BILL NUMBER: S9446B
SPONSOR: HARCKHAM
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the highway law, in relation to dedicating a portion of
the state highway system in the town of Lewisboro, county of Westches-
ter, to Captain Nathaniel Reynolds
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To dedicate a portion of the state highway in the town of Lewisbor-
o,county of Westchester, to Nathaniel Reynolds.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends section 344-s of the highway law to outline the desig-
nation of a portion of state route thirty-five to Nathaniel Reynolds.
Section 2 outlines the role of the commissioner of transportation in the
signing and maintenance of the highway's dedicated portion. Section 3
provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The Reynolds family of Cross River traces its roots to 1754, when more
than 100 acres were deeded to the family, the same year Nathaniel
Reynolds was born. The family played an important role in the communi-
ty's agricultural, religious, and civic life.
Nathaniel Reynolds was the father of 12 children. In addition to manag-
ing his farm year-round, he worked at the tailoring trade in the winter
months. This skill served him well during the Revolutionary War where he
served as a captain and was captured by the British in June 1779,
further held as a prisoner on a British ship until his release in Octo-
ber 1781. According to family lore, he tailored uniforms for British
officers.
Lieutenant Reynolds was an enlisted man in Colonel Crane's Westchester
County Militia and fought in the Battle of White Plains and in the
Battle of Ridgefield. In civilian life, he served as Fence Viewer, and
the Cross River Baptist Church was organized in his home in 1789. From
those early beginnings, the Reynolds family remained the backbone of
that church community until the death of Lois Reynolds at age 106 in
July 2025, the last direct descendant of the Reynold's family living in
Cross River. Lieutenant Nathaniel Reynolds died in 1843 and is buried
in Cross River Cemetery.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
 
EFFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.