was a close friendship between Robert Reynolds and Governor Winthrop, and this may have had something to do with Robert's coming over, since good artisans were invaluable in the little Puritan community. It is probable that before setting sail from England, the Governor saw to it that his company included the necessary carpenters, blacksmiths, tanners, shoe-makers, tailors, etc. We know that Robert was a warm friend of the well-to-do old Captain Robert Keayne who remembered him in his will. Nathaniel Bishop† seems also to have been a close friend of the Reynolds family. From about 1636 Robert's history is laid entirely in Boston. In the Boston Town Records his name appears frequently. The records in enumerating, on January 8, 1637-38, those who on the "14th day of the 10th month 1635" (i. e., Dec. 14, 1635) were the "then inhabitants of Boston, gives Robert Reynolds' name and a description of his grazing and arable land allotment, already mentioned in connection with Watertown: "Also whereas att a Generall Meeting the 14th of the 10th moneth, 1635, it Was by generall Consent agreed upon for the laying out of great Allotments unto the then Inhabitants, the same are now brought in bounded as followeth: . . . No. 36. Robte. Reynolds, five and twenty acres: South East with Willm. Pell, and John Cranwell and George Baytes; on the North West with Newtowne (modern Cambridge), being on the Northwest syde half a myle in length." (Boston City Document: xlvi, pp. 22, 25.) That date would have been seven months after May 29, 1635, when Robert was dismissed from the Watertown Church in order to migrate to Wethersfield. The above description would locate this twenty-five acres somewhere in the vicinity between Fresh Pond and Mt. Auburn Cemetery between Cambridge and Watertown. The Romney Marsh mentioned in these early records is now Chelsea, Mass. Next after his admission to the First Church of Boston and to Freemanship, as already set down, the Boston records refer to him July 9, 1638: "It was agreed that Robt. Reynolds shall have 5 acres of Marsh ground att Muddy Ryvar (modern Brookline) in exchange for five acrs of his upland there, to be layd out by Mr. Coulborne." (Boston City Document, xlvi: p. 34). Then on "Aprill 27, 1640:" "The parcell of marsh at Hogg Island is tendered to goodman Marshall and goodman Raynolds and B. Gridley to be sould to them att such rates as shall be agreed." (Boston City Doc. xlvi, p. 53). †NATHANIEL BISHOP: Freeman, May 1645; currier, in Boston as early as 1634; owned property in Ipswich, 1638; m. Alice, dau James Mattocks. Nathl. d. before 1659; his widow m. Nov. 22, 1659, John Lewis. The witness to wills 1658, 1659, 1662, 1667, 1670, etc., seems to have been another Nathaniel. He had: Sarah, b. March 20, 1634. Ruth, b. April 14, 1639, o. s., m. John Pierce, 1656; and Samuel Bucknell, 1659. Joseph, b. July 14, 1642. Benjamin, b. May 31, 1644. John, b. Jany. 31, 1646. Samuel, d. March 7, 1646. Rebecca, b. April 8, 1652. Hannah, b. Feby. 4, 1649. Samuel, b. ---. See N. É. H. G. Reg. iii: 190; ii:77; vi:290. xlviii, 459, 326; and Savage's handbook. For December was then the tenth month of the old-style calendar. Read the explanation in any encyclopedia, or on p. 48 of the 1922 Reynolds Family Annual. The Boston City Documents in numerous volumes were published about half a century and can be found in most large libraries, under Reports of Boston Record Commissioners. And again August 31, 1640, the preceding land "is resigned up to our Brother Marshall, by our brother Raynolds and our brother Gridley, hee paying for the same twenty shillings worth in postes and railes for the towne's use." (Boston City Doc., xlvi, pp. 55, 45.) Next we read in the records, February 7, 1641: "There is granted unto Robt. Reynolds three acres of marish at Muddy River, for which he is to pay six shillings eight pence unto the Towne, according to what he should have payd for that parcell of marish which was to be purchased by him at Hog Island, but is now sold unto Thos. Marshall." (Boston City Doc., xlvi, p. 66). Then in 1642, Ruth, eldest daughter of Robert-she was then about twenty, we believe, married John Whitney and went to live permanently in Watertown. On November 22, 1644, Robert is mentioned in another's land transfer at Muddy River; and again March 1, 1644-45, "Robt. Reinols"† and Henry Stevens are mentioned in a transfer of land at Muddy River. Also on March 5, 1644-45: "Robt. Reinols of Boston granted unto Henry Stevens fifteene Acres of land at Muddy River, bounded wth Jacob Eliots lott on the East; Nathaniell Woodward, West; Robt. Reinolds, North & Henry Steevens south, & this was by an absolute deed of sale dated the 5th (1st mo.) 1645. A hand & Seale before mr. Hibbins 5. 