James Abraham Kemp (1831-1902) is #30 on my Ahnentafel List, and is my 2nd great-grandfather. He married #31 Mary Jane Sovereen (1840-1874) in 1861.
I am descended through:
* their daughter, #15, Georgianna Kemp (1868-1952), who married #14 Charles Auble (1849-1916) in 1898.
* their daughter, #7 Emily Kemp Auble (1899-1977), who married #6 Lyle Lawrence Carringer (1891-1976) in 1918.
* their daughter, #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002), who married #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983) in 1942.
* their son, #1 Randall J. Seaver (1943-....)
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1) PERSON (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
* Birth Name: James Abraham Kemp [1, 14]
* Sex: Male
* Father: Abraham James Kemp (1795-after 1881)
* Mother: Sarah Fletcher (1802-before 1850)
* Alternate Name: Abram Kemp [2–3]
* Alternate Name: James Kemp [4–5]
* Alternate Name: James Abram Kemp
* Alternate Name: James A. Kemp [6–8, 10–12]
2) INDIVIDUAL FACTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
* Birth: 22 May 1831, Hillier, Prince Edward, Ontario, Canada [2]
* Census: 1 April 1851 (age 19), Ameliasburg, Prince Edward, Ontario, Canada [3]
* Census: 1 April 1861 (age 29), Middleton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada [4]
* Census: 1 April 1871 (age 39), Windham, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada [5]
* Census: 1 April 1881 (age 49), Middleton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada [6]
* Census: 1 April 1891 (age 59), Middleton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada [7]
* Census: 1 April 1901 (age 69), Delhi, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada [8]
* Death: 19 September 1902 (age 71), of heart failure; Delhi, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada [9-10]
* Burial: after 19 September 1902 (after age 71), Delhi Cemetery, Delhi, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
* Probate: 11 December 1902 (age 71), will proved and executor appointed under oath; Norfolk, Ontario, Canada [11]
3) MARRIAGES AND CHILDREN (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
* Spouse 1: Mary Jane Sovereen (1840-1874)
* Marriage: 10 March 1861 (age 29), Middleton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada [12–13]
* Child 1: Sarah Elizabeth Kemp (1862-1946)
* Child 2: Seymour Kemp (1864-1877)
* Child 3: Melvina Marylis "Minnie" Kemp (1866-1929)
* Child 4: Georgianna Kemp (1868-1952)
* Child 5: James Alexander Kemp (1872-1934)
* Spouse 2: Melissa Wilson (1840-1902)
* Marriage: 16 November 1876 (age 45), Bell Ewart Innisfil, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada [1, 14]
* Child 6: Alfred Francis Edward Kemp (1880-1953)
4) NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets) (Revised 26 June 2025):
James Abraham Kemp was born 22 May 1831 in Hillier, Prince Edward County, Upper Canada, the son of Abraham James and Sarah (Fletcher) Kemp. The typescript of the contents of the John Evans Kemp Family Bible has the birth records for the children of Abraham James Kemp and Sarah (Fletcher) Kemp.[2] The birth of "Ab'm J. Kemp" was recorded as 22 May 1831. The family resided in Hillier, Prince Edward County, Canada West in that time period.
He was their 5th child (of 11 children) and third son. His siblings were: Waity Catherine Kemp (1820-1899), Mary Ann Kemp (1823-1903), Stephen J. Kemp (1826-????), William Henry Kemp (1829-1886), John L. Kemp (1834-1920), Peter Evans Kemp (1837-921), Andrew Hait Kemp (1840-1915), Sarah Jane Kemp (1843-1891), Charles W. Kemp (1845-1851) and Wesley Kemp (1847-1891).
James’s mother probably died soon after the birth of Wesley, since his father married again to Sephrona (Goddard) Sheltraw before 1851.
In the 1851 Canada Census for Canada West (Ontario), the Abram Kemp family resided in Ameliasburg, Prince Edward County, Canada West.[3] The household included:
- Abram Kemp - a farmer, born in U.S., W. Methodist, age 55, male.
- Sephrona Kemp - spinster, born in France, Catholic, age 44, female
- Abram Kemp Jr. - labourer, born in Canada, W. Methodist, age 21, male.
- John Kemp - labourer, born in Canada, W. Methodist, age 17, male.
- Peter E. Kemp - labourer, born in Canada, W. Methodist, age 14, male.
- Wesley Kemp - born in Canada, W. Methodist, age 4, male.
The
Hagan Papers (by Ida Hagan: Part 1, pg. 188) for Fredericksburg,
Norfolk County (now Delhi) notes that James A. Kemp, Fred., settled
1855, born Canada, P.O. Box Delhi, farmer, carpenter, & joiner.
