John Simmons II* was born in England in 1720. He immigrated to the United States, arriving in New York City in 1733. He rendered patriotic service by guarding the prisoners confined in the New York City Hall. He may have also kept an inn on Wall Street near City Hall. Committee and council meetings were held at this inn for the welfare of the city and cause of Independence. John Simmons II died March 8, 1785.
*There is conflicting information about John Simmons II from several sources, however, details of what he did and birth/death dates somewhat align among them. I do not trust information about his spouse and I'm somewhat skeptical about the list of his children, except for our direct ancestor, who does show up among multiple sources.
Adam Simmons, the son of John Simmons II, was born January 15, 1747 in Pennsylvania. He married Mary Hatton of Maryland in Pennsylvania on November 13, 1776 in York County, PA. Mary was born December 1, 1753. They were of the Methodist faith. After their marriage and the birth of at least one child, they moved to Kentucky, then to Bull Skin in Clermont County in 1798. In 1800 they moved to “Big Bear Wallow” (Laurel, Ohio). There, Adam farmed land granted to him. Together the couple had five sons and six daughters. Adam Simmons died July 23, 1827, and his wife, Mary, died October 14, 1831. They are both interred at the Laurel Cemetery, Clermont County, Ohio.
James Grant Simmons, one of five sons of Adam and Mary Simmons, was born July 30, 1778, in Pennsylvania. James G. Simmons and Sarah Evans were married on June 28, 1797. Sarah Evans was born on May 4, 1775. James farmed the land that was originally granted to his father for the rest of his life. The couple had seven sons and one daughter. James died June 24, 1855, and his wife Sarah died September 23, 1855. I've found no records indicating where they are interred in Clermont County. It is possible they are on a small, unrecorded, family plot.
Hatton Simmons was one of the seven sons born to James and Sarah Simmons. He was born July 26, 1800, at Bull Skin Creek in Franklin Township in Clermont County, Ohio. He married Esther Nichols February 12, 1824. Esther Nichols was born in West Virginia on June 1, 1796. He attended Farmers College near Cincinnati and farmed the family farm in Laurel, Clermont County, Ohio. The couple had three sons and two daughters. Esther died February 16, 1864. Hatton died October 16, 1886. Hatton and Esther are both interred at the Laurel Cemetery, Clermont County, Ohio.