Simpson-Bryan Bible
Contributed by Martha Marble
A typed copy of these records was found at the North Carolina Archives, under
Bible Records. It is attached in a manner that indicates the records are from
one Bible, but I suspect there may be more than one and probably several. It
is also unclear as to what is in the Bibles, what might be newspaper clippings,
and what are comments from later generations. I have changed the pages around
to start with the oldest records as the copy given to me is obviously not in
order. There may be errors in the order placed below. Effort to locate the
Bible have not been successful.
The Bible was last known to be in the possession of Mrs. Jesse S. Claypoole of
New Bern.
PAGE ONE
John Simpson, the son of John Simpson and Aurelia Holmes, his wife, was born in
Boston, Oct. 23, 1702
Mary Randall, my wife, daughter of William Randall and Elizabeth Hill, his wife,
was born April 26th, 1705.
We were married Sept. 24th, 1724
Mary Simpson, our daughter, was born August 1st 1725
Elizabeth Simpson, our daughter, was born May 14, 1727
John Simpson, our son, was born March 8th, 1729
Samuel Simpson, our son, was born July 31st, 1731
Mary Simpson, our daughter, was born May 12, 1733
Sara Simpson was born Feb. 20th, 1734
Joshua Simpson was born Jan 6th, 1736
Cabel Simpson was born Sept 6th, 1737
Ebenezer Simpson was born March 10th, 1740
Charles Morton Simpson was born August 27th 1741
James Simpson was born Jan. 6th, 1742
Ichabod Simpson was born March 23rd, 1743 at 2:00 o'clock and at
7:00 A. M. my wife died
Took the above from my father's Bible in Dedham, New England, Sept. 1765
Signed by John Simpson, Jr.
N. B. Grandmother Simpson was granddaughter of the famous Roger Clapp who was one
of the first settlers of America and first Captain of Castle Williams
John Simpson, the son of John Simpson and Mary Randall, his wife, was born in
Boston, New England, March 8th, 1729 and was married in North Carolina, Beaufort
Co. to Elizabeth Hardee, daughter of John Hardee and Elizabeth Tyson, his wife,
who was born Jan'y lst, 1738. Edward Salter, Esq. married us.
PAGE TWO
Mary Randall Simpson, our daughter, was born Feb. 14th, 1759; baptised Jan. 30th,
and died Aug 7, 1760
Susanna Simpson was born Sept 21, 1760; baptised 6th, 1762 by Rev. Alexander Stuart.
She died Oct. 20, 1781
Elizabeth Simpson was born Sept. 1st, 1763; baptized April 1764 by the Rev. A.
Stuart and died Nov. 14, 1796 in Tarboro
Samuel Simpson, our son, was born April 12th 1763 (This has to be a typo); baptised
May 30th by the Rev. Mr. Miller
Alice Simpson was born Aug. 20th 1766; baptised Sept. 20 by the Rev. Mr. Colgrove.
Died July 9, 1770; (next word blacked out) July 15th by the Rev. Mr. Burges
John Hardee Simpson was born April 20th 1768; baptised Nov 11 by the Rev. James
McCarthy; died Jan'y 31st 1804
Ann Simpson was born June 26th, 1769; baptised Apri. 29th, 1770 by the Rev. James
Reed of Blount Creek Chapel; died Dec. 4, 1823
Joseph Simpson was born Feb. 1st, 1773; baptised June 29th, 1773 by Rev. Mr. Holt;
died 22nd March 1790
Sara Simpson was born Nov. 26th 1778; baptised Mar. 5th 1779 by Rev. N. Blount
John Simpson, son of John Simpson and Mary Randall, his wife, died in Pitt Co, NC
March 1st, 1788 - age 60 years.
Elizabeth Hardee, wife of John Simpson died March 5th, 1805
Of John Simpson's children, Alice, Polly and Susan died early; Joseph, when he was
5 years old. John lived to be a young man and took cold after dancing at a party in
New Bern in honor of General Washington, from the effects of which he died.
Samuel Simpson lived to be an old man and was the great grandfather of the writer.
He was four times married. His first wife was Penelope McIlwean. By her he had two
children - Mary and Eliza
Mary grew up and married Rev. W. P. Biddle
Eliza died in her 15th year while attending school in New Bern - very suddenly of
quinsy. She was a pretty girl with black hair and eyes.
PAGE THREE
General Samuel Simpson's second wife was Sallie Bright from Greene Co, NC. She had
one child but both died within a year.
His third wife was Mrs. Frances Cray and had no children by him, but one by a former
husband named Eliza Barham. It was during this marriage that he left the Episcopal
Church in which he had been raised - to join the Baptist Church of which she was a
member.
