Elizabeth (Betsey Jane) Lemons

  General Notes:

Poet Garret refers to George Washington Lemons as "Wash" in his 1909 letter:
Uncle Dick Sims killed himself drinking and Uncle Jim did too and no doubt but what Uncle Jesse would have killed himself too had he staid in that old country but after coming to this country he quit and did fine until his wife left him and his family and Uncle Wash Lemons's family got to intermarrying and all fell out and broke up. Bob Sims you know married Betty (Betsy) Jane Lemons [a daughter of Wash & Nancy Lemons ... see 1850 census facts below] and Ann Sims[this is probably Ann Lemons, Betsey Jane Lemons' sister] you know never married but has children both black and white. I did not see Ann while there the last time and did not want to but did see Betsy Jane and if you want to know just how your old Grandma Garrett looked in her last days go to see Bob Sims's wife ... see general notes for Powhatan Garrett for the entire letter.

The 1920 Federal Census for Stoneville, Mayo Township, Rockingham Co., North Carolina, District 122, page 49A, dated January 17, 1920 records Robert W. (88 - NC/VA/VA) and Elizabeth (88 - NC/VA/VA) Sims with a widowed daughter, Olivia Stack (51) living on Mill Street. See research notes for Olivia's death certificate.

The 1910 Federal Census for Mayo Township, Rockingham Co., North Carolina, District 159, page 124B, dated June 27, 1910 records Robert W. (77 - NC/NC/NC) and Betsey J. (76 - NC/NC/NC) Sims with a son, Richard D. Sims (35 - NC/NC/NC). Robert and Betsey have been married for 50 years and have had X children of whom X are still living. Robert is a farmer.

The 1900 Federal Census for Mayo Township, Rockingham Co., North Carolina, District 76, page 124B, dated June 27, 1900 records Robert (Sept 1832 - NC/NC/NC) and Betsey J. (Nov 1832 - NC/NC/NC) Sims with a son, Robert D. Sims (April 1867 - NC/NC/NC). Robert and Betsey have been married for 39 years and have had 7 children of whom 5 are still living. Robert is a farmer.
Note: While this census record reports Betsey as born in 1832 the 1850 census indicates she was born in 1833/1834 and her sister, Ann, appears to have been born in 1832 so I will assign her year of birth as 1833.

The 1880 Federal Census for Mayo Township, Rockingham Co., North Carolina, District 228, page 47A, dated June 25, 1880 records R. W. (49 - NC/NC/NC) and E. (49 - NC/NC/NC) Simms with children J. W. (30) [son], T. E. (19) [son], L. (16) [daughter], and Dixie (12) [son - probably Robert D. Sims]. Also in the household is mother-in-law Nancy Lemons (100 - NC/NC/NC). R. W. indicates that he is a Carpenter. Next door is Ann Lemons (52 - NC/NC/NC) with 2 daughters, S (32 - NC/NC/NC) & Sis (12 - NC/NC/NC) and a son Wm (18 - NC/NC/NC), and a grand daughter, Ida (6 - NC/NC/NC).
Note: The 1870 Federal Census for Mayo Township, Rockingham Co., NC, Stonesville P. O., page 294B, dated August 17, 1870 records Anna Lemons (40 - NC) with her children Susan (20), William (7), and Infant (8/12) ... however, Robert & Betsey Sims and family can not be found in this census.

  Research Notes:

North Carolina Death Certificates, 1909-1975 <http://www.ancestry.com>
Name: Olivia Sims Stack [Olivia Sims]
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age: 82
Birth Date: 9 Apr 1863
Birth Place: Stoneville, North Carolina
Death Date: 22 Nov 1945
Death Location: Stoneville, Rockingham
Spouse's Name: Lee Stack
Father's Name: Robert W Sims
Mother's Name: Jane Lemons
Residence: Stoneville, Rockingham, North Carolina

Elizabeth married Robert W. Sims circa 1860 in Rockingham Co., N.C. (Robert W. Sims was born in Sep 1832 in Rockingham Co., N.C. and died after 1920 in Rockingham Co., N.C..)