Person:Thomas Simpson (16)

About Thomas "Carpenter" Simpson

Thomas Simpson (referred to as Thomas Simpson, "Carpenter" in some records), is considered to be a son of John Simpson (commonly referred to as John Simpson, "Scotsman of Aquia" who lived in Stafford County, Virginia). According to Simpson researchers, he appears to have married a daughter of Thomas Baxter (either Elizabeth or Jane). Some claim that he may have had a second wife named Jane, which he named in his will, listed below. Thomas and his wife had five proven children which were named in his will:

1. William, named as eldest son, born abt. 1706, married Mary Ann Unknown abt. 1726.

2. Mary Woodward, daughter, b. bef. 1713.

3. Thomas, son, b. aft. 1717.

4. Baxter, son, (obviously named after his wife's family), b. aft. 1717.

5. Ann, daughter, b. aft. 1717.

Thomas' children, Baxter, Thomas and Ann were mentioned as being "under age 18" in his will, and were probably born within a few years after 1717. His son William and daughter Mary were obviously a few years older (Mary had married John Woodward before 1729).

Will of Thomas Simpson

Thomas Simpson “Carpenter” wrote his will on 13 October 1734, and was dead by 19 February 1734/35. (Prince William County, Virginia Wills C, 1734-1744:16-17). A transcript follows (transcribed by Erick Montgomery on Genforum.com post):

In the name of God Amen the thirteenth day of October in the year of our Lord 1734 I Thomas Simson of Prince William County Carpenter being very sick & weak of body but Perfect in mind and memory thanks be to Almighty God for it and calling to mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die I due make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, that is to say Principally and first of all I give and recomend my soul into the hands of Allmighty God that gave it and for my Body I recomend to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the descretion of my Executor nothing doubting but at the Generall resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty Power of God as touching such worly Estate where with it has pleased God to bless me with in this life I give desire and dispose of the same in the following manner and form. Item I give and bequeath unto my oldest son William Simson one hundred and twenty three acres of Land where he is now living on both sides of Sande run. Item I give and bequeath unto my son Baxter Simson two hundred acres of Land lying on both sides of Sande Run and adjoining to the to the Land aforesaid of my son William Simson on the uper side one breeding mare my bullet gun one bed bolster one rug and two blankets one Iron Pot six Plates and six spoons. Item I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Simson three hundred and Eighty Six Acres of Land lying on the South side of Chapawamsik Creek likewise one breeding mare one feather bed boulster rug and two blankets one Iron Pot six plates and six spoons. Item I give and bequeath unto my loving Daughter Mary Woodard one hundred Acres of Land where she is now seated and lying on the North side of Sande run to her and the heirs of her Body forever. Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Ann Simson after her mother in Laws deceas one cow and calf one feather bed boulster rug and two blankets. Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved Grand Children the son and Daughter of Mary Woodward Thomas Woodard and Ann Woodard one you a peace. Item I give and bequeath unto my ever loving wife Jane Simson all my Plantation and liberty of one hundred Acres of Land where I now live her life and after her deceas to fall to my son Baxter I also give her the Privileg of the whole track for Timber for the use of the Plantation I also leave my wife all my movable Estate except the legecies herein before mentioned and leave my Wife whole and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament and further I leave my three Children Baxter Simson and Thomas Simson to be brought up till they come to the age of Eighteen Years and likewise my Daughter Ann till she come of age by my wife Jane Simson I further leave my Daughter Ann to Mary Woodard in case her mother dies before she comes of age I further give unto my wife two negros During her life and after her decease for to be equally divided among my children and I due hereby utterly disallow revoke and disanol all and every other former Testaments Wills and Legecies bequests and Executors by me in any ways before this time named Willed and bequeathed & ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament in witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale the day and year above written sind sealed and Delivered in The Presence of us I desire my movable Estate may be invetored and returned and not aprased His

                                         Thomas T Simson (SEAL)

Tho.s ford Mark John Robertson her Mary + Evans Mark

At a Court held for Prince William County the Nineteenth Day of February 1734 This Will was presented into Court by Jane Simson executor therein named who made oath thereto and being proved by the oaths of Thomas Ford and John Robertson two of the witnesses thereto it is admitted to record and on the motion of the said Jane and her performing what is usual in such cases certificate is granted her for obtaining a probate thereof in due form

                                                Test Catesby Cocke Cl.

