Simmons-Nevells Homestead (HOM.40)

Simmons-Nevells Homestead

The central low wall cape of this long house on a gentle rise above Reach Road was built in the early 1800s and in 1863 the property was sold to Captain William Grindal Simmons (1823-1882) and his wife Susan W. Billings (1825-1912). Their descendants lived in the home until 1948 when it was sold to Mary Elizabeth Davis of Pennsylvania.

In her book, Sargentville Historical Reminiscences, Abby Sargent Neese writes, “William Simmons says that the long, low ell house where Charles and Clara Simmons and Hattie Nevells lived was built by a Mr. Harding and bought by Will’s grandfather.  Originally I understand it was a one family house but when I was a child, Hattie Nevells lived in the eastern end.”[1]

A review of the old deeds for the house shows that, in fact, it was purchased in 1863 by William’s grandfather William Grindal Simmons from Elsy Harding [2]. Captain William Simmons, a schooner master, lived there with his wife Susan during which time they had three children, Charles A, (1846-1932), Herbert (1849-1927) and Hattie E. (1858-1952).

Captain Simmons died in 1892 and in1894 Susan sold the house to their children Charles and Hattie.  The property transfer was somewhat unique in that each child got one half of the property and house with the division “passing through the center of the front door in the dwelling house”.[3]

Hattie and her husband Arthur M. Nevells got “2 acres 141 square rods more or less with the South Eastern half of the house ell, wood house & barn situated theron”.

The portion allotted to Charles and his wife Susan Clara Peters is best described in the deed as, “Beginning at the stake and stones on the north side of the town rod leading from Sedgwick Villags to Sargentville at the north corner of land of Hattie E. Nevells: thence on said land N 53 ½ N 7 rods & 5 links to land formerly owned by Daniel Eaton to a spotted tree: thenceby said Eatons land N 50 ¾ E 21 rods 7 8 links to stake and stones thence by the land of said Hattie E Nevells S 53 ½ E, 6 rods to stake or stones: thence by said Nevells S 50 ½ West15 rods& 2 links to the north side  land of the house from thence through said house passing through the center of the front door S 40 ½ W 6 rods to the first mentioned bound containing 147 square rods more or less with the North Western half of the house situated thereon.”

In 1930 Charles sold his half of the house to Walter H. Cousins and in 1936 Hattie sold her half to her sons Walter M. and Irving L. Nevells. [4]

This unique housing arrangement continued for a time but in 1944 Walter Nevells bought out the Walter Cousins family and in 1948 the Nevells brothers consolidated the properties and sold them as a single home to Mary Elizabeth Davis of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.[5]

In the years since the house has had improvements but retains its classic lines.

[1] Neese, Abby Sargent, Sargentville Historical Reminiscences, page 44, Courier-Gazette, Inc., Rockland, Maine, 1975

[2] Book 128, Page 86,  Hancock County Registry of Deeds

[3] Book 570, page 65, Book 298, Page 513, Ibid.

[4] Book 629, Page 392, Book 717, Page 176, Ibid.

[5] Book 724, Page 99