Assistant Surgeon Charles Alexander Simpson

   After three days illness, Charles Alexander Simpson, died in Annapolis Royal, on 20 March 1820, in his 30th year. Perhaps his illness was contracted while on the job as he was one of the assistant surgeons of the 60th Regiment of Foot and was stationed at the garrison. He was buried in the Garrison Graveyard and given an informative headstone. It reads, ".L.W. / DEPOSITED HERE / until the sound of the great Trumpet / THE REMAINS / OF CHARLES ALEXANDER / SIMPSON / ASSIS.ᵀ SURGEON 60ᵗʰ REG.ᵀ / a native of Medley, Staffordshire / ENGLAND / he obeyed the mighty word / RETURN / after an illness of three days / in the 30th Year of his age / March 20th 1820." He left a widow, Anna, to mourn him. He is one of many soldiers that are buried in the graveyard, a reminder of Annapolis Royal's military past that can easily be forgotten in the peaceful town that we've become. 

Assistant Surgeon Charles Alexander Simpson's Headstone

    Simpson was born about 1790, and hailed from Madeley, Staffordshire, England — "Medley" on his headstone being a misspelling. Madeley, at the time of Simpson, was a rural area primarily made up of farmland. In the 18th century, a mill was built in the village that surely would have been known to Simpson. It is a local landmark now and known as the "Old Mill". The nearest market town is Newcastle-under-Lyme. 

"The Mill and Pool, Madeley" from their village website.  (https://www.madeleyvillage.co.uk/about-madeley/history/did-you-know/)

    Simpson must have had some medical training, as by November he was a hospital assistant, presumably with the British Army. In 1814, he was an assistant surgeon with the 60th Regiment of Foot in Halifax, Nova Scotia. While at the garrison in Halifax, he must have became acquainted with Dr. John Frederic T. Gschwind, assistant surgeon to the garrison. Dr. Gschwind, originally from Germany, had been in Halifax since at least 1749, when he was surgeon to the 2nd Battalion of the Halifax Militia. Simpson obviously became quite close with the Gschwind family, as on 31 May 1815, he married Dr. Gschwind's daughter Anna. The following notice was published in the Halifax paper, Acadian Recorder on 3 June 1815, "Married: On Wednesday Evening last, by the Revd. Dr. Stanser, Mr. C. A. Simpson, Assistant Surgeon of H. M. 7th Bat. 60th, Regt. to Anna, daughter of J. F. T. Gschwind, Esq. of this Town." 

    For the next few years Simpson is listed as assistant surgeon with the 7th Battalion, 60th Regiment of Foot. In 1819 he was on "the half pay" meaning he was not actively serving at that time. In 1820, he was listed as being assistant surgeon with the 2nd Battalion, 60th Regiment of Foot. By this time he was in Annapolis Royal where he was on the medical staff at Fort Anne. He also seems to have treated people outside of the garrison. In March 1820, he was asked by Alexander Easson, to provide "medical assistance" to a "Man of Colour". After Simpson's death, a bill for 10 shillings was sent to Mr. Easson by his father-in-law. 

Eason's Account with the Simpson Estate, Nova Scotia Archives.

    This brings us back to Simpson's death. The following notice was published in the Acadian Recorder on 1 April 1820, "DIED: At Annapolis, on the 20th instant, after an illness of only three days, Charles Alexander Simpson, Assistant Surgeon 2d batt 60th regt. His death is deeply lamented by an afflicted widow, and all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance." Simpson and Anna had been married almost five years when he died. It does not seem like they had any children together. As the above document indicates, Dr. Gschwind, his son-in-law's executor, travelled to Annapolis Royal to settle his affairs. If Anna had been living in Annapolis with Simpson, she most likely would have left with her father at this time for Halifax. 

View of the Garrison Cemetery with Fort Anne in the background.

    Seven years later on 2 September 1827, Anna's father died at his home on Grafton Street in his 80th year. On 17 November 1869, an Anna Simpson, widow aged 88 years, died of old age in Halifax. She was buried in St. John's Cemetery in Halifax. If this is our Anna, she spent almost 50 years a widow. I wonder if she ever came back to Annapolis Royal to visit her husband's grave. Perhaps it was her that had his headstone put up in the graveyard so she would have something to visit.