Thomas Oliver Simons

Sweden

General Notes

"The Family Legend: Thomas was born in Sweden. He started out at 12 years of age on ships as a cabin boy and worked his way up to be a Captain of a ship. He was tall with a big, red beard and lived into his eighties. He was converted to Catholicism by his wife Johannah and was so devout that in his old age, crippled by arthritus, he practically crawled his way to church each Sunday.
He met and married, Johannah Sullivan, when he stayed at the boarding
house of her mother, Ellen(Hurlihy or Hurlihey) Sullivan. The story goes
that Ellens husband, one Daniel Sullivan had died in Ireland and Ellen came to Bangor with her daughter Johannah (and possibly other children?)
and ran a boarding house for some years. Her husband Daniel was a school teacher.

The Facts: According to several census records for Bangor, Maine he was born in 1833 in Sweden, the town or city of birth remains unknown. Thomas was naturalized in Bangor, Maine at The General Court of Bangor on May 9, 1868. The courts records were supposedly transferred to the National Archives, but the papers have been lost. The index card file does show, however, that he came from the port of Goteburg in 1849 and went to Bangor, Maine. Thomas would have been only 16 years of age at the time and why he went to Bangor remains a mystery.
In Bangor he did marry Johannah who was born in Ireland in 1843 in
County Cork. Ellen was also born in County Cork, died 19/3/1872, and is
buried in Bangor. I have found her grave, but know nothing more about her life in Maine and nothing so far about the boarding house. No information is in my possession concerning Daniel Sullivan who was probably born around the turn of the century in County Cork, Ireland.
Thomas and Johannah(Hannah) had the following children all born at
Bangor: Joseph b.1863, John b.1866, Ellen b. 9/5/1869, James b. 14/5/1874, Henry b.1878, Rosie A. (my grandmother-she was a twin, but her sister died the same day.) b. 11/9/1883.

Thomas also enlisted in U.S Army March 1864 and was honorably
discharged in July 1866. However, I have not found any records. These
dates were listed in a book I found many years ago which listed all Simons or Simmons who were in the Civil War.

In the City Directory for Bangor and Brewer 1871/72 was found the
following: Simons, Thomas, riverman; h. Birch St., beyond Mt. Hope Ave.
Riverman? What does it mean? Was he some sort of pilot on the river near Bangor?

I have found four marriages for the children at the Augusta, Maine
archives: Ellen m. 26/6/1895 at Lewiston, ME to Edward J. Kelley who lived in Lowell, MA; Joseph m. 7/7/1896 at Lewiston, ME to Ellen J. Hannue; James m. 16/2/1897 at Lewiston to Edith Payne; and Rosie A. (my grandmother) m. 7/5/1905 at Lewiston to Davis. G. Perkins.

Lastly, I have found what I believe is his death record and, of course,
it contains very little information. He did not live into his eighties
since he died at Lewiston, Maine on 9/3/1906 where he evidently worked for the shoe factories. His parents are not listed nor is the town or city in
Sweden shown. I did find two of their sons in the Lewiston census, Joseph and James. Both of them worked in the shoe factory and were employed as lasters what ever that is. Henry and John have not been located.

This is where I stand at the moment so I am still pondering about what
to do next. Was he born in Goteburg(Gotesburg?) or did he just ship out
from there?"
--Ted Brassard

Click here for details of Thomas Oliver's family with Johannah Sullivan