(Thomas Simson's Mark looked like a large T with a backwards S superimposed upon its leg).

Something can be assumed about this Thomas Simpson’s age by the relationships stated in his will. First, he was a grandfather. Assuming that his daughter was at least 15 years of age when she married, and that she was at least 18 years old by the time she had her second child, she should have been born no later than 1716, and possibly before since she was already a widow. This pushes Thomas Simpson “Carpenter’s” date of birth back into the 1690s, if not before. He therefore remains a possible candidate as the son of John Simpson, the Scotsman.

Information on Thomas Simpson

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mbonsal/simpson/zjohn1.html

Second Generation

2. Thomas SIMPSON (John) died 1735 in Prince Wm County, Virginia. Thomas married Jane ( ? ). They had the following children:

    +    8    M    i.   William SIMPSON was born about 1706.
    +    9    F    ii.  Mary SIMPSON.
    +    10   M    iii. Baxter SIMPSON was born after 1717.
         11   M    iv.  Thomas SIMPSON Jr..
         12   F    v.   Ann SIMPSON was born after 1717.

Possibly this Thomas Simpson:

Simpson-Woodward-Robertson Connection Posted by: Erick Montgomery Date: September 09, 2000 at 20:46:13 In Reply to: John Simpson "Scotsman", Fairfax Co. VA. by Rexene Ashford Ornauer of 7138

Thomas Simpson Woodward wrote the following, and it is from this source that the confusion about the first name of his great-grandmother apparently comes. Mr. Woodward in his reminiscences of 1858 recalled her name incorrectly as Elizabeth Simpson, when in fact his great-grandmother’s name was Mary Simpson, the daughter of Thomas Simpson, “Carpenter,” who died in Prince William County, Virginia in 1734. (See post number 3430 elsewhere on this forum).

Woodward's reminiscences of the Creek, or Muscogee Indians : contained in letters to friends in Georgia and Alabama / by Thomas S. Woodward ; with an appendix containing interesting matter relating to the general subject. Publisher Mobile, Ala. : Southern University Press, 1965.

WHEELING, WINN PARISH, LA. December 20, 1858. J.J. HOOPER, Esq.

“…My early ancestors of the name came from England, and settled in Maryland, under George Calverton, Baron of Baltimore. And near Annapolis, my great grandfather, Thomas Woodward, was born, and raised in Maryland. He raised a family of children by a first wife -- she died, and he went into Fairfax county, Virginia, and married my great grandmother, Elizabeth Simpson, the descendant of a Scotch family -- and Simpson is my middle name. Thomas Woodward and Elizabeth Simpson had one son, and called him Thomas, who was my grandfather. The old man returned to Maryland to move his other children to Virginia; he died on his visit to Maryland, and never returned, nor did his Maryland children ever get to Fairfax, but some years after their father's death, some of them went to Dinwiddy county, Virginia, and some to North Carolina; the North Carolina branch of the family has lost one letter in the name -- they spell the name with one W, instead of two…”

Although Thomas Simpson died in Prince William County in 1734, the land on Sandy Run that he devised to his children, among whom was Mary Woodward, fell into Fairfax County when it was created in 1742. The following deeds recorded in Fairfax County give the evidence that is needed to understand that Mary Woodward remarried to John Robertson, and that her son, Thomas Woodward (Jr.) was married to a woman named Jemima, and had a son named John.

