| Notes |
- NOTE 1./ Kemp of Williamsburgh, Craven Co., SC, Bladen and Anson Cos., NC and Wayne Co., GA compiled by Worth Shipley Anderson July 19, 1997:
William Kemp's origins are unknown. He appears to have been a small yeoman farmer, albeit a slaveholder. He signed all of his deeds with a mark, indicating he was illiterate, as was his wife.
William Kemp's first known appearance is at the 1736 christening of his daughter Sarah in Prince Frederick Parish, Winyaw, Craven Co. (modern Williamsburg Co.), SC.(1) He served as a petit juror in Prince Frederick Parish in 1737.(2)
On 25 Sept. 1738 William Kemp, planter, of Williamsburgh Twp., Craven Co., promised to deliver to Francis Goddard two tracts of land in Williamsburgh Twp.: one of 300 acres "lately surveyed" and in the possession of William Kemp and one of 150 acres "lately surveyed" and granted to Francis Turbeville. In return Goddard was to give Kemp three slaves. The agreement was witnessed by William Trewin and Samuel Fley
By early 1746 William1 Kemp had moved to what was then Bladen Co., NC, near Cape Fear. On 13 March 1745/6 William Kemp of Bladen Co. was "admitted to prove his rights", presumably headrights to a land grant for bringing 8 whites into the colony. Also proving their rights from Bladen Co. were John McCoy, with 5 whites and 3 blacks, "Jno. McCoy for Wm McCoy", with 3 whites, and John Hornbeck, with 4 whites.(6) The previous day, on 12 March 1745/6 William Kemp had petitioned for a 640-acre warrant in Bladen County.(7) On 21 June 1746 he received a patent for 640 acres on the south side of the Great Pee Dee River, "joining the River and a point below Canew [?] Landing."(8) As discussed below, this entire tract, which lay near an Indian grave, was sold in pieces by William Kemp's heirs to Benjamin Clark of Louisa Co., VA.
William Kemp witnessed a deed of land on the south side of the Great Pee Dee from John Giles of Johnston Co., NC, to Henry Walker of Bladen Co. on 24 Oct. 1748.(9)
On 5 April 1749 he petitioned for a warrant of 400 acres in Anson Co., NC,(10) which was cut off from Bladen Co. in 1750. The patent was granted on 14 April 1749 for 400 acres in Anson Co., on the S side of the Great Pee Dee River and on both sides of Mill Creek.(11) He evidently leased part of this tract to Andrew Cox, as on 26 Sept. 1749 William Kemp sold 150 acres of the 400-acre grant, "including the plantation Andrew Cox now lives on", to Cox for 8 pounds. The deed was witnessed by William's son, John2 Kemp, and John Conaway.(12
On 6 April 1750 William Kemp was granted 300 acres in Bladen Co., on the S side of the Great Pee Dee River and joining his other lands and the River.(14)
A few days after receiving this grant, on 20 April 1750, he made his will. In it he left his wife Elizabeth one gray horse and one strawberry roan horse, and named her executrix. William1 Kemp's will names his five sons, John, William, Thomas, Joseph and Stephen, his daughter Sarah, and an orphan committed to his care, Sarah Walbrook. The will disposes of two tracts of land in Craven Co., SC, on Black Mingo Creek, and land over the River bought of John Stafford. It also bequeaths the 213 acres on the Pee Dee bought from Solomon Hughes and adjoining Andrew Moreman to William2 Kemp, Jr. The will was witnessed by Andrew Moreman, Jno. Stafford and Anthony Hutchins, and proved 3 Oct. 1750.(15)
The two tracts of land on Black Mingo Creek in SC comprised 300 acres.(16) Their eventual dispositions, and the disposition of the 300 acres in Bladen Co. received in the 1750 land grant are not known.
Elizabeth (--?--) Kemp survived her husband by a few years. John2 Kemp sold his mother 200 acres adjoining where she lived, one gray mare with young colt and two cows and calves, in order to clear a debt of 30 pounds, on 22 June 1751. The deed was witnessed by George King and Joseph2 Kemp, who made his mark.(17)
Elizabeth Kemp, widow of William Kemp, sold Thomas Tomkins 100 acres on the south side of the Great Pee Dee River on 20 Dec. 1752, signing with her mark. Witnesses were Ambrose Steele and Andrew Cox.(18)
On 2 June 1754 Elizabeth Kemp joined John2 Kemp in giving Thomas2 Kemp a power-of-attorney to dispose of land. However, the Elizabeth referred to may have been John2 Kemp's wife, rather than his mother.
