Enoch Simpson was the progenitor of the Simpson Family from northeastern Sumner County, Tennessee in the vicinity of Bethpage, Rock Bridge, Oak Grove and Mount Vernon. He was born in Caswell County, North Carolina on 1 November 1797, son of Aaron and Charlotte (Wisheart) Simpson. His parents with their family joined a large migration of Simpson relations and moved from Fairfax County, Virginia to Caswell County, North Carolina, shortly before Enoch's birth. Enoch grew up on his father's plantation along Stony Creek in southwestern Caswell County near the Orange County, NC (now Alamance County) border.

On 29 December 1818 in Caswell County, North Carolina, he married his first wife, Elizabeth Carter, daughter of Joseph and Ann (Mallory) Carter of Caswell County. Elizabeth was born in Caswell County on 16 April 1797. She was the mother of six children: Aaron Sanford, Mary Ann, William C., Nancy E., Katherine Odie and Elizabeth Simpson.

After the birth of their first child in 1819, Enoch and Elizabeth (Carter) Simpson followed his brother, Roger Simpson, to Giles County, Tennessee and settled on Richland Creek. It was here that their second and third children were born. However, in the winter of 1824-25, they moved again, this time to Sumner County, Tennessee, settling on Deshea Creek. The reason for the second move may have been precipitated by the relocation of Elizabeth's parents from Caswell County, North Carolina to Sumner County at about the same time. In the early 1830s, the Simpsons moved again, this time to the Dry Fork of Bledsoe Creek, taking up a farm formerly owned by Robert and Elinor McKissack. They expanded the original one room log house by adding a frame room to the north, connected by a breezeway, and a board and batten kitchen wing to the east. This house still stands today on the east side of Rock Bridge Road.

Elizabeth (Carter) Simpson died in 1839, and family tradition says that she was buried with her family in the Carter Cemetery near Bransford, Sumner County, Tennessee. The cemetery has not been located, and may have been destroyed.

Enoch Simpson was married to his second wife, Martha Jane (Johnson) Turner on 21 March 1841 in Sumner County. Martha was born 6 July 1821 in Sumner County, a daughter of Austin and Ann Elizabeth (Corley) Johnson. She had first been married to James H. Turner on 5 October 1837 in Sumner County, and had one son, John Austin Turner (29 January 1839 - 9 September 1853). James H. Turner died in 1840. He was the younger son of John Turner (d. 1835) of Sumner County, and was a brother of Rebecca Turner, wife of Benjamin Johnson, and Frances Turner, wife of Richard C. Johnson. Benjamin and Richard C. Johnson were uncles of Martha (Johnson) Simpson. James H. Turner was also a brother of Eliza Turner, wife of William M. Carter, who was a brother of Elizabeth (Carter) Simpson.

Martha (Johnson) Simpson was the mother of four children by Enoch Simpson: Thomas Benton, Penelope Elviria, Magdalena Frances and Joseph Roger Simpson. These children were born and raised in the Simpson House on Rock Bridge Road in Sumner County. Martha's brother, Richard E. Johnson married her stepdaughter, Mary Ann Simpson, and her sister, Mary Frances Johnson married her stepson, Aaron Sanford Simpson. Thus, her children's first cousins were also their own half-nieces and nephews. Living in the Simpson household from time to time in addition to Martha's immediate family members were her half-sisters, Barodill Johnson and Margaret Ann Johnson. Margaret Ann Johnson, remembered as "Aunt Mag," never married and remained with the Simpson Family for the remainder of her life, and is buried in the Simpson Family Cemetery across Rock Bridge Road from the Simpson House.

Enoch Simpson attained a degree of prosperity while living in Sumner County, Tennessee. He accumulated a total of 1209 acres that was part of his estate. He owned twenty slaves that worked his plantation and performed various skilled labor, including masonry and carpentry. His inventory reveals that he was probably in the hardwood lumber business and raised general crops on his farm. He was also a physician, and renowned in his day for having a cure for cancer, which in reality was only a painkiller. For this reason, he was often referred to as Dr. Enoch Simpson.

His death occurred in 1 August 1860, according to family tradition, by bushwhackers who opposed slavery on the eve of the Civil War. He requested to be buried beside his first wife, Elizabeth (Carter) Simpson rather than in what became the Simpson Family Cemetery across the road from his house. Martha (Johnson) Simpson continued to live in the Simpson Home for the rest of her life, which ended 26 April 1905. She was buried in the Simpson Family Cemetery next to her eldest son, John Austin Turner.

