James Reynolds (judge)
Encyclopedia
Sir James Reynolds was an English judge who had a distinguished career in both Ireland and England, holding the office of Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas
and later Baron of the Exchequer in England. He should not be confused with his close relative Sir James Reynolds, Chief Baron of the Exchequer.
He was born at Helions Bumpstead
in Essex
, son of Robert Reynolds and Kezia Tyrrell. He was educated at Eton College
and Peterhouse College, Cambridge, where he matriculated in 1703. He entered Lincoln's Inn
in 1705 and was called to the Bar in 1712.
After only fourteen years practice he was spoken of for a senior position in Ireland. The first suggestion was Chief Baron but in the event he became Chief Justice of Common Pleas in 1727. According to Foss, he gave general satisfaction; certainly he was highly praised for his conduct of a much-publicised murder trial in 1731 when a student of Trinity College Dublin was charged with abetting the murder of a watchman. After an "excellent and impartial" charge by the judge the student was acquitted to general public approval. In 1739 he had strong hopes of becoming Lord Chancellor of Ireland
but in the event was passed over for Viscount Jocelyn. However Elrington Ball suggests, perhaps unfairly, that all English judges in Ireland longed for a place, even a junior place on the English bench. Reynolds at any rate was happy to return to the English Court of Exchequer, where his relative and naamesake had until recently been Chief, in 1740. He was knighted and became a Bencher of Lincoln's Inn.
He died at Castle Camps
, Cambridge in 1747. He never married but shared a house for many years with his unmarried sister Judith, who had a memorial erected to him.
His exact relationship to Chief Baron Reynolds has caused some difficulty; Foss concludes that the Chief Baron, though slightly the younger of the two, was the Irish judge's uncle, the much younger half-brother of his father.
Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas
The Chief Justice of the Common Pleas for Ireland was the senior judge of the Court of Common Pleas ,known in its early stage as the Common Bench or simply Bench, one of the senior courts of common law in Ireland. It was a mirror of the Court of Common Pleas in England...
and later Baron of the Exchequer in England. He should not be confused with his close relative Sir James Reynolds, Chief Baron of the Exchequer.
He was born at Helions Bumpstead
Helions Bumpstead
Helions Bumpstead is a small village in Essex located near Haverhill and the Essex/Suffolk/Cambridgeshire borders. It is 2 miles from Steeple Bumpstead. Helions Bumpstead has "the greens"; Pale Green , Wiggens Green , and Drapers Green . There are four roads into and out of the village they are;...
in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, son of Robert Reynolds and Kezia Tyrrell. He was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Peterhouse College, Cambridge, where he matriculated in 1703. He entered Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
in 1705 and was called to the Bar in 1712.
After only fourteen years practice he was spoken of for a senior position in Ireland. The first suggestion was Chief Baron but in the event he became Chief Justice of Common Pleas in 1727. According to Foss, he gave general satisfaction; certainly he was highly praised for his conduct of a much-publicised murder trial in 1731 when a student of Trinity College Dublin was charged with abetting the murder of a watchman. After an "excellent and impartial" charge by the judge the student was acquitted to general public approval. In 1739 he had strong hopes of becoming Lord Chancellor of Ireland
Lord Chancellor of Ireland
The office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland was the highest judicial office in Ireland until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. From 1721 to 1801 it was also the highest political office of the Irish Parliament.-13th century:...
but in the event was passed over for Viscount Jocelyn. However Elrington Ball suggests, perhaps unfairly, that all English judges in Ireland longed for a place, even a junior place on the English bench. Reynolds at any rate was happy to return to the English Court of Exchequer, where his relative and naamesake had until recently been Chief, in 1740. He was knighted and became a Bencher of Lincoln's Inn.
He died at Castle Camps
Castle Camps
Castle Camps was a Norman Castle located in what is now the civil parish of Castle Camps, Cambridgeshire.-Owners:Castle Camps was originally a Saxon manor, belonging to Wulfwin, a Thane of King Edward the Confessor. After the Norman invasion, William the Conqueror gave the manor to Aubrey de Vere...
, Cambridge in 1747. He never married but shared a house for many years with his unmarried sister Judith, who had a memorial erected to him.
His exact relationship to Chief Baron Reynolds has caused some difficulty; Foss concludes that the Chief Baron, though slightly the younger of the two, was the Irish judge's uncle, the much younger half-brother of his father.