Collection consists largely of information on the descendants of Edward Hand and on the Hand Family Reunion. Contains correspondence, genealogical materials, family charts, photographs, and commemorative booklet 1912, on Lancaster County in the Revolutionary War. Also, three documents concerning the settling of the Hand estate.
Journal of the Lancaster County Historical Society ; v. 65, no. 3
Summary
Upon the death of Lancaster's General John Reynolds at the Battle of Gettysburg, a gold ring on a chain was found around his neck. It was inscribed "Dear Kate." The Reynolds family had not known that Reynoldshad planned to marry Catherine Mary Hewitt, "Kate". They did not even know of her until she visited Reynolds sister's home in Philadelphia to view his body. Ms Hewitt and General Reynolds had planned that if he did not survive the war, she would enter a convent. She followed through with the plan and entered a convent in Emittsburg,Pa. She left the service to the church 5 years later. The writer of this article could not determine what then happened to Kate.