Results of an Atlantic Mission search show several entries with a transportation entry and some American records sandwiched in the middle.
It appears that John ended up in America but where was he from? It is apparent that a John Simonds was banished as a Quaker after repeated transgressions. It is likely that entries before this relate to the one who was banished on the basis of escalated punishments.
Hertford County Gaol, Fore Street, Hertford
There is a1660 record for John Simonds in Worcestershire who was committed to prison for an illegal Quaker meeting. This could be our man but if we work back from a 1664 banishment, we see another two events in 1660 and 1662. Banishment usually took place after three transgressions. Quakers travelled the length and breadth of the country so it might be that the one in Worcestershire and Hertfordshire are one and the same. What this does, though, is limit the possible residential locations for researchers down to two locations. Either one should be reviewed but this is clearly preferable to having to search the whole of England. Moreover, we have a list of names associated with him who often turn out to be friends or relations. Probate, parish and Quaker records can be searched for marriage connections, witnesses and friends.
Simonds was listed on a patent dated 1662. We then have an entry for 1664 in which a John Simonds was transported from Bristol to Virginia. There are two patent entries and it is likely that the original one was sold on.
Old Port, Bristol
The following entries are found for a John Simonds or Simons. taking both surnames into account, we can see a pattern. There appear to be at least three individuals of the name with a number of entries each: John of Worcestershire; John of Hertfordshire; and John of Pembrokeshire, Wales.
| First | Surname | Year | Transit | Status | Type | Location | Town | County | Country | Punishment | Destination | Master Head |
| John | Simonds | 1660 | Britain | Quaker | Persecution | Worcestershire | England | |||||
| John | Simonds | 1660 | Britain | Quaker | Persecution | Hartford | Hartford | Hertfordshire | England | Imprisonment | ||
| John | Simons | 1661 | BRITAIN | Quaker | Persecution | Pembrokeshire | Wales | |||||
| John | Simons | 1662 | Atlantic | Servant | Voyage | Bristol | Bristol | Virginia | Virginia | Farclue | ||
| John | Simons | 1662 | Atlantic | Servant | Voyage | Bristol | Bristol | Virginia | Virginia | Bodenham | ||
| John | Simonds | 1662 | Britain | Quaker | Persecution | Hartford | Hartford | Hertfordshire | England | Released | ||
| John | Simons | 1662 | America | Civilian | Virginians | Virginia | Virginia | |||||
| John | Simons | 1663 | America | Quaker | Persecution | Americas | ||||||
| John | Simons | 1664 | America | Pioneer | Patent | New Kent Co. | Virginia | |||||
| John | Simons | 1664 | Atlantic | Transported | Voyage | New Kent Co. | Virginia | Hockady | ||||
| John | Simonds | 1678 | Britain | Quaker | Persecution | Pembrokeshire | Wales | Distraint | ||||
| John | Simonds | 1678 | Britain | Quaker | Persecution | Pembrokeshire | Wales | Distraint | ||||
| John | Simmons | 1681 | Britain | Quaker | Persecution | Newgate | Bristol | England | ||||
| John | Simonds | 1683 | Britain | Quaker | Persecution | Surrey | England | |||||
| John | Simons | 1683 | Britain | Quaker | Persecution | Cornwall | England | England | ||||
| John | Simonds | 1684 | Britain | Quaker | Persecution | Pembrokeshire | Wales | |||||
| John | Simonds | 1685 | Britain | Quaker | Persecution | Gloucestershire | England | |||||
| John | Simons | 1687 | Britain | Quaker | Persecution | Pembrokeshire | Wales |
In the same Month, for the same Cause, George Westwood, John King, Richard Thomas, William Fairman, Henry Sweeting, Francis Prior, Humble Thatcher, Henry Stout, Thomas Grigson, Thomas Prior, William Brown, William Markwell, Robert James, Nicholas Brown, Thomas Scott, John Simonds, William Woodfield, Joseph Shepherdson, Thomas Hill, and William Harwood, were taken out of their Meetings in Hartford, and sent to Prison. So that the Number of those who were taken out of their religious Meetings and committed to Goal in this Month only was ninety four Persons. Besides whom, Richard Martin, Thomas Sallett, Edward Fage, and John Hurst, were committed for refusing the Oath when tendred them at a Quarter Sessions, and Abraham Rutt, when tendred to him by two Justices.
