SIMMONS
This is the descendants of Henry and Elizabeth SIMMONS,
particularly their sons Henry Samuel and Ralph.
There is some doubt as to the relationship between Henry Samuel and Ralph.
Were they brothers or father & son or no relation at all....
On Henry Samuel's Death certificate, his parents are listed as Henry Samuel & Elizabeth SIMMONS, his father being a Painter.
Henry had been born in London, but had been in NZ 38 years, arriving here c.1863.
He was 64 at his death in 1901 so this makes him born circa 1837.
Henry had been married twice, it doesn't record the 1st, the 2nd lists Charlotte Beauchamp.
On the LDS church microfiched records there is a Christening entry for Henry Samuel SIMMONS with parents Henry & Elizabeth SIMMONS.
NOW on Ralph's Death certificate, parents are listed as Henry Samuel SIMMONS and Elizabeth HARBART, his father also a Painter.
Ralph was born in England, had been in NZ 42 years, arriving here c.1867.
He was 56 at his death in 1909 so would have been b.c.1853.
NOW another family researcher (Trevor) seems to think that Ralph was born to his father (Henry Samuel), when he was a mere 17 years.
Trevor feels Henry Samuel may have brought all his family out to NZ, bar one daughter who had married. He does note that the information isn't reliable.
Another branch (Jane & her daughter Katherine) have the following:
Henry and Elizabeth had at least 5 children born in London.
Their records show daughter Winifred and son Henry Samuel as coming to NZ about 1863/4
On a handwritten note by Ralph Geo.Eric Simmons, it suggests that Henry Samuel was a mate on one of the early boats to NZ.
He later decided to live here and brought 2 sisters Winnie & Mary and younger brother Ralph out.
I may have got things a little muddled, so am open for suggestions....
Henry SIMMONS House Painter(c.1807 Middlesex-8 Aug 1861 4 Lower Felix Street, Hackney Road, Bethnal Green) m.Elizabeth HARBART / HARBERD (c.1813 Windsor) 1.James George SIMMONS (Chr. 5 April 1835 London) 2.Henry Samuel SIMMONS Mariner(1836 London, England-01 Jun 1901 Blenheim, NZ) m.(1)18 Dec 1859 Union Chapel, Old Bethnal Green, Middlesex Rachel Hazelhurst MARRIOTT Seamstress (4 June 1837 Stebbing, Essex-14 Feb 1874 Camberwell, London) Rachel's father Henry, a Victueller, was deceased at time of her marriage Rachel had daughter Laura Mary MARRIOTT b.9 July 1856 and 2 further daughters to Thomas DODS, Sarah Marriott DODS b.25 Aug 1864 Peckham, London and Rachel Marriott DODS b.9 Oct 1866 Walworth, London After Rachel's death in 1837 Laura Mary lived with Thomas and bore him 6 more children, he died 1887 m.