Seeking parents for Henry Simpson, 1853-1936 CT

Question

My husbands great grandfather was Henry Simpson, born 1853 in England (so we are told) and died 20 Mar 1936 in Bristol, CT. Married Effie Kieth in 1886, possibly in New York.  I cannot find record for this, just year on census.  He states also in census he arrived 1865. I am seeking his parents, and I can find NOTHING.  In one census he lists them as being Irish, in three others he says English.  I have a possible emigration record for a Henry Simpson coming alone age 10.  His birth date is listed as 1853 in census but it could be + or - a few years, you know how it goes.  I'm at a wall and desperate.

Answer 1

I couldn't find an existing profile, so I'll start with the basics.

"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XMP8-KVY : accessed 29 March 2017), Henry T Simpson, Bristol, Hartford, Connecticut, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 97, sheet 31B, line 57, family 15, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 261; FHL microfilm 2,339,996.

"United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCFK-HH4 : accessed 29 March 2017), Henry Simpson, Bristol, Hartford, Connecticut, United States; citing ED 20, sheet 2A, line 33, family 23, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 180; FHL microfilm 1,820,180.

"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKKT-2R9 : accessed 29 March 2017), Henry G Simpson, Bristol, Hartford, Connecticut, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 132, sheet 14B, family 261, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 130; FHL microfilm 1,374,143.

"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9QV-T8X : accessed 29 March 2017), Henry Simpson, Bristol township, Voting District 1 & 3 (excl. Bristol borough), Hartford, Connecticut, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 120, sheet 7B, family 136, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,135.

Middle initial either T or G - born around November 1852, it appears England is pretty consistent - immigrated around 1865.

Comments

Yes I have his census papers, but thank you! I know his life well from Connecticut on, Its just needing to know from before.

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https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=160079685

Middle initial appears to be T - 1852 - 1936 appears to be confirmed.

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I have Thomas as his middle name, given to me through his grandson, Kenneth.

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Hm - I thought maybe there would be a hint with Effie:

"United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN7D-9SV : 17 October 2014), Effa Keith in household of James Keith, Connecticut, United States; citing p. 83, family 702, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,605.

"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFCL-W7Q : 14 July 2016), Eppie E Keith in household of James Keith, Thomaston, Litchfield, Connecticut, United States; citing enumeration district ED 25, sheet 465D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0101; FHL microfilm 1,254,101.

And then she was married and shows up on the 1900 Census with her husband. I couldn't find a marriage record either.

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This is the ONLY thing I could find for a "record" which of course tells me nothing.  

https://www.ancestry.com/media/viewer/viewer/739f4e97-d4dc-41ab-8baf-0bb2ba053b87/80008493/36414556888?_phsrc=ACU45&usePUBJs=true

I also have this questionable emigration record.  

https://www.ancestry.com/media/viewer/viewer/df58efcf-a0aa-4957-a217-6bb8a2db8195/80008493/36414556888?_phsrc=ACU46&usePUBJs=true

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Interesting - so she grew up in Connecticut, they went off to NYC to be married, and then by 1900 relocated back to Connecticut to live.

Marriage date listed - 3 July 1886 - Kings, New York

And the immigration record - interesting - so if he was born in England, he may have departed from Liverpool as a child - the notation that he might be from Ireland seems to be an outlier, so it's interesting but I don't think it's relevant. However, Liverpool is not specifically near to England, in the sense that you would just hop over and go out from that port. If that record is accurate, there would be a story behind how his family (or just him) got over there.

I'm afraid I've got nothing but speculation at the moment. The only other place I can turn to would be history - I'm not sure what sorts of reasons people were emmigrating from England to the US between 1860 - 1870, but it might be interesting to look at the political and military activities going on at the time. Laws being passed, wars being fought, etc.

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I've found two Henry T simpson birth records in england for 1853, but that does me little good if I cant find his mothers name listed somewhere, anywhere else.  There are a BUNCH of just "henry simpson" listed. Even if I had a place name....but Ive nothing.  

Unfortunately he came over so early that people were still coming through Castle Garden, so the records are spotty.  And yes, it makes NO SENSE for Effie to have come from CT to NY and then go back, unless she was there for some other reason, but if he'd been in NY since he was 10/12, who was he staying with, and why cant I find hom on any census there? He's a ghost up until 1885

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??

https://familysearch.org/search/collection/results?count=20&query=%2Bgivenname%3AHenry~%20%2Bsurname%3ASimpson~&collection_id=1491284

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Hm - more speculation - Effie's Dad is listed as a "Peddler" by trade, with his father from Mass. and his mother from New York. Perhaps James visited family in NY? Still a bit weak, as a brief visit does not a relationship make...

Here's an interesting thought - if Henry lived in NYC, could he have been married once before?

"New York State Census, 1875," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNJ2-RWR : 16 November 2014), Henry Simpson in household of Mary Craven, New Lots, Kings, New York, United States; citing p. , line 14, State Library, Albany; FHL microfilm 1,930,225.

The only problem with this could be these records:

"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCWF-4LB : 30 December 2015), Henry Simpson in entry for Jove Clapp, 1860.

"New York State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6W3-3CS : 19 November 2014), Henry Simpson in household of Margaret Barrett, E.D. 3, Ward 11, Brooklyn City, Kings, New York, United States; count clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 1,930,199.

Which might be the same person - it's hard to tell

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The 1900 Census says that Henry's mother was from Ireland. This leans more towards the fact that they might have had a reason to be in Liverpool...

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According to his own census records later, he wasnt in NY until 1865.  Not that thats a definitive "no" as we are all well aware....

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sorry I didnt realize my link was the whole list. About halfway down there's Henry, 1853 with Frank and Jane, from IRELAND!

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I have my doubts about that one - there's a Henry that appears to have grown up and lived in Penfield, Monroe County and married an Anna/Annie. 

"New York State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6QM-GMP : 19 November 2014), Henry Simpson in household of Franklin Simpson, E.D. 1, Penfield, Monroe, New York, United States; count clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 833,773.

"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCWR-WX8 : 30 December 2015), Henry Simpson in entry for Frank Simpson, 1860.

"New York State Census, 1865," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVNN-BQTV : accessed 29 March 2017), Henry Simpson in household of Frank Simpson, Penfield, District 01, , Monroe, New York, United States; citing source p. 18, line 1, household ID 137, county clerk, board of supervisors and surrogate court offices from various counties. Utica and East Hampton Public Libraries, New York; FHL microfilm 833,777.

"New York State Census, 1875," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VTZ1-JFJ : 16 November 2014), Henry Simpson in household of Franklin Simpson, Penfield, Monroe, New York, United States; citing p. 13, line 43, State Library, Albany; FHL microfilm 833,782.

"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZDX-K8M : 14 July 2016), Henry Simpson, Penfield, Monroe, New York, United States; citing enumeration district ED 58, sheet 354B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0861; FHL microfilm 1,254,861.

"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSJS-7PC : accessed 29 March 2017), Henry Simpson, Penfield Township (west side), Monroe, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 24, sheet 8B, family 182, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,073.

Might still be possible, but it seems unlikely he's the right one.

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yes I was literally just following the census trail for Frank and finally saw one where Henry was listed as being born in NY. Ugh, another dead end.

But hes SOMEWHERE in NY in 1865......

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A BREAKTHROUGH! Small, but still. On daughter Anges' birth record Henry is clearly listed as Henry T, being from Bristol, England.  

At least that narrows it down a small bit.

https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/80008493/person/36414556892/media/3858ac53-afbc-48d7-9e97-454843e92147?_phsrc=LsF6&usePUBJs=true