Descendants of Enoch Simpson:

1. Aaron Sanford Simpson, son of Enoch and Elizabeth (Carter) Simpson, b. 20 Nov. 1819 Sumner Co., TN. D. 10 Nov. 1879 Sumner Co., Tenn. Believed to be buried in an unmarked grave in the Pond Cemetery, Sumner County, TN. Married 29 Apr. 1841 Sumner Co., TN to Mary Frances Johnson, daughter of Austin and Ann Elizabeth (Corley) Johnson, b. 13 Sept. 1824 Sumner Co., TN. D. 31 Jan. 1897 Sumner Co., TN. Children:
   1. 1. Joseph Enoch Simpson, b. 6 Nov. 1842 Sumner Co., TN. D. 6 Aug. 1862. Buried at Lookout Mountain, GA. Confederate soldier.

   1.2. William Simpson, b. 15 Nov. 1844 Sumner Co., TN. D. 7 Jan. 1909. Buried Mount Vernon Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Married 1st 3 Aug. 1865 Sumner Co., TN to Emily Jane Brizendine, b. 31 Aug. 1846. D. 16 May 1868. William Simpson married 2nd 26 Nov 1868 Sumner Co., TN to Mary Louisa Equels, b. 25 Nov. 1848. D. 11 Dec. 1880. Buried Mount Vernon Cem., Sumner Co., TN. William Simpson married 3rd 20 Mar. 1881 Sumner Co., TN to Leona Alice Doss, b. 20 July 1858. D. 16 July 1932. Buried Mount Vernon Cem., Sumner Co., TN.

   1.3. James W. Simpson, b. 6 July 1847 Sumner Co., TN. D. 28 May 1928 Sumner Co., TN. Buried Pleasant Hill Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Married 1st 8 Aug. 1867 Sumner Co., TN to Mary C. Bradley, b. 11 Aug. 1848. D. 9 Dec. 1909. Buried Pleasant Hill Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Married 2nd 20 June 1911 Sumner Co., TN to Mary Elizabeth Ralph ("Bettie"), b. 1866. D. 1939. Buried Beech Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery, Sumner Co., TN.

   1.4. Elizabeth J. Simpson, b. 3 Dec. 1849 Sumner Co., TN. D. 11 Jan. 1854 Sumner Co., TN.

   1.5. Thomas P. Simpson, b. 22 June 1852 Sumner Co., TN. D. 10 June 1854 Sumner Co., TN.

   1.6. Ann Eliza Katherine Simpson, b. 21 Dec. 1855 Sumner Co., TN. D. 24 Nov. 1924 Sumner Co., TN. Buried Tucker Family Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Married about 1870-1872 to John Wright Tucker, b. 26 June 1847. D. ca. 1930.

   1.7. John Wesley Simpson, b. 1 Dec. 1858 Sumner Co., TN. D. 10 Dec. 1934 Sumner Co., TN. Buried Mount Vernon Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Married 9 Nov. 1877 Sumner Co., TN to Amanda Emmadine Ashlock, b. 7 Nov. 1851. D. 9 Sept. 1931. Buried Mount Vernon Cem., Sumner Co., TN.

   1.8. Emily Frances Simpson, b. 4 June 1860 Sumner Co., TN. D. 14 Apr. 1934 Sumner Co., TN. Buried Mount Moriah Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Married 27 May 1915 Sumner Co., TN to Asa Wilson Ausbrooks, b. 9 Dec. 1857. D. 3 May 1935.

   1.9. Martha L. F. Simpson, b. 16 Oct. 1863 Sumner Co., TN. D. 11 Aug. 1865 Sumner Co., TN.

   1.10. Jasper Edmond Simpson, b. 2 Aug. 1866 Sumner Co., TN. D. 8 July 1938 Sumner Co., TN. Buried Sherron Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Married 1st 29 Oct. 1899 Sumner Co., TN to Chanie S. Sherron, b. 8 Nov. 1875. D. 4 June 1906. Buried Sherron Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Jasper E. Simpson married 2nd 20 June 1909 Sumner Co., TN to Callie Donia Neal, b. 31 Oct. 1881. D. 10 Dec. 1931.

