Susanna Simpson (abt. 1788 - abt. 1821)

Born about May 1788 in Keilhill, King Edward Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Wife of James Gemmill — married 18 Nov 1815 in Canongate, Edinburgh, Scotland

Descendants

Died about 1821 at about age 32 in Lanark Village, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: M. Scott Manning [send private message]

Biography

Born 1788 at Keilhill in King Edward Parish, Aberdeenshire, Susanna was the eldest daughter in a family of eleven children. Her parents, Alexander Simpson and Janet Gall, ran a family farm at Keilhill, a hamlet now on A947 about five km south of Banff.

She married James Gemmill ^[1][2] in Nov 1815 at Canongate, Edinburgh. They moved to Paisley where James was from, and where their two children, Mary and James, were born.^[3][4]

With the incentive of British government financial assistance, James and Susanna decided to immigrate to Canada. Sailing aboard the ship Earl of Buckinghamshire, they departed Greenock, Scotland at the end of April 1821. The ocean crossing brought them to Québec City by mid-June. Finally, on July 20 they arrived at the Lanark Military Settlement (later Lanark Village), a temporary encampment north of Perth in Lanark County.

Tragically, Susanna passed away while still at the camp. She was only 33. No doubt, the demanding 82-day journey took its toll, leaving her weak and more susceptible to illness. Her untimely death was mentioned in her son James' obituary.

Susanna never had a chance to create a new Canadian home for her young children. ^[5]

Brief bio by M. S. Manning, Susannah's 4G-Grandson.

Sources

1. ↑ Banns/Marriages Index Old Parish Registers Scotland Parish of Canongate Edinburgh 18 Nov 1815 James Gemmell and Susan Simpson 685/3 180 441 Canongate
2. ↑ Banns/Marriages abstract Old Parish Registers Scotland Parish of Canongate Edinburgh 18 Nov 1815 James Gemmell weaver No 191 High Street Canagate 2nd story and Susan Simpson Kings street Edinburgh daughter of the late Alexander Simpson farmer parish of King Edward gave up their names for marriage certified by Jas Stevenson Mason Fountainbridge and Hugh Millar Weaver No 3 South Back of Canongate
3. ↑ Baptisms/Births Index Old Parish Registers Scotland Parish of Paisley High Church 1816 Mary Veitch Gemmill daughter of James Gemmill/Susanna Simpson 24 Oct 1816 573/1 10 553 Paisley High Church
4. ↑ Baptisms/Births Index Old Parish Registers Scotland Parish of Paisley High Church 1818 James Gemmill son of James Gemmill and Susan Simpson 27 Dec 1818 573/1 10 578 Paisley High Church
5. ↑ Numerous Sources:
   • Bapt 20 May 1788 at King Edward parish, Re: ScotlandsPeople bapt record;
   • Paisley Townhead Emigrant Society records, Lanark Society Settlers;
   • Paisley High Church parish records;
   • Obituary of her son James, Almonte Gazette, 1899;
   • Plus extensive family history research.