Edward Simpson

Edward Simpson ("Flint Jack") (born c. 1815, ) was a British geologist and forger of antiquities, such as arrowheads and fossils. He was also known as Fossil Willy, Old Antiquarian, Cockney Bill, Bones, and Shirtless. Other names included John Wilson, of Burlington, and Jerry Taylor, of Billery-dale, Yorkshire Moors.

Biography Edward Simpson was born in 1815 in the village of Sleights in North Yorkshire. At a young age he became apprenticed to local geologist and historian George Young, working first as a fossil collector before entering the world of forgery in 1843. The first of Edward Simpson's many aliases, and his first venture into forgery, is believed to have come about when he met a Mr Dotchon in Whitby. Dotchon showed Simpson his first flint arrow head and asked if he could copy it. Thus, Flint Jack was born.

Forgeries Replica flint tools made by Simpson were sold nationally and have entered into the collections of several regional and national museums. An 1871 edition of The Antiquary warned of his presence in North Yorkshire and noted that "His present trade is the vending of arrow-heads made of bottle-glass, which he works with even more skill than flint, and which he is disposing of by the score", warnings were also published of his presence in Stamford where he was making flints, monastic seals and rings, and noted his incarceration for a month at Northallerton.

The last known sighting of Flint Jack was in Malton magistrates' court on 21 February 1874.

In popular culture The American alternative rock band, Monks of Doom, produced a record about Flink Jack, called Forgery. The lyrics celebrate Simpson's anti-hero status.