In
the 1861 Canada Census for Canada West, James Kemp resided in
Middleton township, Norfolk County, Upper Canada.[4] He
was age 28, born in Upper Canada, a carpenter, and single.
The
Marriage Register for Norfolk County (1839-1869, book, pg.
302)[12-13] notes that James A. Kemp, age 27, residence
Delhi, born Canada, son of Abram James and Sarah, married to M.J.
Sovereen, age 21, residence and birthplace Delhi, daughter of
Alexander and Eliza Sovereen, on March 10, 1861, by G. Brown;
witness: Ridley Teeple.
Mary
Jane Sovereen was born 29 December 1840 in Windham, Norfolk county,
Upper Canada, the daughter of Alexander and Eliza (Putman) Sovereen.
James
Abraham Kemp and Mary Jane Sovereen had the following children:
- Sarah Elizabeth Kemp, born June 1862, Middleton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; married Andrew John Cropp, 14 August 1889, Delhi, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; died 3 February 1946, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States.
- Seymour Kemp was born about 1864 in Middleton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada. He appeared in the census on 1 April 1871 in Windham, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada. He died in 1877 at the age of 13 in probably Delhi, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada.
- Melvina Marylis "Minnie" Kemp, born 28 November 1866, Middleton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; married James Henry Trembley, 23 September 1885, St. Thomas, Elgin, Ontario, Canada; died 23 December 1929, Welland, Ontario, Canada.
- Georgianna "Georgia" Kemp, born 4 August 1868, Middleton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; married Charles Auble, 19 June 1898, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States; died 8 November 1952, San Diego, San Diego, California, United States.
- James Alexander Kemp, born 12 July 1872, Middleton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; married Bertha Anice Fuller, 26 August 1892; died 12 September 1934, Los Angeles, California, United States.
The
1867 County of Norfolk Directory lists James Kemp, carpenter, Windham
Township., Concession 11, Lot 21.
The
1870/1 Lovell's Directory for Ontario lists James Kemp in
Fredericksburg, Middleton Township., Norfolk County, as an
Innkeeper.
Norfolk
County Legal Papers, observed at the Eva Brook Donly Library, Simcoe,
Ontario (by Cheryl Kemp Taber), include:
- A deed dated 20 April 1871 of Alexander Sovereen to James A. Kemp for land in Fredericksburg (page 336).
- A deed dated 26 April 1871 of James A. Kemp to Anson Owen for land in Fredericksburg (page 4).
- A Writ of Ejectment dated 22 August 1871 of James Kemp vs Thomas Haley, from property called Kemp's Hotel, Fredericksburg (page 98)
- A deed, dated 17 April 1874 to James A. Kemp, in Windham Township (page 444).
In
the 1871 Census Records for Norfolk County, Ontario, The James Kemp
household resided in Windham Township.[5] It
included:
- James Kemp, Age 40, born Ontario, Religion Wesleyan Methodist,
Origin English, Carpenter;
- Mary Kemp, Age 30, born Ontario, Religion Baptist, Origin
German;
- Sarah Kemp, Age 9, born Ontario, Baptist;
- Seymour Kemp, Age 7, born Ontario, Baptist;
- Melvina Kemp, Age 5, born Ontario, Baptist;
- Georgianna Kemp, Age 2, born Ontario, Baptist.
James
Kemp was listed as an Innkeeper in the 1872 birth register of his
son, James Alexander Kemp.
Mary
Jane (Sovereen) Kemp died on 20 May 1874 in Middleton Township,
Norfolk County, Ontario, leaving James with five children between the
ages of two and 12 to support and raise.
James Abraham Kemp and Melissa Wilson were married on 16 November 1876 in Bell Ewart Innisfil, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.[14] The record provides this information:
- James Abraham Kemp, age 42, residence Norfolk County, Canada, born Canada, widower, Builder, parents Abraham & Sarah Kemp, to
- Melissa Wilson, age 35, residence Bell Ewart Innisfil, born Canada, spinster, parents Alfred & Martha Wilson,
- Witnesses: ---Wilson & ---Law of Bell Ewart Innisfil,
- On 16 November 1876 at Bride's residence, groom Methodist, bride Baptist, married by Rev. Wm. McConnell by License.
Melissa Wilson was the daughter of Alfred Wilson and Martha Pollock, and was born on 22 May 1840 in Barrie, Simcoe, Upper Canada. She died on 28 September 1902 at the age of 62 in Delhi, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada. She was buried after 28 September 1902 in Delhi, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada.
