Hugh1 Simpson (1761-1833)
Hugh Simpson was born 23 March 1761 in Virginia .
The Simpson family may have
settled in the Fincastle Co., VA. Fincastle was first formed in 1772 from the
Botetourt Co. But in 1776, Fincastle was abolished and three counties were
formed from this county: Kentucky ,
Washington and Montgomery .
During the year of 1776, he
joined the Montgomery County Militia and served 4 months under Captain David
Triggs to defend the Virginia
frontier near the Head of Clinch and Bluestone
Rivers
In the spring of 1777, he served
2 months under Captain Frederick Edwards pursuing the deserters.
He first appeared on the
Montgomery Co., VA records 6 September
1777 for taking an oath of allegiance and fidelity, administered by
John Montgomery.
In the fall of 1777, he served 6
months under Captain James Thompson to guard a garrison near the mouth of New
River against the Shawnee Indians.
During the year of 1778, he
served 3 months under Colonel William Campbell of Washington Co., VA to stop
the uprising of Tories.
In the year of 1779, he served 4
months under Colonel William Campbell heading out somewhere in South
Carolina . In a 1779 census of South
Carolina found Hugh Simpson listed in the Ninety-six
District.
On 3 November 1779 in the court records of Montgomery Co.,
VA, he was paid for his patrolling service totaling 15 days.
In the late autumn of 1780,
General Nathanael Greene of the Southern American Continental Army sent out a
call for the state militia to build up his army to stop Lord Cornwallis and his
British army from entering Virginia .
On 10 February 1781 ,
Colonel William Preston ordered the militia of Montgomery
to assemble at the Lead Mines, and on that day, appointed three hundred and
fifty men assembled pursuant to the order of their commander. Major Joseph
Cloyd, assembled and led the Middle River men. Preston
began his march on 18 February 1781
and reported to General Greene on the 28
February 1781 in North Carolina .
General Greene assigned Colonel Preston to the command of General Andrew
Pickens. These men would be an elite corps to act separately from the main army
but under command of Greene.
On 2 March 1781 , Preston ’s militia,
with Lieutenant Colonel Henry “Light-horse Harry” Lee’s Legion and Colonel Washington ’s
Dragoons, encountered British Lieutenant Banastre Tarleton’s army at a
plantation near the Alamance. After a skirmish, the Americans retreated.
On 6 March 1781, Lord Cornwallis
decided to chase Greene’s army, he sent Tarleton to attack the American camp by
the Reedy Fork Creek, Preston’s militia was assigned to set up a rearguard to
cover the retreat. The Jägers (Hessians) and cavalry attacked Preston ’s
riflemen, stationed on the high wooded ground to the south of the fords. With
an attack by overwhelming numbers, Preston ’s riflemen
broke and ran back toward the Horse Ford near the Weitzel’s Mill. After the
battle of Weitzel’s Mill, Hugh was ordered to tend the wounds of an officer,
Lieutenant Thompson Sawyer, who had been shot in the side.
On 9 March 1781 , Colonel Preston and Crockett brought the
wounded militia men to the Moravian town of Salem
(NC) to be taken care by Dr. Bonn. Hugh may be with this group since he was
ordered to attend Lt. Sawyer.
Hugh was on the list of men in
Captain Edward’s Company of Militia, dated 24 March 1781 . The list included his possible brothers:
William, James, Jr., and John.
In 1782, he was on the list of
Montgomery Co., VA personal property tax list, having paid one tithe and owns two
horses (also listed: James Simpson, Sr., James Simpson, Jr., John Simpson (2)
and Robert Simpson). In that same year, residents of Montgomery Co. were
petitioning against the tax law and Hugh’s name was on that petition.
He may have moved to South
Carolina before 1784 as in the Commissioner of Locations
Plat Book B, page 52, a deed was recorded 20 August 1785 showing Hugh with 158 acres of land on Big
Generostee Creek.
He married Mary Ann Long probably
in South Carolina between 1782
and 1784 as there is no record of their marriage at this time in either Virginia
or South Carolina .
Mary Ann Long, probably the
daughter of Mathew and Elizabeth (Montgomery )
Long, was born 26 September 1781
probably in present-day Abbeville Co., SC.
On 22 February 1785 , he requested and received a letter of
good character from his former superiors, Colonel Walter Crockett, Colonel
Joseph Cloyd and James McGavock, Justice of Peace in Montgomery Co., VA.
The Bearer hereof Hugh Simpson
being to travel soon into South Carolina and Georgia States made application to
us the Subscribers, Officers and the old for a Testimony of his behavior. We
therefore do hereby certify that we have been intimately acquainted with the
said Hugh Simpson since he was a Youth, and have always found him Sober, Just,
and honest. He hath always served his tour of duty faithfully and demonstrated
himself as a good citizen. We hope he may be admitted into Society and have the
liberty to pass unmolested on his lawful Affairs he behaving himself as
becometh. Given under our hands at Montgomery Courthouse February 22d 1785
To all whom these presenting may
Concern:
(Signed)
Walter Crockett, Col.
