Joseph SIMMONS Family USA and CANADA

Joseph SIMMONS, born Ireland about 1811.
Wife May Jane Cochran (possibly Caughran), born about 1830 USA. I believe this is a second wife for the birth dates below for the children born present this may be a second wife as she is about 29 years younger than Joseph. She died March 16 1914, Toronto, York County, Ontario, Canada. Family stories say the first wife may have died on the voyage to North America. I believe they lived in the USA first, but do not have any places of residence.

CHILDREN:

To first wife:
Richard SIMMONS, born about 1850, USA
Mary Ellen SIMMONS, born about 1853, USA, died about 1922, Barrie, Ontario, Canada.
Andrew SIMMONS, born about 1855 USA – Married to Ellinor….(last name unknown).
Margaret Monica SIMMONS, born about 1875 USA – Married James O’Conner July 29 1899 in Barrie, Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada.
Robert SIMMONS, born about 1860 USA – died about 1976 Vespra Township, Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada.

To second wife:
Catherine SIMMONS, born Sept. 1862, Canada.
John SIMMONS, born about 1865, Canada.
Ellen Celia (Cecilia??) Simmons, born about 1867, Canada. Died July 14 1956, Toronto, York County, Ontario, Canada.
Patrick Joseph SIMMONS, born Jan 27 1869, Vespra Township, Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada. – died Feb. 12 1952 Toronto, York County, Ontario, Canada. He married Margaret May Morrison Aug 29 1899 in Auburn, New York, USA. She was from the city of Kingston, Frontenac County, Ontario, Canada. I believe she was married at her brother Francis (or Frank Morrison) who may have been a professor or teacher there.
NOTE: Patrick Joseph SIMMONS is my grandfather – Francis George Herbert Maguire, born Aug 3 1935.
Elizabeth SIMMONS, born May 10 1871 in Vespra Township, Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada. Died Nov 11 1877 in Vespra Township.
Joseph SIMMONS, born Jan 1874 in Vespra Township, Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada.

Help from those searching the SIMMONS or related famiies would be appreciated.

Francis G. Maguire
francismaguire625@hotmail.com

Looks like Mary was the mother of all the children and the age for Joseph is 10 yrs younger but here is a family in 1850 and 1860 United States Censuses that match everything else. Joseph could have fudged his age to marry Mary.
Joseph still might have been married in Ireland and the woman died on the voyage.

1850 Pennsylvania, Allegheny Co. Pittsburg Twsp.
Joseph Simmons age 30 (1820) b. Ireland occ: Laborer
Mary J. age 20 b. Pennsylvania
Richard age 1 month

1860 PA Allegheny Co. Pittsburgh Twsp
Joseph Simmons age 43 (1817) b. Ireland occ: Huckster
Mary J. age 30 b. PA
Richard age 10 b. PA
Mary A. age 7 b. PA
Andrew age 5 b. PA
Margaret age 2 b. PA
Robert J. age 6 months B. PA

Denise Simmons

Thanks for such a prompt reply. Your information certainly ties in for me. My late mother often told me she thought they were related to PA. Dutch. Your info affirms the PA. connection, but only research will answer the "Dutch" part.
Your suggestion that Joseph fudged his age is interesting and one I could believe. Subsequent Canadian Census tells a different story with a birth about 1911 - which one to believe?

How would you suggest I search for their place of residence and marriage records? Further how to try and obtain birth information for the USA children.

Is there a Genealogical Society for the area they lived in where I may place a query in hopes others are researching Simmons.

Old Canadian Census records have a column for "how many years in the country", do you have a similar question in your census.

If you are interested in any aspect of my Simmons family, I would be glad to share it with you

Again thanks for you help.

Francis G. H. Maguire

Francis,

Are you familiar with Rootsweb? Ancestry.com supports it and thier message boards are the same, but it is the oldest and largest free genealogly site on the web. On thier home page are links to other free sites. Go to www.rootsweb.com then click on USGenWeb Project, then click on the Pennsylvania in the listed states on the left. Then you can click on Allegheny County for any records transcribed and made availble for that county plus the names of organizations and persons who can help.

Here is a link explaining the "Pennsylvania Dutch", which is actually Deutsch or Deitsch:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Dutch

Is this your Joseph Simmons?
Census Records: Ontario, Canada, 1871
District: Simcoe North Sub-district: Vespra
Birth year range: 1810-1811 Age: 60 Gender: Male Birthplace: Ireland Ethnic origin: Irish
Religious affiliation: Roman Catholic
Occupation: Farmer
Microfilm roll #: C-9962 - C-9963 Page: 24
Head of household comment: This person is listed as a head of household.

If it is then look for Catholic Church records in Allegheny Co. for marriage and births, baptisms. Allot of church records were microfilmed by a U.S. Government program called the WPA during the 1930's. These microfilms are available at the NARA-National Archives Records Admin or a LDS Family History Centers.

Some state census records asked how long in state or county of residence but not all. Not till 1900 did the U.S. Federal census (taken every 10 years) ask a similar question.

Good Luck,
Denise Simmons

Denise:

You assisted me on my Simmons family with some very welcome and new information in 2007

I am back in Florida for the winter and hope to find time to continue my research.

I have a new email - fghmaguire@gmail.com

Would you be agreeable to sending me your email so we may correspond with each other?

Thanks for your help and consideration.

Francis Maguire