Daisy's Tragic Death.

 

Sometimes, the early death certificates of the 20th Century told the saddest of stories. One of those was that of the death of Daisy Simpson Aldridge, the wife of "Uncle Filmore", my Great Grandfathers oldest (and biologically half), brother.

Daisy Lee Simpson was born on January 23, 1882, presumably in the area of  Cottonville, in the southern part of Stanly County, North Carolina. She was the second child of a notorious woman named Laura Simpson. Her father, by vitue of a bastardy bond, had been named as George Washington Andrews, a married man who had also had an illicit relationship with Laura's mother, Nancy, and had fathered her youngest son. 

Name:	Daisy Simpson
Age:	21
Birth Date:	Jan 1879
Birthplace:	North Carolina, USA
Home in 1900:	Burnsville, Anson, North Carolina
Sheet Number:	6
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation:	291
Family Number:	292
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Relation to Head of House:	Servant
Marital Status:	Single
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina, USA
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina, USA
Occupation:	Farm Laborer
Months Not Employed:	4
Can Read:	Yes
Can Write:	Yes
Can Speak English:	Yes
Neighbors:
Household Members Age Relationship Charles J Blalock 48 Head Louisa Blalock 49 Wife Daisy Simpson 21 Servant John W Davis 55 Boarder

In 1900, Daisy is found as a young woman, working across the Rocky River in Burnsville Township, as Farm Labor for Charles Blalock and wife. Her age is given as 21, but she was actually 18 at this time. Mr. Blalock was the brother of Richmond Blalock, who was the father of Daisy's older sister, Mamie Simpson. Also living in the home as a boarder was John Wesley Davis.  J. W. Davis had a first cousin named, H. H. Davis, who had a stepson who fell in the same category, socially, as Daisy Simpson. He, too, was a 'child of the dust'. His mother, Julina Aldridge, was a Civil War orphan, who had fell pregnant as a young teen by the son of the family she had been bound to as a small child, after the death of her father. He oldest son, Jesse Filmore Aldridge, was a child of this relationship. It may have been J. W. Davis who introduced them.

Name:	Daisie Simpson
Gender:	Female
Race:	White
Age:	20
Birth Year:	abt 1881
Marriage Date:	10 Apr 1901
Marriage Place:	Stanly, North Carolina, USA
Mother:	Laura Simpson
Spouse:	J Fillmore Aldridge
Spouse Gender:	Male
Spouse Race:	White
Spouse Age:	22
Spouse Father:	H H Davis
Spouse Mother:	Julina Davis
Event Type:	Marriage

Daisy and Filmore were married on April 10, 1901, he was 22 and she was 20. 

As farm families were prone to do in those days, the young couple wasted no time in starting a large family.

Their first daughter, Beulah Lee, was born the very next year, the oldest of ten. She would be followed by Horace Augustus, Marvin Lotto, Geroge Nissan, Lillian, Joe Claude, Edna Naomi, Jesse Filmore Jr, Thomas Victor and ending in 1922 with Mildred Louise, when Daisy was 40 years old. 

The community in which the family lived became to be known as Davis, it was close to the Rocky River, west of Aquadale and Cottonville and contained the roads now called Aldridge and Old Davis Roads. Daisy and Filmore's family would dominate the news sent to the county newspaper by the local correspondents.

CLIPPED FROM

The News

Albemarle, North Carolina

10 May 1919, Sat  •  Page 6

There have been rumours, passed down through the decades, of Filmore being a rough man, a fighting man, and even an abusive husband and father. These are at this point mere stories, I've found no actual facts to corroborate them, however, that doesn't mean they were not true.

In October of 1934, Daisy was 52 years old. Most of her children were grown and on their own, a few of the younger ones still lived at home, and some of the married ones still lived on the family farm and helped Filmore run it. The family story was that one of the young sons of  J. F. Jr. saw the flames first, as the family was out in the fields picking cotton and Filmore had rode into town for supplies.

Daisy's death certificate gave her age as 53 years, 8 months and 23 days. She was a married housewife and her birthplace was given as Albemarle, which probably  was not correct, post office wise, maybe, but not physical location. Her father was named as George Andrews and her mother as Laura Simpson. The informant was her husband, J. F. Aldridge. Her principal cause of death was 'Severe burns from hips up. Practically all skin off from hips up." The injury occurred at home as her house burned up. She was buried at Rehobeth Methodist Church.

But why did Daisy enter a burning house that had no one trapped inside? The family story was that she was attempting to save family legal paperwork, deeds and the like, because she knew Filmore would be infuriated if these were destroyed. In trying to save a few legal documents, she lost her life. I found a newspaper account of Daisy's tragic death only on microfilm, and only the first part of the article. This was from The Stanly News and Press. 

"Burns Proved Fatal to Mrs Aldridge Tuesday.

Aquadale Woman Enters Burning House on Monday.

Carried Out by Son Who Saw her Enter.

Received Terrible Burns and She Passed in Local Hospital - Funeral Wednesday.

Funeral services in charge of the Pastor Rev. J. A.Howell, assisted by Rev. J.S. Tyson, were held at Rehobeth Methodist Church Wednesday afternoon at 4 o'clock for Mrs. J. F. Aldridge, wife of a prominent farmer of the Aldridge settlement near Aquadale. Mrs Aldridge died in a local hospital Tuesday night from burns sustained the day before when the Aldridge home burned.

The fire that destroyed the dwelling occured Monday morning about 9 o'clock, presumably from a defective flue, while members of the Aldridge family were away from home. Mrs. Aldridge was in nearby field picking cotton when her attention was called to smoke coming from the house by a grandchild. She rushed to the home and entered the door in an effort to."

That is as much of the article as I was able to photograph. Still, her suffering can be imagined. Her husband would live another twelve years, and remarry 5 years after her death to Mary Jane Hudson Huneycutt, a widow. Jesse Filmore Aldridge joined Daisy in the Rehobeth Cemetery on September 18, 1946.

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.

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:	Stanly, North Carolina
Gender:	Male
Post Office:	Albemarle
Value of real estate:	View image
Household Members:	Name Age James F Kendall 39 Ann Kendall 36 George Kendall 12 Mary F Kendall 11 Sarah A Kendall 9 Judy Kendall 7 Lydia A Murry 17 George Farmer 21 John Farmer 19 Margaret Farmer 17 Leon Farmer 15 Wesley Farmer 13

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:	View image
Household Members:	Name Age Martha Rumage 29 Mary Rumage 10 Richard D. Rumage 4 Wm. R. Rumage 9m

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.