Elizabeth (Graves) Sims (abt. 1752 - 1831)

Ancestors

Wife of John Creecy — married after 1800 in Laurens, South Carolina, United States

Descendants

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Biography

The Zachariah S. Simpson Family of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama Z.S. Simpson's mother was Frances Simms, who was born ca. 1776, probably in Culpeper Co., Va. Frances Simms Simpson Clements died intestate in Tuscaloosa Co., Ala., sometime before 16 February 1856, on which date her son James L. Clements was appointed administrator of her estate.

Though the 1850 census lists Fanny Simms Clements' birthplace as S.C. her father Zachariah Simms appears on a Culpeper Co. militia list for recruiting troops for the Continental Army in January, 1781 he also appears as a buyer and seller of land in Culpeper Co. in 1779 and 1783 deeds, both of which appear to indicate that he was resident in the county at those dates. However, by 1785 Zachariah Simms seems to have moved to Laurens Co., S.C, since he appears in deed records there from 24 September of that year.

That Frances Simms was the mother of Zachariah S. Simpson is evident from the will of her stepfather, Dr. John Creecy of Laurens Co., S.C. Frances Simms' mother was Elizabeth Graves, wife of Zachariah Simms. The ancestry of Elizabeth Graves has been traced by several researchers to the immigrant, Capt. Thomas Graves, who came from England to Jamestown, Va. with the second supply of settlers on the Mary and Margaret in 1608 and who was a member of the first Virginia legislative assembly.

Elizabeth remarried to Dr. John Creecy. The marriage seems to have occurred after 1800, since Elizabeth Simms appears as head of a household in Laurens Co. on both the 1790 and 1800 censuses. In fact, the marriage of John Creecy and Elizabeth Graves Simms may have occurred as late as 1810, since on 9 June of that year the couple recorded a marriage settlement in which the slaves of Hyomas Simms were divided among his legatees.

The will of Dr. John Creecy was made on 15 Jan. 1812; the date of probate is not extant. In the will, John Creecy names Elizabeth, relict of Zachariah Sims, as his wife and heir, and specifies that Fanney Clemmans, one of Elizabeth's children by Zachariah Sims, is to have a share of the inheritance. John Creecy notes that Fanney Clemmans is the wife of Jacob Clemmans, and he also notes that Fanney's son Zacheriah Simpson is to have a share of the inheritance. The will appears to indicate that Zachariah Simpson was not of age in 1812; he would presumably have been eighteen years of age at the time the will was written.

Sources

• The Zachariah S. Simpson Family of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama by William Dennis Lindsey; W.D. Lindsey, 1988
• Unsourced family tree handed down to Phyllis (Shirley) Thompson.