MARJORY SIMPSON
-passionate
bather
Marjory Simpson in 1839.
She was born Marjory Cowan in 1808.
The Cowans
grew up in Penicuik and in Edinburgh’s Canongate,
where their parents’ paper business was conducted from Moray House.
Over the street was the
Canongate Tollbooth, seen here in 1829.
In 1831 Marjory Cowan
married Henry Simpson, fourteenth child of Robert Simpson, doctor in St Petersburg who had been Principal Medical
Officer of the Russian Imperial Navy hospital at Cronstadt.
Marjory
(Simpson) with her father, papermaker Alexander Cowan
and brothers and sisters: Charles, Helen (Menzies),
Bissie (Thompson), Duncan, Lucy
(Constable), James and John in the garden
of Moray House
in 1839
Marjory Simpson
with her tenth (and last) child Frederick James (born 1856) outside their
house, Selville Cottage, in Portobello.
Marjory's neice Mary Constable (Mrs Forsyth)
writes: "...Now comes Aunty Marjory, who married Henry Simpson. She sang
and played the guitar and piano delightfully, was enthusiastic, romantic, and
married most happily the man she loved. He, Uncle Henry, was the kindest
brightest, most affectionate uncle to us all there ever was. He was a real
musician, and when he and Aunty Marjory were quite old they would sit down at
the piano and play the most entrancing Russian duets, and then sing song after
song in any language you liked, and perfectly. Aunt Marjorie had a passion for
bathing. She chose a mountain burn in the end of September, because Ullswater lake was too warm for
her. Nearly every morning during the winter she bathed in the sea at
Portobello. "
In 1820, aged 12, Marjory had been on holiday with
her family at Moffat, where they were noticed by Mrs
Grant of Laggan who was also staying there. She writes: "Did you ever hear Mrs. Brunton
speak of a family of the name of Cowan, who possess a great paper manufactory,
and once lived beside her in Edinburgh, and afterwards were her country
neighbours at Lasswade? She knew them well, and esteemed them
much. Mr. Cowan is a man possessed of
much general information, derived from a more extensive library than one
usually finds in the possession of a private individual: his wife shares
mentally in the treasures of her husband's knowledge, though personally devoted
to the care and education of eleven promising and well-trained children. I must tell you a great deal about them when
I see you: I shall only tell you now that they are spending the summer here,
and are one of the most rational, comfortable and happy families I know. They have the most admirable cart imaginable,
with seats slung in it, that makes it a most desirable
vehicle. They call for me every day I
can go, and take me to see all the old castles and Hopes and strange places in the
neighbourhood; and their conversation is a treat, such as one does not often
meet with. But I will tell you much of
them hereafter." "MOFFAT, 26th July, 1820: I continue my
cart-excursions here with no small satisfaction. My companions are delightful--the happiest,
best, and most intelligent people imaginable.
Their cart has such seats and slings and springs as make it quite the
king of carts, and the very horse is a sensible, well-behaved animal, worthy of
your acquaintance.". Over 60 years later at the 1881 census, Marjory was
back at Moffat, staying at the new Hydropathic Hotel with her husband Henry Simpson, who died
in 1885.
The vast Moffat
Hydro opened in 1878
Marjory Simpson died in 1891
+++
Marjorie and Henry’s eldest child, Elizabeth Jane
Simpson was born in 1835, probably at Moray House, and married John Montgomerie Bell WS in 1870. He was the founding honorary
president of the Edinburgh Bach Choir 1889-1894. In 1908, their eldest child, Alexander C M
Bell followed his father as the choir’s honorary president.
Marjory and Henry’s second child Thèrése
(Rézie Simpson) was born in Liverpool in 1838. Trained by Miss Yaniewicsz and A.W.Smith, she
became the best public singer of her day in Edinburgh. She taught singing. In 1875 she went to Paris, where some said her
voice was almost ruined by more training; it recovered later under Franz Bozen. In 1881 she
was a teacher of singing and staying at Selville,
Portobello, with her youngest brother Frederick James –he was a music teacher--
while their parents were at Moffat Hydro.
Frederick James Simpson, the youngest child of
Marjory and Henry, was brought up at Selville,
Portobello, and spent his life in the world of music. Educated at Edinburgh Academy, Leipsic
and Berlin, he took a musical degree at Oxford in 1885. He was professionally engaged in music,
teaching and composing, sometimes in a romantic Scottish vein, and mostly in
and around London. His Three-part Songs.
Op.1 was published by Novello, Ewer & Co in 1888 [No.1:
Music when soft voices die. (Words by Shelley.) No.2:
There is dew for the flow'ret. (Words
by T. Hood.) No.3: Tell me, thou star. (Words by
Shelley.) No:4: To-morrow. (Words
by Shelley.) No.5: Autumn. (Words by T. Hood.)
No.6: It was not in the winter. (Words by Hood.) No.7:
When icicles hang by the wall. (Words by Shakespeare.)
No.8: Delightful Summer, then adieu. (Words by Hood.)].
Frederick James Simpson’s Canon for two voices “A Country Life is
Sweet.” was published by Vincent in 1901.
Simpson married Georgina Hopwood, sister of the watercolourist
Henry Silkstone Hopwood who died in Edinburgh in 1914.
HS
Hopwood’s “Industry” in the Tate Gallery
Marjory
Simpson family
tree
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