Posted on: Venango Co. Pa Query Forum Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Pa/Venango/2285 Surname: Simcox, Gilson ------------------------- Frank Edson SIMCOX, son of Shadrach SIMCOX and Sarah L. ANDERSON, was born in 1866 in Bullion, Venango, PA, and in 1894, married May GILSON, daughter of Thomas C. GILSON, who was born in 1868 in Mercer County, PA. Frank and May both died 30 Jun 1900 in Pao Ting Fu, China. After graduating from Grove City College in Mercer County, he attended Western Theological Seminary in Allegheny City (now Pittsburgh). While there. Frank volunteered to the mission field in China and in 1893 was commissioned to go by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions. He married his fiancee and they shortly sailed together for China. They were sent first to Peking (now Beijing) and later to Pao Ting Fu (now Baoding). Three children were born while they were in China. Some of the Chinese were not pleased with the Americans and their Christian religion. In 1899, a secret society of Chinese known to westerners as Boxers, began a campaign of terror against Christian missionaries in the northeastern provinces. Known as the Boxer Rebellion, the terrorism escalated until on June 30, 1900 an organized mob entered the west gate of the mission compound and set fire to the buildings. The Simcox household,armed with but one shotgun and two revolvers, held out for several hours, killing two Boxers and wounding eight. After Reverend and Mrs. Simcox were killed, the Boxers crawled beneath the house and set fire to it. The two older children ran outside and were run through by bayonets and their bodies were thrown into a well. Baby Margaret, 3 months old, burned alive. Children: 1 Francis SIMCOX born 1894 in China, died on 30 Jun 1900 in Pao Ting Fu, China. 2 Paul SIMCOX born 1895 in China, died on 30 Jun 1900 in Pao Ting Fu, China. 3 Margaret SIMCOX was born in Mar 1900 in China, died 30 Jun 1900 in Pao Ting Fu, China.