Transcript of a letter written to William R. Simpson
by his brother John H. Simpson
Contributed by Wanda Snyder
Mr. Wm R. Simpson
High Rock
Rockingham Coty. N.C.
July 1, 1841
Memphis, TENN.
Dear Brother,
It is with the
greatest pleasure that I take my pen in hand to inform you that I rec your
letter some time since & was much gratified to hear from you and to hear
the family was all well. I was surprised to hear of so many marriages in so
short a time & more particularly to hear of PLEASANT & SANDERS FEAGINS
[???] marrying. I would like to know who they married. You also stated that
Lawson CASWELL [or Boswell] was married, but did not say whether he returned to
N.C. & married or whether he married in Indiana. I was very much
gratified to hear from VINSON GARRET. I have been looking for a letter from him
for some time but have rec none. I suppose he is so busy courting the girls
that he cannot take time to write. Tell Vince I should very much like to be
with him in some of his spreys. Give my respects to GEORGE BARKER & DAVE.
Tell CROOK [???] he ought to be here if he wants to see fun-------. I am still
living in MEMPHIS & I expect I shall continue here for some time though it
is very sickly here at this time the people are dying very fast. I don't
consider that a man is safe here, some days there are 4 or five deaths, &
there is scarsely a house that there is not some one of the family confined to
their beds & in some families nearly all are sick. A good many are leaving
for the country though I won't say that I am much alarmed as yet, I felt very
serious when I first came here to see so many dying, but it has become so
common a thing that I do not think much about it.
There is a disease
here that is killing off the people very fast & there has not the first one
recovered that has taken with it & they generally die in less than 48 hours
after they are taken. The physicians call it the congestive fever & they
all say it is equally as dangerous as the cholera or yellow fever, but I
believe I shall live untill I did anyhow & in any country, but still I
believe N. C. is a much healthier country than this. I wrote a letter to father
some 2 or 3 weeks since & in that I stated that I expected to return in the
fall & I still expect to return if life lasts, & if all the girls are
not married I expect to give some of them an offer&&& but I am
thinking that they will all be married before that time if they continue to as
they have commenced.
I often think of
you all & there is nothing in the world that would afford me more pleasure
than to see you all and I expect to see you all this winter, I do not see much
satisfaction here but I know that I make more money here than I could in that
country, but still I have to spend more here than I would have to spend there.
I am getting $8.00 per month & at no expence more than my clothing but that
costs a good deal when a man has to buy every thing. I saw Mr. COLINS last week
he was well & sends his respects to all the family, he has commenced
preaching again, he informed me that the church to which he belonged had rec 5
members &&& when you write to me let me know where to direct a
letter to Aunt Mary HUSKINS. Do not fail. Give my love to all the family &
& You must excuse bad writing and mistakes as I am in a great hurry
&& You must write me as soon as you get this and let me know how the
times are generally && Give my love to all enquiring friends and except
of my best wishes for your welfare and happiness. I add no more but remain
yours truly &&
J. H. SIMPSON
[other side of letter starts...
My Dear Cousin,
I have nothing of interest
to say to you Cousin Henry and myself are living together. You must write
me and I will take the greatest pleasure in answering your letter.. you must
not let the sickness in this country alarm you it is very sickly here to what
it is in N.C. tho cousin and myself will start out in...]
Contributed by Wanda Snyder
6. JOHN M.6 SIMPSON (JOHN5,
GEORGE4, GEORGE3, RICHARD2, JOHN1)35 was born
27 Nov 181635, and died 189036. He married (1) ANN
ROBERTSON. She died Unknown. He married (2) ELIZABETH SNIPES.
She died Unknown. He married (3) EDNA GARRISON. She died
Unknown.
Notes for JOHN M. SIMPSON:
Another source (unconfirmed) lists John
H. Simpson as a doctor. This source also has him married to Elizabeth
Snipes, the same as the "Heritage of Caswell Co., NC".
Dr. Henry H. Simpson, grandson of John
M./John Henry Simpson lived between the mill towns of Altamahaw and Ossippee in
Northwest Alamance Co., NC and provided medical service for the people in the
counties of Alamance, Caswell, Guilford and Rockingham. His father is not
named in the article. (source - "Heritage of Caswell Co., NC" - Vance
E. Swift)
More About JOHN M. SIMPSON:
Name 2: John Henry Simpson36
Date born 2: 27 Nov 181836
Burial: Unknown, Simpson fam cem on plantation in Caswell Co., NC
Children of JOHN SIMPSON and ANN ROBERTSON are:
i. GEORGE PRESLEY7 SIMPSON36, d.
Unknown.
ii. MARY ANN SIMPSON36, d. Unknown.
Children of JOHN SIMPSON and ELIZABETH SNIPES are:
iii. JOHN H.7 SIMPSON, JR.36, d. Unknown.
iv. RICHARD B. SIMPSON36, d. Unknown.
v. LYCURGUS SIMPSON36, d. Unknown.
vi. FRANCIS MARION SIMPSON36, d. Unknown.
vii. ELIZABETH EMOLINE SIMPSON36, d. Unknown.
viii. FRANCES TAMESIA SIMPSON36, d. Unknown.
ix. JAMES OLIVER SIMPSON, d. Unknown.
More about John Henry Simpson, ESQ.
Fact 1: Mathmetician and physicist. Published several textbooks. Taught school
in Anderson township in the early 1840s.
Fact 2: Owned a store on Cherry Grove Road about 2 miles north of Bush Arbor Church. Store in
operation from late 1800s to early 1900s. Store
later operated by Sam Travis, J. Lundy Oakley and Carlton H. Aldridge.
Fact 3: February 11, 1843, The bond for his marriage to Martha A. Robertson was made in Rockingham Co., NC.
Fact 4: December 23, 1846, A John Simpson was bondsman for James LASSITER and
Martha Aldridge of Orange Co., NC.
Fact 5: 1860, Caswell Co. census lists him in Locust Hill. His real property
was assessed at $7,500 and his personal property was assessed at
$12,000. This was before his
inheritance and much of this personal property had been probably been inherited by Elizabeth.
Fact 6: 1880, CC census lists him and wife and children and 1 servant on Stoney Creek, CC.
Fact 7: June 08, 1889, Will witnessed by Peter Smith and J. C. Matkins. Left
Edna 570ac for lifetime.
Fact 8: July 26, 1890, Probate before Spencer B. Adams. Note: "Squire Simpson."