Simmons, Erastus^[1]

1814 - 1892  (77 years)

• Photos		Simmons, Erastus
  		Simmons' Tin Trunk This is the tin trunk described by Ruth Simmons Stebbins (see the Simmons Family of Westfield, Medina County, Ohio under histories). Originally the property of Jonathan Simmons Sr., it is now in the possession of descendants of Jonathan's son Erastus. It contains many documents including Jonathan Simmons' appointment as Captain in the New York State Militia in 1804, and deeds to land in Bristol, Ontario, New York and in Medina County, Ohio.

  
  

  Documents » Slide Show		Deed -- from Jonathan and Ruth Simmons to Erastus Simmons. Jonathan and Ruth sold parts of lots 23 and 26 to Erastus Simmons for $1500. In the next document Erastus deeded the land back to Jonathan and Ruth along with the promise to care for them for the rest of their lives. If he kept his promise the land was his to use, but if he failed to keep his promise he would forfeit the land. Signed 26 Jan 1838 and recorded by Medina County 26 Jun 1839 in Book Q pp 88 - 89. (Document from the Simmons' tin trunk.)
  		Deed (p. 1) -- from Erastus Simmons to Jonathan and Ruth Simmons The second step of the arrangement in which Erastus agreed to care for his parents for the rest of their lives. This page is the transfer of land from Erastus to Jonathan and Ruth at no cost. Signed 26 Jan 1838 and recorded Medina County 27 Jun 1839 in Book Q pp. 89 - 90. (Document from the Simmons' tin trunk.)
  		Deed (p. 2) -- from Erastus Simmons to Jonathan and Ruth Simmons On this page Erastus agreed to care for his parents for the rest of their lives. Signed 26 Jan 1838 and recorded Medina County 27 Jun 1839 in Book Q pp. 89 - 90. (Document from the Simmons' tin trunk.)
  		Simmons, Ruth Gooding 1850 US Census Westfield, Medina, Ohio In dwelling 509 were: Isaiah Simmons, 51 (on prev census page); Erastus Simmons, 37; Eliza [Daniels] Simmons, 22; Ruth Simmons, 82; John Murphy, 19; Phebe Smith, 35. In dwelling 511 were: Simpson Simmons, 43; Sally Simmons, 39; Lucretia Simmons, 17; Lydia Simmons, 13; Adoline Simmons, 8; and Joseph Horn, 23.
  		Simmons, Isaiah, 1850 US Census Westfield, Medina, Ohio The household was listed on two pages. Isaiah Simmons, 51, is at the bottom of this page. On the next page are Erastus Simmons, 37; Eliza Simmons, 22; Ruth Simmons, 82; John Murphy, 19; Phebe Smith, 35.
  		Map of Medina County, Ohio, 1857 A section of the map showing parts of Westfield and LaFayette Townships. The map was drawn from actual surveys and shows the owners of properties. Large numbers are lot numbers, smaller numbers are acreage.

  
  

  Headstones		Simmons, Erastus Erastus' memorial stone was placed next to his wife's headstone in the Old Westfield Cemetery (New Leroy Cemetery), but he is buried in an unmarked grave in the Friendsville Cemetery.
  		Simmons Family Monument

  
  

• Name	Simmons, Erastus
  Birth	16 Sep 1814	Bristol, Ontario, New York, USA
  Gender	Male
  Land	26 Jan 1838	Westfield, Medina, Ohio, USA   [2, 3]
  	A complex transaction in which Erastus bought parts of lots 23 and 26 in Westfield from Jonathan and Ruth for $1500. Erastus then returned the land to his parents with the promise to take care of them in their old age. If he kept his promise, he could use the land, but if he failed to keep his promise he would lose the land.
  Death	12 Feb 1892	Westfield, Medina, Ohio, USA
  Burial	Friendsville Cemetery, Westfield Center, Medina, Ohio, USA
  	Erastus is in an unmarked grave at Friendsville Cemetery, but a memorial stone was placed next to his wife's headstone in the Old Westfield Cemetery (New Leroy Cemetery). Ruth Simmons Stebbins explained: "His remains were hoped to have been moved to LeRoy beside Eliza after her death, but a large locust tree had grown into grave [sic]. His monument is the tree but a granite marker is placed in LeRoy beside Eliza . . . "
  Person ID	I738	Martin-Bloom
  Last Modified	12 Dec 2011

  
  

