no records of the disposal of the remaining 500 acres They were probably recorded in Nansemond County, whose records are lost. The 1704 quit rents show no Reynolds land in that county.
LK Note: Again I point out that this is Richard, son of Christopher II.
1697 Feb 9 - Richard Reynolds, Joyce (x) Reynolds witness deed of Thomas Mann to William Butler, assignment of a patent to Thomas Mann for 300 acres on Chewan (sic) River. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p234 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: The patent to Mann is for land in Isle of Wight, but appears to be actually in Nansemond. Either way, it was close to what is now the North Carolina line (the boundary was uncertain in those days). It appears to be quite close to what was evidently the land of Richard Staples.
LK Note: Again, Richard Reynolds, son of Christopher II.
1697 Mar 5 - William Randolph of Henrico County, executor of Hugh Davis deceased, appoints Richard Reynolds his attorney. Witness: Henry Baker, Charles Chapman. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p243 abstracted by Hopkins]
LK Note: This is most likely to be Richard SR because of the Davis association. Recall that Richard Jordan SR married Richard Reynolds SR's sister, Elizabeth. Richard Jordan's sister married James Davis.
1698 May 2 - John Giles, Richard Reynolds, Thomas Evan witness to deed from John Smith to George Norsworthy of Nansemond County. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p236 abstracted by Hopkins]
LK Note: Richard Reynolds SR’s great grandson married Elizabeth Norsworthy.
1698 Mar 26 - Richard Reynolds, John Street, Ann Street witnesses to will of James Tullaugh, proved 2 May 1698. [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 2, p390, abstracted by Chapman]
LK: Because of associations, the previous two are most likely Richard SR.
1698 April 9 - Richard Reynolds (signed) deposes that about 25 years ago he was summoned by the sheriff to be on a jury of escheat to meet at the house of Col. Joseph Bridger, lately deceased, to determine if a parcel of land belonged (sic) to Capt. John Upton, lately deceased (being 850 acres) should Escheat to his majesty or not. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p252 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: This refers to the escheat jury of 1672 [see above], meaning that this is Richard Reynolds Sr.
LK Note: Notice that Richard Reynolds SR was very active in the social/legal/economic life of the community while Richard, son of Christopher, seems to only appear in terms of economic transactions, land transfers and such, and very few of them for that matter.
1698 June 8 - Deed: Richard Reynolds Sr., to Richard Reynolds Jr., both of the lower parish, 380 acres (a patent granted on 23 Apr 1681) now in the tenure of Edward Goodson, William West, and John Tyler and bounded by Col. Arthur Smith and the Lower Bay Creek. Witness: Francis (x) Floyd, John (x) Butler and Richard (x) Wooton. Signed Richard Reynolds. Consent given by unnamed wife. Recorded 9 Aug 1698 [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p254 abstracted by Hopkins] Boddie’s abstract says “part of’ 380 acres, gives the price as 13,000 lbs. of tobacco, and says the land is “now in the occupation of Edward Goodson, Wm. West, John Tyler, and Richd. Reynolds Sr. [Boddie, p634]
Baird Note: ”In the tenure of” means “leased to ”. This is the 1681 patent by Richard Reynolds the elder, which consisted of the 209 acres originally inherited by his brother John Reynolds plus another 171 acres of new land. The very high price implies that there were buildings of value on the site. Note that Richard Reynolds Sr. is of the lower parish of Isle of Wight, clarifying that he is not living on his land in Nansemond.
1698 June 9 - Deed: Richard Reynolds Jr., of the Lower Parish to Richard Reynolds Sr., of the same, 100 acres (being part of 380 acres granted 3 April 1681 to said Reynolds, Sr., and “lately purchased by me”) bounded by Col. Arthur Smith and Charles Driver. Signed: Richard Reynolds Jr. Witness: Francis (x) Floyd, John (x) Butler and Richard (x) Wooten. Recorded 9 Aug 1698 [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p254 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: It is not at all clear why two deeds were necessary, but they are helpful in sorting out the Richard Reynolds. Both of the above deeds refer to the 380- acre patent of Richard Reynolds the elder [see entry for 9 August 1681] which clearly identifies him as the son of Christopher Reynolds the immigrant. The Richard Reynolds Jr. in these deeds is obviously his nephew, the son of Christopher Reynolds Jr. Christopher Reynolds, son of Richard Reynolds Sr., later sold the 100 acres [see 28 July 1707] identifying it as the land his deceased father bought from Richard Reynolds Jr.
LK Note: The only way this makes any sense is if Richard Reynolds SR son of Christopher the Immigrant, transferred the 380 acres to his son, Richard JR. Then, Richard JR, sold 100 acres to Richard Reynolds, son of Christopher II. The recorder or transcriber erred in adding the SR to the second deed. Any other interpretation is ridiculous. Why would Richard SR transfer 380 acres to his son who would then, immediately turn around and transfer it back?
Contrary to Baird who thinks that this deed is the “smoking gun” that identifies Richard JR as the son of Christopher, I see it as confirming the father-son relationship between Richard SR and Richard JR, and making clear the distinction between them and the other Richard, son of Christopher II, married to Joyce Reynolds. Indeed, the Patent of 1681- dated 23 April, not 9 August – identifies Richard SR as the son of Christopher the Immigrant. But there is nothing whatsoever that suggests there, or here, that Richard JR was the son of Christopher II. The land was left to John Reynolds by his father, Christopher the Immigrant, who then left it to Richard SR. Richard SR transferred it to his son, Richard JR, who then sold a portion to his cousin, Richard son of Christopher II as will be seen confirmed in a deed further on. As Baird notes, the succession of this land can be traced to show that this Richard Reynolds is the same Richard Reynolds who died intestate in 1707, i.e. Richard Reynolds, son of Christopher II.
Returning to the possible reason for this land dealing. Chapman records a marriage between a Richard Reynolds and _____ Sharpe c. 1699 (probably inferred from the will of Richard Sharpe). We know with good certainty that Richard, son of Christopher, was married to Joyce Staples Reynolds and that she was his relict in 1707. We know with strong certainty that a Richard Sharpe named children of Richard JR in his will, implying that their mother was his sister or close relative. We know that Richard SR had an “unnamed wife” in the transaction of 1698 June 8 above, so the Richard Reynolds marrying a daughter of Richard Sharpe could only be Richard JR who had been provably married to Elizabeth Williams.
Since Chapman was probably making her inference from the Richard Sharpe Will, it is possible that Richard JR married Elizabeth Sharpe even earlier than 1699. We know that Elizabeth Williams was alive in 1693 (see entry 1693 Feb 7), but she could have died from illness or childbirth between then and 1699. In any event, the marriage of Richard Reynolds JR and Elizabeth Sharpe could not have been earlier that 1693. There is a later indication that Richard Reynolds had a married daughter in 1711. In order to be married by then, she would have to have been born in 1695. That could very well be a childbirth event that took the life of Elizabeth Williams Reynolds. Naturally, Richard would want a wife to care for his motherless children.
It may be that the land transactions were triggered by the sad passing of Elizabeth Williams Reynolds. This transfer may have been intended to provide for Richard JR’s children by her and in the course of it, a parcel was sold or given to Richard son of Christopher for his son. As Baird notes, the land was later passed to Christopher Reynolds, son of Richard, son of Christopher II.
1698 Sept. 9 - Henry Applewhaite Jr. and Richard Reynolds witnesses to deed of Arthur Smith to Robert Brock. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p255 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: Robert Brock is later identified as the father-in-law of Christopher Reynolds, son of Richard Reynolds Sr.
LK Note: Again, I must object to Baird’s construction. This would be Richard Reynolds the younger, son of Christopher JR.
1699 Jan 22 - ., VA Will of William Brasie (Brasseur) of Isle of Wight of Levy Neck. Leg. John Harrison my kinsman, son of John and Milboran Harrison lately deceased, land bounding on John Murrey and John Carroll; to his brother William Harrison the rest of the land purchased of John Seward; Samuel Newton of Lawnes Creek Parish in Surry Co., VA; Thomas Page, taylor of Nansemond Co.; the three children of James Tullagh's of ye Lower Parish; Hugh Brassie; William Brasie; wife Susanna. trustees: Daniel Sanborne of the Lower Parish of Isle of Wight; Henry Wiggs carpenter; Isack Reeks, Clerke of ye Yearly Meeting; John Jordan son of Thomas Jordan lately deceased and Robert Lacie of Lawnes Creek in Surry. Wife extx. 22 Jan 1699, proved 9 Jun 1701. Wit: Martha Thropp, William Wilson, Samuel Eldridge, Elizabeth Gainer, John Crabham. (Samuel Eldridge, 1699 Isle of Wight Co, VA)
1700 Jan 15 - Will of Richard Sharpe: Legatees -Anne Harris in case she recovers from the present sickness, cousin Richard the son of my cousin Richard Reynolds the full term of my lease from Col. Arthur Smith, Christopher and Sharpe Reynolds the sons of my cousin Richard Reynolds. Executor: Richard Reynolds. Recorded 9 April 1700. [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 2, p422, abstracted by Chapman]
A different record identifies the executor as Richard Reynolds Jr.[Isle of Wight Administrations and Probates, p81, abstracted by Chapman]
Baird Note: Prior to the mid-1700s, “cousin ” was used to indicate relationships outside the immediate family circle of parents, siblings, children and in-laws, and was most often used to mean “nephew” or “grandnephew”. In this case, that is surely the relationship. Note that in the modern sense of a (first) cousin, Richard Reynolds could only have been a son of Sharpe’s aunt. There is no evidence that Sharpe had uncles or aunts in Isle of Wight, since the only Sharpe mentioned in the records is Richard himself…. ( The absence of any other Sharpes forces us to consider the possibility that his “cousin” may have been related to his deceased wife rather than to him.) Either way, this identifies the wife of Christopher Reynolds Jr. - to a point. She was either a sister of Richard Sharpe or perhaps a sister of Sharpe’s wife.
The Ann Harris mentioned in the will is apparently the daughter of Thomas Harris, whose will of1688 had directed that his daughter Ann live with “Mrs. Ann Sharpe.” By the time of Richard Sharpe’s will, his wife Ann is apparently deceased. Clearly, Richard and Ann Sharpe had no children of their own.
