Charles Reynolds

Planter, owner of Clermont estate in Jamaica, husband of Elizabeth Gray (1787-1815), brother-in-law of William Peterswald (q.v.) of Petersfield Pen, Jamaica, and Hugh Walker of Carron Hall, Jamaica. Charles Reynolds died in 1815 and the compensation for Clermont estate was claimed by Thomas Gillespy, Thomas Gillespy junior and George Harffy Longcroft of London, the executors of 'George Reynolds' [almost certainly a mistranscription for Charles Reynolds, for whom Longcroft at least was certainly an executor: the will of Thomas Gillespy the father proved in 1845 describes Charles Reynolds as 'my friend and late ward...deceased'].

1. Memorial inscription in Clermont, Jamaica: "ELIZA,  wife of Charles Reynolds Esq. b 18 June 1787 at Culgour in Scotland, d 1 Feb 1815 at this place in her 28th year,  --- It is to be hoped that few marbles will have to record so melancholy a tale as this.  Within six months after the decease of the loved and lamented wife the disconsolate husband on his passage to England with three lovely children the living likenesses of their departed mother, and his niece, daughter of Hugh Walker Esq. were lost in the Montreal, Captain Alexander, one of the unfortunate ships in the ever memorable fleet which sailed under convoy of HMS Warrior the 12 July 1815." The will of Charles Reynolds mentions his three children by his wife Elizabeth and also his three reputed children by Frances Martin (Thomas born 1813, Elizabeth born 1807 and Mary Ann born 1811).  

T71/856 Trelawny No. 171.

1. 'Faith matters: The parish magazine of St Faith, Havant with St Nicholas, Langstone', June 2006 [http://www.stfaith.com/june06.htm] [accessed 1/7/2010]: letter from Allan P Gray Austin TX: Charles Reynolds of Trelawny made a will 15 May 1815, mentions his sister Mary Ann Elizabeth Longcroft, makes George Harftly [sic] Longcroft of Arundel, Sussex, one of his executors, the other being Hugh Walker of the parish of St Mary's Jamaica, his brother-in-law (Reynolds and Walker had married sisters, Eliza and Willamina Gray, daughters of Captain Walter Gray of Sutherland). The will mentions Thomas Gillespy of London as a valued friend and guardian.

We are grateful to Allan Gray for his help with this entry.