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Christopher Reynolds[1]

Male Est 1615 - 1668  (~ 53 years)


Personal Information    |    Media    |    Sources    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Christopher Reynolds 
    Born Est 1615  England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 11 Mar 1668  Isle of Wight, Virginia Colony Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Person ID I20374  My Reynolds Line | Descendants of Christopher Reynolds, Isle of Wight
    Last Modified 19 Dec 2022 

    Family Elizabeth Matthews,   b. 1615, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1658, Isle of Wight County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 43 years) 
    Married 1632 
    Children 
     1. Abbasha Reynolds,   b. 1646, Isle of Wight, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Jane Reynolds,   b. 1650, Isle of Wight, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. Elizabeth Reynolds,   b. 1648, Warrosquyoake Co., Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown, Surry Co., Virginia Colony Find all individuals with events at this location
     4. Richard Joshua Reynolds,   b. 1641, Warrosquoyoake, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Jul 1711, Newport Parrish, Isle of Wight, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years)
     5. Christopher Reynolds,   b. 1642, Isle of Wight, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1696  (Age 54 years)
    Last Modified 16 Mar 2020 
    Family ID F1295  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Documents
    Last Will and Testament of Christopher Reynolds
    Last Will and Testament of Christopher Reynolds
    20374VAWillRecords-002128-237-1.jpg
    Last Will and Testament of Christopher Reynolds
    Last Will and Testament of Christopher Reynolds
    20374VAWillRecords-002128-237-2.jpg

  • Sources 
    1. [S146] Reynolds Family Association, https://www.reynoldsfamily.org/line17/chris_41.php?fbclid=IwAR1ukwr4To5bgLNKV82BaUn27MslVpjBBe1LItHBzxF4Dn99tI49694tNbM.
      References:
      T1=Tillman, The Rennolds-Reynolds of Virginia and England 1530-1948
      T2=Tillman, The Rennolds-Reynolds Family Roster 1530-1959
      W.G. Reynolds=Reynolds History Annotated 1475-1977
      Boddie=John Bennett Boddie, Historical Southern Families, Vol II, "Reynolds of Isle of Wight," 1958
      Ray=Worth S. Ray, Index and Digest to Hathaway's NC Historical & Genealogical Register, 1945
      Hotten=John Camden Hotten, The Original Lists of Persons of Quality 1600-1700, 1874
      Adventurers=Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia 1607-1624/5, Order of First Families of Virginia, various editors. Three editions, Jester 1956; 1964; Meyers & Dorman1987.

      THE BIRTHPLACE OF CHRISTOPHER REYNOLDS OF ISLE OF WIGHT VA

      As Christopher's ancestors are in doubt, so is his place of birth. Was it Gravesend, County Kent or was it Dorsetshire, ENG as preferred by both Ray and W.G. Reynolds?

      W.G. Reynolds writing in 1978, siding with W.S. Ray, states "Christopher Reynolds was born in Dorsetshire, England, although Tillman takes a contrary position that it was County Kent, England. Boddie in Historical Southern Families, Vol II, "Reynolds of Isle of Wight," p201, [1958], seems to agree with Judge Ray."

      The following quote is actually what Boddie had to say in the foregoing reference:

      "Christopher Reynolds is shown in a published Reynolds pedigree as son of George Reynolds and Tomasine Church, born in 1611 at Gravesend, England. No references are given."

      T1-433 CHRISTOPHER REYNOLDS, of George (2), and Thomasyn (Church) Reynolds, b 1611 Gravesend, England, an d 1654 Isle of Wight Co. VA. He m. Elizabeth -. Data is from his will. They came to Warwick Co. VA, 1622 aboard the Francis and John, where they settled on 450 acres, patent to which was dated 9-15-1636. Issue: Richard b 1641 [T1-434]; Christopher b 1642 [T1-1135]; John b 1644, who d. unm. 3-11-1668; Abbasha b 1646; Elizabeth b 1648 [T1-1569]; Jane b 1650; and Thomas b 1655 [T1-1284]."

      T2-6292 Christopher Reynolds, of (1894 George), b 1611 Gravesend, England, d 1654 Isle of Wight Co. VA, m. Elizabeth - . Data from his will. They arrived in Warwick Co. VA 1622 aboard the "Francis and John", and settled there on 450 acres patent to which was made 15 Sep 1636. Issue: Richard b 1641 [T2-6293]; Christopher b 1642 [T2-7471]; John b 1644 and d 11 Mar 1668; Abbasha b 1646; Elizabeth b 1648; Jane b 1650; and Thomas b 1655 [T2-7899].

      Of all the many family histories I have seen (particularly the many at the NSDAR Library, Washington DC, and the VA State Library in Richmond), Ray, W.G. Reynolds, Tillman and are quoted repeatedly as the source for the information about Christopher Reynolds of Isle of Wight VA. (It is amazing how many have taken verbatim quotes from the sources and not given any credit to the authors!)

