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Note: EARLY ORIGEN S AND ANCESTORS 21
WILLIAM SYMES (Simms in 1705)
William Sims and wife Amy witnessed the will of Robert Clark 6 February 1707 in Richmond County. Three days previously William Sims, planter, had conveyed to Cornelius Edmond, carpenter, both of Sittenbourn Parish, Richmond County, 100 acres about a mile from the Rappahannock River, part of tract formerly belonging to Major John Weire; consideration 4000 Ibs tobacco; John Hanson and Sam'l Godwin, wits. The following day "Amy Simms wife of Wm personally appeared and released right of dower." from Richmond co Va Records -DB 4-134a.135
Richmond co. Va DB 5-14.15:
1 February 1708 John Doyle sold to William Simms, both planters of Sittenbourne Parish, for 4500 Lbs tobacco 100 acres, part of tract of 500 acres purchased by Lawrence Barker of Richard Wharton "between the land of the sd Simms and the dwelling plantation of the sd Lawrence Barker. Wits: Jos Belfield, Sam'l Godwin. Mary Doyle relinquished right of dower. Richmond co. Va: DB 5-14,15
Richmond co. Va. DB 5-275:
William Simms "for diverse good causes & Considerations" conveyed to John Knight both of Sittenbourne parish and Richmond county forty acres, the line "starting near Richmond Court House. ..in Barber's line" ..."for & during his natural life and after his decease to his wife Mary Knight and after the several deceases of the said John & Mary for and during the natural life of William Knight son of said John and Mary. ..or the survivor or survivors of them during the term of their natural lives. " Dated 6 December 1710; witnessed by George Payne, Jno Kelley, Thos. Dickinson; and Amy wife of sd Wm Sims appeared in court same day and relinquished her right of dower. No mention of consideration.
Richmond co. Va: DB 5-275
Anne, wf of John Knight, releases dowers rts. in deed (7-64) 1 Je 1715 Richmond co Va.
Richmond co. Va Order Bk ~ 5.6 June 1711: "Ordered that William Simms be paid by the county the sum of 600 pounds of tobacco, it being in consideration of his finding good cool spring water at courts for one whole year for the life of the justices and other persons obliged to attend there. "
A Richmond County court record of interest five years preceding Wm Sims' death: "FINES - page 94. p.
3 -At a Court held 3 May, 1711.
Present
Samuel Peachey Charles Barber )
Alexander Donaphew William Woodbridge ) Gent. Justices
John Tarpley William Thornton )
Downing, etc. , fined
Orange County Virginia Families, Vol ill William Everett Brockrnan, compiler , Minneapolis,
Minn" c 1959, p 74 & Fleet's Richmond co Va -VoI17-94.
"George Downing, William Seale and William Sims being by order brought before this Court to
answer to what should be objected against them relating to the breaking open the Prison of this
County and Rich' d Clathermiks making his escape from thence; on Hoyton in this behalf, and the
said George Downing, William Seale and William Sims being separately examined end offering
nothing material In bar of what was laid to their charge in this matter are of opinion that they are
guilty of the fact aforesaid; It is therefore ordered that they be each of them fined one thousand
pounds of tobacco to Our Sovereign Lady, the Queen, and that each of them give good and
sufficient security for their good behavior one year .
p.3, Geo.Downing with Henry Berry bound in L 10 sterling to keep the peace p.4, William Seale with William Berry bound as above
p.4, William Sims with Thomas Dickenson bound as above. " Fleet's Richmond co Va Records Vol 17-34.
William Simms was a witness in 1711 to "Indenture bet. Mary Clayton formerly Mary Butler of Sittenbourne parish, Richmond Co. .binding Dau. .Fogg as apprentice & servant to Henry & Martha Ravenall ..."
Another deed of interest:
William Simms of Sittenbourne Parish. .."For and in Consideration of the Love and Affection I have and bear unto my Son in Law -Beane of the Parish and County afored and more..consideration 5 sh ...tract of land I now hold in sd parish and county. .part of a greater parcel which I now hold out of a Patent formerly granted Thomas Hobson for 500 A, dated 26 June 1663 ..bounded...dividing Land whereon Barrows Church now Stands from ye Land of me the sd Simms. ..to Lilley's Spring. .to outside line of Patent often called and known by the name of Cloathworkers Line. .after his decease to Mary now wife of ye sd Matthew during her natural life in the like order. .and if they have a child living, I give the above mentioned land to sd child during its Natural 1 life at their decease. .and after all their deceases of the Longest Liver of the three then] give the sd Land to my Son in Law Thomas Scott his heirs. ..for want of heirs of his body Land to return to mg next heirs at Law.