   1.11. Mary Etter Morgan Simpson, b. 29 Dec. 1869 Sumner Co., TN. D. 20 Nov. 1879 Sumner Co., TN.

2. Mary Ann Simpson, daughter of Enoch and Elizabeth (Carter) Simpson, b. ca. 1821 Sumner Co., TN. D. ca. 1877 Sumner Co., TN. Married 1st 16 Aug. 1842 Sumner Co., TN to Richard E. Johnson, son of Austin and Ann Elizabeth (Corley) Johnson, b. ca. 1821 Sumner Co., TN. D. 19 Jan. 1862 in the Battle of Fishing Creek, KY. Mary A. (Simpson) Johnson married 2nd 11 May 1870 Sumner Co., TN to James Escue, b. 27 Apr. 1807. D. 14 Dec. 1883. Children of Richard E. and Mary Ann (Simpson) Johnson:
   2.1. Emily Elizabeth Johnson, b. ca. 1843 Sumner Co., TN. D. 1910 Sumner Co., TN. Buried Pleasant Grove Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Married 7 Nov. 1862 Sumner Co., TN to William W. Rippy, b. 18 Sept. 1842. D. 22 May 1909. Buried Pleasant Grove Cem., Sumner Co., TN.

   2.2. Robert Foster Johnson, b. 11 Aug. 1845 Sumner Co., TN. D. 3 Oct. 1921 Sumner Co., TN. Buried Escue Family Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Married 7 June 1870 Sumner Co., TN to Rachel Lucinda Escue, b. 13 Apr. 1843. D. 23 Nov. 1921.

   2.3. Mary Jane Johnson, b. 12 June 1847 Sumner Co., TN. D. ca. 1924 Sumner Co., TN. Buried Pleasant Grove Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Married 2 Nov. 1862 Sumner Co., TN to Benjamin Rush Heath, b. 11 Aug. 1841. D. 12 June 1917.

   2.4. Martha Ann Johnson, b. ca. 1849. Married 19 Aug. 1867 Sumner Co., TN to Andrew I. Thornberg Heath, b. 29 Jan. 1837. D. 15 Jan. 1924. Both buried Sherron Cem., Sumner Co., TN.

   2.5. William Austin Johnson, b. 3 Apr. 1852 Sumner Co., TN. D. 2 Feb. 1930 Sumner Co., TN. Buried Mount Vernon Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Married 1st 18 July 1880 Sumner Co., TN Sarah H. Brazil. W. A. Johnson married 2nd 21 Feb. 1870 Sumner Co., TN to Mary Ann Harper, b. 1 Mar. 1846. D. 22 July 1922. Buried Mount Vernon Cem., Sumner Co., TN.

   2.6. James A. Johnson, b. Apr. 1853 Sumner Co., TN. D. after 1910 Sumner Co., TN. Married 1st 3 Mar. 1876 Sumner Co., TN to Mary Smith. James A. Johnson married 2nd 3 July 1887 Sumner Co., TN to Etta Carman.

   2.7. Jesse S. Johnson, b. ca. 1858 Sumner Co., TN. Married 29 Nov. 1877 Sumner Co., TN to Sarah J. A. Keen, b. ca. 1860.

   2.8. Nancy Johnson, b. ca. 1860 Sumner Co., TN.

3. William C. Simpson, son of Enoch and Elizabeth (Carter) Simpson, b. 3 May 1824 Sumner Co., TN. D. 17 May 1904 Sumner Co., TN. Married 17 Dec. 1850 Sumner Co., TN to Permelia C. Durham, daughter of Thomas and Mary (West) Durham. Both buried Mount Vernon Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Children:
   3.1. Martha Ellen Simpson, b. 7 Dec. 1851 Sumner Co., TN. D. 3 Jan. 1924 Sumner Co., TN. Buried Mount Vernon Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Never married.

   3.2. India Lonnetta Simpson, b. 2 Feb. 1853/1854. D. 8 Jan. 1863 Sumner Co., TN. Buried Bethpage Cem., Sumner Co., TN.

   3.3. Mary Elizabeth Simpson ("Mollie"), b. 6 Aug. 1863 Sumner Co., TN. D. 2 Apr. 1939 Sumner Co., TN. Married 19 Dec. 1882 Sumner Co., TN to Alfred Newton Reddick, b. 2 Mar. 1861 Sumner Co., TN. D. 6 Oct. 1939 Sumner Co., TN. Both buried Mount Vernon Cem., Sumner Co., TN.

   3.4. Clara Lee Simpson, b. 1867 Sumner Co., TN. D. 4 Jan. 1940 Sumner Co., TN. Buried Mount Vernon Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Married 1st 17 Aug. 1884 Sumner Co., TN to W. T. Piland. Clara Lee (Simpson) Piland married 2nd 19 Feb. 1899 to her first cousin, John William West, son of James Wilburn and Katherine Odie (Simpson) West.

   3.5. Eubera M. Simpson, b. 1 Mar. 1871 Sumner Co., TN. D. 23 June 1901 Sumner Co., TN. Married 19 June 1889 Sumner Co., TN to John F. Harper, b. 12 May 1867. D. 7 May 1954. Both buried Mount Vernon Cem., Sumner Co., TN.

