Family History Biographies

Bill Havens was born July 19, 1870, the son of the Rev. Jefferson Hill Havens and Mary Jane Roberts Havens. He was born at the old Taylor place north of Vancleave. According to Cyril Cain, he was named for his uncle Randall Roberts.

The son of Native American parents, William was probably born in Georgia. Because the Creek Confederation (or Muskogees) controlled SE Alabama and SW Georgia where they lived, they were probably members of that group. Barbour Co, AL, where he married, was a part of the Lower Creek nation, specifically the Sawokli tribe. The map (figure 1) shows the relationships of neighboring tribes. In 1832 the Sawokli included 2 chiefs and 56 families, according to F. W. Hodge. William was probably part of one of those families.

William was born in 1851 in Choctaw Co., AL the second child of Robert F. Sims (b. 1826 in AL) and Susan Ellen Mozingo Sims (b. May 16, 1829 in AL). His known grandparents were Benjamin & Narcissa Sims.

Waldo was born May 20, 1880 the sixth child and second son of Robert and Elizabeth Campbell Sims. He was born in Choctaw Co., AL.

Vincent was born Dec. 4, 1891 in Moss Point, MS, the youngest child of Antonio and Isabella Gaballin Torres. He had six older brothers and three older sisters. In 1900 the following children were present in the household: Tony J. (b. Mar 1871), Mary (b. Feb 1874), Theresa (b. Jan 1878, Joe (b. Apr 1880), Bella (b. Dec 1881), John (b. Mar 1886), Migille (a boy) (b. Dec 1887), and Vincent.

Victor was born September 22, 1908 in Eastabutchie, MS, the second child and second son of Waldo and Idell Nixon Sims. Dr. Gardner delivered the baby.

St. Cyr (pronounced Sancher or Sancere) was born August 11, 1827. He was the fifth son of St. Cyr Seymour (b. 1788) and Marie Joseph Ryan Seymour (b. Mar 17, 1786).

Susan was born May 15, 1812, in North Carolina. She had a twin sister, Sophia. Her dad, whose name is unknown, was born in North Carolina. In 1820 when the twins would have been 8, in Bladen Co., NC (a possible birthplace) only Stephen Hester and Thomas Hester, Jr had 2 girls under 10 in their households. In 1830 when they would have been 18, only Thomas Hester, Sr. (aged 70 to 80) and his wife Rebecca Hester had 2 girls 15 to 20 in their household. They were possibly the twins grandparents.

St. Cyr (pronounced Sancher or Sancere) was born in 1788 the only child of Jose Zamora (or Charles LeBlanc) and Genevieve Baudreau. They were married in 1783.

Born August 22, 1886, Solie was the fourth son and eighth child of Robert and Elizabeth Campbell Sims. The youngest child, he was born in Choctaw Co. in SW Alabama. Later he remarked that his mother's first words when she saw him were, "Somebody slipped a naked monkey in my bed!"

Sarah Jane was born in 1862 in Choctaw Co, AL. She was the third child of Harriet Amanda Sims Slaughter and James Slaughter.

Sarah was born in Marlboro Co., SC, between 1780 and 1793. She was possibly the daughter of John Pledger, the only Pledger listed in the 1790 census of the Cheraw District (which would later become Marlboro Co). Phillip Pledger, a pioneer in that area had sons John and Joseph. Perhaps Phillip was Sarah(s grandfather. In 1790 John(s household included 2 white males over 10 years of age, 2 under 10, 2 white females and 8 slaves.

Sarah was born in 1822 in North Carolina the daughter of Benjamin and Narcissa Sims.

Sarah was born in 1834? probably in SW Georgia. She and her older brother William Nixon (b. 1827), according to family legend were orphan Native Americans. Because SE Alabama and SW Georgia were controlled by Creeks, I assume that they were members of that tribe.

Sarah was born in 1835 in Bladen Co., NC, the oldest child of William Sims (b. 1805) and Susan Hester Sims (b. 1812). She was named for her father's mother, Sarah Sims.

Ruby was born in 1875 the fourth child and third daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Campbell Sims. She was born at what later became the Cooper Whigham farm in Womack Hill in Choctaw Co. in SW Alabama.

Ruby was born July 17, 1900, in Waynesboro, MS, the second daughter of Laura Sims Horton and John Horton.

The Robert Sims that resided in Bladen Co., NC in 1800 was possibly born about 1745.

Renie was the daughter of Jim Sims (b. 1850) and Betty Bazoon Sims (b. Nov 15, 1862; d. Nov 7, 1943). She was born in November 1883 in Choctaw County AL.

Reg was born Jan. 11, 1911, the second child and second son of Walter J. and Eunice Green. He was named for Walter's father, Jackson Green.