Record book
Hamilton Reynolds
by Linda Mayfield Vestal 4th great granddaughter
Hamilton Reynolds was born October 3, 1761 in Anson Co., North Carolina. This information was left to his descendants in his Revolutionary War Pension Application R8711. Hamilton and his family made many long journeys from his birthplace, near the Pee Dee River in NC, before his final settlement in Purdy, McNairy County, Tennessee.
The names of Hamilton’s parents were not given within his military documents, although he made reference to information contained in the family Bible. Some believe he was the son of William and Henrietta Hamilton Reynolds, but there is insufficient proof, at this time, to verify this claim. Hamilton did tell us that he moved at the age of nine to Orange County, NC and again in another four years to Montgomery County, NC. The families’ first move west was to Wilkes County, Georgia. From this location in 1779, at the age of 18, Hamilton became a volunteer soldier in the Revolutionary War.
After involvement in the Battle of Kettle Creek and the Siege of Savannah, Hamilton returned to Wilkes County to marry Rachel Clements. An 1816 Will by John Clements was located in Pendleton County, South Carolina. Within this Will, John lists his family members to include a daughter, Rachel Runnels (Reynolds). Additional reference was made within the will to the dispersal of lands in Clark County, GA. This will and supporting DNA evidence reveal that Rachel descended from Capt. Benjamin and Susannah Hill Clements of Virginia.
Around the time of their marriage, Hamilton and Rachel moved to Pendleton District, SC where their six children were born. There is some discrepancy as to the total number of children; however, the names handed down within the family were: Elizabeth (1793); Hugh Riah (1795); Nancy (1798); Isaac Clements (1802); Polly/Mary (1805); and Millie/Millage Hamilton (1807).
By 1815, the Reynolds family had moved into the state of Tennessee. Hamilton’s military records mention an eleven-year stay in Giles County, however he was listed by Henson Day on the 6th of May, 1819 on the “David Crockett Docket” in Lawrence County, TN. Also, the 1820 census records Hamilton in Lawrence County; but by the 1830 census, Hamilton had moved once more to Hardin County, TN. At this time, Hamilton stated that he made his first unsuccessful attempt to “draw his declaration” in order to receive a pension for his military service.
After a ten year time period, Hamilton made his final move to McNairy County, TN. He claimed to have moved “among strangers”, but he does mention being well acquainted with Jeremiah Adams of McNairy County. Additionally John Ham, another Revolutionary veteran, had been one of the early settlers of the county. Hamilton’s son, Hugh Riah, married the daughter of John and Phoebe Blassingame Ham.
Hamilton suffered the loss of his wife of approximately forty-two years on June 4, 1833. Finally, Hamilton Reynolds’ long journey from the Pee Dee River in NC to Purdy, McNairy Co., TN ended in 1851 at the advanced age of 90. The burial place for Rachel and Hamilton is not known, but it is thought to be in either Purdy, McNairy County, TN or in the Reynolds family
cemetery in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Regardless, their memory lives on in the numerous descendants that have spread across the United States. We are all proud of our Revolutionary War Veteran.
Submitted by – Linda Mayfield Vestal
[4th Great Granddaughter]