On Feb. 17, 1634, Francis Symonds, age 21, was transported from Wantage, Middlesex County, England, to Barbados in the Hopewell; Capt. Thomas Wood, Master. (1) Note: I don't have any info on how he finally made it to Virginia.

Francis married Elizabeth________ and settled in NorthCumberland County, VA in 1648. Early records show Francis listed with Thomas and Richard. They might be brothers.(1)

Francis's son, John, was also the father of John Jr. Semans of Lancaster County and North Cumberland County, VA. (1)

John Jr. Semans was the father of Joseph Seamans. Note: Simmons is spelled several different ways in these old documents. (1)

Joseph was the father of the following children in and around 1729: Moses, Aaron, John, Mycajak, Obediah, Jeramiah, Asenath, and Ephraim. (2)

Ephraim Semands and his wife, Mary, lived in Caroline County, VA in 1742 and owned land in Orange County also. (1) They had two sons that I know of: Jesse (Jessey) and Joel, who was born June 10, 1757. (1) (3) In 1757, they moved to the Albemarle-Orange County areas and owned land in both. (1)

In 1776, Joel Simmons, Ephraim's son, enlisted and fought in the Revolutionary War. His enlistment ended in 1779. (1)

In 1793, Joel and his wife, Barsheba Wright Simmons,(4) left Albemarle County and settled on top of the Blue Ridge Mts. (6) In 1799, Joel and his family moved to Monroe County, West VA. (5)

The children of Joel and Barsheba Simmons: Ten children were born to them with one dying in infancy. According to the birthdates (7), all or most of their children were born in Monroe County, West VA.
1. Robert died in infancy
2. Ephraim b. Oct. 17, 1782 d. Feb.9, 1839
3. Sally b. Dec. 27, 1784 d. Mar. 7, 1866
4. Joab b. June 23, 1787 d. Feb. 8, 1872
5. David b. May 26, 1790
6. Peggy b. July 29, 1794
7. Elizabeth b. Mar. 22, 1779
8. Joel Jr. b. Mar. 18, 1800 d. Sept. 4, 1834
9. Thompson b. Nov. 19, 1802
10. Polly b. Sept. 25, 1805

Known marriages of Joel and Barsheba's children in Monroe County, West VA. : (8)

Ephraim Simmons and Elizabeth Calaway Oct. 19, 1802
Ephraim Simmons and David Thompson, Bondsmen
Sally Simmons and Peter Miller Mar. 31, 1803
Peter Miller and John Miller, Bondsmen
Joab Simmons and Sarah Miller Nov. 18, 1808
Ephraim Simmons and Joseph Miller, Bondsmen
Note: Peter Miller and Sarah Miller were sister and brother. (7)

Joab Simmons, who worked as an overseer on a plantation, fought in the War of 1812, receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1816. He was a calvaryman in a calvary called 'Troop of Horse'. (9)

Comparing dates of births, marriages, and deaths, it seems that Joel Sr., along with some of his children, namely, Joab, Joel Jr., Thompson, Polly, and Sally, moved in and around Rush, Henry, and Franklin Counties, Indiana approximately the middle 1820's.

Joel Sr. lived with Joel Jr. until his son died at an early age of 34 years, and then spent time among each of his children until his death on Sept. 4, 1838 in Henry Co. IN and is buried next to his son, Joel Jr. and his wife, Nancy in Sulfur Springs, IN. (11) Note: In 1927, the DAR held an unveiling of Joel Simmons's marker placed on his grave. My Aunt and my Grandmother, Georgia Simmons Albright were in attendance.

No mention has been made of Joel's wife, Barsheba, since he came to Indiana.

