Sims Family

Littleton Sims
1769-1844

In June 1763 George Sims made his will in Brunswick Co. Virginia, naming sons Nathaniel, Zachariah, Bartlet, Burwell, and William Sims, and appointing his son Millington his executor. This George Sims is purported to have married Martha Walton. George Sims is also purported to have been the brother of William Sims, a well known surveyor of Mecklenburg and Tryon counties.

On 22 June 1761 Burwell Sims purchased 212 acres on the Meherrin River in Brunswick Co. from James Wall. On 24 Nov 1766 Burwell Sims sold this same tract to James Hinton. One of the witnesses to this last deed was Peter Freeman whose widow Faithy Freeman would later move in the 1790's to Rutherford Co. NC.

On 11 Feb 1775, Burwell Sims witnessed a deed in Tryon Co, NC from Phillip Henson to John McFadden, for a tract of land on William Robbins Cr. of Broad River. On 10 Apr 1777 in Tryon Co., Burwell Sims witnessed a deed from John Ashworth to John Pain for 300 acres on Henderson Creek of Second Broad River. On 12 Feb 1778 Joseph Burnett entered a tract of 150 acres in Tryon Co. in Tryon Co, including Burwell Sims's improvement. On 20 Jan 1779 in Rutherford Co., which had been formed out of Tryon Co., Robert Webb entered 50 acres on Second Broad River, including Burrel Sims improvement. On 7 June 1779 in Rutherford Co., Robert Barnhill entered 50 acres on Robertson's Creek of Second Broad River near Burwell Sims's place. On 25 Jan 1780 Burwell Sims entered 100 acres on Flat Creek of Broad River above James Miller and below John McClain. Burwell Sims then disappears from the records of Rutherford Co. There is no evidence that Burwell Sims ever obtained title to any entry of land he made in Tryon/Rutherford County.

On 26 Mar 1783 Mary Sims married James Welch in Rutherford County.

At the Rutherford Court in Oct 1783 Littleton Sims, orphan, age l4, was bound out to Andrew Hampton. In Jan 1784 George Sims, orphan, age 10, was bound out to Jonathan Hampton. In Jan 1784 Martha Sims was also bound out. In April 1790 James Sims, orphan, age 16, was bound to Thomas Welch.

On 22 July 1796 James Largin had a tract surveyed on Mountain Creek. Littleton Sims was one of the chainbearers. On 6 Oct 1798 Littleton Sims purchased 100 acres on First Broad Creek in what is now Golden Valley from Thomas Stockton. On 27 Feb 1801 Littleton Sims purchased 200 acres on Mountain Creek from James Holland. On 20 Jan 1802 Littleton Sims purchased 100 acres on Mountain Creek from John Sorrels Sr. One of the witnesses to this last deed was William Mitchell. On 8 Feb 1805 Littleton Sims purchased 183 acres on the North Fork of First Broad River from Thomas Stockton and on 17 Oct 1806 Littleton purchased, by Sheriff's deed from Thomas Webb, another tract on the North Fork of First Broad River. On 3 Mar 1808 Littleton purchased 20 acres on First Broad River from Joseph Grayson.

Littleton Sims also acquired four North Carolina land grants on the waters of First Broad River with surveys made on 18 July 1808, 10 Nov 1808, 10 April 1810 and 14 May 1830. Hugh Mitchell and James Sims were chain bearers for the Nov 1808 survey, and James Mitchell and James Sims were chain bearers for the 1810 survey. All these First Broad River tracts were in present day Golden Valley.

The relationship of Littleton Sims to the other Sims family members discussed above has not been documented. One can ask these questions: Was Burwell Sims of Rutherford Co., the son of George and Martha Sims of Brunswick Co., VA? Were Littleton, George, Martha, and James Sims orphans of Burwell Sims? Were George and Martha therefore named for their grandparents? Search of the existing records has not answered these questions absolutely.

Littleton married Hannah Mitchell on December 31, 1792 in North Carolina. They had 9 children.