Person:Enoch Kempson (1)

Enoch Kempson was born on 13th February 1836 and baptised the following month at Totternhoe in Bedfordshire, son of Celia Kempson, formerly Jones, and her husband George Kempson, a straw dealer. Enoch appears in the 1841 census living with his parents and siblings living at Church End in Totternhoe. By 1851 the family had moved to the nearby hamlet of Billington in the parish of Leighton Buzzard. Enoch was described as a 'labourer on the road'. Enoch's father died in 1853.

Enoch's next sighting is on 25th August 1860, when he was married at Kingsbury in Middlesex to Jane Couldrey. They appear in both the 1861 and 1871 censuses living in Kingsbury, with Enoch working as a carter and carpenter. They do not appear to have had any children. In the 1861 census, the family of Enoch's late sister Sophia was living with them. Enoch's mother died in 1873.

Some time between 1871 and 1876, Enoch and Jane appear to have separated. Enoch married again in 1876, but there is no sign of Jane having died. Given how rare divorce was at the time, it would seem that Enoch's second marriage was bigamous. It would seem that Jane went to live in London with a man called George James Harris, and took to calling herself Jane Harris. She died in 1895.

Enoch's second wife was Ann Stapley, who was known as Annie. She was from the Tunbridge Wells area of Kent, which is where they married. Enoch and Ann went on to have ten children together between 1877 and 1892, although three died young. They moved around the area to the south-east of London. They appear in the 1881 census with two children at 2 Palace Terrace in Norwood. They spent some time in the 1880s living in the Sydenham area, and by 1891 were living back in Tunbridge Wells.

In 1891 Enoch was described as a builder and an employer. He was involved in a couple of court cases in the early 1890s over pay for painters and injuries to a bricklayer where scaffolding had collapsed.

By 1897 the family had moved to 2 Rose Cottage on Staines Road in Twickenham, Middlesex, which was where they were living when Annie died on 11th September 1847, shortly after turning fifty.

Enoch later in life.

Enoch died in 1922, aged 86. He was buried at the Ealing and Old Brentford Cemetery on 13th September 1922. Louisa outlived him by nearly nineteen years.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Baptisms register, in Church of England. Parish Church of Totternhoe. Parish registers of Totternhoe, 1559-1812. (Bedford: Bedfordshire County Record Office, 1982).

   BAPTISMS solemnized in the Parish of Totternhoe in the County of Bedford in the year 1836
   No.297
   When baptized: 1836 March 27
   Name: Enoch son of
   Parents: George & Celia
   Surname: Kempson born 13 Feby
   Abode: Toternhoe
   Occupation: Labr

2. ↑ England. 1841 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 HO107; Piece 5; Book 36; Folio 6; Page 7, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Church End, Totternhoe, Bedfordshire
   George Kempson, male, 50 [1786-91], Straw factor, born in county
   Cerea Kempson, female, 25 [1811-16], not born in county
   Enoch Kempson, male, 6 [1834/5], born in county
   Sophia Kempson, female, 4 [1836/7], born in county
   Amos Kempson, male, 15 [1821-6], Ag[ricultural] Lab[ourer], born in county
   Jesse Kempson, male, 15 [1821-6], Ag[ricultural] Lab[ourer], born in county

3. ↑ England. 1851 Census Returns for England and Wales. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 1756; Folio 214; Page 3, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: North Leighton Road, Billington, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire
   George Kempson, head, married, male, 77 [1773/4], Labourer on the road, b. Totternhoe, Bedfordshire
   Celia Kempson, wife, married, female, 36 [1814/5], Labourer on the road wife, b. Barnet, Hertfordshire
   Enoch Kempson, son, unmarried, male, 15 [1835/6], Labourer on the road, b. Totternhoe, Bedfordshire
   Sophia Kempson, daughter, female, 12 [1838/9], Plaiter, b. Totternhoe, Bedfordshire
   John Kempson, son, male, 6 [1844/5], Plaiter, b. Totternhoe, Bedfordshire
   Mary Kempson, daughter, female, 3 [1847/8], b. Billington, Bedfordshire
   Emma Kempson, daughter, female, 1 [1849/50], b. Billington, Bedfordshire

4. ↑ England. 1861 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 RG9; Piece 784; Folio 90; Page 5, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: Kenton Lane, Kingsbury, Middlesex
   Enoch Kempson, head, married, male, 23 [1837/8], Carter, b. Tottenham [sic], Bedfordshire
   Jane Kempson, wife, married, female, 20 [1840/1], Carters Wife, b. Arrington [sic], Berkshire

5. ↑ England. England and Wales. 1871 Census Schedules. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG10; Piece 1326; Folio 89; Page 21, 2 Apr 1871.

