_____________________________________________
Revoluntionary War Soldier
______________________________________________
Capt. Simeon Sampson was the son of Peleg and Mary (Ring) Sampson.
In early life he became a mariner, and was employed in the merchant service from Plymouth. In the year 1762, Mr. Sampson was taken prisoner by the French, in a vessel belonging to Goodwin & Warren, which was redeemed by the captain for a large sum of money, and Mr. Sampson was left as a hostage for the payment of the ransom. From this imprisonment he escaped by assuming the dress of a female, and was soon restored to his family in Plymouth.
At the commencement of the revolutionary war, when a marine force was deemed necessary to protect our commerce from the depredations of the British cruisers, he was honored by the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts with the appointment of the first naval captain in the service of the country. He immediately took command of the brig Independence, belonging to the colony, and which was built at Kingston, under his direction. In this vessel he was eminently successful, and in one cruise captured and sent in five prizes, among which was the Roebuck, Captain White, in the autumn of the year 1776. Immediately after this, he himself was captured by Capt. Dawson, of distinguished memory in these seas. Capt. Sampson did not surrender, until an engagement of a character as severe and bloody as perhaps is recorded in the annals of naval warfare. The skill and intrepidity manifested by him was applauded even by his enemies, Had he been sustained by all his men, he would undoubtedly have been the conqueror, rather than the vanquished. It is said in the gazette of that period, that he was driven to the awful necessity of running through the body of two or three of his men, who abandoned their guns in the most trying moment of the conflict. One of these victims was his third lieutenant. Soon after his return from captivity, which was at Fort Cumberland, near Halifax, he was appointed commander of the brig Hazard, a public vessel belonging to the state. In this vessel he likewise took several prizes, among which was the ship Live Oak. In 1779 he was selected to the command of the packet ship Mercury, built at Plymouth, by Mr. John Peck, for Congress. She was employed to carry despatches to our ministers in France. In this ship he returned from Nantz during the severe winter of 1780. Soon after which, he was promoted to the command of the Mars, a large ship, likewise belonging to the state, and in this vessel he was employed in the most responsible trust, in carrying despatches, and in one cruise carried out one of our ministers to Europe. The British flag ship Trial was captured by him while in the Warren. At the close of the war, he retired, like most of the faithful servants of our country, with a very scanty estate, and a numerous family dependent upon him for support.
In 1788, Capt. Sampson disposed of his mansion in Middle street, Plymouth, and purchased a farm in Plympton, where he terminated his earthly career by an apoplexy, June 22d, 1789, at the age of 53 years. He was buried upon his own farm, and afterwards his body was removed to the burying hill in Plymouth, where his grave is marked.
Few naval officers stood higher in public estimation, and few citizens were more respected for domestic virtues, hospitality, and generous friendship. He married Deborah, daughter of Seth Cushing of Hingham, Mass., who survived him, and died in Homer, N.Y., in 1830, at the age of 90 years. He had twelve children, seven of whom died young, and five of whom married.
source: Epitaphs from Burial Hill
by Bradford Kingman
Published by:
New England Illustrated Historical Publishing Co.
Brookline, Mass.
[p. 62]
Revoluntionary War Soldier
______________________________________________
Capt. Simeon Sampson was the son of Peleg and Mary (Ring) Sampson.
In early life he became a mariner, and was employed in the merchant service from Plymouth. In the year 1762, Mr. Sampson was taken prisoner by the French, in a vessel belonging to Goodwin & Warren, which was redeemed by the captain for a large sum of money, and Mr. Sampson was left as a hostage for the payment of the ransom. From this imprisonment he escaped by assuming the dress of a female, and was soon restored to his family in Plymouth.
