The Reynolds Family Henderson County Texas

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: 
East Texas Genealogical Society
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Winter 1981 Vo. 5, No. 4 published in the East Texas Family Records
by the East Texas Genealogical Society 

THE REYNOLDS FAMILY OF HENDERSON COUNTY

One of the pioneer families of Henderson County is the Reynolds family. Davis Reynolds and 
his family were among the first settlers of the community of New York, 
located in the eastern part of the county. His son, John H. gave land
 for the first school, as well as land for the New York Baptist Church. 
The first cemetery in this community was on the Davis Reynolds 
farm, now called the Reynolds Cemtery (on the Hubert Mills farm today).

When the family first arrived, they met in homes to worship, making 
brush arbors in the summer months. Other families in the community were 
invited to worship with the family, thus, the beginning of the New York Baptist Church.

Davis Reynolds was born 29 August 1800 in Georgia and died 22 January 1869 in 
Henderson County, and is buried on his farm in the Reynolds family cemetery. His wife, Catherine, was born in 1802 in 
Georgia and died 10 August 1871 in Henderson County and is 
buried alongside her husband. This family appears in the 
1840 and 1850 census of Floyd County, Georgia. Their children were:

(1)	William George (also appears as G. W.) born 9 October 
1823 in Georgia and died 9 May 1865 in Henderson County. 
He married Mary R. Middleton on 24 July 1845 in Rome, Georgia.

(2)	Matilda, who married James Finley (the family reports he 
was called Charlie) 6 November 1845 in Rome, Georgia. Little is known about Matilda. Two sons, Samuel B. Finley, born ca 1846 in Georgia, 
Amos E. Finley, born ca 1847 and a daughter, Ann Finley (married
 Isaac Rounsavall on 19 January 1871. in Henderson Co.) are 
reproted to be the known children. We do not have proof, except that 
Samuel and Amos were living in the household of John R. Reynolds in the 1870 census.

(3)	Elmira Ann Reynolds, born 19 August 1828 in Georgia and 
died 4 April 1863 in Henderson County. She married Andrew Marion Otts, 
born 27 October 1826 and died 3 August 1866. He was the son of James 
Otts, born in South Carolina in 1803. This family was called “Oats” when they came to the county and were called this for many years. 
Andrew M. and Elmira are buried in the Reynolds Cemetery.

(4)	James F. Reynolds, born about 1830 in Georgia. The 1860 
Henderson County census reports his wife as Rebecca. She died 
prior to 1863 and James was killed in the Civil War. Their daughter, 
Margaret Reynolds became the ward of her grand­father, Davis Reynolds.

(5)	Eliza Reynolds born 30 April 1832 in Georgia and 
died 3 January 1913, buried in the New York Cemetery. She married 
James Forester, a widower with sever­al children. Children from 
his first marriage were: Joel Forester, born ca 1842, Georgia; 
Thomas Forester, born ca 1844, Georgia; James W. Forester, 
born ca 1854, Georgia; and Jessie Wood Forester, born ca 1856, 
Georgia. The children of Jesse and Eliza Forester were: Abner D., 
born ca 1862, Texas; Emma J., born ca 1864, Texas, John R., 
born 1866 and died 1947 (buried in the New York Cemetery); 
and George M., born ca 1869. Many descendants of the Forester 
family still reside in the New York Community.

(6)	Julia Reynolds, born ca 1834, married Ambrose 
Coleman 3 March 1863 in Henderson County. They 
had one daughter, Julia, who married Jim Lee Murphy.

(7)	Catherine Reynolds, born 1840 in Georgia and died 14 
March 1869 in Hender­son County. She married W. G. Middleton 
on 7 July 1867. He died 20 March 1871.

Estelle Corder Henderson Co. Corespondent for East Texas Genealogical Society