Joseph Cloyd, Col.
James McGavock, J.P.
On 23 October 1787 , he received a commission from Governor
Thomas Pinckney of South Carolina
as First Lieutenant to serve under his brother, Captain John Simpson, in the
Upper Division of the Ninety-six Regiment.
In the Pendleton Co. SC conveyance
book C-D, 1795-1799, a deed dated 16
January 1790 showing that Thomas Lesley has sold 72 acres to Hugh
for £17 stg., which was part of 300 acres granted 15 October 1784 by Benjamin Guerrard on the branches of
Great Generostee Creek. This deed was recorded 26 January 1796 .
The household of Hugh Simpson is
enumerated in the 1790 federal census of Pendleton Co., SC.
Head of Family: Simpson,
Hugh
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Free White Males
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16 & up,
incl. head of families
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2
|
Hugh (1761)
Unknown
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Under 16
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4
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Matthew (1784)
James (1786)
Hugh (1787)
Elijah (1789)
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Free White Females
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||
incl. head of family
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2
|
Mary (1761)
Mary (1790)
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All Other Persons
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0
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Slaves
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0
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The family may have moved first
to Kentucky after the provisions
needed to sustain their living in South Carolina
were insufficient.
Then they moved into Davidson Co.
(present-day Rutherford Co.), TN where Hugh have received a land grant for his
Revolutionary war services in North Carolina .
From the record in Davidson Co., TN, dated 16 January 1783, he has received a
preemption of 640 acres of land lying on the head of a branch of little Harpeth
about a mile from the Creek on the west side a mile west of the upper county
road that leads from the French Lick including two springs with the
improvement, marked at a tree HS, beginning northeast of the Spring ¼ of a mile
and running thence south and west for compliment. While this is an estimate of
the lands for which grants have issued to the officers and soldiers in the
Continental line of North Carolina
or their assigns pursuant to Act of Assembly, there is no evidence that Hugh
has been an officer or soldier in the North Carolina Continental lines. And
yet, there is no record of any other Hugh Simpson in the state of North
Carolina . Since Hugh had been involved in the battles
in North Carolina during his
tenure in the Virginia militia,
he may have gotten these lands.
After received the land in Tennessee ,
he decided to sell his land in South Carolina
probably through an agent. In the Pendleton District, SC conveyance book G, a
deed dated 4 March 1802 ,
Hugh sold 172 acres including 150 acres which were granted to Hugh by Thomas
Pickney 4 August 1788 and 22 acres granted to Thomas Lesley, 15 October 1784 , by Benjamin Guerard
and conveyed to Simpson to John Robert. This deed was recorded 12 October 1802 .
Hugh was mentioned in the
Rutherford County, TN Court Minutes, dated 6 April 1808 :
“Nathaniel Kinnard appointed overseer
of the road from Major Smiths to a place opposite Hugh Simpsons; following
hands work: Thomas Garrett, Archabald Garrett, David Shannon, William Hill,
David McCoy, William Gravs, Joshua Web, Daniel Pots, Michael Kinnard, William
Matthews, David Simpson, Nathaniel Renolds, also any person else presiding in
the bounds where said hands is to be taken from shall be subject to work on the
same.”
A will of James Simpson, probated
13 April 1808 in Wythe Co., VA, mentions Hugh as the son of deceased James Simpson.
The will also mentioned sons William, James, Robert, Isaac and Alexander, and
daughters Jean Baxter, Ellinor (Eleanor) Mears (Marrs), Mary Foster and
Margaret Smith with wife Mary and sons James and Alexander as the executors.
Hugh again mentioned in the
Rutherford County, TN Court Minutes, dated 7 July 1808 :
“Ordered that Hance Hamilton
oversee the road from Barefields to William Hanlys & that the following
hands work under him, Shade Harris, James Cox, John Sowell, Newton Sowell, Ben
D. Wills, John Gilliam, Michael Kinnard Senr, Anthony Kinnard, John Kinnard,
[blank] Killough, [blank] Holmes, William Hanly, Hugh Simpson, William
Barefield, [blank].”
A notice appeared in the
newspaper, The Clarion (Rutherford
Co., TN), announced the sale of a bay mare valued $45 to Hugh Simpson on 12 July 1808 in Rutherford Co., TN.
He was listed in the 1809
Rutherford Co. TN tax list.
A will of Mary Simpson, probated
12 March 1809 in Wythe Co. , VA, mentions Hugh as the son
of deceased Mary Simpson. The will also mentioned sons William, James, Robert,
Isaac, John (deceased) and Alexander, and daughters Jean Backster (Baxter),
Elenor Mears (Eleanor Marrs), Polly Foster and Margaret Smyth. The executor of
this will was Alexander.
