James Simms

Biography

James was born about 1645. He passed away before 1684.

Elizabeth Wilmouth married James Symes (Abt 1645 - )

Children:

• 1 Richard Sims (Abt 1676 - 1746)
• 2 John Symes (Abt 1671 - )
• 3 Robert Sims, Sr. (Abt 1674 - Feb 1727/1728)

  ---

Robert Simms, Sr. Father is reported as James P. Symes; born abt. 1645 in
Somerset, England. His parents reported as Thomas Symes and Amy (Bridges)
Symes

GEDCOM Note

From our Sims family archives:

William Symes (b.1540) of Somerset married Elizabeth Hill. As a wedding gift, her father, Robert Hill, gave his daughter, Elizabeth Hill, Poundsford Lodge, which is still standing. John Symes II was the eldest son of William & Elizabeth, and was born on March 4, 1572 at Poundsford. John Symes II and later inherited the Poundsford estate, which has ever remained in the Symes family.

John Symes II married Amy Horner, niece of Thomas Horner, for whom the nursery rhyme ¡§Little Jack Horner¡¨ refers. John graduated from Oxford, was a Member of Parliament, and served as the Sheriff of Somersetshire. John & Amy had three sons and eight daughters. During the English Rebellion, when Oliver Cromwell overthrew the king, John Symes II, as a supporter of the king was forced to leave his estate and take refuge in Gloucestershire where he also owned property. He lived there during the rule of Cromwell. After the monarchy was restored, John Symes II regained his estate (Poundsford) at Somerset, but being old and frail, he was too feeble to return to Poundsford. John died there at the age of 89, on Oct 21, 1661 and is buried at the church at Frampton Cottrell.

Their third son, Thomas, inherited the family estate of his great-grandfather, John Symes of Barwick, and became involved in the mercantile & shipping businesses, sending ships to the new world to bring back products for sales. Thomas Symes married Amy Bridges, who was the daughter of Edward Bridges, Esq., and Phillipa Speke. Thomas and Amy had eight boys and four girls. Several of the younger sons went to the West Indes in connection with the mercantile business that their father had established.

Their fifth son, George Symes Sr. (b. 1651), went to the island of Antigua in the British West Indes as a merchant. Later he became a member of the council in Antigua ¡V part of the governing authority. George Symes eloped with Dorothy Everhard and together they had five children. George Symes died in Antigua in 1688/89 and his will named his brother Henry as the guardian of his children.

The second son, James Symes (Sims) born in 1645, immigrated to Isles Wright, Virginia in 1669. where he married Elizabeth Willmouth, born in 1652 at Isles Wright, 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 Isles Wright, Virginia.

Symes family had several other sons follow James Symes starting in 1670, one of George Symes, Jr., the eldest brother, who also settled in Virginia.

From https://www.smokykin.com/tng/getperson.php?personID=I22712&tree=Smo...

• Some genealogists indicate James is a descendant of John of Gaunt who is son of King Edward III.
• This line is included here but has not yet been proved.

  ---

Sources

• Posted on Ancestry. The second son, James Symes (Sims) born in 1645,immigrated to Isles Wright, Virginia in 1669. where he married Elizabeth Willmouth, born in 1652 at Isles Wright, 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 Isles Wright, Virginia.
• http://newsarch.rootsweb.com/th/read/SIMS/2006-03/1141710210