Counting back the Irish...

My 8th Great Grandfather, Daniel Murphree, was born in Dublin, Ireland and died in Chatham, North Carolina.

Here is the line:

I am the daughter of Vickie Sims McAuley
Vickie is the daughter of Jane A. Murphree Sims (1927-2008)
Jane is the daughter of Fred Preston Murphree (1892 - 1959)
Fred is the son of Davis Lockhart Murphree (1861 - 1935)
Davis is the son of Stephen Barnett Murphree (1833-1869)
Stephen is the son of Ellis Murphree (1802-1892)
Ellis is the son of Daniel Murphree (1778-1854)
Daniel '78 is the son of Daniel Murphree (1747 - 1781)
Daniel '47 is the son of Daniel Murphree (1715-1771)
Daniel '15 married Sarah Dempsey in Dublin, Ireland

Candice Chenault

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We hope the luck of the Irish is with you!

Thanks to all our ancestry work, we can celebrate our Irish heritage! On Candice's maternal grandmother's side, there are strong Irish roots. The Murphree family (Irish enough, huh?) came over in the early to mid 1700s from Dublin, Ireland. Daniel Murphree and his wife Sarah Dempsey Muphree left Ireland sometime after their marriage and salting a family. They died in Chatham, North Carolina. Below is the legend of the Murphrees arriving in the Americas. 

LEGENDARY BEGINNING

One well-known legend traces the roots of the family tree to the household of Daniel and Sarah Dempsey (Rowland ?) in the 18th century Ireland. According to this tradidion, there was a rebellion in Ireland in the 1740's against British rule. Among those taking part in the uprising were seven sons of Daniel Murphry. When the rebels were suppressed, the Murphy boys fled from the British and found a sympathetic ship-captain who agreed to furnish them with passage to America. As the story goes, Daniel Murphy had all his property confiscated by the authorities even though he had not himself taken part in the uprising. Afterward it is said that he lived a wretched existence in a sod hut until his death in 1762 at over 80 years of age. Had seven sons, William, Nimrod, David, Solomon, Daniel, Mills and James. The came to America sometime between 1745 and 1755 and found a refuge from the British. The change in the spelling of their surname is said by some to have been to conceal their identity but others suggest that the use of "free" instead of "phy" in the name was in commemoration of their new-found freedom.

Sims line, following the fathers

Robert Doster Sims Sr, son of Ornie Lee Sims and Mable Edwina Jones

Ornie Lee Sims is the son of William Berkley Sims and Exa A Davis

William Berkley Sims is the son of Burkley Adison Sims and Arra Anna Allen
William

Burkley Adison Sims is the son of Burkley Sims and Mary Ann Strickland

Burkley Sims is the son of Charles W. Sims Jr. and Nancy Ward

Charles W. Sims is the son of Charles W. Sims Sr. and Esther Murray

Charles Sr. is the son of Adam Symes and Mary Isham (1860s, Virginia)

New Sims Info

Through Ancestry.com, Ruth Veillon and I have made contact. Below is her recent correspondence, which helps us go back one more step!

Hello Candice,

I wanted to let you know that I appreciated your response to my October 2011 message + your offer to share information. 

To get our connection, William B. Sims is my Great Grandfather. 

I see that you have info on 4 generations back for Exa Davis Sims. Great Grandmother Sims was living with my maternal grandmother, Alma Ruth Sims McIntyre, in New Orleans, at the time of her death. I remember Great Grandmother Sims - I was 14 when she died. I also remember Muriel Cleo Sims visiting in New Orleans. I believe that Muriel + Alma Ruth kept in touch. Uncle Curt (Curtis B. Sims) visited at my home in Lafayette, LA. 

I recently came across info that enabled me to fill out William Berkley Sims' Family Tree back 5 generations. You will be interested in this Sims' line. This is what I was specifically seeking, along with the Davis line. 

I was also seeking Sims photographs, for example, I was happy to find the Jane Savage Davis photo on Ancestry. I am fortunate to have a few interesting photographs left by my grandmother, Alma Ruth Sims McIntyre. In fact, one is dated Mar 6 1944, Tarrant Photo Service, Tarrant, Ala, of William Berkley Sims + Exa Davis Sims holding a photo of Robert Doster Sims. I also have a family portrait of the William Berkley Sims, Exa Davis Sims, Ornie, Agnis, Curtis + Alma as adults. I will place these on Ancestry when my printer/scanner is repaired + I can upload them.