The children of William and Elizabeth (--?--) Kemp were (birth order largely uncertain; "born before" dates based on the assumption the individual was of legal age (at least 21 years old) at the time of his earliest known land transaction):
i. John Kemp, born before 1729; died after 1805. He may have married Elizabeth --?--. On 23 Oct. 1750 John2 Kemp witnessed a deed from John Williams of Craven Co., SC, to William Rodes, a minor of same, of 300 acres. The deed also mentions Rodes' sisters, Martha, Anne, Hannah and Elizabeth. Anthony Hutchins was the other witness.(19) On 30 Nov. 1751 240 acres of William1 Kemp's 640-acre land grant was sold by John2 Kemp, who had inherited it, to Christopher and Benjamin Clark of Louisa Co., VA, for 60 pounds. The deed from John2 Kemp was witnessed by Andrew Moorman, and Andrew Moorman, Jr.(20) On 2 June 1754 John and Elizabeth Kemp granted a power-of-attorney to Thomas2 Kemp.(21) This may indicate that John2 Kemp was moving away from Bladen Co. but, prior to moving, had been unable to find a buyer for his property in Bladen Co. Because John2 would not be physically available to sign a deed in Bladen Co. when a buyer was found, a power-of-attorney allowing somebody else to sign the deed would have been necessary to dispose of the land.(22) John2 Kemp may have settled on his father's land in Craven Co., SC. John Kemp, son of John and Elizabeth Kemp, was born or christened 24 June 1756 in Prince Frederick Parish, Winyaw, Craven Co.(23) Presumably John2 Kemp was still alive in 1805, when he is mentioned in the will of his brother Joseph2 Kemp.(24)
ii. William Kemp, born before 1731; died after 1752. On 21 April 1752 William Kemp, planter, sold to Francis Clark of VA, for 46 pounds 6 shillings, the 213 acres on the south side of the Great Pee Dee he had inherited from his father. Witnesses were Henry Downs and M. Brown.(25) A 1 Nov. 1754 deed from Jas. MacManus to John Campbell of land on the south side of the Pee Dee mentions "William Kemps corner."(26)
iii. Thomas Kemp, born before 1731; died after 1761. On 20 Sept. 1752 Thomas2 Kempt, planter, sold to Benjamin Clark for 30 pounds 200 acres on the south side of the Great Pee Dee River, adjoining the widow Kemp's corn field and Benjamin & Christopher Clark's corner, which they had bought from John2 Kemp. Thomas2 Kemp signed his mark. Witnesses were William2 Kemp, Arthor Skipper and Benjamin Menrs.(27) On 2 June 1754 Elizabeth & John2 Kemp granted a power-of-attorney to Thomas2 Kemp regarding 150 acres on the west side of the Great Pee Dee River, on both sides of Mill Creek, adjoining Thomas Tompkins and Thomas Coil.(28) On 5 Jan. 1756 Thomas2 Kemp "now or lately of Anson Co." sold this land to John Persons for 15 pounds, signing the deed with his mark. Witnesses were Hez. Russ and John Acfie.(29) Thomas2 Kemp witnessed a deed from Edmund Cartledge of Anson Co. to Tillotson Keble on 23 Jan. 1758. The other witness was Laurence O'Bryan.(30) On 18 Oct. 1758 Thomas Kemp witnessed a deed from Edmund Cartledge to Tillotson Keble. The other witnesses were Samuel O'Bryan and Sarah Walker.(31) Thomas2 Kemp witnessed a deed from Joseph Nobbs "late of Anson" to William Cox, of Anson Co., on 24 Nov. 1761. The other witness was Isaac Brunson.(32)
+2. iv. Joseph2 Kemp, born, say, 1730/3.
v. Sarah Kemp, born or christened. 22 Sept. 1736 in Prince Frederick Parish, Winyaw, Craven Co., SC.(33)
v. Stephen Kemp, born or christened 26 July 1741 in Prince Frederick Parish, Winyaw, Craven Co., SC.(34) He moved to Augusta, GA, where he was a "Pack horse man". On 10 Dec. 1763 he sold to Joseph Kemp "of Augusta, his brother" land on the south side of the Pee Dee River adjoining Benjamin Clark. He signed the deed with his mark. Witnesses were Thos. Waters, Thomas2 Kemp and Zac. Moorman.(35) The following year, on 17 Sept. 1764, Joseph2 & Stephen2 Kemp "of Craven Co., SC, planter" sold to Benjamin Clark land inherited from their father.(36) Witnesses were Henry Snead, Zachariah Moorman and Archelous Moorman.
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1700 - Abt 1750 (50 years)