James
Abraham Kemp and Melissa Wilson had one child:
- Alfred Francis Edward Kemp, born 27 February 1880, Middleton, Norfolk,
Ontario, Canada; married Ellen Elliott, 23 October 1909, Los Angeles,
California, United States; died 25 November 1953, Los Angeles, California,
United States.
The
1878 Historical
Atlas Haldimand and Norfolk Counties, Ontario notes
the entry, in Fredericksburg Village (Delhi), James A. Kemp, settled
1855, born Canada, farmer, carpenter & joiner.
Per
the birth registration of his son, Alfred Francis Kemp, James A. Kemp
is listed as a mechanic and was living in Delhi, in February of 1880.
In
the 1881 Census for Norfolk County North, Ontario, the James A. Kemp
household resided in Middleton township,[6] and included:
- James A. Kemp, Age 49, born Ontario, Religion Wesleyan Methodist, Origin English, Carpenter;
- Melissa Kemp, Age 35, born Ontario, Religion Wesleyan Methodist, Origin Irish;
- James Kemp, Age 8, born Ontario;
- Georgianna Kemp, Age 12, born Ontario;
- Alfred Kemp, Age 1, born Ontario.
The
1891 Farmer's Directory for Norfolk County shows James Kemp residing
in Middleton township, in Delhi, freeholder, Concession D, Lot 2.
In
the 1891 Census for Norfolk County, Ontario, James A. Kemp's
household included[7]:
- James A. Kemp, Age 58, born Ontario, Father born Ontario,
Mother born U.S., Religion Methodist, Carpenter;
- Melissa Kemp, Age 45, born Ontario, Father born N.S., Mother
born Scotland, Religion Baptist;
- Frank Kemp, Age 11, born Ontario.
In
the 1901 Census for Norfolk County South, Ontario, James A Kemp
resided in Delhi Village on residence Lot 19 Block 19, 1/4
acre.[8] The household included:
- James A. Kemp, born 22 May 1831, age 69, born Ontario, Origin
English, Religion Baptist, Farmer;
- Melissa Kemp, born 22 May 1844 [sic], age 56, born Ontario,
Origin French, Religion Methodist;
- A.E. Franklin Kemp, born 20 Feb. 1870, age 21, born Ontario,
Origin English, Religion Methodist, Farmer.
The
extraction of the death record of James A. Kemp, who died 19
September 1902,[9-10] includes:
- Name of Deceased: Kemp James A.
- Sex -- M or F: M
- Date of Death: Sept 19 1902
- Age: 70
- Residence: Delhi
- Occupation: Farmer
- Married or Single: M*
- Where Born: Prince Edward Co
- Cause of Death, Length of Illness: Acute Indigestion &
Heart Failure, 10 hours
- Name of Physician in Attendance: R. Bruce Wells.
- Religious Denomination: Bapt
- Name of Person Making Return: Frank Kemp
- Date of Registration: Sept 19 1902
James
Abram Kemp is buried in Delhi Cemetery in Delhi, Norfolk County,
Ontario.
James
A. Kemp of Delhi, carpenter, died testate, having written a will
dated May 25 1902.[11] The will and other probate
papers for the estate of James A. Kemp were filed in the Norfolk
County, Ontario, Surrogates Court. The transcription of the
will and other probate papers for James A. Kemp is:
"This
is the last will and testament of me James A Kemp of the village of
Delhi in the County of Norfolk and Province of Ontario cause this
twenty fifth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand nine
hundred and two, I revoke all forms, wills or other testamentary
dispositions by me at any time heretofore made, and declare this only
to be and contains my last will and testament; I direct all my
just debts funeral and testamentary expenses to be paid and satisfied
by my Executors hereinafter named as soon as conveniently may be
after my decease.
"I
give, devise and bequeath all my real and personal estate of which I
may be possessed in the manner following, that is to say, to my
daughters Sarah Elizabeth, Minnie and Georgianna and to my son James
Alexander I bequeath to each five dollars, and the remainder I
bequeath to my son Ernest Frank provided he maintains his mother
comfortable while she remains my widow. All the residue of my
estate not herein before disposed of, I give devise and bequeath unto
And I nominate and appoint my son Ernest Frank Kemp to be Executor of
this my last will and testament.
"In
witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day and year first
above written.
