Edward Simpson was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, in 1865, the son of Thomas and Mary Ann Simpson (née Sowden). His father was a general labourer and watchman, and later in his life became a carter. He was one of twelve children, and the family home was at Holme Top Lane, Bradford.
On leaving school, he became a cotton spinner and later, an engine fitter’s labourer, before he immigrated to Lawrence, Massachusetts, in the United States of America, in September 1909. He found work as a yardman in a woollen mill, and resided with one of his married sisters, Mrs. Mary A. Lister, at 59. Chelmsford Street, and later 135. Exchange Street, Lawrence.
In 1912, he returned to Bradford, and whilst there, he married Mrs. Clara Pickles (née Peckover), who was a widow with two daughters. On the 1st October 1912, Edward, his
wife, and his youngest step-daughter, Elsie Pickles, boarded the Laconia at Liverpool and sailed to Boston, and onwards to Methuen, close to Lawrence.
It is likely that Edward’s marriage broke up, as by the spring of 1915, he had decided to return to Bradford for an extended stay, and was even considering remaining there permanently. He had moved in with his sister, Mary A. Lister, by this time, while his wife and step-daughter remained in Methuen.
Having decided to return to Bradford, he booked third class passage on the May sailing of the Lusitania from New York to Liverpool, and having travelled by rail to New York City, he boarded the liner before her scheduled departure time of 10.00 a.m., at the Cunard berth at Pier 54 in New York port, on 1st May 1915.
The liner’s departure for Liverpool was then actually delayed until the early afternoon, so that she could take on board passengers, cargo and crew from the Anchor Liner Cameronia, which had been requisitioned by the British Admiralty for war work as a troop ship at the end of April. Then, six days later, on the afternoon of 7th May, the Lusitania was torpedoed twelve miles off the coast of southern Ireland by the German submarine U-20, and sank just eighteen minutes later. At that stage of her voyage, she was only 250 miles from the safety of her home port.
Edward Simpson survived this action, however and having been rescued from the sea and landed at Queenstown he eventually made it back to Bradford. He later communicated with the Cunard Steam Ship Company from 79. Wooten Street, off Manchester Road, Bradford, which was, presumably, the address of relatives or friends. He was aged 50 years at the time of the sinking.
Edward Simpson died on the 6th May 1926 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Bradford, aged 61 years. His address, at the time of his death, was 51. Dorset Street, Little Horton, Bradford. Probate of his estate, which amounted to £1,255-5s.-0d. (£1,255.25p), was granted at Wakefield, on the 9th June 1926, to Thomas Simpson, described as a grocer, Henry Simpson, described as a labourer, and William Henry Brook, who was a solicitor’s clerk. Presumably, Thomas and Henry Simpson were two of his brothers. His wife continued to reside in Massachusetts after his death, and as he left nothing of his estate to her, suggests that they were still estranged when he died.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1871 Census of England & Wales, 1881 Census of England & Wales, 1891 Census of England & Wales, 1901 Census of England & Wales, 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Massachusetts Passenger Lists 1820 – 1963, Cunard Records, 1914 Lawrence Massachusetts City Directory, Boston Globe, Probate Records, PRO BT 100/345, UniLiv D92/2/273, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.