4. Nancy E. Simpson, daughter of Enoch and Elizabeth (Carter) Simpson, b. ca. 1826 Sumner Co., TN. D. after 1870 when she lived in Grayson Co., TX. Married 22 Oct. 1842 Sumner Co., TN to William W. West, son of John (Jr.) and Polly (Allen) West, b. ca. 1821 Sumner Co., TN. D. between 1860 and 1870 in Grayson Co., TX. Children:
   4.1. Mary West, b. ca. 1843 Sumner Co., TN.

   4.2. Martha J. West, b. ca. 1845 Sumner Co., TN.

   4.3. James M. West, b. ca. 1851 Sumner Co., TN.

   4.4. Katherine West, b. ca. 1862 Grayson Co., TX.

5. Katherine Odie Simpson, daughter of Enoch and Elizabeth (Carter) Simpson, b. 25 June 1828 Sumner Co., TN. D. 1 May 1860 Sumner Co., TN. Buried West Family Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Married 30 Dec. 1846 Sumner Co., TN to James Wilburn West, son of John (Jr.) and Polly (Allen) West, b. 4 Dec. 1823 Sumner Co., TN. D. 14 Jan. 1874 Sumner Co., TN. Children:
   5.1. Amanda Frances West, b. 29 May 1848 Sumner Co., TN. D. 13 July 1919 Sumner Co., TN. Married 20 Dec. 1877 Sumner Co., TN to John Luther Smith Pond, b. 23 Feb. 1836. D. 8 Mar. 1905. Both buried Pond Cem., Sumner Co., TN.

   5.2. Sarah Ann West, b. 24 Aug. 1849 Sumner Co., TN. D. between 1920 and 1929 in Sumner Co., TN. Buried West Family Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Never married.

   5.3. Emily Jane West, b. 23 June 1853 Sumner Co., TN. D. 9 May 1901 Sumner Co., TN. Buried West Family Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Married 17 Jan. 1881 Sumner Co., TN to Rodney Alexander Durham, b. 12 Sept. 1853.

   5.4. John William West ("Jack"), b. 14 Mar. 1857 Sumner Co., TN. D. Feb. 1911 Sumner Co., TN. Buried West Family Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Married 17 Jan. 1881 Sumner Co., TN to his first cousin, Clara Lee (Simpson) Piland, daughter of William C. and Permelia C. (Durham) Simpson.

6. Elizabeth (A. or M.) Simpson, daughter of Enoch and Elizabeth (Carter) Simpson, b. ca. 1830 Sumner Co., TN. D. before 1860 Sumner Co., TN. Married 27 Feb. 1850 Sumner Co., TN to Alfred M. Stuart, b. ca. 1824 in Tennessee. Children:
   6.1. Sarah Stuart

   6.2. Amanda Stuart

7. Thomas Benton Simpson, son of Enoch and Martha Jane (Johnson) Simpson, b. 19 Feb. 1842 Sumner Co., TN. D. 1 Sept. 1922 Sumner Co., Tenn. Married 23 Aug. 1863 Sumner Co., TN to Frances Logan Graves, daughter of Benjamin F. and Harriet C. (Young) Graves, b. 20 Oct. 1840 Sumner Co., TN. D. 8 June 1896 Sumner Co., Tenn. Both buried Simpson Family Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Children:
   7.1. Nora Simpson, b. 28 June 1864 Sumner Co., TN. D. 17 July 1866.

   7.2. Eva Simpson, b. 21 Apr. 1866 Sumner Co., TN. D. Nov. 1866.

   7.3. Harriet Simpson ("Hattie"), b. 26 Feb. 1868 Sumner Co., TN. D. 8 Apr. 1943 Sumner Co., TN. Married 11 Sept. 1890 Sumner Co., TN to Milton Elzia Dobbs, b. 5 Mar. 1868. D. 1 Feb. 1954. Both buried in Rock Bridge Cem., Sumner Co., TN.

   7.4. Infant son, b. & d. 19 Apr. 1870.

   7.5. Benjamin Enoch Simpson, b. 11 Aug. 1871 Sumner Co., TN. D. 24 Sept. 1937 Sumner Co., TN. Married 22 Oct. 1902 Sumner Co., TN to Lesbia Hazelton Hunter, b. 1 Sept. 1882 Sumner Co., TN. D. 21 July 1937 Sumner Co., TN. Both buried in Mount Vernon Cem., Sumner Co., TN.

