Robert Simms, Jr. is shown as having been born abt. 1720 in Nansemond County, Virginia and died April 1791 in Wayne County, North Carolina. Also, he is reported as having been a Major in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. He and Mary Barnes married about 1753 probably in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. She is shown as having been born abt. 1720's in Edgecombe County, North Carolina and died 1789 probably in Wayne County, North Carolina. Her parents are reported as Edward Barnes (c.1680-1762) and wife Sarah (Pope) Barnes (c. 1684- ?)
Robert Simms, Jr. parents are shown as Robert Simms, Sr.; b. abt. 1674 Nansemond County, North Carolina and died 1729 in Bertie County, North Carolina. He is listed as having married about 1694 in Isle of Wright County, Virginia to the widow Phillis (Fort) Fivash; b. date unk. possibly in Isle of Wright County, Virginia d. 1760 in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Her parents are given as George Fort and wife Elizabeth Accabe (Duckworth) Fort.
WILL In the Name of God Amen the Eighteenth Day Dece'r in the year of our lord Christ one thousand Seven hundred And Eighty Nine I ROBERT SIMMS SEN'R of the State of North Carolina and County of Wayne but very Sick and weak in body but of a Perfect mind and memory But 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 Give and Recommend my sole in to the hands of God that gave all and for my body I Recommend it to the earth to be buried in a Christian like and and Decent manner and as touching Such Worley estate where with it hath Pleased god to bless Me in this life I Give Devise and Dispose of the Same In manner and form following that is to say In tt Place I lend to my well beloved wife MARY SIMMS the Dwelling house land and Plantation and Griss mill house And Chicken Furnature with Negro man named ROGER and his wife CECK and one boy JACK and one boy POMPEY During her natural life and after her Death the same to be Due to my son BENJAMIN SIMMS.
Item I Give and bequeath to my well beloved son BRITAN SIMMS ten Shillings Sterling by Reason I Gave him as much before as my ability will aford.
Item I Give and bequeath to my beloved son JAMES SIMMS ten Shillings Sterling by Reason I have Gave him as mbefore as my ability will aford.
Item I Give and bequeath to my beloved Daughter KEZIAH DICKINSON ten Shillings Sterling by Reason I have Gave her as much before as my abiliwill aford.
Item I give and bequeath to my beloved Daughter MARY NEWSOM ten Shillings Sterling by Reason I have Gave her as much before as my abillity will aford.
Item I Give and bequeath to my well beloved Daughter PENNELAPY DICKINSON ten shillings Sterling by Reason I have Gave her as much before as my ability will afford.
Item I Give and bequeath to my well Beloved son ROBERT SIMMS one Negro boy Named BOSTON to him And his heirs for eaver.
Item I Give and bequeath to my well beloved Daughter SUSANNA SIMMS one Negro Gairl Named RASHEL and one horse cot by value of twenty pounda and one feather bed and furnature To her and her heirs for eaver and if she should Deceas in her manothe same to become Due to my three sons BARNES SIMMS, ABRAHAM SIMMS & BENJAMIN SIMMS.
Item I Give and bequeath to my beloved son BARNES SIMMS one Negro Boy named CHARLES and all my land on the North Side of the long field Branch to the ___ fence whereit __ the __ then Direct Cours to o__ Ground field below the Road as fair as JOHN BAREFOOTS path and than all on the North Side of the P. Path to BAREFOOT line in Cludeing all the Improovements on that part of that land to him and his heirs for eaver.
Item I Give and bequeath to my beloved son ABM. SIMMS one Negor man named JIM and one Negro boy named PETER and one feather Bed and furnature and Runs on the Road goes to the foot of Mr. JOHN BAREFOOT path and thence to the old landing on the path goes to said BAREFOOT Loine and thence along his Loine to his Corner includeing all my Land above the Road on the South Side of Mr. JOHN BAREFOOTs Path.
Item I Give and bequeath unto my beloved son BENJAMIN SIMMS one Negro garl named CHANEY to him and his Heirs for Evar.
I Constitute and appoint to my well beloved son ROBERT SIMMS my hole and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament in Witness whereunto I set my This day and year above Ritton. ROBT. SIMMS (Seal). Test: BENJA. COOK (his mark) SALLEY COOK (her mark) DANIEL DICKINSON.
B. I Give and bequeath to my well Beloved Sons BARNES SIMMS, ABRAHAM SIMMS and BENJAMIN SIMMS a Certain tract of land lying on the South Side of the Cobbs old mill Branch to be equally Divided amongst them.
In witness whereunto I set my hand seal this the Eighteenth Day of Decem'r one thousand seven hundred and Eighty Nine. ROBT. SIMMS (Seal). Test. BENJA. COOK (his mark) SALLY COOK (her mark) DANIEL DICKINSON
THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF ROBERT SIMMS SR. Robert Simms Sr. of Wayne County made out his will on 18 December 1789. It entered probate in April Court 1791. Simms’ landholdings were in the area between Contentnea and Black Creeks, which is now in Wilson County.
to wife Mary Simms, a life interest “negro man Roger and his wife beck,” “one boy Jack,” and “one boy Pompey,” with remainder to son Benjamin Simms to son Benjamin Simms, “Negro girl Chaney“ to son Robert Simms, “a Negro boy named Boston“ to daughter Susanna Simms, “a Negro girl Named Rashel“ to son Barnes Simms, “negro boy Charles“ to son Abm. [Abraham] Simms, “one Negro man named Jim and one Negro boy named peter“[1]
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Categories: Wilson County, North Carolina, Slave Owners
I am a member of the US Black Heritage Project. I have added a list of the slaves owned by Robert Simms, Sr. on this profile with categories using the standards of the US Black Heritage Exchange Program. This helps us connect enslaved ancestors to their descendants. See the Heritage Exchange Portal for more information.