LK Note: Now, based on the inferred date of marriage of Richard Reynolds JR and Elizabeth Reynolds, their eldest child, Richard Reynolds III, would be about 14 years old at the time of this will; his brother, Christopher, would be a year to a few years younger, and based on the probable earliest date of the marriage of Richard to Elizabeth Sharpe, the youngest, Sharpe Reynolds, would be about 3 yrs old. One imagines that these legacies would be managed by the parents. Notice that no daughter of Richard Reynolds JR is mentioned.
What the will is saying is that Richard Sharpe is leaving legacies to the three sons of his “cousin Richard” who is obviously Richard JR. Cousin Richard JR has three sons: Richard, Christopher And Sharpe. They are the sons of the cousin and notice that the mother, assumed to be the sister of Richard Sharpe, is not mentioned. That is not terribly unusual in those times. Later, at the time of the probating of the will of Richard JR in 1711, he is still married to an “Elizabeth” so we can assume that he was married to two Elizabeths, Williams and Sharpe. The former was mother to his two older sons, and possibly a daughter; Elizabeth was mother to his younger son.
1700 April 6 - Deed: George Williams to Richard Reynolds Jr. and Elizabeth his wife, 4000 lbs tobacco, 100 acres in the lower parish (contained in a deed dated 10 April 1671 of Pharaoh Cobb and wife Ann Cobb to George Williams, taylor [tailor], father of the said George Williams.) Land had descended to William Williams, the elder brother of the first named George Williams, who is dead, and from him descended to the first named George Williams and the land is now in the occupation of Mathew Lowry. Land adjoins said Pharaoh Cobb and Mr. Arthur Smith. Witness: Arthur Smith, Thomas Smith and Mathew Lowry. Recorded 9 April 1700. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p306 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: This is Richard Reynolds the younger. This is the 97 acres he would later renew in one of his two patents of 13 November 1713. Although that patent was issued after the death of Richard Reynolds the younger, it had been in process for at least six years before his death. That patent makes it clear that this land was sold to Richard Reynolds the younger.
When William Williams died, his share of his father’s personal estate would have been divided between his sister and brother. However, his share of the land would have descended solely to his brother George. This clarifies that George Williams Sr. died possessed of 300 acres.
LK Note: This is Richard Reynolds JR, son of Richard SR, whose first wife was Elizabeth Williams. Notice that this transfer is not a gift or an inheritance but is being sold. The price may be reasonable or low in view of the fact that the land will be inherited by the grandsons of Williams, children of his deceased daughter.
1700/01 Feb 8 - John Luther appoints Mr. Richard Reynolds his attorney. Witness: Christopher Reynolds, John (x) Butler. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p323 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: This is the first record of a new-generation Christopher Reynolds. …The appointment was apparently to acknowledge a deed selling 80 acres to Tristram Norsworthy, land given to Mary Luther in the will of Ambrose Bennett. It seems likely that this is Richard Reynolds Sr. and his eldest son.
LK Note: This could be the Christopher, son of Joyce and Richard Reynolds, their eldest and only son, who would be 23 at this time, in association with his father, Richard, son of Christopher II.
1701 Dec 12 - Arthur (x) Whitehead, Christopher Reynolds, Richard Reynolds witness deed of William and Ann Fowler to Benjamin Beal. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p357, abstracted by Hopkins]
LK Note: Again, we see Christopher acting together with Richard, son of Christopher II.
1703 April 7 - William Copeland, Sarah Jordan, Richard Reynolds, Ambrose Hadley witnesses to will of John Portis, recorded 9 October 1707. [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 2, p485, abstracted by Chapman]
LK Note: Richard SR because of previous association with Portis along with Hugh Campbell.
1704 - Isle of Wight County Quit Rent Rolls: Richard Reynolds, Esq - 853 acres Richard Reynolds - 746 acres, Elizabeth Reynolds - 100 acres.
LK: That is, father Richard Reynolds SR, eldest son Richard Reynolds JR, wife of eldest son, Elizabeth Sharpe Reynolds.
Baird Note: The Quit Rent rolls are abstracted in several books, and the abstractors differ on whether Richard Reynolds ’ title was “Esq.” or “Senr.” All patents required the payment of small annual Quit Rents by whoever owned the land at the time. It is important to know that the only surviving list, in 1704, was a list of those who actually paid.
LK Note: Baird’s comment on the rent rolls is telling; Richard son of Christopher II and wife Joyce and son Christopher are not there, nor is Richard SR’s son Christopher.
1704 Aug 9 - Deed: Richard Reynolds and Christopher Reynolds to Benjamin Beal for 267.5 acres (being part of a patent granted Richard Staples) adjoining Daniel Holloway and the Western Branch, Witnesses: Richard Reynolds, Jr., William Browne and Andrew Woodley. Recorded same day. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 2, p1 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: Presumably, these are the same two Reynolds who witnessed the 1701 deed to Benjamin Beal. They appear to be Richard Sr. and his son Christopher. The question is how they acquired this land.
There is no such patent recorded to Richard Staples, but two grants in 1664 reference his land in Nansemond on a northwest branch of the Nansemond River. I note that in 1689 John Nevill and his wife Elizabeth (thought to be a daughter of Christopher Reynolds II, but who may have been his widow) gifted to the same Benjamin Beal and his wife Martha 100 acres described as part of a 750-acre patent to Richard Staples adjoining 350 acres sold by Staples to William Thompson. The deed specified that, should the Beals die, the land would revert to “my youngest son Benjamin Nevill”. [DB 1, p22] Several years later, the same Benjamin Beal bought 100 acres of a patent of 350 acres “granted to Richard Staples on 12 January 1661” adjacent John Nevill. [DB 4, p93]. The same grantor later sold another 250 acres of a patent to Richard Staples [DB 4, p24].
Yet in 1749 [see entry for 10 May 1749] Christopher Reynolds held title to an entire 750 acre patent by Richard Staples of 12 January 1661. Somehow he acquired the 100 acres owned by Benjamin Beal. Whether these earlier deeds were actually leases, or whether Christopher reacquired the land, is unclear. The 1749 deed described him as the grandson of Richard Staples. Since we know from later records that this Christopher Reynolds was the son of Richard Reynolds the elder, that means Joyce Reynolds (or an earlier wife of Richard Reynolds Sr.) must have been the daughter of Richard Staples.
That begs the question of how the land was acquired. There is no mention of a will or estate in Isle of Wight, which suggests that Richard Staples died in Nansemond. The implication of the above deed and the one in 1749 is that Staples left the land to his daughter and her son Christopher. That’s the most plausible explanation for why both father and son would sign the deed. Each would have had an interest, so the buyer could obtain a clear title only with a deed from both father (as the legal voice of his wife) and son. This does not appear to be two brothers signing the deed, for there is no evidence that Richard Reynolds Sr. had a son named Richard.
LK Note: I disagree that there is no evidence that Richard Reynolds SR had a son named Richard; what else would you call Richard JR? How else do you explain the problem of the many wives (which would be worse going by Baird’s interpretation of the evidence, because another wife of a Richard Reynolds is going to surface soon!)
Additionally, the fact that John Nevill the elder had a wife named Elizabeth has no bearing on the daughter of John Reynolds SR, Elizabeth, marrying the son of Nevill. In fact, we are literally drowning in Elizabeths!
This deed above, therefore, belongs to Richard Reynolds, son of Christopher JR, and his son Christopher III.
1704 Nov 9 - John Jordan and wife Jane Jordan to Nicholas Casey, 100 acres (now in the occupation of John Jordan and was a deed made by his grandfather Richard Jordan Sr. to his father John Jordan dated 31 March 1679 and 1 November 1679... which descended to said John Jordan) bounded by Cypress Swamp and Mr. Thomas Pitt deceased. Witness: Richard Reynolds, William West Jr., Thomas Weston. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 2, p6 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: Richard Jordan Sr. was the person mentioned in the 1654 will of Christopher Reynolds. The land was his patent, sold to his son John and now descended to John’s son. The buyer, Nicholas Casey, was the father of the Richard Casey who married Richard Reynolds Sr.’s daughter Jane (see below).
1706 April 9 - Two Deeds: Thomas Joyner to James Barnes and Thomas Joyner to William Thomas, part of a patent on Seacock Swamp. Witness: Richard Reynolds and Richard Reynolds. (That is, two people named Richard Reynolds witnessed each deed.) [Isle of Wight Deed Book 2, p35 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: It is worth noting that the witness was probably his nephew. There is not a shred of evidence that Richard Reynolds Sr. had a son named Richard. In fact, there appears to be only one Richard Reynolds in Isle of Wight from through the 1730s, and that person we can prove to be the son of Richard Reynolds the younger.
LK Note: Baird protests too much; the evidence for the father son relationship and the partial eclipsing of the Christopher II line is obvious through all the records included here.
1706 Sept 23 - Richard Reynolds a witness to bond of Dennis O’Brian and Joseph Gladstone, both of Nantiroke in Maryland, to Dr. Edward Loftis of Warwick County in Virginia. Recorded 9 October 1710. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 2, p163 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: Dennis O ’Brian was a son-in-law of Robert Coleman, so this is likely Richard Reynolds the younger.
LK: That is to say, Richard Reynolds JR, son of Richard Reynolds SR.
1706 Oct 9 - Deed of Gift: Richard Reynolds and wife Joyce Reynolds to his daughter Elizabeth Reynolds, for love and affection, — acres adjoining Widow Harris, William Hawley and Mr. James Tullaugh. Signed: Richard Reynolds, Joyce (x) Reynolds. Witnesses: Arthur Smith, Richard (x) Casey and Sarah (x) Williams. Recorded 11 November 1706. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 2, p52 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: Given the later deed from Christopher Reynolds to Robert Brock, it appears both the above deeds were for a portion of the 450-acre patent of 1682. Interesting that Richard Reynolds is living on this land and not on the old Christopher Reynolds plantation.
Note that the remaining land he owned was inherited by his son Christopher Reynolds. There is no record of his having a second son. One would think that, if there were another son, he would have made a deed of gift to him at the same time he was gifting the two daughters.
LK Note: The reason this Richard Reynolds is not living on the old Christopher Reynolds plantation is because it was inherited by his uncle, Richard Reynolds SR. This is another clear bit of evidence of the two separate lines.
