John Reynolds (abt. 1625 - 1657)

Born about 1625 in Cambridgeshire, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Died 1657 at about age 32 in At Sea, Goodwin Sands, Deal, Kent, England

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Biography

John Reynolds is Notable.

John Reynolds was the son of Sir James Reynolds of Castle Camps, Cambridgeshire and his second wife Jane Mordaunt, who married 20 July 1620, at Massingham Parva Norfolk. ^{[1] [2]} John and his sister Dorothy were almost a second generation of the family, due to the age difference of the children of Sir James' two marriages.

John Reynolds matriculated at St Catherine's College, Cambridge, Easter 1640, ^[3] was admitted to the Middle Temple (as Reynoldes) on 2 August 1642 and called to the bar 28 May 1647. ^[4] While he may have originally intended a legal career, following his half-brother Robert, after the onset of the Civil War he became a professional soldier in the New Model Army organized by Parliament against King Charles I.

War in England

He was first noticed on 3 September 1644 as a captain of the Plymouth Horse of the Eastern Association Army, in a letter from the Earl of Essex describing his defeat at Lostwithiel in Cornwall: "the Plymouth Horse with Reynolds in the head of them, charged bravely, twenty of the King's Horse-Men quitted their Horses, and run through the Closes. Captain Reynolds is a gallant young Man, and was shot through a narrow-brim'd Hat with a musquet-bullet;" ^[5]

When after this defeat, Parliament created the New Model Army, John Reynolds joined as captain as a troop of horse in a regiment commanded at one point by Oliver Cromwell. He was again distinguished for honors during the storming of Bridgewater in July 1645. "The Bridge being let down, Captain Rainolds, who commanded the forlorn hope of horse, immediately entered, and scoured the streets of that part of the Town so gained, called Eastover, with much gallantry and resolution ..." ^[6]

By 1647, following the surrender of the king, conservative factions in Parliament planned to disband the Army and send soldiers to Ireland without addressing its arrears of pay and other grievances. John Reynolds supported the radical elements within the Army and became a leader of the Agitators (many of them Levellers) chosen by soldiers to represent their views to the Army command, declaring "that for his part he and all his troope would sooner die then disband without the utmost farthing of their arrears." ^{[7] [8]} Reynolds may have believed that his position as a favorite of Cromwell would carry more weight than it did, as the leadership of the Army found such notions mutinous, and Reynolds was arrested. ^[9]

Yet shortly afterward, when Charles I began another war to regain his throne, Reynolds was released and given command of his own regiment. Edmund Ludow, then a radical MP, wrote in his Memoirs that he issued "orders to discharge from custody Capt. Reynolds, and some others called in derision Levellers, who had been imprisoned by the army for attempting to bring about that which they themselves were now doing," ^[10] It is noteworthy that Colonel John Reynolds was not one of those chosen for the High Court Of Justice to try Charles I for treason, as was his brother Robert (who declined to serve).

Following the king's execution in January 1648/9, the same unresolved issues resurfaced in the Army between Levellers and the "Grandees" in command, who were increasingly in control of Parliament. The invasion of Ireland was still on, and Reynold's regiment was one of those chosen. The troops split on the issue, with one half joining a Leveller mutiny and the other half, with Colonel Reynolds, opposing it by force. At Burford, Oxfordshire, the mutineers were surrounded and three of their leaders executed by firing squad. This action earned Reynolds the epithets of "Turn-coat" and "Apostate" by the Levellers, who regarded him as a traitor to their cause. ^{[11] [12]} It also earned him the renewed trust of Oliver Cromwell, during the invasion of Ireland.

War in Ireland

The invasion of Ireland proved the high point of Reynolds' military career. The primary purpose was to eradicate royalist forces then holding parts of the island. Reynolds' regiment was one chosen to secure Dublin as a bridgehead for the landing of the main invasion force under Cromwell. ^{[13] [14]} In November 1649, he captured the stronghold of Carrick and held it against a royalist counterattack, earning Cromwell's praise. Cromwell also mentioned that Reynolds put about 120 prisoners to the sword after capturing strongholds near Callan. ^[15] The royalist historian Mark Noble gave particular praise to Reynold's "valor and military knowledge," claiming that "the reduction of (Ireland) was more owing to his services, than those of any other person, the general's excepted." ^[16]

In April 1651, John Reynolds was promoted as Commissary-general of the horse. ^{[17] [18]}

After Ireland was subdued, Reynolds received extensive awards of Irish land, which would later cause much trouble for his heirs. Sir John Reynolds was knighted by Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell on 11 June 1655. ^[19] He sat as a representative for (the Protestant English) Ireland in Cromwell's first two short-lived Protectorate Parliaments and supported the offer of a crown to Cromwell. Henry Cromwell, when Lord Deputy of Ireland, called Reynolds his "right hand."^[17]

War in Flanders

By 1655, Sir John Reynolds was probably over thirty years of age, and he decided to marry a sister-in-law of Henry Cromwell - Sarah Russell, daughter of Francis Russell, thus becoming part of the Protectorate family. The marriage produced no children and was not long-lived, as in early 1657, Russell was appointed captain-general to lead an English army to Flanders during the Anglo-Spanish War, in alliance with France. At this time, the English royalists, under Charles II, were in alliance with Spain, which had vaguely promised to support an invasion of England.

