Maurice Simons was born on January 23, 1744 in St. Thomas and St. Denis Parish, Berkeley County, South Carolina. His parents were Benjamin Simons II and Ann Dewitt Keating. He married Mary Mitchell. Simons served as Colonel / Commandant of the Charles Town District Regiment of Militia from 1778 to 1780, and was taken prisoner when Charles Town fell on May 12, 1780. Hae had earlier served during the battle of Charleston Neck in 1779 and the Siege of Savannah, GA also in 1779.

In 1785, Simons testified against William Clay Snipes in a trial over money that Snipes owed to Simons. Snipes (earlier a Captain and a Major in SC Militia) soon challenged Maurice Simons to a duel, in which Simons was killed on November 12, 1785. He was buried in St. Philips Episcopal Church Cemetery in Charleston - however, his grave location has beeen lost to history. William Clay Snipes was convicted of manslaughter, but he was eventually pardoned by the governor.