Alcey Annet Reynolds Henry: A Name Puzzle

Alcey Annet Reynolds Henry: A Name Puzzle

Jean M. Hoffman, CG

Alcey Annet Reynolds was born 12 Feb 1833, seventh of the nine children of James Reynolds and Elizabeth Guy of the Kyger area in Cheshire Township, Gallia County, Ohio. [1] She left few records with her name and those few vary. The names of children in the family in birth order were: Sarah, Mary, John, Nancy, Robert Franklin, Margaret, Alcey Annet, Elizabeth Jane, and David Lasley. All the other names are common given names for the area. John was the first son and that was the name of both his grandfathers. Mary was the second daughter and that common name was shared by her maternal grandmother. The unusual Alcey could be the name of her paternal grandmother. [2]

1850 U.S. census for James Reynolds family

The main difference in the records is whether the first name begins with an A or an E. Annet is likely her second name. Six records provide examples, four of them created in her lifetime. Her death apparently came between the birth of a son in 1863 and her husband’s remarriage in 1865 but no death record or burial is currently known.

Spelling her name depends on the record used. Elsie wasn’t used in this family at this time but could be what was meant. Elsie could be a nickname for Alice, so another possibility.[3] This is an example of the challenges in knowing what name and what spelling is right to use to remember our family members.

1. Elsy Garnet Reynolds        Family history (note 1)

           2. Alcy Reynolds               1850 census with father[4]
3. Alrey Anet Reynolds (indexed as Abey) probably incorrect copy of Alcey                                                                       1852 marriage to James M. Henry[5]
4. E. A. Henry                   gravestone of daughter, Mary E. Henry, 1854 (photo Oct. 2000)                                                engraved: “Baby of J.M. & E.A. Henry”[6]
5. Elzy A. Henry              1860 census with husband[7]
6. Annet Henry late Annet Reynolds                                                                                                                                      probate of her father's estate, PoA of sons Perry and James regarding her share, 1882[8]

*          Alcey Reese Reynolds—name of her grandmother as told by granddaughters of James Reynolds (this Alcey's nieces) according to their nephew, Oliver G. Lyle. The name is included in a Reynolds family history from 1948, possibly based on this information.[9]

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[1] James Reynolds Family History Manuscripts, data probably collected by H. Bion Bradbury (1897–1944) husband of Luella Rupe, a great granddaughter of James and Elizabeth (Guy) Reynolds, was inherited. The information was shared with the author on 29 April 2009, Collection of Jinx Ann Farley (Gallipolis, Ohio).

 [2] Mrs. H. H. Horner (Mildred) (Chicago, Illinois) to Major Oliver G. Lyle, letter, 1 September 1933; Hoffman Family Papers, privately held by Jean M. Hoffman, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] (Cleveland Heights, Ohio), 2024. This letter in its envelope was passed by Oliver Guy Lyle (1882–1957) to his daughter Virginia B. Lyle McClintock (1910–1992) from whom the current owner inherited it

 [3] Christine Rose, Nicknames, Past and Present, 5th Edition Expanded (San Jose, California: CR Publications, 2007).

 [4] 1850 U.S. census, Gallia County, Ohio, population schedule, Cheshire Township, Gallia, Ohio, sheet 454A, dwelling 949, family 959, James Rennolds household; imaged, “1850 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8054/images/4204439_00371: viewed 25 June 2024).

 [5] ”Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRMD-S2R8?i=363&cc=1614804&cat=265736 : viewed 19 June 2024), digital film 004016313, image 364 of 493, Gallia County Marriage Record 2: 212, James Maddison Henry and Alrey Anet Reynolds, 1852.

 [6] Find a Grave, database with images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/48980895  : viewed 24 June 2024), memorial 48980895, Mary E Henry (1853–1854), Van Zant Cemetery, Cheshire Township, Gallia County, Ohio; gravestone photo by Jean Hoffman.

 [7] 1860 U.S. census, Gallia County, Ohio, population schedule, Morgan Township, Kyger post office, sheet 166, dwelling 1207, family 1138, James M. Henry household; imaged, “1860 United States Federal Census,”, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7667/images/4282511_00170 : viewed 19 June 2024).

 [8] Gallia County, Ohio, Gallia Probate Case File 197, James Reynolds, Power of Attorney of Perry B. Henry and James A. Henry of Carroll County, Missouri, 14 February 1882; imaged ”Ohio, Gallia County, probate case files, 1803-1943,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS2Q-GQSJ-Y?i=484&cat=2827731 : viewed 25 June 2024), digital film 103741784 > images 485–87 of 2055.

 [9] Stephen Frederick Tillman, The Rennolds, Reynolds Family of England and Virginia, 1530–1948 (Washington, DC: Stephen Frederick Tillman, 1948), 165, para. 1537; imaged, “The Rennolds, Reynolds Family of England and Virginia, 1530–1948,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/12542/?name=alcey_reese&name_x=1 : viewed 30 June 2024).