SIMPSON Francis (Frank)

Name	Francis (Frank) SIMPSON
Country Of Origin	New Zealand
Born	1869
Died	1958
Birth/ Baptism	Born 1869, Hokitika, New Zealand
Parents	Francis and Jemima Simpson
Apprenticeship	John Sparrow, Brisbane Street, Launceston
Skills	Clockmaker, Watchmaker, Jeweller, Optician
Work Locations	Launceston
Street Address	Brisbane Street, Launceston Charles Street, Launceston 16 The Quadrant, Launceston 136 York Street, Launceston
Marriage/Spouse	4 August 1897, St Paul’s Church, Launceston, to Jane Mary Doran (d. 1900). 1901, Tasmania, to Bridget Murray.
Arrival	Approx. 1880
Other	Employers: John Sparrow, Launceston (21 years), F & W Stewart, Launceston (two years). March 1888: Frank was noted as an apprentice of Mr J Sparrow in the local newspaper. From 1909: Undertook maintenance of the Launceston Town clock after its installation. Frank was responsible for tolling the bells in the clocks tower to mark the deaths of King Edward VII in 1910 and King George V in 1936. During the great flood in Launceston in April 1929, he ‘caused the clock to strike for 30 minutes, as a prearranged warning to residents of Invermay to evacuate the danger areas.’Frank resided at 2 Cimitiere Street, where he kept a clock in every room. A report in 1944 made special mention of Frank’s ‘Cabinet of Memories,’ a miniature cabinet used to store watchmaker’s tools, and hidden away on the backs of the small drawers were diary entries of memorable events. The cabinet is still intact in 2022, owned by a Tasmanian collector. Approx. 1913: Business partnership with Sydney Napper (Napper and Simpson). 22 June 1914: Partnership dissolved. Sydney Napper continued at York Street under his own name. 1923: Business premises, 16 The Quadrant advertised for sale. 1942: Negotiations were undertaken with the Launceston City Council to continue maintenance of the Town Clock, resulting in an increase in salary to £18 a year. November 1943: The Launceston Town Clock struck continuously for 14 minutes due to a small piece of metal on the striking mechanism breaking. June 1946: Watchmaker and jeweller Walter D Eastburn relocated to Frank Simpson’s premises in The Quadrant. December 1947: Frank announced his retirement from the custodian role of the Town Clock after 38 years. In early 1948, Mr Barnard, Minister for Repatriation, suggested an electric winding system should be installed. ‘Since it was first stated that an electric motor to wind the clock would interfere with the electric telephone and telegraph service, 50 years had elapsed. Mr Barnard refused to believe that his suggestion was not practicable.’ 1969: An electric winder was installed in the Launceston Town Clock. SEE Hands of Time post: Frank Simpson, The first timekeeper of the Launceston Town Clock https://handsoftime.com.au/frank-simpson-the-first-timekeeper-of-the-launceston-town-clock/
Death	20 November 1958, Launceston
References
Graham Mulligan collection. TAHO: RGD37/1/58 no501 Marriage 1897; AD960/1/88 1959. Web: Findmypast: New Zealand Birth, 1869/24345; Ancestry: Australia Marriage Index 1901. The Examiner (Launceston) 8 March 1888, 16 October 1900 [Jane Simpson], 23 June 1914, 20 July 1942, 21 July 1942, 10 November 1943, 15 June 1946, 3 February 1948; Daily Telegraph 29 August 1913, 10 October 1923; The Mercury (Hobart) 3 February 1944, 10 December 1947.