Robert Simpson (1752 - 1815)

Born 1752 in Mispillion Hundred, Kent, Delaware

Ancestors

Husband of Alce (Argoe) Simpson — married about 1775 (to about 1800) in Mispillion Hundred, Kent, Delaware

Husband of Ruth Lister — married about 1800 in Mispillion Hundred, Kent, Delaware, United States

Descendants

Died May 1815 at about age 63 in Mispillion Hundred, Kent, Delaware, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Davis Simpson [send private message]

Biography

Name: Robert Simpson. Given Name: Robert. Surname: Simpson. ^[1]

Born Based on Joseph Simpson's birth date and will of Robert Simpson. 1752 Mispillion Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, United States of America. Map: Latitude: N38.901143. Longitude: W75.58743.

Alt. Birth 1756 Kent County, Delaware, United States of America. ^[2]

Died Will dated 3/8/1814; Administration bond dated 5/27/1815. 27 MAY 1815. Mispillion Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, United States of America. Map: Latitude: N38.901143. Longitude: W75.58743. ^[1]

Marriage Marriage to Ruth Lister 1800 Mispillion Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, United States of America. Map: Latitude: N38.901143. Longitude: W75.58743. ^[3]

Occupation:
Yeoman or farmer. 29 MAR 1777. Mispillion Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, United States of America. Map: Latitude: N38.901143. Longitude: W75.58743. ^[4]
Inn Keeper. 23 DEC 1805. Mispillion Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, United States of America. Map: Latitude: N38.901143. Longitude: W75.58743. ^[5]

Property:
+141 acres from Bolitha Laws Jr (on the Mispillion River) for 73 pounds. 29 MAR 1777. Mispillion Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, United States of America. Map: Latitude: N38.901143. Longitude: W75.58743. Note: #N0628. ^[4]
-43.5 acres, to John Simpson (brother) part of Mount Pleasant. 16 MAY 1787. Mispillion Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, United States of America. Map: Latitude: N38.901143. Longitude: W75.58743. ^[6]
-10 acres to Ezekiel Riggs (for 40 pounds). 12 DEC 1794. Mispillion Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, United States of America. Map: Latitude: N38.901143. Longitude: W75.58743. ^[7]
+235 acres from Benjamin Simpson (Oak Hall and Mount Pleasant) for 300 pounds. 12 DEC 1794. Mispillion Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, United States of America. Map: Latitude: N38.901143. Longitude: W75.58743. ^[8]
+25 acres from Benjamin Simpson (part of Mount Pleasant). 12 DEC 1794. Mispillion Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, United States of America. Map: Latitude: N38.901143. Longitude: W75.58743. ^[9]
+122 acres from Ezekiel Riggs for 50 pounds. 12 DEC 1794. Mispillion Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, United States of America. Map: Latitude: N38.901143. Longitude: W75.58743. ^[10]
+113 acres from Eli Winsmore for 175 pounds. 2 MAY 1796. Mispillion Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, United States of America. Map: Latitude: N38.901143. Longitude: W75.58743. ^[11]
- 82 acres and 61perches to Reuben Simpson for $659. 23 DEC 1805. Mispillion Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, United States of America. Map: Latitude: N38.901143. Longitude: W75.58743. Note: #N0999. ^[5]

Note: #N0370. #N1000.

Research Notes

Note N0370 Prior to 2015:

In Robert's will, there's mention of Betsy and Hessey Argo, daughters of David Argo. This points to a daughter, first name unknown who married David Argo. She was probably one of Robert Simpson's oldest children.

Prior to 2015:

International Genealogical Index (IGI) has Robert's father as John Simpson and his wife as Ruth Lister. Corroborative data needed.

Prior to 2015:

Robert Simpson acquired many acres of land through his life time and he received land from his father as well. John his brother and Robert would have shared what his father passed down. Robert was already in possession of land from his father when his father died in Dec 1774.

2/29/1777 - Robert bought 142 acres for 73 pounds from Moses Stewart's wife Mary who died intestate. This land was adjacent to John Simpson (Robert's brother)

12/12/1794 - Robert purchases a large tract of land known as Oak Hall and Mount Pleasant from Moses Simpson's descendants (Benjamin Simpson, Thomas Simpson and Ezekiel Riggs). There were three separate Indentures regarding this transaction. One for 25 acres (a part of Mount Pleasant), the big one 235+ acres and then a final transaction that did not list a size but I believe it to be in the order of 100 acres. By my estimation, this is about 350 acres of land.

