ANTHONY SIMMS
1722-1770
Anthony Simms, son of Anthony Simms and Sarah his wife, was born perhaps in St. Mary's County where his father was domiciled at the time of his death. During the colonial period he remitted quit rents on "Wickehandick", being the only member of the Semmes family owning land in St. Mary's County prior to the Revolution. His wife was Sarah ----.
Children of Anthony and Sarah Simms
1. Anthony Simms, q.v.
2. Bennet Simms, d.s.p. St. Mary's Co., 1770
3. James Simms married Sarah Eleanor Anne Lee. q.v.
4. Ignatius Simms, d.s.p. 1786
5. Jane Simms married Charles Green. q.v.
6. Anne Simms married Thomas Fowler
7. Sarah Simms
8. Patty Simms married Edward Mattingly.
His will, dated April 11, 1769, was probated in St. Mary's County on March 7, 1770 by James Mills and Benjamin Smith. He willed his wife Sarah during widowhood the use of the dwelling plantation, also four Negroes, furniture, and livestock. After the marriage or death of his widow, the dwelling plantation was to revert to his son Bennett. Negroes were bequeathed to the following children - James Simms, Ignatius Simms, Ann Simms, Sarah Simms, Patty Simms and Jane Green. Five shillings each were willed to his son-in-law, Charles Green, and to his sons Anthony Simms and Bennet Simms.
The son, Bennett, died unmarried and by his will which was probated in St. Mary's County in 1770 he devised his entire landed estate to his mother, Sarah Simms, but the 150 acres of land near Taney Town, bought of Edward Digges, were to revert to his brother, Ignatius, at the death of his mother. Other bequests were made to his brother, James, and his three youngest sisters - Anne, Sarah and Patty.
The unmarried son, Ignatius Simms, predeceased his mother, his will being proved in Botetourt County, Virginia, as well as Charles County, Maryland, on November 14, 1786, showing that he was a partner of the form Simms & Dyson. His legatees were his mother Sarah M. Simms, sister Mattingly, sister Sarah Simms, sister Ann Fowler, and niece Sarah Maddox.
A petition was made to the High Court of Chancery by Philip Key, of St. Mary's County, by which it was shown that the "Widow's Purchase" of 217½ acres lying in Chaptico Manor, British confiscated property, was acquired by Sarah Simms in her lifetime on December 3, 1783; that James Simms, Anthony Simms, Ann Fowler, and Edward Mattingly and Patty his wife were the legal representatives of the said Sarah Simms who had assigned the land to him, Philip Key; that the said Sarah Simms died intestate and that the land descended to her children as named above.
