Simpson & Clarkson Letters (1815-1865)
Background
Eleanor Toothaker died July 22, 2006, at the age of 94. She was considered the town historian of Dixmont, Maine. She was always willing to answer genealogy and historic questions of those who would show up unannounced on her doorstep.
I was a distant cousin of hers having descended from William Toothaker, who built the home in which she lived, and from David Simpson, another early settler of Dixmont. Eleanor's research didn't end until her death. Whenever I would visit, she would ask me about a certain "puzzle." I helped her solve the puzzle of David Simpson's parentage and the ancestry of Mary Trimm who had married William Toothaker on Islesboro, Maine, for example. During one of my visits about two years before her death, she entrusted me with two packets of letters telling me, "You'll know what to do with them."
One packet contains letters from Mary (Trimm) and William Toothaker and their children to son William who remained in Maine. Authors include Jacob French and Sarah Ann French, Cumberland Post Office, Gurnsey County, Ohio; Frederick and Bethiah Scheringer; Sister Patch; Luther Simmons; Luther Toothaker, Mary Ann Toothaker, Nathan Toothaker and perhaps a person with the ast name of Frohock all in Morgan County, Bristol Town, Ohio. Frederick and Bethiah Scheringer - Frederick tells William Toothaker in Dixmonth to "send my and Alfred's letters to Rome, Iowa Territory, Henry County" as Rome was a new town "about five miles from my house." The elder William Toothaker and his wife, Mary (Trimm) Toothaker settled in Illinois. In one letter William laments, "Only God knows how I felt when I left [Maine] that day."
The second packet contains letters from Richard P. Clarkson, his wife Mary (Simpson) Clarkson, a sister of David Simpson in Dixmont, and their children to David Simpson in Dixmont. Richard P. Clarkson sold 50 acres of land to David Simpson in 1815 and moved west. In 1820, Richard's son, Coker Fifield Clarkson drove the wagon west at age 10 along with his mother to join his father. They settled in Brookville, Indiana. Richard P. Clarkson's son, Coker Fifield Clarkson, became a noted newspaper owner as did his sons. Biographies and the obituary of Coker Fifield Clarkson are found on the Internet and are very informative. They are not repeated here.
Richard Spinney
Ellsworth, Maine
April 14, 2009
Abstracts of Simpson & Clarkson Letters
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1815 January 1. - deed from Richard P. Clarkson of Dixmont in the County of Hancock and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Yeoman to David Simpson of Dixmont, for the sale of fifty acres in Dixmont for five hundred dollars to be paid over a period of time according to a certain note.
1841, March 6. "first year ___" From Richard P. Clarkson Mt. Carmel, Franklin County, Indiana to David Simpson Esq. Dixmont Penobscot County Maine. Dear Brother and Sister. All in good health altho granny Harrison has just thot federal Whig ____ in for Secretary of State . . . talks more politics. Aunt Betsy and her father are well. Mary is married. Prices of produce.
1843, Dec 13. from Mary Clarkson Mt. Carmel Franklin Co. Indiana to Brother and Sister. Got home safe the next week on Wednesday after I left your house in good health and found family well. Can sit by my fireside and see you by yours in my imagination. Happy to see you in my old age. Very anxious to hear about sister's foot if it is better or any hope of its being cured. Want to know how your son is that was sick when I was there. I came home well satisfied with the situation of all my friends in Newengland except my Sister Debby. I have had a great many sad hours about her situation for fear she suffers fro the comfortable necessarys of life. Asks brother to check on her. Sorry not to be able to stay with her longer while there. Remember my love to all her children. Have you seen or heard from Sister Bradbury since I was there. My children are all in good health as usual. I gave Pamela her present of a handkerchief. She received it with tears of joy if it had been a lump of gold she could not have better pleased to think it came from her Uncle David.
1844 March 15. Two separate letters: from Charles Simpson and Lydia Simpson Mt. Carmel "Ia" [Indiana] To David Simpson Dixmont Penobscot Co Maine dated March 14th 1844. Mountcarmel[?]. [Charles says] I have a thrashing ma shen [machine] for which he paid $170. It takes fore horses to thrash. Betsy Simpson wants to git mared William Simpson cant git marred John Simpson wants to go a sparking but he is afraid of the girls William Simpson let a fart when i was righting. [Lydia Simpson says] i tack my pen in hand to inform you that ian and that i am well mother is well all the rest is well Mary has got two children is well. Smith is well and got three children. Mother sold her place to Charles Corte. Wants Uncle David to come here. Wants to hear from gramps. Mother would like a letter from some of her folks.
1845 January 9. From R P Clarkson Mt Carmel, Indiana, to David Simpson. Our health is good at present for people of our age and our children enjoy tolerable health except Lavina. I think she is in a consumption. She lives 80 miles from me. My youngest son, the one you never saw lives three and a half [miles] from me is married and doing well is a blacksmith and a first rate workman. My son Joseph lives with us not married yet he is out of his time. He was thirty last October. He ought to have a fiddle and tobacco box. I want you to tell me where Bradbury and his family lives so that if I should come that way that I may know where to call to see them. I asked this question before but did nto tell me. Remember our best love Deborah and her folks. R. P. Clarkson. look on the other side don't blink You all wanted to know how aunt Betsy is. Sometime last June she saw a may by the name of Gear. After they saw each other a few times they got married he had five children the youngest 2 years old. He was not worth one cent. He was about thiirty five or six years old. Well, she took him and his children home and fed and clothed them and then he concluded they would move to Texas. So they sold all that she had and cheated her and children out of all they could . . . More details of trip down Mississippi where he beat her and she returned back "here."
