The Simpson Family History

This brief history has been drawn up using census records, bmd information and what little has been passed to me in the way of family folklore.

The earliest member of the Simpson family is my great great great great grandfather Joseph Simpson. I only know this because of the marriage certificate of his son Abraham (my 3x great grandfather) and daughter-in-law Catherine in Carlisle. A quick check on the IGI (the Mormon’s International Genealogical Index) shows that it is likely that Joseph's wife was Dorothy Steel and that Abraham is the second of eight children. Until I get to Kendal records office to confirm this I am not adding them all to my tree.

Looking on the 1841 Census there seems to be no sign of Joseph and Abraham in Morland (the village that Abraham lists as his place of birth on all census records after this date). This is not unusual as the 1841 census is very patchy and isn’t known for its accuracy.

We don’t know when Abraham moved from Morland to Carlisle but we can guess at somewhere before 1848 as it is then that he marries Upperby born Catherine Haugh (9 years his junior).

1849 sees the birth of their first child, Catherine.

1851 sees the birth of their second child Thomas.

The 1851 census finds the family living at 2 St. Nicholas Cottages, Botchergate, Carlisle. St Nicholas Cottages is no longer standing but on its site is a retail park just off London Road. All the property in this area at the time was where the majority of the city’s railway staff and their families lived and the Simpsons are no exception. Abraham has the lowly job of a stoker on the railway in Carlisle.

By 1861 they have moved to 7 Regent’s Street, Carlisle (Like St Nicholas Cottages it is now on the site of the retail park) Abraham now 40, and Catherine 31, now have Catherine (11), Thomas (10), Mary (7), Abraham (5), George (3) and Joseph (1). Abraham has been promoted and is now working as an Engine Driver.

Unfortunately just one year later Abraham dies leaving Catherine to raise their family. He is buried in Upperby cemetery Carlisle.

The 1871 census shows that Catherine remains in Regent Street after her husband dies and although they are now adults Catherine and Mary are still living at home. Catherine and Mary are both listed as Milliners on the census and Abraham (15) looks to be following in his fathers footsteps and is working as a Engine Cleaner at the railway. George and Joseph are still at school.

In 1873 Abraham (my great great grandfather) marries Martha Harrison (my great great grandmother)

The 1881 census we follow them to 3 Fairish Court, Botchergate, Carlisle.  They have 3 children, Mary Catherine (5) Edith Annie (8) and Abraham (7 months). Like his father before him he is making a career out of the railway and he is now a Railway Fireman.

By 1891 he has become an Engine Driver like his father. He is still married to Martha and they have had 3 further children, Joseph (8), Ernest (5) and Lily (3 - my great grandmother). They now live at 102 London Road, Carlisle.

Unfortunately in 1895 he loses his wife Martha to TB.

The final available census in 1901 shows Abraham with his second wife Jane Knight There are 4 more children in the house Gertie (9), Maggie (7), Mary Catherine (3) and Thomas (3 months). Family folklore says that Thomas is actually the child of the eldest daughter, Edith Annie (this is proved to be true with his birth certificate). He is being however raised by Abraham and Jane as their own son. This large family are living at 40 Brook Street.

In 1906 the family is struck by a double tragedy when 44 year old Jane has a stroke while in labour with her second daughter Winifred Lilian. Despite all efforts both mother and baby die the same day.

My great Grandmother Lily Simpson married Robert Henry Harris and had 5 children including my grandfather Robert Henry Harris.

Lily’s sister Edith Annie married in late 1901 to Edmund Thompson and moved into the country where they brought up their own daughters Martha and Elizabeth. After Edith Annie died Edmund moved to Morecambe to live out his days with his daughters.

Her brother Abraham died 1927 and never married or had children.

I do not know what happened to her brother Joseph.

Her sister Maggie married James (Jim) Clifford and they had two boys – James and Ronald. James died of peritonitis aged 9 and her husband Jim was killed in a freak accident in 1960 when he was knocked off his bike coming home from work and crushed to death by a horse box. Maggie herself lived to a ripe age dying in 1983 aged 89. Ronald went on to marry Joyce and have 2 girls and a boy.

Lily’s brother/nephew Thomas married Elsie and has a son Eric (he would be in his 70/80’s now although all attempts to contact him suggest that he is probably dead).

Her sisters Gertie and Mary Catherine (known as Renie) never married.