Samuel (Kempe) Kemp (abt. 1637 - 1697)

Born about 1637 in Essex, Massachusetts Bay [uncertain]

Husband of Sarah (Foster) Kemp — married 23 May 1662 in Billerica, Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 1697 at about age 60 in Charlestown, Suffolk County, Massachusetts

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Andrew Kemp [send private message], John Putnam [send private message], and Linda Plummer [send private message]

This profile is part of the Kemp Name Study.

Biography

Samuel Kemp was “a kinsman of Edward, of Chelmsford”^[1] and lived in the new town of Chelmsford at the same time Edward lived there.^[2]

On 17 May 1658, Samuel, along with other inhabitants of the “towne off Chelmsford,” signed a petition to the General Court at Boston for the privilege of trading with the Indians.^[3]

He was the “first settler, bearing the name” Kemp at Billerica, Massachusetts Bay, in 1658,^[4] and was granted land there in 1658.^[1]

In 1668, he sold his land in Billerica and removed to Groton, Massachusetts Bay.^[1]

On 13 Mar 1676, during King Philip’s War, Groton was attacked by about 400 Indians. The settlers retreated to four garrison houses, as the Indians pillaged and burned about 40 houses. Two men were captured and beheaded and their heads set upon poles. “An infant, which they found dead in the house first surprised, they cut in pieces, which afterwards they cast to the swine.”^[5]

Samuel and his family survived and apparently took refuge from the hostilities at Andover, Massachusetts Bay, where he swore an oath of allegiance to the local government on 11 Feb 1678.^[5]

He returned to rebuild his farm and is recorded at Groton in 1684 and 1694.^[5]

Samuel passed away in 1697 and was buried in Old Burying Place Cemetery, Watertown, Massachusetts.^[6] Samuel’s wife Sarah was also buried there, along with sons Samuel and Jonathan.^[6]

Marriage and Children

Samuel married in Billerica, Massachusetts on 23 May 1662 Sarah Foster,^[1][7][8] daughter of Andrew Foster and Ann.^[9] They had children:

1. Samuel, b. 23 Feb 1662, Billerica,^[10] d. before 1665;
2. Samuel, b. 27 Mar 1665, Billerica,^[10] d. 1714 Groton;
3. Abigail, b. 27 Mar 1665, Billerica;^[11]
4. Jonathan, b. 6 Apr 1668, Groton;^[12]
5. Ann, b. 16 May 1671, Andover;^[7]
6. Mehitable b. 4 Jan 1673, Groton.^[7][12] Multiple spellings of name.

Research Notes

Conflation of Samuel Kemp, son of Richard and Katharina

Samuel's birth is said to be 15 Oct 1637 in Billerica, Massachusetts Bay,^[6] but this has been proven to be false. Documentation does exist for the baptism of a Samuel Kemp on 15 October 1637 at Saint Julian’s Church in Norwich, Norfolk, England, the son of Richard Kemp and Katharina,^[13] but a burial record dated 20 October 1637 for Samuel proves that this is not the same Samuel.^[14]

Misattributed parents Edward Kempe and Ester

Edward Reuben Kemp and Ester Ann Buckenham could not have been the parents of Samuel as the will stated as a source for Edward proved 6 April 1669 only names their daughter Ester, her husband Samuel Foster, and their grandson Samuel Foster. Since Samuel was still living at this time, they cannot be his parents.^[15]

Other possible Kemp(e) connections

Douglas Richardson does not name Samuel as a son of Richard Kempe of Virginia. Samuel is not named in the 1649 will of Richard Kempe (proved 1656), although Richard's daughter, Elizabeth and brother, Edward, are named.

Many believe Samuel is the son of Edward and Anne Kemp. Edward’s will states Samuel is his kinsman.^[2] More research needs to be done to determine relationship. Edward is a descendant of Magna Carta surety barons. Samuel, as the son or kinsman of Edward, will also be a descendant of the Magna Carta surety barons.

Birth death and location need primary source; now Find A Grave only.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} “History of Billerica, Massachusetts, with a Genealogical Register : Hazen, Henry Allen, 1849-1900.” Internet Archive. Boston, A. Williams and Co., January 1, 1883. p. 80. Online at Archive.org.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Weise, Arthur. The New-England Kemps; ancestral kinsmen of the Hon. William Kemp of Troy, N. Y. (Pages 40-61) Troy, NY: DeVinne Press, 1904, Archive.org accessed November 2017. While Weisse's book gives valuable historical information about Kemp family, it should be recognized as restricted in its research due to the period in which it was written.
3. ↑ Waters, Wilson, “History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts." (Lowell, MA: Courier-Citzen, 1917). Online at Archive.org., pages 36-37.
4. ↑ Hazen, Henry Allen, “History of Billerica, Massachusetts, with a Genealogical Register.” (Boston: A. Williams and Co., 1883). Online at Archive.org, page 168.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} "The New-England Kemps; ancestral kinsmen of the Hon. William Kemp of Troy, N. Y." Accessed October 19, 2019. Online at Archive.org, pages 56, 59-60.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Find A Grave: Memorial #103147784 without image
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, database online. BILLERICA Marriage; Sarah Foster, and Samuel Kemp; 23 May 1662; page 256.
8. ↑ "New England Marriages to 1700." (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB1568/i/21175/881/426893046
9. ↑ Ezra Scollay Stearns. Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire, vol. 4, p. 1666.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} "Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850." (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/i/7660/114/141911124
11. ↑ "Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850." (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/i/7660/113/141911895
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} Butler, Caleb, “History of the Town of Groton, Including Pepperell and Shirley, from the First Grant of Groton Plantation in 1655" (Boston: Press of T.R. Marvin). Online at Archive.org, p. 408.
13. ↑ "Norfolk, England, Church of England Baptism, Marriages, and Burials, 1535-1812." Online at Ancestry.com.
14. ↑ "Norfolk, England, Church of England Baptism, Marriages, and Burials, 1535-1812.", Burial Record, 20 Oct 1637
15. ↑ Charles Henry Pope. The Pioneers of Massachusetts: A Descriptive List, (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1965), p. 265.

See also;

• https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Samuel_Kemp_%2813%29
• Billerica History, In 1660, "the first record of military life" includes Samuel Kemp, drummer.[1]

Acknowledgements

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