   Address: Hyde Alley, Kingsbury, Middlesex
   Enock Kempson, head, married, male, 35 [1835/6], Carpenter, b. Tattinghoe [sic], Bedfordshire
   Jane Kempson, wife, married, female, 33 [1837/8], Laundress, b. Ardington, Berkshire
   ~ [second household in same house]
   Joseph Lathwell, head, widower, male, 32 [1838/9], Labourer, b. Eggington, Bedfordshire
   Emma Lathwell, daughter, female, 12 [1858/9], Scholar, b. Eggington, Bedfordshire
   Henry Lathwell, son, male, 10 [1860/1], Scholar, b. Eggington, Bedfordshire
   Mary J. Lathwell, daughter, female, 8 [1862/3], Scholar, b. Hyde, Middlesex
   Emily Lathwell, daughter, female, 6 [1864/5], Scholar, b. Hyde, Middlesex

6. ↑ 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 630; Folio 27; Page 19, 3 Apr 1881.

   2 Palace Terrace, Norwood, Lambeth, London
   Harry Kempson, head, married, male, 37 [1843/4], Carpenter, b. Somersetshire
   Annie Kempson, wife, married, female, 34 [1846/7], b. Tunbridge Wells, Kent
   Charles H. Kempson, son, unmarried, male, 4 [1876/7], b. Upper Norwood
   John E. Kempson, son, unmarried, male, 6mo [1880], b. Upper Norwood
   Hannah Stapley, visitor, unmarried, female, 20 [1860/1], no occupation, b. Tunbridge Wells, Kent

7. ↑ 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 676; Folio 137; Page 8, 31 Mar 1901.

   Address: 9 Cumberland Walk, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
   Enock Kempson, head, married, male, 49 [1841/2], Builder, employer, b. Tatnell, Bedfordshire
   Anne Kempson, wife, married, female, 44 [1846/7], b. Tunbridge Wells, Kent
   Harry C. Kempson, son, single, male, 14 [1876/7], b. Upper Norwood, Surrey
   John E. Kempson, son, single, male, 10 [1880/1], b. Upper Norwood, Surrey
   Robert E. Kempson, son, male, 7 [1883/4], b. Sydenham, Kent
   Frederick K. Kempson, son, male, 5 [1885/6], b. Sydenham, Kent
   Rosa A.S. Kempson, daughter, female, 2 [1888/9], b. Sydenham, Kent
   Margaret Allan, servant, single, female, 16 [1844/5], General Servant Domestic, b. Hammersmith, Middlesex

8. ↑ 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 1192; Folio 67; Page 45, 31 Mar 1901.

   Address: 1 Leyland Road, Ealing, Middlesex
   Enock Kempson, head, widower, male, 60 [1840/1], Builders Foreman, worker, b. Dunstable, Bedfordshire
   Henry C. Kempson, son, single, male, 24 [1876/7], Carpetner, worker, b. Upper Norwood, Surrey
   Robert E. Kempson, son, single, male, 17 [1883/4], Bricklayer, worker, b. Lower Sydenham, London
   Frederick K. Kempson, son, single, male, 15 [1885/6], Carpenter, worker, b. Lower Sydenham, London
   Rosey A.S. Kempson, daughter, single, female, 12 [1888/9], Scholar, b. Lower Sydenham, London
   Arthur F. Kempson, son, single, male, 9 [1891/2], Scholar, b. Tunbridge Wells, Kent
   Daisy M. Kempson, daughter, single, female, 8 [1892/3], Scholar, b. Edenbridge, Kent
   Louisa Etherington, servant, single, female, 30 [1870/1], Housekeeper Domestic, worker, b. Puttenham, Surrey
   Albert Etherington, boarder, single, male, 10 [1890/1], Scholar, b. Puttenham, Surrey

9. ↑ 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 6885; Schedule 91, 2 Apr 1911.

   Address: 45 Williams Road, West Ealing, Ealing, Middlesex
   5 rooms occupied
   Enock Kempson, head, male, 75 [1835/6], widower, Carman, own account, b. Totternhoe, Dunstable
   Rose Kempson, daughter, female, 22 [1888/9], single, Daily Domestic, worker, b. Sydenham, Kent
   Daisy Kempson, daughter, female, 18 [1892/3], single, Daily Domestic, worker, b. Edenbridge, Kent
   Arthur Kempson, son, male, 19 [1891/2], single, shop light porter, worker, b. Tunbridge Wells, Kent
   Louisa Etherington, housekeeper, female, 41 [1869/70], single, cook Housekeeper, worker, b. Puttenham, Surrey
   Albert Etherington, boarder, male, 20 [1890/1], single, Carman, worker, b. Puttenham, Surrey

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

    d. Enoch KEMPSON, September Quarter 1922, Brentford Registration District, Volume 3a, page 146, aged 86 [1835/6]

11. ↑ England & Scotland, Select Cemetery Registers, 1800-2016 (ancestry.co.uk).

    bur. 13 Sep 1922, Ealing & Old Brentford Cemetery, Ealing, Middlesex: Enoch Kempson, aged 86 [1835/6], Ground d Division, Grave 28f

12.   Croydon Guardian and Surrey County Gazette, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 3, Saturday 11 Jul 1891.

