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SIMMONS John

Male - Yes, date unknown


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  • Name SIMMONS John 
    Birth Y  [1
    Gender Male 
    Death Yes, date unknown 
    Person ID I11837  Booth Family
    Last Modified 7 Nov 2017 

    Father SIMMONS Joshua Thurston   d. by Feb 1813, Prince George County, VA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mother BAIRD Sarah Eldridge Heath,   b. 26 Oct 1775   d. 21 Sep 1842 (Age 66 years) 
    Marriage 10 Dec 1796  Prince George County, VA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Married by Clergyman William Harrison of Bristol Parrish, Petersburg, VA.

      Subject: Re: [HARRISON] Rev. William Harrison of Petersburg VA
      Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2005 02:25:22 EDT

      Thought this might interest you:

      Old Churches, Ministers, and Families of Virginia.
      Article XL.
      At the death of Mr. Robertson in 1740, an agreement was made with a Rev. Mr. Hartwell to become the minister; but, misunderstandings taking place as to the terms, it was never carried into execution. Mr. Robert Ferguson was then chosen, and continued to be the minister for ten years,--until 1750. He was succeeded by the Rev. Eleazer Robertson, who continued two years, and was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Wilkinson, who resigned in 1762, and was succeeded by the Rev. William Harrison, who resigned in 1780, though continuing to reside in Petersburg until his death in 1814, being eighty-four years of age. The parish being advertised as vacant, the Rev. Mr. Kennedy and the Rev. Dr. Cameron were candidates in 1784. The latter was chosen, and ministered in the parish until 1793, when he resigned. Of him I shall speak in another place. In the following year the Rev. Andrew Syme was elected, and continued until his resignation in 1839,--a period of forty-five years. He continued to reside in Petersburg until his death, esteemed and beloved, by all who knew him, as "an Israelite in whom there was no guile." For further particulars of him the reader is referred to my article on South Farnham parish, Essex county, from which he removed to Bristol parish, and to the Rev. Mr. Slaughter's full and very interesting pamphlet on Bristol parish. For some years previous to his resignation of the parish, Mr. Syme, on account of increasing infirmities, had called for an assistant, and obtained the services of the Rev. Hobart Bartlett, from New York, whose fine talents, popular preaching, and agreeable manners contributed much to the increase of the congregation. In the year 1839 I was induced, under peculiar circumstances, to take the temporary charge of the congregation, but soon accomplished the object had in view, and procured for the congregation the services of the Rev. Mr. Cobbs, now Bishop of Alabama. His ministry, during the few years of its continuance, was very prosperous in all respects. During that period a general awakening of the souls of the people
      of Petersburg took place, and the ministers of all denominations laboured faithfully in prayer, and sermons, and exhortations, private and public.
      Instead of discouraging such extraordinary efforts for so extraordinary an outpouring of the Spirit of God as was granted, Mr. Cobbs came behind none, and went beyond some, in the frequency and continuance of his religious exercises. The result was, that no congregation was more highly blest in the results thereof. I laid my hands on the heads of ninety-three at that time, who, for the last three months, had been receiving the daily instructions of their minister, either public or private, and of such other ministers as he was able to bring to his help. During Mr. Cobbs's ministry the ladies of the Wilmer Association--who had for so many years been the most active of all in supporting beneficiaries at our Seminary, sending at times to the amount of five and six hundred dollars to the treasury--began to divert their funds from this to the promotion of missionary labours in the town of Petersburg. The result has been the establishment of the prosperous church under the care of the Rev. Mr. Gibson. In the year 1843 the Rev. Mr. Slaughter accepted a call to this parish, after the resignation of the Rev. Mr. Cobbs. His services were so acceptable to the people, that at the end of the six months which he had proposed to himself as a trial, he agreed to continue, nor did he cease to labour there until his health so failed as to make it improper to add further efforts. He was succeeded by the Rev. Horace Stringfellow, who continued until the year 1854.
      His place has been supplied during the present year (1856) by the Rev. Mr.
      Platt, from Alabama.
      ----------------------
      Colonial churches in the original colony of Virginia : a series of sketches
      Page 173
      On November 22d, 1762, the Rev. Thomas Wilkerson resigned the parish. The same day he was succeeded by Rev. William Harrison The first twelve years or
      so of Mr. Harrison's incumbency seem to have been uneventful enough; then came the troublous times of the war with England. Under date of October 19th, 1775, occurs the following entry in the vestry book:

      Whereas, The callamitous State of the Country renders it Doubtfull (page 174) whether a Sufficient Sum Can be Collected from the people, for payment of the Parochial Debt, in Money. And by the Restrained Laid on Exports, by publick (sic) Consent, The Parishioners are Precluded of the Election which the Law Had Giveing (sic) them, in paying their Due's in Tobo or Money. It is Determined by Vestry That the Ministers Salary Shall be Estimated at One Hundred And Forty four Pound's, to be Collected as Nearly as Possible in Money Unless the prohibition on Exports Should be Removed, And in that Case the People to be at Liberty to pay in Tobo at Eighteen Shillings Per Hundred, In Lieu of Money, According to there (sic) Own Choice. And it's further to be Understood that the Revd Mr. Harrison shall wait for the Ballance, (sic) After the Collection is made, three Years without Interest, unless it should Please HEAVEN to Put an End before that time, To the Troubles of our Country, And then it is understood that Encumbered [t's] Salary shall be Demandable in the usual and 'accustomed way.'"

      Poor Mr. Harrison! One is hardly surprised at finding the following entered on the minutes of the vestry meeting held February 4, 1780: "This day of
      the Late Rector, the Revd. Mr. Harrison, wrote in his Resignation of his Cure of this Parish, which is accepted."
      ------------------
      From the family burying ground at "Porter Hill," corner of Harrison and Early Streets, Petersburg, Va.


      Sacred to the memory of the REV'D WILLIAM HARRISON who departed this life 20th of November 1814 Aged 84 Years. In tender regard of whom
      His Widow hath caused this monument to be erected. Here let him rest in peace And let us try to live like him
      That we like him may die.

      SACRED
      to the memory of Mrs. Ann Harrison.
      who departed this life
      July the 2nd 1829
      Aged 60 Years.
      Her Children
      from a sense of duty & affection
      have caused this monument
      to be erected
      in the memory of
      their tender Parent.
      If worth departed claims the heartfelt tear,
      Then stop -- and let it stream profusely here.
      ---------------
      REVEREND JOHN CAMERON'S REGISTERS
      Register of Marriages
      Bristol Parish, 1784-1793,
      1788 Dec .. William HARRISON & Ann MORISON Pr. George 2 8 "
    Family ID F3996  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Sources 
    1. [S1186] Charlie Rathbun, Charlie Rathbun (Reliability: 3).
      Also, I have a copy of Weisiger's "Prince George County, Virginia Miscellany 1711-1814".

      From Prince George County Execution Book 1801-1803, page 118 (page 11 of Weisinger's book),

      "p.118, Inventory of Joshua Simmons estate, taken by S. Leonard and property lodged in hands of Sally Simmons, widow of Joshua, Feb 26, 1802."
      So Joshua Simmon's died by Feb of 1802.

      Also from Weisinger's book, page 83, "Prince George County Court Orders 1811-1814"

      "August Court 1813

      p. 369, In case of Martha Simmons, vs. John Simmons, Rebecca H. Simmons, and Nancy Simmons, infants by Thomas Baird their guardian, the commissioners divided the estate of Joshua Simmons, dec'd : 272 1/2 acres to Rebecca H. Simmons, with slaves Bob, Lucy, and Hannah; 272 1/12 acres to Nancy Simmons with slaves Greenock, and Polly; 269 acres to Martha Simmons with slaves Holland, Delilah, and America; and 269 acres to John Simmons, with slaves Lenn, Patience, and Peyton. The money was paid by Thomas Baird, their former guardian, to Martha Simmons (of full age0, and to Coleman Simmons, present guardian of John, Rebecca, and Nancy. 14 June 1818. "


      So it appears there was a son John Simmons born to Joshua and Sarah Baird Simmons that was not mentioned in the Simmons Family Bible.

      Hope this continues to help your quest!!!

      Charlie Rathbun
      Jasper, GA