1706 Oct 21 - Arthur Allen surveyed 200 acres in “Isle of Wight, Blackwater” for Rich’d Reynolds Jr. [English Duplicates of Lost Virginia Records, Louis des Cognets, Jr. (Genealogical Publishing Co., Reprinted 1990), p90]
Baird Note: The patent for which this survey was made was issued seven years later on 13 November 1713 (see below). We know from the disposition of the patent that this was the son of Richard Reynolds the younger. This record explains why the 1713 patent was issued in the name of “Richard Reynolds Jr.” The patent was in progress by 1706 when his father was still alive.
LK Note: Again Baird completely ignores the evidence for Richard JR being the son of Richard SR.
1707 Mar 16 - Will of George Rivers: Leg - wife Mary and her daughter Mary, daughter Sarah. Wife extx. Arthur Jones, trustee. Witness: Arthur Jones, Charles Jordan, Richard Jordan. Recorded 9 April 1707. [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 2, p479, abstracted by Chapman]
1707 June 24 - Richard Reynolds appraisal recorded, taken by Giles Driver, Thomas Allen, John Wright, and John Parmento. [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 2, p494, abstracted by Chapman]
LK Note: Like Bob Baird, I formerly thought that this was a record of the death of Richard Reynolds SR, I no longer think so. As I have suggested elsewhere, the line of Christopher Reynolds seems to be less robust and successful than the line of Richard Reynolds, son of Christopher the immigrant. One gets the impression that it is this Richard who died intestate because he was the sort of person who would fail to make a will; this is curious, too, since he may have had intimations of his mortality prompting him to make the deed of gift to his daughter 1706 Oct 9 just five months earlier. Another point would be that Richard Reynolds SR appears to have been an important and prosperous planter and the individuals assigned to do the appraisal for this estate do not appear to be the individuals who would be chosen for this job. However, considering the sketchy history and life of Richard son of Christopher II, including his foray into being subsheriff and confiscating the goods of an employee of his uncle, the whole situation fits.
The problem with everything is the attempt to force Richard Reynolds, son of Christopher II into the role of son of Richard SR, and to exclude Richard JR who appears to have been an equally esteemed member of the community. Now, obviously, this leaves us with the problem of when Richard SR died and where are the records for that?
1707 July 28 - Deed: Christopher Reynolds to Timothy Tynes, both of the lower parish, 100 acres in the said parish (being land formerly bought by my father, Richard Reynolds, from Richard Reynolds, Jr., on 9 June 1698, and my father lately dyeing descended to me) bounded by Arthur Smith and Giles [Driver]. Dower of Joyce Reynolds, relict of my father... Elizabeth Reynolds my wife. Signed: Christopher Reynolds, Joyce (x) Reynolds, Elizabeth (x) Reynolds. Witness: Arthur Smith, John Fissell, Thomas Sumersoll. Recorded 9 Aug 1707. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 2, p74]
LK Note: As I noted in respect of that deed dated 9 June 1698: “The only way this makes any sense is if Richard Reynolds SR son of Christopher the Immigrant, transferred the 380 acres to his son, Richard JR. Then, Richard JR, sold 100 acres to Richard Reynolds, son of Christopher II.” This deed confirms that exactly even stating that it was a purchase by his father, Richard Reynolds.
If Richard Reynolds SR of the first transaction to Richard Reynolds JR was the same person as Richard Reynolds, father of Christopher of the second transaction (referred to as a SR in that transaction), why would Christopher Reynolds NOW say “land formerly bought by my father, Richard Reynolds, from Richard Reynolds, Jr” ? If, as Baird assumes, the Richard Reynolds SR of the first set of transactions was the father of this Christopher, why did he not include something like “my father transferred x number of acres to Richard Reynolds JR and then bought back 100 acres”?? Or, more precisely, “land originally owned by my father, but he sold part of it to Richard Reynolds JR and took back 100 acres for himself” or something along those lines. That he describes his father as the purchaser of the 100 acres, from OUTSIDE the first transaction of 1698 June 8 is compelling evidence that the father of this Christopher Reynolds was not the same man who transferred the 380 acres to a Richard JR. If the two Richard Reynolds SRs of the first set of transactions were they same person, the transaction makes no sense at all, as Baird noted, but when you understand that they were two different people, then it makes perfect sense.
What strikes me is the unseemly speed with which Christopher is disposing of his father’s land.
Bob Baird is convinced that this proves that Christopher Reynolds is the eldest son of Richard Reynolds SR despite the fact that we have seen the 3 Richards interacting (especially in the context of the earlier transfer of this property), the problem of multiple wives of Richards’, and only a late appearance of Christopher, the second son of Richard SR who obviously was quite a bit younger than his elder brother, Richard JR.
1707 Aug 16 - Survey by John Allen of 16 acres in Isle of Wight for Richard Reynolds. [des Cognets, p87]
Baird Note: The patent was issued posthumously six years later on 13 November 1713 (see below). This is Richard Reynolds the younger, since his uncle is dead by now.
LK Note: Baird is so certain of his idea that Richard SR did not have a son Richard JR, that he has constructed the data around this belief which mandates that Richard SR must be the deceased Richard whose land Christopher, son of Joyce, has sold after his death. Who says this is a survey for a guy whose father is dead and he should no longer be known as JR? Does the survey or the patent say so? No, it does not. What if this record is, quite simply, a survey for Richard Reynolds JR while his father was still living?
1708 April 28 - Deed: Christopher Reynolds, son and heir of Richard Reynolds decd, to Robert Brock, bricklayer and father-in-law of said Christopher, [part of] 450 acres (in an escheat patent dated 20 April 1682. Said Richard Reynolds did deed part of the tract to Richard Casey and wife Jane Casey being one of his daughters on 9 September 1706 and the other part was deeded to Elizabeth Reynolds another daughter on 9 November 1706.) Signed: Christopher Reynolds. Witness: Arthur Smith, Thomas Summerell, Charles Chapman. Recorded 1708. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 2, p102 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: At this point Christopher Reynolds has sold off his share of the 450 acre patent and the 100 acres his father bought from Richard Reynolds the younger. The original inheritance from the 1654 will of Christopher Reynolds has never been disposed of (that we know of).
He identifies Robert Brock as his father-in-law, which could mean either his wife’s father or his mother’s new husband. The former is probably the intended meaning, for Robert Brock’s wife is identified as Susanna in a 1714 deed [DB 2, p295] and Susanna Brock left a will [see entry for 7 Mar 1723/4] naming Elizabeth Reynolds as her daughter. However, see that entry for a discussion of the question of whether Robert Brock is a “step” father-in-law.
LK Note: Here we see more evidence of the rackety nature of this line. Here he is now disposing of the land that came to his father from the 1654 will of Christopher the Immigrant. He’s already disposed of the 100 acres his father bought from Richard Reynolds JR, and before his father was even cold in his grave for that matter. Notice also that his “father-in-law” is a bricklayer.
1708 Oct 7 - Anne Butler gave power of attorney to Richard Reynolds [to release dower in sale of John Butler to Joseph Chapman]. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 2, p107 abstracted by Hopkins]
LK Note: This could be SR or JR. Considering the next record, I think it is JR.
1708 - Toule, Hercules and Mrs. Susannah Reynolds, relict of Richard Reynolds, 1708. D.B. 2, p. 102. W. & D. B. 2, (Chapman, p. 244.)
LK Note: Now who is this? We know that the Richard Reynolds who died in 1707 left a relict: Joyce Reynolds, and a son: Christopher. So which Richard Reynolds is Susannah the relict of? We know it cannot be Richard Reynolds JR who is married to Elizabeth Sharpe. So dare we suppose that this is the relict of Richard SR? Could he have died before or not long after his nephew, Richard son of Christopher II?
I’ve found no other trace of the death of Richard SR. I am certain that the 1707 intestate Richard was son of Christopher and nephew of Richard SR. I’m equally sure that the 1711 will was that of Richard JR who had two wives, Elizabeth Williams and Elizabeth Sparke.
So, if this is the relict of Richard SR, it seems unlikely that she was the mother of his children but was, rather, a late-life wife. What occurs to me as I go through the records is the fact that, in 1699, the Will of William Brasie (Brasseur, included above) refers to his wife Susanna. What if the relict of William Brasie, for long years closely associated with the Reynolds family, married a widowed Richard Reynolds shortly after she was widowed in 1699? That, too, would help to explain the little land shuffle that was going on between Richard SR and JR and nephew at the time.
We can’t know for sure because no will or other related record has been found; but that is not unusual for the time and place. There are a lot of missing records. But the names fit and the times and places work, so it’s possible. And, if it is possible, it gives us a date for the death of Richard SR, that is, a year after his nephew died.
1709 Feb 9 - John (x) Browne, Christopher Reynolds and Thomas Calecott witnesses to deed of Thomas Sawyer to John Frizell, cooper. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 2, p137 abstracted by Hopkins]
LK Note: This Christopher could be son of Richard, son of Christopher II, or the son of Richard SR.
1710 Feb 26 - Richard Reynolds a witness to deed of Bridgeman Joyner Sr. and wife Ann Joyner to Thomas Williams. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 2, p174 abstracted by Hopkins]
LK Note: If Richard SR is dead along with Richard “the younger”, this can only be Richard JR now no longer a junior as his father is certainly deceased.
1711 April 23 - Christopher Reynolds and wife Elizabeth Reynolds, of Newport parish, to John Butler, 200 acres (being formerly the land of Ambrose Bennett who gave it to said (sic) Christopher Reynolds) bounded by Giles Driver, Mr. Coleman, and Jolly. Signed: Christopher Reynolds. Witness: Arthur Purcell, Henry Pitt, Henry Lightfoot. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 2, p186 abstracted by Hopkins]
LK Note: Recall that in 1682 (April 20 above), Richard Reynolds SR patented 450 acres of land which had been the escheated property of Ambrose Bennett. Baird noted about this patent that this land was “a patent for 1,450 acres. It would appear that this land parcel was adjacent to the home plantation which Christopher Reynolds left to Richard Reynolds in his 1654 will.” Now we apparently see 200 acres of this land being sold to John Butler.
Baird Note: … This “gift” of200 acres is extremely intriguing, and this is another record that should be read in the original.
