Henry Simpson (bef. 1618 - abt. 1648)

Born before 1618 in England

Husband of Jane (Norton) Bond — married about 1637 in York, Maine [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 1648 after about age 30 in York, York, Maine

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Henry Simpson migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 306) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Henry Simpson's birth date and location are unknown. It is assumed he was born in England.

Banks in "The Pioneers of York Maine" says Henry Simpson is not identified, but gives the theory that he came from Lancashire, perhaps in the company of Ralph Blaisdell. Robert Charles Anderson in his "Great Migration Newsletter" calls Banks "perverse in his attempt to construct a passenger list for the Angel Gabriel" and he also says that the family tradition about Blaisdell and Simpson arriving on the Angel Gabriel and their origin from Lancashire may be possible but is far from proven.^[1]

Henry Simpson was a widower when he migrated as his will speaks of "my nowe wiffe Jane," indicating a second marriage.^[2]There is no further information on his first wife.

At York, Maine he married Jane Norton abt. 1636/7 and received land from Mr. William Hooke as a marriage portion on March 13, 1638.^[3]This is the first record found for him in New England.^[2]Jane was the daughter of Lieutenant- Colonel Walter Norton and his second wife Elizabeth (Knight) Norton and was evidently much younger than him seeing she survived him forty years. At the time of her marriage, she was the step-daughter of William Hooke.^[2]

He sold land to George Puddington in 1640 and 1641 and his name is found in the Shuttleworth family accounts in co. Lancaster. He was associated with Ralph Blaisdell with whom his land abutted.^[3]

Henry was one of the eight aldermen of Agamenticus under the charter of Gorges in 1641 and was an attorney for Mr. Hooke in 1645.^[3]

Henry Simpson was ill and made his will on March 18, 1646-7 in which he gave his wife Jane half, and half to his son Henry and his unborn child. Overseers were his friends John Alcock, Edward Johnson, Abraham Preble, Richard Bands. His wife Jane was exec. Adm.^[3]Woodworking tools were listed in his inventory, suggesting he may have been a carpenter. However, also listed were a "swoard" and a "peece" (gun) which were military weapons usually not found in the inventory of a carpenter. Both his will and his inventory are printed on pp 111-113 in "History of York Maine"^[2]

Henry Simpson died between March 18, 1646/7 and March 31, 1648.^[2]

His widow married Nicholas Bond^[4] before May 1650.

In May 1650 she made a criminal charge against Robert Collins^[5]Her cousin Henry Norton testified on her behalf; Robert Collins was accused of assaulting her.^[6]At that time her children were mentioned and Henry was named the 'eldest boy.' In 1655 Henry was her only son; in December 1688 it is stated he had cared for his mother about 15 years and expected to continue.^[3]

Children of Henry and Jane Simpson

1. Henry Simpson who was born in 1644
2. Child who may have been born in 1647. Child is mentioned in Henry Simpson's will as "unborn." There is no record of the birth or survival.^[2]

Research Notes

The following paragraph was originally the first paragraph of the biography; it has been moved here since the information is unsourced:

"Henry Simpson was born in 1618 in Goosnargh, England. He arrived at the American Colonies on the "Angel Gabriel." That ship was wrecked in a hurricane off the coast of Pemaquid, Maine, on August 15, 1635. Many passengers came ashore to the small settlement at Pemaquid, but several crew members and passengers still onboard perished. Henry Simpson, along with the other passengers who survived went southward. Henry stopped at and remained at York, Maine."^[7]In a comment, Thomas Moody indicates this information may or may not be accurate.

Sources

1. ↑ Great Migration Newsletter, V.1-20.(Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2018.) Vol. 7, p. 24.subscription
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} Charles Edward Banks. "History of York Maine" Regional Publishing Company. Baltimore. (1967). Vol. 1, pp 110-113.see at hathitrust.org
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4} Sybil Noyes, Charles Libby, Walter Davis. "Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire." Southworth Press, 1928-1939. Vol. 5, p. 634. Sketch of Henry Simpson. see at FamilySearch.org
4. ↑ Sybil Noyes, Charles Libby, Walter Davis. "Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire." Southworth Press, 1928-1939. Vol. 2, p. 98. Sketch of Nicholas Bond.see at FamilySearch.org
5. ↑ Sybil Noyes, Charles Libby, Walter Davis. "Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire." Southworth Press, 1928-1939. Vol. 2, p. 159. Sketch of Robert Collins. See at FamilySearch.org
6. ↑ Sybil Noyes, Charles Libby, Walter Davis. "Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire." Southworth Press, (1928-1939) Vol. 2, p. 514 Sketch of Henry Norton.see at FamilySearch.org
7. ↑ information from the physical memorial at Premaquid Point, referenced by Thomas Moody.

• Personal research of Thomas Moody, unpublished

See also:

• Robert E. Moody. "The Letters of Thomas Gorges, Deputy Governor of the Province of Maine, 1640-1643." Maine Historical Society, Portland, Maine (1978). (copyright)