William Hill Simmons Sr. (1794 - 1866)

Born 7 Jun 1794 in Hancock, Georgia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Elizabeth (Maddox) Simmons — married 23 Feb 1815 in Putnam, Georgia, United States

Husband of Elizabeth Ann (Hunt) Simmons — married 26 Oct 1856 in Fayette, Georgia

Descendants

Died 24 Apr 1866 at age 71 in Pike, Georgia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Rick Williams [send private message] and Jason Simmons [send private message]

Biography

William was born in 1794 in Hancock County, Georgia. Hancock had been created just the year prior in December. It was created from part of Greene and part of Washington County. Hancock County was very primitive at that time. The settlers built forts and added blockhouses for their defense against hostile Indians. William was born in such a place. His parents were James Simmons and Elizabeth Hudson. Baldwin County, named after Abraham Baldwin, was created in 1803 by Creek cessions of June 1802. The land was distributed by the 1805 Land Lottery. The Second (1807) Lottery of Georgia, Act of Legislature was passed on June 26, 1806. Four new counties were made out of parts of Baldwin: Morgan, Randolph (later to become Jasper County), Jones and Putnam. William's father moved the family to Putnam County, Georgia when William was young.

War came to America and to Georgia in 1812. War was declared with the British by Congress on the 18th of June.

The new counties of Putnam and Jones were the western border of Georgia with the frontier of the Creek Nation. The greatest threat to Georgians during the war came from the hostile Creek Indians allied with and supplied by the British. On August 30, 1813, a strong force of Creeks attacked and destroyed Fort Mims, an American post on the Alabama River, north of Mobile. Major General John Floyd became the Commander of the Georgia Militia. In September of 1813, Floyd assembled 3,600 Georgia troops at Fort Hawkins. Fort Hawkins was a Federal Fort established in 1806 on the Ocmulgee River south of Putnam and Jones Counties along the boundary with the Creek Nation. This was the future location of Macon, Georgia. Floyd established a fort on the Alabama side of the Chattahoochee River in what would later become Russell County, Alabama. This was Fort Mitchell. Floyd marched his troops into Creek territory. his army, bolstered by a friendly Indian contingent, fell upon the hostile Creeks at the Creek town of Autosse on November 29, 1813. In a desperately fought action, Floyd's men forced the Creeks to retreat after a bayonet charge. This allowed Floyd to destroy Autosse and a second town nearby. Lacking proper supplies, Floyd returned to Fort Mitchell. Later on 27 January of 1814 thirteen hundred Creek warriors mounted a surprise attack against the encamped army on the banks of Calabee Creek. The assault was blunted by the Georgians' use of artillery and superior fire. The hostile Creeks were defeated by Andrew Jackson's forces in March of 1814 at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in what is present day Tallapoosa County, Alabama.

Military

William enlisted as a private with Cpt Thomas Company of Georgia Militia on 20 August of 1813. He served until 14 March 1814.

The information below is from the biography on Findagrave for him.

Son of James and Elizabeth "Betsy" (Hudson) Simmons, Sr.

William Hill Simmons, Sr. joined Post Oak Methodist Church (Putnam Co., GA) in 1821 and later joined Red Oak Methodist Church (now Williamson First U.M.C.), Second District Rd., Williamson, GA in 1827 and was removed in 1866. He was "trustee" (or "class leader") and a "circuit rider until 1866. Red Oak Methodist Church Register 1823-1895

June 29, 1866 - Southern Christian Advocate

William H. Simmons, of Pike Co., GA, died 24th. April last in the 72nd., year of his age.

Though I was not permitted to be with him in his last hours, I thank God that after an absence of six years as a missionary to California, I was privileged to return and was honored with his association of several months of last year. He was born in Hancock County in a fort or blockhouse which was built for the early settlers of the country as a place of refuge and defence from the hostile Indians. While yet a quite young his father, James Simmons, moved with his family to Putnam Co., GA. My father served in the war of 1812, and throughout the rigors of that campaign, he was a faithful soldier. He married in his 21st. year, Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Maddox, with whom he lived forty-one years and reared a family of eight children -- three of whom sleep with their parents in Jesus -- one in Texas. He married, the second time, in 1856, Mrs. Patton, who survives him. He professed religion in 1821 and joined the M. E. Church at old Post Oak Church, Putnam County. Two years after he removed to Monroe County and handed his letter in at Forstyh, in 1826, removed to Pike County and the year following was appointed class leader of Red Oak Church, which position he filled till the day of his death. For 89 years he went in and out before his flock as a faithful shepherd. I remember when quite a boy witnessing many happy seasons in the class room. He appreciated and loved his office and his Church -- sought nothing higher -- admired nothing more. His class books showed the condition of the church and had the names of every preacher through the long term of his leadership. The regular attendance, the absentees and the sick were marked at every class meeting. In 1858 more than one hundred souls were converted and joined the church at Rad Oak. Many of them were his oldest neighbors, some of whom have since died in great peace. My father was blessed with health until a few days previous to his death, when he fell in the yard of vertigo. He was at circuit preaching on Friday, on Saturday rode to Fayette Co., a distance of thirty miles previous to his death on Tuesday, bade his friends adieu, saying he should not meet them again in this world. Monday, he complained of loss of appetite. The evening closed on him quite sick. Two physicians were called in and pronounced his case hopeless. Little though his friends death was so near, but than God he was ready and waiting his Maker's call. Many friends thronged to see him, but he could talk but little. He fell asleep in Jesus like an infant in the arms of it parent, while Father Dorman was at prayer.

John Wesley Simmons, Son

Tax Digests

1829 in Pike County, Georgia 2021/2 acres

Family

William and Elizabeth had the following known children

1. Epsey A b. 1816
2. Caroline b. 1820
3. James b. 1820
4. William Hill Jr. b. 1824
5. Amelia b. 1825
6. Mary Ann Elizabeth b. 1826
7. John Bell b. 1829
8. Joseph Sandford b. 1830
9. E C b. 1834
10. John Wesley b.1836

Research Notes

Sources

• "Georgia, County Marriages, 1785-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXVH-8B3 : 7 February 2020), William Simmons and Elizabeth Mattox, 23 Feb 1815; citing Marriage, Putnam, Georgia, United States, Georgia Department of Archives and History, Morrow, FHL microfilm 394,053.

The last name of the bride was Maddox and that is on the bottom of the record correctly.

• https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/war-of-1812-and-georgia/

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• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZYC-3R6 : 19 December 2020), William H Simmons, Pike, Georgia, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• "Georgia, County Marriages, 1785-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXJJ-J13 : 7 February 2020), William H. Simmons and Elizabeth Patton, 26 Oct 1856; citing Marriage, Fayette, Georgia, United States, Georgia Department of Archives and History, Morrow, FHL microfilm 209,385.
• https://www.myheritage.com/site-family-tree-476705541/simmons?rootIndivudalID=1500109&familyTreeID=1#!profile-1500118-info
• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZMC-4NS : 18 February 2021), William H Simmons, 1860.
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/32852640/william-hill-simmons