Elizabeth) in 1800 bought land in Lee County, Virginia. Lee, like Henry, was one of the border counties of Virginia, and the two counties were not far separated.

James Simms was born in Frederick county, Virginia in 1750, and died in Blount county, Tennessee, in 1836. The latter part of his life was spent in Blount county, Tennessee, and it was there that he received his pension. For more than twenty years he was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church at Eusebia, in Blount county, Tennessee. The Eusebia Church Records are still in existence and contain many references to James Simms.

The Court Records at Maryville, Blount county, Tennessee, give us some data concerning him, for in the first deed made to him in Blount county (in 1812) he is called "James Simms of Lee county, Virginia". Lee county was a part of Washington county, Virginia, until long after the Revolution. The records. at Jonesville, Lee county, Virginia, show that in 1812 James Simms sold his lands in that county and that his wife, Elizabeth, joined in the transfer, see Deed Book 2, page 461, Jonesville. This deed shows that his land in Lee county was on "Wallin's Creek, the waters of Powells River", and that he had purchased this property in 1800. James Simms was the father of five children, John Simms, Margaret Simms, Catharine Simms, William Simms (born February 10th, 1795) and Vance Simms. William Gray Simms, notwithstanding his youth, was a soldier in the War of 1812.

A mention of the services of William Gray Simms in the War of 1812 is made on his tombstone in the New Providence Cemetery (Old Presbyterian Cemetery) near Sanford, Edgar county, Illinois. He was in the Cavalry. See records in the Pension Office, at Washington, D. C., Department of the Interior M. B. H. 34605, which show that the widow of William Gray Simms (his second wife) received a pension for his services in the War of 1812. See also Department of the Interior, General Land Office, Washington, D. C., No. 3626, which shows that William Gray Simms received a "Bounty Warrant for land" in recognition of his services in the War of 1812.

Wiliam Gray Simms and his wife Marietta (Cusick) Simms were the parents of twelve children. Of these ten were born in Blount county, Tennessee, namely; James W. Simms, Joseph C. Simms, Martha J. Simms, Catharine Simms, Elizabeth Black Simms, Margaret E. Simms, Sarah A. Simms, William Blackburn Simms, John B. Simms, and David M. Simms. Two more children were born to William Gray Simms and his wife Marietta (Cusick) Simms after their removal to Edgar county, Illinois in 1840, these were Mary Ellen Simms, and Samuel Newell Simms. Marietta (Cusick) Simms, wife of William Gray Simms, died August 23rd, 1845. William Gray Simms had no children by his second marriage in 1850.

William Gray Simms, born February 10th, 1795, died December 8th, 1867, aged 72.

William Gray Simms, and his father, James Simms, used two m's in spelling their surname, and William Gray Simms is said to have objected most strenuously when his son, Dr. William Blackburn Sims, dropped the second m in spelling his name and wrote it S-i-m-s, but this abbreviated spelling has been followed by all his descendants.

Dr. William Blackburn Sims, son of William Gray Simms and his wife Marietta (Cusick) Simms, was born April 14th, 1835 in Blount county, Tennessee. "He received his medical education at the Louisville Medical College, Louisville, Kentucky, and at Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois. At the beginning of the Civil War he volunteered and was at first member of the 14th Illinois Cavalry, later he received a commission. In 1864 he was transferred to the hospital service, and had charge of three hospitals in Natchez, Mississippi, from this time until the close of the War.” See "History of Champaigne county, Illinois", which contains a Biography of Dr. William Blackburn Sims, which states that he "practiced his profession in Champaigne county and that he was widely and favorably known here as one of the leading men in the medical profession".

Dr. Sims moved to Champaigne county in 1870.

On March 8th, 1855, Dr. William Blackburn Sims married Sarah Jane Medley, in Vigo county, Indiana.

Sarah Jane (Medley) Sims, (born January 4th, 1832 in Knox county, Indiana, died March 20th, 1895) was the daughter of Joseph Medley and his wife Rachel (Stewart) Medley, of Knox county, Indiana.

Dr. William Blackburn Sims died December 24th, 1912, in Champaigne county, Illinois.

Dr. William Blackburn Sims and his wife Sarah Jane (Medley) Sims were the parents of a large family, one of their children was Charles Blackburn Sims.

Charles Blackburn Sims married Annabel Noble Sims (daughter of William Irvin Sims and Annie (Noble) Sims) in St. Louis, Missouri, May 28th, 1913.

WILLIAM POWELL.

Capt. William Powell came to Virginia with Gates in 1610, was commander of the fort at Jamestown, and was one of the first two representatives for James City Corporation in the General Assembly, 1619. He repelled the Indians when they attacked Jamestown in 1622. He afterward led an expedition against the Chickahominies, and was probably killed by them between January 20 and January 24, 1623. His widow married Edward Blaney. The family seems to have come from Southwark in the County of Surry, England.

The following notes are from the records of Surry County, Virginia. Southwark Parish in that County, and the County itself, appears to have obtained their names from Capt. Powell.

Notes from the Records of Surry County, Virginia, contributed by Mrs. Augusta B. Fothergill, Richmond, Va.