(Fairfax Co., Va. DB B:342-343) June 21, 1748. James Scott of Dettingen Parish, Prince William County, Clerk, to Thomas Woodward of Fairfax County, planter in consideration of rents farm let ... plantation and Tract of land containing 188 acres being part of a larger tract belonging to James Scott on a hillside near branch of Bull Run during life of Thomas Woodward, Jemima, his wife, and John, his son after three years pay on feast of St. Luke the Evangelist being 18th October rent of 530 pounds of good and legal and merchantable Tobacco... Wits: Hugh West Junr., James Whealey, Richd. Simpson

(Fairfax Co., Va. DB D:351-353) On margin. "1757 Dec. lst Delivd Mary Robertson." Indenture 8th/9th November 1756 between Thomas Woodward of Fairfax, Planter, and John Robertson of same, Planter ... deeds of lease and release ... 15 pounds current money ... sold 100 acres on north side Sandy run being part of a larger tract containing 423 acres pattented by Thomas Simpson, Deceased & willed & bequeathed by said Thomas Simpson to his daughter, Mary Woodward, who is now espoused to said John Robertson. Wits: W. Barr, Thomas Ford, Joseph Jacobs /s/ Thomas (X) Woodward

      Thomas Withers Coffer                            /s/ Jemima (X) Woodward

(Fairfax Co., Va. DB D:353-357) On margin. "1758 Delivered to John Boggess"Indenture 20th/21st October 1756 between John Robertson Senr. and Mary, his wife, of Fairfax, to John Cargill of same, 16/9 current money for 123 acres...corner John Robertson's and Baxter Simpson's land...corner of Thos. Simpson, of James Roberts...Turley's rolling road...south side of Ox road; the same having been granted John Robertson from proprietors by deed dated November 28, 1742.* Wits: W. Barr, Thomas (X) Woodward /s/ John Robertson

      John (X) Tillett, Grace (X) Gossam                     /s/ Mary (X) Robertson

(Fairfax Co., Va. DB D:358-359) November 16, 1756. Thomas Woodward of Fairfax attorney in fact for Joseph Kirkland and William Kirkland of Province of South Carolina on this occasion especially appointed to James Warden of Charles County, Maryland ... for 15 pounds current money ... 250 acres in Fairfax on branches of Popes head run and Bull run being part of a larger tract formerly granted to William Kirkland, Father of said Joseph and William, now deceased, and James Smith by pattent from proprietors...September 22 1741 and by said William Kirkland devised to his sons parties to these presents ... corner to land of Revd. Alexander Scott and Hancock Lee, Gent., deceased...dividing line between James Smith and William Kirkland now Joseph Kirklands. No witnesses.

(Fairfax Co., Va. DB X:142-148) April 4, 1794. Drummond Wheeler and Jane his wife of Prince William County to William Mocbe Offutt, 75 pds. current money of Virginia for 100 acres, all that tract of land whereon Drummond Wheeler Junior lived last year and formerly the property of George Robertson, in Truro Parish, Fairfax County North side of Sandy Run which tract is part of a larger tract containing 423 acres and was taken up and Patented by Thomas Simpson, deceased, and at the time of his death did among other things will and bequeath the 100 acres of land to his Daughter, Mary Woodward, who afterwards intermarried with John Robertson, and by their Deeds of Lease and Release recorded in the County Court of Fairfax convey the same to George Robertson and by his Deed recorded in County of Fairfax did convey the same to Drummond Wheeler. Bounded: Begining at Simpson's corner on Sandy Run, thence up the Run with the meanders to Peyton's Line, thence with Peyton's Line to a box Oak corner to said Peyton and Richard Wheeler, thence with Wheeler's line to Baxter Simpson's corner and from thence to the begining; Wits: Charles Thrift, John (X) Simpson /s/ Drummond Wheeler

      Thomas Wheeler                                   /s/ Jane (mark) Wheeler

At a Court held for the County of Fairfax 19th May 1794 proved by Charles Thrift, John Simpson and Thomas Wheeler. Jane relinquished her dower rights in Prince William County, April 4, 1794.

So, you can see that Thomas Simpson Woodward was correct in most of his reminiscences, but not in the given name of his great grandmother, Mary Simpson Woodward Robertson. If you can find evidence that she indeed lived to the age of 114, I would be very interested in knowing that source of information.

Once again, I want to acknowledge the collaboration of Rhoda Fone and Mary Gregg in compiling this research.