  Father	Simmons, Jonathan Sr.,   b. 31 Jan 1768, Dighton, Bristol, Massachusetts d. 19 May 1845, Leroy, Medina, Ohio (Age 77 years)
  Mother	Gooding, Ruth,   b. 20 Feb 1769, Dighton, Bristol, Massachusetts d. 20 Mar 1859, Friendsville, Westfield Twp, Medina, Ohio (Age 90 years)
  Marriage	5 Nov 1790	Dighton, Bristol, Massachusetts   [4, 5, 6]
  Documents		Simmons Family Bible Transcription by Ruth Simmons Stebbins. The Bible was purchased by Jonathan Simmons Sr. and repaired by Eliza Daniels Simmons, wife of Erastus. It was published in 1829 and probably purchased after 1832, when Jonathan Sr. moved to Ohio. Thus, at least some of the records were not made contemporaneously with the events. The oldest persons recorded, Constant and Silence Simmons, lived in Bristol, New York at the same time as their grandchildren.
  Histories		The Simmons Family of Westfield Township, Medina Co.,Ohio by Ruth Simmons Stebbins Part 1 outlines the relocation of several Simmons family members to Ohio and their lives there. It also includes some information on the founding of the Ohio Farmers Insurance Co., in which members of the Simmons family played roles. Part 2 was originally a separate document, but it is appended here because it provides more information on the extended Simmons family in addition to details on Erastus Simmons descendants and family life. Ruth Stebbins sent part 1 to her cousin, Lottie Tanner Martin and Patricia Vanhoose donated part 2 to the Medina County Public Library. Download a PDF (50 KB) of this history. ______________________________
  Family ID	F55	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Daniels, Eliza Agusta,   b. 11 Sep 1826, Palmyra, Portage, Ohio, USA d. 9 Feb 1910, Westfield, Medina, Ohio, USA (Age 83 years)
  Marriage	1850  [7]
  Children	1. Simmons, Caroline F.,   b. 27 Feb 1851   2. Simmons, Evalina Urania,   b. 18 May 1853   3. Simmons, Anise,   b. 1 Aug 1855   d. 1 Apr 1856 (Age 0 years)   4. Simmons, Hariette,   b. 25 Jul 1857   5. Simmons, Maryette,   b. 25 Jul 1857   d. 26 Jul 1857 (Age 0 years)   6. Simmons, George E.,   b. 10 Jul 1859   d. 20 May 1932 (Age 72 years)   7. Simmons, Isaiah E.,   b. 6 Dec 1862, Westfield, Medina, Ohio, USA bur. Old Westfield Cemetery, Westfield Center, Medina, Ohio, USA + 8. Simmons, Edwin Orestus,   b. 8 Feb 1865   d. 25 Aug 1930, Hartville, Stark, Ohio, USA (Age 65 years)   9. Simmons, Lillian May,   b. 20 Jan 1867
  Documents		Simmons Family Bible Transcription by Ruth Simmons Stebbins. The Bible was purchased by Jonathan Simmons Sr. and repaired by Eliza Daniels Simmons, wife of Erastus. It was published in 1829 and probably purchased after 1832, when Jonathan Sr. moved to Ohio. Thus, at least some of the records were not made contemporaneously with the events. The oldest persons recorded, Constant and Silence Simmons, lived in Bristol, New York at the same time as their grandchildren.
  Histories		The Simmons Family of Westfield Township, Medina Co.,Ohio by Ruth Simmons Stebbins Part 1 outlines the relocation of several Simmons family members to Ohio and their lives there. It also includes some information on the founding of the Ohio Farmers Insurance Co., in which members of the Simmons family played roles. Part 2 was originally a separate document, but it is appended here because it provides more information on the extended Simmons family in addition to details on Erastus Simmons descendants and family life. Ruth Stebbins sent part 1 to her cousin, Lottie Tanner Martin and Patricia Vanhoose donated part 2 to the Medina County Public Library. Download a PDF (50 KB) of this history. ______________________________
  Family ID	F287	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	23 Apr 2011

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 16 Sep 1814 - Bristol, Ontario, New York, USA Land - A complex transaction in which Erastus bought parts of lots 23 and 26 in Westfield from Jonathan and Ruth for $1500. Erastus then returned the land to his parents with the promise to take care of them in their old age. If he kept his promise, he could use the land, but if he failed to keep his promise he would lose the land. - 26 Jan 1838 - Westfield, Medina, Ohio, USA Death - 12 Feb 1892 - Westfield, Medina, Ohio, USA Burial - - Friendsville Cemetery, Westfield Center, Medina, Ohio, USA  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Sources

  [S10] Ruth Simmons Stebbins, Simmons Family Bible, (Photocopy of family record in the front of bible. Also typescript of same by Ruth Simmons Stebbins.). [S164] Deed, Recorded Medina County, Ohio 26 Jun 1839, Book Q, pp 88 - 89. [S164] Deed, Recorded Medina County, Ohio 27 Jun 1839, Book Q, pp 89 - 90. [S315] Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850, Dighton Marriage Intentions, Vol. 2A, p. 1a https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/rd/14014/1a/253548029. November ye 5 1790 Jonathan Simmons & Ruth Gooding both of Dighton Entreed their Intention of Marriage [S14] by Melvin E. Jones, Jones Hathaway Richards Gooding, (self published, 1934), p. 221. [S24] Ruth Simmons Stebbins, Stebbins Papers, SimmonsHandwrittenNotes.pdf. [S7] Ruth Simmons Stebbins, Simmons Family of Westfield Township, Medina County, Ohio, p. 1.