Person:James Kempson (3)

James Kempson was baptised on 30th May 1808 at Totternhoe in Bedfordshire, son of Rebecca Kempson, formerly Turnham, and her husband George Kempson.

On 12th November 1830 James married Charlotte Sharp in the nearby village of Kensworth, where she was from. They initially lived at Totternhoe after their marriage, having four children there through the 1830s and early 1840s. James's mother died in 1833.

The 1841 census finds James, Charlotte and their children living in Totternhoe at a place called "Pyhte", with James working as a straw factor.

In the early 1840s the family moved to Kensworth. In 1846 James was prosecuted for stealing wood and was held at Bedford Gaol for a few weeks awaiting trial, where he was acquitted. His gaol records tell us that he was five feet eight inches tall, with light hair, grey eyes and a round head, and that he could neither read nor write.

The 1851 and 1861 censuses each find James, Charlotte and their children living in Kensworth, with James working as a straw dealer.

James's father died in 1853, after which James's brother William took over their father's old cottage at Totternhoe. In 1859, William was served with notice to quit the cottage by the landlord. In an attempt not to lose the tenancy completely, William moved his possessions out of the house but then got James to move his things in. On discovering that one Kempson had gone but another come, the landlord broke down the door and threw James and his possessions out onto the street. James was forced to return to Kensworth. A series of court cases followed between 1860 and 1864, all of which found in favour of the landlord and against the Kempsons, who were described as "obstinate brothers".^[9]

James died in 1866, being buried at Kensworth on 2nd August 1866. He was 58 years old. Charlotte survived him by about 29 years, and remarried in 1870.

1. ↑ Church of England. Parish Church of Totternhoe. Parish register transcripts, 1559-1812.

   ch. 30 May 1808: Ja[me]s s[on of] Geo[rge] & Reb[ecca] Kemson

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 4; Page 2, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Pyhte[perhaps variation on Pightle? - listed between Doo Little Mill and Church End], Totternhoe, Bedfordshire
   James Kempson, male, 30 [1806-11], Straw factor, born in county
   Charlotte Kempson, female, 30 [1806-11], not born in county
   Thomas Kempson, male, 10 [1830/1], born in county
   David Kempson, male, 7 [1833/4], born in county
   Rebecca Kempson, female, 3 [1837/8], born in county
   Elizabeth Kempson, female, 6 months [?] [1840/1], 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 1757; Folio 266; Page 11, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: Kensworth Village, Kensworth, Hertfordshire
   James Kemston, head, married, male, 43 [1807/8], Straw Dealer, b. Totternhoe, Bedfordshire
   Charlott Kemston, wife, married, female, 39 [1811/12], b. Kensworth, Hertfordshire
   David Kemston, son, unmarried, male, 17 [1833/4], Straw Dealer, b. Totternhoe, Bedfordshire
   Rebecca Kemston, daughter, female, 13 [1837/8], Straw Platter, b. Totternhoe, Bedfordshire
   Betsey Kemston, daughter, female, 10 [1840/1], Straw Platter, b. Totternhoe, 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 1011; Folio 120; Page 8, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: North side, Kensworth Road, Kensworth, Hertfordshire
   James Kempson, head, married, male, 50 [1810/11], Straw Dealer, b. Totternhoe, Bedfordshire
   Charlotte Kempson, wife, married, female, 49 [1811/12], Straw Plaitter, b. Kensworth, Hertfordshire
   Rebecca Hawkins, daughter, widow, female, 23 [1837/8], Straw Plaitter, b. Totternhoe, Bedfordshire
   Lizzy Hawkins, granddaughter, female, 8mo [1860], b. Kensworth, Hertfordshire

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

   d. James KEMPSON, September Quarter 1866, Luton Registration District, Volume 3b, page 230, aged 55 [1810/11]

6. ↑ Burials register, in Church of England. Kensworth Parish Registers, 1615-1983. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies).

   BURIALS in the Parish of Kensworth in the County of Hertford in the Year 1866
   No.	Name	Abode	When buried	Age	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   699	James Kempson	Kensworth	2 August 1866	55 years [1810/11]	Henry Windsor, Vicar

7.   Bedfordshire Record Office. Bedfordshire Gaol Register. (Bedford)
   BLARS QGV10/2 Record 8021.

   Name: James Kempson
   Age: 35
   Height: 5 feet 8 inches
   Hair colour: Light
   Eye colour: Grey
   Identifying features: Round head
   Education: Neither
   Birth Town: Totternhoe, Bedfordshire
   Residence: Kensworth, Bedfordshire
   Offence: Stealing Wood
   Committed: 9 May 1846
   Trial Session: Midsummer 1846
   Verdict: Acquitted
   Gaol: Bedford County Gaol
   General Remarks on Prisoner: Orderly

8.   Dunstable Chronicle, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
   Page 4, 3 Mar 1860.

   Luton County Court, Feb. 28.
   Before J.H. KOE, Esq., Q.C., Judge.
   The cause list was unusually heavy, the hearing of which occupied the Court until half-past seven. The Court was crowded the whole day. Although not of much general interest, we subjoin several of the cases...
   JAMES KEMPSON v. BENJAMIN JANES, and THOS. and JOHN TURVEY, all of Totternhoe.-This was an actio to recover the sum of £10, for unlawfully distraining upon goods and assaulting plaintiff - Mr Simpson appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. Day for defendants. - Verdict for defenants.

9. ↑ Other articles relating to this litigation can be found on William Kempson's page.