The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-10-18
IIEROINES Of The REVOLUTION.
JANE BOYD.

The following article was written
by Daniel 6. Stinson, I.>.l., and pub
liShcd in the old Chester Palmetto
6. C.) Standard more than fifty years
ago The heroine of the story has a
large number Of relatives in this
County, and the remains of her father,
Rev. John Simpson, who is mentioned
in the article, sleep in the Roberts
Churchyard. = EDITOR I>rELLlGEN-
GER.
This lady is the daughter of the
Rev. John Simpson, who was much
distinguished for the zeal with which
he cspoused the cause Of liberty in
the earliest period Of our struggle.
Her mother family name was Kemer
They came from the State of Delaware,
and settled on Fishing Creek, iii Ches-
ter District. lie was the first regular
pastor of Fishing Creek Church.
Mr.. Simpson had been preceded in
the work Of planting the Gospel in
this then thinly settled and destitute
scope Of country, by the Rev. Will
liam Richardson, (the maternal uncle
Of the late Gen. w. X. Davie.) who
came out as a missionary, and settled
in the Waxhaws. In the true spirit
of his mission, he preached daily in
the different settlements: extending
his visits to the distance of often sixty
and seventy miles from his home.
On these tours he would often be
absent from his home Cor months at a
time.
When Mr.. Simpson came, he fol-
lowed in the footsteps of Mr.. Richard
son, preaching with like zeal, and
laboring as earnestly in the work Of
spreading the blessings Of Gospel
light and liberty. Many Of the now
flourishing congregations Of Chester,
York, and adjacent Districts, we're
collected and organized by him. In
those days the inhabitants thought it
no hardship to ride distance of Is or
20 miles to hear the Gospel preached ;
and that, too, on the days Of the week;
and in all seasons of weather. Nor
had they then the comfortable houses
in which their descendants now wor-
ship, but in the grove, with logs for
their seats, and rude structure of
boards for the pulpit, they offered up
their need of devotion to the God Of
their fathers.
The Rev. John Simpson was re-
garded rs the head and adviser Of the
band of heroes, who had so signally
defeated the enemy at Beckhamville
and Mobley's; and in the presence of
these heroes, did the enemy determine
that he should be punished. They
made the movement afterwards to the
church, where they expected to find
him and his congregation assembled;
and it was at the time said, and never
afterwards contradicted, that they in
tended to burn the church, and all
that should be in it, as the most ef-
fectual way of Furnishing the pastor
aud the other distuIhers Of the King 8
peace. (On Sabbath morning, 18th
June, 1880, whilst Mrs. Simpson was
sitting at the breakfast table with her
children, she heard the report of a
gun, which caused her much alarm, as
it was thing unusual in that COM
munity. She afterwards learned that
it was at the house of William Strong,
and that he was killed by the enemy,
on their way to the church.) They
were, however, disappointed. Mr..
Simpson, on the Friday previous, had
shoul6ered his rifle, and marched off
in ranks, under the command Of Capt
Mcclure, youth who, from his in
fancy, had b zen reared under his min
istry. The brave men of York and
Chester were distinguished in every
BATTLE field. How much was owing
the noble example of their pastor !!
himself in their ranks, performing the
duties Of private soldier, submitting
to the vigorous discipline Of the camp,
and b is council, no less than by
his services, stimulating them 10 the
defence Of their country!
Whilst the enemy were at the
church, some of the ''sons of Africa, :"
overhearing them express tho inten-
tion to visit Mr.. Simpsons house and
to "burn the rascal OUT" hastened
aud informed Mrs. Simpson, advising
her, if she did not hasten away, that
she would be burned in the house.
She looked out and saw the army COM
ing down the lane ! Picking up'only
set of silver teaspoons. which she