Sarah, wife of Moses Simmons (mtDNA)

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Status summary

Completed as of November 30, 2021:

  • Recruiting matrilineal (all female-line) descendants of Sarah for full mtDNA testing - anyone interested in submitting their DNA for testing should contact MayflowerDNA1620@gmail.com

Biography

First Generation

Sarah is believed to be daughter of Edmund Chandler by his first wife.[1] She was the wife[2] of Moses Simmons, married about 1632. Only one record gives her name: Moses sold land on 13 Dec 1660 “with consent of my wife Sarah”.[3] She was likely the mother of his seven children and she died Duxbury before 17 Jun 1689[4] Sarah & Moses had seven children (born Duxbury): Rebecca (c1635), Moses (c1637), Mary (c1638), John (c1646), Sarah (c1648), Elizabeth (c1651 m Richard Dwelley but only known to have had one son) and Aaron (c1653).

Second Generation

Rebecca Simmons[1] was born Duxbury abt 1635 and died there abt 1678. She married Duxbury abt 1656 John Soule and they had nine children (born Duxbury): Rebecca (c1657), James (1659), Sarah (c1660), Rachel (c1663), Aaron (c1664), Benjamin (c1665), Zachariah (c1669), Moses (c1672) and John (c1673).

Mary Simmons was born Duxbury abt 1638 and died Bridgewater aft 10 Mar 1697. She married Duxbury 1660 Joseph Alden and they had seven children (born Bridgewater): Sarah (1665), Isaac (c1666), Hopestill (1668), Joseph (1668), Mercy (1669), Elizabeth (1673) and John (c1674).

Sarah Simmons was born Duxbury abt 1648 and died there 17 Jun 1689. She married James Nash and they had at least Sarah b. 1669 Weymouth.

Third Generation

Rebecca Soule was born Duxbury abt 1657 and died Plympton 18 Nov 1732. She married Plymouth 13 Dec 1688 Edmund Weston and they had six children (born Plymouth, now Plympton): Nathan (1688/9), Zachariah (1690), Rebecca (1693 m Thomas Darling), John (1695), Edmund (1697) and Benjamin (1701).

Sarah Soule was born Duxbury abt 1660 and died Plymouth abt 1693. She married Plymouth abt 1679 Adam Wright and they had six children (born Plymouth): Esther (c1680 m Daniel Pratt), John (c1681), Mary (c1683 m Jeremiah Gifford), Isaac (1685/6), Rachel (c1689 m Ebenezer Barlow) and Sarah (c1692 m Seth Fuller).

Rachel Soule was born Duxbury abt 1663 and died Middleborough 18 Sep 1727. She married abt 1688 John Cobb (II) and they had five children (born Middleborough): John (1689), Martha (1691/2 m Ephraim Tinkham & Aaron Simmons), Patience (1693 m Samuel Tinkham, no children), James (1696) and Rachel (1702 m Moses Standish).


Sarah Alden was born Bridgewater abt 1665 and died prob. Taunton bef 29 Jun 1713. She married Taunton 24 Nov 1685 Joseph Crossman and they had four children (prob. born Taunton): Sarah (c1686 m Joseph Hayward [II]), Lydia (c1687, living unm. in 1713), Joseph (c1689) and Mary (1691 m Recompense Cary).

Mercy Alden was born Bridgewater abt 1669 and died aft 28 Jul 1727. She married Taunton 26 Jun 1688 John Burrill (III) and they had four children (born Weymouth): Elizabeth (1689-1714 unm.), Thomas (1692), John (1694) and Mary (1700 m Josiah Ripley).

Hopestill Alden was born Bridgewater abt 1671 and died Duxbury aft 18 Dec 1753. She married Joseph Snow and they had seven children (born Bridgewater): Joseph (1690), Mary (1691 m Joseph Lathrop, no ch.), James (1693), Rebecca (1696 m Thomas Wade), Isaac (1700), Jonathan (twin, 1703) and David (twin, 1703).

Elizabeth Alden was born Bridgewater in 1678 and died there 8 May 1705. She married (East) Bridgewater 12 Dec 1693 Benjamin Snow and they had five children (born Bridgewater): Rebekah (1694 m Ebenezer Campbell, likely no ch.), Benjamin (1696), Solomon (1698), Ebenezer (1701) and Elizabeth (1705 m Joseph Carver).


Sarah Nash was born Weymouth 21 Apr 1669. She married there bef 1687 William Drake (d. 1727) and they had eleven (or twelve) children: Sarah (1687 poss. d young), Abigail (1689 likely m. John Fowler), James (1691-b1704), William (1695 eldest son in father's will), Lydia (1698/9 m Zachariah Briggs), (poss.) Benjamin (1700 d.y.), Joseph (1702), James (1704), Rebecca (1706), Daniel (c1708), Benjamin (c1710 youngest son in father's will) and (poss.) Sarah (1712 m Nathaniel Easterbrooks).


  1. Wing, Raymond T. "Sarah, wife of Moses Simmons of Duxbury: A Possible Parentage", Mayflower Descendant Winter 2022 (vol. 70) pp. 42-46.
  2. At the present time, it is assumed she was the mother of all of Moses' children, but it is possible Moses may have had married multiple times.
  3. Mayflower Descendant 34:85 citing Plymouth Col. Land Records 3:24.
  4. She was not mentioned in her husband's will of this date.

mtDNA results TBD

To date, no known matrilineal (all female line) descendants of Sarah have published their mtDNA test results. Matrilineal descendants (ie individuals who believe their mother's mother's mother's etc. mother was Sarah, wife of Moses Simmons) are encouraged to contact MayflowerDNA1620@gmail.com. It is possible these mtDNA results may help identify the maiden name of Sarah.

References & External Links

  • Anderson, Robert Charles, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633 vol. 3, P-W. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA. 1995
  • Wing, Raymond T. "Sarah, wife of Moses Simmons of Duxbury: A Possible Parentage', Mayflower Descendant Winter 2022 (vol. 70) pp. 42-46.
  • Soule, John E. and Milton Terry (3rd edition revised by Louise Walsh Throop), Mayflower Families in Progress: George Soule of the Mayflower General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Plymouth, MA. 7th edition 2015.
  • Woodworth-Barnes, Esther Littleford, edited by Alicia Crane Williams, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, vol. 16 Alden General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Plymouth, MA. Part 1 (first four generations of descendants) 1999