Let's say he started with 100 acres from his father. By the end of 1794, Robert had acquired over 500 acres of land. Land records indicate Robert Simpson's land occupied both the north and south side of Mispillion Creek west of Milford, DE.

One other thing interesting about these land transactions and the 12/12/1794 date. All the Simpsons had to travel to Dover, DE to make this all happen because I see physically on the documents or proof they were in common pleas court. I see Robert, Benjamin, Thomas, the Riggs and Reuben Simpson. This must have been one large contingent of folks getting all these transactions recorded.

10/25/2015:

I think Robert grandfather is Robert Smith who is a neighbor of Robert's father John. John's will drafted in 1772 has no mention of wife's name. Robert Smith (d 1785) would be after this date as well so there is nothing as yet which would link the two families.

11/23/2015:

Regarding Robert Simpson and Zachariah Pritchett: These two men were contemporaries. Robert Simpson's son Joseph married Zachariah's daughter Mary Polly Pritchett. Robert Simpson's will mentions a Marshyhope Bridge and a road leading from there to Milford. Undoubtedly Milford was a big hub at the time as this was the location of ship building and commerce out of the forests of Delaware. Marshyhope creek runs north to south connecting eventually to the Nanicoke River and then into the Chesapeake Bay. Zachariah Pritchett in 1794 bought lands also in this area which were between Gum Island (38.873492, -75.651877), from the Gum Island Causeway to Milford. This is basically the same area. Route 13 which goes north and south is roughly the dividing line for Delaware's water shed. To the east of route 13 drains into the Delaware Bay and to the west of route 13 drains into the Chesapeake Bay. So exactly where these two guys were located between Marshyhope Creek and Milford is to be determined.

Note N0628 10/10/2015

No mention of a wife. Next to John Simpson's land (probably his father).

Note N0999 7/28/2021

Ruth Simpson is named in Indenture.

Note N1000 7/28/2021

Alce Simpson is mentioned in land transations as late as 1794. Ruth Simpson is first mentioned in a land transaction of 1805.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Source: #S0182 1814 - Simpson, Robert, Kent Co, DE 8 MAR 1814
2. ↑ Source: #S5414 Simpson, Robert (1756-1815)
3. ↑ Source: #S0159 1805 Simpson, Robert to Simpson, Reuben Kent->789, 160 of 632 23 DEC 1805
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Source: #S0159 1777 Simpson, Robert from Laws, Bolitha Jr (141 acres for 73 pounds) 29 MAR 1777
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Source: #S0159 1805 Simpson, Robert to Simpson, Reuben Kent->789, 160 of 632 23 DEC 1805
6. ↑ Source: #S0159 1787 Simpson, Robert and wife Alce to Simpson, John (43 1/2 acres for 30 pounds) 16 MAY 1787
7. ↑ Source: #S0159 1794 Simpson, Robert and Alce to Ezekiel Riggs (10 acres for 40 pounds) 12 DEC 1794
8. ↑ Source: #S0159 1794 Simpson, Robert from Simpson Bejamin (235 acres for 300 pounds) 12 DEC 1794
9. ↑ Source: #S0159 1794 Simpson, Robert from Simpson, Benjamin and Betty (25 acres for 5 shillings) 12 DEC 1794
10. ↑ Source: #S0159 1794 Simpson, Robert from Riggs, Ezekiel (122 acres for 50 pounds) 12 DEC 1794
11. ↑ Source: #S0159 1796 Simpson, Robert from Winsmore, Eli (113 acres) 2 MAY 1796

• Source: S0159 Delaware, Land Records Delaware, Dover Publication: Delaware Archives 25 JUL 2021 Time: 08:02:11

• Source: S0182 Delaware, Wills Register of Delaware, Dover Publication: Delaware Archives 25 JUL 2021 Time: 08:24:231814 - Simpson, Robert, Kent Co, DE 8 MAR 1814

• Source: S5414 International Genealogical Index familiysearch.org 25 JUL 2021 Time: 09:09:42Simpson, Robert (1756-1815)