Person:William Simonton (2)

Information comes from Jhelmke@@sbcglobal.net.

William Simonton was the executor with his mother of Theophilus Simonton's will, which would indicate that he stayed in PA with his mother and porbably the grandchildren, and overseer Patrick Duffey. After Theophilus Simonton died in PA, William and the rest of the family then came to Rowan Co., NC. His brother Robert assisted in securing land for William as well as Mrs. McKee about that time. William then married Mary McKee, Widow McKee's daughter, and the land that was purchased by Mrs. McKee was immediately to the north of William Simonton's place. All of the homesteads of the brothers and sisters were adjacent to each other. Just before Robert died in Rowan Co., he sold his land to William in 1788, which included the house of Robert Simonton. The two homesteads were next door to each other on Fourth Creek. William Simonton purchased 575 acres from Robert on 18 April 1788. According to W.W. Watts, it was in this house that the first meetings were held to form Iredell Co. from Rowan Co. in 1788. William Simonton served as the first Sheriff of Iredell Co. by appointment. After Widow McKee passed away, William purchased 280 acres from her estate and this land lay to the north of the Simonton lands. After this, William Simonton's plantation consisted of over 1200 acres. The house that now stands in Iredell Co., just east of Statesville in its restored state is a symbol of the Simonton, Allison, and Thornton families who were among the first pioneer families of Statesville. William Simonton's descendents were prominant in the development of Iredell Co. and Statesville, as was the Allison Family.