His fourth wife was Mrs. Eleanor Allen, niece to his first wife. She had a son named
Samuel and then twins. All the children and also the mother died within a short period.
Elizabeth Simpson, daughter of John Simpson, married Mr. O'Brien who was from the
north. Her children were Betsy, Susan and Laurence. Susan marrried Mr. Joseph Branch.
Betsy died early and Lawrence married and died.
Sarah married Dr. Brickell, a frenchman, who lived in Greenville, Pitt Co. NC. Her
children were Betsey, Sallie, John and Patty Ann. Betsy died. Sallie married John
Norcott, Esq. and had one son and died. John Died young. Patsy Ann married Gould Hoyt.
Nancy married Mr. Easton from Greenville. She had two children, Betsey and John.
Betsey married Mr. Kennedy from Washington. Her children were John Warren, Ann, Eliza,
Susan, and Mary. Her husband died and she married her overseer, Mr. Brinkley and had
one child by him
John Norcott, son of Mary Clark and William Norcott, was born Oct. 1, 1793.
John Norcott and Sally Simpson Brickell were married in 1819
Joseph John Norcott, son of the above was born Sept. 5, 1820; was a student at Chapel
Hill; then Princeton about 1841 and died in 1848
NOTE: From here it is difficult to tell what order the pages should be in. There
appears to be a missing page with additional information on other children of John
and Sally Brickell Norcott
PAGE 4
John Heritage Bryan, son of James Bryan and Rachel (Herritage), his wife, was born in
the town of New Bern, NC on the 4th of Nov. A. D. 1798
Mary Williams Shepard, daughter of William Shepard and Mary (Blount), his wife, was
born at New Bern, NC on the 2nd day of Jan'y 1801
Francis Theodore Bryan, son of John H. Bryan and Mary W. Bryan, his wife, was born at
New Bern, between 10:00 and 11:00 A. M. on 11th April 1823
Mary Shepard Bryan, daughter of same parents was born at New Bern between 3:00 and
4:00 o'clock A. M. on Saturday, 25th Sept. 1824
John Heritage Bryan, son of same parents was born at New Bern on the 25th Nov. 1825.
William Shepard Bryan, son of same parents was born at New Bern on 20th Nov. 1827
James Pettigrew Bryan, son of same parents was born at New Bern on 21st July 1829.
Elizabeth Herritage Bryan, daughter of same parents was born at New Bern 15th day of
Jan. 1831
Charles Shepard Bryan, son of same parents on 28th Sept. 1832 was born at New Bern.
Octavia M. Bryan, daughter of same parents was born at New Bern April 18, 1834.
Henry Ravenscroft Bryan, son of same parents was born at New Bern on 8th day of
March 1836
Isabelle Ann Bryan, daughter of same parents was born at New Bern Sept. 10th, 1837
Charlotte Emily, daughter of same parents was born at Raleigh, NC, 27 Jan. 1840
George Petigrew, son of same parents, was born at Raleigh, 9 Oct. 1841
NOTE: The below entry was typed over
Ann - typed over - daughter of same parents was born at Raleigh - typed over -1843
PAGE FIVE
Frederick Richard, son of same parents was born at Raleigh, the 28th May 1846.
MARRIAGES
John H. Bryan and Mary W. Shepard were married at New Bern, N.C. on 20th day of
Dec. 1821 by the Rev. Richard S. Mason, of the Protestant Episcopal Church
Mary S. Bryan and Edwin G. Speight were married at Raleigh on the 8th of October
1851 by Rev. Richard S. Mason, DD of the P.E. Church
Francis T. Bryan and Edmoneia, daughter of N. P. Taylor, dec'd of St. Louis were
married at Christ Church - St. Louis on the 26th Mch. (sic) 1856 by the Rev.'d Mr.
Schuyler
John H. Bryan and Margaret Henderson daughter of Dr. William T. Outlaw of Tenn.
were married in the Baptist Church Raleigh by the Rev. Thos. E. Skinner, Nov. 25, 1858
Henry R. Bryan and Mary B. Norcott were married at New Bern by the Rev. Thos. E.
