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The
story of the oldest family in the history of
Brighton
by ALLAN
SIMPSON
Obediah and Mary Lord Taylor Simpson were born and raised
in the eastern colonies of what was to become the United
States of America, and they would have likely stayed had it
not been for the American Revolution of 1776. This family
along with many others was loyal to England and the Crown
and wanted their fledgling country to remain under its
protective wing. But this was not to be ...
After fighting for the British the Simpson family fled to
Canada, first to Halifax where Obediah learned the ship
building and carpentry trades (to this day a number of local
descendants of Obediah and Mary are excellent crafters in
the carpentry trade). They returned to the United States for
a brief period. But they were once again forced out of their
country because of their loyalty to England.
Obediah, Mary and their young family returned to Canada
"the NEW land of Promise," first arriving in Adolphustown (a
small community west of Kingston) in 1792 where they
share-cropped with other families for four years, as all the
land in that area had already been settled by Loyalist
families. Early in 1796 Obediah and Mary received notice of
land available to them west of the Trent-River.
In February of 1796 Obediah and his eldest son John, now
twelve, traveled with a team of oxen and a cow along the Bay
of Quaint. They likely crossed over the land at Carrying
Place to Wellers Bay then on to Presqu'ile Bay and inland to
their 200 acre surveyed lot. This lot is now found between
Percy Street and Simpson Street from Highway #2 north to
Little Lake Road. The family of Ralph and Annie Simpson
still reside on this property.
Obediah and John built a small shelter on the land, and
then Obediah set off for Adolphustown, leaving John alone to
bear out the remaining winter and tend to the livestock
until he could return by boat with the rest of the family in
the spring. Three children had been born in Adolphustown and
after settling in Cramahe Township (now the Town of
Brighton) two more children arrived. It has been said that
Benjamin, Obediah and Mary's fifth child, was the first
child of European descent to be born in the area.
Mary passed away at the young age of 45 and Obediah not
long after at the age of 54, but both had seen a lifetime of
Love, of War, and of Struggle, but "loyal they remained."
The Simpson Family has spread its wings all across Canada
from coast to coast and many have also returned to the
United States. To date I have been able to trace and connect
over 2500 names to Obediah and Mary, through their six
children. I realize that this number is rather conservative
as I am constantly receiving information about others
researching our family. We have been told that our ancestors
came from England; however, I have been unsuccessful so far
in retracing our roots to before Obediah and Mary.
In 1931 the Simpson Family erected a Cairn (monument), in
memory of Obediah and Mary, at the gates of Presqu'ile
Provincial Park. Sixty years later (1991) some of those
witnessing that first dedication, and all of those Simpsons
who have shaped their country (no matter where they now
live) helped with its re-dedication and together with their
ancestors: LOYAL THEY REMAIN!
Many descendants of Obediah and Mary have in the past
made their mark in Canadian, United States and Brighton's
history.
Elton (Dido) Simpson was employed by the Town of Brighton
in many capacities. He was most noted for being a truant
officer, many young students had been returned to school by
him, except on the occasion he would go with them to watch a
movie.
Darwin (Bud) Simpson worked as Town foreman for the
Public Works Department. If there was a problem, Bud was the
person to ask to find the answer. Many winter days and
nights found him out with the snow plow keeping the roads as
clear as possible.
Hugh, Jim and Raymond Simpson at one time or another were
on the Town council as Reeve, deputy Reeve or councilor. I
have read records that showed other descendants were on the
Town or Township council. Old town records show that many
were employed to haul gravel by team and wagon for new roads
being built.
Ralph Simpson who still resides in Brighton was employed
by the Brighton Public Utilities for a number of years. I
remember one night after a storm had knocked down a power
line, someone asked if the line was live, Ralph answered "I
might be slow, but I am not that stupid to find out the hard
way".
The Late Honourable Pauline Jewett, represented
Northumberland County as member of Parliament, as well as
the riding of Surrey, British Columbia. She was the first
woman President of a co-ed university in Canada, and later a
Chancellor of Carleton University in Ottawa. In 1992 she was
appointed Officer of the Order of Canada, and in June of
1992 she was appointed to the Privy Council of Canada.
Bruce Clark Freeman was a noted geologist, surveyor and
professor (University of Chicago). He was employed by the
Government of Canada to map out the mines around Sudbury and
the surrounding area. He was at Lake Olga in Northern Quebec
surveying the area when he died. He had many research papers
published by the Geological Society of America.
I have named only a few relatives that have left their
mark in Brighton and area, as well as other parts of the
world. I am sure that Obediah and Mary would be proud of all
of their descendants, no matter where they live.
Dedication of cairn, 1931
(Photo courtesy of Mrs.
Harry Simpson)