At some point, the family moved
and settled in Warren Co., KY.
The household of Hugh Simpson is
enumerated in the 1810 federal census of Warren County, KY.
Free White Males
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Under 10
|
1
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Elias (1802)
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10 to 16
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2
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Absalom(1793)
Isaac (1799)
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16 to 26
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2
|
Elijah (1789)
John (1791)
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45 & Over
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1
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Hugh (1761)
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Free White Females
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10 to 16
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1
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Anna (1797)
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16 to 26
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1
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Mary (1790)
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45 & Over
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1
|
Mary (1761)
|
He was listed on the 1811 to 1821
(except 1814) Warren Co. KY tax list.
In the deed book G-7 of Warren
Co., KY dated 31 August 1815
showed that James Hall, Sr. and his wife Elvy Graves Hall, of Randolph Co., Illinois
Territory
The household of Hugh Simpson is
enumerated in the 1820 federal census of Warren Co., KY.
Free White Males
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||
18 to 26
|
2
|
Isaac (1799)
Elias (1802)
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45 & Up
|
1
|
Hugh (1761)
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Free White Females
|
||
Under 10
|
1
|
Unknown
Maybe child of Elijah’s?
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26 to 45
|
1
|
Mary (1790)
Maybe Betsy (Marrs)
Simpson?
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45 & Up
|
1
|
Mary (1761)
|
In the Wills and Inventories book
C, an entry, dated 20 May 1826 ,
shows Hugh being an administrator for the appraisal of his son Absalom’s
personal estate. Absalom was killed in Texas
1825.
The household of Hugh Simpson is
enumerated in the 1830 federal census of Warren Co., KY.
Free White Males
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||
30 – 40
|
1
|
Unknown (Elias?)
|
60 – 70
|
1
|
Hugh (1761)
|
Free White Females
|
||
40 – 50
|
1
|
Unknown
|
60 – 70
|
1
|
Mary (1761)
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Hugh’s wife, Ann, died 24 March 1832 probably in Warren Co.,
KY.
On 5 September 1832 , he applied for a pension for his
services during the American Revolution.
He died 19 April 1833 probably in Warren Co., KY. The burial
location of Hugh and Ann Simpson is unknown at this time.
Children of Hugh Simpson and Mary Ann Long
Mathew L. Simpson
(1784-1831)
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James Simpson
(1786-1838)
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Hugh Simpson
(1787-1852)
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Elijah Simpson
(1789-1819)
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Mary W. Simpson
(1790-Unknown)
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John Simpson
(1791-1863)
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Absalom Simpson
(1793-1825)
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Ann Elizabeth
Simpson (1797-1853)
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Isaac Simpson
(1799-1846)
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Elias Simpson
(1802-1854)
|
Sources
1790 U.S.
census, Hugh Simpson household, Pendleton Co., SC, page 80, line 16: National
Archives micropublication M637, roll 11.
1810 U.S. census, Hugh Simpson
household, Warren Co., KY, page 253, line 1; National Archives micropublication
M252, roll 8.
1820 U.S.
census, Hugh Simpson household, Warren Co., KY, page 35, line 19; National
Archives micropublication M33, roll 28.
1830 U.S.
census, Hugh Simpson household, Warren Co., KY, page 93, line18; National
Archives micropublication M19, roll 42.
Burgner, Goldere Fillers, North Carolina Tennessee
Family vital records in the Isaac
Simpson Family Bible, In the Holy Bible:
Containing the Old and New Testaments, Translated out of the Original Tongues,
and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised,
(Brattleborough, VT: J. Holbrook’s, 1817) Dennis L. Simpson, owner, 1992.
Goodspeed’s
History of Southeast
Missouri (The Publishing Company, 1888), 1000.
Griffey, Irene M., The Preemptors: Middle Tennessee’s First
Settlers (Clarksville, TN: I.M. Griffey, 1989), 17.
Hugh Simpson entry S31363, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land
Kegley, Mary B. and F.B. Kegley, Early Adventurers on the Western Waters,
volume 1: The New River of Virginia
Kegley, Mary B., Early Adventurers on the Western Waters,
volume II: The New River of Virginia Orange ,
VA
Kegley, Mary B., Early Adventurers on the Western Waters,
volume II, part 1: The New
River of Virginia Wytheville ,
VA
Kegley, Mary B., Tax List of Montgomery County , Virginia
Stauffer, Michael E., South Carolina’s Antebellum Militia (no
place: South Carolina Department of Archives & History), 6.
Virginia
Military Records from the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, the
William and Mary College Quarterly, and Tyler’s Quarterly, (Baltimore, MD:
Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1987), 224.
Wells, Carol, Pioneers of Rutherford County Tennessee
Willie, Betty. Pendleton District , S.C.
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