Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 243, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 October 1910 — A Comer in Ancestors [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A Comer in Ancestors

By ELEANOR LEXINGTON

Simpson Family (Copyright by McClure Syndicate)

Simon’s 6on easily becomes Simson, Simpson or Sympson. Another orthography is Simptsen. One branch of the Simpsons dates to time of Edward the Confessor, and from Archil, a Saxon thane. He possessed the manor of Clint, in Yorkshire, where, his descendants living In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, called themselves "de Clynt.” One of the family was Symon, son of William de Clynt, 1300. Symon’s son came to be known as Symson. If this tradition is as true as it is interesting, the first Simpson were de Clynts. “Quite aristocratic!” do you say? Yes, indeed. Sims, Simes and Symonds are said to be variations of the name Simpson, or like it. They trace back to “Simon’s son.” Simpson Is the name of a parish in Buckingham, and at Knaresborough, is one seat of the Simpsons. Another, Is Foston Hall, Yorkshire. Searching the records, for early fathers, we find that John Simpson came over in the “Truelove,” 1635, with wife Susanna. They had six children, and after John’s death, his

widow became the wife of George Parkhurst. Watertown, Mass., was the home of John and Susanna. Francis Simpson of Salem was "worried as a Quaker." 'This was about 1648. Alexander of Boston, 1659, was bom in Scotland, which was also the native land of Andrew, who was living in Boston, 1725. He married Elizabeth Patten, and they became founders of the New Hampshire branch of the Simpsons, making their home at Nottingham, N. H.

Andrew Simpson had eight children; one was Josiah, a brave soldier in the French and Indian war, and the Revolution. He removed to Maine and was the father of ten children, some of whom became founders of the family in far western states. Andrew and brother Thomas were “agents of the towns of Nottingham and Deerfield.” Heitman’s “Officers of the American Revolution,” gives the names of Ensign Andrew Simpson, 119-’81; Surgeon John t>f Connecticut, and Captain Thomas of New Hampshire. Captain Michael Simpson was also a member of the Continental army, and , with Arnold at Quebec. Michael, one of nine children, was the son of the Immigrant Thomas, who was the son of John, born in Scotland, but who lived and died in Ireland. His two sons, Thomas, just named, and John came to America, 1720, and settled in Chester county, Pennsylvania. Michael, the soldier, became the owner of land, and a ferry in York county, Pennsylvania! —Simpson's ferry, It was called. Another patriot was George Simp* son of the Pennsylvania branch. The Simpsons of New England were no less patriotic than their brethren of Pennsylvania. When the news of Lexington reached Deerfield Major John Simpson shouldered his gun. The Simpsons are prominent In Virginia, and related to the Peytons, who numbered many Revolutionary soldiers, and received large grants of land in Virginia, for services in the war. Among marriage connections in Pennsylvania, are the McLeans, Murrays, Hamlltons, Espy? and Elders. Sarah, daughter of Mary Simpson, and Rev. John Elder, married Gen. James Wallace, who was prominent ,ln the Revolution, and member of the house of representatives. Arms are blazoned for the Simpsons, and Slmsons, also the Symsons of Buckingham, Dunham, York, Litchfield, London afsl Scotland and Ireland. The one Illustrated is:: Argent; on a chief indented, vert, three crescents of the first Crest: A crescent or. Motto: Tandem Implebltur— at length he shall be filled. Other mottoes of the family are: Je Suls Pret —I am ready. Nunquam Obllvlscor —I will never forget; Perseverantl Dabltur —it will be given to the persevering; Alls Nutrior—l am fed by birds. The coat-of-arms of the Scottish branch Is similar to the .one Illustrated. It is argent; on a chief, vert three crescents of the first. Crest: a falcon, proper. Motto: Alls Nutrior. The motto shown with the illustration is also used by Scottish Simpsons.