Hamilton Henry Simpson was born in Sept. 1839 to Rezin Burgess Simpson and Sarah Ann (Ricaud) Simpson, into a very large family. At the time of his birth, he had two half-sisters, one half-brother, two sisters, and two brothers. Another six children were born after him.

It appears that he lived mostly in Baltimore City and Baltimore County in his youth. In 1860 he lived in Pikesville with his mother and father; he was listed as a farmer on the census.

It is likely he was a member of the militia group known as The Pikesville Forest Rangers, who, under Capt. Wilson C. Nicholas, seized the Pikesville Arsenal in April 1861 as fighting broke out in Baltimore. This militia group left Baltimore and formed in Harpers Ferry as Co. G of the 1st Maryland, Confederate Army, around the 18th of May 1861.

The 1st Maryland was highly regarded. Gen. Bradley Johnson writes in his Memoirs about the 1st Maryland and the Battle of Bull Run (1st Manassas): "Thus, these green soldiers, fresh from home, had in three days marched nearly eighty miles on one day's rations, with only six hours sleep, fought a battle and won a victory." These memoirs give detailed accounts of the daily life of these soldiers--they were very brave and saw some hard times!

When this regiment was disbanded in Aug. 1862, Hamilton returned home to Maryland, and in 1870 lived with the Harbans on their farm in Dayton, MD. (His half-sister was Jane Harban.) His occupation on the 1870 census was Civil Engineer.

He married Laura Virginia Johnson from that area in 1876 and they had a home in the Dayton area. Sometime in the 1890's they moved to the Harban farm after the Harbans moved to DC. Hamilton and Laura raised six children on the 147+ acre farm. In 1910, Hamilton's son Harry purchased the farm from the Harbans, and then Hamilton and Laura moved to their son Wilkins' home near Wheaton.

Hamilton served as Justice of the Peace in the years between 1902-1908 during his stay in Dayton, and his signature can be found on many documents. He was affectionately known as "The Colonel"; however, it is unclear how he came to have that title. He was a carpenter and built several houses in Dayton, as well as building pieces of furniture.

Hamilton died in Jan. 1912; cause of death was cerebral hemorrhage with contributing arterial schlerosis. His wife Laura died in 1939. They are buried in the Providence Cemetery.

Obituary, Ellicott City Times, 13 Jan 1912: "Dayton, Jan. 11 - Mr. H. H. Simpson died suddenly on Saturday last at the home of his son at Wheaton. A widow and six children survive him, Mrs. Walter O. Brown, Mrs. George G. Earp of Rockville, Harry, Bradley, Wilkins, and Lester Simpson. Funeral services at Providence M.E. Church, by Rev. C. L. Kennard, Monday at 2 p.m. Interment in cemetery adjoining church. Pallbearers, L. E. Phelps, Jr., G. W. Howard, Thomas Maloney."

Obituary, Montgomery County Sentinel, 11 Jan 1912: "Mr. Henry L. Simpson, aged 73 years, died last Saturday at his home near Wheaton. He had been ill a long while, but the immediate cause of death was paralysis, with which he was stricken a few days ago. He is survived by his wife and five children. Mr. Simpson was a resident of Howard County many years and had lived in this county only a few months."

Written and documented by great-granddaughter Linda Simpson Davidson.