History and Background |
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| This page is dedicated to my Mother and Father | ||
| Before I get started, I must say that I have been blessed with a very broad background and family history. Because both my mother and father come from very different walks of life, I have made a separate section for each of them. I hope that you enjoy this section as much as I enjoyed learning about my history throughout the years. | ||
My Mothers Background |
My Fathers Background |
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Ms. Jane F. Simons |
Mr. Eldon M. Simons |
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| Although my mothers family history is far different from my
father, non the less it is just as colorful. My Mothers family is originally from Oslo, Norway, But many of her family members have been in the United States when the country was very young. One of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence, John Hart is my Great (many times over) Grandfather. The site of his grave is located in Hopewell, New Jersey where my mother was raised. On January 17, 1939 my grandmother gave birth to her first child Jane F. Anderson. During her life in Hopewell, my mother was blessed to be in a place so rich in The United States history. She was able to see the roads that George Washington marched down during this country's independence and many other historical sites located in the state of New Jersey. Living all of her teen years in Hopewell, N.J. my mother eventually graduated from High School and began her college career at Drexel University in Pennsylvania. During her time there she became a member of Phi Mu Sorority and eventually treasurer. After receiving her bachelors degree in home economics, she decided to get her masters degree from the University of Wisconsin. Sometime after graduating from the University of Wisconsin, my mother decided to take a job oversees in the small island of Bermuda. During the 1960's, my mother and her friend moved to Bermuda to take jobs as secretary's for a local company. Fortunately for me, one of my fathers cousins was my mothers boss and eventually introduced my father and my mother. At the time that they met, my father was working as a treasure diver and owned a taxi cab company on the island. |
My fathers side of the family is originally from Portugal
many years ago, where my ancestors sat at the throne of the Portuguese Empire. My
family then migrated to the Azores (a small band of islands located off the coast of
Portugal). My Great Grandfather moved from the Azores in the second half of the 1800's to the Bermuda Islands when the English Government promised land to farm. At this time my Grandfather was a baby and my Grandmother wasn't even born yet. Eventually my Grandmother (born and raised in Bermuda) met my grandfather in the Seventh Day Adventist church in where he was Pastor. On July 17, 1923 my father was born in Bermuda. Leaving home when he was only 14 years old, he worked three jobs to support himself. When he was in his late teens, my father worked at a movie theater, as a mechanic working on small aircraft, and also washing dishes in the restaurant below his apartment in exchange for a meal. Eventually he achieved his childhood dream and learned how to fly. At this time he not only worked as a mechanic, but also a pilot for Bermuda Air Tours. During the late 1930's War broke out in Europe and several of my family members went to fight in the war. At this time my father was working for the Royal Navy as an Aircraft Mechanic. After the War had ended, my father got married and raised his wife's two kids (Bill and Suzan Williamson). Although they eventually got divorced, my father is still in contact with both of his step children from his first marriage. If one ever visits Bermuda, and the Royal Naval Dockyard, they will most likely be compelled to visit the Tuckers Treasure Exhibit. During his time in Bermuda, my father and his three close friends: Bob Canton, Donald Canton, and Teddy Tucker began to treasure dive off the coast of Bermuda. After searching several of over 400 ship wrecks, they finally found some gold coins, gold bars, and a gold Spanish cross enlaced with several precious stones. . It was also during this time that my mother met my father while she was working in Bermuda. |
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1966 |
| In 1966, my mother and father got married, and my father bought a home for my mother in Bermuda. A little over a year had gone by when my brother (David E. Simons) was born in Trenton, N.J. My father decided that he wanted both my brother and myself to have United States citizenship, so he flew my mother to her parents several weeks before she was due to give birth. Three years later, I was also borne on May 23, 1971 in Trenton N.J. After living in Bermuda for three years after I was born, my mother and father decide to move to Ft. Lauderdale, Fl so that we would have more opportunities in life. Since 1974, my parents have lived in the same home in the suburbs of Ft. Lauderdale. During this time, my father worked as a foreman for several different large marine company and made a name for himself in the boating community. My father is now retired, and my mother currently works for the Women's Correctional Institute in South Florida. I am happy to report that they are both doing well and still enjoying there lives. |