P. F. Lingwood, 1984. Notes on historical conchology 1. Flint Jack (1812-1870’s). The Conchologists’ Newsletter 90: 213 P. Thornton, 2002. Edward Simpson, or, a search for “Flint Jack.” The Geological Curator 7(8): 309-317 [portrait]. - Edit

Edward Simpson ("Flint Jack") (born 1815, fl. 1874) 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. 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 Dr. George Young, working first as a fossil collector before entering the world of forgery in 1843.[3] 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. In 1846, Jack began drinking heavily and is quoted as saying: "In this year, I took to drinking; the worst job yet. Till then, I was always possessed of five pounds. I have since been in utter poverty, and frequently in great misery and want." Recent work has suggested that the antiquarian biographies of Edward Simpson may be based on misinformation provided by Simpson himself. Replica flint tools made by Simpson were sold nationally and have entered into the collections of several regional and national museums.[2]As well as flints and fossils, Jack made and sold fake ancient British and Roman urns. He initially used Bridlington clay but, finding the cliffs of Bridlington Bay unsuitable, moved to Stainton Dale, between Whitby and Scarborough. He travelled, on foot, for many miles selling his 'collections' that he claimed had been found on the Yorkshire moors. He is also reported to have successfully sold a genuine-looking Roman breastplate (pectorale) in Malton, made out of an old tea-tray and fashioned on his own body. In London in 1859, Jack was accused of forgery by Professor Tennant. The professor, fascinated by the hard-to-detect forgeries, persuaded Jack to describe his manufacturing methods to members of the Geological and Archaeological Societies. As news of Jack's forgeries spread, his business suffered badly. An 1871 edition of The Antiquary warned of his presence in a 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 - Edit