Person:Frederick Kempson (1)

Frederick Kempson was born on 23rd May 1871 at Luton in Bedfordshire, son of a straw hat sewer named Sarah Ann Kempson, formerly Smith, and her husband James Kempson, a bricklayer and plait bleacher. Frederick appears to have been the couple's third child, but both his older siblings had died as babies, making Frederick the oldest surviving child.

Frederick appears in the 1881 census living with his parents and siblings at Park Place in the centre of Luton. In 1891, he was living with his mother and siblings at 48 Chobham Street in the southern suburbs of Luton. His father, James, was not at home on census night, being in St Albans Gaol (James was convicted of poaching on several occasions).

In 1893, aged 21, Frederick married Alice Mary Ann Guess, who was about 19 and from the nearby town of Leighton Buzzard. They settled in Luton and appear to have had nine children together, although at least two of them died young. Frederick worked as a straw hat packer. The 1901 and 1911 censuses find him living with his wife and children at addresses in the southern suburbs of Luton. In 1911, he was just a couple of doors away from his parents - he was living at 47 Cambridge Street, whilst they were at 39 Cambridge Street. Frederick's father died in 1915, and his mother in 1919.

At the outbreak of the Second World War Frederick and Alice were living at 47 Cambridge Street and he was working as a motor engineer.

Alice died in 1949, aged 75. Frederick outlived her by just under five years and died at a home in Streatley (immediately north of Luton) in 1954, aged 82.

1. ↑ Births index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   b. Frederick KEMPSON, June Quarter 1871, Luton Registration District, Volume 3b, page 430, mother's maiden name Smith

2. ↑ England. 1881 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands: . (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG11; Piece 1651; Folio 4; Page 2, 3 Apr 1881.

   Address: Park Place, Luton, Bedfordshire
   James Kempson, head, married, male, 32 [1848/9], Bleacher Plait, b. Chalk Hill, Bedfordshire
   Sarah Kempson, wife, married, female, 33 [1847/8], b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Frederick Kempson, son, unmarried, male, 10 [1870/1], Scholar, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Elizabeth Kempson, daughter, female, 8 [1872/3], Scholar, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Clara Kempson, daughter, female, 6 [1874/5], Scholar, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Ernest Kempson, son, male, 4 [1876/7], Scholar, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Agnes Kempson, daughter, female, 1 [1879/80], b. Luton, Bedfordshire

3. ↑ England. 1891 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG12; Piece 1273; Folio 69; Page 13, 5 Apr 1891.

   Address: 48 Chobham Street, Luton, Bedfordshire
   5 or more rooms occupied
   Sarah Kempson, head, married, female, 42 [1848/9], b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Fred Kempson, son, single, male, 19 [1871/2], Straw Hat Packer, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Elizabeth Kempson, sister, single, female, 17 [1873/4], Straw Hat Sewer, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Clara Kempson, daughter, female, 15 [1875/6], Straw Hat Finisher, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Earnest Kempson, son, male, 14 [1876/7], Scholar, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Agnes Kempson, daughter, female, 11 [1879/80], Scholar, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Bertie Kempson, son, male, 9 [1881/2], Scholar, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Minnie Kempson, daughter, female, 7 [1883/4], Scholar, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Maud Kempson, daughter, female, 2 [1888/9], b. Luton, Bedfordshire

4. ↑ England. England. 1901 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG13; Piece 1517; Folio 10; Page 11, 31 Mar 1901.

   Address: 148 New Town Street, Luton, Bedfordshire
   5 or more rooms occupied
   Frederick Kempson, head, married, male, 28 [1872/3], Hat packer, worker, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Alice Kempson, wife, married, female, 27 [1873/4], b. Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire
   Frederick Kempson, son, male, 5 [1895/6], b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   George Kempson, son, male, 4 [1896/7], b. Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire
   Gertrude Kempson, daughter, female, 1 [1899/1900], b. Luton, Bedfordshire

5. ↑ England. 1911 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom: The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), (formerly the UK General Register Office.))
   Class RG14; Piece 8995 Schedule 263, 2 Apr 1911.

   Address: 47 Cambridge Street, Luton, Bedfordshire
   Six rooms occupied
   Frederick Kempson, head, male, 38 [1872/3], married 18 years, 7 children born, 5 still living, Packer - Straw Trade, worker, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Alice Mary Ann Kempson, wife, female, 37 [1873/4], married, b. Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire
   Frederick Kempson, son, male, 15 [1895/6], single, Order boy - Straw trade, worker, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   George Valentine Kempson, son, male, 14 [1896/7], School, b. Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire
   Gertrude Kempson, daughter, female, 11 [1899/1900], School, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Bert Kempson, son, male, 8 [1902/3], School, b. Luton, Bedfordshire

6. ↑ ^6.0 6.1 General Register Office. 1939 Register
   Luton Municipal Borough, 29 Sep 1939.

   Address: 47 Cambridge Street, Luton, Bedfordshire
   Kempson, Frederick / male / 23 May 1871 / married / Labourer Motor engineer
   Kempson, Alice M.A. / female / 31 Jan 1874 / married / Unpaid domestic duties
   [one other record closed]

7. ↑ Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   d. Frederick KEMPSON, March Quarter 1954, Luton Registration District, Volume 4a, page 134, aged 85 [1868/9]

8. ↑ England. National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations),1858 onwards. (Ancestry.com).

   1954
   KEMPSON Frederick of 47 Cambridge-street Luton Bedfordshire died 8 January 1954 at St. Margarets Home Streatley Bedfordshire Probate London 20 November to Frederick Kempson army pensioner. Effects £248 4s. 2d.