SIMPSON Archibald

18 September 1851, Launceston, to Harriet Watts

1832-February 1834: Assigned to Hobart watchmaker David Barclay.
April 1833: Archibald and watchmaker Charles Jones, also assigned to David Barclay, were sentenced to 25 lashes for being out after hours.

1835-1838: Port Arthur. Charges included having items ‘improperly in his possession’: a ring, a watch seal, tobacco, a pipe, and a fellow prisoner’s shirt. He also made and trafficked jewellery, was disobedient, and sometimes refused to work. Punishments included lashings, time in solitary confinement, and chain gangs.

By late 1838, Archibald was back with David Barclay, stole a watch, and was sent back to Port Arthur for two of the additional three-year sentence.
1841: Assigned to Thomas Hamilton, clock and watchmaker of Hobart.
By 1843: Worked for Launceston watchmaker James Barclay.
November 1845: Commenced business in premises adjoining the late Mr Barclay’s and advertised as Barclay’s late foreman.

September 1848: Free Certificate
October 1848: Advertised ‘Gold and silver patent lever watches from one of the best London Makers.’
Approx. 1849-1856: Employed watch and clockmaker James Parker.

January 1850: Advised the public he would not be accountable for debts contracted by anyone using his name.
December 1852: Place a wanted ad in the newspaper for ‘a good steady workman, to whom the highest wages will be given.’
June 1855: Advertised for a watchmaker, noting anyone applying from Hobart Town or neighbouring colonies would have their expenses advanced.

December 1855: Archibald received an assortment of clocks by special order from England for his Brisbane Street business. The newspaper described them as ‘surpassing in elegance of design, of perfect workmanship, usually called table of mantelpiece clocks, and highly finished works of art.’
Features mentioned were gold and mother of pearl inlay, papier mache, mahogany and rosewood cases, and silvered dials.

The Examiner (Launceston) 11 December 1856:
‘Serious Accident – Mr A Simpson, watchmaker, in Brisbane Street, met with a serious accident at Hobart Town, last week. He was in a gig in company with Mr Thomas Hamilton, a watchmaker at Hobart Town, when the wheel of the vehicle (a high American gig), came in contact with a stone and both were thrown out. Mr Simpson was taken up in a state of insensibility, which lasted for several hours; having received a severe wound on the head, and the injury appeared so serious that it was at first supposed that a fatal result would ensue. We are glad to say, however, that since then Mr Simpson has been able to return to Launceston, though far from having recovered. Mr Hamilton escaped with a broken nose and finger. No damage was done to either horse of gig.’

June 1857: Placed an ad in the newspaper stating all watches left for repair at clock and watchmaker’s, Mr W Abbott of York Street, could be collected from Mr A Simpson, Brisbane Street.

Cornwall Chronicle 20 July 1861:
‘Shooting at a wife.
Mr Simpson, a watchmaker of Brisbane Street, was arrested by the Police at his residence yesterday evening for having fired a pistol at his wife. Fortunately, Mrs Simpson escaped to the adjoining premises uninjured.’