John W. Simmons

portrait
Contents

Personal and Family Information

John was born on 10 Mar 1761 in North Carolina/Virginia?, the son of James Simmons and Assume Mary Waters.

He died on 9 Jun 1834 in White County, Georgia.[Note 6]

His wife was Ann Freeman, who he married in EST 1796 in South Carolina. Their five known children were Susanna Waters (1797-1886), Holman Freeman (1798-<1870), James Ballenger (c1800-1856), Moses Waters (1801-1868) and John Jr (c1803-1846).

Pedigree Chart (3 generations)


 

John W. Simmons
(1761-1834)

  

James Simmons
(1733-1823)

    
 		   
 		 
     
 		 
     
 		   
 		 
     
 		 
   

Assume Mary Waters
(c1735-c1830)

    
 		   
 		 
     
 		 
     
 		   
 		 
     
 		 

Events

EventDateDetailsSourceMultimediaNotes
Birth10 MAR 1761
Place: North Carolina/Virginia?
Death9 JUN 1834
Place: White County, Georgia
 See Note 6
BurialJUN 1834
Place: White County, Georgia
Age: 73
Address: Nacoochee United Methodist Church Cemetery, Sautee John W Simmons with daughter, and two grandchildren that he named in his will signed Jan 1830 and proven Jan 1835 findagrave 151104332
 See Note 5
WillJAN 1830
Place: Elbert County, Georgia
Address: will signed Jan 6, 1830. probated Jan 20, 1835 also Georgia Revolutionary Soldiers, Sailor, Patriots, & Descendants - Vol 1, by Carter
 Will - Simmons, John, Senr 1835 signed Jan 6, 1830. probated Jan 20, 1835 Elbert County, Ga
Source: Will - Simmons, John, Senr 1835 signed Jan 6, 1830. probated Jan 20, 1835 Elbert County, Ga
Date: 20 JAN 1835
Publisher: Will Book 1830-1835 pages 483-484 Ordinary's Office Elberton, Elbert County, Georgia

 Will - Simmons John 1835
media

See Note 7
WillSEP 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
 Will-Simmons, Charles 1856 abstract of estate
media

Other EventEST 1777
Place: Georgia
Type: Military Service
Address: private Va Continental Army
 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

 See Note 8

Attributes

AttributeDateDescriptionDetailsSourceMultimediaNotes
Occupationsubstantial planter in Elbert County, Georgia
 Doc-Simmons - Hillyer Memoirs
media

Multimedia

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Doc-Primary ...		 media
Will - Simmo...		 media
Doc-Simmons ...		 media
Roster of Re...		 media
Rutherford C...

Notes

Note 1

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 2

DAR Patriot Lookup: Reference Code RZTYYFGK Date: October 22, 2008 7:34:03 AM CDT

This Patriot does not match your dates. Our index did not list a match.

SIMMONS, John Birth: Circa 1744 Service: GA Rank: Sol Death: GA 1-7-1839

Patriot Pensioned: No Widow Pensioned: No Children Pensioned: No Heirs Pensioned: No Spouse: (1) Ann X

Original Request

================

Reference Code: RZTYYFGK Requestor: Arthur F Bowie (afbowie@cox.net)

Patriot First Name: John Patriot Last Name: Simmons

Birth: abt 1760 NC or Virginia Death: 20 Jan 1835 Elbert Cty, Georgia

Spouse First Name: Anne Freeman Comments: son of James Simmons and Mary Waters

Note 3

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 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

consider findagrave 151104332, John W Simmons 10 Mar 1761- 9 Jun 1834

Nacoochee United Methodist Church Cemetery, Sautee, White County, Georgia, USA

same cemetery with daughter Susan Simmons Richardson 1797-1886, findagrave 87814728 . wife of Rev. John L Richardson 1794-1880 findagrave 87814617

and their 4 children

also grandaugher, daughter of Dr JB & Lucinda Simmons: Susan Ann Simmons Pitner 1832-Jun 1858.

findagrave 32028929

In his will of 1835 John Simmons names daughter Susannah Richardson and two granddaughters Safrony Antonett and Livana Josepheau that are also buried near him in Nacoochee United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Note 6

Georgia Revolutionary Soldiers, Sailor, Patriots, & Descendants - Vol 1, by Carter

contains errors on Simmons family…..not a reliable source, known to have some family wrong.

Note 7

images of Elbert County Will Record, handwritten, 10 images in two versions,

filed in folder “Will-Simmons,John 1835 Elbert GA”

wife, five children and 3 grandchildren named in will

Note 8

Roster of Revolutionary Soldier in Georgia, Volume 1

by Howard H McCall

page 70 has all five sons of Holman Freeman Sr.

Page 154 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; Henary, 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

2nd source: Georgia Revolutionary Soldiers, Sailor, Patriots, & Descendants - Vol 1, by Carter

father John and 7 of 8 brothers are listed as Rev Soldiers

DAR Patriot Lookup: Reference Code RZTYYFGK

Date: October 22, 2008 7:34:03 AM CDT

This Patriot does not match your dates.

Our index did not list a match.

SIMMONS, John

Birth: VA Circa 1744

Service: GA

Rank: Sol

Death: GA 1-7-1839

Patriot Pensioned: No Widow Pensioned: No

Children Pensioned: No Heirs Pensioned: No

Spouse: (1) Ann X

Original Request

================

Reference Code: RZTYYFGK

Requestor: Arthur F Bowie (afbowie@cox.net)

Patriot First Name: John

Patriot Last Name: Simmons

Birth: abt 1760 NC or Virginia

Death: 20 Jan 1835 Elbert Cty, Georgia

Spouse First Name: Anne Freeman

Comments: son of James Simmons and Mary Waters

Sources

  1. 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>
  2. 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
  3. Will - Simmons, John, Senr 1835 signed Jan 6, 1830. probated Jan 20, 1835 Elbert County, Ga
    Source: Will - Simmons, John, Senr 1835 signed Jan 6, 1830. probated Jan 20, 1835 Elbert County, Ga
    Date: 20 JAN 1835
    Publisher: Will Book 1830-1835 pages 483-484 Ordinary's Office Elberton, Elbert County, Georgia
  4. 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>
  5. Will - Simmons, John, Senr 1835 signed Jan 6, 1830. probated Jan 20, 1835 Elbert County, Ga
    Source: Will - Simmons, John, Senr 1835 signed Jan 6, 1830. probated Jan 20, 1835 Elbert County, Ga
    Date: 20 JAN 1835
    Publisher: Will Book 1830-1835 pages 483-484 Ordinary's Office Elberton, Elbert County, Georgia
  6. 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