Hello, Cousin Kathy's materials list a marriage (without citing a source) on March 28, 1854 in Bear Valley, Mariposa County, California between Robert M. SIMPSON (b. Sept. 1823 in Maine) and Consipcion (Concepcion?) DEL GARDES (b. about 1826 in *Mexico* which may be Alta California and even Mariposa County -- source: her age on the 1860 Mariposa County Census and the 1870 Fresno County Census). Children from that marriage were: Louisa SIMPSON (b. about 1853) John D. SIMPSON (b. about 1856) Isabella SIMPSON (b.abt July 1856) abt 1898 married William TAYLOR (b. May 1850) src: 1900 Kings Co. census; later married _________ OLIVAS and had 3 children Alice SIMPSON (b. abt 1858 in Hornitos, Mariposa Co.) married Jose Ribas RIVAS on Oct.14, 1886 (2 children) Mary/Maria Louise SIMPSON (b. August 6, 1860 in Hornitas, Mariposa Co.) on Oct. 14, 1886 married Theodore ALVISO (b. Nov. 9, 1859) (11 children) Charlotte SIMPSON (b. abt 1863) _____________________________________ I don't think we have the actual record of that 1854 marriage in Bear Valley. As to Joan's posting, Robert SIMPSON was supposed to have been English, and his occupation was cabinet maker/ship builder according to my cousins. Judy