James Simmons (1795–1849)
James Simmons was sentenced to life transportation for the theft of goods worth several thousands of pounds. He arrived in Sydney in 1815 aboard the Marquis of Wellington. He was described in the ship's indent as being 5 feet 3 inches (160 cms) tall; with a dark, ruddy complexion; light brown hair and hazel eyes. He was assigned as a servant to Francis Greenway, William Small and Henry Coleman in Richmond.
In November 1821 he received a beer licence for Richmond. He was granted a conditional pardon on 17 August 1825 and an absolute pardon on 29 March 1833. In 1828 he opened an auction room. He began to charter whole ships of cargo from England and visited that country in 1833, 1838 and 1842 to search for merchandise for his stores.
He also invested shrewdly in land in NSW and was elected as the first Jewish alderman of Sydney in 1848.
Related Entries in NCB Sites
- Simmons, Agnes (wife)
- Gadsden, Frances (daughter)
- Simmons, Agnes (daughter)
- Simmons, Joseph (son)
- Simmons, Isaac (son)
- Gibbes, Edmund Minto (son-in-law)
- Gadsden, Roger (son-in-law)
- Simmons, Sarah (mother)
- Simmons, Nathan (father)
- Thorley, Agnes (mother-in-law)
- Thorley, Samuel (father-in-law)
- Cohen, Elizabeth (sister)
- Solomon, Frances (sister)
- Simmons, Isaac (brother)
- Simmons, Joseph (brother)
- Thorley, Mary (sister-in-law)
- Simmons, Matilda (sister-in-law)
- Cohen, Henry Simeon (brother-in-law)
- Solomon, Elias (brother-in-law)
- Thorley, Philip (brother-in-law)
- Cohen, Sophia (niece)
- Marks, Hannah (niece)
- Nathan, Caroline (niece)
- Simmons, Sarah (niece)
- Solomon, Frances (niece)
- Levy, Jane (niece)
- Orr, Julia (niece)
- Simmons, Sophia (niece)
- Simmons, Jane (niece)
- Cohen, Samuel Henry (nephew)
- Cohen, Edward Aaron (nephew)
- Cohen, Philip (nephew)
- Cohen, Joseph (nephew)
- Simmons, James (nephew)
- Cohen, Lewis (nephew)
- Cohen, William (nephew)
- Simmons, James (nephew)
- Simmons, Barnett (nephew)
- Simmons, John (nephew)
- Simmons, Morris (nephew)
- Simmons, Joseph (nephew)
- Simmons, Nathan Julian (nephew)
- Cohen, Rebecca (niece by marriage)
- Barton, Margaret Isabella (niece by marriage)
- Simmons, Miriam Louise (niece by marriage)
- Cohen, Abraham (nephew by marriage)
- Thorley, Philip Thomas (nephew by marriage)
- Gibbes, George Jeffrey (grandson)
- Gibbes, Ernest Minto (grandson)
- Greenway, Francis (master)
- Small, William (master)
Citation details
'Simmons, James (1795–1849)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/simmons-james-16905/text36724, accessed 26 April 2024.
Life Summary [details]
Alternative Names
- Simons, James
Birth
1795
London,
Middlesex,
England
Death
2 May,
1849
(aged ~ 54)
Sydney,
New South Wales,
Australia
Cultural Heritage
Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.
Religious Influence
Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.