James
A. Kemp"
"Signed
published and declared by the said James A Kemp the testator as and
for his last will and testament in the in the presence of us who both
present together at the same time in the presence at his request and
in the presence of each other and hereunto subscribed our names
as witnesses,
"
? ? Boughis
James A Kemp"
"
J. P Wilson"
James
A Kemp deceased
Canada
Province
of Ontario
In
His Majesty's Surrogate Court of the County of Norfolk, Be it known
that on the eleventh day of December in the year of our Lord one
thousand nine hundred and two, the last will and testament of James A
Kemp late of the village of Delhi in the County of Norfolk and
Province of Ontario Carpenter, deceased, who died on or about the
nineteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand nine
hundred and two at the village of Delhi in the County of Norfolk and
who at the time of his death had a fixed place of abode at the said
village of Delhi in the said County of Norfolk was proved and
registered in the said Surrogate Court a true copy to publish said
last will and testament is hereunder written and that the
administration of all and singular the property of the said deceased
and any way concerning his will was granted by the aforesaid Court to
Alfred Edward Franklin Kemp (Executor in said will as Ernest
Frank Kemp) of the village of Delhi in the County of Norfolk,
labourer, the sole Executor named in the said will, be the said
Alfred Edward Franklin Kemp having been first sworn well and
faithfully to administer the same by paying the just debts of the
deceased and the legacies contained in his will so far as he is
hereunto bound by law and by distributing the residue (if any) of the
property according to law and to exhibit under oath a true and
perfect inventory of all and singular the said property and to render
a just and true account of his Executorship whereas, thereunto
lawfully required.
???????? ???????
Registrar of the Surrogate Court
of the said County of Norfolk."
5) SOURCES
1. Ontario, Canada Marriages, 1801-1928, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), Simcoe County, Ontario, Division of Innisfil, Page 670, Registration No. 10111, Melissa Wilson and James A. Kemp, 1876.
2. Unknown, John Evans Kemp Family Bible transcript (Transcript at Huntington Beach CA Public Library).
3. Census of Canada, 1851, Prince Edward County, Ontario, A, District 32, Prince Edward County, Subdistrict 304, Ameliasburgh township, Page 42 (penned), Lines 14 to 19, Abram Kemp household; digital image, Library and Archives Canada (http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1851/index-e.html : accessed 10 March 2013); Library and Archives Canada Microfilm C-11750.
4. Census of Canada, 1861, Norfolk County, Ontario, District 253, Middleton Township., Page 57, line 10, James Kemp; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com), citing Library and Archives Canada Microfilm C-1052.
5. Census of Canada, 1871, Norfolk County, Ontario, Schedule #1, district 12, North Norfolk, subdistrict b, Township of Windham, Page 50, Dwelling 178, Family #182, James A. Kemp household; digital image, Library and Archives Canada (http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1871/index-e.html : accessed 10 March 2013); citing Library and Archives Canada Microfilm C-9909.
6. Census of Canada, 1881, Norfolk County, Ontario, Schedule #1, district 158, Norfolk North, subdistrict A, township of Middleton, page 6, Dwelling #33, Family #33, James A. Kemp household; digital image, Library and Archives Canada (http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1881/index-e.html : accessed 5 March 2013); citing Library and Archives Canada Microfilm C-13263.
7. Census of Canada, 1891, Norfolk County, Ontario, Schedule No. 1, District 96, North Norfolk, Subdistrict Township of Middleton, Division No. 3, Page 26, Family #137, James A. Kemp household; digital image, Library and Archives Canada (http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1891/index-e.html : accessed 10 March 2013), citing Library and Archives Canada microfilm T-6355.
8. Census of Canada, 1901, Norfolk County, Ontario, Schedule No. 1, District #93, Norfolk North, Subdistrict A, Delhi Village, Page 14, Dwelling #169, Family #163, James A. Kemp household; digital image, Library and Archives Canada (http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1901/index-e.html), citing Library and Archives Canada Microfilm T-6484.
10. "Ontario Deaths, 1869-1937 and Overseas Deaths, 1939-1947," online database, FamilySearch (http:// www.familysearch.org), citing Archives of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 1902, Volume 7, page 162, No. 01-332, James A. Kemp death entry.
11. Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, Probate Records, ca 1839-1931; Indexes, 1842-1967, Surrogate's Register, Book L, 1899-1903: pages 584-585, James A. Kemp will and court records; on FHL Microfilm US/CAN 522,633 (accessed 5 February 2014).
12. Ontario, Canada Marriages, 1801-1928, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), James A. Kemp and M. J. Soverein marriage entry.
13. Cheryl Kemp Taber, "Kemps and Kin," online database, Rootsweb WorldConnect Project, citing R.G.B. Norfolk County Marriage Records, Book 1839-1869, page 302, James A. Kemp and M. J. Sovereen marriage entry..
14. Cheryl Kemp Taber, "Kemps and Kin," online database, Rootsweb WorldConnect Project, citing R.G. 80-5 registration #10111, James A. Kemp and Melissa Wilson marriage entry.
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Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver
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