William Simpson (1774 - 1840)

Born 1774 in Fairfax, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Violet (Barker) Simpson — married 21 Nov 1803 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia

Descendants

Died Jun 1840 at about age 66 in Pittsylvania, Virginia, United States

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This profile is part of the Simpson Name Study.

Biography

The Simpson family was from Scotland (not Scotts-Irish) and received a land grant in Fairfax County, Virginia. William and Eleanor Barker of Fairfax County - will on Fairfax County, VA dated 3/13/1818. Burial: 3 miles east of Gretna1 acre forks of the SW and Middle branches of Stinking River (Creek) - S.W. side of Brushy Mtn.

Issue

William had 6 children:

• Dennis 1798 - 1838 single
• Presley
• David K. - 1807-1898 married Mary Baxter Saunders
• Thomas B. - 1810-1858 married Matilda E. Hines
• Stacy Violet - married Paschel Keatts
• Coleman

Slaves

• Boy: Peter
• Girl: Eliza
• Girl: Patience
• Girl: Chaney
• Girl: Anica

In the will Williams makes a statement: "The negroes I wish to remain on the plantation until all my crop is finished."

It appears that the image attached of a newspaper article in 1823 is not this William Simpson, but I added it because it must have been a cousin since it happened in the area the Simpsons were from.

Will

^[1] I William Simpson Senr of Pittsylvania Co and the State of Virginia being indisposed but of sound and disposing mind do hereby make this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following Viz.

• First I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Violet Simpson my house and 1 acre of land during her life and at her death go to Paskel Keatts my son in law and as much household and kitchen furniture as she may think proper to take to do as she please with and she is to have twenty dollars a year for her support from each legatee during her life if she needs it.
• Second I give to my son Presely Simpson one negro boy named Peter and fifty dollars.
• Third I give my son David (K.) Simpson my will my mill tract of land where he,now lives and he is to pay three hundred dollars to my estate and I give him a negro girl named Eliza.
• Fourth I give to my son Thomas B. Simpson the tract of land where he now lives and a negro girl named Patience.
• Fifth I give to my son Coleman Simpson the tract of land where he now lives and the adjoining tract of one hundred acres and a Negro girl named Chaney and he is to pay one hundred dollars into my estate.
• Sixth I give to my son in law Paskell (sic) Keatts the tract of land I now live on with the exception of the house and one acre of land as mentioned in the former part and I give to him my gray mare.
• Seventh I give to my daughter Stacy Keatts one negro girl named Anica to remain in her possession and her increase if any during life and at her death to go to my daughter Stacy's children. Any other Negroes I wish to remain on the plantation until the crop is finished.

The Balance of my Estate that I have not given together with the crop I wish to be sold and all money used have my debts paid and the balance of the money equaly divided amongst my five Children I constitute and appoint my son Presely Simpson my Executor to execute this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made as witness my hand and sel this 23rd Jun in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty. William Simpson (his mark) Seal William Dove Jr William May Edmund Johns

At a court held for the County of Pittsylvania the 19th day of October 1840 This last will and testament of William Simpson dec'd was proved by two subscribing witnesses and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Presley Simpson the executor in said will named made oath according to law and with David Simpson, Paschall Keats, William L Pannil(l) and Lynch Dillard, his securities entered into bond in the penalty of eight Thousand Dollars conditions as the Law requires certificate was granted him for obtaining probate of said Will in Due Form.

_________________

Brushy Mountain Simpsons

^[2] The old Scottish family clan of Pittsylvania County known as the Brushy Mountain Simpsons will hold their annual reunion as is their custom, on the last Sunday in August in the Ruritan community building in Grit.

A kinsman of the clan, Ricky Van Shelton, a "county music" songwriter and musician, has been requested by the family to compose a ballad about his ancestors, the Brushy Mountain Simpsons.

Shelton's mother, Mrs. Julia Eloise (Simpson) Shelton, is a daughter of the last Ernest Linmer Simpson (1881-1962) of the Midway Community: and his wife, Elena Maude (Yeatts) Simpson (1887-1957).

The first of this Simpson clan to settle in Pittsylvania County near the base of the south slope of Brushy Mountain, on the head-waters of Stinking River, in October, 1797 were Ernest Simpson's great, great grandparents, Thomas Simpson (I), (1750-1815) and his wife, Mary (Martin) Simpson: together with their grown children, among whom were: William Simpson (c 1776-1840) and wife, Violet (Barker) Simpson, John Simpson (c1776) and wife Theodosia, called "Dosha," Thomas Simpson II (1776-1862) and wife, Elizabeth (Barker) Simpson, Francis Simpson (c 1780), Stacy Simpson (c 1788), Hannah Simpson (c 1790).

