Judy, I recently saw your query on the Kemp mailing list and thought I would share my KEMP line from Lamar Co., AL. The only common name I see is Pleasant, but you never know. My ancestor is probably a contemporary of yours and I thought there might be a possibility they were brothers. I will copy an article I submitted for the Lamar Co. Heritage book. Let me know what you think. (the article) Edward Jefferson and Tabitha Kemp Edward Jefferson Kemp was born about 1806; his wife, Tabitha, in about 1809, both natives of South Carolina. They were probably married sometime before 1835 in South Carolina. By 1839/40 they had moved west to Alabama and may have first settled in Coosa County, where an Edward Camp is found listed in 1840 when the Federal Census was recorded. The Kemp family found their way to Fayette County perhaps as early as 1844 when an E. J. Kempt apprehended a horse thief. They are clearly there by 1850 when the Federal Census was recorded for Beat 5, 16th Division. After once settling in west central Alabama, the Kemps never left the general area. In 1860 they were living in the Millport Post Office area of Fayette County and in 1870 they are found in the neighborhood served by the Big Pond Post Office of the newly formed Sanford County. Finally in 1880, when they were both in their 70s they are found living in Township 16, Range 16 of Lamar County. It is difficult to know just which of his given names Edward Jefferson Kemp generally used since he is found in public records as E. J., Edward J., Jefferson, E. Jefferson, and Jeff. To further complicate identifying him, his surname has been recorded as Kemp, Camp, and Kempt. Tabitha may have gone by the nickname, Bitha, a nickname used by a granddaughter named for her. It is also possible that she was the daughter of Polly Wilson who was 83 years old and living with the Kemps in 1870; Polly reported her nativity also as South Carolina. Edward Jefferson and Tabitha Kemp became the parents of at least seven children as follows: Starling Kemp was born about 1836 in South Carolina. He and his wife Emeline, were the parents of at least ten children: Pleasant W., born about 1863; Silas W., born about 1864; James M., born about 1866; Electa, born about 1867; Frances L., born about 1869; Mary J., born about 1872; William A., born about 1874; Willis L., born about 1876; Edward J., born about 1878; and John H., born about April, 1880. Mary Caroline Kemp was born between 1839 and 1942 and died between 1880 and 1884. She married December 20, 1858, Martin Van Buren Smith, son of Hiram and Winnie Smith. Their family included Mary Jane, born March 11, 1860, died September 20, 1938, and married William Wesley Jackson; Winnie A., born about 1862/1863 and married Thomas Welch; Henry F., born about 1866; Missouri C., born August 7, 1870, died May 8, 1947, and married a Ward; William Perry, born July 27, 1872, died April 14, 1970, and married Lizabeth D. Betty Fortner; Rachel T., born about 1874; Sarah C., born about 1879; Lincoln, born after 1880, married a Wilson; and, Tabitha Bitha, born after 1880 and married Dave Owen. Martha J. Kemp born about 1840. Francis Kemp born about 1843. Robert J. Kemp born about 1846 and died before 1860. Jameson K. Kemp born about 1850 and married Amoritta R. about 1856. They became the parents of Elva M., born about 1857 and died before 1880; Silas W., born about 1872; Nancy J., born about 1876; and Thirsdy R., born about 1879. Missouri Ann Kemp, whose birth has been recorded as February 25, 1855, but based on her age reported on various records, could have been born in October, 1852 or June 29, 1850. She died on December 16, 1939. Missouri married James W. Bud Abbott on September 10, 1874. They became the parents of Sarah Sally, born about 1871 and married John Street; Ella C., born October 1876, married William G. Murphy between 1900 and 1907 and had at least Grover E., Mattie M., and Palmer L.; and, James Roscoe, born about 1878, married Sarah Abigale about 1896 and had at least Claudia, Lou, and Lindsey. Edward Jefferson and Tabitha Kemps death dates and burial locations are currently unknown. Written by: Delores Y. (Buell) Eveland, Cerritos, CA 90703-7368 Sources: 1. 1840 US Census, Coosa Co., Alabama 2. 1850 US Census, Fayette Co., Alabama. 3. 1860 US Census, Fayette Co., Alabama. 4. 1870 US Census, Sanford Co., Alabama. 5. 1880 US Census, Lamar Co., Alabama. 6. Certified copy of marriage record for J. W. Abbott and Missouri Kemp, Sanford Co., Alabama. 7. Death Certificate for Mary Jane (Smith) Jackson. 8. Information received from Ruth Hope (Stephenson) Murray. 9. Computer Indexed Marriage Records Lowndes County Mississippi 1830-1900 published by Nicholas Russell Murray, Hammond, Louisianna. 10. 1900 US Census, Lamar Co., Alabama. 11. 1910 US Census, Lamar Co., Alabama. 12. 1920 US Census, Lamar Co., Alabama. 13. Certified copy of death certificate for Missouri Ann Abbott, Lamar Co., Ala. 14. Adult People Living in Fayette County, Alabama Prior to the Civil War from the Internet (www.rootsweb.com/~alfayett/PreCivilWarPeople.htm). ============================================================ I descend from Mary Caroline (Kemp) Smith via their daughter Mary Jane (Smith) Jackson. If you can add anything to my line or anyone else has information on them I would love to hear from you. Delores Y. (Buell) Eveland [email protected]