Willis Richard Simmons (bef. 1830 - 1904)

Born before 1830 in Pike County, Mississippi, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1904 after age 74 in Pike County, Mississippi, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mary Richardson [send private message]

Biography

Profile written by Allan Harl Thomas

Birth: Mar. 5, 1830 (date on tombstone is 1821) Death: Mar. 6, 1904

Willis Richard Simmons, Sr. (son of William "Black Bill" Simmons and Nancy Rymes) was born March 05, 1830 in Silver Creek, Pike County, MS, and died March 06, 1904 in Pike County, MS. He married (1) Louise Elizabeth Reeves on Bef. 1852 in Pike County, MS, daughter of Alfred Reeves and Sarah Thompson. He married (2) Martha Jane Brock on Abt. 1860 in Ms, daughter of James Brock and Elizabeth .

W. Richard Simmons with his brothers Calvin and James Washington, were privates in Company K, MS 38th Regiment, mounted infantry, CSA. Company K, also known as the Brent Guards. It was primarily made up of volunteers from Pike County, and was formed at Holmesville in 1862 by Captain later Colonel Preston Brent. The three brothers fought in the Battle of Tupelo and then at Snyder's Bluff, between Vicksburg and Yazoo City.

According to company records, they apparently returned to Silver Creek (AWOL) just before the fall of Vicksburg. W. Richard was hospitalized in Vicksburg for several weeks prior to the siege of Vicksburg. It is likely that the brothers, Willis Richard, James Washington and Calvin were aware of the capture of Company K and signed a pardon similar to this one issued to comrade Sargent Wlm. Stovall pledging to lay down their arms against the United States of America. However, unlike Sargent Wlm. Stovall, The Simmons brothers were not POWs.

Some speculate that the three brothers came home from Vicksburg to attend their dying grandfather, Willis Simmons who died May 31, 1862

Children of Willis Richard Simmons and Louise Elizabeth REEVES b: Abt. 1833 in Pike Co., Mississippi

1. William Alfred SIMMONS b: 01 Dec 1854 in Pike Co., Mississippi
   
2. John Wright SIMMONS, Sr. b: Abt. 1855 in Pike Co., Mississippi
   
3. Calvin M. SIMMONS b: Abt. Dec 1857 in Pike Co., Mississippi
   
4. John G. SIMMONS b: Jan 1860 in Pike Co., Mississippi
   

Children of Willis Richard Simmons and Martha Jane BROCK b: 06 Aug 1843 in Mississippi ^[1]

1. James Washington "Tater Jim" SIMMONS b: 26 Apr 1861 in Pike Co., Ms
   
2. Sandy Alexander SIMMONS b: 12 Mar 1864 in Pike Co., Mississippi
   
3. Angeline "Angie" SIMMONS b: 26 Oct 1865 in Pike Co., Mississippi
   
4. Fannie V. SIMMONS Rimes (1865 - 1935)
   
5. Thomas C. SIMMONS b: 12 Mar 1867 in Pike Co., Mississippi
   
6. Margaret Elizabeth SIMMONS b: 25 Aug 1868 in Pike Co., Mississippi
   
7. Willis Richard SIMMONS, JR. b: Dec 1869 in Pike Co., Mississippi
   
8. Sara Jane SIMMONS b: 31 Dec 1873 in Pike Co., Mississippi
   
9. Valentine "Vol" SIMMONS, Dr. b: Abt. 1876
   
10. Ada Mary SIMMONS b: 08 May 1877 in Pike Co., Mississippi
    

Research Notes

Census Details:

• Willis R Simons United States Census, 1860

• Willis R Simmons United States Census, 1870

• Willie R Simmmons United States Census, 1880

• Willis R Simmmons United States Census, 1900

GLO Land Grants

Raiford Simmons Place and the W.R. Simmons Cemetery

• Start search from BLM: General Land Office Records (retired link: accession=MS2570__.104&docClass=STA&sid=qy2pxsel.xqc GLO] Accession Nr: MS2570__.104 Document Type: State Volume Patent State: Mississippi Issue Date: 1/19/1898) Note: Website can be slow to display document.

Hiway 48 at Dykes Crossing

• [1] Accession Nr: MS0600__.430 Document Type: State Volume Patent State: Mississippi Issue Date: 11/30/1859). Note: Website can be slow to display document.

Hiway 48 at 575

• [2] Accession Nr: MS0610__.500 Document Type: State Volume Patent State: Mississippi Issue Date: 10/1/1860). Note: Website can be slow to display document.

Sources

1. ↑ A digital copy of The Silver Creek Simmons Family Page 29.

• Willis R Simons United States Census, 1860

• Willis R Simmons United States Census, 1870

• Willie R Simmmons United States Census, 1880
• https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~kearnshennesygene/genealogy/simmonsrecord.html

• Willis R Simmmons United States Census, 1900
• GLO Accession Nr: MS0610__.500 Document Type: State Volume Patent State: Mississippi Issue Date: 10/1/1860

• GLO Accession Nr: MS0600__.430 Document Type: State Volume Patent State: Mississippi Issue Date: 11/30/1859

• GLO Accession Nr: MS2570__.104 Document Type: State Volume Patent State: Mississippi Issue Date: 1/19/1898

Acknowledgments

Thanks to the late Dr. Errol Simmons and Allan Thomas for starting this profile.