Home

These are seven letters from a young widow named Frances (Armstrong) Simpson, stranded in Canada with her two young children. Her husband was sea captain William Simpson. The letters were addressed to her father-in-law Captain David Simpson in North Shields, Northumberland UK.

All the letters are written on a single piece of paper slightly larger than 2x A4 (letter size) and folded so as to be tucked in and sealed with wax. Most were given to a ship's captain to be delivered on returning to England either by hand or posted. Two of the letters were posted via New York. In all cases mail was paid for by the recipient.

Many thanks to Peter Donn in England for providing and transcribing these letters.

- March 2012

* On Oct 25, 2012 I made contact with a great-great-grand daughter of Frances (Armstrong) Simpson in Tennessee. She actually has one of the captain's chests**

* If anyone has anything further to add to this story, including genealogy, please let me know!

Thanks. Dan Mark