Simeon Simons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Simeon Simons
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|---|---|
| Pokanoket leader | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1759 Pachaug |
| Died | 1835 Connecticut |
| Children | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simeon_Simons |
Simeon Simon (1759-1835) was a special bodyguard for George Washington. He was also a leader, or chief, of the Pokanoket people.
Contents
Who Was Simeon Simon?
Simeon Simon was born in 1759 in a place called Pachaug, which is now part of Griswold, Connecticut. He lived during an important time, the French and Indian Wars. Simon passed away in 1835 when he was 76 years old.
Records show that Simeon Simon was a full-blooded American Indian from the Pokanoket Tribe. This tribe is part of the larger Wampanoag group.
Simeon's Family History
Simeon Simon had a very important family tree. He was a descendant of Massasoit, a famous Wampanoag chief. Massasoit was the leader when the Pilgrims first arrived in Massachusetts.
Simeon was also related to Massasoit's son, Metacomet. Metacomet is better known as King Philip. He was a key figure in a big conflict called King Philip's War.
Becoming George Washington's Bodyguard
Simeon Simon's birth records from his Revolutionary War Pension say he was born in Norwich, Connecticut. At that time, Norwich included parts of Griswold and other towns.
A local story from Griswold tells us about how Simon met George Washington. In June 1775, General George Washington was traveling to Boston. He stopped in Pachaug to rest.
Word quickly spread that Washington was in town. He saw a group of young men doing athletic exercises like jumping and wrestling. Simeon Simon was among them.
Washington was very impressed by Simon's strong and athletic way of moving. He called Simon to his room and asked him to be his personal bodyguard. Simon stayed with Washington throughout the entire American Revolutionary War.
Meeting the Marquis de Lafayette
Years later, on August 22, 1824, a French hero named the Marquis de Lafayette visited Johnson Tavern in Jewett City, Connecticut. Lafayette was a close friend of George Washington and a key figure in the Revolutionary War.
During his visit, Lafayette met many people who had known Washington during the war. Simeon Simon was one of these important individuals.
