Richard Symes (1676 - 1747)

Born 1676 in Isle of Wight, Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 4 Jan 1747 at about age 71 in Orange, Virginia

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Biography

Note: The following origins of this Richard Sims appear to be disproven with Wilmuth, the wife of John Thornton, having been prior married to James Glinn:
"Richard was born before 1684. He was the son of James Symes and Willmuth Unknown. Date: 3 Apr 1687 Location: Isle of Wight Notes: This probate record was extracted from microfilmed copies of the original Will Book. Remarks: John Thornton. Leg.-son William; daughter Elinor; wife Willmuth, at her decease to her two sons, Richard and Robert Sims. Description: Will Book: 2-274 Prove Date: 1 May 1688"

Richard Sims, a planter, was of St. Thomas' Parish in Orange County, Virginia when he entered into an indenture 26 February 1745/6 buying 300 acres of land on the branches of Pamunkey River from William and Anne McDonough for the sum of 20 pounds.^[1] Richard died intestate in Orange County, Virginia 4 January 1746/7 and this deed was not acknowledged at Court until after his death. The inventory and appraisal of his estate was also taken in March of 1746/7^[2] It is probable there had been an inquiry into his death attributing to the delay. His widow Joanna was granted administration of his estate proven by the following Court records. At a Court held for Orange County 23 July 1747, upon the petition of Henry Downs and William McDonough, it was adjudged Joanna Sims, widow and administratrix of Richard Sims, deceased, give them security on their bond to indemnify them from the said bond or deliver up to them the estate of the deceased.^[3] On 23 October 1747 Joanna was ordered to pay William McDonough £14.16.1 for a debt in writing due from the estate of the intestate Richard Sims, dec'd.^[4]

In 1748, Hannah Potter, widow of Middlesex County and daughter of Col. John Grymes, was named in an Orange County murder trial after her slave Letty was accused of the poisoning death of Richard Sims, who'd languished and died 4 Jan 1746/7. Fortunately for Letty, she was acquitted and released, for all she had done was give Mr. Sims a glass of milk.^[5]

At a Court held for Orange County 24 May 1750, Joanna Sims and several others came into Court claiming head rights. Joanna Sims and Mary Fields made oath they had been imported into this Colony immediately from Great Britain and this was the first time they'd ever made oath to the same, further stating they were entitled each of them to 50 acres of land in this Colony which they assigned over to Tully Choice. Orange Co. VA Order Book 5, p. 248. [6] (Note: Tully's daughter Abigail married Samuel Bolling, son of the attached Ann (Sims) Bolling)

Research Notes

Richard Sims died in 1746. A slave named Letty, owned by Hannah Potter of Middlesex County, was tried by jury and acquitted for causing his death, thought to be by poisoning. She was tried in Orange County indicating the place of his death.

29 June 1753 William Sims & Annister his wife acknowledged an indenture of bargain & sale to William Bolling. Orange Co. Order Book 5, p. 467.[7]

Posted on Ancestry.com. Author unk. The second son, James Symes (Sims) born in 1645, immigrated to Isle of Wight, Virginia in 1669. where he married Elizabeth Willmouth {Wilmoth/Wilmuth}, born in 1652 at Isle of Wight, Virginia, in 1670. Their first child was born 1671, name of John. They had two other children, thereafter, Robert born in 1674 and Richard born in 1676. James Sims died in 1687. His wife, Elizabeth, died in February 1729 in Isle of Wight, Virginia. {no source cited for this'}.

Richard was born in 1676.

Sources

1. ↑ [1] William & Anne McDonough Indenture of Sale to Richard Sims dated 26 Feb 1745/6, Acknowledged 27 March 1746. Orange Co., VA Deed Book 10, p. 287-288.
2. ↑ [2] March 1746/7 Inventory & Appraisal of Richard Sims, dec'd. Orange Co. VA Will Book 2, p. 110.
3. ↑ [3] 23 July 1747 Petition of Henry Downs & Wm. McDonough against Joanna Sims, widow, administratrix of Richard Sims, dec'd. Orange Co. VA Order Book 5 (1747-1754), p. 1.
4. ↑ [4] McDonough vs. Sims. Orange Co. VA Order Book 5, p. 67.
5. ↑ [5] Trial by jury of Letty, slave of Hannah Potter, widow. Orange Co. Order Book 5, p. 113-114.

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