JOSIAH SIMMS

ABSTRACT OF PENSION FILE

By Virginia Simms Toney

     Josiah Simms enlisted in the 1st Reg. Co. D, VA Vols. At Cameron, WV on 17 Mar 1864. He died in the Battle of Piedmont on 5 Jun 1864. His widow, Adaline Cole Simms, was appointed guardian of his two orphan children on 5 Jun 1865 in Ohio county Circuit Court. These children were Ann Eliza Simms, born 3 May 1863 and Isaac Newton Simms, born 25 Apr 1864. However, the National Archives Record reveals there were other children born to Josiah's previous marriage.

     An application for a claim on Josiah Simms was filed in Lawrence Co, OH on 8 Feb 1892 by Charles Sims, a resident of Catlettsburg, Boyd Co, KY. He was 36 years old and claimed to be the legitimate child of Josiah Simms and Sabina White Simms. In the application, he names his step-mother as Adaline Simms who received a pension. With the application is a copy of the Josiah Simms family record that was in the family Bible. Samuel Simms of Roney's Point, WV, gave a notarized statement that this is the family Bible sheet as copied by J. G. Glasscock on 29 Dec 1868.

Births
Josiah Simms born May 24, 1818
Sabina Simms born Nov 12, 1825
Samuel Simms born Aug 26, 1848
Nelson Simms born Mar 19, 1850
John Simms born May 12, 1852
Mary E. Simms born Apr 9, 1854
Charles H. Simms born Feb 6, 1856
George L. Simms born May 13, 1858

Deaths
Nelson Simms Nov 19, 1854
Sabina Simms Oct 17, 1858
George L. Simms Jan 11, 1859
Mary E. Simms Mar 13, 1859
Josiah Simms May 5, 1864

     Adaline and Josiah were married 15 Jun 1859 by Samuel Vanatta, Esq, Pt270 in Greene Co, PA records, according to National Archives papers. In the papers proving the marriage, Josiah is referred to three times as "Josiah Simms, Sr." At the time of the application, Adaline was living in Cameron, WV.

     On 24 Dec 1865 Adaline Cole Simms was married to Jacob Rohm/Rom by Squire J. G. Elbin. One child was born to that marriage, Kate. She was born 27 Sep 1866 and died 25 Nov 1890, according to her mother's statement.

     An affidavit by William Moore of West Alexander, PA, states Jacob and Adaline lived 2 to 3 years on his farm in the Liberty District of Ohio Co, WV. Eli Rom, of New Freeport, Greene Co, PA, signed the disability paper that he had known Jacob Rom all his life. Justice of the Peace F. E. Morris, certified the statement. After Jacob died, Adaline. married a third time to Samuel Mozingo of Ohio Co, WV on 14 Sep 1876.1 They were married by J. Finley Mayes, Esq of West Alexander, PA. Mrs. L. R. Mayes of Pittsburgh, PA signed the statement.

The following census records confirm the above:

1850 33rd Dist. Marshall Co. (W)VA, pg 300
Simms, Josiah 33 b. OH - Can't read
     Sabina 25 b. VA
     Samuel 2 b. VA
     Nelson 4/12 b. VA
White, Alexander 29 b. VA

1860 Marshall Co. (W)VA, Cameron, pg 261
Simms, Josiah 40 b. OH - Can't read or write - Day Laborer - Personal Estate - $30
     Adaline 18 b. VA - Married within the year.
     Samuel 12 b. OH
     John W. 10 b. VA
     Charles 4 b. VA

1880 Ohio Co. WV, Triadelphia, pg 522
Simms, Samuel 32 Farm Laborer WV OH WV
     Nancy J. 28 WV WV WV
     Oscar 6 WV WV WV
     John 4 WV WV WV

1900 Boyd Co. KY, Catlettsburg, pg 227B
Sims, Charley, b. Feb 1856 , a. 44yrs, m. 8yrs, VA VA VA - Lumberman - Owns house - No children.
     Nannie b. Jan 1860 KY
Conn, Armintie b. 1842 (Mother) KY
Conn, Jabe b. 1838 (Step-father) KY

1910 Boyd Co. KY, Catlettsburg, pg 54B
Sims, Charles 58 WV OH WV - Grader/Saw Mill - m. 1 time 18yrs
     Nannie KY US KY - Dressmaker - No children