    CROYDON BOROUGH BENCH...
    WEDNESDAY...
    ENOCH KEMPSON was summoned by John Webb and Walter George Barber, for £1 2s. and £1 5s. wages due. - Mr. S.G. Edridge appeared for the defendant. - Plaintiff said he had been working as a painter for the defendant at a house at Werndee-road, South Norwood. He had received 7½d. an hour for work at Norwood, but Mr. Kempson offered him the same he was paid for work in Croydon, viz., 6d. an hour, and this was what witness had charged. He was to have the money at once, but when finished, defendant refused to pay him unless he came to Croydon and started on some other work at once. - In the course of examination it appeared that there was a contract between the parties for £14, and Mr. Seale said the Bench could not split up matters in this way, and the sum being beyond that in which the Bench could adjudicate, the summons was dismissed, the Mayor remarking that plaintiffs must go to the County Court.

13.   Surrey Mirror, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 7, 11 Jul 1891.

    CROYDON BOROUGH BENCH...
    WEDNESDAY...
    CONTRACTS AND WAGES. - Enoch Kempson was summoned by John Webb and Walter George Baker for wages, £1. - Prosecutor Webb said he had been working as a painted for defendant at 6d. per hour. He had been doing Norwood work at 7½d. per hour. On the date complained of Mr. Kempson sent him to paint a house, and to take a man with him; he was to paid for the work directly it was done, but defendant refused to carry out this arrangement unless prosecutor came to Croydon and did some other work. - Cross-examined: He agreed to do certain work for Mr. Kempson at a certain price, and that price was £14. He commenced that work and had drawn money on account. Prosecutor denied that the true reason why he undertook the Norwood work was to work off the difference between the amount he had already received and the work he had done. Although he had made an offer to this effect, it was not accepted. - The summons was dismissed, and the prosecutors were recommended to apply to the County Court.

14.   Surrey Comet, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 2, 18 Nov 1893.

    COUNTY COURT.-Nov. 10.
    [Before His Honour, JUDGE LUSHINGTON, Q.C.]
    AN EMPLOYER'S LIABILITY CASE. - Harlow v. Kempson.-This was a case brought under the Employers' Liability Act by Henry Harlow, a bricklayer, of 3, Miles'-cottage, Hampton Wick, who sought to recover £25 damages from the defendant, Enoch Kempson, a builder, of Glamorgan-road, Hampton Wick, for injuries received through the negligence of the defendant in improperly erecting certain scaffolding at a new building in Glamorgan-road, on June 7th last.-Mr. G.W. Lay, solicitor, appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Scarlett, barrister, instruced by Mr.B.J. Marsh, represented the defendant.-From the evidence of the plaintiff and his witnesses, it appeared that on June 7th plaintiff was engaged on the erection of a new house in Glamorgan-road. On returning from breakfast the bricklayers required a new scaffold to be erected, so that they could go on with their work at the back of the house. The regular scaffolder had gone home ill, and a nephew of the defendant put up the scaffold, and after the men had been working on it a short time the scaffold parted, and plaintiff fell a distance of 16 feet, defendant's nephew falling on the top of him. After the accident it was found that a putlog, which had been used to support the scaffold, had broken, and on examination it was discovered that the putlog was partly sawn through at the time it was used. Plaintiff said he was incapacitated by the accident for two months, and being nearly 60 years old, he could no longer obtain work at the same wages he formerly earned. He admitted that three months prior to the accident he had a fall of 35 feet owing to his own negligence, but he said he was only laid up for a fortnight as the result of that accident. Dr. Pudsey, who was called for teh plaintiff, said he was suffering from shock as the result of the accident, which was rendered more serious by the fact that plaintiff was subject to gout. Witness only attended plaintiff for nine days, but when discharged he was not fit to do a day's work.-Mrs. Harlow, wife of the plaintiff, said the defendant brought her husband home after the accident, and said he hoped they would not take any action in the case, and he would see to the plaintiff under he was able to go to work again.-The defence was that the scaffolding was erected at the request of the plaintiff by another workman who was an unauthorised scaffolder, and that the plaintiff ought to have gone to the defendant or his foreman. There was plenty of material on the works for the erection of proper scaffolding, and an experienced workman would never have used such a putlog as the one which gave way. Defendant also said that he was quite willing to have taken the plaintiff back, and to have paid him 9d. an hour. He admitted that he knew the scaffolder was gone home ill, and took no steps to supply his place. Defendant's foreman admitted that he knew the men were working at the back of the building, and that they would require a new scaffold very soon, but he never went to look after it because he expected to be called when they were ready for it. Defendant's nephew alleged that he was asked by the plaintiff to make the scaffold, and told him that he was no scaffolder, upon which plaintiff said he would help to make the scaffold, or else they would have to stop work. Plaintiff helped to fix the very piece of wood which afterwards broke, but neither of them noticed that it was partly sawn through. When the scaffold was finished the plaintiff tried it, and said "I think it will do."-Dr. Hardy examined the plaintiff, on behalf of the defence said the plaintiff was suffering from rheumatic gout, but he did not appear to be ill.-His Honour found that there was negligence on the part of the defendant, and also contributory negligence on the part of the plaintiff, and a verdict was given for defendant.