| Birth | Alfred Simmons was born in England. |
| INFO | MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE. 1871 Marriage at St. Nicholas Church, Parish of Plumstead, Kent. #137. Married 8 Oct 1871. Alfred Simmons, full age, bachelor, gardener, residence Plumstead, father Edward Simmons, farmer. Emily Rose Farmer, 16, spinster, residence Plumstead, father George Thomas Farmer, carpenter. Married in the District Church acc. to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church by Banns. J.McAllister. Marriage between Alfred Simmons (his X mark) and Emily Rose Farmer [sic - not actual signature]. Witnesses George Phillips and Ann Irwin (her X mark). (GBCertMarONS 1871.) |
| Marriage | He married Emily Rose Farmar, daughter of George Thomas Farmar and Eliza Owen, 8 October 1871 in Plumstead, Kent, England. |
| INFO | CIV REG INDEX Marriage. 1871 DecQ. Emily Rose Farmer Woolwich 1d,1347. Spouse: Alfred Simmons. (FreeBMD.) |
| INFO | NEWSPAPER REPORT OF HOUSE FIRE. Otago Daily Times, 26 Jun 1876. "About twenty minutes to 11 o'clock last evening the North Dunedin firebell sounded an alarm . . .. The fire took place in Mr T. Allen's five-roomed house, near the Bowling Green, Cumberland street. The Brigade smartly arrived ... but they lost much time in getting the water into play, and then the hose burst. . . . At a quarter past eleven the shell and smouldering embers were all that remained of the house, which had been occupied by Mr. Alfred Simmons, the gardener, with his wife and two children. They retired to rest at nine o'clock... [later] Mrs. Simmons awoke and told her husband that she heard something crackling in the front room. Mr. Simmons ... found the room full of smoke. He scantily clothed himself and secured one of the children, while his wife took charge of the other. They had no time to save any of the furniture, which Mr Simmons valued at about £40. He also lost £5 in cash. In accordance with his usual custom, he had left a small fire and a lamp burning in the front room to accommodate Mr Allen, the seedsman, and owner of the house, who generally resides at the Forbury, but lodged with Mr Simmons when in town. Mr Simmons's goods were not insured. We understand that Mr Allen's loss is covered by insurance. Much damage was done to the plants in Mr Allen's garden by the large crowd that assembled." (OtagoDaTimPP 26 Jun , pa1876ge2.) |
| INFO | NEWSPAPER REPORT. Otago Daily Times, 15 Mar 1879. LEGAL NOTICES. In Bankruptcy. "THIS IS TO NOTIFY, that Alfred Simmons, of Caversham, Gardener, has This Day filed a statement in the Supreme Court at Dunedin that he is unable to meet his Engagements with his Creditors. The First Meeting of Creditoes is to e held at the Supreme Court-house, Dunedin, on SATURDAY, the fifteenth day of March instant at ten o'clock in the forenoon. Dated this 10th Day of March 1879. COLIN M. K. GORDON." (OtagoDaTimPP 12 Mar 1879, p.8) NOTE: also in the 15 March 1879 newspaper on page 3 is a listing of "New Insolvents", including Alfred Simmons. |
| INFO | NEWSPAPER REPORT. Otago Daily Times. Discharge of bankruptcy. 22 Dec 1879. LEGAL NOTICES. "NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on MONDAY, the 5th day of Jan, 1880, or so soon after as Counsel can be heard, Application will be made to the Supreme Court of New Zealand, at Dunedin... for an Order of Discharge for the abovenamed bankrupt." (OtagoDaTimPP 22 Dec 1879 p.1.) |
| INFO | NEWSPAPER REPORT. Otago Daily Times. 3 Feb 1880. Supreme Court in Bankruptcy. Mon. Feb. 2nd ... Orders of Discharge. "Final orders of discharge were granted in the following cases . . . Alfred Simmons " (OtagoDaTimPP 3 Feb 1880, p.3.) |
| INFO | EMPLOYMENT. When deposed as a witness for the 6 October 1881 trial, Alfred Simmons said, "I am a gardener, and reside in Dunedin. From March to June last [1880] I was living at Kaitangata. I was working for Mr. Allan, and have been working for him lately." (OtagoDaTimPP 7Oct 1881, p.2) NOTE: Alfred was also working for Mr. Allan in Dunedin in June 1876. See the report of the house fire on Cumberland Street. (OtagoDaTimPP 26 Jun 1876, page2.) |
| INFO | COURT CASE. Otago Daily Times, 3 Mar 1881, p.3. RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. Wed., 2nd March. "In the following cases the defendants did not appear, and judgment was given for the plaintiffs, with costs: . . . John Gray v. Alfred Simmons, £4 12s, rent due." (OtagoDTimPP.) |
