Obituaries of Reginald Pelham Bolton, a Former Pelham Resident and an Historian with a Love for Pelham

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Reginald Pelham Bolton was a grandson of the Rev. Robert Bolton, founder of Christ Church and builder of the Priory in Pelham Manor, a home that still stands and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Reginald Pelham Bolton was a resident of Pelham in the latter decades of the nineteenth century, but later moved to New York City where he died in 1942.  I have written before about one-time Pelham resident Reginald Pelham Bolton.  See, e.g., Thu., Jan. 10, 2008:  Brief Biography of Reginald Pelham Bolton, Local Historian.

Reginald Pelham Bolton in 1913.

NOTE:  Click Image to Enlarge.

Reginald Pelham Bolton was born on October 5, 1856 in Kilburn, an area of northwest London, England.  He was a son of James Bolton and Lydia Louisa Pym Bolton.  He studied as a young man in England to become a civil engineer.  In 1878, he married Ethelind Huyck in Sussex, England.  The couple had two children:  Guy Bolton and Ivy Bolton.  

Ethelind Huyk Bolton and Reginald Pelham

Bolton in an Undated Photograph.  NOTE:

Click Image to Enlarge.

Reginald Pelham Bolton with His Children,

Ivy Bolton and Guy Bolton in an Undated

Phtograph.  NOTE:  Click Image to Enlarge.

In 1879, Reginald and Ethelind Bolton moved to Pelham, New York.  While residing in Pelham, Reginald assisted his uncle, the Rev. Cornelius Winter Bolton, who was rector of the Church of the Redeemer in North Pelham, with the revision of a second edition of the Bolton History of Westchester, which had been written by another of Reginald's uncles, Robert Bolton, Jr., another son of the founder of the Christ Church and the Priory in Pelham Manor.  Reginald Pelham Bolton and his family lived for a time in a small home on Sparks Avenue that later became the Village Hall of the Village of Pelham (i.e., Pelham Heights).  

At about the turn of the 20th century, Reginald Pelham Bolton and his family moved from Pelham and settled nearby in Washington Heights at what is now 638 West 158th Street.  By this time, Bolton was known as a noted consulting civil engineer and an avid amateur archaeologist and local historian.  His principal hobby became a study of Native Americans in the New York region.  He spent years trying to sort out colonial records suggesting the interrelationships among the many groups of Native Americans that once inhabited the region.  

Reginald Pelham Bolton was a prolific author who wrote a host of books, booklets, and published articles regarding local history.  As a consequence, he became a Life Member of the New-York Historical Society and of the Museum of the American Museum, Heye Foundation (now part of the Smithsonian Institution).  He also was a member of the Westchester County Historical Society who wrote a number of articles on Pelham history published in the Society's Journal.  He also served as Vice President of the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society and of the City History Club (of New York City).

Reginald Pelham Bolton at an Excavation Site.

NOTE:  Click Image to Enlarge.

Reginald Pelham Bolton died in his home at 638 West 158th Street in Washington Heights, the Bronx, on Wednesday, February 18, 1942.  His wife, Ethelind, died on December 29, 1945.  Both were cremated in the Ferncliff Cemetery crematorium in Hartsdale, New York.  Their ashes are at Beechwoods Cemetery in New Rochelle, adjacent to the Town of Pelham border.

For a more extensive biography of Reginald Pelham Bolton including a more extensive discussion of his archaelogical excavations and references to many of his publications, see Reemer, James, REGINALD PELHAM BOLTON (visited Sep. 7, 2015).

"Reginald Pelham Bolton, Historian Grandson Of Founder of Priory And Christ Church Died On Wednesday
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Reginald Pelham Bolton, grandson of the founder of Bolton Priory and noted authority on Pelham and Westchester history, died on Wednesday at his home, No. 638 West 158th street, New York City.  Mr. Bolton was 85 years old.

He was born in England, the son of the Rev. James Bolton and Lydia Louisa Bolton.  His father was the son of the Rev. Robert Bolton, who established Christ's Church and built the Priory in Pelham Manor.  In his youth James Bolton had assisted his father in the construction of the church.  Reginald Bolton came to America in 1879 and took great pride in the Bolton family tradition and the church in Pelham Manor where he attended for many years.  He lived in Pelham Heights forty years ago and the church was the scene of his wedding.  

During Mr. Bolton's life in Pelham he assisted his uncle, the Rev. Cornelius Winter Bolton, who was rector of the Church of the Redeemer, in North Pelham, with the revision of a second edition of the Bolton History of Westchester, which had been written by Robert Bolton, another son of the founder of the church.  The latter was the father of Miss Arabella Bolton, now residing in Pelham Manor.

Regionald Pelham Bolton was also the author of several historical articles about the Pelhams and Christ Church, which have been published by the Westchester County Historical Association [sic].

Mr. Bolton was also an authority on the history of New York and for many years he was engaged in excavating for relics of the Colonial period in the Inwood section of New York City, both privately and as a member of the New York Historical Society.  He was chairman of a committee of the Washington Heights Taxpayers Assocation, leading a successful fight in 1931 to prevent the demolition of the John James Audubon home at Riverside Drive and 155th street.

Mr. Bolton was a consulting engineer by profession and was president and chairman of the board of the Electric Motor Corporation, 116 East 19th street.

Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Ethelind Bolton; a daughter, Sister Mercedes of the Protestant Episcopal Community of St. Mary in Peekskill; and a son, Guy Bolton, who is a playwright.

The funeral service will be held tomorrow at the Chapel of the Intercession, 155th street and Broadway, New York City.  Cremation will follow."

Source:  Reginald Pelham Bolton, Historian Grandson Of Founder of Priory And Christ Church Died On Wednesday, The Pelham Sun, Feb. 20, 1942, Vol. 31, No. 47, p. 4, cols. 1-2.  

"REGINALD PELHAM BOLTON
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In the passing of Reginald Pelham Bolton on Wednesday, Pelham lost one whose name was inseparably associated with the history of our town.  Although he had lived for many years in the city of New York his interest was keen for Pelham.  It was his grandfather, Robert Bolton, who came to Pelham.  It was his grandfather, Robert Bolton, who came to Pelham and built the Priory at Shore Road and Pelhamdale avenue, the real manor house of Pelham to which came Washington Irving to discuss literature and events of the day.

Reginald Pelham Bolton was born in 1857 [sic] in England.  His father had returned to his native land.  Reginald Pelham Bolton, came to Pelham when he was 22 years of age.  He lived for several years on Sparks avenue in the building which afterward became the Village Hall of the Village of Pelham.  He was a familiar figure on the street with his big Newfoundland dog accompanying him.

Possessing the literary talents that were natural accomplishments of the Boltons he aided greatly in compiling the History of Westchester County which can be found in public libraries as the accepted authority on the subject.  His hobby was Indian history.  He delighted in discoveries of Indian relics and spent much time in determining their origin and developing their probable history.  He achieved fame as a consulting engineer and his services were in demand in many parts of the world.

Although the Reginald Bolton family departed from Pelham about the beginning of the century, Reginald's wide knowledge of the early days of Pelham was often sought by Pelham residents eager to know history of various places.  He numbered among his close friends, William R. Montgomery, Town Historian of Pelham.  The latter quite frequently acknowledged the assistance which Mr. Bolton rendered in furnishing data for papers dealing with the history of Pelham."

Source:  REGINALD PELHAM BOLTON, The Pelham Sun, Feb. 20, 1942, Vol. 31, No. 47, p. 2, cols. 1-2.  

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