(2)12 Nov 1873 Picton, NZ Charlotte Mary BEAUCHAMP (06 May 1855 Nelson, NZ BDM 76-14 Jul 1923) Photo of the Simmons boys circa 1910 Group photo of the Simmons family 1.John Ralph SIMMONS Painter (21 Jan 1874 Blenheim-1929 ? Blenheim) m.31 Mar 1902 Wanganui Elena GILLICK (Lena)(05 May 1877 Huntly, Bendigo, Victoria Ref. No. 9913-1948 bur.14 July Karori) 2.George Arthur SIMMONS (01 Apr 1876 Blenheim-bur.27 Aug 1903 Omaka, Blenheim) m.11 June 1900 Eva Mary BEERE 1.Myrtle Pearl SIMMONS (3 Jul 1900-1981) m.1920 Frederick Alton POTTER (23 Sep 1893-1981) 3.Winifred Charlotte SIMMONS (27 Jun 1878 Blenheim, NZ-28 Oct 1946 Blenheim, NZ) m.09 Apr 1903 Edwin Davy ELSMORE (Davey)(25 May 1881-28 Mar 1972 Grovetown) 4.Gertrude Tasmania SIMMONS (14 Jan 1881 Wairau dist.-2 June 1956 Petone bur. Taiti) m.07 Mar 1901 William MILES (11 May 1876-17 Mar 1967 Petone) 5.Henry Samuel SIMMONS (30 Dec 1882 Blenheim BDM 453-13 June 1916 Belgium) 6.William Gay SIMMONS (Bill)(29 Jul 1885 Blenheim-02 Jan 1944 in Mahakipawa-Grove Arm Electrocuted on farm) m.1922 Alice May PASK (8 Oct 1894-1976 Blenheim) 1.Mavis Joan SIMMONS (30 Nov 1917) m.1947 Ivan James WILSON (15 Jul 1917) 2.Lorna SIMMONS (1923) 3.William Rex SIMMONS Farmer (c.1925) m.1950 Patricia Barbara BUTT 7.Edith Jessie SIMMONS (31 Aug 1888 Blenheim-16 June 1964 New Plymouth) m.1914 Michael James KILLEEN Publican (1886-27 Mar 1952 New Plymouth) son of William KILLEEN and Bridget 8.Charles Ernest SIMMONS (1890-11 Oct 1916 France) 9.Arthur Montague SIMMONS (Feb 1893 Blenheim-06 Sep 1893) 10.Percy Frederick SIMMONS (1894-23 Apr 1947 Dunedin, bur.Omaka, Blenheim) m.1921 Alma Beatrice CORDER (c.1897-1966 bur.Blenheim) 1.Shirley Margaret SIMMONS (c.1925-1926 Blenheim) 2.Jean Beatrice SIMMONS (7 Sep 1922-20 Oct 2006) m.May 1949 Ronald James Charles WILLIAMS 1.Sharon Jean WILLIAMS (1950) 2.Bryan Frederick Charles WILLIAMS (1951) 3.Eris Mary SIMMONS (23 Nov 1927) m.1949 Harry WEBSTER (21 Nov 1924) 1.Jennifer Mary WEBSTER (17 Sep 1952) m.Dennis Eugene JELLYMAN (13 May 1953) 1.Andrew JELLYMAN 2.Stephanie JELLYMAN 2.Margaret WEBSTER m.Peter COCKRELL 1.Joanne COCKRELL 2.Fiona COCKRELL 3.Robert COCKRELL 11.Harold Beauchamp SIMMONS (02 Apr 1899 Blenheim) m.1926 Marjory Helen DAVIS (-25 June 1971 Hawera) 1.Jocelyn Marjory SIMMONS (22 Mar 1930 BDM 2714) m.1955 Maxwell John FISCHER (18 Jan 1927) 1.Catherine FISCHER 2.Sally FISCHER 3.Linda FISCHER m.Lindsay SCOTT 4.Michael FISCHER 5.Gregory FISCHER 6.Susan FISCHER m.Jeffrey 1.Adam 2.Corey 2.Dianne Mary SIMMONS (08 Jul 1931 BDM 4555) m.1951 Robert MAGNER (21 Oct 1930) 1.Christopher Alan MAGNER Teacher (15 Feb 1952) m.Denise GOBLE Teacher (21 Nov 1952) 1.James MAGNER 2.Damien MAGNER 3.Carolyn SIMMONS m.Charles THOMSON 1.Shelley THOMSON 2.Joanne THOMSON 3.Sarah W. SIMMONS (26 Aug 1838 London) 4.Mary Elizabeth SIMMONS (12 March 1843 London-30 March 1903 bur. Picton) m.1864 Francis FREDERICKS Sailor from Picton (c.1840-11 Sept 1914 Picton) 5.Winifred Sarah SIMMONS (6 July 1845 London-5 Mar 1897 Blenheim) m.12 July 1869 Blenheim John TAYLOR (1840 England-30 June 1912 Blenheim) 6.Ralph Edward Jones SIMMONS (28 Jan 1852, 14 Serman Lane, London-26 Aug 1909 Blenheim) m.9 Aug 1880 Blenheim Harriet DALE (1860 Nelson, NZ-07 May 1916 Blenheim) 1.Ralph George Eric SIMMONS (Eric) (20 may 1881-24 Jun 1969) m.1902 Ellen May HILDRETH (6 Jun 1878-10 Jun 1970 Auckland) 2.William James SIMMONS (5 Jan 1883 -31 March 1943 Blenheim) m.22 Feb 1905 Blenheim Violet Barbara BROAD (20 Oct 1883 Christchurch-21 Sept 1972 Blenheim) parents were William BROAD and Jemmima RAPLEY 3.Alice Elizabeth SIMMONS (c.1885-1953) m.1906 John William HOLDAWAY (-1946 Blenheim) Farmer 4.Albert Maitland 'Mate' SIMMONS (30 Dec 1888 Blenheim-26 Jan 1949 Blenheim Burial records state 16 Jan) m.(1)1912 Louisa POND/POUND (c.1896-21 Nov 1914 Burial records state 20 Nov (BDM 3005 Wairau Dec qt)) 1.Kathleen SIMMONS (c.1914) m.1934 Frank Alfred FREETH 1.Valerie Maude FREETH m.Doug STAG 1.Brian STAG 2.Sherryl STAG 3.Pauline STAG 4.Diane STAG 2.Russel Frank 'John' FREETH m.Wendy THOMPSON 1.Rachel FREETH 2. 3.Eric Howard FREETH m.Marie Jane 4.Evan Elaine FREETH m.Bruce NICHOLAS 1.Wayne NICHOLAS m.(2) 20 Jan 1916 in Blenheim Iris Constance HILL (29 Nov 1895 Blenheim-20 Sep 1949 Blenheim) 1.Eric Maitland SIMMONS (1916-1979 Blenheim) Coal Merchant didn't marry 2.Avis Meryl SIMMONS (1919 BDM) m.Dick BARNET 1.Sherryl BARNET 2.Veronica BARNET 3.male BARNET (-died young) 3.Ian Trevor SIMMONS (24 Mar 1922 Blenheim BDM 3011) m.30 Jun 1956 Ramona Elizabeth COCKER 4.Douglas Noel SIMMONS (1924 BDM 4623) m.P. BENJAMIN 1.Gail SIMMONS 2.Wendy SIMMONS 3.Fay SIMMONS 4.Karen SIMMONS 5.Eric SIMMONS 5.Arthur Winifred SIMMONS (c.1897-20 Jul 1935 bur.23 July 1935 Omaka, Blenheim) m.1922 Jessie Rose CRESSWELL (1 July 1899-1 May 1947 Blenheim) parents James Edward CRESSWELL & Jessie ROSE 1.Alfred Laurie SIMMONS (1926-1947 Ashburton bur.Blenheim) 2.June Doreen SIMMONS (1 June 1923-1943) 3.Phillip Benjamin SIMMONS (19 May 1929-May 1997) m.(1) 6 Sept 1952 Phyllis Elsie GIBBS (-23 Mar 1981) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. m.(2) 5 Sept 1981 Betty Anna KERR KINLEY (-11 Nov 1992) 7.Tasmania SIMMONS (24 March 1855 Bethnal Green, London, England-1909 Rochford, Essex) According to Lorna Eleanor (SCOTT) SIMMONS notes, Tasmania was left in England with her Aunt Sarah and Uncle William MUNDY 1881 London Census states that Sarah MUNDY was her aunt m.c.1877 Islington, London John MELVIN (c.1853 Scotland-c.1906 Rochford, Essex) Shipping Clerk 1.John Mundy MELVIN (1 Nov 1877 London) 2.Robinia Winifred MELVIN (3 Nov 1878 London)
Updated last July 2009
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