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    Henry Livingston Simpson

    Birth: 9-10-1824

    Death: 3-12-1881

    Birth Date Prefix: c.

    Death Date Prefix:

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Biography

Rev. H.L. Simpson was the husband of Hattie Bogart.   He was born in New York City and received his Divinity Degree from Rochester Baptist Theological Seminary of that city. He served as the fourth pastor of Second African Baptist Church.  The members of the church affectionately called Rev. Simpson, “Father Simpson”.
Some highlights of his pastorate include a program to improve the appearance of the church with as many members as possible involved. Each member was asked to pay twenty-five cents each Sunday in order to raise $7,500.00 to buy insurance on the church, buy an organ, and install stained glass windows. He held church court trials for such activities as dancing, marrying without the consent of the church, or for not taking communion. He encouraged church members to raise funds for the Georgia Infirmary Hospital each fifth Sunday.  Funds were used for the upkeep of the hospital. He held temperance meetings to encourage people not to drink alcoholic beverages.  At one meeting, one hundred sixty members signed pledges not to drink any more.
On March 12, 1881, Father Simpson died at the age of 57.  He had served the church for ten years.

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Biography and Citation Information:
Biography: 
Rev. H.L. Simpson was the husband of Hattie Bogart. He was born in New York City and received his Divinity Degree from Rochester Baptist Theological Seminary of that city. He served as the fourth pastor of Second African Baptist Church. The members of the church affectionately called Rev. Simpson, “Father Simpson”. Some highlights of his pastorate include a program to improve the appearance of the church with as many members as possible involved. Each member was asked to pay twenty-five cents each Sunday in order to raise $7,500.00 to buy insurance on the church, buy an organ, and install stained glass windows. He held church court trials for such activities as dancing, marrying without the consent of the church, or for not taking communion. He encouraged church members to raise funds for the Georgia Infirmary Hospital each fifth Sunday. Funds were used for the upkeep of the hospital. He held temperance meetings to encourage people not to drink alcoholic beverages. At one meeting, one hundred sixty members signed pledges not to drink any more. On March 12, 1881, Father Simpson died at the age of 57. He had served the church for ten years.
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
http://secondafrican.org/index.php?nid=36069&s=au
Title of Webpage: 
secondafrican.org
Website Viewing Date: 
Monday, November 10, 2014 - 21:30
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Monday, November 10, 2014 - 21:30
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Biography: 
Excerpt from Colgate University: "Simpson was born in Columbia County, N.Y., on September 10, 1824. He attended the Grammar School (later Colgate Academy) before earning his undergraduate degree from Madison University in 1853 and his theology degree in 1855 — doing so despite calls in 1853 for his expulsion by southern financial supporters and those who felt enrolling an African American student was too political in the volatile pre-war period. Despite the sentiments of those prejudiced individuals, Simpson was well regarded both during and after his time at Madison. An observer of his undergraduate commencement oration (on the abolitionist William Wilberforce) noted, “The author of the piece ‘Wilberforce’ was very warmly applauded, partly because he is a colored young man, whose character and conduct have won for him high esteem, and partly because his performance was replete with just and noble sentiments.” Simpson also gave an address — “Africa: Its Destiny” — at the graduation ceremonies for his theological degree from Madison. Simpson built an illustrious professional and personal life after graduation. The noted abolitionist Frederick Douglass cited him as a positive example in support of expanded higher education opportunities for African American men. U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward and his wife attended Simpson’s wedding to Harriett Bogart in 1857. Seward’s wife, Frances, wrote to her son about the wedding: “The Church was filled — about 100 guests, white & colored went to the house, where they had a supper which Father said seemed to him just like all others of the kind here & at Washington. Aunty made it her business to see that the white guests do not defraud the colored in the matter of eating — being naturally less polite some supervision was necessary.” While Frances Seward's impressions of the ceremony showed signs of progress in interracial relations, they also clearly reflected the existing biases of the day. After Harriett’s death, Simpson married Emmeline Shadd on July 3, 1862. Following the completion of his theology courses, Simpson was ordained a Baptist minister in Schenectady, N.Y., in 1856. He travelled widely and frequently, working as a Baptist minister in Ohio, Georgia, and Canada, as well as serving as a missionary for the Free Missionary Society. Simpson primarily worked at churches strongly associated with abolitionism. Simpson then acted as president of the American Baptist Consolidated Missionary Convention, which was a national African American church organization, intended to promote missionary work, from 1869 to 1871. He died in Savannah, Ga., on March 8, 1881."
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
https://200.colgate.edu/looking-back/people/henry-livingston-simpson-first-known-african-american-graduate
Title of Webpage: 
Henry Livingston Simpson - Colgate University
Website Viewing Date: 
Tuesday, November 20, 2018 - 11:15
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Tuesday, November 20, 2018 - 11:15
Citation for Birth Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
http://secondafrican.org/index.php?nid=36069&s=au
Title of Webpage: 
secondafrican.org
Website Viewing Date: 
Monday, November 10, 2014 - 21:30
Website Last Modified Date: 
Monday, November 10, 2014 - 21:30
,
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
https://200.colgate.edu/looking-back/people/henry-livingston-simpson-first-known-african-american-graduate
Title of Webpage: 
Henry Livingston Simpson - Colgate University
Website Viewing Date: 
Tuesday, November 20, 2018 - 11:15
Website Last Modified Date: 
Tuesday, November 20, 2018 - 11:15
Citation for Death Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
http://secondafrican.org/index.php?nid=36069&s=au
Title of Webpage: 
secondafrican.org
Website Viewing Date: 
Monday, November 10, 2014 - 21:30
Website Last Modified Date: 
Monday, November 10, 2014 - 21:30