David Simson was an exiled Presbyterian minister and amongst the oldest Scots emigrants.

David Simson, a Scottish Presbyterian minister, was born around 1632 and served faithfully in parishes of Argyll for several decades before being exiled to East Jersey for his religious convictions.

He began his ministry in 1656 at Killean and Kilchenzie parish in South Kintyre, later moving to Kilcholumkill and Kilblaan or Southend parish, where in he was one of nearly four hundred ministers – one third of Scotland’s clergy – who were ‘outed’ from their parishes. They left either of their own volition or forced to leave and were required to live at least 20 miles from their former congregations. This was a consequence of the series of Acts that year passed by the Scottish Parliament. These forced the Church of Scotland to adopt Episcopalianism. Henceforth, ministers could only serve in a parish if a bishop or a patron (typically a local landowner) had nominated them, and all ministers were required to swear allegiance to the crown. King Charles II was seeking to introduce a common structure across all of Britain, with rule by bishops and standard use of the Book of Common Prayer.

Many outed ministers continued to preach, in people’s houses or in the fields. Penalties for hosting or preaching at such irregular and banned events known as conventicles could be severe.
Under an Act of Indulgence in September 1672, David was amongst 89 ministers allowed to return to their parishes, provided that they avoided political dissent, such as preaching against the King had power over the Church, and strove to maintain religious order within their parishes.

In March 1685, he was imprisoned in Edinburgh, accused of nonconformity. He was released on a heavy bond of 5,000 merks, on the condition that he leave Scotland and cease ministering while still in the kingdom. On 14 August 1685, the Privy Council ordered the return of his bond, clearing the way for him to board the Henry and Francis, a ship carrying scores of Covenanter prisoners to East Jersey.

Simson arrived in Perth Amboy in October 1685. He was one of several ministers exiled during this period, but his importation was specifically noted as having been arranged by Lord Neill Campbell, an important figure among the Scottish proprietors of East Jersey. Though he lived only a short while in the colony, dying around 1686, sources remember him as one who “continued stedfast in his principles till his death.”

He was married to Jean Thomson and was succeeded as minister in Southend parish by his son David in 1686. As the latter was performing as an episcopalian minister in 1688 when the Presbyterian church was restored to supremacy, he had to petition the Synod of Argyll to be received into Presbyterian Communion. In 1691 he became minister of Kilchoman parish on Islay.

David Falconar played a significant role in the East Jersey venture as a promoter and investor and was a leading member of the Quaker community in Scotland.

David Falconar (or Falconer) was born around 1632, the eldest son of Sir John Falconer, Master of the Cunziehouse (the Scottish Mint), and Sibil Ogilvy. Though he never emigrated himself, Falconar played a pivotal role in facilitating early Quaker settlement in East Jersey.

In 1646 when he was about 14, he was granted a right to succeed his father as Master of the Mint, and was trained in the role, and furthered his education in England, France, and Holland. However, he became estranged from his father and in 1672, having joined the Society of Friends (Quakers), he renounced his claim to his position at the Mint. The role passed to his younger half-brother, John, later Sir John Falconer of Balmakellie.

Falconar was one of the earliest Scots to join the Quakers and one of the earliest to be imprisoned for his faith, in Edinburgh in 1664. He became a significant figure within the movement, becoming a proselytiser while working as a factor for Colonel David Barclay of Ury and Anthony Haig of Bemersyde. With Colonel David’s son Robert, Falconar organised Quaker meetings around Aberdeen in 1667 and established himself in business there, becoming a burgess in 1671.

On 7 March 1672 he married Margaret Molleson, daughter of Gilbert Molleson, prominent merchant burgess and bailie of Aberdeen. This was two years after Robert Barclay had married Margaret’s sister Christian.

By 1674 Falconar was back in Edinburgh as a merchant. There he purchased land for a Quaker burial plot in The Pleasance and was appointed by fellow Quakers to oversee the construction of a meeting house.

By the early 1680s, Falconar was showing considerable interest in Quaker plans for a new colony in America, and volunteered to act as an emigration agent for the plantation of West Jersey in 1671, one of the three in Scotland along with Hew Wood, gardener at Hamilton Palace, and John Cowie, merchant in Aberdeen.

Being close to Robert Barclay he was much involved in the subsequent plans for the Scots emigration to East Jersey, and again acted as an emigration agent. He was in a position to encourage several relatives in this direction, such as the merchant Patrick Falconar and the Fullarton of Kinnaber brothers, Robert and Thomas.

He acquired land in East Jersey from Robert Barclay in 1682 and shipped goods aboard the first emigrant vessel, the Exchange of Stockton in August 1683. He later obtained more land from Sir John Gordon of Durno in 1685 and Robert Barclay junior in 1701.

