Simpson, Thomas (1785-1847)
Early Years
Thomas was born in Scotland in November 1785. At the age of 15, Thomas moved to Carlisle and learned the business of distilling and refining spirits of turpentine. He moved to Hull where he married. Thomas and his wife were not religiously inclined until one day their five year old daughter said, ‘Mother, I am sure God will never love my father because he says naughty words.’ This struck a chord and Thomas and his wife joined with the Wesleyans. For some time he was in the same class as John Oxtoby. Four years later during the Clowes led revival in Hull, Thomas joined with the Primitive Methodists. He became a local preacher for three years before becoming a travelling preacher.
Ministry
Dent records. “ There have been many grand revivals in Weardale since Mr. Sanderson travelled there; the most remarkable of which, perhaps, occurred under the superintendency of Thomas Simpson in 1836, and more recently when the Rev. H. Philips was the superintendent. At both those times many hundreds were converted, so that a large proportion of the inhabitants became connected with the two bodies of Methodists.”
Family
Thomas was married to Hannah (1779-1861).
Thomas died on18 March 1847 in York.
Circuits
- 1823 Hull
- 1824 Sunderland
- 1826 Brompton
- 1827 Hexham
- 1829 Darlington
- 1830 S Shields
- 1831 Glasgow
- 1833 Whitby
- 1835 Westgate
- 1837 Driffield
- 1839 Knowlwood
- 1840 Louth
- 1842 Market Rasen
- 1843 Swinefleet
- 1845 York
References
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1846/fr; 1847/449; 1862/379 (wife)
W Dent, Reminiscences of the Early History of Primitive Methodism in Weardale, Primitive Methodist Magazine, Vol. V / LXIII, 1882
W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
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