Person:Joseph Kempson (1)

Early life

Joseph Kempson was baptised on Christmas Day 1813 at Totternhoe in Bedfordshire. He was the seventh of thirteen children of Rebecca Kempson, formerly Turner, and her husband George Kempson, a straw dealer. The family appears to have stayed in Totternhoe throughout Joseph's childhood. In 1833, when Joseph was 20 years old, his mother Rebecca died, aged 52.

Joseph's father, George, remarried on 28th May 1835 to a Celia Jones, who was very similar in age to Joseph. George and Celia would go on to have six children, who were Joseph's half-siblings, but in age were contemporaries of his own children.

Young adulthood

Joseph married at Totternhoe on 28th July 1836, when he was 22 years old, to Mary Ann Hemmings, who was from the neighbouring village of Tilsworth. She was 16 years old when they married. Joseph and Mary initially settled in Tilsworth, where their first two children, Mary Ann and David, were baptised in 1837 and 1839.

By the time of the 1841 census they had left Tilsworth and moved to another nearby village, Billington. Joseph was described as an agricultural labourer in the 1841 census. They appear not to have stayed long in Billington, and by August 1842 were living in yet another nearby village, Stanbridge.

On 30th August 1842, Joseph was taken into custody, accused of stealing a quantity of unthreshed what and straw belonging to a William Pratt. Joseph was actually committed to jail by the vicar of Totternhoe, Reverend W.B. Wroth, who had officiated at Joseph's marriage six years earlier. Joseph was held at Bedford County Gaol until the Michaelmas Quarter Sessions at the end of September, when he was acquitted and released. His jail records tell us that he was about 5 feet 7.5 inches tall with grey eyes, light brown hair and a pale or sallow complexion, was stout and had a scar on his nose. He was able to read imperfectly, but could not write.

About four months after this acquittal, Joseph was committed to jail again - again by Reverend Wroth - this time accused of breaking into a granary belonging to a Thomas Stevens of Billington and stealing pears. This time he was found guilty, being sentenced at the Lent Assizes in March 1843 to twelve months' hard labour. He was sent to the New House of Correction in Bedford, where he was described as working the mill, which means he was in the stepping mill treadwheel. His conduct was described as orderly, and he was released on 9th March 1844.

Whilst Joseph was in jail, Mary had given birth to another son, George, who was born at Stanbridge in spring 1843. Mary had then died, aged just 24, being buried at Stanbridge on Christmas Eve 1843. What happened to the children between their mother's death and Joseph's release from jail over two months later is unclear - presumably it would have fallen to other family members to look after them.

Joseph was committed to jail again on 29th July 1844, this time accused of sheep stealing. He spent a couple of months in jail, only to be acquitted at the Michaelmas sessions and released.

Second marriage

Joseph moved a few miles north of the Totternhoe and Stanbridge area after this, to the large village of Toddington. There he married Sarah Neal, formerly Gobby, on 5th June 1845. When they married he was 31 and she 34. She had also been married before, but her first husband, William Neal, had been found guilty of sheep stealing in 1837 and transported to Australia. Indeed, William Neal may well have still been alive when Sarah and Joseph married in 1845, but as over seven years had passed since his transportation she may have been able to legally declare him dead, allowing her to remarry.

Sarah had two children from her marriage to William Neal. She had also had two children between William Neal's transportation and her marriage to Joseph Kempson, although one of those had died as a baby. The other, Elizabeth, took her stepfather's name for some purposes, appearing as Elizabeth Kempson in both the 1861 and 1871 censuses, yet Joseph Kempson cannot have actually been her father given that he was in jail when she was conceived.

Less than a year after marrying Sarah, on 9th January 1846, Joseph was again committed to jail, again charged with sheep stealing. This must have been highly concerning to Sarah - she had already lost one husband to Australia for sheep stealing. Joseph was held until the Lent Assizes, but the charges against him were dropped and he was released.

Just over nine months after Joseph's release from jail, Sarah had a son, James. James was born at a hamlet called Puddle Hill (also known as Chalk Hill) in the parish of Houghton Regis, but on the Roman Watling Street close to the edge of the ancient market town of Dunstable. James was actually baptised in Dunstable, at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel.

Joseph and Sarah had two more children together: Rebecca in 1850 and Eliza in 1852, giving Joseph a total of six children, three from his marriage to Mary Hemmings and three from his marriage to Sarah Gobby. Rebecca was born in Totternhoe, which is also where the family was living in the 1851 census, with Joseph described as an agricultural labourer again.