      THE BIRTHDATE OF CHRISTOPHER REYNOLDS OF ISLE OF WIGHT VA

      Col. Tillman stated that Christopher was born in 1611, but does not give a source for this birthdate. This does not seem probable since he appeared as a witness in court in 1625, when he would have been only 14 years of age.

      William Glasgow Reynolds wrote "Christopher Reynolds was ... born 1604... [Ray, Index, p135]." Reynolds did not give a source for this birthdate.

      Ray makes no mention of Christopher's birthdate.

      If Christopher was born in 1611 and came to Virginia in 1622, he would have been only 11 years of age at the time of his arrival (which is documented). In 1625 he testified as a witness (documented) in the General Court. It is possible that he might have been in such a position at age 14, but is it likely?

      THE WIFE/WIVES OF CHRISTOPHER REYNOLDS OF ISLE OF WIGHT VA

      It is not known when Christopher married and it is not known who he married or how many wives he had.

      We have seen that Tillman named her Elizabeth, and stated that "They" arrived... No source given for this information.

      Ray made no mention of his wife or wives.

      W.G. Reynolds stated that Christopher married as her 2d husband Elizabeth Matthews, whose first husband had been George Rivers, by whom she had a son, George, but gave no source for the information.

      In the early VA records, I have not been able to find a record identifying Elizabeth as Elizabeth Metthews, or a husband named Matthews with a wife named Elizabeth, or the death of a male Matthews.

      RFA member Robert A. Reynolds presented an interesting theory. "There was a second arrival in Virginia of "Chri: Reinolds", aged 24, aboard the ship Speedwell which departed from England 28 May 1635 (Hotten, p. 83; Boyer p67). I presume Christopher returned to England for a bride; his wife's name was Elizabeth and there were two women of his age aboard the 'Speedwell' with that name." The women on board Speedwell were Elizabeth Pew age 20, Elizabeth Tuttell, age 25, and a child Elizabeth Biggs, age 10. Was this our Christopher or another Christopher on his initial arrival in the new Colony.

      Jester, in Adventurers of Purse and Person Virginia 1607-1625 (1956), makes an interesting statement in writing of Christopher's will: "...to George Rivers (apparently a step-son).... He apparently married (1) ___ and (2) Elizabeth (___) Rivers."

      There is nothing in the article to give a clue as to what brought her to this conclusion. No additional information was provided in later editions of Adventurers.

      Adventurers, 1987 ed., page 494-495, "Christopher Reynolds left a will dated 1 May 1654... [named] wife Elizabeth, and George Rivers (apparently a step-son), and directed that his wife Elizabeth have the ordering and bringing up of his sons John and Richard, to be of age at 16, and daughters Elizabeth and Jane to of age at 15. He apparently married (1) --- and (2) Elizabeth (---) Rivers."

      I asked Mr. Dorman the basis for the statement, "He apparently married (1) --- and (2) Elizabeth (---) Rivers." He replied that it probably was based on the date of the death of Elizabeth's husband.

      In the VA records, I have not been able to find a record naming an Elizabeth Rivers, or any record pertaining to a Rivers husband or his death. One record exits, from which such speculation could be made, which will be seen later, in the article about the will of Richard2 Reynolds, son of Christopher1.

      So, to date we do not know Christopher's ancestors, his date and place of birth, his wife or wives' names.

      If anyone can provide any information about the foregoing, please contact Lee Taylor

      At this point we are without facts. But we can provide clear and convincing evidence of the first male Reynolds in the New World, i.e., Christopher Reynolds of Isle of Wight VA. The next chapter will deal with the evidence we do have for Christopher and his family.

      Additional References:

      Boddie, John Bennett. Colonial Surry. Orig pub Richmond VA 1948, repr 1959 Southern Book Co, Baltimore, repr pub 1989 Clearfield Co, Baltimore. This volume does not once mention the name Reynolds by any spelling; however, there were Reynolds there in later years.

      Boddie, John Bennett. Births, Deaths and Sponsors 1717-1778 from the Albemarle Parish Register of Surry and Sussex Counties, Virginia, Balto: Gen. Pub. Co., 1974. This volume does not once mention the name Reynolds by any spelling.

      Peter Wilson Coldham, The Complete Book of Emigrants 1607-1660, A Comprehensive Listing Compiled from English Public Records, p35-46: 16 Feb 1624. List of the names of the living in VA and of those who have died since April 1623 from PRO:CO1/3/5 (Public Record Office, Kew, Richmond, Surry TW9 4DU, England).

    2. [S40] Will, Christopher Reynolds of Isle of Wight.

