Papers of Edward Simms

This material is held atUniversity of Exeter Archives

Reference
- GB 29 EUL MS 204
Dates of Creation
- 1890 (late 20th century copy)
Name of Creator
- Edward Simms
Language of Material
- English
Physical Description
- One file.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of a photocopy of Simms' published poem 'Stanzas to the memory of Sir Walter Scott', with which is included a photocopy of a letter from Simms to Messrs. Black & Co., 31 July 1890. In this letter, Simms encloses the Stanzas for possible publication in a new edition of Lockhart's 'Life of Sir Walter Scott'.

Administrative / Biographical History

Edward Simms (c 1803-c 1897), clergyman, writer, was the only son of Samuel Simms of Bath, gent. He was educated at Wadham College, Oxford, graduating BA in 1827 and MA in 1830 (Crockfords; Alumni Oxon has respectively 1826 and 1829). He was ordained deacon in 1836, priest in 1837, and became curate of Dudley, Wilton, Wiltshire at the age of fifty. In 1856 he moved to Plaitford, Wiltshire, where he remained until 1860. Where he was in the period 1860-1870 is not clear; he was possibly in Sussex, as his son's entry in Alumni Oxon mentions him as being of 'Lindfield, Sussex, cler.' In 1870 he became vicar of Escot in Devon, a post which he retained until 1877. His various publications include: Holy thoughts and holy prayers (1848), Devout Musings on the Book of Psalms (1851), The first six books of the Iliad of Homer (1873), and [as William Edward Simms] A Spiritual Commentary on the Book of Psalms (1882). His Stanzas to the memory of Sir Walter Scott was privately printed in the 1890s. He retired to Bushey Park, Salterton, Devon, where he lived until his death. He was alive in 1896, but was deceased by 1898. His son Spencer Edward Simms (c 1862-1941) also became a clergyman, and for twenty years was rector of Charmouth.