James Simmons
Personal and Family Information
James was born in Jul 1758 in Virginia, the son of James Simmons and Assume Mary Waters.
He died in Apr 1851 in Hawkins County, Tennessee.
His wife was Elizabeth Gillenwaters, who he married in ABT 1785 in Albermarle County, Virginia. Their four known children were Frances (1794-1878), James G (1801-<1880), Rachel (?-?) and Polly (?-?).
Pedigree Chart (3 generations)
Events
| Event | Date | Details | Source | Multimedia | Notes |
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| Birth | JUL 1758 |
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| Death | APR 1851 |
| Place: | Hawkins County, Tennessee |
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| Census | 14 DEC 1850 |
| Place: | Hawkins County, Tennessee |
| Age: | 93 born VA |
| Address: | Dist 10 dwelling 113 family 113 James Simmons, 93 m born VA
Alice 40 f born Tenn, Mary 18 f born Tenn, Sacuiana 15 f born Tenn
dwelling 115 James Simmons 50 born Tenn and family,
dwellings 78, 111, 112, and 114 Gillenwaters
dwelling 93 William and Fanny Pattterson |
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| Will | 30 MAR 1841 |
| Place: | Hawkins County, Tennessee |
| Address: | WILL OF THOMAS GILLENWATERS (Sr.) Page 223 Dated: March 30, 1841
names youngest daughter Sally Simmons, and Executor and Administrator James G. Simmons
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See Note 5 |
| Will | 17 JUL 1847 |
| Place: | Hawkins County, Tennessee |
| Age: | 91 |
| Address: | At age 91, James wrote his will on Jul 17, 1847. It was filed in May 1851 in Hawkins County, TN & witnessed by William and George A Gillenwaters. per Bio SimmonsJames1758-1851
- Joe Dallas Bryant http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=joebryant&id=I0072 |
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Will - Simmons, James 1847, Hawkins County, Tenn
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See Note 6 |
| Will | SEP 1856 |
| Place: | Rutherford, North Carolina |
| Address: | North Carolina Archives Volume CR 086.314.1
Rutherford County, N.C. Equity orders and Decrees 1839-1838, pp 170-180
Charles Simmons Estate, abstracted by Miles Philbeck , Jr |
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Will-Simmons, Charles 1856 abstract of estate
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| Other Event | EST 1777 |
| Place: | Georgia |
| Type: | Military Service |
| Address: | source: Georgia Revolutionary Soldiers, Sailor, Patriots, & Descendants - Vol 1, by Carter
father John and 7 of 8 brothers are listed as Rev Soldiers
many James Simmons, no indication of which is which. |
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Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers in Georgia, Volume 1
This book is said to have caused more problems ……because "all that stuff cannot be proven and much of it can be shown to be false …."
| Source: | Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers in Georgia, Volume 1
This book is said to have caused more problems ……because "all that stuff cannot be proven and much of it can be shown to be false …." |
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| Authors: | Mrs. Howard H McCall, DAR |
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| Date: | 1969 |
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| Publisher: | Genealogical Pub. Co. Baltimore Vol. 1 originally published 1941, 1969, 1996, 2004.
problems…known errors in Simmons families ….
< - 2013 Fayetteville AR Library has all 3 volumes of this book, 1969 edition Gen 973.3458 extracts attached>
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Georgia's Roster of the Revolution. Containing a list of the State's defenders; Officier and Men........under Authority of the Legislature....
| Source: | Georgia's Roster of the Revolution. Containing a list of the State's defenders; Officier and Men........under Authority of the Legislature.... |
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| Authors: | Lucian Larmar Knight, LL. D, F.R.S. State Historian and Director of the Department of Archives and HIstory |
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| Date: | 1920 |
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| Publisher: | Atlanta, Ga. Index Printing Co
https://archive.org/details/georgiasrosterrev00knigrich |
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Multimedia
Notes
Note 1
Georgia Revolutionary Soldiers, Sailor, Patriots, & Descendants ----problems !!!
-page 192, 193 Vol 1, by Carter
no copy of the book available. All of this info is suspect!
This book is said to have caused more problems ……because all that stuff cannot be proven and much of it can be shown to be false ….
John Simmons and 8 of his 9 sons by first wife are listed as Rev War Soldiers
text is very similar to that of "Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers in Georgia"
see https://archive.org/details/georgiasrosterrev00knigrich
both show Simmons, John (RS-VA) from will signed jan6, 1830 probate Jan 20, 1835 Elbert Co Ga ( son of John Simmons (RS) and 1st wife ______m. Ann Freeman (dau of Holmanfreem, Sr, & _______)
5 children named in wil and 3 granddaughters.
