a view to the ministry of the church of Scotland. Having changed his views on the subject of church establishments, he joined the secession church and proceeded to the Theological Hall at Selkirk, then under the charge of Dr. George Lawson (1749–1820) [q. v.] After completing his course and receiving license, he was called to Sanquhar. He was ordained there on 16 May 1820, and continued to minister in the same place for forty-seven years. He was a successful preacher, but is mainly known as author of many interesting volumes bearing on the covenanting struggle in Scotland and on the character and sufferings of the persecuted covenanters. His books, which have passed through several editions, describe attractively the chief events of a stirring and influential period of Scottish history. He received the degree of D.D. from Princetown University, United States, in 1853. He died at Sanquhar on 8 July 1867.
His publications were: 1. ‘Life of James Renwick, the last of the Scottish Martyrs,’ Edinburgh, 1843. 2. ‘Traditions of the Covenanters; or Gleanings among the Mountains,’ 3 vols. 1843, 1846, and 1888. 3. ‘The Times of Claverhouse; or Sketches of the Persecution,’ Edinburgh, 1844, 12mo. 4. ‘The Banner of the Covenant; or Lives of the Martyrs,’ 1847. 5. ‘Memorials of Pious Persons lately deceased.’ 6. ‘The History of Sanquhar,’ Edinburgh, 1853, 2 edits.; Glasgow, 1865. 7. ‘A Voice from the Desert; or the Church of the Wilderness,’ 1856. 8. ‘Martyrland; or the Perils of the Persecution,’ Glasgow, 1861. 9. ‘The Cottars of the Glen; or Glimpses of the Rural Life of the Scottish Peasantry a Hundred Years ago,’ Glasgow, 1866.
[United Presbyterian Magazine, August 1867; Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church; Irving's Dict. of Scotsmen; Brit. Mus. Cat.; personal knowledge.]
SIMPSON, SIDRACH (1600?–1655), independent divine, was born about 1600, and educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was admitted sizar in 1616 or beginning of 1617; Brook makes him B.D., apparently in error. Christopher Atkinson, the quaker, spells his name Sydrach Sympson (1654), so does Baxter, occasionally. Neal, followed by others, adopts this spelling, but it appears in none of Simpson's own writings. He held a curacy and lectureship at St. Margaret's, Fish Street, London, where his preaching became popular, but for breach of the canons he was convened by Laud at his metropolitical visitation in 1635. He made his submission, but, finding his position as a puritan intolerable, he migrated to Holland, probably in 1638, being the last of the five, afterwards known as ‘apologists,’ to take this step. In Rotterdam he joined the independent church, under John Ward as pastor, and William Bridge [q. v.] as teacher. In consequence of a difference with Bridge he took his leave in 1639, without letters dimissory, and with four outsiders ‘erected’ a new church, ‘near the Exchange,’ of which he was pastor. Ward, who sympathised with Simpson, was deposed, and left Rotterdam before 10 Jan. 1640. Simpson's church increased (it contained a troublesome element of seekers and anabaptists) while Bridge's declined. With Simpson was associated Joseph Symonds, who had been curate to Thomas Gataker [q. v.] The bitterness of the rivalry between Bridge and Simpson led both to leave Holland, whereupon the civil authorities insisted on the amalgamation of the two congregations, which was effected under Robert Parke (1600–1668) [q. v.]
Apparently Simpson left Holland for London in 1641, earlier than Bridge. He resumed his lecture at St. Margaret's, Fish Street, and lectured also at Blackfriars. He was made a member of the Westminster assembly of divines by the ordinance of 12 June 1643, being then ‘of London.’ He attended regularly and was one of the five divines responsible for the ‘Apologeticall Narration’ (1643) of the ‘dissenting brethren’ [see Nye, Philip]. Simpson was an extreme advocate for liberty of conscience, even in regard to opinions ‘contrary to the light of nature.’ His objection to the presbyterian system of appeals from court to court was grounded on rejection of the finality of such reference, ‘the law of nature teacheth to go to any that can relieve,’ and he contemplated the possibility of ‘an appeal from king and parliament to a national assembly.’ On 13 Jan. 1647 the assembly appointed a committee to consider an order of the committee for plundered ministers designating Simpson as afternoon preacher in the chapel at Somerset House. The appointment was under debate till 2 March, when the matter was deferred, owing to Simpson's illness; no finding is recorded. In 1650 the parliamentary visitors of Cambridge University appointed Simpson master of Pembroke Hall, in the room of Richard Vines (1600–1655) [q. v.], who had refused the engagement. About the same time he obtained the sequestered rectory of St. Mary Abchurch, London, succeeding John Rawlinson, who had obtained the rectory of Lambeth. Here he set up a congregational church, from
