Bethel SIMMONS6,1,2,3,4,5,7

about 18071,2,3,4,5 - after 1880

Life History

about 1807	Born in North Carolina.1,2,3,4,5
12th Sep 1840	Birth of daughter Lecey Elvina SIMMONS in Pike County, Alabama.5,8,9,10,1
between 1841 and 1844	Birth of daughter Arminda SIMMONS in Pike County, Alabama.1,5
about 1843	Birth of daughter Hulda Jane SIMMONS in Pike County, Alabama.5,1
about 1847	Birth of daughter Eliza SIMMONS in Pike County, Alabama.5,1
May 1848	Birth of son Early M SIMMONS in Pike County, Alabama.11,12,1,5
about 1849	Birth of daughter Malsa SIMMONS in Pike County, Alabama.1
Jan 1853	Birth of daughter Mary Respy SIMONS in Alabama.13,14,15,3,16,17
about 1855	Birth of son George B SIMMONS in Pike County, Alabama.5
before 1860	Death of daughter Malsa SIMMONS in Pike County, Alabama
before 1860	Death of son George B SIMMONS in Pike County, Alabama
about 1861	Birth of daughter Sarah A Nancy SIMMONS in Alabama.2
Mar 1872	Birth of daughter Emma SIMMONS in Pike County, Arkansas.18,19,2
about 1873	Birth of daughter Edna SIMMONS in Pike County, Alabama.2
about 1875	Birth of son Elbert SIMMONS in Pike County, Alabama.2
22nd Jun 1877	Birth of son Eli Josephus SIMMONS in Pike County, Alabama.20,19,18,21
after 1880	Death of Mary GRAVES in Alabama
after 1880	Died in Pike County, Alabama

Other facts

	Married Sarah Frances WIGGINS
	Married Mary GRAVES

Notes

Bethel bought a plot of land in Dallas County, Alabama in 1820.

Alabama, Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908
Bethel Simmons
Cahaba [Dallas County] Land Office
Document Number 12379
Total Acres 39.96
12 Jun 1834
Statutory Reference 3 Stat. 566
Act or Treaty April 24, 1820
Sale-Cash Entries
Land Description:
1 SWSW ST STEPHENS No 13N 11E 26

1850 Alabama State Census, Pike County
Bethel Simmons
1 male under age 21 1 over age 21 5 females under age 21 1 over age 21

Next door:
1850 Alabama State Census, Pike County
Isaac Simmons
1 male under age 21 1 over age 21 2 females under age 21 0 over age 21

1850 Federal Census, Pike County, Alabama, 18 Dec, Hse/Fam #Not Readable
Bethel Simmons 42 M Farming born NC
Mary Simmons 37 F b SC
Arminda Simmons 9 F b Ala [b abt 1841]
Huldy Jane Simmons 7 F b AL
Lecy Simmons 5 F b AL
Elza Simmons 3 F b AL
Early Simmons 2 M b AL
Malsa Simmons 1 F b AL

1860 Federal Census, Pike County, Alabama, 13 June, Eastern Division, PO Jasper, Page 15 (191), House/Fam #98
Bethel Simmons 53 M Farmer $400 Real Estate $2360 Personal b NC Cannot read or write [born abt 1807]
Mary Simmons 36 F b SC Cannot read or write [born abt 1824]
Arminda Simmons 16 F b Ala [born abt 1844]
Huldah J Simmons 13 F Ala [born abt 1847]
Leacy E Simmons 11 F Ala [born abt 1849]
Eliza Simmons 10 F Ala [born abt 1850]
Early M Simmons 8 M Ala [born abt 1852]
Moley (Molly) Simmons 7 F Ala [born abt 1853]
George B Simmons 5 M Ala [born abt 1850]
James H Rogers 23 M Farm Laborer Ala $800 Real estate $500 Personal b NC Cannot read or write [born abt 1837]

1866 Alabama State Census, Pike County, Township 8
Bethel Simmons
2 males age 10-20 1 over age 20 2 females age 10-20 1 over age 20

In the 1870 census, the enumerator lets a loop slip and the name comes out written as Simnons.

1870 Federal Census, Pike County, Alabama, 7 June, p 24, PO Troy, Hse/Fam #163
Simnons [sic], Bethel 63 M W Farm Laborer $500 Real Estate $500 Personal Estate b South Carolina Cannot read or write [b abt 1807]
Simnons, Mary 52 F W Keeping House South Carolina Cannot read or write [born abt 1819]
Simnons, Jessey B 18 M W At Home Alabama Cannot write [born abt 1852] [Could this be George B?]
Simnons, Graves Nancy 9 F W Alabama [born abt 1861]

The name of the last child is confused and uncertain. This could be the last child of Bethel and Mary, but with Graves as a first name, this is uncertain. This child matches the child listed as Sarah, age 20, in the 1880 census.

