Yes Bill, you found the Simmons from Southampton in Northampton County, NC.
Sue there are Baileys and Blows that are proven Nottoway…I have both these families in my lineage. I have about 5 lines that go back to the Nottoway and many others that go to the area of the Nottoways. Many of the families out of Southampton can later be found in Bertie, Northampton, Edgecombe, Gates and Halifax Counties in North Carolina. The Nottoway, Meherrin and Nansemond basicly stayed together over the years. Samuel Blow that purchased land from the Nottoway in that deed built Tower Hill on the land and the Nottoway were given continued rights to the property at least that is what family stories say. The Kello family bought it from the Blows after the Civil War. He has continued this tradition in fact the Nottoway have had meetings in the cottage on the property. See the Nottoway had the land and the Nansemond who didn’t go with the Christian Nansemond moved to the rez with the Nottoways. They are still together today mostly in Hertford County NC with many still in Southampton and still more in Halifax nd Edgecombe Counties. My cousin Talmedge Branch lives in Halifax County at least he did when I last saw him. I grew up around Sessums, Etheridges, Wynnes and Branches who all claimed native ancestry I have found i descend from ALL these families. The Sessums, Wynnes and Branches came out of the area that is now Southampton County. How I’m wondering if you aren’t possibly Nottoway too…what do you think?
Linda
