... Col. John Simpson, third child of William and Mary Simpson, born Nov. 17th, 1751, in Belfast, Ireland. At the age of 21 years he went to London, Eng., and there engaged in merchandising, and continued in this business until 1786, when he emigrated to Laurens County, S. C., following his parents and father's brothers.
In 1786, just previous to his leaving England, he married Mary Wells, of Burford Oxforshire, Engl, Sept. 21st, 1786. Mary Wells was the daughter of Richard and Jane (Ashmond) Wells, and was born Aug. 29th, 1754, died 1810, 56 years old.Six weeks after his marriage, Col. John Simpson emigrated to Laurens County, S. C., and settled in the Southern part of the county, and established a store at a place which was soon after called Belfast, by consent of the numerous emigrants who had colonized that neighborhood, from Belfast, Ireland. From this time 1787, at the age of 36, he continued to merchandise until his death, Sept. 16th, 1815, being 64 years old. After remaining a widower for two years, he married the widow of Judge John Hunter, who lived at Dunlapsville, 4 miles South of Clinton, Laurens County, S. C. She was the mother of five children: ...
... Col. John Simpson was very successful in business and amassed a large fortune, which he dispensed liberally in helping his relatives and providing for his children as they each married. At his death, he owned a large part of the town of Laurens, all of which, together with the remainder of his property, went to his two youngest sons, John W. and Richard F. Simpson, at that time 19 and 17 years of age respectively, and both being students at the South Carolina College.
He was very fond of his wife's sister's husband (John Franklin) and named his youngest son, Richard Franklin Simpson, after him.
Col. John Simpson was appointed about the year 1810 a Colonel of a Cavalry Regiment. He was an exemplary member and elder of the Little River Presbyterian Church, and the remains of both he and his wife, Mary Wells Simpson, are buried in the Cemetery of that Church.