This was a difficult time personally, for his half-brother, John of Balmakellie was embroiled in a scandal fighting accusations of malversation (corruption) at the Mint, along with two other Falconer cousins. Falconar had other close cousins in important positions, including Sir David Falconer of Newton who was made Lord President of the Court of Session and a Privy Councillor in 1682. Newton was at the heart of the authorities’ response to the Argyll rebellion and Covenanters in 1685 as a member of the Secret Committee.

In 1689, Falconar and his growing family moved from Edinburgh to Kirktonhill, Marykirk parish, Kincardineshire in 1691 he took on the role of factor to his brother-in-law Gilbert Molleson who was already established in London as a silk draper. This Molleson bought an East Jersey fraction in 1696 and was one of the Proprietors of East Jersey who agreed to give up their rights when New Jersey was created a royal province in 1702. His three surviving sons all went to America. His eldest son John built a substantial transatlantic business in London while Gilbert and Alexander settled permanently as merchants in Kent County, Maryland.

David Falconar died on 18 April 1713 at Kingswells, near Newhills in Aberdeenshire, and was buried at Ury two days later.

See database entry for David Falconar

William Niven, a smith from Pollokshaws in Cathcart parish, Renfrewshire (now part of Glasgow), lived through some of the harshest years of the Covenanter persecutions in late 17th century Scotland. His religious nonconformity led to repeated imprisonments, torture, and eventual transportation across the Atlantic.

In May 1678, Niven was arrested after attending an illegal conventicle and refused to name those who had preached or attended. For this, he was sentenced to transportation to the plantations. He was imprisoned in Edinburgh Tolbooth and, by December, placed aboard the St Michaell of Scarbrugh, intended for Virginia. However, the ship never left port as the contractor responsible, London merchant Ralph Williamson,  failed to appear and the prisoners were released at Gravesend. [Another in the party was William Layng from Hawick who was also later transported to East Jersey.]

Niven returned to Cathcart around September 1679, but his freedom was short-lived. In 1684 he was again imprisoned, this time in the Canongate Tolbooth, accused of disloyalty to Church and Crown and refusing to take pledges of allegiance. In May 1685, he was formally sentenced to banishment. He was among the many Covenanters held in grim conditions at Dunnottar Castle. During his captivity, he took part in a failed escape attempt and suffered torture by lit matches tied to his fingers.

On 5 September 1685, Niven was shipped aboard the Henry and Francis as a banished prisoner. He arrived in Perth Amboy, East Jersey, on 7 December 1685. A legal case brought in early 1686 by the ship’s captain, Richard Hutton, shows that Niven was among the prisoners successful in opposing his claim for their transportation costs. Despite his traumatic exile, Niven managed to return to Scotland by around 1692.

Back home in Pollokshaws, he appears to have resumed a normal life. By 1703, he had some social standing, serving as an elder in the local Church of Scotland. He had at least one child, also named William. He died sometime after 1703.

See database entry for William Niven

William Ridford [or Reidford] was one of the first Scots emigrants to East Jersey in the 1680s. He was born around 1642 in Friershaw, near Lilliesleaf in Teviotdale, Roxburghshire. He was a Quaker, a member of the Kelso Monthly Meeting.

By 1682, tenant farmer Ridford was in negotiation with Arent Sonmans, one of the East Jersey proprietors, to emigrate to the American colonies. Under their agreement, Ridford was promised 100 acres of land in East Jersey rent-free for ten years, a significant incentive.

Ridford left Scotland from Aberdeen aboard the Exchange of Stockton on 31 August 1683. After a transatlantic crossing, he arrived in Staten Island, New York, on 19 December 1683. He and his family (his wife Margaret and their seven children) initially settled in Elizabethtown, New Jersey. On 26 September 1685, the family was granted a survey warrant for 250 acres of headland, recognising their arrival and settlement.

Ridford had joined the Kelso Monthly Meeting sometime before 1682 and was to remain a Quaker until his death.

Later records show Ridford in Freehold, Monmouth County, where he was still farming as a yeoman by 1720. He maintained his Quaker faith throughout his life, leaving a legacy to the Monmouth Meeting of Friends in his will.

William Ridford died in 1726 and was buried in the Old Scots Burying Ground in Freehold. His will, dated 27 February 1720/21, named his wife Margaret and sons-in-law Gideon Craford and James Lowrey (Lawrie) as executors, though Margaret later declined due to infirmity. His property and legacies, including his religious bequests, testify to a life of persistence, belief, and quiet influence in early East Jersey society.

See database entry for William Ridford