In 1852, Joseph was back before the courts, this time charged with maliciously wounding a man named David Birdsey with a pair of tongs at Leighton Buzzard. He was held in custody for nine days in October 1852, but was acquitted and released. This was about the same time that his youngest daughter, Eliza, was born. She gave her birthplace as Dunstable, and the family appears to have stayed in Dunstable for a few years, appearing there in the 1861 census living in Church Street. Joseph was then working as an agricultural labourer, whilst Sarah and three of the four children living with them were all straw plaiters.

Through the 1860s, Joseph was convicted on three separate occasions (1864, 1868 and 1869) for stealing turnip tops, each time spending either 14 days or a month in Bedford Jail. His son James was convicted alongside him in both 1864 and 1868 - they'd clearly been working together. At the court case in 1868, Joseph claimed he was "driven to it by want." At some point during the 1860s the family left Dunstable and moved to the neighbouring town of Luton, where Joseph's son James was married in 1867.

Luton

The 1871 census finds Joseph working as a "straw drawer" and living with his son James and James's wife Sarah at 5 Park Lane in the heart of Luton town centre, just off the staggered crossroads of Market Hill / Park Square which form the ancient centre of the town. Joseph's wife Sarah was still alive, but was not at home on census night - she was living in the Luton Union Workhouse on Dunstable Road. She died there two and a half years later on 17th November 1873, aged 62.

Two and a half years later, Joseph married for a third time, aged 62. His third wife was Jane Haydon, who was about 53 and had not been married before. They married on 17th April 1876 at the parish church of St Mary's in Luton, and the marriage was announced in the Births, Marriages and Deaths column of the Luton Times and Advertiser - presumably someone must have paid for the announcement to be made.

Joseph and Jane were married for four and a half years. Jane died on 11th October 1880 in the Luton Union Workhouse, aged 57. Joseph outlived her by less than a month - he was buried on 11th November 1880 in Luton. He was 66.

1. ↑ Baptisms register, in Church of England. Totternhoe Parish Registers, 1559-1966. (Bedford: Bedfordshire Record Office).

   BAPTISMS solemnized in the Parish of Totternhoe in the County of Bedford in the Year 1813
   No. 6
   When Baptized: 1813 Dec[embe]r 25
   Child's Christian Name: Joseph son of
   Parents Name - Christian: George & Rebecca
   Parents Name - Surname: Kempson
   Abode: Totternhoe
   Quality, Trade or Profession: Labourer
   By whom the Ceremony was performed: Rich[ar]d Boodle, Vicar

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 22; Folio 5; Page 5, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Great Billington East Side, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire
   Joseph Kempston, male, 20 [1816-21], Ag Labourer, born in county
   Mary Kempston, female, 20 [1816-21], born in county
   Mary Ann Kempston, female, 4 [1836/7], born in county
   David Kempston, male, 1 [1839/40], 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 12; Page 17, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: Totternhoe, Bedfordshire
   Joseph Kempson, head, married, male, 35 [1815/6], Ag[ricultural] Lab[ourer], b. Totternhoe, Bedfordshire
   Sarah Kempson, wife, married, female, 41 [1809/10], Straw Plaiter, b. Wobourn [sic], Bedfordshire
   David Kempson, son, male, 11 [1839/40], Straw Plaiter, b. Stanbridge, Bedfordshire
   George Kempson, son, male, 8 [1842/3], Straw Plaiter, b. Stanbridge, Bedfordshire
   Elizabeth Kempson, daughter, female, 7 [1843/4], Straw Plaiter, b. Toddington, Bedfordshire
   James Kempson, son, male, 4 [1846/7], Scholar, b. Puddle Hill, Bedfordshire
   Rebecca Kempson, daughter, female, 1 [1849/50], 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 48; Page 3, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: Church Street, Dunstable, Bedfordshire
   Joseph Kempson, head, married, male, 44 [1816/7], Ag[ricultural] Labourer, b. Totternhoe, Bedfordshire
   Sarah Kempson, wife, married, female, 51 [1809/10], Straw Plaiter, b. Wobourn [sic], Bedfordshire
   Rebbecca Kempson, daughter, unmarried, female, 18 [1842/3], Straw Plaiter, b. Toddington, Bedfordshire
   Elizabeth Kempson, daughter, unmarried, female, 17 [1843/4], Straw Plaiter, b. Dunstable, Bedfordshire
   James Kempson, son, unmarried, male, 14 [1846/7], Straw Plaiter, b. Dunstable, Bedfordshire
   Eliza Kempson, daughter, unmarried, female, 8 [1852/3], b. Dunstable, Bedfordshire

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 1572; Folio 29; Page 8, 2 Apr 1871.