Erick Montgomery Erickdm@@aol.com

Thomas Simpson son of John the Scot Posted by: Erick Montgomery Date: August 31, 2000 at 20:17:06 In Reply to: John Simpson "Scotsman" - Part One by Rhoda Fone of 7138

As a follow up to Rhoda’s excellent information on our ancestor, John Simpson, the Scotsman of Aquia, Stafford County, Virginia, I am submitting this additional information on his son, Thomas. I must acknowledge the collaborative effort of Mary Gregg and Rhoda Fone who have assisted me in properly and accurately interpreting the information that follows. I should also acknowledge Helen Meeks and the late Tom Meeks, who generously obtained copies of some of the courthouse documents cited below, and shared them with me.

We know that John the Scot had a son named Thomas from the deposition of Anne Gist, daughter of John Simpson, the Scotsman, as cited in Rhoda’s information. That is collaborated by the deposition of Catherine Halley, also cited by Rhoda.

Ann Gist stated in her 1769 deposition that “the next two eldest Brothers of John Simpson and Sons of John Simpson Scotsman died about 50 years ago (as well as she remembers).” This suggests that both Thomas and George Simpson died around 1719, although Ann admitted that it was a rough estimate. (Ref: Prince William County, Virginia Land Causes, 1789-1793:40-41)

Catherine Halley made her deposition regarding the Simpsons in 1790, stating “she frequently heard the said John Simpson say that he had two brothers, one by the name of Thomas, the other George, and that they were both dead and Richard Simpson was the youngest brother and the only one then living.” From this authoritative statement, we can infer that both Thomas and George Simpson were dead before 1740, when Catherine’s mother, the widow Silent Jeffries married John Simpson, Jr., son of the Scotsman. Since Catherine Halley lived in the household of John Simpson “for many years,” and did not remember either Thomas or George Simpson, brothers of her step-father, it seems certain that they both must have died in the 1730s or before. (Ref: Prince William County, Virginia Land Causes, 1789-1793:87-88, transcribed by Ruth and Sam Sparacio).

From the above, there seems to be no argument that John Simpson, the Scotsman had a son named Thomas, and that he died sometime before 1740. His birth certainly occurred after about 1680, the approximate year of birth of John Simpson, Jr., the eldest son, and before 1691, the year that Henry Thompson wrote his will and left property to “the three eldest sons now living of John Simpson in Aquia Creek Scotsman.” But which Thomas Simpson was our subject? The extant records of Stafford and Prince William Counties suggest that there were at least two candidates. One died before 1733 and the other died in 1734 or 1735. Either one of these could be the one, or he could have been neither of them. Evidence for the two that left information will follow.

The first Thomas Simpson in the area died before 16 August 1733, as proven in the following record:

      (Prince William Co., Va. DB ?B:98-100) Aug. 16, 1733. Wm. Hogan of Pr. Wm. & Elizabeth his wife to Mary Griffin of same, widdow, for 20 pds. current money, 409 acs. on the upper side of Piney Branch falling into Popes Head Run being one of the branches of Occoquan...granted to Walter Griffin dec'd., who by his last will devised it to Thos. Simpson for life who now being dead, the same reverts to Elizabeth as only sister & heir of sd. Walter ...deeds of lease & releas

Wits: Geo: Mason, Jas. Gib /s/ Wm. (W.H.) Hogan, Eliz. (E) Hogan

      W. Watson

Acknowledged Aug. 17, 1733

Unfortunately, the will of Walter Griffin does not survive, and nothing else is known of this Thomas Simpson. As can be seen from the above, this gives no hint of his age, but his relative obscurity might suggest that he was young when he died. Even the date of his death cannot be determined, except that he must have been living at the time Walter Griffin wrote his will. Since it is missing, we don’t know when that was, but we can say that Walter was living as late as 21 October 1728 when he received the following patent of land, which is the same parcel cites in the Hogan deed above:

(NN Pat Bk B:156) Oct. 21, 1728. Walter Griffen of Stafford Co., 409 acs. in Stafford on Piney Br. of Pope's Head Run of Occaquan.

