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Ask Christine
Christine's Past Columns |
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Martha, I know that I may be asking too much of you and if you think I am I think I do understand for if you're like me you are a busy person. My problem: while in D.C. I just wonder if you would see what slave ships could offer and the log if possible. I would love having this in my family history. In searching my family history, my grandmother named (African Name) Flawana which the slave master changed her name to Flora. She lived on the plantation of Needham Simmons and was transferred to different members of the Simmons family. In the 1880 census she is at the age of 102 and I assume that she was born during the year of 1778. Sincerely, Thelma After doing some research here is what I have found and what I suggest to Thelma. I located the Will of Needham Simmons along with an excerpt from the Raleigh Register, they read: The Raleigh Register of Jan 14, 1820 states "On the evening of 27 ULT.?, Needham Simmons, a wealthy farmer of Jones Co., in a state of intoxication killed his wife". Needham’s will was dated 4 days after the death of his wife, yet it makes a specific bequest to her. It states that there is a codicil to the will dated 31 Dec 1819 and another dated 9 Feb 1822. The will was written some time before his wife’s death but the will’s date became confused with the first codicils date. Needham must have died after 9 Feb 1822 and prior to 31 Mar 1822, since the will was proved in March 1822. The will provides a resume of Needham’s estate including land acquisitions whose listings take 2 1/2 printed book pages. His land holdings consisted of 47 parcels encompassing 5441 acres plus Lot #72 in Trenton, Jones Co. The will also identifies offspring as follows: Lemeul H Simmons (eldest son), Polly, Furnifold Green Simmons, Amos . Simmons (youngest son), Sophia Elenore Simmons (youngest daughter), and Mary (not mentioned in the will, but identified by Lemuel H as sister). In his will he states that he leaves to daughter Polly a Negro slave, to daughter Sophia Eleanore a Negro slave, and to son Furnifold, all land not already given away and one fifth of slaves not already given away, to my wife and remainder 4/5th to four children. In Elizabeth Simmons will dated Oct. 30, 1820, she states that she gave 3 Negroes to Nathan Foscoe, and that she gave her Negro Willis to Polly and Beneter Simmons, Jane Shepherd and Rezon Gunter. This is the only slave mentioned in the will by his first name. I have Lemeul H. Simmons' will as well and he left quite a few slaves to Emily Simmons, his son Benjamin Franklin Simmons, and to his son in law William P. Ward. The Needham plantation is still owned today by the Simmons family. To determine where Flora was placed after Needham we must first obtain the wills of all of his children and their children, which should not be a difficult task seeing how prominent the family was. Since the Simmons family still owns the plantation, it would be wise to look into any and all records in Jones county. Needham’s father was Emmanuel and in his will dated 29, Dec 1820; he gave certain Negroes to his son Needham. I would venture to guess that if Flora was born in 1778 she was possibly born on Emmanuel Simmons plantation. There is a slew of information to be found here. Family bibles share a lot of information; you may want to contact the genealogical society at the Jones County Library. There is a lot of information that can’t be found through the Internet. I am positive they have a lot of records on the Simmons family. If you haven’t already you should research the Freedman’s Bureau. I hope this information helps and if you would like a copy of the wills I have, I would be more than happy to send them to you. Good Luck!! Do you have a question for Christine? If you would like to submit your brick wall question, you can send Christine an email message at askchristine@africanaheritage.com! |
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