FRIENDS' MISCELLANY: BEING A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS AND FRAGMENTS, BIOGRAPHICAL, RELIGIOUS, EPISTOLARY, NARRATIVE, DESIGNED FOR THE PROMOTION OF PIETY AND VIRTUE, TO PRESERVE IN INDIVIDUALS, AND TO RESCUE FROM OBLIVION THOSE MANUSCRIPTS LEFT BY THEM, WHICH MAY BE USEFUL TO SURVIVORS. The memory of the just is blessed.--Solomon. Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. John, vi. 12. EDITED BY JOHN & ISAAC COMLY, BYBERRY. VOL. II. SECOND EDITION. PHILADELPHIA: PRINTED FOR THE EDITORS BY J. RICHARDS, No. 129 North Third Street. 1836. FRIENDS' MISCELLANY. No. 1.] TWELFTH MONTH, 1831. [VOL. II. BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF JOHN SIMPSON. Among the Memorials of deceased Friends, published in Philadelphia in the year 1821, is a short account of John Simpson, issued by the Falls monthly meeting, in Bucks county-by which it appears that he was born the 23d of the 10th month, 1739. His parents, John and Hannah Simpson, were both members of the religious Society of Friends. His father died when he was about seven years old, leaving a widow and several small children, of whom John was next the eldest. His mother engaged in a second marriage with Robert Thompson, a Presbyterian, who lived at a mill near the river Delaware, remote from the neighbourhood and meetings of Friends. In this situation, John Simpson and his younger brother, James, resided during their minority, and were exposed to much raw and loose companyby which they contracted many habits adverse to innocence and virtue, and at variance with the plainness and simplicity of a guarded education amongst Friends. They were brought up to the coopering business, and during their youthful days, indulged in levity and mirth, but as they grew toward the state of manhood, both of them became more serious and circumspect. A change was gradually effected in their conduct and conversation; and although the two brothers were both under reVOL. II.-1 |