William Reynolds, from British solider to Colonial American Patriot

To trace the beginnings of William Reynolds, we can break down some of the accounts given in the article: 

“Wm. Reynolds, the first ancestor in this country was a British soldier stationed in Ireland.  He was sent in 1755 under Gen. Braddock to assist the colonists.”

 We know that General Braddock sent two regiments to America that were stationed in Ireland by order of King George II.  The two regiments were Sir Peter Halkett’s 44th Foot and Thomas Dunbar’s 48th Foot.  These two battalions left Cork, Ireland with 520 men each.  The numbers in the regiment were raised by drawing men from regiments in Great Britain and Ireland. 

If William Reynolds sailed to America with one of the regiments mentioned above, he could have taken part in the Battle of the Monongahela, or he could have remained in the rear party that moved supplies to support the front of the expedition.  At this time, we don’t have documentation on his whereabouts in July 1755.  However, based on the family’s account, it does seem likely that this expedition was the means by which he could have traveled to America from England.  The details of the Battle of the Monongahela and Braddock’s Expedition can be researched in great detail at a number of web sites that are beyond the scope of this summary.

The period of time between July 1755 and when Reynolds first appears with the 2nd Battallion of the Pennsylvania Regiment is an interesting era to research.  The following articles and future ones will trace the steps of Reynolds from his service as a Brisitsh solider to the time that he joined the Revolutionary War and served at Valley Forge. 

This year marks the 250th Anniversary of Pittsburgh, and for me personally, the 250th anniverary of the survival of my ancestor, William Reynolds, in the Battle of Fort Duquense. 

William Reynolds is tied closely to David Jameson who is listed on the commission roll of Fort Augusta for December 9, 1757. These two men have their names recorded together in several references of the Pennsylvania Archives.  See references attached here Page 89, 98 ,and 266. 

William Reynolds first appears in the Pennsylvanian Archives timeline in April 1756 as part of Ensign David Jameson’s company.  William Reynolds is listed among the names of men “killed or wounded in Jameson’s fight near McCord’s Fort on April 2, 1756.”  The events record that Indians captured a “private fort” owned by William McCord and killed twenty-seven people.  When the Indians retreated, they were chased by thirty men of Capt Culbertson’s Militia, and by nineteen men of Captain Hamilton’s company led by Ensign Jameson.  William Reynolds is listed in the PA Archives as one of the men wounded on April 2, 1756. (See Page 41 attached to this article)  A detailed account of this day can be read on the Jameson Family website under the topic David Jameson at War.

From the newspaper article of 1889, we read “He fought in the battle Fort Duquesne and being a cavalryman, his horse was shot under him, and he received an almost fatal wound.” This account can at least be verified in the Pennsylvania Archives Publication under the following entry.  “Lieut. William Reynolds, Dec. 19, 1757; wounded at Grant’s defeat near Fort Duquesne, Sept. 14, 1758; resigned March 17, 1759." See reference page 182.

Although it mentions that Reynolds resigned on March 17, 1759, other research in the Letter of Henry Bouquet suggests that Reynolds returned to his regiment in the latter part of 1759.

I can find no other William Reynolds in the Pennsylvania Archives 132 volumes serving in the military during this period of American history.  In addition, the fact that the details handed down by the family in 1889 match exactly with the accounts I have found in several published sources can only lead me to believe that this William Reynolds is indeed our ancestor.  As you will see later, the number of William Reynolds documented as serving in the Revolutionary War makes the search for Reynolds in 1777 much more difficult. Let’s get back to the source.  The Pennsylvania Archives is referring to the Battle of Fort Duquesne on September 14, 1758 in which Major James Grant was defeated by the French & Indians.  Read the account of the battle here.  

In the “List of Casualties from Action near Fort Duquesne,” William Reynolds is recorded as being part of the Pennsylvania 2nd Battalion.   His unit suffered 18 casualties, 5 wounded, and 85 not wounded.     It is important to mention at this time the need to understand the leadership that surrounded William Reynolds.  For example, read the names of the other men listed on page 182 of the Pennsylvania Archives. You will see these men together in other parts of the Archives publication, as well as other books written about the French & Indian War.   William Reynolds’ name appears several times in the Pennsylvania Archives along with these officers. [See sources in the PA Archives attached as page 98 105 107 128 ] 

William Reynolds is listed in the muster rolls of the Pennsylvania Regiment of Foot where he was commissioned a Lieutenant at Fort Augusta on December 19, 1757.  This was also the date that Colonel James Burd took command of Fort Augusta.   

Reynolds also appears in the “List of Officers who served in the Pennsylvania Regiment of 3 Battalions, A.D. 1758 & 1759.” [Officer’s name and number of loss to each.][Source page 264 and 266]

We read in the Pennsylvania Archives that William Reynolds resigns on March 17, 1759.  However, this is not the end of his military career.  It was common that men could leave after their enlistment had ended, but the fact that Reynolds was now an officer, he would not have been held to the same terms as the enlisted men. 

Having been wounded at least two times, Reynolds may have needed an opportunity to rest, or simply get away from the risk of battle for at least a short period of time.  We can see by the date of his resignation, it was Spring time, and then returned in late Summer.  It would stand to reason that survival during the winter months would be much easier if you were attached to the Provisional Army for they had the financial means to provide one with food and shelter. 

We read in the Letters of Henry Bouquet that William Reynolds did return to his unit.  John Hughes, one of the Provincial Commissioners to the Governor, wrote a letter to Colonel Henry Bouquet that mentions that Reynolds had returned.  See the letter attached to this entry from Hughes to Bouquet written from Philadelphia in August 1759. 

Moving into the Fall of 1759, we see that William Reynolds is again active in his military career.  In another letter written from Hughes to Bouquet from Philadelphia, October 13, 1759, Hughes mentions that Reynolds will go to the farthest point to return to his unit.