John B was born around September 10, 1827 and died on January 2, 1907. His tombstone had to be incorrect for date of death, as his obituary appeared in the Carolina Watchman in January of 1907 and his widow remarried in March of 1907.
He first appears in the records of Stanly County in the Mary 1847 session of The Court of Pleas and Quarters, "Jesse Hathcock appointed Guardian of Delila, John B. and Ruthy Simpson, gave bond of $300 with Green Palmer and Newton Howell as securities."
Related to the above were these entries from the February Session of 1841, Nathan Simpson relinquished guardianship of Thomas Simpson's heirs and Jesse Hathcock was appointed Guardian, gave bond of $400, James Hathcock as security.
May 1841,
Joshua Hearne and John F Stone appointed to settle with Nathan Simpson, guardian of minor heirs of Thomas Simpson, decsd.
May, 1844
Jesse Hathcock, Sr. appointed guardian for Delia, John and Ruth Simpson, orphans of Thomas Simpson, dec., gave bond for $500 with Jesse Hathcock as security.
February Session, 1850, John B Simpson, Delila Simpson, Harris Rummage, Ruthy Rummage and Judith Cagle to Benjamin Ivy, proved by John F. Stone.
By August Session 1849, John B had aged enough to serve on a jury, as he was listed among the jurors for The State vs. Thomas Burton.
John Brantley was the only son of Thomas Simpson II, son of Nathaniel Simpson and grandson of Thomas I. Thomas I inspired a lot of grandsons and great-grandsons named for him, and keeping them separate is a little tricky.
His mother's name was Judith and after the death of Thomas Simpson, she married Benjamin Franklin Cagle. Their marriage was not a long one, either, as he passed away in 1843.
It is thought that perhaps Judith was a Hathcock prior to her marriages, daughter of Jesse Sr. It is known that he had a daughter of the right age range to have been Judith Simpson Cagle, named Judith or Judy. No marriage license exists, however, as Montgomery was a burned county and Stanly was part of Montgomery until 1841.
John B. Simpson married Ursula Lowder, daughter of George Lowder and Elizabeth Adderton Lowder around 1848. They became the parents of 6 children:
Elizabeth 1849
Sarah F 1850
Mary 1858
Francis Louise "Franky" 1863
Dockie Jane 1860
George Thomas 1862
Francis Louise "Franky" 1863
1850 1860 1870 1880 1900
John B 24 John B 32 John B 42 J B 54 John 73
"Hurley" 21 Ursuly 31 Ursula 42 Ursula 54 Ursula 72
Elizabeth 1 Betsy 11 Elizabeth 21 Sarah 29
Sarah 0 Sarah 10 Sarah 18 Francis 20
Franky 4 Francis 15 Jane 20
Dr. Jayne 2 mo. Doctor 10 Thomas 17
Mary 2 years George 7
It is unusual that they named a daughter "Doctor" or "Dockey", but I'm sure there was a story behind it. Docky married Frank Melton and Frankie married David Melton, when he was late in life. Both were 'second wives'. Sarah F. also became a 'later in life' wife, of Oliver Harrison Whitley. Only son, George Thomas Simpson married Henrietta Thompson, daughter of Thomas Thompson and Mary Ann Smith.
This peculiar marriage record was found on family search.
Name:John B. Simpson Birth Date:1863 Birthplace: Age:25 Spouse's Name:Henrietta Thompson Spouse's Birth Date: 1870 Spouse's Birthplace Spouse's Age:18 Event Date:26 Dec 1888 Event Place: Montgomery, North Carolina Father's Name: G.T. Simpson Mother's Name: Neley Jane Simpson Spouse's Father's Name:Thomas Thompson Spouse's Mother's Name: Mary Thompson Race: White
This one I have to order to see in person. It looks like several names were mixed up. I hope. As Henrietta's death certificate lists the same parents, it must be correct.
| Name: | Henrette Thompson Simpson |
| Gender: | Female |
| Burial Date: | 20 Feb 1955 |
| Burial Place: | Stanly County, N.C. |
| Death Date: | 18 Feb 1955 |
| Death Place: | Albemarle, Stanly, North Carolina |
| Age: | 89 |
| Birth Date: | 26 May 1865 |
| Birthplace: | North Carolina |
| Occupation: | Household |
| Race: | White |
| Marital Status: | Widowed |
| Spouse's Name: | |
| Father's Name: | Thomas Thompson |
| Father's Birthplace: | |
| Mother's Name: | Mary Ann Smith |
John B. Simpson served in the Civil War along with his uncles.
