Patience McReynolds is listed as a 19 year old (bp. VA) living with her mother Martha Gauldin in the 1850 Census for LaFayette County in Missouri. This census was done on November 5, 1850. She also appears earlier as Elisabeth P McReynolds (also age 19 bp VA) living with her father-in-law, Jacob McReynolds in the same area though different dwelling. This census was done on September 19, 1850. It had been believed from family sources that she was married around 1851 to James McReynolds, but this indicates an earlier marriage.

The twenty-two year old became ill on the trail during the 1852 McReynolds family trip to California. She never recovered and died the next year. Her supposed son, Lafayette, is also believed to have been born during that year, but nothing more is known about this.

In the cemetery that her husband donated the land for, her grave marker appears to have been missing since some time after the 1934 DAR inventory.