Sampson Simson (1781-1857) – “Father of Mount Sinai Hospital” Sampson Simson was a Yonkers resident for over 40 years. He was born in Connecticut in 1781. His grandfather Joseph emigrated from Germany as a young man and settled in New York City, becoming a merchant. Later the Simson’s firm, known as the “Simson’s in Stone Street”, imported beaver coating and other articles. The family also owned several vessels engaged in foreign trade. While in New York City they were members of the Congregation Shearith Israel, which is the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States. During the Revolution - with the taking of New York by the British and the closing of the synagogue they fled to Connecticut together with other prominent members of the synagogue. After the Revolution Sampson became the first Jewish graduate of Columbia University. Research indicates that he may have been the first Jewish attorney to be admitted to the Bar in New York State, starting his career as a confidential clerk to Aaron Burr. In 1813 he was severely injured in a nocturnal assault. Being a person of some means he decided to leave New York City and move to Yonkers. He purchased 150 acres just above the old city. Other family members may have already settled in Yonkers by that time. For many years his farm was the only home between the Shonnard’s and the Well’s. He called his farm “The Old Homestead”. Sampson never married but was very active in philanthropic, social welfare and political affairs in Yonkers and Westchester and was especially interested in prison reform. He is described as a very pious man with a New England conscience, a combination of a public-spirited citizen and conformist Jew. Simson received great pleasure from his charitable contributions, be they to a Catholic church, a Protestant church or a synagogue. He was a great admirer of President Andrew Jackson, and was presented a hickory walking stick by Jackson. Although he did many important things during the intervening years probably his greatest accomplishment came later in his life. In 1852 he along with eight other men representing various Hebrew charitable organizations, came together to establish the Jews Hospital, the institution that eventually (in 1866) became Mount Sinai Hospital. He was 72 years old when he participated in this endeavor, traveling the long and arduous roads by carriage from Yonkers to New York City. He was the first president of the hospital and is known by most as its founding father. He died in 1857.
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 21:19:55 +0000
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