At the commencement of the revolutionary war, when a marine force was deemed necessary to protect our commerce from the depredations of the British cruisers, he was honored by the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts with the appointment of the first naval captain in the service of the country. He immediately took command of the brig Independence, belonging to the colony, and which was built at Kingston, under his direction. In this vessel he was eminently successful, and in one cruise captured and sent in five prizes, among which was the Roebuck, Captain White, in the autumn of the year 1776. Immediately after this, he himself was captured by Capt. Dawson, of distinguished memory in these seas. Capt. Sampson did not surrender, until an engagement of a character as severe and bloody as perhaps is recorded in the annals of naval warfare. The skill and intrepidity manifested by him was applauded even by his enemies, Had he been sustained by all his men, he would undoubtedly have been the conqueror, rather than the vanquished. It is said in the gazette of that period, that he was driven to the awful necessity of running through the body of two or three of his men, who abandoned their guns in the most trying moment of the conflict. One of these victims was his third lieutenant. Soon after his return from captivity, which was at Fort Cumberland, near Halifax, he was appointed commander of the brig Hazard, a public vessel belonging to the state. In this vessel he likewise took several prizes, among which was the ship Live Oak. In 1779 he was selected to the command of the packet ship Mercury, built at Plymouth, by Mr. John Peck, for Congress. She was employed to carry despatches to our ministers in France. In this ship he returned from Nantz during the severe winter of 1780. Soon after which, he was promoted to the command of the Mars, a large ship, likewise belonging to the state, and in this vessel he was employed in the most responsible trust, in carrying despatches, and in one cruise carried out one of our ministers to Europe. The British flag ship Trial was captured by him while in the Warren. At the close of the war, he retired, like most of the faithful servants of our country, with a very scanty estate, and a numerous family dependent upon him for support.
In 1788, Capt. Sampson disposed of his mansion in Middle street, Plymouth, and purchased a farm in Plympton, where he terminated his earthly career by an apoplexy, June 22d, 1789, at the age of 53 years. He was buried upon his own farm, and afterwards his body was removed to the burying hill in Plymouth, where his grave is marked.
Few naval officers stood higher in public estimation, and few citizens were more respected for domestic virtues, hospitality, and generous friendship. He married Deborah, daughter of Seth Cushing of Hingham, Mass., who survived him, and died in Homer, N.Y., in 1830, at the age of 90 years. He had twelve children, seven of whom died young, and five of whom married.
source: Epitaphs from Burial Hill
by Bradford Kingman
Published by:
New England Illustrated Historical Publishing Co.
Brookline, Mass.
[p. 62]
_____________________________________________
Revoluntionary War Soldier
______________________________________________
Capt. Simeon Sampson was the son of Peleg and Mary (Ring) Sampson.
In early life he became a mariner, and was employed in the merchant service from Plymouth. In the year 1762, Mr. Sampson was taken prisoner by the French, in a vessel belonging to Goodwin & Warren, which was redeemed by the captain for a large sum of money, and Mr. Sampson was left as a hostage for the payment of the ransom. From this imprisonment he escaped by assuming the dress of a female, and was soon restored to his family in Plymouth.
At the commencement of the revolutionary war, when a marine force was deemed necessary to protect our commerce from the depredations of the British cruisers, he was honored by the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts with the appointment of the first naval captain in the service of the country. He immediately took command of the brig Independence, belonging to the colony, and which was built at Kingston, under his direction. In this vessel he was eminently successful, and in one cruise captured and sent in five prizes, among which was the Roebuck, Captain White, in the autumn of the year 1776. Immediately after this, he himself was captured by Capt. Dawson, of distinguished memory in these seas. Capt. Sampson did not surrender, until an engagement of a character as severe and bloody as perhaps is recorded in the annals of naval warfare. The skill and intrepidity manifested by him was applauded even by his enemies, Had he been sustained by all his men, he would undoubtedly have been the conqueror, rather than the vanquished. It is said in the gazette of that period, that he was driven to the awful necessity of running through the body of two or three of his men, who abandoned their guns in the most trying moment of the conflict. One of these victims was his third lieutenant. Soon after his return from captivity, which was at Fort Cumberland, near Halifax, he was appointed commander of the brig Hazard, a public vessel belonging to the state. In this vessel he likewise took several prizes, among which was the ship Live Oak. In 1779 he was selected to the command of the packet ship Mercury, built at Plymouth, by Mr. John Peck, for Congress. She was employed to carry despatches to our ministers in France. In this ship he returned from Nantz during the severe winter of 1780. Soon after which, he was promoted to the command of the Mars, a large ship, likewise belonging to the state, and in this vessel he was employed in the most responsible trust, in carrying despatches, and in one cruise carried out one of our ministers to Europe. The British flag ship Trial was captured by him while in the Warren. At the close of the war, he retired, like most of the faithful servants of our country, with a very scanty estate, and a numerous family dependent upon him for support.