Surry Co. Vol. 1-P- 46. 7 Mar., 1654.

Richd Marydale for Wm Powell, of the Parish of St. Marye Oneryes alias St. Saviors, neere the Borough of Southwarke, in the County

of Surry, Baker, Brother & heir to Capt. Wm. Powell, Geo. Powell of this Collonye & his nephew Ricnd Powell, Marye Powell, dt of the sd Richd, of same, maketh claime to the plantation, now in occupation of Jno Bishopp, neere Crouches Creeke in Surry Co, & all lands or other property which were (of) the sd. Capt. Wm. Powell, Geo. Richd & Marye Powell, at the time of their, or any of their decease.

V. 1-P. 82. 1 July, 1656.

Wm. Powell, of Southwarke Par., Surry Co., in England, baker, admr, of est. of Capt. Wm. Powell, late of Chippoakes in Col. of Va. his natural bro. decd. & heire unto Geo. Powell, natural son of late Capt. Wm. Powell, Wm. Parker & W. Anne of Leadenhall St., London, Cheesemonger. Sold to Wm. Batte, of Chippoakes, Gent. 800 a. in Surry, Va., Ann W. of Wm. Parker gr. dt. of sd Capt. Wm. Powell, land on Lower Chippoakes Cr. on Jas. R., bet. Chippoakes Cr. & Sunken Marsh, near Crouches Cr., Pat. by Wm. Powell.

V. I. P. 87. 6 Jan., 1656. Wm. Martin, of Lower Chippoakes, Surry Co., Va., Gent., Atty. of Coll. Henry Bishopp, now dwelling in Eng. to John Gore, of Bristoll in Eng.-700 acres called Lower Chippoakes, part of pat. of Coll. Wm. Powell & afterward granted to Sir Wm. Berkley 27 Nov. 1643 & then pur by sd. Coll. Bishopp of said Berkeley & confirmed to sd. Bishopp by patent 28,8 ber, 1646. Bounded Northerly upon James River, Easterly upon Chippoakes Cr., Westerly upon Sunken Marsh, Southerly upon the Maine land. Delivered by turf & twigge, & also possession of the house the said Wm Martin lived in unto Jno. Jennings, atty of Jno Gore, mercht, for use of said Gore. Witn: Kirby Kiggan, Will Cockerham. David (X) Williams, Daniel Bridgman, Wm. Calloway.

Surry Co. 2 May, 1654.

Mary Powell died at age of 15 years, Dt of Richd Powell

V. 1-P. 185. 18 Feb. 1642. Geo. Powell, of Lower Chipoakes in Co. of James Citty, of Va., Gent. to Stephen Webb, of said Lower Chippoakes, Planter for £40-300 acres lying in Lower Chippoakes, called by the natives Pettitake Creeke, & James R. adaj. Mr. Geo. Powells land. Unto said Stephen Webb for the time & term of 3 lives (that is to say) for the term of the life of the sd. Stephen & Dame Clare his wife & Robert Webb eldest sonne of sd Stephen Webb & Dame Clare & the survivors of them, paying yearly to sd Geo. Powell one Capon upon the feast day of St. Thomas the Apostle, if the same be lawfully demanded. Sd. Stephen Webb to erect at his own proper charges one house 45 ft in length & 20 ft in breadth with 2 chimneys & glass windows & cellar adaj. 15 ft. sq-to be ground settled & underpinned with brick, to plant 1 a with fruit trees (apples, pears, cherries, apricots, figs & peach trees) with garden adj.

It is to be noted that Captain William Powell had a brother of the same name and that his son and heir was George Powell, who died without issue. The word "natural" had in these days no sinister meaning, and it often occurs in connection with lawful, e. g., his "lawful and natural brother," as opposed to brother-in-law.

YORK COUNTY RECORDS.

SOME WILL AND OTHER RECORDS.

(Continued from page 206.)

James Shields. Will proved July 17, 1727. Names wife Hannah, sons James, Matthew and William, and daughters Elizabeth Cobbs and Mary Vaughan.

Sarah Pegram. Will proved June 19, 1727. Names five children Mary, Sarah, Daniel, George and Edward, husband formerly Daniel Pegram.

William Markham paid by the executors of John Bates for schooling his son Isaac Bates £3.10. Anno 1723.

John Daniel. Will proved May 18, 1724. Leaves legacies to sons John, William and James; daughters Sarah Barksdale and Hannah Daniel; sister Elizabeth Crutchfield. Has land in Hanover Co.

Henry Gill. Inventory, 1721. Mentions 3 pictures, 2 cases of knives and forks six in each; a mill to grind bark with & furniture thereto attached.

Rev. Samuel Barnard (of York Hampton Parish). Will dated 14 Nov. 1720. Gives all his estate to his wife Martha.

William Hansford, of the County of Spotsylvania, parish of St George sells to Charles Hansford of York a tract of land at the head of Felgate's Creek, given to said William by his father, Mr. Charles Hansford, deceased, by his will. July 25, 1727.

James Parsons, of the Parish of Charles, and Dorothy Parsons, his wife, doth grant to their son James Parsons, Jun. that