Kemp Sources and Resources
Research Notes and Questions

Due to William Kemp dying so shortly after arrival in the Colonies, not much has been written about him. I have found the following NEHGR articles, however. The second citation, to the NY Genealogical and Biographical News is the most detailed.

Who is Patience Kemp and What is Her Heritage? Vol. 57, 1903, Pg. 416-7
 
"The Laying of Two Genealogical Ghosts" - New York Genealogical and Biographical News, Vol 35, 1904, p 101-107. A seven page essay asserting that Patience Kemp was the daughter of William Kemp and Elizabeth Partridge. There was no William Kemp, Jr. or Patience Thacher, thus the term "ghosts".

Notes and Questions

Who is Patience Kemp and What is Her Heritage?

"(1) Rev. Thomas Thacher and Elizabeth Partridge, his wife, had no daughter, Patience Thacher.

(2) Elizabeth Partridge, dau. of Rev. Ralph Partridge, married 1st William Kemp, by whom she had a daughter, Patience Kemp, b. ________. William Kemp d. previous to 23 Sep 1641, and hence subsequent to this date his widow was free to contract a second marriage; which in fact, she did, by marrying on 11 May 1643, Rev. Thomas Thacher, who subsequently, 2 January 1644-5, became the minister at Weymouth, MA, and remained there in that capacity until subsequent to the death, on 2 Jun 1664, of Elizabeth partridge his wife. Rev. Thomas Thacher was born in England 1 May 1620, and in 1643 was presumably about the same age as Elizabeth partridge, who like himself, was born in England (date of birth unknown), and came to this country 17 Nov 1636 with her father. Elizabeth Partridge, soon after her coming to this country, married first William Kemp, who had reached this country, previous to her arrival, 3 Jun 1635, on the ship James. Soon after his marriage William Kemp died, leaving but one child, Patience Kemp, and not leaving a son William Kemp, 2d, who never in reality existed at all. Elizabeth Partridge-Kemp, widow of the only William Kemp, shortly after her first husband's death, married on 11 May 1643, Rev. Thomas Thacher, and her daughter by her first husband, Patience Kemp, became the step-daughter of Rev. Thomas Thacher, and was received into his family, and brought up by him, and married from his home in Weymouth, MA, on 9 (or 16) Dec. 1660, to Samuel Saberry (Seabury), of Duxbury, MA.

(3) Samuel Seabury did NOT marry Patience Kemp, dau. of William Kemp, 2d, (who never existed in the flesh), and of Patience Thacher (who also never existed), but married Patience Kemp, dau. of William Kemp, 1st, (the only
William Kemp), and Elizabeth partridge, his wife, he being her first husband.

(4) William Kemp, 2d, and Patience Thacher are two mythical individuals, summoned into existence by early genealogists, in order that by their marriage they could give birth to a Patience Kemp, who was subsequently to
marry Samuel Seabury. It was known beyond doubt that Samuel Seabury did marry a Patience Kemp, and so these hypothetical parents were manufactured for her."

This situation is described in more detail (a seven page essay and quotation of dozens of sources from all angles) in the New York Genealogical and Biographical News, Vol 35, 1904, p. 101-107, with the same conclusion.
 

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