Thomas M (Sims) Simms Sr. (abt. 1702 - aft. 1784)

Born about 1702 in Sittenbourne Parish, Richmond, Colony of Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Rebecca (Petty) Sims — married 30 Nov 1725 in Richmond, Virginia

Descendants

Died after 21 Apr 1784 after about age 82 in Culpeper, Culpeper, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Thomas Sims was born in Sittenbourne Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, a son of William Sims, born 1678, in Poundsford, Somerset, England, and Amy (Clarke) Sims, born circa 1678, in Lancaster county, Virginia. He was named in the will of William Sims dated 28 April 1716 in Sittenbourne Parish of Richmond County which also indicated he was a minor.^[1]

Prior to November 30, 1725, in Sittenbourne Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, Thomas married Rebecca Petty, daughter of Thomas Petty and Catherine (Garten) Petty. Rebecca Sims was later named as a daughter in the will of Thomas Petty dated 31 January 1748/9 in Orange County, Virginia.^[2]

Thomas Sims and his wife Rebecca made deeds of Lease & Release to Alvin Mothersead dated 30 November 1725 and 2 December 1725 respectively. The land was described as 112 acres of land in the Parish of Sittenbourne having been part of a patent originally granted Thomas Hobson, dec'd, and escheated by guardians of the aforesaid Thomas Sims, beginning at a Red Oak on the corner of Doyle's and running along other lands of his father William Sims, dec'd, and the land his father had gifted to Thomas' step-brother Mathew Beane on 1st February 1714/15.^{[3] [4]} In 1733, Thomas Sims, then of Lunenburg Parish Richmond County, sold 100 acres of land in the aforesaid parish to William Jordan described as bequeathed to him by the will of his father William Sims, dec'd, dated 28 April 1716.^[5]

In 1734 Thomas Sims leased 108 acres from Alexander Spotswood, Esq. in Spotsylvania County. His wife Rebecca and eldest son Thomas Sims, Jr. are included in this deed record with lifetime rights for conditions of the lease. The survey map and description show this land was on the line of the survey of Thomas "Pattey" [recorded elsewhere as Petty].^[6]

Thomas died between 21 April 1784, the day he signed his Will, and 18 July 1785, when his Will was entered into probate.

Will of Thomas Sims, Sr.

Written: 21st day of April 1784

Probated 18th day of July 1785, Culpeper County, Virginia

Named in Will:

• Eldest son: Thomas,
• Sons: James, William, Elijah, Zachariah, Richard
• Daughters: Amay Bobo, Sarah Jones deceased
• Granddaughters: Lucy and Anna Jones, daughters of Sarah Jones
• wife of James Sims: Elizabeth Sims
• Relationship unstated: John Sims, Anne Graves
• Executors: sons Thomas and James Sims
• Witnesses: Jas Sims, Edwd Sims, William Mason

"In the name of God Amen I Thomas Sims Sener of Brumfield Parish and County of Culpeper being Sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory Thanks be given to God Therefore Calling to mind the Mortality of my body and knowing that it is Appointed for all men once to die do make and Ordain This my last Will and Testament that is to say Principally and first of all I do give and Recommend my soul into the hand of the Almighty God that gave it and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian Burial at the Discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall reieve the same again by the Mighty power of God and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise and Despose of the same in the following Manner and form Imprimis.

Item first of all I do Give and bequeath and bequeath to my eldest son Thomas Sims Junr. that part of my Estate that fell to him by division, and Likewise I do give and bequeath to my son Thomas Sims my negroe woman by name Milley and her Child to him and his heirs Lawfully begotten forever, Likewise my son Thomas Sims Juner is to pay Thirty pounds in gold or silver to my son William Sims Deceased Children Six Pounds to each Child as they come of age and other little debts comeing against me-

Item Secondly I do give and bequeath to my son James Sims my negro man Peter and all that fell to him by Division to him and his Heirs Lawfully begotten forever Likewise I do give and bequeath to Elizabeth Sims wife of James Sims my Gilt Looking Glass and I desire at her Death that one of her sons may have it.

