Simpson/Wisheart Connections
Contributed by Mrs. Mary Gregg
(Information from Charlotte (Wisheart) Simpson's claim for pension was provided to Mrs. Gregg by Erick Montgomery.)
THE EVIDENCE THAT MARGARET WISHEART
MARRIED RICHARD WHEELER, THAT HER SISTER JANE MARRIED WILLIAM SIMPSON, AND THAT
THEIR THIRD SISTER CHARLOTTE MARRIED AARON SIMPSON.
The starting point is Charlotte (Wisheart) Simpson's claim for pension based
upon the Revolutionary War service of her husband, Aaron Simpson. It is this
claim that gives us the proof of Charlotte's
maiden name. She and Aaron are buried in marked graves in Caswell
County, North Carolina. Aaron
(who was the son of George and Susannah (Wheeler) Simpson of Fairfax County,
Virginia) was born January 2, 1759
and died December 11, 1832.
Charlotte was born in Loudoun
County, Virginia, May
31, 176 3 and died October
2, 1846. They were married in Fairfax County,
Virginia, May 25, 178 3.
The will of Charlotte's father,
Henry Wisehart [usually seen as Wisheart] is dated January
31, 1776 and it was proved in Fairfax County,
Virginia, February
6, 1776. He terms himself "late of Loudoun
County, Virginia" and leaves
his entire estate to his three daughters, Charlotte (who he says is the
youngest), Jane (the middle) and Peggy (eldest).
Shapleigh Neal made his will on June 8,
177 7 and it was proved in Fairfax County,
Virginia, on August
18, 1777. He mentions his wife Mary, his brothers Daniel and
Richard, his sister Jemima Gunnell, and leaves a legacy to "Mr. Wisharts
three daughters - Margaret, Jean and Charlotte."
In COLONIAL FAMILIES OF THE SOUTHERN STATES OF AMERICA, Stella Pickett Hardy,
writing of Presley Neale of Westmoreland County,
Virginia, who died in 1749, mentioned that
among this Presley Neale's children were a son Shapleigh Neale and a daughter
Ann Neale who married Henry Wisheart. If this is correct, then Shapleight Neal's
1777 legatees "Mr. Wisharts daughters" were, in fact, the testator's
nieces.
In Fairfax County, Virginia,
Order Book 1783-1788, in the minutes of the Court held on November
17, 1784, there are three identical cases recorded:
William Simpson against William Turner & Mary his wife, Exrs of Shapleigh
Neale. It is considered that the Plt(?) recover against the Defts three pounds
with costs to be levied of the goods and chattels of the said Shapleigh at the
time of his death in the hands of the said Defts to be administered if so much
in their hands they have and if they have not then the Costs of the proper
goods & chattels of the said Defts.
Next entry in the Order Book:
Richard Wheeler & Margaret his wife against William Turner & Mary his
wife, Exrs of Shapleigh Neale. It is considered that the Plt(?) recover against
the Defts three pounds with costs to be levied of the goods and chattels of the
said Shapleigh at the time of his death in the hands of the said Defts to be
administered if so much in their hands they have and if they have not then the
Costs of the proper goods & chattels of the said Defts.
Next entry in the Order Book:
Aaron Simpson against William Turner
& Mary his wife, Exrs of Shapleigh Neale. It is considered that the Plt(?)
recover against the Defts three pounds with costs to be levied of the goods and
chattels of the said Shapleigh at the time of his death in the hands of the
said Defts to be administered if so much in their hands they have and if they
have not then the Costs of the proper goods & chattels of the said
Defts.
These three order book entries seem to indicate that Mary, widow of Shapleigh
Neal, had remarried to one William Turner, and that they had not paid the
legacies Shapleigh left to "Mr. Wisheart's daughters." That Richard
Wheeler, Aaron Simpson and William Simpson are suing to recover these legacies
is very strong evidence that these three men have married Mr. Wisheart's three
daughters.