Skinner of the Baptist Church on 24th Nov. 1859
Dr. James P. Bryan and Mary S. Biddle, daughter of Col. Samuel S. Biddle were married
at Forestville on 3rd Oct. 1860 by the Rev. W. T. Brooks of the Baptist Church
Octavia M. Bryan and John C. Winder of Maryland were married at christ Church, Raleigh
on the 22 Dec. 1856 by Rev. Dr. R. S. Mason of P. E. Church
Elizabeth Herritage Bryan and Kenslow H. Lewis were married at Christ Church, Raleigh,
by Rev. R. S. Mason DD on the 15th April 1857
William S. Bryan and Lizzie Edmondson, daughter of William H. Haywood, dec'd of Talbot
Co., Md were married at Christ Church, Easton, Md. By the Rev. Dr. Henry Mason on the
1st Oct. 1857
Charlotte E. Bryan and Col. Bryan Grimes, Confederate States Army, were married in
Christ Church, Raleigh on the 15th Sept 1863 by the Rev. R. S. Mason
Annie L. Bryan and Andrew Syme were married in Christ Church, Raleigh, NC on Thurs.
Jan'y 20th, 1874 by the Rev. R. S. Mason
Sara Frances Bryan, daughter of Henry R. Bryan and Mary
PAGE SIX
Bryan was married in Christ Church, New bern, NC on Thursday the 15th day of October,
1885 to John Burnett Broadfoot of Fayetteville, NC, Rev. Van Winder Shields
officiating, ceremony at 8:00 A.M.
Minnie Norcott Bryan and Henry A. London, Jr. were married in Christ Church, New Bern,
NC June 21, 1893, by Rev. T. M. N. George at 12 noon
Kate Bryan, daughter of Henry R. and Mary N. Bryan was married on 5th day of April
1899 to Francis Stringer Duffy of New Bern, NC., Rev. T. M. N. George officiating,
ceremony at Christ church, New Bern, at 4:00 P. M.
Isabel Constance Bryan, youngest daughter of Henry R. Bryan and Edwin Henry Jordan
of Columbus, Ohio, were married in Christ Church, New Bern, NC on 16th day of
Nov. 1905 at 5:00 o'clock by the Rev. L. S. Williams
Henry R. Bryan, Jr. and Patty Bell Summerell were married in Portsmouth, Va.,
Sept 28, 1906 by Rev. V. O. Thompson, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church - Ceremony
at the Rectory at 6:00 P. M.
Frederick C. Bryan and Letitia Allis Williams were married in New Haven, Conn. on
28 Sept. 1907
Mary Norcott Broadfoot, daughter of John B. Broadfoot and Sarah Frances, his wife,
and Clarence L. Pemberton were married in Fayetteville on June 12, 1907
Henry R. Bryan and Willie Richardson Law were married in Morehead City June 23, 1909
by Rev. McLinden C. White, Pastor of Presbyterian Church of Raleigh.
Shepard Bryan and Florence King Jackson were married in Atlanta, Ga., by Rev. Walter
L. Tingle of First Presbyterian Church on Jan. 14, 1909
Frances Bryan Broadfoot and Jesse Stanley Claypoole were married in Black Mountain,
NC at St. James Church on Nov. 5, 1913 by Rev. Mr. Stubbs
PAGE 7
Moses Cameron Winston born April 27, 1854 died August 13, 1929; married June 3 1884
to Mary Avera, born May 22, 1864 and died June 1915. Their daughter
Lizzie Winston was born August 29 1895; married October 11, 1917 to William Gillies
Broadfoot, who was born Dec.27, 1887.
Their children
William Gillies Broadfoot was born August 17, 1918
Winston Broadfoot was born February 20, 1920
Shepard Bryan Broadfoot was born December 19, 1924
Born in New Bern, North Carolina on October 3rd at 12:00 o'clock M. (sic) 1860, John
Norcott, son of Henry R. and Mary N. Bryan
Born at Company Shops, North Carolina, March 29th, 1862, Sara Frances, daughter of
the above
Born in Raleigh, NC on the 3rd of May 1864 at 6:00 P.M. Frederick Charles, son of
the above.
Born in New Bern, NC on the 20th January 1867 at 12:00 o'clock M. Mary Norcott,
daughter of the above.
Born in New Bern, NC on the 1st day of January 1870 at 2:00 A.M. Henry Ravenscroft,
son of the above.
Born in New Bern, NC, December 8, 1871 at 8:00 A.M., Albert Shepard, son of the above
parents.
Born in New Bern, NC April 6th, 1873 at 7:00 A.M., Isabel daughter of the above
Born in New Bern, NC May 2nd at 9:00 A.M. 1874, Kate Biddle Bryan, daughter of the above
PAGE EIGHT
Born in New Bern, NC Dec. 1, at 3:00 P.M., 1875, Margaret Shepard, daughter of the
above parents
Edwin Speight Bryan son of the same parents was born in New Bern on Monday night - the
19th of March A.D. 1877 at 27 minutes after 11:00 o'clock. He was baptised by Rev.
