Anthony John Semmes

ANTHONY SEMMES, son and heir of Marmaduke Semmes and his wife Fortuna, was born about 1670 in that part of St. Mary's County north of the Wicomico which later fell into Charles County. In 1703 he and Robert Hagan were appointed overseers of the high ways for Newport Hundred. He married Ann Sissons who may not have been his first wife. On December 11, 1706, her mother Alice Sissons who declared her self to be the relict of Edward Sissons of St. Mary's County negotiated her will and bequeathed her daughter Anne Simes (sic) one hive of bees. Alice Sissons, Sr., had also been the widow of William Tena hill who died in 1667. At the September Court for 1707 Anthony Simms and Ann his wife filed their account as the administrators of the estate of Nicholas Brown. Sometime after September, 1707, and before August, 1708, he had married Dussabella [Barker] who sur vived him. If there were any issue by his last wife, it had to be the youngest child, Jane, as an instrument of 1738 states that Mary was the sister of the whole blood to Marmaduke, Alexius, Fidelmus, and Bathia.

Children of Anthony Semmes

1. Marmaduke Semmes, born 1694, married Mary . q. v.

2. Anthony Semmes married Sarah Maddox. q. v.

3. Electius Semmes married Virlinda . q. v.

4. Fidelmus Semmes married Eli~abeth . q. v.

5. Bathia Semmes married John Higton.

6. Mary Semmes, died spinster. I ~

7. Jane Semmes.

The will of Anthony Semmes, dated August 15, 1708, was pro bated in Charles County, on January 12, 1708/9, by John Higton, John Semmes, and Susannah Buckley.

To sons Anthony and Marmaduke 200 acres of " Sems Settlement,"

but Marmaduke to have the dwelling-plantation.

To children Electious, Fidellmus, Mary, and Bathia 400 acres

" Semms Forest " in Cecil Co. To daughter Jane personalty. To wife Dussabella, extx., residue of personal estate for maintain

ance of 4 children first named; in event of death of wife

or remarriage, her share of estate to pass to brother James

Semmes, he to provide for children and to have charge of

Anthony, Electious, Fidellmus, and Bathia; friend Barnaby

Anctill to have charge of Marmaduke, Mary, and Jane during

minority.

At a court held in Charles County during April, 1710, Marmaduke Semmes, aged 16 years, came into court and made choice of " his mother-in-law" Dosebella Semmes as his guardian until his 21st birthday. On July 1, 1738, Marmaduke Sims, Alexious Sims, Fidelmus Sims, and Bathia Higton conveyed to their brother Anthony Sims, " Semmes' Forest " of 400 acres in Cecil County, which had been willed them by their father, stating that their sister " Mary Sims of the whole blood" had died unmarried and without issue. Mary Sims wife to Marmaduke, Virlinda Sims wife to Alexious, and Elizabeth Sims wife to Fidelmus, waived their dower interests. In 1755 some question arose over the right of descent and owner ship of certain land, whereas Richard Edelen, Sr., aged 83, deposed that he was well acquainted with Marmaduke Sims about 70 years ago and that the latter had been dead about 60 years, that his eldest son was Anthony Sims with whom he was intimately ac quainted, and that the said Anthony's eldest son was Marmaduke Sims with whom he was also very well acquainted, and that the said Marmaduke's eldest son was named Anthony Simms who was then alive. Christian Lemaster, aged 75, and Elizabeth Machone, aged 76, both recalled the death of Marmaduke Sims, Sr., and made practically the same deposition as Richard Edelen. Thomas Sympson, Sr., aged 60, deposed that Anthony Simms was reputed by all the neighbors to have been the eldest son of Marmaduke Simms ever since he could remember, whereas the same statement was made by William Sympson, aged 57.

ANTHONY SEMMES

1670-1708

The oldest child of Marmaduke and Fortuna Semme, he was born about 1670 in St. Mary's County north of the Wicomico River, an area which later became a part of Charles County. In 1703 he was one of two men appointed overseers of the highways for Newport Hundred. We know that Anthony Semmes was married to Ann Sissons, but she may not have been his first wife. Sometime between September 1707 and August 1708 he married Dussabella Barker, who survived him. Anthony Semmes's will was dated August 15, 1708, and was probated in Charles County on January 12, 1708/9. In 1755 a question arose over the right of descent and ownership of certain land. A number of elderly persons testified that they had known Marmaduke Semme and his oldest son, and that Anthony Semmes was, indeed, the oldest son of Marmaduke Semme.

Pat Obrist's notes:

From his father's will in 1693 Anthony was granted 200 acres of land out of a tract bought of Mr. Thomas Sympson in St. Mary's County, adjoining "Westwood Manor" and land of Major Boarman; 400 acres of land in Cecil County called "Simms Forrest."

Why would Anthony's mother, Fortune Semme bequest to him 10 shillings for a mourning ring? Had he been a widower by 8 December 1699? Yes, Bathia, or was this the death of his second spouse, Ann. And then Dusabella could have been the third spouse. Disputed Marriage In MARYLAND HERALDIC FAMILIES, the second spouse of Anthony was Dusabella Barker, the mother of the children named on the FGS. Anthony was still married to Ann Sissons in September 1697 as they were administrators of the estate of Nicholas Brown. Before August 1708 however, Anthony had married Dussabella [Barker] who survived him. **Could the Bathia Sims be the daughter of the first spouse, Bathia, or just named for her, but a daughter of the subsequent spouses? [Lisa--I suspect Fortune wanted Anthony to buy himself a ring to remember Fortune by.]

