John Simpson, born in 1740 and married to Mary Remer in 1765, was a minister, educator, soldier, and patriot. He graduated from Princeton College with high honors in 1768, studied divinity for two years under a private minister, was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 1770, preached there for two years, moved to a pastorate in Philadelphia in 1772, traveled to Chester County, South Carolina, in 1773, and was ordained and installed in 1774 by Orange Presbytery, preaching at upper and lower Fishing Creek and Bethesda. During this period he was outspoken for the American cause of liberty and encouraged his congregations to fight for their freedom from Britain. Because of his actions at Alexander's Old Field and Mobley's, British commander Christian Huck came on June 11, 1780, to capture him at Fishing Creek Church, but finding no one there, burned the church, killed William Strong, and then burned Simpson's home and library, leaving Mrs. Simpson and the children homeless. These events led to the Battle of Huck's Defeat. Battles involving Simpson included Alexander's Old Field, Mobley's, Huck's Defeat, Hanging Rock, Rocky Mount, and Fishing Creek. After the Revolution, in 1790 he moved to Pendleton District and continued his ministerial labors until his death in 1808 at Roberts Presbyterian Church.