Item Thirdly I do give and bequeath to my son Elijah Sims the land he lives on The Gardon excepted and Likewise a Negro boy by name Abraham and all that fell to him by Division to him and his heirs sons of his first wife Lawfully begotten forever-

Item Fourthly I do give and bequeath to my Daughter Amay Bobo a negro woman by name Cate, and all of her Children, and I desire if John Sims lives with Absalom Bobo and his wife untill he comes of age they may give him one of the Negro Children if they see proper, This Negroe woman Cate and all her Children, and all that fell to her by Division is to her her and her heirs Lawfully Begotten forever-

Item Fifthly I do give and bequeath to my two Grand Daughters Lucy and Anna Jones Daughters of my Daughter Sarah Jones deceasd a Negroe Woman by name Rose and a boy named Peter and all that part that fell to my said daughter Sarah Jones by Division to them and Their heirs Lawfully Begotten for Ever, This Estate they are to recieve at the day of of Marriage or Coming to Lawful age-

Item Sixthly I do give and Bequeath to my Son Zachariah Sims a Negro man by name Moses and all that fell to him by division to him and his heirs Lawfully Begotten for ever

Item Seventhly I do give and Bequeath to my son Richard Sims a Negro woman by name Dafne, and Likewise Thirty odd Acres of Land and all that fell to him by Division to him and his heirs Lawfully Begotten for Ever.

Item Eighly I do give and Bequeath Anne Graves an Negroe woman by name Winney and her Child and all that fell to her by Division to her and her Heirs Lawfully Begotten forever

Item Ninthly I do Desire that my Feather bed and Furtinure and what other things I possess may be sold to the highest bider in the Family and the Money Rising Therefrom be Equally Divided amongst all my Children- And Lastly I do appoint my sons Thomas and James Sims my hole and Sole Executors of this my Last Will and Testament hereby Revoking all former wills and Declaring this to be my my last will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand Seal This 21st day of April 1784 Thos (L.S.) and Sealed and Declared Before us Jas Sims Edwd Sims William Mason

At a Court held for Culpeper County the 18th day of July 1785

• This last Will and Testament of Thomas Sims Decd was Exhibited to the Court by thomas Sims one of the Exors therein named and was proved by the Oaths of Edwd Sims & William Mason two of the Witnesses thereto & Ordered to be recorded And on the Motion of the said Executor Certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form they having made oath thereto and given bond & Security according to Law Liberty being reserved for the other Exor therin named to Qualify when he may think fit. Teste: C.T. Guinn Cl.C. Cur.

Virginia: In Culpeper County Circuit Court Clerk's Office. I, C.T. Guinn, Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for the said County aforesaid in the State of Virginia, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the will of Thomas Sims Senior, which was probated in this office on the 18th day of July 1785, and is of record in this office in Will Book "C", page 129 Given under my hand this 23rd day of November, 1934. Teste: C. T. Guinn, Clerk"

Sources

1. ↑ [1] Will of William Sims. Richmond County Wills & Inventories 1709-1717, p. 279-280. FHL Film # 007646142, image 296/339.
2. ↑ http://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I027491&tree=tree1
3. ↑ [2] 1 Feb 1714/5 Deed of Gift from William Simms to his son-in-law Mathew Beane. Richmond Co. VA Deed Book 7, p. 27.
4. ↑ [3] 1725 Deeds of Lease & Release from Thos. Sims & Rebecca, his wife, to Alvin Mothersead. Richmond County Deed Book 8 (1720-1733), p. 303-305. FHL Film # 008153222, image 357/749.
5. ↑ [4] 4 March 1733 Deed from Thomas Sims of Lunenburg Parish, Richmond Co. to William Jordan of the same. 100 acres bequeathed by will of Wm. Sims originally purchased from John Doyle. Richmond Co. VA Deed Book 8 (1720-1733), p. 679. FHL Film # 008153222, image 734/749.
6. ↑ [5] Oct. 23, 1734. Alexander Spotswood, Esqr., to Thomas Sims, planter. Lease of 108 a. of land in St. Mark's Par., Spts. Co., on South side of the River "Rappidanne",part of tract granted Spotswood and called Spts. tract, to Thomas Sims and Rebecca, his wife, and Thomas, ye son of sd. Thomas, Senior, running along line of Thomas Pattey's...etc. Wit: John Grame, John Pattey, William (x) Morton. Nov. 5, 1734. Spotsylvania Deed Book C (1734-1742), pp. 88-91.

• Virginia Land, Marriage, and Probate Records, 1639-1850, Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.Original data - Chalkley, Lyman. Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, 1745-1800. Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=varecords_ga&h=108437&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=p

• Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Name: Name: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Text: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=13232476&pid=-54827397 Text: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=17913036&pid=576573640 Text: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=16800513&pid=453875516

• Public Member Trees, Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006.Original data - Family trees submitted by Ancestry members.Original data: Family trees submitted by Ancestry members. Private Tree1 Private Tree 2

• U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Author: Yates Publishing Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2004. Original data - This unique collection of records was extracted from a variety of sources including family group sheets and electronic databases. Note: http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=worldmarr_ga&h=1104705&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=worldmarr_ga&h=1106755&ti=0&indiv=try

• Family Data Collection - Individual Records, Author: Edmund West, comp. Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2000. Note: http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=genepool&h=5040538&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt