Simpson, Henry
Descendants of :
Henry SIMPSON
For sources and more details, click here
Generation 1
1. Henry SIMPSON was born 1815 in Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorks, England and died 26 Apr 1884 in Glen Osmond, SA. He married Annabella LIDDON. She was born ABT 1816 and died 15 Dec 1878 in Woodville, SA.
Other events in the life of Henry SIMPSON
Immigration: 16 Aug 1836, John Pirie
Burial: North Road Cemetery Plot VLT BB, Path 12 South
Children of Henry SIMPSON and Annabella LIDDON:
i. Mary Anne Margaret SIMPSON was born 08 Apr 1839 in Hobart, Tasmania and died 09 Apr 1846 in Port Adelaide, SA
ii. Henry Sieveright SIMPSON was born 22 Oct 1842 and died 05 Aug 1887 in North Adelaide, SA
iii. 2. James Liddon SIMPSON was born 13 May 1844 and died 28 Dec 1899 in Woodville, SA
iv. 3. Jessie Hall SIMPSON was born ABT 1846 and died 24 Sep 1932 in Woodville, SA
v. William Amos SIMPSON was born ABT 1850 and died 10 Nov 1920 in Southwark, SA
vi. 4. Emma Sophia SIMPSON was born ABT 1851 and died 06 Sep 1914 in North Adelaide, SA
vii. 5. Alice Mary SIMPSON was born ABT 1852 and died 27 Feb 1923 in Cheltenham, Gloucester, England
viii. 6. Lilias Ann SIMPSON was born 29 Mar 1856 in Port Road, Adelaide and died 02 Apr 1910
ix. Eva May SIMPSON was born 01 May 1859 in Tenderdon, SA and died 31 Jul 1878 in Glen Osmond, SA
Generation 2
2. James Liddon SIMPSON was born 13 May 1844 and died 28 Dec 1899 in Woodville, SA. He married Margaret Elphinstone MONTEITH 15 Apr 1875 in North Adelaide, SA. She was born 24 Dec 1853 in Glenelg, SA and died 17 Oct 1937 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, daughter of Thomas Freebairn MONTEITH and Ann Gordon MUIRHEAD.
Children of James Liddon SIMPSON and Margaret Elphinstone MONTEITH:
i. Henry Gordon Liddon SIMPSON was born 12 Apr 1876 in North Adelaide, SA and died 20 May 1920 in Sydney, NSW
ii. 7. James Liddon SIMPSON was born 29 Nov 1877 in North Adelaide, SA and died 1969 in London, England
iii. 8. Anne Elphinstone Liddon SIMPSON was born 23 Jun 1879 in Woodville, SA and died 1965
iv. 9. Freebairn Liddon SIMPSON was born 17 Jan 1881 in Woodville, SA and died 07 Jan 1962 in NSW
3. Jessie Hall SIMPSON was born ABT 1846 and died 24 Sep 1932 in Woodville, SA. She married George Alexander CONNOR 26 Jul 1865 in Woodville, SA. He was born 11 Oct 1842 in Battersea, Surrey, England and died 03 Oct 1925 in Woodville, SA.
Children of Jessie Hall SIMPSON and George Alexander CONNOR:
i. Ethel Gertrude CONNOR was born 25 Jun 1866 in Glanville, SA and died 17 Oct 1943 in Woodville, SA
ii. Henry William CONNOR was born 03 May 1868 in Woodville, SA and died 1884 in at sea near St Helena
iii. Agnes Maud CONNOR was born 31 Jan 1870 in Findon, SA and died 09 Dec 1891 in Woodville, SA
iv. Enid CONNOR was born 24 Sep 1871 in Findon, SA and died 15 Jul 1964 in Woodville, SA
v. 10. Stanley St Barbe CONNOR was born 08 Jul 1873 in Woodville, SA and died 21 Apr 1959 in Claremont, WA
vi. Clive Henthorne CONNOR was born 09 Jun 1875 in Woodville, SA and died 15 Aug 1968 in Woodville West, SA
vii. Ina CONNOR was born 22 Nov 1877 in Woodville, SA and died 28 May 1971 in Woodville West, SA
viii. 11. Bentley Sieveright CONNOR was born 1880 and died 1957
ix. Alicia Ann CONNOR was born 1882 and died 07 Aug 1968 in Woodville West, SA
x. 12. Dorothy Liddon CONNOR was born 1885 and died 09 Dec 1973
xi. 13. Eden Dennis CONNOR was born 17 Aug 1887 in Woodville, SA and died 19 Jul 1916 in France
4. Emma Sophia SIMPSON was born ABT 1851 and died 06 Sep 1914 in North Adelaide, SA. She married William MILNE 17 Mar 1870 in Glen Osmond, SA. He was born 06 Feb 1849 in North Adelaide, SA and died 14 Dec 1905 in Mount Lofty, SA.
