AREA HISTORY:  Gen. Michael Simpson, Fairview Township, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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GEN. MICHAEL SIMPSON – Page 642

Gen. Simpson was a son of Thomas Simpson, an early Scotch-Irish settler, at 
Paxtang, below Harrisburg, in 1720.  Michael was born in 1740.  When the Indian 
forays, following the defeat of Gen. Braddock, below Pittsburgh, in 1755, 
occurred, although yet very young, he became an ensign to a company that marched 
to the frontier with Gen. Forbes’ expedition.  In 1775, he became lieutenant in 
Capt. Matthew Smith’s company, which marched to Boston, and there soon after 
joined Gen. Arnold’s expedition against Quebec, on that dreary march through the 
forests of Maine to Canada.  After returning, he was made a first lieutenant 
under Gen. Hand, of the First Pennsylvania Line, and commanded the company at 
the battle of Long Island.  December 1, 1776, he was commissioned captain, and 
afterward showed great bravery as a commander in the battles of Princeton, 
Brandywine, Trenton, Germantown and White Plains.  He served in the American 
army six years, during the Revolution.   In 1784, soon after the death of 
William Chesney, who also was a patriot of the Revolution, he purchased of the 
heirs of Chesney, the farm and ferry rights across the Susquehanna, below New 
Market, and now known as the Haldeman property, and in 1797 was appointed a 
justice of the peace, under the constitution of 1790.  He was a man of dignified 
bearing, and somewhat haughty in spirit.  He won local distinction as a 
brigadier-general of the militia of York County, and was highly esteemed as a 
commander.  He built an elegant stone mansion on his farm, and in 1794 had the 
honor of entertaining President Washington in it, when on his return from the 
Whisky Insurrection.

He died on his farm, June 1, 1813.  His property was valued at $12,900, a 
considerable sum for those days.  Jacob Haldeman lived on this farm for a number 
of years.  During the civil war he was appointed as minister to Norway and 
Sweden, by President Lincoln.

His large mansion, that cost several thousand dollars, was burned a few years 
ago.