Simms/Sims of Hancock, Taliaferro and Decatur Counties

Richard Simms was born ca 1780/1790. The following persons with the Sims/Simms surname were found in the 1812 Hancock County Tax Digest:

John Simms, 4 Negroes, 215 acres in Hancock Co. adjoing Hudson, originally granted to Middleton.
John Simms, 4 Negroes, 202-1/2 acres in Morgan Co., No. 298, 4th District, originally granted Sumner.
John Sims, 4 Negroes, 202-1/2 acres in Randolph Co., No. 178, District 17, originally granted batts. (This would have been old Randolph, renamed Jasper County)
Philip L. Simms, 3 Negroes, 202-4/10 acres in Putnam Co., No. 63, originally granted Lewis.
Bartlett Simms (nothing listed.
Richard Sims, 6 Negroes, 115 acres in Hancock County on Powell's Creek adj. Reid, originally granted Williamson.



In 1827 the Militiamen from Taliaferro Co. were as follows:

Polly Sims 1 male under 18, female under 18, 3 females under 18, 2 slaves, 603rd district
Richard Sims - 4 males under 18, e males 18-45, male over 45, 4 females under 18, 2 females 18-45, 16 slaves, 606th district

One might ask why Richard left northeast Georgia and removed south to Decatur County, which is adjacent to Florida. Let us consider first that he had a large family of children and only 115 acres of land upon which to support them. He was not a "planter" because he had less than 20 slaves. In 1827, after the Upper and Lower Creeks were removed from Georgia (most of them, anyway), lands from middle to south Georgia were placed into a land lottery. One, John Hancock of the 107th district of Hancock County drew in the 1827 Land Lottery. The land that he drew was in old Lee County, which was later divided into other counties, including Decatur. This John Simms was found on the 1830 Decatur County Census, age 20-30. Richard Simms was still in Taliaferro County. Two transactions were recorded in Taliaferro Co. Deed Book A, pp. 233-234. "Richard Simms of Decatur County to Thompson and Towns (Crawfordville merchants) on 23 July 1831. and Richard Simms to Thompson and Towns dated 17 March 1831.

Richard Sims was the only Sims family who resided in Taliaferro County during those years. Therefore, one could assume that the following marriages were those of his daughters:

Martha Sims to Jesse O'Neal 2/24/1831
Mary Sims to John Rogers 2/24/1831
Sarah Ann Sims to William Jordan 9/4/1828


Another assumption would be that John Simms, age 20-30, drew 1827 LL from Hancock County, resident of Decatur County in 1830 was another son. Also, William Sims and Richard Sims listed on the 1840 Decatur County Census. Bartlett Sims was not found as part of the Philip L. and Richard L. Simms branch from Maryland. In fact, Bartlett Sims was listed on the 1840 Lee County Census, which tells me that he left Hancock County to take up the old Indian Lands in Lee Co. (could actually be in Decatur Co.). Therefore, it appears that John Sims, a son of Richard Sims of Taliaferro County, took up his land grant in 1827 in Decatur County and that after 1831 Richard Sims removed there himself. Thus complete the statement in The History of Decatur County, viz: "Richard Sims, now attorney at law, lived on his father's farm not far away in 1834, and doubtless recollects some of the oddities of what Bainbridge then was"



Known issue:

Richard Sims born 1818 in Georgia, died 29 August 1872 in Bainbridge. listed 1840 Decatur County Census, 694th district (page 2). Also listed on the 1850 Decatur County Census (page 86) "R. Simms, 33, attorney, Charlotte 21, William 2 and Richard 1". Richard married (1) Charlotte E. Morgan on 23 September 1844 in Decatur County and (2) S. (Susannah) C. Paulette on 31 August 1858 in Decatur County. 1870 Decatur County Census, Bainbridge District, Richard Simms age 53, lawyer, Susannah, age 40, Richard, Jr., age 20, Charles, age 18, Leonidas, age 8, Elizabeth, age 10, Jesse, age 6, Joseph, age 4. "Colonel Richard Sims, one of the most prominent citizens of Decatur County, died last Friday at his residence in this city and was buried on Saturday afternoon with Masonic Honors." Volume 1, Decatur/Early County Newspaper Clippings by Tad Evans. The History of Decatur County Georgia by Frank S. Jones, on page 210: "Richard Sims, now attorney at law, lived on his father's farm not far away in 1834, and doubtless recollects some of the oddities of what Bainbridge then was...." Page 269: Richard Sims was one of the incorporators of the Southern Bank of Georgia on 5 March 1856. Page 348 : Richard sims was Director of the Cuthbert and Columbus Railroad on 22 April 1869. Richard Simms was guardian of the orphans of Allen Jones, deceased, ordered to sell Negroes (no date), Hancock County Court of Ordinary 1799-1817, page 470.