Ambrose Bennett had died thirty years earlier [see entry for 30 Aug 1680] so he could not have given the land to “said” Christopher Reynolds. It does not appear that Christopher Reynolds is an heir of any of the legatees of Bennett’s will, so the “gift” must have been made during Bennett’s lifetime. There is nothing in the deeds that addresses this, so the transfer may have taken place sometime in the 1649-1688 period for which the deeds are lost.
It is possible - actually, quite likely - that this is an abstracting error and that the deed actually says that Ambrose Bennett gave the land to “Christopher Reynolds” not to “said Christopher Reynolds”. If that is the case, then this probably refers to a gift from Ambrose Bennett to Christopher Reynolds the immigrant. This would then likely be the home plantation which Christopher Reynolds left to his son Richard in his 1654 will -- and which his grandson Christopher Reynolds would by now have inherited. This makes sense, because we have no other record of Richard Reynolds or his son ever selling any land that could have been the land Richard Sr. inherited from his father. Best to check the original of this deed to be certain, though.
If that is the case, then the obvious question is what relationship existed between Ambrose Bennett and Christopher Reynolds that would account for this gift (if it was a gift).
Another question of interest is where Christopher Reynolds is living. He has now disposed of his share of his father’s 450-acre patent, the 100 acres his father bought from his nephew, and the old Christopher Reynolds plantation. The only land left is whatever was inherited from Richard Staples, which is evidently on the other side of the Blackwater, and a mysterious tract of 100 acres his father apparently acquired from Hugh Campbell, which Christopher later sells.
LK Note: I disagree with Baird on a couple of points. It seems to me that the land was obtained by Christopher the Immigrant via normal transaction and left – i.e. “given” – to his son Christopher II, who bequeathed it to his son Richard, and then it came to Christopher son of Richard and Joyce. Also, Baird keeps interpreting everything in terms of Christopher being son of Richard SR. As noted above, this is likely land that was left to Christopher II, and was only adjacent to the home plantation of Christopher which was left to Richard, obviously his favorite son.
1711 June 18 - Richard Reynolds Jr. a witness to will of Henry Wiggs. [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 2, p547, abstracted by Chapman]
Baird Note: This is probably the son of Richard Reynolds the younger, for the father is now the eldest of the name. There is no evidence that there was more than one Richard Reynolds in the county between 1712 and the 1730s.
LK Note: I agree. We have a new SR - JR relationship, at least for the moment. This is the son of Richard formerly JR, now SR, and Elizabeth Williams, the son being about 25 at this time.
1711 July 27 -Will of Richard Reynolds: Legatees - wife Elizabeth, son Richard, son Sharpe, son Christopher the land on which Richard Jackson lives, land on which Edward Griffith lives, to Richard Jackson, to grandson — Reynolds, what is due Elizabeth Lewis one of the daughters of Richard Lewis to be paid. Exs. My wife and sons. Wit: A. Smith, Giles Driver, Jane Benn. Recorded 26 May 1712. [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 2, p536, abstracted by Chapman]
LK Note: This is obviously Richard Reynolds JR, son of Richard Reynolds SR, husband of both Elizabeth Williams and Elizabeth Sharpe. He was the same person called “cousin” Richard Reynolds Jr. in the earlier will of Richard Sharpe, which named the same three sons.
Baird Note: Richard Jackson was the son of Richard Jackson Sr., who had died in 1703 leaving a widow who was obviously a second wife. It is possible that his unknown first wife was a daughter of Richard Reynolds, which might explain Richard Jackson’s inclusion as a legatee. In addition, the will tells us that one of the three sons is himself a parent, the father of ____ Reynolds. The grandson mentioned is apparently Richard Reynolds, son of Richard, for he is the only grandson old enough to have been born by this time.
LK Note: Either of Richard Reynolds JR’s sons by Elizabeth Williams could have a child by this time though it would be a little early for a daughter born C. 1685, as I’ve estimated previously.
1712 Oct 27 - Christopher Reynolds, John Giles, Richard Giles witness to deed of Elizabeth Thomas to Robert Sanders. [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 2, p231, abstracted by Hopkins].
Baird Note: This is probably Christopher Reynolds, son of Richard Reynolds Sr. The land being sold on Kingsale Swamp is considerably south, on the border of present Southampton and Nansemond counties.
LK Note: I agree with Baird on this.
1713 Nov 13 - Land Patent: Richard Reynolds Junr of Isle of Wight County, 200 acres on the south side of the Main Blackwater swamp in the sd County... beginning at the mouth of Tarapin Swamp. thence by the run of sd swamp. ash by the edge of the main Blackwater swamp thence up the main swamp. For the transportation of four persons: Henry Butt, Cornelius Dijon, Sarah Chamberlen, Mary Parsons. [Virginia Patent Book 10, p98]
Baird Note: From later records, this is the son of Richard Reynolds JR- he and his wife Rebecca will later sell this land, and Rebecca will leave a will naming sons Richard and George, who are named in Sharpe Reynolds ’ will as the children of Richard Reynolds. The reason he is being called “Junior ” is because he had initiated the patent in 1706 while his father was still alive (see survey above) and the patent was issued in the same name as he originally used. This patent is more than 20 miles southwest of the old Reynolds lands, in what would later be Southampton County. By this time all the land in the older part of the county has long been claimed. Richard and his wife Rebecca will sell the entire patent within a few years, apparently never having lived on it.
1713 Nov 13 - Land Patent: Mr. Richard Reynolds of Isle of Wight County, “97 acres of high land & 16 acres of marsh adjoining... on the southwest side of one of the main branches of Pagan Creek in the parish of Newport. which said 97 acres of high land is part of a patent for 400 acres granted to Joseph Cobb late of the aforesd county decd the 1 September 1643 and by Pharaoh Cobb son of the sd Joseph sold & conveyed unto George Williams late also of the said county decd the 4 April 1671 & by Geo. Williams son & heir of the aforesd George sold & conveyed unto the aforesd Reynolds the 6 April 1700 & the sd 16 acres being waste marsh land adjoining the whole bounded as followeth.” (Bounded by “one of the main branches of Pagan Creek”, a pond, “several lines dividing this land from the land of John Joseph Jackman”, and Col. Arthur Smith) .for the transportation of one person to dwell within this our colony of Virginia: Eliza. Wignall [Virginia Patent Book 10, p114]
Baird Note: This is a posthumous patent to Richard Reynolds the younger. The 97 acre parcel was bought by him in 1700 and the 16 acre addition was surveyed for Richard Reynolds the younger in 1707 (see above). The patent, like the one to his son issued the same day, were in process well before his death the preceding year, and are here signed by the Governor after his death. The land was inherited by his son Richard Reynolds Jr. and later by his grandson Richard Reynolds.
LK Note: I disagree with Baird again for the usual reasons. This is a patent applied for by Richard Reynolds JR. The survey may have been done in 1707, but the paperwork was probably completed after the death of Richard JR in 1708. Notice that this patent is for part of the patrimony of George Williams and Elizabeth Williams was the wife of Richard JR, son of Richard SR.
1715 March - Will of Robert Coleman: Leg - Eleanor Giles, brother Stephen’s sons, Richard Batten, Benjamin Beale, Elizabeth Murrey, George Martin, John Watts, Christopher Reynolds and his wife Ann. Exs., Christopher Reynolds and his wife. Wit: John Butler, Rodger Murrey. Recording date not noted, but entered into the book among 1716 entries. [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 2, p607, abstracted by Chapman]
Baird Note: This is Christopher Reynolds, son of Richard Reynolds the younger. (Christopher Reynolds, son of Richard Reynolds the elder, was married to Elizabeth Brock.) This appears to be the son of the Robert Coleman who died a few years later [see below entry for 9 July 1721]. That would make Christopher Reynolds his brother-in-law. The will below identifies Ann Reynolds as the daughter of an apparently different Robert Coleman. Robert Coleman (apparently this man’s father) had patented 634 acres on 29 September 1667, 300a purchased from Ambrose Bennett and 334a for transportation of seven persons, one of whom was Robert Coleman [VPB 6, p181]. He later acquired several other tracts in the area.
LK Note: This is indeed Christopher Reynolds, son of Richard Reynolds JR, son of Richard Reynolds SR. Christopher Reynolds married to Elizabeth Brock was not the son of Richard SR, but rather was the son of Richard the younger, son of Christopher II.
1715 June 25 - Deed: Richard Reynolds Jr., and wife Rebecca Reynolds, to Richard Jackson, 100 acres bounded by Tarrapin Swamp. Signed: Richard Reynolds. Witnesses: Joseph Chapman and William Ragdale, recorded 27 Jun 1715 [Isle of Wight Deed Book 2, p332 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: This is a sale of half of his patent dated 13 November 1713. It is not clear why this abstract identifies him as Richard Reynolds “Junior ”, unless the abstractor is indicating the name in which the patent was issued. Note that he did not sign the deed as “Junior”. He sold the other half of the patent without the “Jr.” (see below)
1717 Jan 8 - Deed: Richard Reynolds and wife Rebecca Reynolds of Newport parish, to Robert Edwards of the upper parish, 100 acres on the south side of the main Blackwater and bounded by Edward Boykin, and Richard Jackson (being part of a patent granted said Reynolds on 18 November 1713). Signed: Richard Reynolds, Rebecca Reynolds. Witness: John Dunkly, George Williamson, Abraham (x) Stephens. [Isle of Wight “Great Book” p140 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: This is a sale of the remaining half of his patent dated 13 November 1713. This is the last appearance of a Richard Reynolds in the records until 1736 - a period just over 18 years - when his son begins to appear. When he died is uncertain, but it must have been not long after these deeds. Given the frequency with which members of this family appear as a witness or appraiser, it seems likely that Richard met with some untimely end not long after this date.
1717/8 Jan 8 - Deed of Gift: Roger Tarlton to son Thomas Tarlton, 200 acres adjoining above land of Henry Runnels. Witness: William Wilkinson, Christopher Reynolds, Henry (x) Runnolds (sic). [Isle of Wight “Great Book”, p129 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: Christopher Reynolds witnessed both deeds. Is he connected to Henry Reynolds, or is this just a coincidence? It seems significant that all the Reynolds men could sign their own names, but this Henry Reynolds could not. That argues that he was unrelated and that this is simply coincidence. Too bad the court records are missing.
