Thomas Simpson (abt. 1760 - 1846)

Born about 7 Sep 1760 in Gerbity, Morayshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret (McLean) Simpson — married 13 Dec 1793 in Prince Edward Island

Descendants

Died 28 Nov 1846 at about age 86 in Cadman Corner, Botsford Parish, New Brunswick

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Biography

Was given a birth date of Sept 7, 1760 in Gerbity, Moray, Scotland by cousin J. Roy MacKay of Moncton NB who had all of the family tree and books from the first settlements in Canada. Thomas Simpson was baptised 22 Sep 1760 in the parish of Rothes, Moray, Scotland. ^[1]

Thomas was the second child and oldest son of William and Janet Simpson, born in Gerbity, Morayshire September 7, 1760. He died at Cadman Corner, NB December 28, 1845.

It will be remembered that in 1780 his father William leased land in Thomas name in Prince Town where he lived for a number of years. Here on December 13, 1793 he married Margaret McLean, whose home may have been across Richmond (Malpeque) Bay in Lot 16. We do not know the date other birth or death.

They remained in Prince Town for something over five years where probably four, perhaps five, of their children were born.

In 1797 settlers began to arrive between Cape Tormentine and Shemogue, New Brunswick establishing homes along the shore of Northumberland Strait. In 1805 the whole area was set apart as the Parish of Botsford and this name will appear in the record.

In 1799 Thomas and Margaret with their small family left Prince Town and crossed the Strait to Cape Tormenting with a view to establishing a home in the area a few miles to the west.

We have had available to us two authentic sources of information: First, SIMPSON FAMILY- Early Pioneers- An Interesting Sketch of their Early History- Sackville Pose, 1899 Second -A History and Story of Botsford- Written by W.M. Burns and Printed in the Sackville Tribune, 1933.

The record of Thomas and Margaret's family which follows is basically a composite of the above two records: Leaving his wife and children at Cape Tormentine, Simpson tramped through the pathless forest and around the shores seeking for a suitable spot on which to settle. He selected the place for a home and having made some temporary shelter, he returned to the Cape for his family which were conveyed to their new home by ox team, traveling around the shore, a distance of twenty miles. On the way, darkness came on and they camped for the night at what is now Murray Beach Park, near the old cemetery where their ashes repose today.

This veteran pioneer made for himself a home where he raised a family of thirteen children.

The site chosen was 350 acres on the shore of Little Shemogue Harbour near the head of the Harbour and between the entrances to the two rivers. It is on the present road about midway between Cadman and Chapman Corners. It is about fourteen miles west of Cape Tormentine by road. The last descendants to occupy the homestead were Charles Simpson and his wife Bessie, who retired to Baddeck, Nova Scotia.

Cadman corner, Botsford Parish, NB

Sources

1. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms," database, Family Search(accessed 15 Jan 2022), Thomas Simpson (1760); citing Rothes, Moray, Scotland.

• See biography for listing of sources.

Thomas Simpson BIRTH 7 Sep 1760 Moray, Scotland DEATH 1846 BURIAL Murray Corner (Pioneer) Cemetery Murray Corner, Westmorland County, New Brunswick, Canada MEMORIAL ID 40002610

• Thos. Simpson, NS and Margaret McLean, Princetown obtained a marriage license on 13 Dec 1793 in Prince Edward Island. Cash License Books of the Colonial Secretary of Prince Edward Island, 1787-1805, 1812-1813 transcribed and indexed by Elizabeth A. Glen, CG (C)