Page 154
Adam Simmons, b. Va. d. Wilkes (Oglethorpe) Co., Ga., 1810. Mar. Rebecca ---. He wa a Rev. Sol.; received bounty grant of land in Ga., for his service as private Va. and Ga. Line.
Children:
1. Rebecca, mar. 1817, James Tucker.
2. Adam, Jr., mar. Elizabeth ---. He d. oglethorgpe Co., Ga, 1819. (His mother Rebecca Simmons was living with him.) 10 children
James Simmons, drew 287 1/2 acres of bounty land in Washington Co., Ga., April 8, 1785
Henry Simmons, Rev Sol., drew land Wilkes Co., 1788. Mr Margaret ----.
John Simmons, JR b Va (son of John Simmons and (1) wife); moved to Wiles Co., Ga, where he d. Served as private Va. Continental Army. Mar. Ann Freeman (dau of Holman Freeman, SR., of Wilkes Co, Ga) Eleven of his bros, all Rev Sols of Ga, Va, and NC, came to Wiles Co GA. viz: William, SR, Jame; Henry, Sterne, SR; Adam; Richard; Asa; Jesse; Philip; Stephen; Thomas.
Children (mentioned in will):
1. Moses W
2. John , Jr.
3. Holman F.
4. Susanna, mar. John L Richardson of Nacoochee, Ga
John Simmons, b Scotland, 1712 came to America and settled in Va. Mar. (1) name unknown. He moved to Wilkes Co., Ga 1773; (2) Rebecca ____. He served as Rev Sol in Va and in Ga; served under Gen Elijah Clark at the Battle of Kettle Creek: received a grant of 287 1/2 acres land for his service on Shouldrbone Creek, Washngton Co., Ga Sept 1, 1794 he willed “the 650 acres where I now reside (formerly Wilkes Co.) and the 287 1/2 acres in Hancock Co., received for my service as a Rev. Sol” to his children by (2) wife. He d. 1797; his (2) wife d. before this, about 1795.
Children by (1) wife:
1. William Sr.
2. Thomas
3. John, Jr
4. Richard.
5. James
6. Adam, Sr.
7. Asa
8. Henry
9. Jesse
10. Sterne, Sr.
Others.
These sons were all Rev Sols of Ga, Va, and N.C. They moved with their families to Wilkes Co., Ga where they received bounty land for their services.
Children by (2) wife:
1. Thomas, lived in Lincoln Co. Ga.
2. Rebecca, mar. Joseph Westmoreland
3. Elizabeth Ishmsel Davis
Most of my info on John Simmons/Ann Freeman family appears to have orginated by Mary Shaw Makima of Huntsville, Al who died 2010. In her summary of Simmons family written 1969, she did not know parents of John Simmons husband of Ann Freeman.
As of Oct 2013, only place that John Simmons b 1712 died abt 1797 has been found is the book "Georgia Revolutionary Soldiers, Sailor,……" by Mary Carter, no copy of the book available. All of this info is suspect!
Note 2
Land Records for James Simmons in Hawkins County, Tennessee exist
dated : 6 Oct 1815, 11 Sept 1827, 21 Nov 1839
Tax Lists of Hawkins County have James Simmons 1810, 1836, 1837
Note 3
Estate of Charles Simmons in the Fall of 1856, Rutherford County, North Carolina names and dates Charles Simmons 1777 Va-1850 and his wife Didama 1780 NC who died between 1850 and 1856.
The abstract I have names 12 siblings of Charles Simmons. Of the 6 thought to be alive their place of residence is stated. Of five of six deceased siblings, their living children and state are named.
My confidence in this abstact of the estate is based on
(1) 1850 census Rutherford NC dwelling 497, fam 508 Charles Simmons 73 va and Didama 70 NC
(2) Marriage of Charles and Didama recorded 1 FEb 1807 Rutherford NC
(3) census confirms the 7 of first 8 siblings listed in the abstract
(4) three sons, and daugher Susanah Richardson of sibling #8 John Simmons are a unique set of names, that I know well.
These names, dates, and places match those found in the Moses Simmons Family Bible 1733-1923 transcribed by Sallie Taylor Simmons in 1925. The Bible ties these 8 sibling together and to father James with this entry "James Simmons died 9 of February 1823 not lost but gone before in his 91 years of age my old farther. Moses Simmons"
A second tie to father James who died 1823 is found in records of James Jr Simmons born 10 July 1757 in Virginia and died 1851 in Hawkins County, Tennessee. Amherst County Virginia, in the Revolution, Lost Record book - " Gave his discharge to his father who lived in Rutherford Co, N.C."
