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THE SAMPSON FAMILY BY LILLA BRIGGS SAMPSON MEMBER MARYLAND HISTORICAL SOCili.l'rY WILLIAMS & WILKINS CO. BALTilllORE, U. S. A. INTRODUCTION It is not intended in this simple history of your branch of the Sampson Family in Pennsylvania ard Ohio, to give a complete genealogy. The book is written solely to preserve an account of this distinctive branch of the Sampsons, and purposely there is no intention of in­ cluding, beyond occasional reference, the New England branch. Owing to lack of the preservation of family history records, of old Bibles, of family letters, or even of tomb­ stones to mark the graves of many of these pioneers, this story cannot be absolutely complete in every detail. This book embraces fragments I have collected from personal conversations with those who are living, also an extended correspondence in England, Scotland, Ire­ land and America, and individual research in the numer­ ous historical and public Libraries of Pittsburgh, Harris­ burg, Philadelphia, New York, Cincinnati, Chicago, and Washington, D. C. Added to the above field of study a great deal of time has been spent among the various Court records in the territory outlined above, thereby securing authentic data and important facts through the channels of wills, deeds and property transfers that are not obtainable in any other direction. This collection has been compiled not only for the bene­ fit of your posterity and future generations, but to keep alive the revered memories of your ancestors. V vi INTRODUCTION The following words 0£ Dr. Egle, of Harrisburg, Pa., whose works have been of such great assistance to me, expresses the spirit which impelled me to make these searches for the early Sampsons: While the descendants of the Puritans and of the Dutch of New York have carefully preserved their family memorials, there has not been, until recently, any effort made by Pennsylvanians, especially those of the Scotch­ Irish, toward the compilation of family genealogies. In our own locality few have been prepared. Yet we are glad to learn our families are looking up the records of their ancestry for permanent preservation. This is a duty we all owe to the memory of a revered and pious ancestry-and even though the records may be meagre, there is no one who cannot assist in the performance of this noble work, nor is it too late to begin. Those to come after us will honor the labors thus bestowed even if we do not receive, while living, the reward for well doing. LILLA BRIGGS SAMPSON. CONTENTS SAMPSONS IN ENGLAND . 3 SAMPSONS IN SCOTLAND . 59 SAMPSONS IN IRELAND. 79 SAMPSONS IN PENNSYLVANIA ..................... 127 SAMPSONS IN VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND ............ 197 vii SAMPSONS IN ENGLAND CHAPTER I The name Sampson is not, as most people infer, from the Hebrew, but according to the author of Family Names of the United Kingdoms, is Samson, the son of Sam or Samuel, the "P" being inserted as in "Thompson," for strength and euphony. The Reverend Henry Barker, M.D., and F.S.A., states that "the name Sampson comes from St. Sampson, a local name in Normandy, France, near Caen." In the Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, by C. W. Beardsley, of Oxford College, London, Mr. Beardsley claims that Sampson, Samson, Sansom, Sansome, Sanson or Sansum, all refer to the same family, and gives several proofs. One of these proofs is six different entries, in six different histories, of six different spellings of the name "Sampson," all referring to the same individual. In my own researches I have found even a greater variety of ways of spelling the name, but will confine myself to one way on this account:-"SAMPSON." In Family Names of the United Kingdom, l.:,y M. A. Lower, is given the "Information of John Sampson, Esq." who states that from the Monastery of St. Sampson at Rouen the family of Sampson derive their name. The first who bore it in England was Ralph de St. Sampson, a brother to Thomas, first Norman Arch­ bishop of York, who, with Ralph, had been educated as the charge of Odo, half-brother of William, The Conqueror. Ralph was also Chaplain to William, and was created "Baron de Donvre" and in 1096 Bishop of Worcester. 