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 highways for Newport Hundred.
He married Ann Sissons who may not have been his first wife. ...
... Sometime after September, 1707, and before August, 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 the whole blood to Marmaduke, Alexius, Fidelmus, and Bathia. ...
... The will of Anthony Semmes, dated August 15, 1708, was probated 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 maintainance 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, 1788, 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 ownership 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 acquainted, 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.
