Genealogical and Family History
of the
STATE OF MAINE

Compiled under the editorial supervision of George Thomas Little, A. M., Litt. D.

LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
New York
1909.

[Please see Index page for full citation.]

[Transcribed by Coralynn Brown]

[Many families included in these genealogical records had their beginnings in Massachusetts.]

SIMPSON Henry Simpson, the immigrant ancestor, was born in England and settled in York, Maine, as early as 1638. Prior to that time he had married Jane Norton, daughter of Lieut. Col. Walter Norton, one of the patentees of Agamenticus, now York. Sir Ferdinando Gorges, in his "Brief Narration," writes of Norton: "This gentleman was one I had known, who had raised himself from a soldier to the quality he had, from a corporal to a sergeant and so upward. He was painful (painstaking) and industrious, well understanding what belonged to his duties, etc." Eleanor, widow of Norton, married, 1640, William Hooke, and removed to Salisbury, Mass., where Hooke died in 1654. Hooke was governor of Agamenticus. The contract is to be found in York Deeds (book vi, folio 74), in which Gov. Hook, in consideration of the marriage of Henry Simpson to Jane, daughter of the late Colonel Norton, granted a house lot on the west side of Bass Creek, adjoining the land of Arthur Bragdon, the York line on the east side, and dated March 13, 1638. Simpson appears to have been agent and surveyor for the patentees, laying out lands for them. He died before 1650 and his widow Jane married (second) before May 31, 1650, Nicholas Bond. "Jane Simpson, alias Bond, sole heir of her father Captain Walter Norton conveyed her real and personal estate to her only and living son, Henry Simpson." (York Deeds, book vi, folio 74). Henry is mentioned below. (II) Henry (2), son of Henry (1) Simpson, was born about 1647, and died in 1695. He married, 1670, Abigail Moulton (by Capt. Francis Raines). He made an agreement with Widow Patience Hatch about land which was the property of his father and which fell to him after his father's death. He sold land, April 7, 1680, to Edward Johnson, of York, bought formerly by his father Henry Norton. Administration was granted on his estte in 1692 to Lieut. Abraham Preble. The estate was divided by mutual agreement, Dec. 26, 1695, among Henry Simpson, Daniel Simpson, Joseph Simpson and Jonathan Littlefield in behalf of his wife Abigail (Simpson) Littlefield. The real estate was divided between Daniel and Henry, Daniel having the personal, or movable property. Henry paid to the Littlefields eight pounds as the remainder of Abigail's portion, and to Joseph, when he came of age, forty-three pounds. The brother Jabez had been captured by the Indians and the agreement said "That if, by the Providence of God, their brother Jabez Simpson ever returned from Captivity, that ye said Henry Simpson, Daniel Simpson and Jonathan Littlefield do mutually consent and agree that the said Jabez shall have an equal share and portion of their father's estate with ye rest, to be payed unto him proportionably by his brethern out of their respective portions." Henry "granted liberty" to his brother to cut firewood without ask upon Henry's land during the life of Daniel and his wife. Children: 1. Henry. 2. Daniel, mentioned below. 3. Joseph. 4. Abigail, married Jonathan Littlefield. 5. Jabez, captured by Indians and never returned home. (III) Daniel, son of Henry (2) Simpson, was born in York, Maine. He married, July 2, 1701, Frances Plaisted, daughter of Roger Jr. and Hannah (Furber) Plaisted. They sold their interest in th estate of Roger Plaisted Sr. to John Partridge; Dec. 26, 1701, also sold a marsh formerly in possession of Ensign Henry Simpson to Samuel Came. (York Deeds, Vol. VI., Fol. 120 and 176). He was called sergeant on the records. The live stock of his father came to him by agreement, and consisted of eight swine, three sheep, "half a mare and colt," one coat, one waist coat. The homestead of Daniel, formerly his father's, is described: "Half the beadth of ye land in ye south west side of ye river, leading up to Scotland, to extend to the lower end of ye pasture, and from thence ye whole breadth of ye whole lot, extending southward as far as Bass Cove, alias Bass Creek, excepting that Henry Simpson to have ye barn now standing on said land and convenient about said barn, as also a small lot of three acres, more or less, formerly bought by me of John Harmon, out of said tract above mentioned. Furthermore that Daniel Simpson shall have one-half of that ten acres lying on ye southeast side of ye partings of York River." Daniel paid to Jonathan Littlefield twenty pounds in addition to what his brother Henry paid for the share of their sister, Abigail Littlefield. Daniel Simpson died Oct. 5, 1757; his widow Frances died Feb. 11, 1747-48. Children: 1. Samuel, born July 17, 1697. 2. Henry, born April 13, 1698. 3. Abigail, born Feb. 25, 1700; died Oct. 20, 1716. 4. Hannah, born Dec. 25, 1702. 5. Joseph, born April 27, 1705; died Feb. 24, 1769. 6. Daniel, born Sept. 30, 1707; mentioned below. 7. Jonathan, born April 7, 1709. 8. Mary, born July 13, 1712. 9. Jeremiah, born Jan. 15, 1718. (IV) Daniel (2), son of Daniel (1) Simpson, was born at York, Sept. 30, 1707, and died there Feb. 23, 1769. He married, Jan. 16, 1729, Mary Coburn, daughter of Ebenezer Coburn of York. Maine. His will was dated April 14, 1767, and proved April 11, 1769, bequeathing to wife Mary his personal estate, to son Daniel, part of homestead, and to son Nathaniel, the lot he bought of John Sedgeley, where the testator then lived, besides other lands. These two sons received the real estate and had to pay legacies to the other children, Mary Sawyer, Miriam and Hannah Simpson. Children: 1. Daniel, born June 20, 1735; mentioned below. 2. Seth, born Feb. 16, 1736-37; died young. 3. Mary, born Aug. 16, 1739; married William Sawyer Jr. of Wells, Maine. 4. Nathaniel, called in the will of his father the "youngest son." 5. Miriam, mentioned in will. 6. Hannah, mentioned in will. (V) Daniel (3), son of Daniel (2) Simpson, was born in York, June 20, 1735. By his father's will he received the lot on which his dwelling house had been erected, four rods square, fronting northeast on the county road, four rods, and carrying that breadth down from said road four rods. He married, Dec. 23, 1763, Mary Sawyer, of Wells. They resided at York. He mary have been the Daniel Simpson who died at York, Jan. 16, 1774. (VI) Daniel (4), son of Daniel (3) Simpson, was born in York about 1770-74. He married, at York, Nabby (Abigail) Abbott, Sept. 19, 1801. Children, b. at York: 1. Daniel. 2. William, mentioned below. (VII) William, son of Daniel (4) Simpson, was born about 1801 in York, Maine. He married in York, Dec. 22, 1822, Mary Moore. Children, b. in York: 1. David S. 2. Daniel. 3. Wallace. 4. Samuel. 5. George M. 6. Jeremiah P., born 1831, mentioned below. 7. Nancy. 8. Mary. 9. Lydia. (VIII) Jeremiah P., son of William Simpson, was born in York, Maine in 1831. He was educated in the public schools of his native town. He left home in early youth to learn the iron founder's trade in the foundry of Roberts & Company, safe manufacturers, Boston. He advanced steph by step to positions of responsibility in this concern, and was finally admitted to partnership. In 1870 he returned to York and established a retail lumber and coal business, continuing it with success until he retired from business in 1894. He took high rank as a business man. His integrity, honesty, strength of character, and good judgment were factors in his success. In politics mr. Simpson is a Republican. He is a member of the order of Odd Fellows, Boston. He married (first) Sarah E. Howard, in 1854. He married (second) in 1862, Mary S. Lowe, born in York in 1837, daughter of Joseph Lowe. Children of 1st wife: 1. Charles P., born 1855. Children of 2d wife: 2. Willard J., born 1865. 3. Alice M., born 1868. 4. Joseph W., born Dec. 20, 1870, mentioned below. 5. Arthur, deceased. (IX) Hon. Joseph W., son of Jeremiah P. Simpson, was born in York, Maine, Dec. 20, 1870. He was educated in the public schools of York and at Kent's Hill Academy. After completing his schooling he and his brother, in partnership, succeeded to the coal and lumber business of their father. His brother, Willard J. Simpson, bought his interests at the end of five years, and in 1895 Joseph embarked in the meat and provision business, in which he has been very successful. He is also engaged in the real estate business in York. Mr. Simpson is a Republican in politics; was town treasurer in 1897; representative to the state legislature in 1897; state senator in 1905 and 1907. He served on the finance committee during both terms in the senate, and was chairman the second term. He is a member of St. Aspinwall Lodge of Free Msons; Maine Council, Royal Arch Masons; Maine Council, Royal and Select Masters; Bradford Commandery, Knights Templar, of Biddeford; Kora Temple, Mystic Shrine, Lewiston. He is also a member of Riverside Lodge, Odd Fellows, Kittery, and Dirigo Encampment of Kittery. He married in 1899, Ida L. Rogers, daughter of John A. Rogers, of Reno. Nevada. They have an adopted daughter, Amy F.