(Signed) William
(X) Simms Signed. ..Ist Feb 1714/15 in presence of Wm Browne, Thomas (T) Paty. (No wife relinquished
her right of dower) Acknowledged in Ct 2 Feb 1714 by William Sims & recorded. Richmond co Va Wills
& Inventories. 1709-1717. n 279. Sett.: 1719. n III.
(Mathew Been & Mary Lemon, license July 1710 DB #f6 p 275 -Marriages Richmond County Virginia
1668-1853 by George H.S. King, 1964.)
Richmond co Va Wills & Inventories. 1709-1717. R 279. Sett.: 1719. R 111.
Will of William Sims who died in 1716 in Richmond County, Virginia: "In the name of God Amen, I William Sims of Sittenbourn Parish in Richmond County Planter being of perfect mind and memory & foreseeing ye approach of Death, do make this my last Will and Testament, annulling all former Wills, bequeathing my Soul to God & my Body to the Earth, and for my worldly Estate, I dispose of in manner following viz:
First I will & bequeath to my Son Thomas Sims and his heirs forever all my Lands & real Estate lying in Richmond County; and in case my said Son Thomas dyes without heirs it is my Will & I accordingly give and bequeath ye said Lands to the Church wardens of the Parish of Sittenbourn for Ye time being -their successors to be a Glebe for ye said Parish to ye use of a Minister of ye said Parish forever .
Secondly, I Give and bequeath to my Son Thomas, after ye payment -of my just Debts and funeral expenses, all my personal Estate of w kind or nature soever .
Thirdly I appoint & Constitute Capt. Nicholas Smith & George White both of ye Parish of Sittenbourn my whole & Sole Executors of this my last Will & Testament.
Fourthly It is my Will ye Capt. Smith take under his care & tuition my Son Thomas until he come to the age of twenty years, and if ye sd Smith dye, yl then my other Executor shall do ye same. In Witness whereof I have hereto affixed my Seal this twenty eight day of April One thousand Seven hundred & Sixteen.
his hand
William (m) Sims (Seal)
& mark
Signed, Sealed and declared to be his last Will & Testament and their successors Being first interlined.
John Bagge, Will L. Jison, Edward Hinkley
This will was proved in Richmond County Court the first Day of August 1716 by the Oath of Edward HinkIey one of the Witnesses thereto, and admitted to record.
Teste: M. Beckwith, CI. of Crt. II
Children of William Sims: order of birth unknown
Sims married Matthew Beane(second wife after first wife's death was Mary Lemon) Sims
married Thomas Scott, Thomas Sims married Rebecca Petty
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Note: We descend from Thomas Sims, Sr. who married Rebecca Petty
Lisa Baggett, May 1, 2002
====================================================================================
[565414.ged.FTW]
! SM 114(12)1 AACLD
REF: James McConnell 87
Will of aunt Eliz Langton Pat Porter 98 DESCENDENTS OF JOHN SYMES William (Sims) Symes, Jr.* was born around 1668 in Somerset, England shortly before his family left for Antigua. He most likely grew up on the island and then moved to Virginia when his father went there in 1698. His wife was Amy Clark. Due to the lack of documentation it is unknown exactly when and where they married. It was probably around 1690 before William left Antigua for Virginia.
It doesn't appear that William was given any of his father's land as he first appears in the records of Richmond County (on the east side of the Rappahannock River in north-eastern Virginia) in 1705/6 when on 3 February he conveyed to Cornelius Edmond, carpenter, about 100 acres a mile from the Rappahannock River, part of a tract formerly belonging to Major John Wiere; consideration 4000 lbs. of tobacco; John Hanson and Sam'l Godwin, witness.
The following day Amy Simms, wife of William personally appeared and released right of dower. 4 Three days later, on 6 February, he and his wife witnessed the will of her father, Robert Clark. It is during this period of time that the records start reflecting the new spelling of the surname as Sims and Simms. It appears that William, Jr. was not as concerned with the spelling of his surname as his father
was, as he signed all documents with the new spelling of SIMS. Why he chose to do this, when his father was so concerned about the correct spelling of his own name, is impossible to guess. Perhaps it was continually misspelled by record keepers and, as a result, he accepted that spelling in the records. Perhaps he had a falling out with other members of die family and wished to distance himself from them.
