Notes |
- All three of Libbeas Simmons sons moved to Delaware Township, Mercer, Pennsylvania; although not all at the same time.
From:
To:
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 12:57 PM
Subject: Lebbeus Simmons
Hello again Roberta,
Here is my information about Lebbeous Simmons:
There is a Lobehas Simmons and an Elijah Simmons in the 1800 census of 25 Mile Pond Plantation which included both Unity and Burnham at that time. Both were males in the 16/26 age bracket which seems young for Lebbeous who was recorded as age 80/90 in the 1830 census of Troy. Perhaps they were his sons. The notation in their records indicate that "Lobehas" had arrived in the area in 1798 from someplace else in Maine, and that Elijah had come in 1799.
I do not find either one in the 1810 census of Burnham, Unity or Bridgeton Plantation [Troy before incorporation]. However, I have the marriage records of Judith and Lydia Simmons, both on 29 September 1813 and both of 25 Mile Plantation. Judith married William McCauslen, and Lydia married James Parker. Both of the men were of Kingville [the early name of Troy after incorporation]. The reference for this is my book "Vital Records of Troy, Maine, Prior to 1892," p. 198. The marriage was performed by David Sewell, JP. This David Sewell was probably the one of Hallowell and was the land agent for Benjamin Joy. Joy owned much of the land in Troy.
William McCausland purchased land in Troy in 1812, and James Parker purchased land in Troy in 1815; both purchased from Joy [Ken Co Deeds, 60:55, 45:135]. Both of them received land from Lebbeous Simmons, Jr., and his wife Esther in 1825 and 1827, respectively [Ken Co. Deeds, 60:23, 60:137]. I have no record of a land purchase by Lebbeous or Lebbeous, Jr. (that does not mean they did not purchase land - I may not have found the record, or the purchase was not recorded). However, it appears that both Lebbeous and Lebbeous, Jr., settled on a gore of land on the eastern side of 25 Mile Pond (Unity Pond) which was then part of 25 Mile Plantation (Burnham after Unity was incorporated in 1804). I have a copy of an 1818 petition to the General Court of Massachusetts from Lebbeous, Lebbeous Jr., John Conner, and Andrew Bennett asking to have their land set off from 25 Mile Pond Plantation to Joy (afterwards Troy - another name change) because they were remote from schools in the plantation but convenient to schools in Joy. The petition was granted in 1819. I have a copy of a map which shows the gore and its relationship to other towns.
Lebbeous (age 45+) and Lebbeous Jr (age 26/45) were listed in the 1820 census of Troy. Lebbeous and Lebbeous Jr were on Troy tax lists for 1819-1824, and Lebbeous Jr thru 1826. Lebbeous Sr was also listed in the Troy 1830 census (age 80/90) and a female with him (age 70/80). Lebbeous Sr was never taxed for land - only for personal estate. Lebbeous Jr and wife Esther sold their land in 1827 [Ken Co Deeds, 60:23,137] and were at that time of Mercer, Mercer Co., PA. James and Lydia Parker seem to have left Troy in about 1835, and William and Judith McCausland about 1840.
There is no death or cemetery record for Lebbeous Sr in Troy. Tradition indicates that there was a burial place near to shore of Unity Pond where the Bennett family buried their members. It cannot be found today. The Simmons who lived in the same area, may have done the same thing. Other than the marriage records quoted above, there are no additional vital records in my Troy data. It would appear that lebbeous came to the area to be with his son (or sons?). He is not listed in the 1790 census of Maine.
Only one other piece of data: in 1790 ME Fam, 1:207, concerning the family of John Mitchell (an early settler of Unity), his son Joseph married, 20 Oct 1798, Percillar Simmons, both of 25 Mile Pond. The sketch calls her "daughter of Libbeus Simmons," but the reference for the marriage ("Families in Clinton, Maine," NEHGS Register, 111:116) does not state anything about Libbeus. Likewise, Jeremiah Mitchell, another son of John Mitchell, married at Unity, 16 Sep 1802, Polly Simmons, "dau of Libbeus & Mary (Dougle) Simmons." I have some of the data from Unity VR, but I have nothing concerning Libbeus Simmons. You may wish to check that out.