5. Alice Mary SIMPSON was born ABT 1852 and died 27 Feb 1923 in Cheltenham, Gloucester, England. She married Joseph Sylvester OHALLORAN 17 Aug 1886 in Cheltenham, Gloucester, England. He was born 28 Mar 1842 in North Adelaide, SA and died 25 Jan 1920 in Cheltenham, Gloucester, England, son of William Littlejohn OHALLORAN and Eliza Minton SMYTH.
6. Lilias Ann SIMPSON was born 29 Mar 1856 in Port Road, Adelaide and died 02 Apr 1910. She married Leslie McLAREN 22 Aug 1878 in Adelaide, SA. He was born ABT 1855, son of John Wingate McLAREN.
Children of Lilias Ann SIMPSON and Leslie McLAREN:
i. Eva Maberley McLAREN was born 27 May 1881 in Woodville, SA
Generation 3
7. James Liddon SIMPSON was born 29 Nov 1877 in North Adelaide, SA and died 1969 in London, England. He married Dorothy BLYTH 28 Sep 1915 in Knightsbridge, SA.
Children of James Liddon SIMPSON and Dorothy BLYTH:
i. Freebairn Liddon SIMPSON was born 11 Jul 1916 in Warawee, NSW and died 25 Jan 2001
ii. Blyth Liddon SIMPSON was born 18 Jul 1917 and died 02 Mar 1962
8. Anne Elphinstone Liddon SIMPSON was born 23 Jun 1879 in Woodville, SA and died 1965. She married Edmund Henry Cecil WOOD 1987 in St Leonards, NSW. He was born 02 Apr 1968 in Queensland.
9. Freebairn Liddon SIMPSON was born 17 Jan 1881 in Woodville, SA and died 07 Jan 1962 in NSW. He married Daisy Gladys Sandell MATTHEWS 27 Jun 1918 in South Africa. She died 1943 in Sydney, NSW.
Other events in the life of Freebairn Liddon SIMPSON
Military: Boer War and WW1
Residence: 1935, 16 The Avenue, Collaroy, Sydney, NSW
10. Stanley St Barbe CONNOR was born 08 Jul 1873 in Woodville, SA and died 21 Apr 1959 in Claremont, WA. He married Helen MILLER 16 Oct 1900 in Adelaide, SA. She was born 13 Sep 1874 in Norwood, SA and died 1961 in Perth, WA, daughter of Kingsman St Barbe MILLER.
11. Bentley Sieveright CONNOR was born 1880 and died 1957. He married Margaret May HOOK 1907 in Victoria.
Other events in the life of Bentley Sieveright CONNOR
Baptism: 10 Dec 1880, Woodville, SA
12. Dorothy Liddon CONNOR was born 1885 and died 09 Dec 1973. She married George Bacon SWEETING 17 Mar 1921 in Woodville, SA.
13. Eden Dennis CONNOR was born 17 Aug 1887 in Woodville, SA and died 19 Jul 1916 in France. She married Elsie Marion CONLIFFE 1911 in Victoria, Australia.
Last updated : 24 Aug 2021
About SIMPSON, Henry, Capt.
Captain Henry Simpson
He may be regarded as one of our earliest South Australian colonists, arrived here in August 1836, as second officer of the 'John Pirie,' of which vessel he subsequently became master. He was a native of Hull, England, and was born in 1815. From the time of his first connection with the colony, up to the day of his death, he was well known as one of our most enterprising shipowners, and his name is still a 'household word ' at Port Adelaide, which was for so many years the scene of his labours and his successes. To enumerate all the vessels with which he was connected would occupy more space than we can here afford, but it may be stated that on leaving the 'John Pirie' he took chargeof the barque ' Lord Hobart' He next purchased a cutter, and established a trade between Port Adelaide, King George's Sound, and Fremantle, W. A.
