By John Harvey
SIMONTON
The fourth family in Mrs. Elizabeth McPherson's book is the Simonton family. We previously discussed the Reid, Harvey and Gaston families.
The first mention of the Simonton family in America is found in land records of Falmouth, York County, Maine (now Cumberland County, Portland, Maine). The activities of the family in the fishing and mercantile businesses begins in 1737 when Andrew and William Simonton bought 10 acres at Spruwink for the production of salt. Later they bought 50 acres for the curing of fish.
The family is said to have emigrated from Ulster, Northern Ireland. Capt. Matthew Simonton, a son of Andrew Simonton, is mentioned in records as one of the leading sea captains operating out of Falmouth. Other children of Andrew and Ann Simonton were Robert, William, Walter, Elizabeth, Christine, Andrew, Jr., and Matthew.
All are mentioned in Andrew, Sr.'s will except Matthew, who had died before the will was written. Matthew died at age 28 and was childless. Walter was the executor of his father's will, probably because he lived near his parents. Robert had moved first to Bucks County, Pa., in 1742 and later to Rowan County, N.C. where he is found in 1752.
Alexander Simonton settled in Chester Co, Pa., in 1734. He is thought to have been a relative of Andrew, Sr., and William in Maine, because of the close association of the two families later in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Alexander's children were John, Theopholis, William, Elizabeth Angel, Sarah and Cynthia.
John Simonton, a merchant in Chester County, Pa. bought Key West Island from Juan Pablo Sausa, who had received it under a grant from the Spanish king in 1790. Simonton used the island as a headquarters for trade with Mobile and Havana, Cuba. He paid Sausa $2,000 in 1819 when the United States bought Florida from the Spanish, Simonton's claim was recognized by the government.
Theopholis Simonton (I), born at Conestoga Manor, Lancaster, Pa., and living his adult life in Rowan County, N.C. is the earliest direct ancestor that can be found of the Simonton's in Wilkes, Greene, Morgan, Putnam and Jasper Counties in Georgia.
Connestoga Manor Township was originally settled by Scotch-Irish farmers but within a few years, German emigrants had moved in and by 1790 most of the original Scots had sold out moving to the Rowan County, N.C. area. It was in this small valley near Lancaster, Pa., that the famous Conestoga wagons were built.
These Scots farmers were Presbyterian and in 1737 they built the first Presbyterian Church in America. In 1741, they petitioned the Presbyterian Church of New Castle and Donegal for a permanent minister and the Rev. Samuel Black came over to them. In 1745, the Rev. Black went to Virginia to continue his work while other young ministers trained by him went into North Carolina and South Carolina. These young ministers organized the Hopewell Presbytery which became the "Mother Presbytery" of the Presbyterian Church in the United States.
The children of Theopholis Simonton (I) were: Theopholis (II), William, Anne, Magadalene, Mary and Robert. Of these children only Robert came south, settling in Edgefield County, S.C. The children and grandchildren of Theopholis (II) also came south, settling in Wilkes and Oglethorpe Counties in about 1890.
The grandchildren of Theopholis (II) settling in Georgia were: John, Nathan, Smith Frame, and Mary (who married a Mr. Irwin). Other family names closely connected with these families were McMullen, Strong, McCullough, Crawford and Tillman. Later, other family names marrying into the family were: Gaston, Wilson, Lawrence, Woods, Livingston, Reid and Bailey.
Theopholis Simonton (I) died in 1754 having two surviving sons, Robert and William. William was appointed his executor and inherited most of his estate, thus accounting for most of William's descendants in Rowan and Iredell Counties in North Carolina. Robert applied for and received extensive grants of land in Iredell County and later in Georgia. William's son, Abraham K. Simonton , was first sheriff of Iredell County after it was organized.
Robert Simonton married Roxanna McCullough of Iredell County, S.C. They spent their time between their property in Iredell County, N.C., and their property in Greene County, Ga. They had two sons, Adam and Robert. Adam married Margaret Strong of Greene county. One of their daughters married a Mr. Livingston, the grandfather of Mr. Lon Livingston, postmaster of the City of Atlanta for many years.
Additional Comments:
Transcribed by Suzanne Forte (suzanneforte@bellsouth.net)
April 2005, from copies of articles contained in the Monticello News. There articles were prepared by Mr.
John Harvey and published in this newspaper during the 1970's and 1980's time frame.
Some were under the title "Jasper Reflections", others
"Bicentennial Bits".
Permission has been granted by Mr. Harvey for use of these very valuable and informative articles.
Copies of articles provided by Benny Hawthorne.