Charles Kemp and Reuben Kemp were yeomen of Mansfieldwood House, New Jersey in May of 1762 when Charles signed a marriage bond for Reuben Kemp and Jane Stewart to marry. I have never found any trace of Charles Kemp after May of 1762. I know that he had one daughter at least, Jemima Kemp. Jemima married Abel Thompson in Evesham, New Jersey in 1778. Her descendants believe Charles Kemp was murdered aboard a ship coming back from England. I've never found any proof of this but the records from this time are few and far between and I'm not sure if the criminal case would have been tried here or in England since I suspect the ship he was on would have been English. I normally take old family stories at face value but Jemima Kemp was always referred to as an orphan as was Abel Thompson. I found where Abel Thompson's parents had died and he was indeed an orphan. So there may be some truth to Jemima's story and the old family story about Charles Kemp being murdered at sea.