| Name: | John B Simpson |
|---|---|
| Residence: | North Carolina |
| Age at enlistment: | 38 |
| Rank at enlistment: | Private |
| State Served: | North Carolina |
| Survived the War?: | Yes |
| Service Record: | Promoted to Full 3rd Lieutenant on 13 May 1861.Enlisted in Company H, North Carolina 14th Infantry Regiment on 05 May 1861.Mustered out on 23 Apr 1862. |
| Sources: | North Carolina Troops 1861-65, A Roster |
A boy, John Farmer , was bound to John B in the November, 1855 Session of Stanly County Court. By 1860, the boy, John, had been reunited with his siblings, but was living in the homestead of James F Kendall, instead, along with Lydia Adeline Murray, daughter of Mariah Murray, whose estate had been administered by John B Simpsons contemporary uncle, Green W. Simpson, being only 4 years his elder.
| Name: | John Farmer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age in 1860: | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Year: | abt 1841 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home in 1860: | Stanly, North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gender: | Male | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Post Office: | Albemarle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Value of real estate: | View image | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Household Members: |
|
In the Bastardy bonds for Stanly County appears this document:
In 1881, nearly 20 years after his last child with Ursula was born, John B. Simpson had an affair with Martha J Rummage, that resulted in his becoming a father at 54 years of age. That child was Lee Allen Rummage and Martha Jane Rummage was the second cousin of J. B. Simpson, being the daughter of David Rummage, whose mother Margaret "Peggy" Simpson was the sister of John B.'s father Thomas. Martha Jane Rummage was about 30 and not a stranger to out-of-wedlock children. Lee Allen was her fourth child.
| ame: | Martha Rumage | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age: | 29 | ||||||||||
| Birth Year: | abt 1851 | ||||||||||
| Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||
| Home in 1880: | Albemarle, Stanly, North Carolina | ||||||||||
| Race: | White | ||||||||||
| Gender: | Female | ||||||||||
| Relation to Head of House: | Self (Head) | ||||||||||
| Marital Status: | Single | ||||||||||
| Father's Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||
| Mother's Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||
| Neighbors: | View others on page | ||||||||||
| Occupation: | Keeping House | ||||||||||
Cannot read/write:
Blind: Deaf and Dumb: Otherwise disabled: Idiotic or insane: |  | ||||||||||
| Household Members: |
|
John B. Simpson now had at least 2 sons.
He was to make the newspapers in 1884, when his home was destroyed by a storm, either a hurricane or tornado.
Daily Charlotte Observer
(Charlotte, North Carolina)24 February 1884 • Page 3
Despite John B. Simpson having had an affair with his distant cousin in 1881, his wife Ursula did not leave him, as was most often the case in the days when divorce was difficult and women had few options with which to support themselves with and older women, none. They were living together in the 1900 census, their own children already grown, or passed away. And then another tragedy hit the family, and made the papers.
The Enterprise
(Albemarle, North Carolina)21 March 1901 • Page 3
Ursula burned to death, and was characterized as a sweet lady.
John B Simpson, despite being on in age, wasted no time after the death of Ursula and found a new wife.
On January 27, 1902, he married Martha F. "Patty" Randle, the daughter of Isham Randle and Carolina Carpenter Randle. John B was 53 years older than Patty, and married the 23 year old when he was 76. Amazingly, they had one child, his third and last son, Robert Lee Simpson.
Patty would waste no time in marrying George Hinson, as well, just 2 months after John B. Simpson's death in 1907.
He began getting ill in 1898, however, and actually moved in with his daughter Dockie Jane Simpson Melton, and her husband, Frank Melton, also a confederate veteran.
The Enterprise
(Albemarle, North Carolina)15 December 1898 • Page 3
The Enterprise
(Albemarle, North Carolina)21 November 1901 • Page 3
Perhaps his son-in-law and daughter helped to take care of the old vet.
Carolina Watchman
(Salisbury, North Carolina)30 January 1907 • Page 1
The Salisbury paper would post a notice of his death in 1907.
John B. Simpson's death was noted in the list of Vets, along with Job's grandson and my ancestor, H. H. Davis.
The old rebel and grandson of Nathan Simpson left a few traces of his path in life. He stayed near his homeland and fought for it. He will always be remembered.