1. 1645." Next it was in November 1645 that the Book of Possessions was begun and into it at this time was inscribed the description of the Boston Town homestead of Robert which he may have held as long as fifteen years previously. In 1645, also, Robert sold a rectangular fraction (about 25x62 feet) from the southeast corner of his homestead in Boston to one Zacheus Bosworth. It was next south of John Stevenson whose land was on Milk Street next to Robert. On October 4, 1645, a Mary Reynolds was admitted to the First Church of Boston, to which Robert had then belonged for over eleven years. Whether this was his wife, or his daughter Mary, who was then about fifteen or sixteen, we do not know. The latter seems more likely on account of her age, and because she married in 1648 to Richard Sanger. On November 15, 1648, it is recorded in the Boston Minutes that "Wm. Colbron and James Penn are appointed to lay out, before our next meeting, the way through the gardens towrds the South Wind-Mill, to begin betweene Nicolas Parker's house and Robert Renolds garden, and to give notice hereof to the owners land through which it is to be layd." (Boston City Doc., xlvi; pp. 85, 78). Next in order, his second daughter Tabitha married Matthew Abda, a fisherman of Boston, some time in 1646. Abda (or Abdy) and Tabitha were about this time given a generous piece out of Robert's homestead †Suffolk Deeds, I: 54, 58a. Bosworth probably came with Winthrop, 1630; freeman, 1655; will, p. 443 of N. E. Hist. Gen. Reg., V; Savage, p. 216; wife, Anne: children, Elizabeth, b. 1640; Samuel, b. 1641; Sarah. (about 45x33 feet) fronting on Milk Street where they lived. Tabitha died in May, 1661, leaving three children; Matthew married again, and on April 5, 1682, sold this gift-lot to Saville Simpson. Then in 1649, Mary, youngest of the daughters, married Richard Sanger, and they removed almost at once to Watertown to live. Mary's sister Ruth (Mrs. John Whitney) had lived there since 1643. Their homes in Watertown were not far from where in 1635 John Reynolds had lived, as we have previously mentioned. Robert is supposed to have sold to John Lake in 1646 the tract which he formally deeded June 26, 1648, to Lake, being the southwest corner (about 48x39 feet) fronting on Washington Street of the original home-lot. On December 10, 1662, Captain Nathaniel, Robert's son, after Robert's death, gave a quit-claim deed to John Laket for this land. March 27, 1648, the next mention runs "Robt. Renolds hath payd his six shillings, eight pence, that was due to the towne for his land, which leift (i. e. Lieut.) Savidge received for a debt due him." (Boston City Document, xlvi, p. 92). This 6/8 it would seem was paid to the Town for the three acres of marsh land granted to Robert by the Town of Boston on February 7, 1641 (seven years before!), cited in full above. The price and terms of payment were pretty favorable! Lieutenant, later Captain, Savage, was a neighbor of Robert, and Boston took this 6/8 from Robert and paid it over to Savage. On Dec. 18, 1650, both Robert and Nathaniel (then aged 23) witnessed a deed signed by their easterly neighbor Nathaniel Bishopwhich act confirms that Nathaniel was then over twenty-one. Then on June 8, 1652, in witnessing a deed, Robert§ signs, "Robrt Rejnolls." On January 12, 1653, Robert appraised|| the estate of the late Ezra Kane. On May 6, 1653, Samuel Wiboare (Wilbur?) and wife sold a certain house and property "being on the South Side of the Street or lane leading from the corner house of Robert Renolds, Shoemaker, in Boston aforesajd down to ye marish." (Suffolk Deeds, iii: 146). Next in 1653 his next-youngest daughter Sarah was the last of the four girls to marry. She wedded Robert Mason and they lived upon a piece of the homestead which Robert Reynolds gave them. It fronted Milk Street and was between the Reynolds lot upon which Benjamin Franklin was later born and the lot of John Stevenson. It is indicated, as well as the lot given Matthew Abdy, on the accompanying property map. This gift to the Masons was about 42x33 ft. When Mason died, it was sold by the heirs to Sarah's son, Robert Mason, Jr., on August 14, †Suffolk Deeds, IV, 260. Boston City Document, xlvi; p. 21, part II. Same, I, p. 206. IN. E. Hist. Gen. Reg. viii; 128x. SWA |