On I February 1708/9 John Doyle sold to William Simms, both planters of Sittenbourne Parish, for 4500 Ibs. tobacco 100 acres, part of tract of 500 acres purchased by Lawrence Barker of Richard Wharton between the line of sd. Simms and the dwelling plantation of the sd. Lawrence Barker. Wits: Jos Belfield, Sam'l Godwin. Mary Doyle relinquished right of dower.
On 6 December 1710 William Simms "for diverse good causes and considerations" conveyed to John Knight, both of Sittenbourne parish and Richmond County , forty acres, the line "starting near Richmond Court House in Barber's line"... "for and during his natural life and after his decease to his wife Mary Knight. .."
An interesting Richmond County court record for a Court held 3 May 1711pertaining to William is as follows:
"George Downing, William Seale and William Sims being by order brought before this Court to answer what should be objected against them relating to the breaking open of the Prison of this County and Rich' d Clathermiks making his escape from thence: on Hoyton in this behalf, and the said George Downing, William Seale and William Sims being separately examined and offering nothing material in bar of what was laid to their charge in this matter are of the opinion that they are guilty of the fact aforesaid; It
is therefore ordered that they be each of them fined one thousand pounds of tobacco to Our Sovereign Lady, the Queen, and that each of them give good and sufficient security for their good behavior one year ." "George downing with Harry Berry bound in L 10 sterling to keep the peace..- ...William Sims with Thomas Dickinson bound as above. "
A month later on 6 June 1711, in the Richmond County Records -Order Book page 5, is the following: " Ordered that William Simms be paid by the county sum of 600 pounds tobacco, it being in consideration of his finding good cool spring water at courts for one whole year for the life of the justices and other persons obliged to attend there." It appears that William was trying to get back into good graces with the local court officials, or to get back a portion of his fine!
Another deed of interest: William Simms of Sittenbourne Parish. .." For and in consideration of the love and affection I have and bear unto my son in law Matthew Beane of the Parish and County afored and more. ..consideration 5 sh ...tract of land I now hold out of a Patent formerly granted to Thomas Hobson for 500 A. dated 26 June 1663...bounded...divided Land whereon Barrows Church now stands from ye land of me the sd Sims...to Lilley's spring...to the outside line of Patent often called and known by the name of Cloathworkers Line...after his decease to Mary now wife of ye said Matthew during her natural life in the like order. ..and if they have no child living, I give the above mentioned land to my son in law Thomas Scott his heirs. ..for want of heirs of his body Land to return to my next heirs at law. "
(Signed) William Sims Signed...lst Feb 1714/15 in presence of William Browne, Thomas Paty. Acknowledged in Court 2 Feb 1714/15 by William Sims and recorded. (No wife relinquished her right of dower so it is assumed that Amy had already died sometime before this transaction-action took place. )
William died in Richmond County , Virginia sometime between 28 April and 1 August 1716, the dates which his will (below) was written and proved.
"In die name of God Amen, I William Sims of Sittenbourne Parish in Richmond County Planter being of sound mind and memory & foreseeing ye approach of death, do make this my last Will and Testament, annulling all former Wills, bequeathing my Soul to God & my body to the earth, and for my worldly estate, I dispose of in the manner following viz:
First. I will and bequeath to my son Thomas Sims and his heirs forever all my Lands & and real Estate lying in Richmond County; and in the case my said son Thomas dyes without heirs it is my Will & I accordingly give and bequeath ye said Lands to the Church wardens of the Parish of Sittenbourne for ye time being -their successors to be a Glebe for ye said Parish to ye use of a minister of ye said Parish forever .
Secondly, I give and bequeath to my son Thomas, after ye just payment -of my just Debts and Funeral expenses, all my personal Estate of w kind or nature soever . Thirdly I appoint & Constitute Capt. Nicholas Smith & George White both of ye Parish of Sittenbourne my whole & sole Executors of this my last Will & Testament.
Fourthly It is my Will ye Capt. Smith take under his care & tuition my Son Thomas until he come to age of twenty years, and if ye sd Smith dye, yl then my other Executor shall do ye same. In Witness whereof I have hereto affixed my Seal this twenty eight day of April One thousand Seven hundred & Sixteen. "
(signed in his hand) William Sims and mark ( seal )
William is said to have been living in 'old' Rappahannock County (which became extinct in 1692 when it was divided into Essex and Richmond Counties), Virginia and was a constable there in 1686. I have found no evidence (land deeds, etc.), to date, to support this. I think that he would have been too young at this time and probably still living with his family on Antigua.
William was a tobacco farmer and he and his wife Amy had at least three known children. One daughter, name unknown, who married Thomas Scott, a daughter Mary who married Matthew Beane, and:
Thomas Sims, Sr.
John David Sims
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