(Sufferings, vol 1, page 242, par 3)
Note. Estimated dates of birth are included so that they can be incorporated in searches. Whilst some records have precise years of birth others are subject to wide estimates, determined by what we know. If we have an adult but have no other details, the range of birth years will be wide and less if we know that the relevant person is old, young, parent of a teenager etc.
Hertford Quaker Meeting House – Longest-lasting purpose-built Quaker meeting place still in use.
those released were William Hutchins, John Goodman, Robert Burrell, Edward Kemp, George Kemp, James Gray, Edward Gray, John Exton, Richard North, Robert Dimsdale, Simon Rutland, John Paine, Richard Day, Thomas Rush, Samuel Traherne, Thomas Traberne, Henry Welch, William Brown Jun. John Simonds, Thomas Grigson, Robert Cox, Robert Runnington, James Barnet, the Widow Pennington, John Goodal, and John Packer.
(Sufferings, vol 1, page 243, par 4)
Inside Hertford Quaker Meeting House
Agent or Master: John Farclue 20 May 1662 Imminent Voyage at Bristol Leaving England for Virginia
Re. patent dated 20/5/1662 (guidance only as voyages could take place well after the relevant patent date).
The Names of the Persons at BRISTOL, convicted in order to Banishment, during the Mayoralty of John Knight, in 1663 and 1664, as mentioned in the FIRST VOLUME , p. 51
(Sufferings, vol 1, pages 51 & 999, par 1)
1664 Patent: Mattaponi River, New Kent Co., Virginia
Par 3 Pg.563 LT. COL. WM. HOCKADY (Hockaday), 1000 acres New Kent Co., 31 Mar. 1664/5, p. 526, (644) . N. side of Mattapony Riv. & S. side of the maine sw. of Peanketank Riv., beg. at a cor. red oak at the maine sw., being Jno. Pig & Evan Davis their corner, running W. inclining Sly. &c. to Jno. Exolls Br. &c. Granted to Jno. Roberts 28 Sept. 1661, by him deserted & granted sd. Hockaday upon petition by order of the Govr. &c, dated with these presents, & further due for trans, of 20 pers: Mary Wiseman, Hanah Boyce, Peter Store, Jno. Evans, Peter Evans, Wm. Gosling, Ed. Ivery, Jno. Simons, Edward Jones, Mary Wms., Jno. Simpson, Edw. Vaughan, Jno. Townes, Matha Evans, Sarah Cooke, Tho. ap Tho., Mathew Beavis, Francis Deane, Jno. Tray, Henry Godyer
(Cavaliers, page 563, par 3)
Mattaponi River, Kent Co., Virginia
Other entries for John Simonds/Simons relate to one of that name in Pembrokeshire, no doubt useful information for someone with Welsh ancestors but not the one who crossed the Atlantic in 1664. There are entries for another Quaker in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Imprisonments
In Pembrookshire, on the 6th of the Month called August, Lewis David, and Susan his Wife, James Lewis, Alice Lewis, Evan John, and William Thomas, of Landewy, wore committed to Prison till the next Assizes, where they were required to give Security that they would not go to any more Meetings, which refusing to do, they were recommitted. Soon after ten others were sent to the same Prison, viz. Thomas Simons, and same his Wife, with their three Sons Hugh, John, and Evan; Ursula Simons, Laurence Edward, Henry Edward, David Edward, and Margaret Edward. The Usage they met with was very cruel, being imprisoned among Felons and Murderers, who took away their Food, pickt their Pockets, and many Ways abused them:
(Sufferings, vol 1, page 747, par 2)