Background
He was born in Portland (later Saint John, New Brunswick), the son of James Simonds and Hannah Peabody, and was educated there.
He was born in Portland (later Saint John, New Brunswick), the son of James Simonds and Hannah Peabody, and was educated there.
He represented Northumberland County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1816 to 1828. Simonds served as a justice of the peace and justice for the Inferior Court of Common Pleas. In 1824, he moved from Miramichi to Saint John.
He was elected Speaker for the Legislative Assembly in 1828 but resigned his seat in December of the same year after being named Provincial Treasurer.
In 1832, still provincial treasurer, he was named to the Legislative Council of New Brunswick. He died in Saint John at the age of 47.