On embarking for Flanders, the Cockpit of Europe, Reynolds was entered the premier league of land warfare in the 17th century. He led 6000 troops with the objective of taking the coastal ports of Mardyke, Gravelines and Dunkirk, but the command was held by the French, with far greater numbers, which dictated the strategy. Reynolds is said to have declared, "‘If I must still fight on untill my dagger, which was a sword, become an oyster-knife, I am content and submit." ^[17] Mardyke was taken in September and garrisoned by Reynolds, but in December he decided to return to England in bad weather and was drowned on the passage at the Goodwin Sands. "Reynolds was lamented alike by the State, the troops, and the crews of the squadron of ships in attendance."^[20]

Aftermath

In July 1659, Robert Reynolds, then Solicitor-general, petitioned Parliament about the complications ensuing upon the Will of his brother, John Reynolds: ^[21]

That, by his said Will, he settled Five hundred Pounds per Annum upon Sarah Russell, his espoused Wife, according to former Articles; gave her all his Personal Estate; and released his Marriage-Portion, being Three thousand Pounds. Set out Lands to be sold for Payment of Debts, and for the Payment of Five hundred Pounds, to the College of Dublyn, and Five hundred Pounds to the Hospital. And gave all the Residue of his Lands in England and Ireland to James Calthrope his Brother-in-law, and his Sister's Children, except the Manor of Carrick. And devised the said Manor of Carrick, and all the Lands thereto belonging, to his Brother Robert Reynolds the Petitioner; paying an Annuity, Legacies to his Kindred and Servants, amounting to the Sum of One Thousand One hundred Pounds; and declared the said Annuity to be One hundred Pounds, to be paid to his Brother Thomas Reynolds, during Life.

James Calthorpe, his brother-in-law, disputed this Will in Chancery, and the matter coming to the House of Commons, was resolved in the favor of Robert Reynolds, that the Will of John Reynolds was a good Will.

Later, in 1704, the widow of James Calthorpe, John Reynolds' sister Dorothy, having remarried to Sir Algernon May, numerous heirs of Dorothy contested Sir Algernon's Will ^[22] in which those lands in Ireland bequeathed by Sir John Reynolds were again the object of contention. ^{[23] [24]}

Sources

1. ↑ McLeod, Ronald Fisher. Massingham Parua Past and Present pp. 54 & 143. Waterlow, 1882. p. 54 p. 143
2. ↑ England, Boyd's Marriage Indexes, 1538-1850/ Essex, EnglandFindMyPast
3. ↑ Venn, J A. Alumni Cantabrigienses, vol 3, p. 445. Cambridge University Press. p. 445
4. ↑ Middle Temple Admissions Register, p. 141. p. 75/282
5. ↑ Rushworth, John. "Historical Collections: The Earl of Essex's march into the west, June 1644." Historical Collections of Private Passages of State: Volume 5, 1642-45. London: D Browne, 1721. 677-748. British History Online. Web. 3 April 2023. A Letter from the Earl of Essex
6. ↑ Sprigg, Josua. Anglia Rediviva, p. 70. London : Printed by R.W. for John Partridge, 1647. p. 70.
7. ↑ Clarke Papers, vol 1. Charles Harding Firth, ed., 1901. Selections
8. ↑ "A Solemn Engagement of the Army" Solemn
9. ↑ Little, Patrick. "Reynolds, Sir John", Dictionary of Irish Biography Reynolds
10. ↑ Ludow, Edmund. Memoirs, vol. 1, p. 183. p. 183
11. ↑ "The Levellers Vindicated" Vindicated
12. ↑ Gretton, Richard Henry. The Burford Records pp. 237-256. The Clarendon Press: 1920. Burford
13. ↑ BCW Project: Biography of Sir John Reynolds Biography
14. ↑ Ludlow, p. 230. p. 230
15. ↑ Carlyle, Thomas, ed. Cromwell's Letters and Speeches II 1897 Carrick Callan
16. ↑ Noble, Mark. Memoirs of the Protectoral House of Cromwell, vol. 2, p. 418. 1787. Noble
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1 17.2} Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 48/ Reynolds, John (d.1657) by Charles Harding Firth DNB
18. ↑ Ludlow, p. 260. p. 260
19. ↑ Shaw, William Arthur. The Knights of England, vol II, p. 223. London: Sherratt and Hughes, 1906. p. 223
20. ↑ "Volume 158: December 1657." Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Interregnum, 1657-8. Ed. Mary Anne Everett Green. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1884. 196-243. British History Online. Web. 4 April 2023. BHO
21. ↑ "House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 20 July 1659." Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 7, 1651-1660. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1802. 725-726. British History Online. Web. 4 April 2023. BHO
22. ↑ Proved 5 October 1704 PROB 11/478/319
23. ↑ "House of Lords Journal Volume 18: 5 December 1707." Journal of the House of Lords: Volume 18, 1705-1709. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1767-1830. 353-354. British History Online. Web. 2 April 2023. BHO
24. ↑ "Calthorpe and another v. May and others" HL/PO/JO/10/6/111/2330