In the 1870 census their daughter Molly (enumerated her as Molsey) is living next door with her husband John Stroud. The name Molsey is an old common diminutive or affectionate form for Mollie (Moley in the 1860 census above). She is usually just Mollie. In later listings Molly's maiden name is spelled Simons, instead of Simmons. Simons is the name on her grave.

1870 Federal Census, Pike County, Alabama, 7 June, p 24, PO Troy, Hse/Fam #163
Stroud, John 19 M W Farm Laborer $No Real Estate $No Personal Estate b Alabama Married Nov 1869 [b abt 1851]
Stroud, Molsey (diminutive of Mollie. for Mary) 19 F W Keeping House Alabama [born abt 1851]

Mary died soon after the census, and Bethel married a widow living in the area, Sarah Frances Stroud neé Wiggins. By 1880, they have 3 children. In their household is also Bethel's older daughter Emma (Ema here) and Sarah Frances' last child, also named Emma, who was enumerated under the name of Sarah in the 1870 census with her mother.

1880 Federal Census, Pike County, Alabama, 29 June, Beat #14, District 149, page 56, Hse #371, Fam #372
Simmons, Bethel W M 71 Head Farmer Can't Read or Write GA SC SC [b abt 1809]
Simmons, Sarah F W F 47 Wife Keeping House Can't Read or Write AL SC KY [b abt 1833]
Simmons, Sarah A W F 20 Dau At Home Can't Read or Write AL NC GA [b abt 1860]
Stroud, Ema W F 20 Stepdau At Home AL GA GA [b abt 1860]
Simmons, Ema W F 10 Dau At Home Can't Read or Write AL NC GA [b abt 1870]
Simmons, Edney W F 7 Dau AL NC GA [b abt 1873]
Simmons, Elbert W M 5 Son AL NC GA [b abt 1875]
Simmons, Eli W M 2 Son AL NC GA [b abt 1878]
Taylor, James B M 50 Servant AL -- -- [b abt 1830]

In this 1880 lineup, the first daughter Sarah matches in age the individual listed in 1870 as Graves Nancy Simmons. What was intended by this odd set of names is uncertain. Graves appears to be another surname, but is in the place of the first name with Nancy as the middle name.

Sources

1. 1850 Federal Census, Pike County, Alabama
- 18 Dec, Hse/Fam #Not Readable
2. 1880 Federal Census, Pike County, Alabama
- 29 June, Beat #14, District 149, page 56, Hse #371, Fam #372
3. 1870 Federal Census, Pike County, Alabama
- 7 June, p 24, PO Troy, Hse/Fam #163
4. 1866 Alabama State Census, Pike County, Township 8
5. 1860 Federal Census, Pike County, Alabama
- 13 June, Eastern Division, PO Jasper, Page 15 (191), House/Fam #98
6. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
7. 1850 Alabama State Census, Pike County
8. Alabama, Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974
9. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
- Memorial #37834258, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=37834258
10. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
11. Alabama Deaths, 1908-59
- Volume 10, Roll 3, Page 4798
12. 1910 Federal Census, Pike County, Alabama
- 15 April, Goshen Hill, District 139, page 2A, Greenville Ave, Hse #20, Fam #24
13. 1910 Federal Census, Stephens County, Oklahoma
- 21 April, Richland Township, District 243, page 4B, No Hse/Fam Numbers
14. 1920 Federal Census, Grady County, Oklahoma
- [no date], Starr Township, District 189, page 3B, Hse/Fam #46
15. Marlow Cemetery List, Marlow, Stephens, Oklahoma
- Location: http://stephenscogen.org/~okstephe/MarlowCem2.txt;
16. 1900 Federal Census, Kaufman County, Texas
- 18 June, Justice Precinct 3, District 74, page 14A, Hse #157, Fam #161
17. 1880 Federal Census, Rockwall County, Texas
- 10 June, District 32, page 3, Hse/Fam #21
18. 1900 Federal Census, Pike County, Alabam
- 22 June, Spring Hill, District 137, page 11B, Hse #206, Fam #207
19. 1910 Federal Census, Pike County, Alabama
- 12 May, Spring Hill, District 142, page 18B, Hse #347, Fam #348
20. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
- Memorial #51717540, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Simmons&GSiman=1&GScnty=80&GRid=51717540&
21. 1880 Federal Census, Pickens County, South Carolina
- 29 June, Beat #14, District 149, page 56, Hse #371, Fam #372