   Address: 5 Park Lane, Luton, Bedfordshire
   James Kempson, head, married, male, 24 [1846/7], Bricklayers Laborer, b. Chalk Hill, Bedfordshire
   Sarah Kempson, wife, married, female, 24 [1846/7], Straw Bonnet Sewer, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Joseph Kempson, lodger, married, male, 55 [1815/6], Straw Drawer, b. Totternhoe, Bedfordshire
   Eliza Kempson, daughter, unmarried, female, 18 [1852/3], Straw Bonnet Sewer, b. Totternhoe, Bedfordshire

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

   d. Joseph KEMPSON, December Quarter 1880, Luton Registration District, Vol. 3b, page 284, aged 62 [1817/8]

7. ↑ Burials in Luton 1813-1904, in Bedfordshire Family History Society. Luton Parish Register Transcript. (Bedford).

   Name: Joseph KEMPSON
   Abode: Luton
   Buried: 11 Nov 1880
   Aged: 62 [1817/8]

8.   Bedfordshire Mercury, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
   Page 8, 16 May 1868.

   LUTON.
   PETTY SESSIONS, Monday, May 4.
   Present: Col. Ames, chairman, and the Rev. H.B. Smyth
   STEALING TURNIP TOPS, &c.-Joseph Kempson and James Kempson, father and son, of Totternhoe, were convicted of stealing turnip tops from Henry Scarborough, farmer, of Luton. The elder prisoner said that he was driven to it by want; and there were two previous convictions against him. Each committed for 14 days for this offence. The younger prisoner then pleaded guilty to assaulting the police officials, Daniels and Kitchener, on their going to apprehend him, and for this offence he was committed for a further period of 21 days.