After arrival in Pittsylvania County, Francis married Rita Shelton and Stacy married Azariah Doss who was re married to Mary Neal after Stacy died.

After the death of Elizabeth (Barker) Simpson, her husband, Thomas Simpson II was re married to Susan Wilson.

The two Barker women were sisters and their parents were William and Eleanor Barker of Fairfax County. (Ref. William Barker's will in the courthouse there, dated March 13, 1818, naming daughter Violet, and her husband William Simpson and daughter Elizabeth and her husband Thomas Simpson.)

After the death of the 4th great grandfather William Barker in 1819, his son Presley, was appointed administrator of the estate, and one of the accounts which he filed in the Fairfax County Courthouse listed, among other items, the cost of sugar and tea served to ladies at the funeral and one gallon of whiskey served to the men.

Thomas and Mary (Martin) Simpson formerly lived in Fairfax County. They sold their farm there on the "drains" (heads) of Pohick Creek on June 9, 1797 ^[3]before moving that autumn to Pittsylvania County.

Thomas was a great grandson of John Simpson (born c 1664) whose wife was a Thompson. John came over from Scotland and settled on Aquia Creek in Stafford County near present day I-95, a short distance south of the old Scottish settlement town of Dumfries. The graveyard of this family original home-place in America at Aquia Creek still has (a few years ago) some of the stones standing with names and dates on them.

John Simpson of Aquia Creek, who is listed in old records of Stafford County as "John Simpson, the Scotsman" also acquired grants to the north of his place, in that part of old Prince William County which was later formed into Fairfax County where the above mentioned Thomas Simpson was reared.

When Thomas Simpson and his family arrived in Pittsylvania County, he purchase his first land from Claibourne Shelton and October 13, 1797, a tract of 217 acres where the family erected a grist mill, and made their home on a knoll right in the forks of the southwest and middle branches of Stinking River, three miles east of the present day town of Gretna.

Though the southwest and middle branches of the stream at this point are only creek size, they are nevertheless referred in the early land deeds as a "river" because they are the two direct headwaters of same. These two head-branches of the river drain the south and west-southwest side of Brushy Mountain.

The stream's un-poetic name is due to the presence of strong odor of sulfur minerals, which was more evident in times past than it is today. The aforementioned Ernest Simpson, who is also this writer's material grandfather, recalled a time when he would dip up a gourd of water from the spring and hold his nose while drinking it. But grandpa said it was powerfully good for folks with dandruff when the bathed in it.

When grandpa's grandpa, David K. Simpson (1807-1989), made his will, which is on file at the Pittsylvania County Courthouse in Will Book No. 4, page 228, he specified that the old family graveyard (where his parents William and Violet, and grandparents, Thomas and Mary were buried) be preserved as a one acre plot and not sold out of the family. And to this day, it has so remained, there in the forks of the river, on a knoll, in a copse of brushes in a field beside a rural road numbered 792, where the bones of so many of his family lie.

But, beginning with grandpa's father, George Unice Ellen Simpson (1853-=1934) and mother Sarah William (Hamlett) Simpson (1857-1929), the family began burials in the churchyard at Midway Baptist Church, one half mile to the east of the farm. George was one of the founding members of the church and its history book says that he named the church "Midway."

Concerning 4th great grandfather Thomas Simpson's wife, Mary, she was the daughter of John Martin, who also moved down to Pittsylvania County. Mary is named as one of his heirs in an old deed for estate division dated January 10, 1818, and is on file in the courthouse in Deed Book No. 21, page 249.

Thomas and Mary's son William, whose wife was Violet Barker had six children that survived to maturity: five of them were alive in 1840 when William made his will, giving to each the plantations of which they were then living. The will did not include the eldest son, Presley Simpson, who had already received his land by deed before the will was written.

The home tract was willed to daughter, Stacy, and her husband Paschael Keatts, excepting the home house and one acre set aside for the widow Violet, and as much as she "Violet" may think proper to take and do with as she pleases. And she is to have twenty dollars a year for her support from each legatee during her life, if she needs it.

William was a wealthy man, as the record shown, with much other property devised to his heirs. The will dated June 23, 1840, was recorded for probate on October 19 of that year, at Chatham in Book 1, page 412. William and Violet's son Dennis Simpson, born 1798, died single in 1838.

Note: William and Violet's daughter, Stacy Violet Simpson, who married Paschael Keatts, in not to be confused with her aunt Stacy Simpson who married Azriah Doss.

