Person:Frances Simmons (6)

Listed in the 1860 Trinity County, Texas Census as Frances McNeally, age 22, born MS. Listed with James McNeally, age 60, born KY; Margaret, age 1, born TX; Martha, age 5/12, born TX; James Curry, age 16, born TX; William Curry, age 14, born TX; Cinthia Curry, age 11, born TX; and Ludy F. Curry, age 6, born TX. The Curry children would have been Lena's, as she would have been dead by this time, and William would have been chased off or dead as well. They are living near Major.

Listed in 1870 in the Trinity County, Texas census with no husband and two daughters. She is living in the home of Lizzie Skaggs, age 34, from New York; Annie Skaggs, age 7, from Louisiana; Modoc Skaggs (sp? - male), age 6, from Louisiana; Bertie Skaggs, age 4, from Texas; and is listed as age 32 from Mississippi, Marthie age 10 from Texas, and Lottie age 6 from Texas.

Listed in the 1880 Harris County, Texas Census, E.D. 78, Pricinct 3, page 201C as Francis Lang, 40 years old, born Mississippi. Listed with Husband, Valentine A., 55 years old, born Florida, Daughter Elisabeth, 5 years old, born Texas, and Son James W., 2 years old, born Texas.

Posted on the internet(not sure if this is the same F. Simmons): "Frances is listed with her parents in the 1850 census of Harrison County, Tx and also on the 1854 school census in Shelby county, Tx but the whole names of her parents are not given, simply W. Simmons age 47 born MS and M. Simmons age 41 born MS. Do you know what these names were? Peggy Hill"

Also posted on the internet:

"Dear Betty: According to info in file, your Frances belonged to this family listed in the 1850 census of Harrison County, TX W. Simmons age 47 born SC M. Simmons age 41 born MS L. Simmons age 20 born MS-male M. Simmons age 14, born MS-female F. Simmons age 11 born MS-female W. Simmons age 7 born MS-male T. Simmons age 5 born MS-male J. Simmons age 4 born MS-male M. Simmons age 3 born MS-female J. Simmons 1/2 born TX-female This same family is later listed in the school census of Shelby County (1854) like this: Parent W. Simmons children: Frances, Nancy, Willey, Thomas, James, Louisa

Frances married James McKimm and had Lottie Ann born 2 8 1867 who married William Grant Wiggins 3 9 1878. Frances married in Trinity County, TX. Laura Wiggins Richard, 17427 Typhoon Way, Crosby, TX 77632 has been researching this family for a number of years. I have not heard from her since 1995 so she may have found out more about them since then. Please let me know what you find out. If I had the father W. Simmon's complete name I might be able to find a marriage record on him. Peggy Hill Peggyhill@@prodigy.net"

"I have a William H. Simmons born 1835 - 1845 I believe in Miss. He married Malinda Henshaw and lived in DeSoto Co. Miss. and died in the war 1863 - 1865. I don't know who his parents or brothers and sisters were. His children ended up in Red River Co. Texas. Did Frances have any siblings? J.P."

From the Family History Resource Center:"The SIMMONS family first appears in the records of Devonshire where they were recorded as an ancient Devonshire family before the year 1100. The notable SIMMONS family is shown in the ancient manuscripts and cartularies as tracing their ancestry to Anglo Saxon origin. The most ancient SIMMONS family Coat of Arms was recorded between the 12th and 15th centuries." And according to the book "Colonial Families of Pennysylvania" (Author: Blinn): "The name Simmons is generally understood to be a derivative of Simon, but it may have come from the Domesday name, Simund, which is quite distinct from Simon. There is a family of Simmons, who have been resident at Seaford, in the county Sussex, for the past three centuries and a half. They evidently have corrupted their appellative from Seaman, which has gone through the following phases since 1553: Seeman, Seaman, Seamans, Semons, Simons, Simonds, Simmonds, Symonds, Symmonds, and finally SIMMONS."

There is a J. Simmons (can't read his full first name) listed as head of the household in the 1900 Montgomery County, Texas census, sheet #28A, line #40. Household unreadable. Listed with wife N (possibly Norma?)B and son James A. J. was born July 1845 in Mississippi, age 54, married for 32 years. Both parents listed as born in South Carolina. N. was born July 1839 in Alabama, age 60, married for 32 years. Both parents listed as born in South Carolina. Shows she is mother to 7 children, 4 of whom are still living at the time of the census. James was born Feb 1878 in Texas, age 22, single. He and father are both farmers, with the father owning the land free and clear, and James mortgaged. Father's number in farm schedule is 99, his is 100. Is it possible the head of this household is a brother to Fannie--the one listed in the 1850 census as J. Simmons, age 4?

There are several Simmins living in Newton County, TX in 1850.

Lottie has her mother's place of birth listed as Mississippi in the 1910 Montgomery County, Texas Census.