   7.6. Thomas Orville Simpson, b. 14 July 1874 Sumner Co., TN. D. 27 June 1916 Sumner Co., TN. Married 16 June 1897 Sumner Co., TN to Martha Artelia Hunter, b. 26 Sept. 1881 Sumner Co., TN. D. 1960 Maury Co., TN. Both buried Bethpage Cem., Sumner Co., TN.

   7.7. Martha Frances Simpson, b. 3 Aug. 1876 Sumner Co., TN. D. 3 Nov. 1925 Sumner Co., TN. Married 15 Nov. 1893 Sumner Co., TN to John Thomas Hawkins, b. 10 Nov. 1871 Sumner Co., TN. D. 3 Oct. 1953 Sumner Co., TN. Both buried Rock Bridge Cem., Sumner Co., TN.

   7.8. Edna Penelope Simpson, b. 11 June 1878 Sumner Co., TN. D. 13 Dec. 1961 Sumner Co., TN. Married 21 Nov. 1900 Sumner Co., TN to Robert Edward Lee, b. 31 Oct. 1875 Sumner Co., TN. D. 21 July 1965 Sumner Co., TN. Both buried Rock Bridge Cem., Sumner Co., TN.

   7.9. Margaret Verona Simpson, b. 2 July 1881 Sumner Co., TN. D. 27 Oct. 1941 Sumner Co., TN. Buried Bethpage Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Married 7 July 1915 Sumner Co., TN to Dr. Thomas Edward Wright, b. 7 Apr. 1885 Sumner Co., TN. D. 11 Dec. 1949 Jefferson City, TN. They were divorced 12 May 1931.

   7.10. Sarah Catherine Simpson, b. 1 Dec. 1883 Sumner Co., TN. D. Sumner Co., TN 15 Mar. 1937. Buried Bethpage Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Married 1st 19 Mar. 1903 Sumner Co., TN to Clarence Edward McWhirter, b. 4 Mar. 1882. They were divorced. She married 2nd J. W. Parkes in Oklahoma.

8. Penelope Elviria Simpson, daughter of Enoch and Martha Jane (Johnson) Simpson, b. 24 Nov. 1846 Sumner Co., TN. D. 4 July 1928 Sumner Co., TN. Buried Simpson Family Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Married 28 Nov. 1866 Sumner Co., TN to Robert Barr Wright, son of Robert Anderson and Susan P. (Barr) Wright, b. 14 Dec. 1841 Sumner Co., TN. D. 16 Dec. 1917 Sumner Co., TN. No children.

9. Magdalena Frances Simpson, daughter of Enoch and Martha Jane (Johnson) Simpson, b. 15 Jan. 1849 Sumner Co., TN. D. 6 Mar. 1929 Sumner Co., TN. Buried Simpson Family Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Never married.

10. Joseph Roger Simpson, son of Enoch and Martha Jane (Johnson) Simpson, b. 23 Apr. 1854 Sumner Co., TN. D. 20 Oct. 1920 Sumner Co., TN. Married 22 Jan. 1877 Sumner Co., TN to Cintha Ann Wright, daughter of Robert Anderson and Susan P. (Barr) Wright, b. 14 June 1852 Sumner Co., TN. D. 31 Mar. 1911 Sumner Co., TN. Both buried Simpson Family Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Children:

    10.1. Julius Trousdale Simpson, b. 19 Dec. 1877 Sumner Co., TN. D. 29 Mar. 1909 Sumner Co., TN. Buried in Simpson Family Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Married 1 Jan. 1905 Sumner Co., TN to Bessie Ann Neel, b. 26 Aug. 1889 Sumner Co., TN. D. 8 Jan. 1917 Sumner Co., TN.
    10.2. Martha Belle Simpson, b. 16 Dec. 1880 Sumner Co., TN. D. 2 June 1925 Union Parish, LA. Married Noel Kilpatrick.

    10.3. Susie Ann Simpson, b. 23 Dec. 1883 Sumner Co., TN. D. 23 July 1939 Sumner Co., TN. Married 3 Aug. 1911 Sumner Co., TN to William Howard Elliott. Both buried Simpson Family Cem., Sumner Co., TN.

    10.4. Nellie Barr Simpson, b. 9 Mar. 1886 Sumner Co., TN. D. 13 Apr. 1943 Sumner Co., TN. Buried Rock Bridge Cem., Sumner Co., TN. Married 19 Dec. 1926 Sumner Co., TN to John Thomas Hawkins, widower of her first cousin, Martha Frances Simpson, daughter of Thomas Benton and Frances Logan (Graves) Simpson.

    10.5. Infant daughter, b. 14 Sept. 1889 Sumner Co., TN. D. 16 Nov. 1889. Buried Simpson Family Cem., Sumner Co., TN.