Mary Polly (Chambers) Simerly (abt. 1800 - aft. 1880)

Born about 1800 in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States

Wife of Henry Simerly — married 4 Mar 1834 in Carter County, Tennessee, United States

Descendants

Died after 1880 after about age 80 in Carter County, Tennessee, United States [uncertain]

Biography

Mary Polly Chambers was born about 1801 in North Carolina, United States. She was the daughter of John Chambers and Elizabeth Hankins.^{[citation needed]}

When she was 28 years old she married Henry Simerly on March 04, 1834 in Carter, Tennessee. ^[1] Together they had 6 children:

1. John Henry Simerly (1835–1879)
2. Elizabeth Simerly (1835–1891)
3. James D Simerly (1837– )
4. Sarah Jane Simerly (1838–1875)
5. Christian Chrisley Simerly (1839–1910)
6. George Simerly (1842–1924)

In 1850, according to the United States census, she was 49 years old and living with her husband and all 6 children at their home in Carter, Carter, Tennessee. ^[2]

In 1860 there may have been a clerical error, but she was listed as 50 years old and born in North Carolina. She was living with her husband, three children and the Peters family in Division Two of Carter, Tennessee. ^[3]

In 1870 she 65 years old and living alone with Henry (age 86) at their home in Carter. ^[4] and in 1880 she was 80 years old and again noted as born in North Carolina. Henry was 88 years old. They had an 18 year old young woman as their domestic servant living with them as well. ^[5]

Research Notes

Death Date

• some family trees have recorded her death in 1875, however this is likely the Mary Polly Chambers whose married name was Wiseman, not Simerly
• some family trees believe she died in 1895, with no attached sources or notes
• some family trees believe she died in 1913, making her 113 years old at the time of her death. While not impossible, it's unlikely. This date has been removed until a source can be found
• she was last found in the 1880 census, so her death date has been updated to "after 1880" until an alternative date can be found.

Sources

1. ↑ "Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950," Carter County, Henry Simerly and Polly Chambers, 04 Mar 1834; database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V4NG-LLM : 9 March 2021); FHL microfilm 2,117,349; citing Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, and county clerk offices from various counties.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCD4-NLP : 23 December 2020), Mary Simerly in household of Henry Simerly, Carter, Carter, Tennessee, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8TW-ZTQ : 18 February 2021), Mary Simmerly in entry for Thomas Peters, 1860.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD8K-QFF : 29 May 2021), Polly Simerley in entry for Henry Simerley, 1870.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDQ5-DCJ : 20 February 2021), Mary Simerley in household of Henry Simerley, Doe River Cove, Carter, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district ED 9, sheet 271C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,247.

• FamilySearch profile for Mary Polly Chambers

Acknowledgments

• This person was created through the import of 229-Davies.ged on 19 October 2010.