“Convict transported from England in 1813 for stealing jewellery from no less a personage than the Dowager Marchioness of Devonshire. He became a publican, auctioneer and eventually the owner of a well-stocked Sydney store. His brother Joseph came to Sydney as a free settler. He married a gentile.”869

John T. Thorley notes: "For a time the couple remained in the Richmond area. They ran a farm and also operated a tavern at Richmond. Later they moved to Sydney where James established himself as a trader, becoming one of the wealthiest and most successful in the colony, even to the point of becoming one of Sydney's first Jewish aldermen with the prospect of becoming mayor."363

He was elected Alderman in 1848.364

“James Simmons was also a dedicated supporter of Jewish causes, helping to found the Great Synagogue in Sydney (although his wife continued to adhere to her Anglican faith). He invested shrewdly in land in NSW and ran a large emporium in Sydney's Hunter Street, dealing in imported goods. 
 
A small (5' 3"), brown-eyed, ruddy-faced man, James Simmons had been born in London in 1795, the daughter of Nathan and Sarah Simmons, of Crown St, Soho. He had learned the trade of a calico glazier but was convicted of the crime of breaking and entering and theft at the Old Bailey in 1813, and transported to Sydney per the Marquis of Wellington in 1815. James was granted a convict ticket of leave in 1819 and is recorded as living in the Richmond district west of Sydney the following year, acquiring land and farming it (and meeting Agnes Thorley in the process). This enterprise provided him with the springboard to social respectability and subsequent wealth. James Simmons was granted an absolute pardon in 1842. He died on  2 May, 1849, in Sydney, and was buried in Sydney's Devonshire Street Cemetery. At the time of his death he was dwelling in O'Connell Street, Sydney.” 363

Note from Philip Cohen365

The children of James Simmons and Agnes (nee Thorley)
Sarah (c.1823–1890)—m. David Hart
Marriage: no notice found …
Death: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/108800696 Sydney News, 5 Feb 1890
Probate: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13767506 SMH, 22 Apr 1890
Child: John Hart (309/1845 V1845309 136): 
Court case: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/28420523 SMH, 31 Jul 1869
Joseph (Arthur?) (c.1827–1864) eldest son, m. Sarah Simmons, eldest daughter of Isaac Simmons
(Joseph had seven children, apparently …)
Marriage: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/12939595 SMH, 30 Aug 1852
Death: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13111110  SMH, 16 Dec 1864 (Joseph Arthur?)
Frances (c.1830–1910)—“second eldest daughter”; m. Roger Gadsden
Marriage: no notice found …
Death: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/15206066 SMH, 19 Aug 1910
Obituary: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/112332515 Wollondilly Press, 31 Aug 1910
Agnes (c.1831–1880)—“third daughter,” in 1850 m. James Simmons, eldest son of Isaac Simmons
Marriage: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/12920123 SMH, 9 Aug 1850
Death: no notice found, but she died 24 Apr 1880: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13485800
James’ death: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/163279188 Sydney Mail, 13 Jun 1885
Child: Nathan James Simmons: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13485800
David (c.1833–1850)—“third son”[?]; died at Armidale, aged 18 years. [who’s the “second” son?]
Death: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/12918674
Elizabeth (c.1835–1925) in 1855 m. Gustav Wangenheim (137/1855 V1855137 135)
Marriage: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/12965101 SMH, 2 Feb 1855
Death: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/113917712  Sydney News, 8 Aug 1925
Isaac (1836–1857)—“youngest son”, died, aged 21 years, as a result of the “Dunbar” tragedy.
Death: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/12999713