One of Conecuh County, Alabama's most unique early settlers died 144 years ago today at Belleville

Grave of John Sampey Sr. at Belleville.

Today – July 8 – marks 144 years since the passing of one of Conecuh County’s most unique early settlers, John Sampey Sr.

Much of what is known about Sampey and his interesting life comes from the 1881 book, “The History of Conecuh County” by Benjamin Franklin Riley. Here’s what Riley had to say about Sampey in his book:

“Among the best and most useful of Conecuh’s earliest inhabitants was John Sampey Sr. His birthplace was Belfast, Ireland, where he first beheld the light on April 20, 1801. In September 1824, he sailed for America and reached New York some time during the following month.

“His tastes having led to the new regions of rapidly growing America, he came to the inviting State of Alabama, then just looming into prominence, and settled upon the soil of Conecuh. His attention was directed at once to stock raising, and he soon populated the grass grown districts of southern Conecuh with herds of stock cattle. The energy with which he addressed himself to his chosen vocation soon became proverbial.

“The ancestors of Mr. Sampey (Sampier) were French. They were driven by religious persecution from France during the 16^th Century and sought refuge in Ireland. The subject of this sketch was originally a devout member of the Church of England, in which he was reared; but upon removing to Conecuh, he became a member of the Methodist Church, in which he spent a devoted life.

“Mr. Sampey was remarkably quiet and unostentatious. His career was one of evenflowing uniformity. He was scrupulously exact in all his transactions, was careful never to allow a note to mature without being promptly met. His eyes were closed in death at his old home, near Belleville on July 8, 1877.”

Sampey was buried in the Belleville United Methodist Church Cemetery, which is located off U.S. Highway 84, just west of the Belleville Crossroads, about 10 miles from downtown Evergreen. I took a few minutes the other day to ride out to the old church to see if I could find Sampey’s grave. This old cemetery looks to contain about 150 graves, but it wasn’t hard to find Sampey’s grave, which is just a short walk from the parking lot.

Sampey’s grave has a long crack across the top, and it appears to have been repaired at some point in the past. A close look at Sampey’s grave will show you that it bears the following inscription:

In Memory of John Sampey

Born April 20^th, 1801

in Belfast, County Antrim,

IRELAND

Sailed for America, Sept. 12, 1824

Died July 8^th, 1877

aged 76 years, two months

and 18 days.

“Servant of God, well done!

Rest from thy loved, employ.

The battle fought, the victory won,

Enter thy Master’s joy.”

In the end, records reflect that Sampey had at least 11 children, so he likely has many descendants still living today. Let me hear from you if you have any additional information about Sampey and his interesting life. No doubt there is much more still to be learned about this immigrant settler from Ireland.

(Got a comment or question? E-mail Lee Peacock at courantnewsdesk@gmail.com.)