In 1788, Capt. Sampson disposed of his mansion in Middle street, Plymouth, and purchased a farm in Plympton, where he terminated his earthly career by an apoplexy, June 22d, 1789, at the age of 53 years. He was buried upon his own farm, and afterwards his body was removed to the burying hill in Plymouth, where his grave is marked.
Few naval officers stood higher in public estimation, and few citizens were more respected for domestic virtues, hospitality, and generous friendship. He married Deborah, daughter of Seth Cushing of Hingham, Mass., who survived him, and died in Homer, N.Y., in 1830, at the age of 90 years. He had twelve children, seven of whom died young, and five of whom married.
source: Epitaphs from Burial Hill
by Bradford Kingman
Published by:
New England Illustrated Historical Publishing Co.
Brookline, Mass.
[p. 62]
Revoluntionary War Soldier
______________________________________________
Capt. Simeon Sampson was the son of Peleg and Mary (Ring) Sampson.
In early life he became a mariner, and was employed in the merchant service from Plymouth. In the year 1762, Mr. Sampson was taken prisoner by the French, in a vessel belonging to Goodwin & Warren, which was redeemed by the captain for a large sum of money, and Mr. Sampson was left as a hostage for the payment of the ransom. From this imprisonment he escaped by assuming the dress of a female, and was soon restored to his family in Plymouth.
At the commencement of the revolutionary war, when a marine force was deemed necessary to protect our commerce from the depredations of the British cruisers, he was honored by the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts with the appointment of the first naval captain in the service of the country. He immediately took command of the brig Independence, belonging to the colony, and which was built at Kingston, under his direction. In this vessel he was eminently successful, and in one cruise captured and sent in five prizes, among which was the Roebuck, Captain White, in the autumn of the year 1776. Immediately after this, he himself was captured by Capt. Dawson, of distinguished memory in these seas. Capt. Sampson did not surrender, until an engagement of a character as severe and bloody as perhaps is recorded in the annals of naval warfare. The skill and intrepidity manifested by him was applauded even by his enemies, Had he been sustained by all his men, he would undoubtedly have been the conqueror, rather than the vanquished. It is said in the gazette of that period, that he was driven to the awful necessity of running through the body of two or three of his men, who abandoned their guns in the most trying moment of the conflict. One of these victims was his third lieutenant. Soon after his return from captivity, which was at Fort Cumberland, near Halifax, he was appointed commander of the brig Hazard, a public vessel belonging to the state. In this vessel he likewise took several prizes, among which was the ship Live Oak. In 1779 he was selected to the command of the packet ship Mercury, built at Plymouth, by Mr. John Peck, for Congress. She was employed to carry despatches to our ministers in France. In this ship he returned from Nantz during the severe winter of 1780. Soon after which, he was promoted to the command of the Mars, a large ship, likewise belonging to the state, and in this vessel he was employed in the most responsible trust, in carrying despatches, and in one cruise carried out one of our ministers to Europe. The British flag ship Trial was captured by him while in the Warren. At the close of the war, he retired, like most of the faithful servants of our country, with a very scanty estate, and a numerous family dependent upon him for support.
In 1788, Capt. Sampson disposed of his mansion in Middle street, Plymouth, and purchased a farm in Plympton, where he terminated his earthly career by an apoplexy, June 22d, 1789, at the age of 53 years. He was buried upon his own farm, and afterwards his body was removed to the burying hill in Plymouth, where his grave is marked.
Few naval officers stood higher in public estimation, and few citizens were more respected for domestic virtues, hospitality, and generous friendship. He married Deborah, daughter of Seth Cushing of Hingham, Mass., who survived him, and died in Homer, N.Y., in 1830, at the age of 90 years. He had twelve children, seven of whom died young, and five of whom married.
source: Epitaphs from Burial Hill
by Bradford Kingman
Published by:
New England Illustrated Historical Publishing Co.
Brookline, Mass.
[p. 62]
Inscription
Died
Captain
SIMEON SAMSON
June 22 A. D. 1789
Aged
fifty three
years.
O ye whose cheek the tear of pity stains,
Draw near with pious reverence & attend
Here lie the loving Husband's dear remains
The tender Father & generous Friend
The dauntless heart yet touch'd at human woe
A Friend to man to vice alone a foe.
Epitaphs from Burial Hill
by Bradford Kingman
Published 1892
Epitaph #581
