For years, I have been trying to determine what happened to the land in Hanover Row, Portsea, England. This land that was mentioned in my immigrant's 1795 will. This land, that was also mentioned in an 1842 will of John SYMMONS in Portsea.
I've seen maps and determined from kind helpmates over the pond that Hanover Row was demolished in 1874. Now, that is an interesting date. Why?
Just in the last week or so, I found yet another will from a grandson of the 1795 will of John SIMMONS. This grandson, Charles William SIMMONS (1801-1874), will is written in 1871 and it specifically mentions the land in Portsea that he had inherited from his father. By the way, his father was William SIMMONS (d. 1825), appointed by the President, yes, President George WASHINGTON as the accountant for the War Department.
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| Charles W Simmons, Probated Will in CA |
But back to Charles--- his will is written in 1871 while he is still living in Boone Co, Iowa. It is not probated until 1874, when he dies in Lower Lake, Lake, CA.
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| Close up of will documenting the land in question |
For whatever reason, Charles thinks he has a share of the land in Portsea and another treasure trove in San Domingo, where his maternal grandfather, Jean Baptiste BERTRAND de LaSTRANGE de LaPOINTE was supposedly given something by the French government after some Revolution? Boy, do I have homework to do!
I still can't find out what happened to the land in Portsea! I guess I need to feel the dirt to finally find it! Who authorized demolishing of Hanover Row? Who agreed? Or was it just done?
Ahh, genealogy. Guess I need to sift that dirt through my fingers before I can really believe I found it. But, wait.... does that mean my share of it is... lying in the grave?
©2017 AS Eldredge
Sources:
Probate Records; Author: California Superior Court (Lake County); Probate Place; Lake, California
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