He was subsequently appointed wharfinger at the old port under the South Australian Company. From this position Captain Simpson was at a later date transferred to the newport, when the road from Alberton to the Flagstaff was constructed by the S.A. Company. He was associated with Messrs. Phillips and DeHome in the formation of a shipping and agency company, which, however, collapsed at the time of the goldfever in Victoria, and Captain Simpson, affected by the prevailing disorder which led so many South Australians to leave for Victoria, went thither, and workedas a digger for six months.
On his return to Port Adelaide he engaged in the coaling trade. For a long time the traffic between this colony and Newcastle was carried on by means of sailing vessels, and Captain Simpson decided to introduce steamers for the coal trade, and imported the 'Birksgate,' 'Tenterden,' and other vessels for the Port Adelaide trade. From the commencement of the Wallaroo Smelting Works he was the contractor for the coal supply, in which employment he had many ships engaged. During recent years he was greatly assisted by his sonin the work of the firm with which he was connected, and was thereby to an extent relieved of business cares. He always manifested deep interest in local matters at Port Adelaide, where the news of his death, on April 26, 1884, from a paralytic fit, caused the most profound regret.
Kind and benevolent in disposition, a gentleman in every sense of the word, the decease of Captain Simpson may beregarded as somewhat of a national calamity. He had nearly reached his seventieth year, and the greater part of his life was spent in South Australia, but he paid a visit to England with his family in 1875, and remained there two years. Few men have done more to advance the interests of this colony than he; few of hiscontemporary pioneers have accomplished so much good in a long and useful lifetime. The firm of Messrs. H. Simpson & Sons is still extant ; the sons of CaptainSimpson being now the managing partners and representative heads.
Loyau, G.E., 1885, 'Notable South Australians; Or, Colonists, Past and Present'H. SIMPSON AND SONS
Coal Merchants and Ship Owners, Adelaide.
-This firm was founded in 1850 by Capt. H. Simpson, who was one of the very first arrivals in the colony, in 1836, as second officer of the "John Pirie." He was born at Hull, England, 1815. From the time of his arrival in the colony to the day of his death,- in 1884, he has always been very prominently connected with shipping interests. He had not been long in South Australia before he purchased a cutter, and established a trade between Port Adelaide, King George's Sound, and Freemantle, W.A., being one of the first, if not the very first, to open up trade with West Australia. He was subsequently appointed wharfinger at Port Adelaide by the South Australian colony. At the time of the gold discovery in Victoria, Capt. Simpson, like most others afflicted by the fever, visited the diggings, and returned about nine months afterwards, having met with a fair amount of success. He then established himself in the coal trade, and also as a general merchant, having large bonded stores at Port Adelaide, and for a long time carried on the coal traffic between Newcastle and the colony by means of sailing vessels, when decided to introduce steamers, and for that purpose procured the "Birksgate" and "Tenterden," having previously built the " Ridgepark " for the Wallaroo trade. From the commencement of the Wallaroo Smelting Works he was contractor for the coal supply, which is still an important portion of the business, as now carried on by his sons. He was largely identified with the construction of the wharves at Port Adelaide, and always manifested the most lively interest in local matters, although not taking any personal share in municipal government. He was a member of the first Harbor Trust, and was a justice of the Peace. Few men have done more to advance the interests of the colony than Captain Simpson, without making any ostentatious display, and his death at the time was considered a national calamity. He was of a very kind and benevolent disposition, and leaves behind him only kindly recollections. The business is now carried on by his two sons; James Liddon and William Amos Simpson, who conduct and keep up the connections with all its original vigor. The firm own a number of sailing vessels, besides having an interest in various steamers. The business was the first of its class established in the colony, and has a larger output of coal than any other firm existing now in South Australia. - Aldine History of South Australia
Capt. Henry Simpson, bought Ridge Park, Glen Osmond, from Mr. R. Barr Smith and Sir Thomas Elder, and lived there for some years after he handed the control of his business to his sons, James Liddon* Simpson and William Amos Simpson. He died at Ridge Park homestead in the ~ early 1880's. The executors of Capt. Simpson's estate sold Ridge' Park to the Frasers, who lived there for many years until Miss Edith Fraser died not long ago. Capt. Simpson was an early arrival in South Australia, for his grandson has his copy of 'Plutarch's Lives,' bearing his autograph on the fly leaf— 'Henry Simpson, Kingscote, 1837.' He was a merchant seaman who founded and owned the Black Diamond line of ships trading on the Australian coast and to Mauritius, South Africa and Great Britain, Black Diamond Corner is a wellknown landmark at Port Adelaide. Capt. Simpson's Woodville property was mainly divided between James Liddon Simpson, sen., and his sisters, but before the division some portions had been alienated by gift for certain public purposes; the remainder was sold by his executors. Mrs. D. L. Sweeting, at 40 Esplanade, Semaphore until she leaves for England this week, and who has been living in Perth for many years, is a granddaughter of Capt. Simpson. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Connor, of Silveracre, Woodville, a property Capt. Simpson gave his daughter.