Robert Doster Sims, Sr.

Robert Doster Sims, Sr.

1920-1979

Born September 4, 1920, Bob is the oldest child of Ornie Lee Sims and Mable Edwina Jones. I understand he was named Doster after the doctor who delivered him. He has two sisters Muriel Cleo Sims and Erin Sylvia Sims. Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, he grew up on 43rd Street. On December 30, 1941, Bob enlisted in the Army at the age of 21. He went to Shepherd Field in Witchita Falls, TX for Basic Training. He served in World War II as a pilot, and also was recalled for the Korean War.

At the age of 30, Bob married Jane Murphree. Three years later, they have a son, Robert Doster Sims Jr, whom they called Doss because Bob didn't want him to be called "Bobby." Three years later, they have a daughter, Vickie Lynn Sims.

Bob and Jane

Bob worked for Southern Natural his entire career. He was a tall, formidable man who I've been told was fair, just and humorous. Doss also says he was stern as a father, and has disciplinarian stories to accompany that trait! Bob was a talented craftsman, with an organized workshop at home. He was also a talent artist in printing. He loved his yard, his home, and his family.

Shortly after retirement, Bob passed away in October of 1979 of a heart attack at home. He had flown that day, and it is often said he must have died very happy.

He is survived by Jane Sims (wife), Doss Sims (son), Vickie (Whiting) McAuley (daughter), Candice (Whiting) Chenault (granddaughter).

Candice
*Family stories, Ancestry.com, and Census reports

Jane Adelene Murphree Sims

Jane Adelene Murphree Sims

Jane, born July 10 1927, is the daughter of Fred Preston Murphree and Opie L Chambers. Jane lived her childhood in Birmingham, Alabama, and raised her children in Birmingham, as well.

Jane's mother, Opie, passed away when Jane was just ten years old. Within a year, Fred remarried to Nellie M Boggs Dilger, who Jane was very fond of. Nellie had no children of her own. Jane credited Nellie with making her much of the wonderful mother and woman she was.

Jane and Nellie

Academically advanced, Jane was "double promoted" and graduated from Phillips High School when she was only 15 years old. In her youth, prior to marriage, she worked in a bank and would share wonderful stories of riding the street car to work and all the girls she worked with.

After marriage, to Robert "Bob" Doster Sims, she travelled with Bob who was in the military. They lived in Mississippi and other bases. (Family post and fill in here.)

Jane raised Vickie and Doss in a wonderful traditional family setting, and took care of all home and family matters. She kept a beautiful home, was an amazing cook whose oatmeal cookies and fried chicken were a family favorite, was always involved in church (Huffman United Methodist) and raised a God fearing family with very traditional southern values. She always looked beautiful, and was an avid fan of shoes and accessories. A vivacious force, Jane was filled with humor, grace, class, and confidence.

Jane 2004

At 52, Jane was widowed early when Bob passed away quite unexpectedly. Jane never entertained the idea of even dating any other man, nor did she slow down. Jane travelled with widowed friends and remained focused on family, now as a grandmother.

In August 2008, Jane passed away at home after a long battle with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. She is survived by Doss Sims (son), Vickie Sims McAuley (daughter), Candice Chenault (granddaughter), Stephanie Whiting (granddaughter), Doster Graham Chenault (great-grandson).

Candice

*Note to all readers: Jane was my grandmother, and its a terrible challenge to write in an appropriate historical manner, and not call her Mama. My Mama is one of my favorite people. She was beautiful, lively, direct but loving, and one of my best friends. I credit Mama with creating the beautiful family I adore and am proud of.

The beginning...

This family tree begins with the marriage of Robert Doster Sims, Sr. and Jane Adelene Murphree.

Bob and Jane were married in what appears to be a church (by pictures) with a reception following at home, in June of 1950. The raised two children, Doss (RDS Jr.) and Vickie Sims McAuley. They had two granddaughters, Candice and Stephanie.