Thus, we can say that the Thomas Simpson associated with the Griffins died after 21 October 1728, since this is the same tract that Walter Griffin willed to him for life; and this Thomas Simpson died before 16 August 1733, since William and Elizabeth Hogan stated that he was deceased at that time.

Whether Thomas Simpson was related to Walter Griffin is not stated, but seems possible. He apparently made another bequest in his now missing will to James Halley, who later stated that he was a nephew of Walter Griffin. The association with John Simpson, the Scotsman’s family should be noted here, in that James Halley (1707-1792) married in the early 1730s to Elizabeth Simpson (1717-1785), daughter of Richard Simpson and granddaughter of John Simpson, the Scotsman. It should also be noted that Walter Griffin was actually a Junior, and a son of Walter Griffin, Sr., of Stafford County, Virginia who married the widow of Thomas Baxter, Sr. This link will become more apparent when we discuss the second Thomas Simpson, below. Mary, the widow of Walter Griffin, Jr., remarried to Lewis Ellzey. They Ellzeys would remain associates of the descendants of John Simpson, the Scotsman, in Fairfax County, Virginia for many decades.

Most Simpson genealogists have assumed that the other Thomas Simpson, known as “Carpenter,” was the son of John Simpson, the Scotsman, primarily because the above mentioned Thomas Simpson was either unknown to them, or close enough examination had not been given to the precise dates involved with him. Perhaps it has been assumed that the two Thomas Simpsons were one and the same person. This, however, cannot be the case when closely comparing the extant records.

This Thomas Simpson , was granted 423 acres of land on both sides of Sandy Run in what was then Stafford County, Virginia on 6 June 1717 (Northern Neck Grants 5:141). Parts of this land would remain in possession of his direct descendants well into the 19th Century, providing clear evidence of their lineage in some of the latter deeds. This tract fell into Prince William County when it was created in 1730/31 and subsequently into Fairfax County in 1742, about seven years after Thomas’ death, as shown below.

At some point before his death, Thomas Simpson “Carpenter” came into possession of another parcel of 250 acres, located on Occoquan Bay. It was part of an old patent of Thomas Baxter, Sr., which had been regranted to Thomas Baxter, Jr. on 14 December 1703. (Northern Neck Grants 3:6). Thomas Simpson’s 250 acres was only a portion of Thomas Baxter’s total grant of 1,907 acres. It has been suggested that Thomas Simpson “Carpenter” may have married a daughter of Thomas Baxter, and that he was likely the builder of the oldest extant house in Fairfax County located on the same tract and later known as “Belmont Plantation.” (See Moxham, Belmont Plantation on the Occoquan, pp. 4-5). Although there does seem to be circumstantial evidence because of this parcel of land, and the fact that Thomas Simpson “Carpenter” named one of his sons Baxter Simpson, no documentation has surfaced to prove that such a marriage actually occurred. Thomas Simpson “Carpenter” sold this 250 acre tract on 28 May 1734 to Catesby Cocke, Esq. (Prince William County, Virginia Deeds B:284).

Just as the first discussed Thomas Simpson had obvious ties to the Baxter Family, so did Thomas Simpson, “Carpenter.” As shown above, he once owned part of a Baxter land patent, and he named a son Baxter. The descendants of Thomas Simpson, “Carpenter” were close associates and neighbors of Richard Simpson, the Scotsman’s youngest son, for several generations, and even intermarried in several instances. When Thomas Simpson, Jr. died in about 1740, his elder brother William Simpson was appointed administrator with Richard Simpson serving as William’s bondsman. (Prince William County, Virginia Wills C, 1734-1744, p. 269)

The first discussed Thomas Simpson left no evidence regarding his age that has surfaced so far. Unless evidence can be found that he was born after 1791, he also cannot be ruled out as a son of John Simpson, the Scotsman. It is sincerely hoped that additional documentation will come to light that will help to determine which Thomas is a son of the Scotsman, whether it be one of these two men, or another one still not identified.

Erick Montgomery Erickdm@@aol.com

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