Edward M. Forbes, August 30th, 1877 at the residence of his parents
Isabel Constance, daughter of the same parents was born in New Bern, NC on Saturday,
the 10th day of May 1879 at 3:00 o'clock A.M. Baptised by Rev. C. Stewart Hale in
Christ Church, New Bern, Oct 12, 1879
Born in Fayetteville, NC. Nov. 6, 1886 at about 4 o'clock A.M., Mary Norcott, Daughter
of John B. and Fannie Bryan Broadfoot
William Gillies Broadfoot was born in Fayetteville, NC December 27, 1887 about 4:00
o'clock A. M., son of John B. Broadfoot and Fannie B., his wife
Fannie Bryan Broadfoot was born in Fayetteville, NC October 14, 1890 about 8 1/2
o'clock P.M., daughter of John B. and Fannie Bryan Broadfoot
Henry Bryan Broadfoot was born in Fayetteville, NC Sept 2nd, 1893, about 10:30 o'clock
P.M., son of John B. and Fannie Bryan Broadfoot.
Mary Norcott London, daughter of Henry A. London and Mary Norcott Bryan, his wife, was
born in Pittsboro, NC April 18, 1895 at 10:00 o'clock P.M. Died February 18, 1918 in
Charlotte
Henry Bryan Duffy, son of Frank S. Duffy and Kate Bryan Duffy, his wife, was born in
New Bern, NC May 3rd 1901 at 4:00 A.M.
Henry Adolphus London, Jr. son of Henry A. London and Mary Bryan London, his wife, was
born in Charlotte, NC January 3rd, 1902
John Bryan London, son of Henry A. London and Mary Bryan London was born in
Charlotte, NC Sept. 12, 1903
Clarence Pemberton, son of Clarence L. Pemberton and Norcott Broadfoot was born in
Fayetteville, NC 23 July 1908
PAGE NINE
Francis Stringer Duff, Jr. was born in New Bern, NC Sept 7 or 1, 1909, son of Francis
S. Duffy and Kate Bryan Duffy
Marion Cobb Bryan, daughter of Shepard Bryan and Florence Jackson Bryan was born in
Atlanta, Ga., April 23, 1910
Elizabeth Poe Bryan, daughter of Henry R. Bryan, Jr., and Willie R. Bryan was born in
Raleigh, NC April 24, 1910
Emma Lilly Pemberton, daughter of Clarence L. Pemberton and Mary Norcott, his wife,
was born June 9, 1910 at Wadesboro, NC
Frances Bryan Claypoole, daughter of Frances Bryan Broadfoot and Jesse Stanley
Claypoole was born 1:00 A.M. August 4, 1914 in New Bern, NC (at the home of her great
grandparents on East Front St)
Jesse Stanley Claypoole, son of the above parents was born 10:30 A.M. Dec. 18, 1916
in New Bern, NC (at the home of his parents on Broad Street)
Florence Jackson Bryan, daughter of Shepard Bryan and Florence Jackson Bryan was born
in Atlanta, Ga. Aug 30, 1912
Mary Norcott Bryan, daughter of the above parents was born Dec. 21, 1913 in Atlanta, Ga.
DEATHS
Frederick Richard Bryan died on 13th day of December 1863 on Sunday - 26 minutes
after 6:00 A.M. at his father's plantation near Raleigh
George Pettigrew Bryan was killed by a minnie ball under the heart while gallantly
leading his company in a charge upon the enemy's works 2 miles east of Richmond, Va.
On the Charles City Road on 16th August 1864 near the house of Henry Duke
Kinslow H. Lewis died at his residence near Rocky Mr. On Saturday the 31st August.
1866 at 12 1/2 o'clock A.M. in the 50th year of his age.
PAGE TEN
Edwin G. Speight died at Bladen Springs, Ala. On Sunday, Feb 15, 1863 - age 45 years
John Heritage Bryan, Sr., died on Thurs., May 19, 1870 at 1:00 P.M. at his residence
in Raleigh in the 72nd year of his age. The funeral took place on Saturday the 21st
at 5:00 o'clock P.M. from the Episcopal Church. The following named gentlemen being
the pall bearers
George W. Mordecai
Bat. F. Moore
Wm. H. Battle
Daniel M. Barringer
Thos. Bragg
Charles Dewey
Dr. Thomas Martin
William Grimes
General Bryan Grimes was assassinated near Bear Creek in Beaufort Co on the evening
of the 14th day of August 1880 near his residence in Pitt Co.