Microfilm Frame #1096 "DISTANT CROSSROADS" APRIL 1992"Amherst County, Virginia, In the Revolution, Lost Order Book, 1773--1782" Lists James Simmons who moved to Hawkins Co., Tenn., dated Aug. 1818: b. 10 July 1758: enlisted Jan. 1777: under Ensign William Powell, Capt. James Franklin, 10th Va. Regt., Gen Weedon's Brig. Gave his discharge to his father who lived in Rutherford Co., N.C. Placed on Pension Roll Sept. 30, 1819.
Third tie to father James who died 1823 is page 262 GENEALOGY OF THE LEWIS FAMILY……….. E 3. Mary Lewis, daughter of Charles C., Sr., was born in 1791 in Rutherford, N. C. S.....In 1811 she married Moses Simmons, son of James and brother -page 263-of Joshua. Moses was also a member of the Methodist church. They lived some three miles below Island Ford on Broad river, in Rutherford county, North Carolina., where he died very suddenly in 1856. Mary, his wife, died in 1877.
July 2020 -ancestry.com thru lines have 81 Matches via James S Simmons 1733-1823, 5th great grandfather, hints are thru 12 children.
and 73 matches via Mary Waters
Note 4
July 2020 -ancestry.com thru lines have 81 Matches via James S Simmons 1733-1823, 5th great grandfather, hints are thru 12 children.
and 73 matches via Mary Waters
Note 5
WILL OF THOMAS GILLENWATERS (Sr.)
Page 223 Dated: March 30, 1841
In the name of God, Amen. I, Thomas Gillenwaters, Sr. of the County of Hawkins and State of Tenn., b
WILL OF MARY GILLENWATERS
Page 229 No Date Proven in part Nov. Term, 1855
In the Name of God, Amen. I Mary Gillenwaters widow & relic of Thomas Gillenwaters, dec'd of the County of Hawkins in the State of Tennessee,
WILL OF WILLIAM GILLENWATERS
Page 230 Dated: October 25, 1856 Proven Jan. Term, 1857 (Proven 5-Jan 1857, Rec'd P.5)
Note 6
Hawkins County, Tennesse, marriages and wills on openlibrary.org
page 57 Hawkins Co Tennessee Record of Wills: James Simmons, July 17, 1847, James Simmons, Polly Acuff's Heirs John Simmon's heirs, Nancy Williams, Francis Patterson, Betsy Lewis Thomas Heirs Smith, Lucinda, Smith Matilda, Smith Thomas Smith, Rachael Spears, executors Jane G Simmons, and Andrew Spear
Hawkins County, Tennessee Genealogical and Historical Society: Will Book 1 - Pages 452-453
James Simmons, dated 7 July 1847, proven May Term 1851. Son James G., Black Boy Ben, dau. Polly Acuffs heirs
son John, dau. Nancy Williams, dau. Frances Patterson, dau. Betsy Lewis, son Thomas dau. Rachel Spears, Lucinda, Matilda and Thomas
(verbatim as written)
Sources
- Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers in Georgia, Volume 1
This book is said to have caused more problems ……because "all that stuff cannot be proven and much of it can be shown to be false …."
| Source: | Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers in Georgia, Volume 1
This book is said to have caused more problems ……because "all that stuff cannot be proven and much of it can be shown to be false …." |
|---|
| Authors: | Mrs. Howard H McCall, DAR |
|---|
| Date: | 1969 |
|---|
| Publisher: | Genealogical Pub. Co. Baltimore Vol. 1 originally published 1941, 1969, 1996, 2004.
problems…known errors in Simmons families ….
< - 2013 Fayetteville AR Library has all 3 volumes of this book, 1969 edition Gen 973.3458 extracts attached>
|
|---|
- Georgia's Roster of the Revolution. Containing a list of the State's defenders; Officier and Men........under Authority of the Legislature....
| Source: | Georgia's Roster of the Revolution. Containing a list of the State's defenders; Officier and Men........under Authority of the Legislature.... |
|---|
| Authors: | Lucian Larmar Knight, LL. D, F.R.S. State Historian and Director of the Department of Archives and HIstory |
|---|
| Date: | 1920 |
|---|
| Publisher: | Atlanta, Ga. Index Printing Co
https://archive.org/details/georgiasrosterrev00knigrich |
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