--Sources

Death: Maryland Heraldic Families---

From genealogy prepared for Deborah Simms Ripley compiled by The Media Research Bureau, Washington, DC.:

"Anthony, eldest son of the emigrant Marmaduke, made his home in Charles County and had issue by his first wife Bethia of Anthony, Eloctious, Fidelmus and Bathia, as well as by his second wife Drussabella of Marmaduke, Mary and Jane."

1708, Semms, Anthony, Chas. 12, 326

From Mary Shoemaker:

Harry Wright Newman gives: " The Semmes family of Southern Md is considered to be of Norman origin with the name appearing in England after the Conquest in various forms such as Sim, Sims, Simms, Syms, Simme. The progenitor wrote his name as Semme and like wise his widow when she signed her will. By the third generation distinct differences in orthography occurred with the descendants of Anthony Semmes using Simms. while the desc. of James using Semmes." Newman futher says "the family appears to be of Scottish Border origin etc."

Semmes America has very different birthdates for almost all the children of Anthony.

Charles County Maryland Probate Records, Inventories, 1673-1753--246: Anthony Semmes or Anthony Semms decd 12 Jan 1708/9

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WILL OF

ANTHONY SEMMS, OF CHARLES COUNTY, MD.

Sons Anthony Semms and Marmaduke Semms, for equal division a tract of land called "Sems Settlement," 200 A., more or less.

Son Marmaduke to have that part whereon now my dwelling plantation is.

Sons Electius and Fidelmus, and daughters Mary and Bathia, a tract of land in Cecil County, Md., called "Semms Forest," 400 A., more or less,

for equal division.

Daughter Jane, 1,000 lbs. tobacco to be paid on day of her marriage.

Wife Duseabella Semms, the residue of my personal estate for the maintenance and education of my children.

Extr.: My wife Dususabella Semms.

Item: If my wife dies before she marries again my desire is that all that part of my personal estate by this will given unto her may fall and descend unto my loving brother, James Semmes, toward the maintenance and education of my four children hereafter mentioned, and my desire is that he may also have ye remaining part of my estate, both real and personal, in his possession till my children come to age.

Wife , if she dies as aforesaid, then my brother, James Semms, may have ye bringing up and education of my four children, viz., Anthony, Electius, Fidelmus and Bathia, till they arrive at age to inherit.

Wife , if she dies as aforesaid, then my trusty friend, Barnaby Anctill, may have the bringing up and educating of my three children, viz., Marmaduke, Mary and Jane Semms, till they shall arrive at age to inherit.

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MARYLAND CALENDAR OF WILLS: Volume 3

VOLUME III.

Semms, Anthony,Chas. Co.,15th Aug., 1708;

12th Jan., 1708.

To sons Anthony and Marmaduke, 200 A., "Sems Settlement." Marmaduke to have dwelling plantation.

To child. Elictions, Fidellmus, Mary and Bathia, 400 A., "Semms Forest" in Cecil Co.

To dau. Jane, personalty.

To wife Duseabella, extx., residue of personal estate for maintenance of 4 child. first named.

In event of death of wife before she marries, her share of estate to pass to brother James Lemmes, he to provide for sd. child. and to have charge of Anthony, Elections, Fidellmus and Bathia; Barnaby Anctill to have charge of Marmaduke, Mary and Jane during minority.

Test: John Higton, John Lemmes, Susannah Buckney. 12. 326.

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MARYLAND CALENDAR OF WILLS: Volume 8

Forbes, George,St. Mary's Co.,10th Oct., 1739;

31st Oct., 1739.

To grand-dau. Mary Gordon and hrs., 400 A. "Simms Forest" at head of Elk R. in Cecil Co., purchased from Anthony Simms of St. Marys Co. Shd. she die without issue to go to James Forbes, son of deceased nephew, John Forbes and his hrs. In event of his death without hrs. to son-in-law George Gordon and hrs. To granddau., afsd., the use of all personal estate in Maryland except that which is hereafter given away. In case of her death without hrs. to be divided, 2/3 to George Gordon and 1/3 to James Forbes.

To bro. Thomas Forbes in Scotland and hrs. £100 now in hands of London correspondent, Mr. William Hunt merchant.

To Robert Forbes, Margert Forbes, Jane Forbes and Margory Forbes monies now in London.

To Mary McWillians, widow, personalty.

Testator desires that grand-dau. Mary have use of money in Bank of England during minority. At her coming of age to be hers solely. However shd. she die before sd. time, this money is to be divided, 1/5 to George Gordon and other 4/5 to bros. and sisters in Scotland, afsd.

Testator also desires to be buried in grave of son George in Bradneck, St. Marys Co., without extravagant drinking at funeral.

Exs.: George Gordon and Kenelm Jones, gent.

Test: John Urguhart, W. McWilliams, T. T. Greenfield.

22. 101.

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He [Anthony] married Ann Sessions who may not have been his first wife. On dec 11, 1706, her mother Alice Sissons who declared herself to be the relict of Edward Sissons of St. Mary' Sco. negotiated her will and bequeathed her daughter Anne Simes [sic] one hive of bees. Alice Sisson, SR. had also been the widow of William Henahill who died in 1667. At the Sept Court for 1707 Anthony Simms and Ann his wife filed their accounts as the administrators of the estate of Nicholas Brown. Sometime after Sept 1707 and before Aug 1708, he had married Dussabella [Barker] who survived him. If there were any issue

by his last wife, it had to be the youngest child, Jane, as an instrument of 1738 states that Mary was the sister of whole blood to Marmaduke, Alexius, Fidelmus and Bathia. MARYLAND SEMMES AND KINDRED FAMILIES By Newman. Page 4.

Source:

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/SISSON/2003-01/104327...