This Henry Reynolds first appears in 1716, as administrator of Robert Worrell. He himself died 12 years later leaving a will naming several children. [See 11 February 1725/6]
This also appears to firmly establish that Christopher Reynolds (the son of Richard Reynolds Sr.) has moved into what is now Southampton County. Note his appearance in numerous subsequent records in this area.
LK Note: I disagree with the latter point based on subsequent entries as will be seen. See my note to the 1694 June 10 entry about the Colemans. The problem from this point is deciding between three Christopher Reynolds, one being the son of Richard SR, one the son of Richard who was the son of Christopher II, and the third one being the son of Richard JR.
1718 Sept 20 - Deed: John Gardner [signed as “Jr.”] of Chowan Precinct, North Carolina to James Pernell (Parnell?) of the lower parish, 100 acres in the lower parish (being land on which Richard Beal lately lived) and bounded by Walter Waters, Christopher Reynolds, and Blackwater Road. Witness: Jacob Darden, Joseph Chapman. [Isle of Wight “Great Book”, p389, abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: This is also in present Southampton County. Unless he is renting land, Christopher Reynolds must be living on the land inherited from Richard Staples.
LK Note: A Christopher Reynolds living on Staples land would indicate that he is the son of Richard and Joyce.
1719 Aug 22 - Christopher Reynolds, Joseph Godwin, Thomas Williams witness to deed of John and Stephen Williams to Richard Williams. a patent to William Williams of 28 October 1702. [Isle of Wight “Great Book”, p275, abstracted by Hopkins]
LK Note: Because of the associated names, this could be Christopher Reynolds, son of Richard Reynolds and Elizabeth Williams.
1720 Mar 20 - Deed: Barnaby Mackinnie and wife Mary to Robert Tyler, 100 acres (being part of a patent for 645 acres granted said McKinnie on 16 Dec 1714 and bounded by Cypress Swamp, Martin Dawson, and William Bonner. Witness: William Bridger and Christopher Reynolds. [Isle of Wight “Great Book”, p405 abstracted by Hopkins]
LK Note: Again, because of the names and location, this is Christopher Reynolds, son of Richard Reynolds and Elizabeth Williams.
1721 July 9 - Will of Robert Coleman of Bath County in “Nuse”, North Carolina: to wife Mary Coleman, life interest in entire estate, then as follows. To son-in-law Christifer Runnills [Christopher Reynolds] negro man Frank on condition that he give my grandson David Dupuise a 6 year old negro when said David is 21 years old; to wife’s son Dennis Odien, land called Hikkery Neck during his life and then to my grandson David Dupuies; to daughter Elizabeth Isler a cow and calf; to granddaughter Mary Isler 4 cows and calves; to daughter Mary White a cow and calf; to grandson David Dupuise all my lands. Executors: wife Mary Coleman, son in law Christifer Runnills. Witnesses: Richard Casey, John (x) Butler, Peter Green. Attested [proved] in Isle of Wight County, Virginia before William Bridger [the I of W clerk] 25 Sep 1721 and filed in Bath County 29 March 1722. [Bath County, North Carolina Will Book 4, p106 abstracted in Early Records of North Carolina, Stephen A. Bradley, Vol. 4, p20]
Baird Note: This would appear to be the father of the Robert Coleman of the earlier will. There is no record of this will in Isle of Wight, but it was obviously proved there. The Isle of Wight clerk did not enter it into the books, apparently because it was to be filed in North Carolina six months later. Robert Coleman had been on the 1719 tax list for what eventually became Craven County, thus explaining the reference to the Neuse River. From the witnesses names, the will was written in Isle of Wight. The widow may have recorded the will in her new home in Bath (Craven) County in order to perform the executrix duties in a local court. We know that Christopher Reynolds did not move to North Carolina, and with no will recorded in Isle of Wight, he apparently deferred the executorship to Mary Coleman.
Note that Richard Casey witnessed this entry. He was presumably the same Richard Casey who married Jane Reynolds, daughter of Richard and Joyce Reynolds.
1721 Feb 26 - Deed: William West and wife Martha to Daniel Herring, all of the lower parish, 130 acres adjoining Maj. Bridger, Peter Blake and Anthony Herring (being part of a patent for 2050 acres granted William Oldiss and Robert Ruffin on 21 Sep 1674). Witness: John Johnston, Thomas Summerell and Christopher Reynolds. [Isle of Wight “Great Book”, p463 abstracted by Hopkins]
LK Note: Names and location suggest this is Christopher, son of Richard JR, married to Ann Coleman. He seems to be the most active and ambitious at this point.
1723 Sept 23 - Christopher Reynolds, Thomas Pinner, and Benjamin Beale appraisers of estate of Thomas Price (recording date). [Isle of Wight “Great Book”, p137, abstracted by Chapman]
LK Note: Names and location suggest this is Christopher, son of Richard JR.
1723/4 Mar 7 - Will of Susannah Brock: Legacies - daughter Elizabeth Reynolds, grandson John Reynolds, son Thomas Calcote. Executor: son Thomas Calcote. Witness: Arthur Smith Jr. Recorded 27 March 1727. [Isle of Wight Will Book 3, p22, abstracted by Chapman]
Baird Note: From the earlier records, this Elizabeth Reynolds had to have been the wife of Christopher Reynolds, son of Richard Reynolds the elder. There is no record of the death of Robert Brock, but he must be dead because only a widow (not a married woman) could make a will. The bequest to son Thomas Calcote is confusing. Does she mean that he is a son-in-law or did she have a son by an earlier marriage? The answer appears to be the latter, for ten years later Thomas Calcote’s wife Ann is identified as the daughter of John Bromfield. [DB 4, p397]. That raises the question of whether Christopher Reynolds ’ wife Elizabeth is a Brock or a Calcote. However, note the deed above in which Christopher Reynolds calls Robert Brock his father-in-law.
LK Note: Christopher Reynolds married to Elizabeth Brock was not the son of Richard SR, but rather was the son of Richard the younger, son of Christopher II. Remember Robert Brock the bricklayer? See my note on the 1708 April 28 entry.
1724 May 25 - Deed: Edward Driver to John Butler, 100 acres in Newport Parish (being part of a 200 acre patent to Giles Driver of 12 March 1657) bounded by Cypress Mill, Christopher Reynolds [“Rounald”] and said John Butler. [Isle of Wight “Great Book”, p651, abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: In 1717, Giles and Sarah Driver (son of Giles Driver decd) had sold Edward Driver this land containing “a water grist mill” known as Driver’s mill. This Christopher Reynolds is the son of Richard Reynolds the younger, living in the area of the old Reynolds lands.
LK Note: It is Christopher, son of Richard and Elizabeth Williams; as noted, seemingly the most active of this generation.
1724 - Rev. Thos. Baylie, minister of Newport Parish [the lower parish] from 1719-1725, made a report to his bishop of the status of his parish. He noted that in Newport parish there were four small schools, whose masters were “Mr. Hurst, Mr. Irons, Mr. Gills and Mr. Reynolds.” [William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 6, p77 and summarized again in Vol.7, p210]
Baird Note: “Mr. Reynolds” was likely Christopher Reynolds, son of Richard Reynolds the elder. I note that in 1691 Hugh Campbell “for the support of persons to impart religious instruction to the people living near North River in Norfolk county, Black Water in Isle of Wight, and Saumertown in Nansemond county, and to teach school” gave 200 acres of land in each of the said places. [Lower Norfolk County Antiquary, by Edward W. James. Vol. I., p. 66.] Although this covers only one of the four Newport parish schools, the one on the Blackwater may have been the school operated by “Mr. Reynolds.”
Note the later record indicating that Hugh Campbell willed 100 acres on the Blackwater to Richard Reynolds sometime shortly after 1700. Several decades later Christopher Reynolds leased that 100 acres, describing it as bounded by “the schoolhouse ” [see 4 Oct 1738]. The land bordered the Blackwater, so it seems that Christopher Reynolds was nearer to it than any other Reynolds in 1724. If he were the schoolmaster, this may also explain why Christopher Reynolds sold of all of his father’s other lands a decade earlier.
If he were the schoolmaster, he must have abandoned that particular post several years later when he moved much further south.
LK Note: I disagree that this was the rackety Christopher Reynolds who sold off all his inheritance and married the daughter of a bricklayer. It is more likely to be Christopher Reynolds, son of Richard SR from whom we have heard very little up to now. He was possibly quite religious and saw it as a calling to educate children. It’s certain he was not socially active as his brother, Richard, was and the explanation might be contained in this record: he was a scholarly religious type, which would not be surprising in view of the times and family associations.
1724 Jan 9 - Will of Giles Driver: .. .Robert Richards, John Lawrence, Christopher Reynolds Jr., Giles Driver, Thomas Driver or any three of them to divide my estate. [Isle of Wight “Great Book”, p199, abstracted by Chapman]
Baird Note: It’s not clear which Christopher Reynolds this was. Note that apparently the same person appraised the estate of Edward Brown a few months later but was not identified then as a “Jr.”
LK Note: It seems clear to me who this was: the grandson of Richard Reynolds JR and Elizabeth Williams. Recall the three sons of Richard JR: Richard, Christopher and Sparke, the latter being a son of Elizabeth Sparke Reynolds. Christopher of the three brothers would probably have been born c. 1689 and would have reached maturity in 1710 just before his grandfather died. He would thus be of an age to have a son.
1725 Nov 23 - Christopher Reynolds, John Butler, and William Noyall appraisal of estate of Edward Brown. “Appraised at the house of Gyles Driver.” Apparently the recording date. [Isle of Wight “Great Book”, p176, abstracted by Chapman]
Baird Note: This appears to be the elder Christopher Reynolds, son of Richard Reynolds the elder. See record below.
LK Note: It seems clear to me that this is Christopher Reynolds, brother of Richard III and Sharpe, son of Richard.
