J. B. Simmons
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date:
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Spouses and Children
1. *Mary Ann Carter
Marriage:
Status:
Abner Sirmans
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: 1790 - Effingham Co., GA 4
Christening:
Death: 1837 - Early County, Georgia ( at age 47) 4
Burial:
Parents
Father: Josiah Sirmans 1
Mother:
Spouses and Children
1. *Elizabeth Krkland
Marriage: Abt 1808 4
Status:
Notes
General:
SIRMANS, ABNER.Abner Sirmans, son of Josiah Sirmans (Vol. I), was born In Effingham County about 1790, and died at his home in Early County in 1837. He was married about 1808 to Elizabeth Kirkland, born in Effingham County (now Bulloch) about 1790, daughter of Richard Kirkland (Vol. 1). They had the following known children:
1790-1837
LANIER
1. Jincyb. 1810, m. David G. Clements.
2. Roxieb. 1813, m. Andrew Shaw.
3. Jamesb. 1815, m. Charlotte Sears, dau. of David (Vol. 1).
4. Bryantb. 1817, m. Sarah Kelly, Feb. 17, 1840, Early Co.
5. Marvinb. 1819, m. Mary Thorne, July 20, 1842, Early Co.
6. Sarah Annb. 1820, m. Ist. Elam Gaskins, no issue; 2nd. John Ashley Newbern; 3rd. John A. Kirkland, Berrien County.
7. Hesterb. 1822, m. Elias Strickland, Jan. 17, 1844, Early County.
8. Johnb. 1825, m. Elizabeth C. Allen, Nov. 9, 1847, Early County.
9. Benjaminb. 1828, m. Nancy Shaw, dau. of Jeremiah (Vol. 1).
10. Elizabethb. 1831, m. Fisher J. Gaskins of Berrien Co., Feb. 25, 1851.
11. Abnerb. 1833, m. Mehala Fender, dau. of David (Vol. 1).
Mr. Sirmans was cut out of Bulloch County into Emanuel County in its creation in 1812, and lived there until 1822 when he and his family moved in company with his parents and brothers and 1st cousins, Moses, John and William Tomlinson (Vol 11), to what was then Irwin County where they located on the east side of the Alapaha River in present Lanier County. There, Abner Sirmans and family lived until 1833 when they moved to Early County. After Mr. Sirman's death in Early County, the widow and most of the children named above moved back to the old home-section in what was at the time Lowndes County. They were cut out of Lowndes into Clinch County in 1850. Mrs. Sirmans died about 1865 and was buried in the nearby Fender Cemetery; grave unmarked.
Abner Sirmans was Justice of Peace in the 664th district, Lowndes County, 1827-1833.
Census Refs: 1820, Emanuel; 1830, Lowndes.
Benjamin Sirmans
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: 6 Feb 1792 - Effingham Co., GA 1
Christening:
Death: 1 May 1863 - Clinch County, GA ( at age 71) 1
Burial:
Parents
Father: Josiah Sirmans 1
Mother:
Spouses and Children
1. *Martha Johnson
Marriage: Jul 1814 - Emanuel County, Georgia 1
Status:
Children:
1. Rachel Sirmans
Notes
General:
SIRMANS, BENJAMIN1792-1863 Lanier Benjamin Sirmans, prominent antebellum citizen of Lowndes and Clinch Counties, was born in Effingham County February 6, 1792, a son of Josiah Sirmans (Vol. 1). He was married in July 1814 in Emanuel County to Martha, daughter of David Johnson, Sr., (Vol. 1). She was born 1798 in Bulloch County and died at her home in Clinch County December 24, 1856. To Mr. and Mrs. Sirmans were born eleven children:
1. Cassieb. 1815, m. John Smith (son of William).
2. Josiahb. 1817, m. Mary Roberts, daughter of John.
3. David J.b. 1819, m. Eliza Wilkerson, daughter of John.
4. Lavinab. 1822, m. Aaron Tomlinson.
5. Ezekiel J.b. 1824, m. Eliza Bennett, daughter of Thomas.
6. Rachelb. 1824, m. (1) Isaac Carter (2) John O'Brien.
7. Lucretiab. 1827, m. Charles Strickland.
8. Benjamin E.b. 1831, m. Francenia E. Carroll, daughter of Jesse.
9. Marthab. 1834, m. Elihu Morgan, Jr.
10. Levi J.b. 1837, m. Victoria O. Mattox, daughter of Elijah.
11. Lyman A.b. 1838, m. Mollie Griffin, daughter of William W.
The Sirmans family lived in Emanuel County prior to moving to this section. They were cut into Emanuel out of Bulloch in 1812. The elder Sirmans moved to Appling County and was there in the 1820 Census but Benjamin with his family did not move to Appling. He seems to have moved here direct from Emanuel in 1822. He acquired land in the 10th land district of Irwin County, built his home, cleared up a fine plantation, and lived there until his death. In 1825, the territory was cut into the new County of Lowndes and in 1850, all of the 10th district east of the Alapaha River was placed in the new County of Clinch out of Lowndes (in 1920, it became Lanier County). Mr. Sirmans built a new and more commodious home in 1831 to replace the original one he had built. The home was on land lot 434, 10th district.
By legislative resolution approved December 26, 1826, he was named one of the commissioners to locate the county site of Lowndes County. He served as Representative from Lowndes in the legislature, 1828-1829 and in 1839 and 1840. He was State Senator from Clinch County, 1853-1854. He was postmaster, 1838-1841 at Alapaha post office (re-named Milltown in 1853 and now named Lakeland). Mr. Sirmans was a Whig in politics in antebellum days. He took a lively interest in the 1840 presidential election, supporting the Harrison-Tyler ticket. He was delegate from Lowndes to the State Whig Convention December 17, 1840 to nominate candidate for governor, and was a delegate on several other occasions to the state conventions of his party.
When Clinch County was created in February 1850, the legislative act named Mr. Sirman as one of the five commissioners to "lay out and organize" the new county. He was elected one of the two delegates from Clinch County to the State Secession Convention in January 1861, which convention voted Georgia out of the Union and into the Confederacy. Originally opposed to secession, he voted f or it on the final roll call in the light of events following the 1860 presidential election.
Mr. Sirmans united with Union Primitive Baptist Church September 9, 1848 and was baptized. His wife had previously united with the church December 11, 1841, and was baptized and died a member. He was granted a letter of dismission February 8, 1862.
The death of Mr. Sirmans occurred May 1st, 1863. He and his wife were buried in the Fender Cemetery.
Census References: 1810, Emanuel; 1830, 1840, Lowndes; 1850, 1860, Clinch.
Dorthy Sirmans
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth Date:
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Spouses and Children
1. *Ray Coppage
Marriage: 9 Apr 1939 - Lowndes Co., GA 51
Status:
Jonathan Sirmans
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: Abt 1800 - South Carolina 4
Christening:
Death: 1848 - Lanier Co., Georgia ( about age 48) 4
Burial:
Parents
Father: Josiah Sirmans 1
Mother:
Spouses and Children
1. *Martha Rouse
Marriage: Abt 1820 - Appling County, GA 4
Status:
Notes
General:
SIRMANS, JONATHAN.
1800-1848
BERRIEN
Jonathan Sirmans was born in South Carolina about 1800, son of Josiah Sirmans (Vol. I). He was married in Appling County about 1820, to Miss Martha Rouse, (maiden name before marriage), bom 1791 in this state. Born to them were sir children, viz:
1. Hardemanb. 1821, m. Elizabeth Knight, dau. of Levi J.
2. Annieb. 1824, m. Jacob Giddens.
3. Rachelb. 1826, m. Ist. Samuel Mattox; 2nd. B. H. Bailey.
4. Benjaminb. 1828, m. Nancy Shaw, dau. of Jeremiah (Vol. 11).
5. Elizabethb. 1829, m. Wm. E. White; moved to Maine about 1867.
6. Abnerb. 1831, m. Frances Sutton, dau. of Moses G.
The Sirmans family removed to what was then Irwin County in 1822, and settled on the east side of the Alapaha River in present Lanier County. A few years later, Jonathan with his family moved across the river into Lowndes County and settled in the part cut into Berrien County in 1856. He lived there until about 1848 when he was burned to death while camping out. He was buried in the Fender Cemetery in present Lanier County. His widow lived until 1884 when she died and was buried at Empire Church, Berrien County. Her tombstone dates show she was born 1787 and died 1884.