    3. [S40] Will, http://interactive.ancestry.com/48444/VAWillRecords-001895-4?backurl=%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.aspx%3fdbid%3d48444%26path%3d&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnBrowsing#?imageId=VAWillRecords-002128-237.
      Christopher Reynolds

    4. [S10] R.W. Ryan.
      Reynolds

      Select Reynolds Surname Genealogy

      The name Reynolds was a Norman import to England, from Reginald or in Old French Reinold. The earlier root is the Old Norse Rognvaldr, comprised of the elements ragin meaning "counsel" and wald meaning "rule." Reynold was a Viking leader who harried the English and Irish shores in the 10th century.

      Name variants have included Reynold and Reynell. The Irish MacRaghnaill derives from the Gaelic of Randal or Reginald. This name became anglicized to Reynolds.

      Select Reynolds Resources on The Internet
      Reynolds Family History in Essex Reynolds Essex genealogy.
      Reynolds Family Association. Reynolds arrivals in America.
      Reynolds Family Circle. Reynolds family genealogy.
      Reynolds Irish Reynolds history.
      R.J. Reynolds. R.J. Reynolds family tree.
      Reynolds Family Beginnings. John Reynolds in New Brunswick.
      Select Reynolds Ancestry
      England. The Reynolds name first appeared in Somerset where they were granted lands after the Norman Conquest in 1066. William filius Raunaldi is recorded in the Domesday Book.
      SW England. A Reynell family originally from Cambridgeshire transplanted themselves to Devon in the 14th century where they were substantial landowners. They were described as "men of great credit, fidelity, and service to their kings, country and state in peace and in war." Both the Reynell and Reynolds names were to be found in Devon. A Reynolds family in Plympton produced the great 18th century portrait painter Sir Joshua Reynolds.
      The naval Reynolds came from Cornwall. They made their home in the late 18th century at Penair near Truro. And the Reynolds name was also prominent in tin mining at St. Agnes, starting possibly with William Reynolds who was born there in the 1680?s.
      Owen Reynolds, a yeoman farmer from Melcombe in Dorset, was five times its mayor in the 1550?s. His nephew Edward benefited from the patronage of the Earl of Essex and died in 1623 in London a rich man.
      Kent. A Reynolds line dating back to the 16th century in East Bergholt in Kent included descendants who were among the early immigrants to America. From a later naval family came George Reynolds who got himself involved in the Chartist movement in the 1840's. He founded a radical newspaper, Reynolds's Weekly Newspaper, which became popular. The paper continued in a different guise as Reynolds News until 1967.
      East Anglia. The birth of Thomas Reynolds was recorded at Great Chesterford in northern Essex in 1569. He appeared in court in 1598 after a brawl with a neighbor. One family history dates back to the marriage of James Reynolds and Susannah Wood at Little Bardfield in 1711. In the churchyard of the nearby village of Great Sampford there are a number of Reynolds gravestones of the late 18th and 19th centuries.
      Just across the border into Cambridgeshire were the Reynolds of Castle Camps and the Reynolds of Leverington:
      Sir James Reynolds, a Cromwellian general, had taken a lease on the Castle Camps estate as a safe retreat for his family during the Civil War. His grandson Sir James was appointed Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in 1727.
      While Richard Reynolds was rector of Leverington near Wisbech in the 1670?s. His son Richard, born there, became the Bishop of Lincoln. He acquired Paxton Hall in Huntingdonshire in 1730 where the family remained for several generations.
      Lancashire. There was a Reynolds family in Lancashire which inherited the Strangeways estate near Manchester in 1711. Francis Reynolds from this family distinguished himself in naval actions in the West Indies and later took over the family estates at Tortworth in Gloucestershire (his home there is now a country house hotel).
      Lancashire received an influx of Irish Reynolds in the 19th century. Mary Reynolds from Mohill in county Leitrim settled her young family in Manchester after the death of her husband during the famine years. Her letters recently published, The Reynolds Letters: An Irish Emigrant Family in Late Victorian Manchester, present a story of Irish immigrants making good in industrial England at that time.
      Ireland. The Reynolds name came to Ireland at the time of Strongbow in the 1200's. These English invaders took the titles of Earls of Cavan, Lisburne and Mountmorris. A later English invasion in the 17th century gave rise to the Reynells from Devon of Reynell castle. However, the largest numbers of Reynolds have been home-grown. From early times the lands around Lough Rynn in county Leitrim were owned and settled by the MacRaghnaill clan. Sean na gCeann or John of the Heads, so called for beheading his rebellious clansmen, was their chief in the late 1500's.
      The next century saw the English taking over Leitrim and the Irish, including the McRaghnaills, being gradually pushed out. A second exodus occurred at the time of the potato famine. Even so, nearly half of the Reynolds in Ireland today come from Leitrim. The Irish Prime Minister Albert Reynolds was born in nearby Roscommon.
      Portugal. A Reynolds family from Kent has been in Portugal since 1820, first as cork importers and then as wine producers.
      America. The English Reynolds in America came first. Early Reynolds settlers in New England were Robert and Mary Reynolds and their four children who got there in 1630. Christopher Reynolds from Gravesend in Kent arrived in Virginia in 1622 on the Francis and John. Their family line is documented in Stephen Tilman's 1959 book, The Rennolds-Reynolds of Virginia and England. [Beware of this reference-mfe]
      Members of this family were subsequently involved in the freighting business in upstate New York. They later moved west:
      P.G. Reynolds became a mail contractor and stage operator in Dodge City for the trails heading south to the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles. His brother Milton, who adopted the writing name of Kicking Bird, covered Indian council meetings as a roving reporter and became an advocate for Western settlement.
      another Milton Reynolds, but of German origin, introduced the first ballpoint pen to an unsuspecting public in 1945.