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Just in case anyone didn't know, Libbeus Simmons, Sr., was a Revolutionary War veteran.
The DAR Patriot Index for him reads: b. 8-28-1749, d. 3-13-45, married Mary Douglas; 1st Sgt. MA, WPNS [WPNS=widow pensioned].
Also, from "Maine Pensioners, 1835":
County: Waldo Co.
Name: Libbeus Simmons
Rank: Private
Annual Allowance: 34 75
Sums Received: 104 25
Description of service: Massachusetts continental
When placed on the pension roll: August 8, 1833
Commencement of pension: March 4, 1831
Age: 85
____________________
From "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution":
Volume 14
page 232
Simmons, Lebbeus, Middleborough. Private, Capt. Abiel Peirce's (2d Middleborough) co. of militia, which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775, to Marshfield; service, 2 days; also, Capt. Levi Rounsevel's co., Col. David Brewer's (9th) regt.; muster roll dated Aug. 1, 1775; enlisted May 5, 1775; service, 3 mos. 4 days; also, company return dated Roxbury, Oct. 7, 1775; also, Capt. Rounsevel's co., (late) Col. Brewer's regt.; order for bounty coat or its equivalent in money dated Roxbury, Nov. 8, 1775; also, Private, Capt. Job Peirce's (Middleborough) co., Col. Sprowtt's (Sprout's) regt.; marched Dec. 9, 1776; service, 4 days; company marched to Tiverton, R. I., on an alarm at Howland's Ferry; also, Capt. Henry Peirce's co., Col. Ebenezer White's regt.; marched Aug. 1, 1780; discharged Aug. 9, 1780; service, 9 days; company marched to Rhode Island on an alarm.
No mention of him being a Sergeant during the above 3-4 months service. His service/pension file might contain more information, especially if Mary really did apply for a Widow's Pension like the DAR Patriot Index says. Has anyone ever written for his Rev file from the National Archives?
While there is a set of the Mass Rev books in the Omaha library, I was lazy and just pulled the above listings off the Ancestry.com database. Ancestry also has a database of the Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Books up to about 1938. Up to that point, no one seems to have claimed DAR membership on his service.
SIMMONS: I am looking for the graves of Lebbeus Simmons, Sr. and his wife, Mary Douglas. He was a Revolutionary War veteran from Massachusetts who for his service was given a grant of land in Troy, Waldo County. He died March 13,1835 and his wife died after him. They should be buried together. His name is seen spelled many ways, Libbeus, Lebeus, etc. Reply to: Cary Clements 27 Aug 06
SIMMONS: I am looking for the Parents, or Siblings of Lebbeus Simmons who was born August 28, 1849 at Middleborough, Plymouth Co., MA. He married Mary Douglas there on Jan 27, 1774. He was a Rev War Vet who enlisted at Middleborough, and was discharged there as well. But later he settled permanently in Maine. Researchers of this man, have studied his Rev War files, and other documents, and have NEVER been able to find a FATHER listed for him, or a sibling group.
Lebbeus Simmons settled in Maine at the same time, and in a similar location as ICHABOD Simmons. I do NOT know if they are related? If you are studying Ichabod, or have any knowledge of Lebbeus Simmons b. 1749 MA, d. 13 Mar 1835 Troy, Waldo Co Maine, please write back.
Those of you studying the Simmons families of Middleborough, Plymouth Co. MA in the 1740 thru 1830 time frame, please check your files for Lebbeus.
1810 census at 25 Mile Plantation , Kennebec Co ME
1820 census at Joy, Kennebec Co ME
1830 census at Troy, Waldo Co ME
The name Lebbeus is strange, but it is a Bible name. Sometimes spelled Libbeous, and variations. There is mention of Lebbeus in many genealogical books, but so far no father mentioned. This info may be still cloaked in mystery, we may be looking for undiscovered information. All the common places have been checked. His 3 sons moved to Mercer Co., PA, but some of his married daughters remained in ME. This family lived near Unity Pond. Reply to: Lillian Kathleen Martin 7 May 04
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