Hi Dee, I have a William Sims, Sr. whose birth I do not know but date of death is Bet. 1793 – 1805. He is said to have married Mary Souls/Soles, (daughter of William Souls/Soles and descendant of George Soule, one of the signers of the Mayflower Compact) whose date of birth is Bef. 1755 and date of death is Aft. 1780. I have conflicting information on William. I personally haven’t been able to locate him in Bladen County but I have been told that is where he married. I also have information that they lived in Columbus County, North Carolina where the Sims family lived before migrating to Alabama. Could the two counties have been close enough to cause this confusion? The Federal Census of 1790 and 1800 shows a William Sims living in Brunswick County, North Carolina, Wilmington District. Columbus County was formed in early 1800 from a part of six Brunswick and Bladen counties. Revolutionary war records list a William Sims from the Wilmington District as a member of the militia during the war. In all probability, he is the same William Sims who married Mary Soles. It has also been said that Jacob Sims, son of William, fought in the War of 1812 while still living in North Carolina. They had the following children that I know of: 1) McKinney or McKinzie Sims, b. about 1775 in Kershaw County, South Carolina 2) James, b. about 1780 in North Carolina 3) William, Jr., b. about 1780-1800 4) Benjamin, b. about 1790-1800 5) Jacob, b. 8 September 1793 in North Carolina. If you have anything on any of these people Dee, I will forever be in your debt. I know this is a tall order and I thank you very much. Sincerely, Joyce Severt -- "Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." Visit our home page at: http://www.ionet.net/~djsevert Or The Annex: http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/2746

Hi Joyce, If he died "Bet. 1793-1805" he never lived in Columbus County because it wasn't formed until 1808. Brunswick County was immediately to the south of Bladen. Columbus County was created by taking the southern portion of Bladen and the northern portion of Brunswick. >From 1777 to 1793 the Wilmington District/Brigade was made up of New Hanover County, Cumberland County, Duplin County, Brunswick County and Bladen County. >From 1793 to 1801 there was a realignment of the Military Districts and 4 Divisions were formed. Within these four Divisions were 9 Brigades. The 2nd Division, 3rd Brigade/Wilmington District then consisted of New Hanover, Onslow, Duplin, Brunswick and Bladen counties. Onslow had been added and Cumberland was now part of the 4th Brigade/Fayetteville District. In 1801, while there were numerous changes again in the structure of the Divisions, the 2nd Division, 3rd Brigade remained the same. >From # 115 paraphrased: From the Wilmington District I have James, William and Isaac Sims, all in the Militia. According to their numbers (payroll) William would have signed up first, then Isaac, and last, James. >From # 135 Bladen County Tax Lists of 1779 William Sims 10 slaves 5 Horses Total 4295 pounds Bladen County Tax Lists of 1786 William Sims 1 White Male from 21 to 60 2 White Males under 21 and over 60 3 White Females 5 Blacks from 12 to 50 7 Blacks over 50 and under 12 Total Amt.= 17 >From # 26 No Sims/Simms shown in 1790 Bladen Census. >From # 51 In the 1763 Bladen County Tax List : James Sims, Sen, & three sons James Sims, Jun. & Thos. Platt >From # 50 paraphrased: William Sims witnessed the Will of Joseph Cooper dated March 11, 1784. >From # 4 Pg. 129-131: 12 July 1770, James Upton, planter, of Anson Co., to Hector McNeil, planter, in Bladen Co., for 25 pounds proc. money . . land in Bladen., on Pugh's midle marsh swamp, granted to William Sims and conveyed to James Sims, then to William Goadson, then to John Baughart, then to sd. James Upton, 100A. . . James Upton (Seal), Wit: Ro. Edward, Robt January. May, Bladen inferior Court 1771. prov. by Robert Edwards. Maturin Colvill, C. C. Pg. 340-341: William Sims & Margaret Sims of Craven Co., South Carolina, for 200 pounds proc. money to James McDaniel of Bladen Co., planter, 200A on NE side of the NW River part of a grant to William Gray, for 350A, allotted by said William Gray in his last Dividend of land to his daughter Margaret wife of the aforesaid William Sims . . .4 Aug 1769. Wm Sims (Seal), Margaret Sims (Seal), Wit: Silvanus Wilson, Joseph Cooper, Benja. Cooper. August Court 1771, proved in open Court by Joseph Cooper. Maturin Colvill, C. C. >From # 37 Deed Book 1 p-310. 25 Feb. 1784. Williams Sims, planter being the son and heir of James Sims, Senr., deceased & thereby became lawfully seized & possessed of all the lands etc at the time of his decease To Benjamin Sims, planter. 200 lbs specie, 140 acres land on the SW side of the North West River being part of land patented by David Morely in 1737 & conveyed by Morely to James Sims, Senr. deceased, on 2 Nov. 1741 & another tract of 300 acres patented by James Sims on 25 Feb. 1754 which land fell hereditary to me as the above 100 acres did. Wit: Wm. G. McDaniel, Isaac Sims. Nov. Term 1786, proven by William Gray McDaniel. John White, C. C. p-546. 31 Dec. 1785. Robert Sims to Benjamin Sims. 500 lbs, 131 acres on Swans Creek which was conveyed to Robert Sims by William Sims & 400 acres conveyed to Robert Sims by Isam Kenedy, the place where the said Robert Sims now lives on SW side of the little Marsh on the little Bever Dam granted to John Jones. Wit: William Sims, Isaac Sims, proved 26 Dec. 1788. Samuel Spencer, JSCLE Dee For details on sources used, refer to this link: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncbladen/lookups.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: Doug and Joyce Severt <djsevert@ionet.net> To: <NCBLADEN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2001 8:54 PM Subject: [NCBLADEN-L] SIMS>No. Carolina>Alabama lookup for Dee Hi Dee, I have a William Sims, Sr. whose birth I do not know but date of death is Bet. 1793 - 1805. He is said to have married Mary Souls/Soles, (daughter of William Souls/Soles and descendant of George Soule, one of the signers of the Mayflower Compact) whose date of birth is Bef. 1755 and date of death is Aft. 1780. I have conflicting information on William. I personally haven't been able to locate him in Bladen County but I have been told that is where he married. I also have information that they lived in Columbus County, North Carolina where the Sims family lived before migrating to Alabama. Could the two counties have been close enough to cause this confusion? The Federal Census of 1790 and 1800 shows a William Sims living in Brunswick County, North Carolina, Wilmington District. Columbus County was formed in early 1800 from a part of six Brunswick and Bladen counties. Revolutionary war records list a William Sims from the Wilmington District as a member of the militia during the war. In all probability, he is the same William Sims who married Mary Soles. It has also been said that Jacob Sims, son of William, fought in the War of 1812 while still living in North Carolina. They had the following children that I know of: 1) McKinney or McKinzie Sims, b. about 1775 in Kershaw County, South Carolina 2) James, b. about 1780 in North Carolina 3) William, Jr., b. about 1780-1800 4) Benjamin, b. about 1790-1800 5) Jacob, b. 8 September 1793 in North Carolina. If you have anything on any of these people Dee, I will forever be in your debt. I know this is a tall order and I thank you very much. Sincerely, Joyce Severt -- "Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." Visit our home page at: http://www.ionet.net/~djsevert Or The Annex: http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/2746