This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/4R.2ADE/1665 Message Board Post: Parents of John Franklin Sims (decedent) are shown as Father: T. J. Sims, born in what looks like Luverne, Alabama. Mother: Says, N. Nancy Welch, born in Crenshaw, Rutledge. The informant was G. J. (Garnie J. Sims, son). There is a death record of Thomas J. Sims in Crenshaw County for Thomas J.; born 18 January 1852 and died 26 January 1911. The informant is Mrs. Ida Sims. There is a marriage record of Thomas J. Sims to Nancy J. Welch, married on 21 November 1872 in Crenshaw County, Alabama. Since this date is AFTER John Franklin was born so if I am looking at the right people, then Nancy can't be the mother of John Franklin. However, there is another marriage record of Thomas J. Sims to Ida Dismukes who was born 10 August 1859 and died 1 March 1925. Thomas J. and Ida married in Crenshaw County on 2 December 1880. It is entirely possible that Ida was the mother of John Franklin and died sometime after his birth in 1886 and the second marriage of Thomas to Nancy. If this is the case, it is entirely possible that John Franklin's children were not even aware of this so they would have listed the parents as those they knew. And of course, the flip side is that these are two different Thomas J. Sims as there is an entry on the 1910 County, Beat 4, Honoraville, Census with an Ida but it states they have been married only once and for 27 years. Thomas J. appears on the 1910 Crenshaw County, Beat 4, Honoraville, Census on line 41, 285/287, Sims, Thomas J., head, M, W, 58, M1, 27 years, born in Alabama, father in Ireland, mother in Georgia, speaks English and he is listed as the Postmaster. Ida, Wife, F, 51, M1, 27, 8 children born, 5 living, born Alabama, both parents born in Georgia. William J., son, 21 and single, Lucian (?), son, 16 and single, ? (can't read initial) Cline, son, 11, single. I would be so grateful to anyone who might be able to share some information on these people (any of them) if known. I feel strongly that John Franklin Sims is related to my Sims family and I am trying to gather whatever information I can to either prove or disprove that theory. Below is the lineage as I know it of John Franklin Sims. He is buried only a few spaces away from my direct ancestor Wallace A. Sims (who married Josephine M. Catrett) in the Mt. Gilead Cemetery, Piney Grove, Alabama. John Franklin appears on the 1920 Coffee County, Holley Precinct 14, (on side of Census it says, Roc Farm Road to Elba ?) Sims, John F., 24 (looks like) married, born in Alabama, father born in Georgia, mother in Alabama Belle B., 26, born in Alabama, both parents born in Alabama Garnie J., son, 11 B. J., son, 8 Mattie L., dau, 7, Carlton, 4 ½ (?) John M., 8/12ths Descendants of John Franklin Sims 1 John Franklin Sims 1886 - 1945 .. +Lillie Belle Donaldson 1892 - ........ 2 B.J. Sims ............ +Della Dunn ........ *2nd Wife of B.J. Sims: ............ +Louise Watson ........ 2 Emogene 'Jeannie' Sims ............ +Harry Rushing ........ 2 Garnie J. Sims 1908 - 1966 ............ +Ladie Belle Brooms 1910 - 2004 ................... 3 Mary A. Sims 1927 - ....................... +James Bradley ............................. 4 Billy Wayne Bradley ................... 3 Bill Sims 1928 - ....................... +Lois ........ 2 Mattie Lou 'Pat' Sims 1913 - 1997 ............ +James Rufus Davis, Sr. ................... 3 Johnnie D. Davis ....................... +Unknown McCall ................... 3 James Rufus Davis, Jr. ........ 2 Carlton Sims 1915 - 1976 ............ +Sara Wood ........ 2 John Mason 'Dick' Sims 1919 - ............ +Nell Parrish ................... 3 Johnny Sims ................... 3 Kay Sims ........ 2 Cupidine Sims 1924 - ............ +Olin Watkins