Thursday, April 17, 2014

The Intriguing John Brantley Simpson

John B. Simpson, to me, is one of the more interesting members of the family. Perhaps because he lived a long life and also because a bit of information can be had on him.
js simpson
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
Newspaper reports would later refer to him as Colonel.

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:StanlyNorth Carolina
Gender:Male
Post Office:Albemarle
Value of real estate:View image
Household Members:
NameAge
James F Kendall39
Ann Kendall36
George Kendall12
Mary F Kendall11
Sarah A Kendall9
Judy Kendall7
Lydia A Murry17
George Farmer21
John Farmer19
Margaret Farmer17
Leon Farmer15
Wesley Farmer13


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:
NameAge
Martha Rumage29
Mary Rumage10
Richard D. Rumage4
Wm. R. Rumage9m

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.


The Storm in Stanly County, John B Simpson

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.

Ursula Lowder Simpson
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.

obit of John B Simpson

Carolina Watchman
(Salisbury, North Carolina)
30 January 1907 • Page 1

The Salisbury paper would post a notice of his death in 1907.


1907 Death Roll for Confederate Vets
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.


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