      Abraham Reynolds was a poor tobacco farmer in Virginia in the early 1800's. His son Hardin started a plantation at Rock Spring in Patrick county. Hardin's son RJ, the second of sixteen children born there, embarked on a plan to build his own tobacco factory at Winston Salem. It was he who developed the huge tobacco empire that is RJ Reynolds.

      Irish. Irish Reynolds also came to America. John Reynolds arrived in Virginia in the 1770's. His descendants moved onto Kentucky and Missouri. Robert and Margaret Reynolds from Louth reached Tennessee in 1784 and then continued to Illinois. Their son John rose to be the fourth governor of that state. Nineteenth century arrivals were more numerous. And many Reynolds went to Canada at that time as well.

      Canada. Early arrivals had been Empire Loyalists, such as William Reynolds, leaving America after the Revolutionary War. William had been a coronet in the British army and led a group of Loyalists out of New York in 1796. He and his family ended up in Dorchester (near London), Ontario.

      Bernard and Mary Reynolds came in the late 1830's from county Leitrim and settled in Renfrew county, Ontario. Other Reynolds followed, from both England and Ireland, as the 19th century proceeded.

      South Africa. In 1850 two Devon farmers, Thomas and Lewis Reynolds, set off on the Justina for South Africa to seek their fortunes (their uncle Charles had previously emigrated to Australia). The brothers' business took them to sugar refining in Natal. But it was the next generation - Frank and Charles Reynolds - who are generally considered as the founders of South Africa's sugar industry. Frank built the family home of Lynton Hall at Pennington on the south coast. It now operates as a luxury hotel.

      Australia. Two brothers, Richard and Edward Reynolds, were convicted of petty theft in Chelmsford and were transported to Australia in 1791. They were educated and literate and Edward kept a diary of the hardships of the journey. The brothers later surfaced in Hawkesbury, NSW. Richard petitioned for a land grant:

      "The petitioner arrived in this colony on the Atlantic in 1791, has been free about 28 years, has endured all the hardships to which and infant colony could subject him, and has reared a family of ten children to the habits of industry."

      His petition was successful. He died in Wilberforce in 1837 and left a large number of descendants.

      John Reynell from Devon was an early settler in South Australia. He came in 1838 and started the first commercial vineyard in the colony. Meanwhile Thomas and Mary Reynolds arrived in Western Australia from Oxfordshire in 1842. Their descendants are still to be found there. Charles Reynolds from Devon came to Tocal in the Hunter valley in 1844 and worked there until his death in 1871. In his time he was recognized an an expert on horse and cattle breeding in New South Wales.

      Select Reynolds Miscellany

      If you would like to read more, click on the miscellany page for further stories and accounts:

      Reynolds Miscellany


      Select Reynolds Names

      Walter Reynolds was the son of a Windsor baker who became a favorite of King Edward II. The king made him Archbishop of Canterbury.
      Sir Joshua Reynolds from Devon was a leading English portrait painter of the 18th century.
      R.J Reynolds, a Virginia tobacco farmer, founded the R.J Reynolds Tobacco Company in 1890.
      Richard S. Reynolds, nephew of RJ, founded the American Metals Company in 1919 and developed it as one of the world's leading aluminium companies.
      Paul Revere Reynolds, a descendant of the American patriot Paul Revere, was the first literary agent in New York, in 1893.
      Milton Reynolds, a Chicago businessman, introduced the first ballpoint pen on the market in 1945.
      Albert Reynolds was the Irish Prime Minister in the 1990's.
      Debbie Reynolds, born in Texas, is an American actress and singer
      Burt Reynolds is a well-known American actor.

      Select Reynolds Today

      85,000 in the UK (most numerous in Cambridgeshire)
      76,000 in America (most numerous in Texas)
      32,000 elsewhere (most numerous in Australia)

      Sent from Raymond?s iPhone