1725 Dec 27 - Undated Deed recorded: Christopher Reynolds and wife Elizabeth Reynolds of the lower parish to Joshua Whitney of the same, 150 acres in the lower parish (whereon Giles Driver now lives and being land formerly belonging to Elizabeth Reynolds) Signed: Christopher Reynolds, Undated, but from later records this was written sometime in 1725. [Isle of Wight “Great Book”, p728, abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: This land was apparently the land left by the will of her mother to Elizabeth and her son John Reynolds. Note that their son John Reynolds confirms this deed several years later upon reaching majority. This may have been the same land which Christopher Reynolds had earlier sold to his father-in-law Robert Brock. Giles Driver was evidently leasing the land, for the later deed in which Joshua Whitney’s heirs sell the land refers to a prior lease to Giles Driver.
LK Note: I agree with Baird about the provenance of this land, that it was the land left in the will of Susanna Reynolds to her daughter and grandson John, Son of Christopher, son of Richard the Younger, son of Christopher II.
Skipping a number of witness records between 1625 and 1628
1728 May 27 - Margaret Jordan estate appraised by Charles Reynolds, Joseph Wright, Robert Driver. Signed John Jordan. Ordered 27 May 1728, recorded 26 August 1728. [Isle of Wight Will Book 3, p115, abstracted by Chapman]
Baird Note: It seems likely that this is an abstracting error and this was actually Christopher Reynolds, who lived near all the persons mentioned. Either the abstractor or the clerk may have been misled by an abbreviation like “Chr.”
LK Note: This is an important observation and can prevent a lot of errors adding a “Charles” to the family tree! This person appears to be Christopher Reynolds who married Ann Coleman (brother of Richard III and Shape.)
1728 Nov 25 - Estate of Ann Riggan appraised by Robert Richards, Joshua Whitney, Christopher Reynolds. Signed William Noyall. (This is the recording date.) [Isle of Wight Will Book 3, p134, abstracted by Chapman]
LK Note: Again, this is likely to be Christopher, brother of Rich. III and Sharpe.
1729 Dec 31 - John Dunkley, Abigail Waynfield, William Reynolds witnesses to will of Mary Lucus. Recorded 27 May 1734. [Isle of Wight Will Book 4, p3, abstracted by Chapman]
Baird Note: Mary Lucas and John Dunkley were living southwest of the Blackwater, on adjoining land, so this is probably a son of the Christopher Reynolds who is living in that area. John Dunkley was examiner of estate of Christopher Reynolds in 1741. This is the only mention of a William Reynolds in Isle of Wight records, suggesting that this might be a clerical or abstracting error.
LK Note: The Christopher Reynolds in question here with a possible relationship to a William Reynolds, would be the Christopher who married Elizabeth Brock. Note that Susanna Brock left land to her daughter and grandson, John Reynolds, a will dated 1723. This son, John, must have been born c. 1699 or after so would have been in his 20s at that time. If there was another son or two, they probably would have been born in that time, but there are none mentioned in the will. Of course, that does not exclude Christopher, son of Richard and Joyce Staples Reynolds from having taken a second wife.
1729/30 Mar 23 - Estate of James Jolley [Jolleffe] appraised by William Noyall, Robert Driver, Christopher Reynolds, William West. (This is recording date.) [Isle of Wight Will Book 3, p197, abstracted by Chapman]
LK Note: Because of the associations, this would be Christopher, bro. of Rich. and Sharpe.
1730 Sept 1 - Deed: John Bowen to James Haisty, 116 acres on the south side of the main Blackwater Swamp (being a patent granted on 5 Sep 1720). Witness: Thomas Brewer, Christopher Reynolds, Thomas Morse. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 4, p38 abstracted by Hopkins]
LK Note: This Christopher Reynolds is likely the son of Richard and Joyce Staples. See Baird’s next note regarding this entry and the next.
1730 Mar 22 - Deed: Hardy Council, Gent. to Richard Wooten and wife, Lucy Wooten, and their son William Wooten as consideration of a law suit over trespass (Lucy Wooten is a sister of Hardy Council), 500 acres on Beaver Dam Swamp. Witness: Barnaby Kearney, Christopher Reynolds, John Pitt. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 4, p98 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: Two more indications, from the locations of these deeds, that this Christopher Reynolds is living south of the Blackwater.
1731 May 24 - Account of estate of Epaphroditus Williams examined by John Chapman, Christopher Reynolds, William Noyall. This is recording date.) [Isle of Wight Will Book 3, p270, abstracted by Chapman]
Baird Note: Note on Appraisals: Estate appraisals and accountings can be very valuable. The court was directed to assign appraisers who were close neighbors and who had no personal interest in the estate. So these records can help to eliminate possible associations - an appraiser would not have been the husband of a legatee, for example. More importantly, they can identify fairly precisely where people were living. In regard to identifying where people lived, these records are much more reliable than witnesses to deeds and wills, who may merely have been at the courthouse the same day the document was written and who were not necessarily near neighbors.
In the case of the last several appraisals above, we can identify (by deed and patent records) that some of these people were living in the vicinity of Cypress Swamp in the north-central part of the county, and others in the vicinity of the Blackwater and southward. Therefore, it appears that one of the Christopher Reynolds is living in the vicinity of the old Reynolds lands and the other is living south of the Blackwater.
LK Note: Here I would add that the two Christophers in question in the last few entries make clear, yet again, the two different lines coming down from Christopher II and Richard SR, sons of Christopher the Immigrant. In the case of this entry, the Christopher involved is the son of Richard JR, son of Richard SR, who Baird thinks did not exist. He continued to live in the vicinity of Cypress Swamp. The other Christopher is the son of Richard Reynolds (son of Christopher II) and Joyce Staples. This latter Christopher is the one that married Elizabeth Brock, sold off all his lands in the northern areas (with a brief foray into Nansemond), and moved south of the Blackwater.
1731 Aug 25 - Land Patent: Christopher Reynolds, 15s, 105 acres in the upper parish of Nansemond County, on the north side of the Nottoway River “.beginning at a holley on the river side. a corner tree of William Fowler’s patent thence due south 98 poles bounding upon the said patent. to Nottoway River thence down the said River and bounding thereon to the first station” [Virginia Patent Book 14, p297]
Baird Note: This was fairly close to the mouth of the Nottoway River, where it runs into the Blackwater at the Virginia-North Carolina state line. The patent is in Nansemond County, which at this time included only the last 3-4 miles of the Nottoway. When Southampton County was formed from southern Isle of Wight in 1749, this corner of Nansemond County was cut off and added into Southampton. This is roughly 30 miles southwest of the Cypress Swamp area.
This patent to Christopher Reynolds is mentioned in three later abutting patents. One in 1739 to Thomas Edwards, another in 1749 to Daniel Batten, and the third in 1759 to Richard Williams [see later].
1731 Sept 17 - Land Patent: Thomas Woodley, Richard Williams, Christopher Reynolds, and Francis Woodley of Isle of Wight County, 30s, 272 acres “in the uper (sic) parish of Nansemond County and in the fork of the Nottoway & Blackwater Rivers and bounded as followeth.. .beginning at a hickory on the north side of Nottoway River thence down the said River the several courses thereof and bounding thereon to the mouth thereof, thence up the Blackwater River the several courses thereof and bounding thereon to a white oak standing on the south side thereof thence bounding upon a patent granted Andrew Woodley and Thomas Woodley 15 poles to the first station [Virginia Patent Book 14, p351-2]
Baird Note: This is the easiest patent to locate I’ve ever seen. There is a very short boundary with the Andrew Woodley patent of 15 poles - the Blackwater bends back toward the Nottoway about a mile northwest of the fork, so that the two rivers are less than 250feet apart. (15poles is 247.5feet.) This is a very easy patent to spot on any decent topographical map. The North Carolina state line is the east and south border of this patent. The Nottoway and Blackwater run together here, forming the Chowan River. (Today, this is the dividing line between Hertford and Gates Counties; at that time it was all Chowan County.) The land is today all marshland, and probably was back then, for all the surrounding land had been claimed nearly 20 years earlier. One wonders what they intended to do with this parcel. Like the other patent of 25 August, this was in Nansemond County at the time, but was in the corner of Nansemond that was later added to Southampton County.
LK Note: The location of this land indicates that the Christopher Reynolds involved was the son of Richard and Joyce Staples Reynolds.
1732/3 Mar 21 - Deed: John Reynolds to Joshua Whitney, -- acres (being land Christopher Reynolds, father of John Reynolds, and his wife Elizabeth Reynolds, deeded to said John Reynolds (sic) in 1725.) Signed: John Reynolds. Witness: John Wright, Moses Green, Henry Lightfoot. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 4, p228, abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: This is surely an abstracting error. The 1725 deed was to Joshua Whitney, not to John Reynolds [see entry for 27 Dec 1725] and when Whitney’s heirs later sold the land it was described it as having been bought from both Christopher and John Reynolds [Deed Book 7, p309]. It appears that the will of Susanna Brock left the land to her daughter Elizabeth Reynolds with reversion to her son John Reynolds. Although Christopher and Elizabeth Reynolds sold the land to Joshua Whitney in 1725, their son’s deed would have been required when he turned 21 to perfect Whitney’s title. This is a reasonably good indication that the son John Reynolds had recently turned 21 by this date.
LK Note: See my previous estimate of the date of birth of John Reynolds in reference to his grandmother’s will and the fact that this excluded a brother, Christopher. Here we see my estimation is very, very close according to Baird’s analysis.
1733 Mar 27 - Estate of Christopher Reynolds appraised by Hugh Giles, Richard Williams, Joseph Wright. Ordered 27 March 1733, recorded 22 October 1733. [Isle of Wight Will Book 3, p372, abstracted by Chapman]
Baird Note: This is the son of Richard Reynolds the younger and the husband of Ann Coleman, dying at a fairly young age. He left several minor children and a widow named Ann. [see 22 Feb 1741/2] Two of the appraisers, Hugh Giles and Joseph Wright, appraised several estates in the Cypress Creek area before and after this date, thus were clearly residing in the area of the old Reynolds land. (Note that both of them, plus Richard Reynolds, were appraisers of Richard Wilkinson above.) There were at least two Richard Williams, and it’s not clear which one this is. This seems pretty clear evidence that this Christopher Reynolds was the one in Cypress Creek, and not the one living several miles to the south.
LK Note: To add to what Baird has said, this is another piece of evidence of the two lines coming down from Christopher II and Richard SR. The Christopher in this entry is the son of Richard Reynolds JR, not “the younger”, and Richard JR was the son of Richard SR.