| INFO | NEWSPAPER REPORT. 7 Oct 1881. Supreme Court -- Criminal Sittings, 6 Oct 1881. "Alleged Libel. Thomas Allan was charged with having written and published a false, scandalous, malicious and defamatory libel concerning J.M. Massey, the Town Clerk." [The newspaper report of the court proceedings is extensive and is only summarized here.] From about 1877, Allan and Massey were in business together as owners of a leasehold on High street, Dunedin, in which the Groves brothers operated a coach factory. Some details of the financing and insurance for the property are included. Allan alleges that in Jan 1879, Massey changed the insurance policies for their properties and showed the new policies to Allan. Massey said, "All right now; if we can only get up an honest fire we will get our money out of the insurance companies." Massey offered Allan money on at least two occasions to get the job done. The libel charge arises from a letter Allan wrote in April 1881 addressed to the Mayor and City Council of Dunedin to tell them of Massey’s proposed arson and accusing Massey of bribing the only witness to the arson proposal. Allan claimed the letter was not libel, but was published "for the public benefit" since Massey held the position of Town Clerk for the city of Dunedin. Massey brought the charge of libel against Allen. Alfred Simmons, who sometimes worked as a gardener for Allan, appeared in court as the witness in question. Massey presented to the court a memorandum signed by Alfred Simmons stating that he did not hear Massey propose arson to Allan. During his own testimony, Alfred did report hearing Massey’s proposal to Allan for an “honest fire.” The cross-examination of Alfred Simmons raised questions about his ability to read and write. Albert said he never had any education and that his wife spells for him when he writes. The degree to which he was drunk or sober during his visits to Massey and the payments he received from Massey for these visits were also issues during the testimony. The unreliability of the Simmons testimony was a major focus in the closing statement to the jury. The fire at Allan's home on Cumberland Street while the Simmons family resided there was noted during the trial, as was the fire at Allandale, another of Allan's insured properties. The trial ended with the jury verdict that there was no criminal libel. (OtagoDaTimPP 7Oct1881, p.2.) |
| INFO | NEWSPAPER REPORT. 19 Jan 1882 and 20 Jan 1882 . Supreme Court -- Civil Sittings, 18 Jan 1882. Massey v. Allan."An action to recover £2000 damages for alleged libel, and £500 special damages by reason of the deprivation of the plaintiff of his office as Town Clerk." The newspaper articles are a detailed summary of two days of court proceedings. This case is the civil version of the criminal case tried before the Supreme Court on 6 Oct 1881. The majority of the newspaper story is devoted to the extensive financial dealings between Thomas Allan and Joseph Morgan Massey. The involvement of Alfred Simmons in the case is mentioned, but Alfred was not called as a witness. The jury awarded £5 to the plaintiff. The judge said of the verdict: "...I must say that of all the odd verdicts juries have ever given this is cetainly the most curious. You are discharged." (OtagoDaTimPP 19Jan1882, p.3 and 20Jan1882, p.3.) |
| INFO | POLICE COURT NEWSPAPER REPORT. Otago Daily Times, regarding licensing violations. Court held 28 Mar 1882, reported in the newspaper 29 Mar 1882. Defendant Richard Hunter, licencee of the Railway Hotel, South Dunedin. Alfred Simmons was deposed and reported that on Sunday the 19th of March, he asked Hunter for a [free] pint of beer [since he knew Hunter cound not serve him on Sunday as a customer]. Also reported by Sergeant McDonald that the evening of the 19th three men (including Simmons) were served as travellers [who can legally be served on Sunday]. Simmons said he was not asked whether he was a traveller before he was served. A constable, also present the evening of the 19th, gave coroborative evidence. Hunter was fined 20s and costs. (OtagoDaTimPP 29 Mar 1882, page2.) |
| Death | Alfred Simmons died in New Zealand. |
Alfred Simmons