Mary W. Bryan, widow of John H. Bryan died at her residence in the city of Raleigh
at 5:30 o'clock A.M. on the 13th of July 1881 in the 81st year of her age. The
funeral took place on the following afternoon from the Episcopal Church at 15 minutes
to 6:00 o'clock, Dr. Marshall officiating. The following named gentlemen were the
pall bearers:
Dr. Peter Hines
Dr. E. Burke Haywood
Richard H. Battle
P. A. Wiley
John Devereux
Rufus S. Tucker
Charles B. Root
Thomas Badger
Hymn 259 was sung "Hear what the voice from Heaven declares."
Dr. James P. Bryan died at his residence in Kinston, NC on the 14th day of August
1887 about midnight and was buried in New Bern, NC from the Episcopal Church -
August 17
Mrs. Mary Shepard Speight died in Raleigh, Feb. 23, 1895 very suddenly in the morning
Charles Shepard Bryan died in Cassville, Missouri on the 8th day of March 1896 in the
64th year of his age
William Shepard Bryan, Judge of Court of Appeals of Maryland, died in Baltimore
Dec. 9, 1906
Pattie Bell Bryan, wife of Henry R. Bryan, Jr. died in Garysburg on January 25, 1907
at 5:00 P.M. at the residence of Dr. A. I. Ellis
PAGE ELEVEN
Isabel Bryan
Little Isabel was the 6th child of the above parents. She was a most beautiful babe.
Her eyes were violet, her hair black and her features perfect from the time she was
2 months old to her death which occurred when she was nearly 4 months old. Her life
was one of suffering and God gently took her to himself and transplanted her to that
heavenly home which we are told is so beautiful. 3 months and 17 days old.
Edwin Speight Bryan, son of Henry R. and Mary N. Bryan died in New Bern NC on the
30th day of August 1877 at 4 1/2 o'clock after a brief illness of about 24 hours -
Aged 5 months and 11? Days
Henry Adolphus London, son of Henry A. London, Jr. died in Charlotte, NC May 20, 1903
at 9:15 A.M.
Pattie Bell, wife of Henry R. Bryan, Jr. died in Garysburg, NC on 25 of Janr'y 1907
Henry R. Bryan died in New Bern, NC on Friday the 14th day of Feb. 1919. Funeral
services from Christ Church Sunday afternoon 4:00 P.M. Buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery.
He was born March 8, 1836
Mary Norcott London, daughter of Hal A. London and Minnie Bryan London died in
Charlotte, NC Tues. Feb. 18, 1919. She was married to Edwin T. Cansler, Jr.,
Dec. 15, 1917
Henry R. Bryan, Jr. died in New Bern, NC (70 E. Front St.) on Saturday, Feb 18, 1928
at 4:00 P.M. Funeral services from Christ Church Monday afternoon at 3:30 P.M.
Burial in Cedar Grove Cemetery. He was born Jan. 1, 1870
Mary Norcott Bryan, wife of Henry R. Bryan died in New Bern, NC Thursday, May 21,
1925 at her home East Front St. at 6:00 P.M. Funeral from Christ Church Saturday
afternoon at 5:00 P.M. May 23, 1925
PAGE TWELVE
Died in New Bern, NC on the afternoon of Saturday about four o'clock, the 23rd of
Sept. 1871, Mrs. Sara Frances Carraway after a very painful illness of several
months, which she bore with greatest patience. She had been an invalid for many
years of her life and had many sorrows, yet she never failed to live the religion
which she professed and to trust God always. She married in the 21st year, John
Norcott of Pitt County, NC by whom she had an only daughter. After living with
him happily for 11 years, she was left a widow. After remaining a widow for nine
years, she again married and at the end of four years was again left a widow. She
was the daughter of Rev. Wm. P. Biddle and in her 15th year united with the Baptist
Church. She remained a true and earnest member to the end of her life. Sickness
and trouble clouded the last days of her life and she keenly felt that want of means
which in her prosperous days before the war had been such a source of pleasure and
profit to herself and friends. Her mind was vigorous and her information extensive,
especially was her knowledge of the Bible great. She was one of the most charitable
women and a most agreeable companion. Even in the pains of death she thought of her
dear child and beloved grandchildren, and almost her last words were "May the Lord
guide you" and "Train your children uprightly". She exclaimed also,
'It is sweet to die".
There anchored safe her weary soul
Hath found eternal rest
No storms shall break; no billows roll
Across her peaceful breast
John Norcott Bryan
Little Norcott was the oldest child of Henry R. and Mary N. Bryan and he was an
interesting, fine looking boy and died just before completing his 2nd year, a few
months after New Bern fell into the hands of the enemy. He had sweet blue eyes, a
lovely complexion and an expression of countenance which was heavenly. He had
always been very healthy but in the rapid journey from N. at the approach of the
enemy, he took the whooping cough from the effects of which he never recovered
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