Joab Simmons and his wife, Sarah Ellen Miller, were the parents of seven children: Augustus, Rhoda, Catherine, Joel Wesley, Elizabeth, Joseph, and Martha. (10)

Joab died Feb. 8 1872 and Sarah Ellen died Dec. 11, 1869. Both are buried in Brookville, IN (11)

Joel Wesley Simmons married Eliza Jane Simmonds April 19, 1849. Eliza was on of ten daughters born to James Simmonds and Ann Frost Simmonds in Franklin County, IN. (11)

In Sept., 1849, Joel Wesley and Eliza Jane Simmons moved to a cabin Joel Wesley had built after he had cleared the land near Jalapa, IN. They were the parents of eight children: James b. Feb 21, 1850; Sarah E. b Aug. 3, 1851; Mary A. b. Mar. 30, 1853 and d. Feb 20, 1855; Charles Wesley b. Feb. 26, 1855; Frank W. b. July 17, 1857; Lauretta b. Mar. 3, 1860; Roberta b. Mar. 12, 1862; and Oren b. Feb. 26, 1864. (11)

Joel Wesley, in his early years, used to travel by horseback to visit his parents, Joab and Sarah Simmons. They used to tell of the times Joel Wesley would leave for home, he would ride off and could not say goodbye. (12) Joel Wesley was called Squire Simmons in Pleasant Twp., Grant County, by many of the settlers and the indians in the area. If anyone had an argument among themselves, they would tell their side of the disputes to Joel Wesley. He would think for awhile and then make his judgement on the matter. The indians highly respected him and his decisions. (12) During the cold winters, Eliza Jane and other women in the area would take food to the indians. Many were said to have starved if it had not been for these women. (12)

In Nov., 1881, because of ill health, Joel Wesley, Eliza, and their daughter Lauretta went to Eureka Springs, AR. Joel died March 22, 1882 in AR. His body was brought back and was buried in the old LaFountaine Cemetary,IN. Eliza Jane camae back to her home near Jalapa and died Oct. 4, 1888 and was buried next to Joel Wesley. (12)

Listed are the known marriages and deaths of Joel Wesley's children: James d. Grant Co.; Sarah Ellen m. Joseph Guenin; Charles Wesley m. Mary Renbarger; Frank W. m. Catherine Hudson and d. April 10, 1930 in Grant Co.; Roberta m. Jim Snyder; Oren m. Laura______. (12)

Frank Simmons and Catherine(Carrie) Hudson had four children: Georgia (my grandmother)Simmons Albright; Sallie Simmons Bevan; Edna Simmons Morgan; and Frank Simmons.

Frank Simmons' wife, 'Carrie' Hudson's mother was Amanda Conner Hudson (Nelson Conner's daughter). Amanda's mother was Sarah Boots Conner, daughter of Martin Boots, one of the founders of Marion, IN.

Reference/Sources Index


(1) Research by Bernice Simmons, 1028 Connecticut Ave., N.W.,Washington, D.C. August, 1968

(2) Richmond County Will Book 5, 1725 -1753 p. 148

(3) Joel Semands - Orange County, Virginia, Deed Book 16, 1772 - 1778

(4) Joel Simmons - Western North Carolina by J.P. Hunter pp. 197 - 198

(5) Joell Simmons - Monroe County, West Virginia (1916) O.F. Morton p. 479 Residents
of 1799

(6) Franklin County, Virginia February 21, 1815

(7) Clarence Smith, Curator, Henry County Historical Society, New Castle, IN
February 5, 1927

(8) Monroe County Marriages - West Virginia p. 266, p. 269, p. 288

(9) I have the War of 1812 Discharge Document of Joab Simmons dated 1816, given to
me by my grandmother, Georgia Simmons Albright

(10) Letter from Mrs. Augusta Simmons Fulwider, Freeport, Illinois, April 1927. She was
the granddaughter and named for Augustus Simmons, son of Joab and Sarah Ellen
Miller Simmons

(11) Georgia Simmons Albright's family ancestral notes

(12) My grandmother, Georgia Simmons Albright's recollections of Simmons family given to
her by family members and given to me

Simmon's Family Photo dtd. approx. 1918/19
<A HREF="http://www.rootsweb.com/~ingrant/simmfam.html">Click here</A>