3 4 THE SAMPSON FAMiuY Ralph de St. Sampson's son Thomas, (for the canons relating to the celibacy of the clergy were not at this period very closely observed), became Archbishop of York as Thomas II and another son, Richard, was Bishop of Bayeux in France. From these Ecclesiastee's and their collateral relatives, descended a numerous progeny who varied the orthog­ raphy of the name of Sansome, Sansonius, Sannsun, Sansone, de St. Sampsone, etc., etc. These settled in many counties in England and Scotland. The Dictionary of National Biography, by Sidney Lee. and The Priory of Hexham by the Surtees Society, as well as other writers, tell us more about Ralph de St. Sampson and his brother Thomas. Ralph and Thomas were born at Donvre near Caen, France, and were the sons of Osbert and Muriel, who were of noble lineage. The father, Osbert, was also a Priest. Ralph followed William, The Conqueror, to England, was ordained a priest by Archbishop Anselme at Lambeth Palace, and on June 8, 1096, he was consecrated Bishop of Worcester, at St. Paul's London, his brother, Thomas, Archbishop of York, officiating. In 1100 Bishop Sampson dedicated the Abbey Church at Gloucester, and he made several. gifts to the Monks at Worcester. Bishop Sampson showed his fondness for the secular clergy by establishing them at Westbury, in the room of the Monks, who had held it from the days of Oswald. Malmesbury blamed Sampson for taking Westbury from the Monks, which had been settled on them so many years. Bishop Sampson was noted for his learning, was a ENGLAND 5 conspicuous member of a great clerical family, and ac­ cording to the old English custom, famous for good housekeeping. He was married before he took Orders (according to one authority), and he had a son Thomas, who became Archbishop of York as Thomas II, and a son Richard, who became Bishop of Bayeux in France. His daughter, Bruna de St. Sampson, who married Simon Mause, is mentioned in the Battle Abbey Roll as the mother of Joan, who married Alan de Chartes. Their daughter Joan, married William de la Bruere. The Surtees So­ ciety mention that it is probable that Bishop Ralph de St. Sampson, had a daughter Isabella de Donvre Sampson, who was the concubine of Robert of Gloucester, and the mother of Robert and Richard, both of whom became priests. Roger became Bishop of Worcester, and Richard Bishop of Bayeux. In a history of the Norman people, Ralph de St. Sampson is said to have accompanied William, The Conqueror, to England in 1066, and that he was from the Lordship of St. Sampson, near Caen, in Nor­ mandy. According to Domesday Book, at the time of the Conquest, the possessions of the Chu; vh at Worcester consisted of about two thousand acres of uncultivated land, besides some six hundred acres of forest, and half the wood in the King's Forest, with two acres of meadow. This rich establishment was conferred by William, The Conqueror, on Ralph de St. Sampson, who, in the succeeding reign attached the whole to his Se~ by a deed which was confirmed by Henry I. Bishop Sampson, of Worcester, died at Westbury, May 5, 1112, and was buried in Worcester Cathedral at the bottom of the steps going up into the alter. 6 THE SAMPSON FAMILY Ralph de St. Sampson's brother Thomas, who was Archbishop of York as Thomas I, was born in 1027 and distinguished from his earliest years for the elegance of his taste and his ardour in the pursuit of literary distinction. The schools in his own country were insufficient to satisfy his cravings after knowledge and he sought for additional supplies in Germany and Spain. When he returned to Bayeaux his learning attracted the attention and gained for him the intimacy of Odo, Bishop_ of Bayeaux,· half­ brother to William, The Conqueror, and ·a person of commanding influence. Thomas was made Archbishop of York in 1070 and died at York, November 18, 1100, having been Arch­ bishop for about thirty years. He had been infirm some­ time before his death and must have been an old· man. He was interred in the Minster at York near his Prede­ cessor, Aldred, with an epitaph in Latin on his tomb which was highly eulogistic; but the See of York owed a deep debt of gratitude to Archbishop Thomas. I can see him even now, as Malmesbury described him in his later years, the graceful figure retaining even then the spring and energy of youth; the noble presence and the courteous bearing which captivated :all; the handsome florid countenance, and his hair as white as the down upon a swan. No one could impugn the purity or correct­ ness of his life. As to his learning and ability, the Chroniclers are for once UD11:rumous. He brought with him into England the literary stores of three continents. It was his delight ·to have his clergy around him, to read with them and to argue. But music was his master passion. He knew it thoroughly and was a composer as well as a singer. He could play upon the organ and was acquainted with its construction. ENGLAND 7 If he chanced to hear any light or trivial air, he would transpose it with marvellous facility into a hymn. He made chants and services, eschewing especially all soft and effeminate music.

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