Mr. Sampson emigrated to Tremont, Illinois, in 1836, and from there to Como in 1839, where he died December 31, 1865. Mrs. Sampson was born at Scituate, Massachusetts, May 8, 1787, and died at Como, November 8, 1862. Their children were: Frances E., born January 8,1814, who married "Winfield S. Wilkinson, November 18, 1841; children, Mary C., Alfred E., Henry B., and Frank, the latter dying in infancy. Ann R, born March 22, 1817; married Henry A. Sumwalt, October 31, 1837; Mr. Sumwalt died in Pike county, Illinois , about twelve years ago, and Mrs. Sumwalt in Sterling, September 3, 1876. Henry R., born September 6, 1819; married Miss Emma Dickinson, September
28,1858; one child, Kate P. Julia G., born June 16, 1825; married Charles N. Russell, December 25, 1851; children, Annie F., Charles T., and John N., who died in infancy. Georgiana S., born February 1, 1829; married Charles P. Mallett, January 26, 1847; children, Edward, died in infancy, Ellen ., Arthur F., died in infancy, and Charles P. Jr. Florence H., born April 2, 1832; married Edwin C. Whitman, October 5, 1855; children, Elizabeth M., Marcus Carrie B., Henry B., and Edwin D. Albert S., born October 1, 1834; married Miss Lucetta Cook, December 15,1858; children, Albert H., Mary E., Frank C., and Alice T.
Betsy S. (Winsor) Sampson was born at Duxbury, Massachusetts, February, 1768, and came to Como with her sons in 1839. She was the oldest person in thc colony, and died Oetober 5, 1854.
Henry Briggs Sampson was born at Duxbury, Massachusetts, July 15, 1787, and was a descendant of Henry Sampson who came to Plymouth with the little band of Puritans in the Mayflower, in 1620. On the 20th of September, 1812, he married Miss Nancy Turner, at Marshfield, Massachusetts, a daughter of Col. Wm. Turner, of Scituate, Massachusetts, who was also of Puritan descent.
Briggs Sampson was born in Massachusetts in 1787 and he was descended from Henry Sampson, who came to America on the Mayflower in 1620. Sampson's mother was the daughter of Col. Willilam Turner of Massachusetts who served in the American Revolution.
Sampson migrated to Tremont IL in 1836 and from there to Como in 1839. Sampson pursued a sea-faring life for some years and was known as Capt. Briggs Sampson. While master of his brig "Sampson" owned in a partnership with his father, Sampson met a vessel at sea one day, and as was the custom, the two shipmasters held a friendly parley.
"What brig is that?" inquired the stranger.
"Brig Sampson" was the reply
"What is her captain's name?"
"Briggs Sampson" was the answer
This response seeming identical with the former question was repeated, "What is her captain's name?" and the name was returned as before, Briggs Sampson.
The misunderstanding continued and the question was asked for a third, and then a fourth time.. "What is the Captain's name?" And the reply was the same each time, "Briggs Sampson".
The vessels separated. The other captain highly displeased on not receiving a civil answer to his question and with Capt. Briggs resolved then to eliminate such a misunderstanding in the future by prefixing "Henry" to his name. He was known afterwards as Henry Briggs Sampson.
Under this name he came to Illinois
When Hopkins Township was organized he was the first town clerk and the first justice of the peace. He died in 1865.
His daughter, Julia T. married Charles N. Russell, for many years a merchant in Sterling. Her daughter, Miss Annie Russell, lived for many years on Second Avenue in Sterling.
The Daily Gazette July 1, 1976