Presley Simpson, son of William and Violet, born Jan. 2, 1800, died Feb. 18, 1881; married Frances Jane Dalton. They are both buried at the old Simpson graveyard in the forks of Stinking River, but their farm was on Sycamore Creek, which drains the west/north-west side of Brushy Mountain. Among their children were:

* James W. Simpson, b June 27, 1822, d Nov. 4, 1848, less than six month after he married Sarah F. Franklin; * Presley B. Simpson, b June 27, 1824, d Feb. 19, 1842, age eighteen; * Malinda Simpson who married David Pigg and lived in Campbell County; Frances Jane Simpson, b Feb. 18, 1830, married first husband, Edward W. Adkerson, and afterward to her first cousin, Dennis H. Simpson, who was a son of Coleman C. and Cynthia Lucas (Hines) Simpson; Thomas B. Simpson, b 1833 (who is not to be confused with his uncle of the same name.)

• Abigall Simpson, b 1836, d 1913: Married first husband, Elbert J. Vaughan, b August 19, 1860, who was killed in a duel shortly after his twenty first birthday.

He had a dispute with Ham Yeatts over a local girl they both desired to court. To settle the matter they met on February 2, 1882 in front of a saloon that was down by the railroad tracks at Sycamore.

Ham was faster on the draw, and young Adkerson was taken to the old Simpson graveyard in the forks of Stinking River. I was told that Ham Yeatts, who is also my kinsman, was the last person hanged by the law in Pittsylvania County.

David K. Simpson, son of William and Violet, b Sept. 5, 1807, d Oct. 20, 1898. He was married to Mary Baxter Saunders, b April 13, 1813 and died July 3, 1903. These were the 2nd great grandparents of the writer, Guy Lewis. They inherited the old original home place at the forks of Stinking River. Their seven surviving children were:

* Gilley Wilmouth Simpson, b May 2, 1841, m David Frank Haley, Sr.

• Augustine B. Simpson, b Dec. 22, 1843, d Jan. 7, 1914, never married. Served as a private in Company "H", 21st Virginia Regiment, CSA;
• Lodrick K. Simpson, b Mar 31, 1846, d May 1928, m Jemima Evelyn Harvey. He served in Stuarts Brigade, 57th Cavalry Regiment, CSA;
• Hazletine Mildred Simpson, b Dec. 28, 1847, m Melchisedec J. Hines, called Dick Hines.
• Mary Alice Simpson, b August 11, 1850, d September 10, 1935, m Zacharias T. Hines, called "Zack Hines" and Mary Alice was called "Aunt Puss Hines;"
• George Unice Ellen Simpson, b June 24, 1853, d March 12, 1934, m Sarah William Hamlett. (Their son, Ernest Linmer Simpson was the grandfather of Guy Lewis.)
• David William Francis Simpson, b June 16, 1858, d April 6, 1917 while making his rounds as a rural mail carrier. He was found in his buggy and his horse was grazing in a wheat field.
• Thomas B. Simpson, son of William and Violet, b 1810, d Sept. 19, 1858, m Matilda E. Hines, b 1814 and called "Tilda"; they are buried on their farm which is higher upland on the middle fork of Stinking River, on the north side of Road No. 670 between Gretna and Midway. Among their children were:
• John Simpson, b 1833
• Jesse Milton Simpson, b May 1836, m Mary Mourning Pugh;
• Thomas Meekin Simpson, b 1840, d June 4, 1862 with measles at Richmond, VA;
• Minerva S. Simpson, b 1842, m first to Florence H. Walker and then to John H. Short;
• Elizabeth Ann Simpson "Betsy", b 1844, m Columbus Coleman Pugh;
• Isabella V. Simpson, b 1846, m Abner K. Milam;
• Mary E. Simpson, b 1849;
• James Preston Simpson, b May 5, 1851, d January 7, 1928, m Cornelia A. Merrick. Among their children was Frank Wooding Simpson, b July 17, 1888, d April 9 1966;
• Vidella J. Simpson, b 1855, d 1935, m Robert C. Scruggs, son of Coleman and Ann (L*

Adolphous Washington Simpson, b c 1857;

As previously mentioned, Thomas Simpson (II) who was born in 1778 and died in December 1862, married first, Elizabeth Barker and his second wife was Susan Wilson. He was an early day school master in the Midway community and had the following children by Elizabeth:

• Orlando Simpson, b August 17, 1797, never married and was a school teacher in Pittsylvania and Franklin Counties;
• Celestine Simpson, b April 14, 1799, m Leonard Saunders;
• Jesse B. Simpson, b July 9, 1801;
• Thomas Simpson (III) b November 5, 1803, m Elizabeth Anderson in Franklin County and next married Celia George in Pittsylvania County.
• Presley Simpson, b August 30, 1805 and died young, not to be confused with his first cousin Presley Simpson, son of William and Violet; Note: another child was born in 1807, and no name was recorded;
• William Simpson, b April 16, 1809, d March 9, 1884, m Martha Mayhew, lived in Pigg River District Pittsylvania County;
• Sarah Elizabeth Simpson, b August 20, 1810, m ??? Rouark and moved to Missouri;
• Mary "Polly" Simpson, b October 27, 1812, m John W. Barbour;
• James Simpson, b May 13, 1815, d at a young age;
• Robertson Simpson, b June 24, 1819, d before December 1862, married and left children, names unknown;
• Daniel S. Simpson, b June 16, 1819, m Marie Jane Bernard, lived in Franklin County;
• Eleanor "Nelly" Simpson, b June 19, 1821, d sometime after the 1850 census;
• Vincent R. Simpson, b September 17, 1824, m Frances T. Farmer. They moved from Pittsylvania County to Roanoke, Virginia; Note: The family of their son, John W. Simpson has the family bible that lists the above names and dates. A document on file in the Pittsylvania County Courthouse for division of the estate of the late Thomas Simpson II, lists his surviving sons and daughters and heirs of the deceased children by his first wife, Elizabeth, and also the names of the surviving sons and daughters by the second wife, Susan, whose children are also listed on the U S Census. A marriage agreement between Thomas Simpson and Susan Wilson was recorded in Deed Book No. 56, page 299.
• Thomas Simpson II lived to be 84 years of age and following children were born to him and his second wife, Susan Wilson'
• Levi Harrison Simpson, b January 20, 1841, d February 17, 1933, m Rebecca Elizabeth Croff, d July 1, 1840, d April 11, 1920;
• Peachy Gilmore Simpson, b March 1844, d 1918, m Mary Ann Mildred Taylor, b April 23, 1849, d April 11, 1925;
• Tempey Mason Simpson, b 1846, m Andrew J. Mays;
• Emily Anderson Simpson, b 1848, m Coleman H. Irby;
• Dinetia J. Simpson, b 1852, d 1944, m William H. Boaz.

The children of Harrison and Rebecca Elizabeth were as follows:

• Virginia A. Simpson, (no further information);
• Missouri T. Simpson, b January 6, 1866, d May 7, 1952;
• Thomas Jackson Simpson, b February 4, 1868, d June 4, 1927;
• Margaret M. Simpson, b December 27, 1870;
• Cynthia W. Simpson, b June 4, 1873, m William "Bill" Keesee;
• Columbus Washington Simpson, called "Lum", b November 8, 1975, d June 16, 1969, m Carrie Lee Tucks;
• Augusta A. Simpson, b April 7, 1877, d September 23, 1930, remained a spinster;
• Chesley Taylor Simpson, b September 27, 1881, d May 1, 1963, m Maude Tuck.

The children of Peachy and Mary Ann were as follows:

• Martha Ann Simpson, b 1871, m Walter Coles Dalton;
• Silas G. Simpson, b November 27, 1872, d July 19, 1941, m Celestine Hines, b July 1881;
• Moses J. Simpson, b 1874, d November 26, 1986;
• Ida Dickenson Simpson, b March 10, 1876, d October 2, 1964, m Robert Jackson Smith;
• Tippy Jane Simpson, b June 1878, m William Riley Mays;
• Ethel Mason Simpson, b November 18, 1881, d January 22, 1964, m Acie Thomas Colbert;
• Natalie Emma Simpson, b October 23, 1884, d July 17, 1970, m Charles Irvine Colbert;
• Pency Penick Simpson, b June 5, 1886, d November 12, 1953, m George Dove Merrick;
• Harriet M. Simpson, called "Hattie", b 1888, d November 25, 1910.

Note: The graveyard of Peachy Simpson and wife and others of this family is on their farm directly across the road from the Midway Baptist Church.

Sources

1. ↑ Will Book 1, pages 412-41 Pittsylvania Co VA
2. ↑ Legacy of Brushy Mountain Simpsons By Guy Lewis Star Tribune, Chatham, VA August 16, 1989f
3. ↑ (Deed Book Z, p 512,

• https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=GL18230826.2.12.1&srpos=4&e=--1787---1881--en-20--1--txt-txIN-simpson+barker-------
• genealogy research done by Mrs. Barbour M. Richards (Sylvia Moorefield) deceased
• See attached will