Memorandum of the FitzSimons Family of Charleston, S.C.

Family Tree

Cashel Fitz Simons — m. — Catherine O’Callaghan

Their son Christopher Fitz Simons, born in Dundalk, Ireland, County of Louth, Dec. 27th 1762; died July 28th 1825. Married Aug. 3rd 1788 to Catherine Pritchard, born near Charleston, S.C., Aug. 19th 1772; died in Columbia, S.C., Dec. 11th 1841.

Their children:

1. Catherine — m. Gov. Hammond
   • Elizabeth — m. Eve
2. Christopher (2nd) — b. Jan. 10th 1802, d. Dec. 29th 1832 — m. Jan. 15th 1824 to Elizabeth Porcher Stoney (b. Aug. 30th 1806, d. 1873)
3. Ann — m. Col. Wade Hampton
4. Paul — m. Eleanor Nesbit White of Augusta, Ga.

Children of Christopher (2nd) and Elizabeth Porcher Stoney:

• Christopher (3rd) — m. Susan Milliken Barker → Christopher, Samuel Gaillard, Theodore Stoney, Seaman Sinkler, William Huger, Ellen Milliken, Gaillard Stoney
• Peter Gaillard — m. Julia White → Elizabeth Stoney (m. Wm. deC. Ravenel), Julia (m. Stanton Peele), Gaillard, Henry, William
• Catherine Ann — m. Dr. Robert W. Vaux → Edgar, Mary, Robert, Eliza Stoney (m. Edgar), Minnie (m. Reid Whitford), Lucy Huger, Cleland
• Paul — m. Martha Selina Ford, 1857 → Katherine Ann (m. George LaBruce, Nov. 20th 1877), Elizabeth (m. William H. Pinckney), Martha, Paul & John Ford (died in infancy), Pauline (died at 14 yrs), Eugenia Stoney

Margin notes:

Left margin: “Shown the slate of Augusta Aug. 7th 1788 — Married Christopher Fitz Simons of this city to Miss Catherine Pritchard, daughter of Mr. Paul Pritchard of Christ Church Parish.”

Right margin: “1st census taken in 1783 shows C. Fitz Simons owning house + slaves. This can be seen in Congressional Library in Washington.”

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The Memorandum

(Made by W. Huger Fitz Simons)

Christopher Fitz Simons, the emigrant founder of the family, was born in Dundalk, County of Louth, Ireland, 27th of Dec. 1762. He came to Charleston, S.C. in 1783 when 19 years of age, to inherit property left him by his uncle. This uncle, also named Christopher, was evidently a bachelor because he left his property to his nephew and niece. The will of this old uncle is recorded in the probate court, Charleston, S.C., in Will Book A, page 166. Christopher Fitz Simons, the emigrant, was the son of Cashel Fitz Simons and his wife Catherine — née O’Callaghan.

Christopher Fitz Simons, the emigrant, married Catherine Pritchard (daughter of Paul Pritchard and Anne, his wife) 3 August 1788. She was born Aug. 19th 1772. Christopher, the emigrant, and Catherine Fitz Simons (née Pritchard), his wife, are buried at what is known as the “Cottage” burial ground situated about 7 miles from Augusta, Ga., on what is known as the Sandersville road, adjoining property owned by Mr. Jacob Phinizy. Their graves are marked with suitable stones and inscriptions.

Christopher Fitz Simons, the emigrant, and his wife Catherine Fitz Simons had 10 children, viz: Cashel, who died aged 17 years, 8 months; Ann (who married Wade Hampton and who became the mother of Lieutenant-General Wade Hampton of the Confederacy); Christopher, who died an infant of 4 years and 4 months; Paul (ancestor of the Georgia Fitz Simons family); Christopher 2nd; Catherine, who died an infant of 15 months; John Adams, who died an infant of 1 month; Maria Adams, who died an infant of 10 months; Catherine (who married Gov. James H. Hammond and became the mother of the Hammond family).

All these children died under age except Ann Hampton, Paul Fitz Simons, Christopher Fitz Simons (the 2nd), and Catherine Hammond. The graves of Cashel Fitz Simons, the 1st little Christopher, and the 1st little Catherine are in the burial ground at the plantation on Hobcaw, Christ Church Parish, Charleston County, S.C., marked with suitable stones. This plantation is now owned by the Harlem Corporation. In this graveyard are also buried their grandparents, Paul and Ann Pritchard. The other children of the emigrant, viz: Christopher, Paul, Maria Adams, Anne, and John Adams, are buried at the “Cottage” burial ground near Augusta, Ga. Mrs. Hampton is, I presume, buried with the Hamptons in Columbia, S.C., and Mrs. Hammond at Beech Island, S.C.

Christopher Fitz Simons (the 2nd) married Elizabeth Porcher Stoney (daughter of Elizabeth Gaillard and John Stoney). Christopher Fitz Simons (2nd) died at Lexington, S.C. and is buried at “The Cottage” near Augusta, Ga. He died when he was aged 30 years, 11 months, and 19 days, and left a widow and four small children, viz: Christopher Fitz Simons (3rd), Peter Gaillard Fitz Simons, Catherine Ann, and Paul Fitz Simons. His widow, Elizabeth Porcher Fitz Simons, died June 13, 1873 and is buried in Prince George Winyah churchyard, Georgetown, S.C., but her grave is not marked by a stone.

The following is a copy of the inscription on the stone above the grave of Christopher Fitz Simons, the emigrant:

Sacred to the memory of Christopher Fitz Simons Esq., who departed this life on the 28th day of July 1825 in the 63rd year of his age.

“He has left a memory embalmed by every good deed, for he possessed all the qualities which adorn and dignify the character of a man: a sound judgment, and unswerving integrity, a warm heart, and a liberal hand. He was the able counselor and the ready friend of a numerous circle of acquaintance. His death is mourned as a public loss, and Oh what an aching void has it made in that family where he was a husband and a father. But our regrets are mingled with the hope of a blessed and interminable union in the mansions of our heavenly Father.”

Sacred to the memory of Catherine Fitz Simons, who was born near Charleston the 3rd Aug. 1772 and died in Columbia, S.C., on the 11th of December 1841.

She was for 37 years the consort of Christopher Fitz Simons, by the side of whose mortal remains hers are deposited. A purer and more perfect spirit [never] animated the human frame. A devout, ardent Christian, she gave her whole soul up to God. Yet she was alive to every duty of society, so [too] every sympathy of the human [heart]. She seemed to think that to love God was to love all his creatures — and that to serve them was to serve him. Cheerfully, actively, patiently, without an apparent trace of worldly selfishness, she performed her part through a long and chequered life and has left behind her an example without one [blemish?]…

[The inscription continues off the page.]