1733 Nov 6 - Estate of Samuel Special appraised by Timothy Tynes, Sharp Reynolds. Ordered 6 November 1733, recorded 28 January 1733/4. [Isle of Wight Will Book 3, p388, abstracted by Chapman]
Baird Note: This is the first appearance of Sharpe Reynolds in the records, and this record indicates he was at least 21.
LK Note: Since Sharpe was included in the 1700 will of Richard Sharpe, he is certainly well over 21. By my inferred date of birth, he would be 36 here. The task of appraising was given to more mature men who had some experience. So certainly, this is Sharpe Reynolds, son of Richard JR, grandson of Richard SR.
1733 Jan 19 - Will of Ralph Frizzell: Leg - wife Mary, daughter Ann Holyday, daughter Mary Reynolds, son Ralph, six children now with me, viz. James, John, Joshua, Elizabeth, Lucy and Sarah. Exs, wife and son James Frizell. Wit: Joseph Wiles [Wills?], Joseph Weston. Recorded 27 May 1734. [Isle of Wight Will Book 4, p6, abstracted by Chapman]
Baird Note: It’s not clear who this Mary Reynolds was, but we can infer from the fact that most of the children were still living at home that she was a relatively young woman. Her husband could have any of several Reynolds men. We know that Christopher Reynolds had a wife named Mary [probably Mary Lightfoot] by 1748, but he was not old enough to be married by this date. Another candidate is John Reynolds, son of the elder Christopher and grandson of Richard Reynolds the elder. We know he was of age by this date, but we have no record in Isle of Wight naming his wife. The same applies to Richard Reynolds, grandson of Richard Reynolds the younger. A third possibility is Sharpe Reynolds. No Mary Reynolds is mentioned in any other record.
LK Note: Again I must correct the line: John Reynolds was grandson of Christopher II, not Richard SR. Baird is probably right to think that the girl must have been relatively young, possibly in her 20s. That would mean she was born c. 1712 or so, marriageable in 1728 or thereabouts. Sharpe Reynolds, son of Richard JR and Elizabeth Sharpe Reynolds, was about 36 at this time. John Reynolds, son of Christopher and Elizabeth Brock Reynolds was about 34. Any of the younger generation, appear to be too young. So indeed, it seems to be between Sharpe and John. Would need more information to make the call.
1756/6 Mar 22 - A number of processioner returns entered this date in the Newport parish vestry book mention Reynolds:
[Property line processioned],. .Between James Parnale and the said Reynolds (sic), Between John Gardner and said Reynolds and John Powel and said Reynolds.. .between Robert Dresser and Ann Reynolds. [Newport Parish Vestry Book, p75]
….. .Between Thomas Calect [Calcote] and Sharp Reynolds. between George Wigge and Sharp Reynolds present Thomas Caleat and William Wiggs, Thomas Pierce and Sharp Reynolds, Col. Arthur Smith and Richard Reynolds. Between William Wigg and Thomas Smith present Col. Arthur Smith and Richard Reynolds. Between Sharp Reynolds and Timothy Tyne. Between Col. Arthur Smith and Sharp Reynolds.. Signed: Richard Tyne, Richard Reynolds. [Newport Parish Vestry Book, p77]
Baird Note: The “said Reynolds ” is not identified, but may be Christopher Reynolds, son of Richard Sr., for the surrounding landowners all had purchased parts of the mysterious Richard Staples patent. Ann Reynolds is the widow of his cousin, also named Christopher Reynolds. This precinct was processioned by Robert Driver and John Jordan. Note that two years later, there were no Reynolds lands processioned in this precinct.
LK Note: I disagree with Baird here and this is, again, another bit of evidence of the existence of Richard SR and JR and their lines being different from Christopher II and his son Richard.
Here, we need to recall that Richard JR had three sons named in the will of Richard Sharpe: Richard, Christopher and Sharpe. We know with some confidence that the Christopher of this set died in 1733, so we have Richard III and Sharpe left. Therefore, I suggest that the reference to “the said Reynolds”, coming just before Ann Reynolds’ name, must refer to the heir of Christopher Reynolds (d. 1733) who would have been born about 1711, and thus 25 yrs old at this time. We then see Sharp (sic) Reynolds and Richard Reynolds in association, so these are the brothers of Christopher (d. 1733).
1738 Oct 4 - Deed: Christopher Reynolds and his son, John Reynolds, of Isle of Wight County, to William Noyall of the same place, £15:10s, a 20 year lease for one certain plantation or tract of land, containing about 100 acres in the Lower Parish of Isle of Wight, being the land where said Noyall now lives bounded by the Creek side, Carsey’s [Casey’s?] line, the old field side, said Noyall’s cart path, the main road, the schoolhouse, James Tullaugh, Permento, Whitney. Signed by Christopher Reynolds, John Reynolds and William Noyall. Witnesses: Mathew Sellers, Robert Sanders, Edward Driver and John Westwray, recorded 28 May 1739 [Isle of Wight Deed Book 5, p331, abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: Note there is no dower release. It is not clear why the son John Reynolds participated in this deed, but it indicates that both father and son held title. Twenty years later [see 3 Aug 1758] Christopher Reynolds would sell this land, describing it as part of a patent to Jeremiah Ruter (which was near Cypress Swamp). The land may be part of the land his wife inherited from her mother. If so, this suggests his wife is now dead. He is evidently renting the land because he is living further south.
1739 Nov 2 - Sharp Reynolds and Capt. Timothy Tynes appointed processioners for their district. [Newport Parish Vestry Book, p87]
Lines processioned between Thomas Pierce and Richard Reynolds, between Col. Arthur Smith and Richard Reynolds, ... between Col. Arthur Smith and Sharp Reynolds. All in the district of Sharp Reynolds and Timothy Tynes. [Newport Parish Vestry Book, p93-5]
LK Note: Again, what we are seeing is how the children of Richard JR stayed close, with their inheritance from their grandfather, Richard SR, son of Christopher the Immigrant; while the family of Richard the Younger, son of Christopher JR, separated.
1739 Sept 22 -Patent to Thomas Edwards for 84 acres in Nansemond County, west of the Blackwater and north of the Nottoway: “.a red oak a line tree of Christopher Reynolds. thence bounding on William Fowler’s line and Christopher Reynold’s line. to a hickory Reynold’s corner. thence bounding on the said Reynolds.” [Virginia Patent Book 18, pp453-4]
Baird Note: This bounds the 1731 patent to Christopher Reynolds, not far from the North Carolina border.
1741 April 7 – Sequence of deed book entries regarding distribution of the estate of Richard Reynolds: Richard Reynolds, Christopher Reynolds, George Reynolds, and Tabitha Reynolds each separately acknowledged receipt of their portions of the estate of their father Richard Reynolds, received from their mother Rebecca Reynolds. Each document was signed by the individual, and witnessed by the other three children. All four acknowledgments were recorded fourteen years later on 6 March 1755, after the death of their mother. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 9, pp326-7 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: All four children had to have been 21 by this date, for they each acknowledged receipt of their father’s personal estate to which they were entitled upon reaching majority. (Had any of them been under 21, their guardian would have to have done so.) Note that all four documents were recorded on the same day that Rebecca Reynolds ’ will was proved. All four children apparently waited until their mother was dead to record these acknowledgements. Note that the land owned by Richard Reynolds would have passed directly to his eldest son, outside the probate process.
1741 April 13 - George Reynolds, John Applewhaite, Lemuel Godwin witnesses to will of Richard Wilkinson, recorded 27 September 1742. [Isle of Wight Will Book 4, p418, abstracted by Chapman]
Baird Note: The will names Rachel Norsworthy as a daughter, and mentions Thomas Parker as her former husband. She may have been the same Rachel Norsworthy, wife of Joseph Norsworthy, whose daughter Elizabeth married George Reynolds. (It’s uncertain because both George Norsworthy and Joseph Norsworthy had wives named Rachel, and this will doesn’t identify which she was.)
1741/2 Feb 22 - Accounting of estate of Christopher Reynolds, which was divided between the widow and orphans. Examined by Hardy Council, Thomas Gale, John Dunkley. This date is the recording date. [Isle of Wight Will Book 4, p396, abstracted by Chapman]
Baird Note: It would be most helpful to see the original record in the hope of identifying the children. And to learn whether Chapman’s use of the word “divided” means “distributed”. By elimination, this is the same Christopher Reynolds who died in 1732/3, though his estate is just now being distributed. His estate (meaning the personal property) would have been held in trust by the administrator until the children reached majority. The reason for this accounting, nine years later, is that periodic accountings were required by both the court and the guardians of the children to assure that the children’s personal property was being properly managed. It is possible that at least one of them is now 21,though the eldest son’s guardian files an accounting nineteen months later. His widow is still a widow, but apparently later remarried to a Hunt, for an Ann Hunt later released dower in sales of the inherited land by both Christopher and Robert Reynolds.
LK Note: Since Christopher Reynolds who died in 1733 was, apparently, the son of Richard Reynolds JR and Elizabeth Williams, he had to have been born c. 1689 at the latest. That means he died young, at the age of 44. For his children to have been minors still in 1741, they would have to have been born when he was in his mid to late 30s. That being the case, he probably only had the two sons: Christopher and Robert.
1741 Mar 22 - Estate of Samuel Goodwin [Godwin] appraised by John Applewhaite, Richard Reynolds, Joseph Wright. Signed by Jacob Dickinson. Ordered 22 March 1741/2, recorded 24 May 1742. [Isle of Wight Will Book 4, p403, abstracted by Chapman]
1741 Oct 25 - Estate of Richard Wilkinson appraised by Hugh Giles, Joseph Wright, Joseph Weston, Richard Reynolds. Signed by Anthony Holladay. (Recording date.) [Isle of Wight Will Book 4, p435, abstracted by Chapman]
Baird Note: The only adult Richard Reynolds that we know who was alive in 1742 was the son of the Richard Reynolds who died at least a year earlier. Since that son had a son of his own named in his mother’s will three years later, he is certainly the person referred to in these two estate appraisal records.
LK: That is to say, Richard Reynolds IV, son of Richard Reynolds III, son of Richard Reynolds and Elizabeth Williams.
