William & Pennie Winn Simmons.
by Lisa Y. Henderson
WILLIAM and PENNIE WINN SIMMONS. William Simmons was born about 1837 in Sampson County to James Simmons and Winnie Medlin Simmons. Pennie Winn, born about 1844, probably in Wayne County, was the daughter of Gray Winn and Sallie Greenfield Winn.
In the 1850 census of Northern District, Sampson County: James Simmons, 52, ditcher, wife Winney, 40, and children Nancy, 17, Bryant, 15, William, 13, and Martha, 11.
In the 1850 census of South Side of the Neuse, Wayne County: Sally Winn, 30, and children Betsey, 14, Edw’d J., 12, Eliza, 10, Penny, 6, Ally, 4, and Washington, 1.
Fourth Generation Inclusive 
I was wondering if you have run across Martha & May Vick (mulatto twins) 1833 born, daughters of Celia Vick, 1800 from Nahunta, Wayne County, NC
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I’ve seen them only in the 1850 census. I did a master’s thesis on the involuntary apprenticeship of free children of color in Wayne County and, for a while, had every FCP in the 1850 and 1860 censuses memorized. However, I don’t think I know anything about their subsequent lives. Are you descended from one of them? I’ll keep an eye out for anything relevant to the family. — Lisa
Lisa, Yes she was my Great Great Grandmother Martha Vick McDonald. Family legend was she was mulatto from the Lumbee/Coree / lost colony people. She evidently died approx.1873 because my Great Grandfather was bonded to their friend at 6 years old. I would just love to find out more about her. I just joined 23 and me because a lot of the Vick clans test there. Thank you. -John
Celia Vick was one of several white women listed with mulatto children in the 1850 and 1860 censuses of Wayne County. I have been able to identify the fathers of a few of these children, but generally their identities remain a mystery. I am descended from at least three eastern NC white women who bore mixed-race children by men of color (whether black or Indian or an admixture with white, I don’t know), but I have not been able to identify their partners. My father inherited his mtDNA haplogroup, H3, from one of these women. –Lisa
[…] Pennie Simmons. Died 4 May 1936, South Clinton, Sampson County. Indian. Widow. Age 95. Born in NC to Gray Winn and Sallie Greenfield. Buried in family cemetery. Informant, J.G. Simmons. […]
Pennie was my great great grandmother!! So glad my niece is gathering this good info.
Thanks for taking time to read my blog. Glad it’s useful!