ALBUTLER-L Archives

From: Cynthia Kirkland <>
Subject: [ALBUTLER] Response to Duke on SIMS of Butler Co. AL
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 10:58:39 -0600

Dear Duke, Cheryl and Sims Searchers in Butler List,

When I started researching my lineage many years ago, the descendant
lineage of Stephen Sims, Son of Sherrod Sims, I had the initial input from
my beloved second cousin "Madge", Marilyn (Davis) Hahn Barefield (my Dad's
first cousin). Marilyn is a noted genealogist and many of you may be
familiar with her books. She had proven our line to Sherrod, which had not
only been published in her books, but reviewed and proven by the DAR. I had
no reason then to doubt her findings. Since then, and only in recent years,
have I been able to look into and refine a few details. Yes, Duke I agree
with you about siting sources, and would be glad to site to anyone, upon
request, those that I have. I tried to site a number of them, however,
siting all in a simple email would constituted a book. I did note as many
of the Census findings as I could as well as some others. My mistake was
grabbing an older post and reposting it, in haste, to answer Cheryl's
reply, when in fact, some of those questions and issues have either been
resolved or amended to say "possibly" or "not confirmed".

#1. To answer your question about the M. in Stephen M. Sims. It may have
originated with Marilyn many, many years ago when she proved her lineage to
Sherrod and wrote her books. I'm not sure if she picked that up from any of
the previous publishings of this SIMS lineage. But yes, I agree that the
middle initial M. should be removed from Stephen Sims (son of Sherrod), for
now, at least, as it is not conclusive that this is his middle name. This
certainly needs further research and confirmation.

#2. Madge originally had Arthur "Coleson" Sims as husband to Sarah Caroline
Austin. I accepted this for years and not long ago, started to question it.
There is no doubt that Arthur Sims was a son of Stephen Sims and that he
was married to Sarah Caroline Austin. There is also no doubt that my great
grandfather, Rev. Alexander Theodore Sims was son of Arthur and Sarah. The
question is where is the documentation that gives Arthur a middle name?

Marilyn sites, in her book, "Butler Co. in the 19th Century, on pg. 160, in
a short bio of Rev. Alexander T. Sims, "Alexander Theodore Sims was born in
Starlington, the son of Arthur C. Sims and Sarah Caroline Austin......" On
page 71 in the Chapter 4, Cemetery Records of people Born Before 1850, in
the same book she lists, "Arthur C. (Sims), b. SC 2 Aug. 1807; d. 14 Oct
1881 80 (yrs) and Sarah C., wife of A. C. (Sims), b. 22 May 1822; d. 21 Aug
1880 80 (yrs)". However, in her DAR work sheet she does not assign either
Arthur Sims or Stephen Sims a middle initial. In the "Dictionary of Alabama
Biography", pg. 1560, in the bio of Rev. Alexander Theodore Sims, it
states, "....born July 16, 1849, at Starlington, Butler Co; son of Arthur
and Sarah Caroline (Austin) Sims, the former who was a native of Charleston
Co. SC, lived at Starlington, Butler Co. for many years, served in the
Creek Indian War, and was a second cousin of Dr. James Marion Sims;
grandson (referring to Rev. A.T. Sims) of Stephen Sims who lived at Pine
Flat, Butler Co. and of David and Elener (Hill) Austin (Sarah Caroline's
parents), who lived at Albany, GA, the latter who was the first cousin of
the mother of Gov. Thomas Hill Watts, and was a relative of Gen. B. H.
Hill........" The key in this last siting is that, again, no middle initial
is assigned to Arthur Sims. Marilyn said to me last fall that she obtained
the middle initial from Arthur's headstone. There is another grave site for
A.C. Sims F, 18 Ala. Inf., CSA 23 (yrs). This naturally is not the grave
site for Arthur, husband of Sarah. Stephen Sims of Wilcox Co. had a son
Arthur. I believe this Stephen to be Stephen Jr. (son of Stephen Sr.), but
need more documentation. The grave site of A.C. of CSA who died at age 23
may be the grave of this Arthur. My question is; Did she actually read the
middle initial C. on the elder Arthur's headstone or did she confuse the
two? Only a recheck of these two headstones would prove to tell. Arthur and
Sarah Caroline are buried in the Shackleville Cemetery, west of Greenville,
and the younger A.C. Sims of the CSA is buried in Forest Home Cemetery.

Marilyn also speaks of a "Forest" Sims, of whom I have copies of three
photos. I have seen on Midred Stinson's lineage page that she identifies,
Arthur, son of Stephen Sims, as Arthur Forest Sims. I asked her for
documentation but said she'd seen it, but couldn't locate it for me. I have
yet to see any other documentation as to Arthur's middle name being Forest,
either, so I defer to calling Arthur, just plain Arthur, with no middle
initial.

Also, just for the record, the bio in the "Dictionary of Alabama Biography"
has several errors, so I take it with a "grain of salt" until all
statements can be proven in it. Also, for those who have picked up and read
Henry Upson Sims' book. This book was written in the 1930's and has
conflicting and manipulated information. Especially in the beginning Sims
generations, giving credence that the VA Sims were descendants of George
Sims. This HAS NOT been proven. It is rather thought that the VA SIMS are
descended from one of George's brothers, who settled in VA, but not George.
But this is another whole debate, which would take infinite emails and
discussions to settle. I'm leaving this for a later time, but just wanted
to note it AGAIN for the record.

If anyone has any other questions or would .like me to site more sources, I
would be happy to if I can and have them.

Sincerely, Cynthia SIMS Kirkland

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• [ALBUTLER] Response to Duke on SIMS of Butler Co. AL by Cynthia Kirkland <>