1845 Dec 26. From R P Clarkson Mt Carmel Indiana to David Simpson, Dixmont, Maine. Dear Brother and Sister. I got a letter from you by way of Ira Goodhue. We are well. Nothing to write only that I have seen one man out here that was born in Dixmont. My young friend Edwin Furgersn came to see me and stayed one day and night. He is going to school about six miles from me. Give my respects to his fawther and his brothers and all. My best respects to F. A. Butman and to Abel Hardy and all that inquire for me. Taxes . . . the valuation of my property and Joseph's are together and I think it was valued at four thousand dollars and our taxes was not quite ten dollars and the road tax is two days for each man under fifty years old and the property tax that's land tax ours was I think one dollar and four cents $104 bts and worked at 75 bts a day. Produce prices. Tell aunt Relief to come out. Speaks of potatoes whose seeds he got from a man who brought them from England. A yellow potato that look like a potato that Old Judge Goodwin used to have at Frankfort [Maine].
1846 Oct 28. from John R. Goodwin, Wynn P.O. Franklin Co. Ind[iana] to Cousin Aaron. Grandmother Clarkson is at our house and request me to write for her to inform you all are well here. She received your wife's letter . . . from Nelly [Ellen]. Be sure to let her know where her sisters Abigail and Deborah are and how they are and how your father and family are and especially how your mother is getting with her lameness. When you come out next June as Nelly spoke about, be sure and bring your father and mother along. Describes the Great West. Had a Yankee visit one morning last week. Rachel and her father were in Cincinnati and saw the aforesaid Yankee in Market. Brought it home. A fresh codfish.
1849 April 27. from C F Clarkson [Coker Fifield Clarkson] Brookville, Indiana, to Dear Uncle. I have the sad news to communicate to you that my father R. P. Clarkson, died at his residence in this county on this morning after an illness of two or three months. He had no particular disease, but died by gradually sinking away. The balance of the family are well. Excuse this short note, as it is written in a hurry. Very Respectfully, C. H. Clarkson.
1852, Oct 31. From New Sharon [Maine] from Harriet B. Billings to Dear Friend. She is at William's ___ . They are all well and ___thers family are well. Mary and Amelia at home. Abigail and Sarah have been ___ me and have gone to Boston again. Understand you have had quite a time getting married off down there since I was there. Expect to hear that you and Aaron are settled down in the world with your little family around you. William's oldest son is going to Californey expects to leave the ___ of November. Please come when it is convenient and write as soon as you can and tell Aaron to write.
1857, Oct 30. from Pamela [Clarkson] Goudie Wynn P.O. Franklin Co. Indiana to my Dear Uncle and Aunt. Palestine Oct the 30. My Dear Uncle and Aunt. I have not forgotten you although thirty six years has passed since I saw you. I then was a giddy girl and now an old gray headed woman. Talks of spending time at their house when she was young. I am quite a cripple. Cousin Aaron wrote to us that he thught youand Aunt would come out here next Summer. You nor Aunt is not quite so old as Mother was when she went to see you. She stood her journey very well. Mother is here now while I am writing and wants to know if Aunt is any better of her lameness. Mother's health is as good as could be expected for one of her age. Now I want to tell you about my family which very small. I have but one daughter and she has very poor health. Cousins Aaron and Ellen can tell you all about her. I have one little Grand Son. My husband of speak of going to see you and make a visit to my native place but I cannot tell when. There must be some of your children who can remember me. Georga and Nathaniel and Mary ought to tell them all to write to me and for I love them all.
1858, June 22. From Wynn Post Office, Mary (Simpson) Clarkson to "my only brother David." She is staying with Pamela who is not enjoying good health. Speaks of granddaughter Rachel; Joseph and John; dear little great grandson Charlie; Joseph Clarkson and his family who are all well. Asks about her sister Debbie Chapman's children and she wants to hear from "sister Relief" [probably Relief Simpson, David's wife]. Asks about Abbie. Said that Pamela had written to David a year ago and received no answer. Her feelings were hurt . . . thinks a lot of her Uncle David. Also asks David to tell Mary[?] to write who did not keep her promise to write. Thank Aaron for being so kind in writing to his aunt by writing such good letters. Direct your letters to me at Mt. Carmel Franklin Co. Ind.
1859 July 20. from Harrison Clarkson, Al and Pamelia[sic] Goudies Near Brookville Franklin Co. Ind. to Uncle David. Harrison explains he is a son of Thomas G. Clarkson, grandson of R. P. Clarkson. At the request of grandmother, your sister, I drop you a few lines. She is enjoying very good health although growing somewhat feeble under the weight of so many years. She wants to hear from you as you've not written in a long time. She wants to know how Aunt Relief's lame foot is. She wishes to know where Sister Abigail is and how her health is if she is still living. Pamelia Goudie is quite unwell at present has been for several weeks. The rest of the relations are all enjoying good health. Enclosed you will find a circular of my school in which I have been engaged for the last four yeras. I go now to Shelbyvill Ind to take charge of the Graded School in that place - a school of 400 scholars.
1865, April 30. Savannah, Georgia from David Simpson Jr. to Dear Sister. Direct [your letter to] David Simpson Jr. Savannah Georgia 14 Maine Reg. Co. I[?] and it will come strait in time. Lengthy letter discussing conditions, his seasickness on the trip on the Steamer, etc. He is cooking with Levi Gitchell. We get mail every Friday from New York and that brings our letters. I am in hope we shall live to git out of this scrape some time can't tell you when it will take some time to fix the matter. I have to write to wife often than any one else for I want to hear from my little family as often as I can. I want you and Mother go and see them if you can. It will be a great consolation to them for I cannot do it just now. I am in hopes I shall not see any fighting this military Business is enough to kill half of us there has been 8 of our Co died since we left Bangor [Maine] and some 6 or 8 in the hospital.
