Prudence Reynolds

Interesting story about the temper of her husband and how she was called on to clean up a beaten to death indentured servant.

Chester on the 7th day of Second month, 1685, and at that time aroused intense public feeling, due, largely, to the prominent social position of the parties litigant, as also the serious matter involved. As the case terminated, it would have been better for the plaintiff if he had never instituted the action. Henry Renolds, of Marcus Hook, who became a resident there early in 1680, was a publican, keeping a tavern in the village (at which he sold liquor with license when he could get the court's approval, but whether he obtained that permission or not he persisted in vending ardent spirits), seems to have been a man of quick temper, which would often cause him to do that which was of the utmost disadvantage to him. At the court held at the date stated, Renolds sued Justa Anderson for scandalous and defamatory words, in that he had reported that Renolds had beaten his servant-girl and the next day she died. The plaintiff showed by James Sandelands, James Brown, William Hawkes that Justa Anderson had asserted that he saw Henry Renolds "beat and kicke his maide and that he saw her alive no more." The defendant was able to show by Thomas Pearson that when he was at Renolds' house he saw the latter lift "up the tongs" and threaten to strike his maid-servant "for not eating such things as was provided for her," while Wooly Rosen, who lived just below Naaman's Creek, in New Castle County, testified that while he was at Renold's the girl asked him for some milk, which angered her master, - she was an indentured servant, - and be struck her "one Blow with a broome Staffe, asking her whether there was not vituals enough in the house?" William Cornell declared that he saw Renolds "Beate his maide with a Broome staffe and afterwards kicked her as she was by ye fire." While Robert Moulder related a marvelous story that the night the girl died "he see the maide sleeping by ye fireside, and sometimes afterward shee went to bed, after which a 'revelation' came to him that the maide would dye that night." Prudence Clayton, Renolds' mother-in-law, who, after the girl died, had been sent for "to lay her out, did not remember that shee did see any manner of hurt about her." The jury found, however, for the defendant, and the case had aroused such public attention that James Kenneily, the first coroner of whom we have record in Chester County, intervened in the matter. This we learn from the order of the court, held 1st 3d day of Seventh month, 1685, that "Execution be granted against Henry Renolds for ye Crowner's fees, charges of Inquest & taking up ye said Renolds' maide, with all other charges whatsoever thereunto belonging." The sheriff in this execution levied on an ox, and Renolds at the next court had to pay £4 10s., when "the court ordered him his Oxe againe."