Out among the People (1951, January 18). Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), , p. 39. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article93921730Memorial Window To Pioneer Captain
A memorial window to Captain Henry Simpson in the porch of St. Margaret's Church Woodville. was blessed by the Bishop of Adelaide (Right Rev. Dr. A. Nutter Thomas) and unveiled by Miss E M. McLaren, a granddaughter of Captain Simpson, yesterday. Captain Simpson landed at Kangaroo Island 100 years ago yesterday. The window depicts a merchant directing his men in the unloading of a ship, and bears a quotation from the Psalms— "They that go down to the sea in ships and occupy their business In great waters." The inscription beneath the window reads:— To commemorate Henry Simpson, a former worshipper in this church, who, arriving in the John Pirie, August 16, 1836. was one of the founders of the South Australian merchant marine. In order to set the window, which was made in Melbourne, it was necessary to make an opening in the 4 ft. thick wall at the base of the old Norman tower of the church. Included in a large congregation were the Mayor of Woodville (Mr. J. S. Butler), the town clerk (Mr. G. A. M. Ralph), and Crs. Box, Sage, Williams and Carter. The rector (Rev. E. C. Loan) and Canon S. T. C. Best assisted in the service.
Memorial Window To Pioneer Captain (1936, August 17). The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), p. 16. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48170303SHAPING THE STATE : CAPTAIN HENRY SIMPSON
The name “Black Diamond Corner” at Port Adelaide traces its origins back to an old shipping line operated by Captain Henry Simpson. Captain Simpson founded the Black Diamond line of collier sailing ships that by 1866 had a large fleet operating out of Port Adelaide.
Simpson arrived in South Australia as second officer of the John Pirie, one of the first fleet of ships bringing settlers to the new colony of South Australia.
Between 1842 and 1844 he captained four ships, including the John Pirie on which he had arrived. He was then appointed harbourmaster at the “Old Port” Adelaide which later transferred to the “New Port”. Becoming a shipping agent around 1850, he recognized the growing need for coal to supply the rapid rise in steamship transport.
He leased the Queen’s Wharf at Port Adelaide and the No 4 bond store and started building a fleet of sailing ships to transport coal from Newcastle to Adelaide and Wallaroo. Although some of his ships were wrecked, at any given time he had more than 10 sailing ships in his fleet. It was not until 1879 that Simpson began using steamships himself.
His fleet became known as the Black Diamond Line due to the value of the coal he transported. The funnels on his steamships were eventually painted with a black diamond shape.
During the 1870’s, the intersection of Commercial Road and St Vincent Street became known as Black Diamond Corner, named after Simpson’s shipping line. With the introduction of motor vehicles, this intersection saw many accidents which led to the introduction of the “Silent Cop”, a signal pillar indicating to traffic to “Keep Left”. There were three separate pillars erected over the years, the last of which has been preserved and repositioned to the footpath on the corner of Commercial Road and N Parade, adjacent to the wharves.
Captain Henry Simpson died on 27th April 1884 aged 69. He is buried in the Simpson family plot in Path 12 South. His company, Simpson & Sons, continued to prosper under the management of his sons after his death.
North Road Cemetery Facebook 26 Oct 2023