Mrs. Sirmans had three children before her marriage, viz., Melissa Roland who married 1st, Clayton Jones, 2nd, Harmon Gaskins; James Lemuel Kirkland, and Mark Watson, born 1816. She was received into Union Primitive Baptist Church, Feb. 9, 1833, by letter from Friendship Church, Appling County; was erpelled Feb. 8, 1834, was later restored and died a member. She had apparently been married before her marriage to Mr. Sirmans but names of previous husbands cannot be learned. Jonathan Sirmans was a private in Capt. Levi J. Knight's company of Lowndes County militia in the Indian War, 1838.
Joseph Sirmans
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: 1808 - Bulloch County, GA 1
Christening:
Death: 7 Oct 1888 - ( at age 80) 1
Burial:
Parents
Father: Josiah Sirmans 1
Mother:
Spouses and Children
1. *Rebecca Smith
Marriage: 1829 1
Status:
Notes
General:
SIRMANS, JOSEPHJoseph Sirmans was born in Bulloch County May 16, 1808, a son of Josiah Sirmans (Vol. 1). He was married in 1829 to Rebecca daughter of Rev. William Smith, R.S., (Vol. 1) of Ware, later of Clinch County. She was born in November 1811 in Liberty County. By her twelve children were born. She died December 20, 1852, and Mr. Sirmans the next year married Mrs. Sallie Howell, daughter of Isaac Burkhalter (Vol. 1) and widow of Thomas Howell. She was born January 8, 1815 and died September 21, 1887. By this marriage, one son, Isaac Sirmans, was born. The thirteen children of Joseph Sirmans were:
1808-1888
Lanier
1. Maryb. 1830, m. Thomas Tomlinson.
2. Hartyb. 1833, m. Berrien Pafford.
3. John J.b. 1835, m. Katherine McLean. Died in C.S.A.
4. Joseph J.b. 1837, died about 1861, single.
5. Nancyb. 1838, m. Thomas Corbitt.
6. Matildab. 1842,m. John W. Powell.
7. Marthab. 1844, died in childhood.
8. Williamb. 1846, died in childhood.
9. Harrisb. 1847, m. Lavina Johnson, daughter of David.
10. Lucretiab. 1848, never married.
11. Harrietb.1850, died in girlhood.
12. Richard E.b. 1852, died in boyhood.
13. Isaacb. 1855, m. Nancy Richardson, daughter of James.
Mr. Sirmans was cut into Clinch County when it was formed in 1850 partly out of Lowndes County. His home was in the 586th militia district. He served one term, 1873-1874, as Representative from Clinch County in the legislature.
Mr. Sirmans was a member of Union Primitive Baptist Church originally. He was received and baptized prior to 1832 (exact date not shown by church roll), and his wife was received and baptized August 8, 1841. They were dismissed by letter February 14, 1847, and united with the newly-formed Bethany Church nearer their home.
Joseph Sirmans died October 7, 1888. He and his wives were buried in the Fender Cemetery.
Census References: 1830, 1840, Lowndes; 1850, 1860, 1870 Clinch.
Josiah Sirmans
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date:
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Spouses and Children
Children:
1. Abner Sirmans
2. Benjamin Sirmans
3. Jonathan Sirmans
4. Joseph Sirmans
Rachel Sirmans
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth Date: 1824 - Irwin (now Lowndes) County, Georgia 1
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Parents
Father: Benjamin Sirmans
Mother: Martha Johnson
Spouses and Children
1. *Isaac Carter
Marriage: 1842 - Lowndes County, GA 4
Status:
Children:
1. Perryman Carter