9.   Bedford Gaol Register, 31 Aug 1842, accessed 30 May 2012
   Name: Joseph Kempster
   ID in reference doc: 1205
   Age: 23
   Gender: Male
   Height: 5' 7.5"
   Hair colour: Brown
   Eye colour: Grey
   Complexion: Fair
   Education: Read imperfectly
   Birthplace: Totternhoe, Bedfordshire
   Residence: Stanbridge, Bedfordshire
   Offence: Stealing wheat and straw
   Committed by: Rev. W.B. Wroth
   Comments on commital: Received 30th Aug fully committed 31st August 1842
   Trial session: Michaelmas 1842
   Trial verdict: Acquitted
   Type of Gaol: Bedford County Gaol
10.   Hertford Mercury and Reformer, Saturday 22nd October 1842
    BEDFORDSHIRE QUARTER SESSIONS
    Joseph Kempson, of Totternhoe, was acquitted of the charge of stealing a quantity of unthreshed wheat and straw, the property of William Pratt.
11.   Bedford Gaol Register, 3 Feb 1843, accessed 30 May 2012
    Name: Joseph Kempson
    ID in reference doc: 1338
    Age: 25
    Gender: Male
    Height: 5' 7.5"
    Hair colour: Brown
    Eye colour: Grey
    Complexion: Pale
    Education: Neither
    Birthplace: Totternhoe, Bedfordshire
    Residence: Stanbridge, Bedfordshire
    Offence: Stealing pears
    Committed by: Rev. W.B. Wroth
    When committed: 3 Feb 1843
    Trial type: Lent Assizes 1843
    Type of Gaol: Bedford County Gaol
    Sentence: 1 Year Hard Labour
    General remarks on prisoner: Orderly
12.   Northampton Mercury, Saturday 25th March 1843
    BEDFORDSHIRE LENT ASSIZES
    CROWN COURT. - WEDNESDAY.
    Before Sir J.T. Coleridge...
    DAVID JOHNSON, 16, and JOSEPH KEMPSON, 25, laborers,
    were convicted of having broken into a granary within the curtilage
    of the dwelling-house of Thomas Stevens, and stolen
    therefrom a quantity of pears, the property of Thomas Stevens,
    at Billington, and sentenced to be Imprisoned for Twelve
    Months each, and kept to Hard Labor...
13.   Bedford Gaol Register, 11 Mar 1843, accessed 30 May 2012
    Name: Joseph Kempson
    ID in reference doc: 5902
    Age: 25
    Gender: Male
    Height: 5' 7.25"
    Hair colour: Light brown
    Complexion: Sallow
    Identifying features: Stout, scar on the nose
    Occupation: Labourer
    Marital status: Married
    Residence: Billington, Bedfordshire
    Offence: Felony
    Committed by: Court of Assizes
    When committed: 11 Mar 1843
    Type of Gaol: Bedford, New House of Correction
    Sentence: 1 Year Hard Labour
    Prison work: Mill
    Discharge date: 9 Mar 1844
    General remarks on prisoner: Orderly
14.   Bedford Gaol Register, 29 Jul 1844, accessed 30 May 2012
    Name: Joseph Kempson
    ID in reference doc: 1766
    Age: 25
    Gender: Male
    Education: Read
    Offence: Sheep stealing
    Committed by: W.L. Sonash Esquire
    When committed: 29 Jul 1844
    Trial session: Michaelmas 1844
    Trial verdict: Acquitted
    Type of Gaol: Bedford County Gaol
    General remarks on prisoner: Orderly
15.   Bedford Gaol Register, 9 Jan 1846, accessed 30 May 2012
    Name: Joseph Kempton
    ID in reference doc: 2097
    Age: 28
    Gender: Male
    Education: Read
    Offence: Sheep stealing
    Committed by: W.D.C. Cooper Esquire
    When committed: 9 Jan 1846
    Trial type: Lent Assized 1846
    Trial verdict: Bill ignored
    Type of Gaol: Bedford County Gaol
    General remarks on prisoner: Orderly
16.   Bedford Gaol Register, 20 Oct 1852, accessed 30 May 2012
    Name: Joseph Kempster
    ID in reference doc: 2008
    Gender: Male
    Offence: On 28th August 1852 at Leighton Buzzard with a pair of tongs unlawfully and maliciously wounding David Birdsey
    Committed by: Surrendered in Court
    When committed: 20 Oct 1852
    Trial / conviction date: 19 Oct 1852
    Trial session: County Sessions
    Trial verdict: Acquitted
    Type of Gaol: Bedford County Gaol
17.   Bedford Gaol Register, 20 Oct 1852, accessed 30 May 2012
    Name: Joseph Kempster
    ID in reference doc: 2008
    Gender: Male
    Offence: Maliciously wounding
    Committed by: Surrendered in Court
    Comments on commital: Beds Sessions 19 Oct 1852
    When committed: 20 Oct 1852
    Type of Gaol: Bedford County Gaol
    Sentence: Acquitted
    Discharge date: 29 Oct 1852
18.   Bedford Gaol Register, 12 Apr 1864, accessed 30 May 2012
    Name: Joseph Kempstone
    ID in reference doc: 7652
    Age: 33
    Gender: Male
    Offence: Stealing Turnip Tops
    Committed by: Levi Ames Esquire, J.S. Crawley Esq
    When committed: 12 Apr 1864
    Trial type: Summarily convicted
    Type of Gaol: Bedford County Gaol
    Sentence: 1 Calendar month hard labour
    Previous conviction details: No
    Discharge date: 11 May 1864
19.   Bedford Gaol Register, 5 May 1868, accessed 30 May 2012
    Name: Joseph Kempson
    ID in reference doc: 9851
    Age: 40
    Gender: Male
    Offence: Stealing turnips (growing crops)
    Committed by: L. Ames Esq. Rev H.B. Smyth
    When committed: 5 May 1868
    Trial type: Summarily convicted
    Type of Gaol: Bedford County Gaol
    Sentence: 14 days hard labour
    No. of previous convictions: 5
    Previous conviction details: Vide 6629, 7418, 7653, 8132 & 8422
    Discharge date: 17 May 1868
20.   Bedford Gaol Register, 30 Mar 1869, accessed 30 May 2012
    Name: Joseph Kempston
    ID in reference doc: 10622
    Age: 42
    Gender: Male
    Offence: Stealing turnip tops (growing crops)
    Committed by: Levi Ames Esquire; F.W. Sullivan Esq
    When committed: 30 Mar 1869
    Trial type: Summarily convicted
    Type of Gaol: Bedford County Gaol
    Sentence: 1 Calendar month hard labourer
    No. of previous convictions: 2
    Previous conviction details: 7652, 9851
    Discharge date: 29 Apr 1869