t appears from the probate records in Catahoula Parish that Simpson had a falling out with his brother Robert and mother Sarah over the administration of the estate of his father, John Zeagler, who had died in Feb 1849.

On 8 Nov 1850 and some 19 months after the original probate action was filed, Simpson brought a lawsuit against the estate, claiming that the assets of the estate were not being properly administered and asking that the assets be inventoried, appraised and sold at public auction.