Thomas Sampson 1810-1862 & Mary Gundry 1810-1884

Thomas Sampson and Mary Gundry were married on 19 May 1836 in Perranuthnoe, Cornwall. The witnesses were William Gundry and Edmond Simons.
Thomas was described as a bachelor and Mary a spinster.

Thomas Sampson    

Second child of John and Grace Sampson

Born: 18 Nov 1810

Christened: 20 Jan 1811 St Hilary, Cornwall

Died: 9 May 1862 Jefferson County, Iowa, USA

Buried: Batavia Cemetery, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA

Siblings: John 1808, Harriett 1813, Mary 1815, William 1817, James 1820,
Grace 1822, Christiana 1824 and Elizabeth 1826

Occupation: Miner, lay preacher and farmer

Mary Gundry

Fifth child of Gideon Gundry (1780-1841) & Grace Andrew (1789-1854)

Born: 9 Mar 1810

Christened: 13 Apr 1810 Perranuthnoe, Cornwall

Died: 13 Jan 1884 Jefferson County, Iowa, USA

Buried: Batavia Cemetery, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA

Siblings: Gideon 1806, Elizabeth 1807, William 1808, Richard 1808,
Francis 1813, Jane 1815 and James 1817

According to Lilla Sampson in her 1914 book The Sampson Family (p32) she reports that Thomas and Mary located in Pennsylvania soon after arrival in the USA. Their youngest child John Wesley Sampson was born in Huntingdon. About the year 1853 they moved by wagon to relocate to Fairfield, Jefferson County in Iowa. Lilla also mentions that Thomas had been a miner working near Marazion, Cornwall and was one of the “local” preachers who assisted the regular pastor of the Wesleyan Methodist Circuit  near Penzance. Lilla’s source seems to have been Charles C. Sampson the grandson of Thomas & Mary through their youngest son John Wesley.

 1841 Cornish Census record for Perranuthnoe: Thomas Sampson 30 miner, Mary Sampson 30, Samuel Sampson 2, Lydia Sampson 10 months and James Sampson 20 miner. James was a brother of Thomas and would later move to Beer Ferris in Devon where he would marry Nancy Spears. The census entry for this family is divided over pages 24 and 25 with Thomas being listed at the very bottom of page 24. The census locates this family as living in Nanturras.
 1848 passenger list of the ship America which departed Liverpool and arrived in New York on 17 Apr of that year:  It is known that Thomas sailed for the US a year before his family made the journey. It is assumed that this is most likely the record of his movement.
 1849 passenger list of the ship Mecca which departed Penzance and arrived in New York on the  5 Jul of that year:  Mary Sampson 39, Samuel Sampson 10, Lydia Sampson 8,  William Sampson 7, Thomas Sampson 5, Ezekiel Sampson 4 and Gideon Sampson 18 months. 
Several months later the ship Mecca was back in Cornwall being promoted in The West Briton (Newspaper) Advertisements of 26 Apr 1850. Similar conditions were most probably in place at the time Mary and children sailed.

EMIGRATION TO AMERICA. Direct From Penzance To New York. The fine A. E. I. Coppered, fast sailing Ship “MECCA,” 400 tons burthen , Charles A. HALES, Commander, Will, weather permitting, sail from Penzance on the 15th of May next. The “Mecca” has very superior accommodations for both cabin and steerage passengers, and every precaution will be taken to promote the health and comfort of the passengers, by regularly fumigating the ship during the voyage, and find them with provisions at the ship’s expense, until the arrival of the vessel at New York. The captain is well experienced in the trade, and this will afford an excellent opportunity for passengers to any part of the United States. The owner will give letters, to farmers and mechanics, to parties in Michigan and Utica, who can put them in the way of procuring employment; and to those desirous of settling on lands how to manage for farms to the best advantage. To Miners also, this affords a favourable opportunity, and the owner being acquainted with some of the proprietors of mines, letters of recommendation will be given to passengers who can produce satisfactory testimonials of character, &c.

As the “Mecca” will only take a limited number of passengers, an early application should be made to W.C. HEMMINGS, Penzance; Thomas CORFIELD, Penryn; W.BROWNE, St Austell; I NEWTON jun., Camborne, and at the Office, Roseworthy. Dated April 12, 1850.

 The 1850 US Federal Census for Cromwell, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania:  Thomas Sampson 39, Mary Sampson 40, Samuel Sampson 11, Lydia Sampson 9,  William Sampson 8, Thomas Sampson 7, Ezekiel Sampson 6 Gideon Sampson 3 and John Sampson  1 month?
 The 1860 US Federal Census for Buchanan Township, Jefferson, Iowa:  Thomas Sampson 48, Mary Sampson 48, Samuel Sampson 21, William Sampson 18, Thomas Sampson 16, Ezekiel Sampson 15, Gideon Sampson 12 and John W. Sampson 10. Lydia had married John Blakely in 1857 and was in her own home in Penn, Jefferson, Iowa.