1743 Sept 26 - Accounting of estate of Christopher Reynolds, orphan of Christopher Reynolds, by Sharpes (sic) Reynolds as guardian. [Isle of Wight Guardian Accounts 1740-1767, p8 abstracted by Hopkins] (sic) Reynolds as guardian. [Isle of Wight Guardian Accounts 1740-1767, p8 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: He is the minor son of the Christopher Reynolds who died in 1733, with his uncle serving as his guardian. I should note that children seldom actually lived with their guardians, particularly if their mother was alive. The job of the guardian was to manage their inherited estates, pay their bills, and represent them in court until they reached majority. The accounting is evidently for his share of the property dispersed 19 months earlier.
1743 Nov 21 - William Wiggs and Sharp Reynolds named processioners for their district. [Newport Parish Vestry Book, p105, p113] Added John Reynolds .[line processioned between] Richard Casey and John Reynolds. In district of John Smelley and Thomas Wills. [Newport Parish Vestry Book, p109]
Baird Note: From the location of the district, this must have been the son of Christopher Reynolds and grandson of Richard Reynolds the elder. The land is probably processioned in his name because his father (in right of his mother) would have had only a lifetime interest as long as the son was alive. The father is not yet deceased.
LK Note: Again I repeat, Christopher Reynolds, father of John, (whose mother was Elizabeth Brock), was not the grandson of Richard Reynolds JR, but of Christopher Reynolds JR, son of Christopher the Immigrant. What is interesting is that he has opted to relocate back to the original family area.
1745 May 4- Will of Rebecca Reynolds: Leg - daughter Tabitha, son Richard, son George, son Christopher; grandson Richard, the son of Richard Reynolds.Exs, son Richard and daughter Tabitha Reynolds. Dated 4 May 1745, recorded 6 March 1755. Wit: Robert Tynes, Peter Green, Ann Green. [Isle of Wight Will Book 6, p156, abstracted by Chapman] Appraisal by Bartholomew Lightfoot, William McConnell, Robert Tynes (undated). [Isle of Wight Will Book 6, p164, abstracted by Chapman]
Baird Note: This is the widow of Richard Reynolds, son of Richard Reynolds the younger. Note that the will of Sharpe Reynolds named Richard and George as sons of Richard Reynolds, presumably his brother. Though not absolutely conclusive, that would appear to identify Rebecca Reynolds as the widow of Richard Reynolds, son of Richard Reynolds the younger.
LK Note: Make that Richard Reynolds JR not “the younger”.
1745 Nov 25 - Estate of Joseph Wright appraised by Joseph Weston, Joseph Norsworthy, Richard Reynolds. Signed, Martha Wright. Ordered 25 November 1745, recorded 12 June 1746. [Isle of Wight Will Book 5, p24, abstracted by Chapman]
LK Note: Obviously Richard Reynolds IV, son of Richard Reynolds III, grandson of Richard Reynolds JR.
1745/6 Mar 8 - Will of Richard Casey: Leg - wife Jane, daughter Ann, daughter Sarah, daughter Patience, daughter Martha, son Richard, grandson John S. Wills, daughter Ann Applewhaite, friend John Wills, daughter Martha Wills, daughter Sarah Smelley. Ex, friend John Wills. Dated 8 March 1745/6, recorded 9 June 1748. Wit: Bartholomew Lightfoot, William Wills. [Isle of Wight Will Book 5, p112, abstracted by Chapman]
Baird Note: This is the Richard Casey who was married to Jane Reynolds by 1706. She was the daughter of Richard Reynolds the elder and granddaughter of Christopher Reynolds the immigrant. Notice that this will adds to the relationships we see in later records involving the people named in this will.
LK Note: Jane Reynolds was the daughter of Richard Reynolds and Joyce Staples Reynolds. This Richard Reynolds was the son of Christopher Reynolds JR, NOT Richard Reynolds “The Elder”.
Skip a couple of irrelevant deeds of other people.
1746 Oct 9 - Christopher Reynolds a member of a jury ruling on a petition by James Tooke Scott for 1 acre on Ashen Swamp to build a water mill. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 7, p430 abstracted by Hopkins]
LK Note: Christopher Reynolds, son of Christopher and Ann Coleman.
1747 - Christopher Reynolds identified as the husband of Elizabeth Saunders, sister of John Saunders. [Isle of Wight Order Book 1746-52, p29, abstracted by Chapman]
LK Note: Christopher Reynolds, son of Christopher and Ann Coleman.
1747 Sept 30 - William Rand and Christopher Reynolds named processioners for their district, replacing William Wiggs and Sharpe Reynolds. [Newport Parish Vestry Book, p127]
1747/8 Jan 8 - Deed: Christopher Reynolds of Nottoway Parish to Robert Carr of the same place, 100 acres on the north side of the main Blackwater Swamp (being part of a patent for 1311 acres granted to Hugh Campbell on 21 April 1695 and was willed in Nansemond County by Hugh Campbell, decd., to Richard Reynolds) adjoining Robert Carr’s other land bought from Gilstrap Williams and land of William Fowler. Signed: Christopher Reynolds. Witness: Arthur Smith, Daniel (x) Doyle, Thomas (x) Bradshaw, Joseph (x) Bradshaw. Recorded 14 Jan 1747/8. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 8, p52 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: This is pretty clearly the son of Richard Reynolds the elder, still alive in 1748. Nottoway Parish at this time was synonymous with Southampton County, so this is the Christopher Reynolds who is probably living in or near the fork of the Blackwater and Nottoway Rivers.
This patent to Hugh Campbell was on Currawaugh Swamp and Blackwater Swamp a good 10-15 miles south of the original Reynolds settlement on Cypress Creek. [VPB 8:415] From deed records of other parts of this patent, we can determine that Campbell’s will (now lost) in Nansemond County left the bulk of this patent in several separate pieces to half a dozen people, one of whom was Richard Reynolds the elder. The patent was located east of the Nottoway, probably in the vicinity of Christopher Reynolds’ other land in that general area. Hugh Campbell was still alive in 1704, when the quit rents show him with 800 acres in Princess Anne County. So he must have died after 1704 but before Richard Reynolds himself died in 1707.
LK: Baird’s note to the 1724 entry includes:
‘I note that in 1691 Hugh Campbell “for the support of persons to impart religious instruction to the people living near North River in Norfolk county, Black Water in Isle of Wight, and Saumertown in Nansemond county, and to teach school” gave 200 acres of land in each of the said places. [Lower Norfolk County Antiquary, by Edward W. James. Vol. I., p. 66.] Although this covers only one of the four Newport parish schools, the one on the Blackwater may have been the school operated by “Mr. Reynolds.”’
So yes, this is the son of Richard Reynolds SR, not “the elder”. The latter was the father of at least two sons: Richard JR and Christopher. I have already speculated on the association of Christopher Reynolds as a scholarly, religious, school teacher in my note to the 1724 entry. He probably never married and we don’t see much of him in the records because he was not socially or economically active as his brother was. He was born around 1668 and thus is close to 80 now.
1747/8 Mar 10 - Estate of Christopher Butler appraised by James Godwin, John Smelley, Christopher Reynolds. Signed John Butler. Ordered 10 March 1747/8, recorded 14 April 1748. [Isle of Wight Will Book 5, p100, abstracted by Chapman]
Same date: Estate of Robert Richards appraised by Richard Reynolds, Joseph Norsworthy, John Scammell. Signed, Mary Richards. Ordered 10 March 1747/8, recorded 12 May 1748. [Isle of Wight Will Book 5, p107, abstracted by Chapman]
1748 - Processioners returns: Richard Reynolds and Joseph Norsworthy for one district, William Rand and Christopher Reynolds for another district. [Newport Parish Vestry Book, p131]
Line between William Godwin and Christopher Reynolds processioned (in district of William Eley and Will Whittley). [Newport Parish Vestry Book, p133]
13 Apr 1749 - Catherine Saunders, orphan of John, chose Christopher Reynolds as her guardian. John Saunders, her former guardian, contested her choice. [“Isle of Wight Orphans and Other Children”, Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 25, No. 2, p52, from Order Book 1746-1752, p162] The dispute must not have been settled, for on 11 June, she chose someone else as her guardian. [Ibid.]
Baird Note: This is presumably the Christopher Reynolds who had married Elizabeth Saunders, sister of John Saunders. Catherine Saunders was apparently their sister.
1749 May 10 - Deed: Christopher Reynolds to John Chesnutt, Jr., 400 acres of 750 acres in Newport Parish (being land granted Richard Staples on 12 Jan 1661...the remaining 350 acres being vested with the said Christopher Reynolds, grandson of the said Richard Staples). Signed: Christopher Reynolds. Witness: Godfrey Powell, Benjamin (x) Parnall and John Hole [Hale?]. Recorded 11 May 1749. [Isle of Wight Deed Book 8, p242 abstracted by Hopkins]
Baird Note: There is no patent recorded to Richard Staples for this date, in fact no patents at all issued to Richard Staples (that I can find), beyond a mention of his 150- acre patent in Archer’s Hope in 1625. Nor is there a patent issued to anyone else on that date.
This deed identifies Christopher Reynolds, the son of Richard Reynolds the elder, as a grandson of Richard Staples, meaning that his father Richard Reynolds must have been married to a daughter of Richard Staples. Whether that daughter was Joyce Reynolds or not is unproven. The first record of Joyce Reynolds is in 1693, but Christopher Reynolds was born at least 15 years earlier. We have no way of knowing whether Joyce was his mother or whether there was an earlier wife.
Note also that this is the last certain record of this Christopher Reynolds, who just two years earlier was identified as living in Nottoway Parish in what is now Southampton County. Nansemond records are mostly lost, and he does not appear in Southampton’s records.
It is possible that the Reynolds who show up a few years later in Johnston County, North Carolina are his sons, but based on later records some of them seem to have been his cousin’s children. The deed books of Johnston County are lost, but the grantor-grantee index books survive. They show deed to and from Christopher, William, Richard, and Robert Reynolds recorded beginning in the April 1757 - April 1758 period. Christopher and Robert, at least, seem to be relatives of this man but not him or his children. William Reynolds, married to a widow named Joyce Sullivan, was from Brunswick County, Virginia and apparently unrelated.