1.

William KEMPSTER was born c. 1819 in London, England. birth calculated from death cert. William was a Cooper. He married Margaret KNIGHT on 2 Dec 1844 in Holy Trinity Church (Garrison Church) Sydney.¹ V1844219 29/1844 Married by Banns. William died on 7 Aug 1905 in 33 Bullanaming Street, Redfern, Sydney, NSW. Heart disease, chronic bronchitis, old age 1905/10376. William was buried on 8 Aug 1905 in Rookwood Cemetery Anglican.

The England 1841 census has a William Kempster , cabinet maker, 25,sharing accomodation at Cleveland St., Marylebone, St. Pancras, London.

His marriage to Margaret Knight was in 1844 at the 'Garrison Church'.

The NSW Government Gazette indicates a William Kempster was at Fort Street in 1847. In 1857 he was the victim of an assault outside the "Hit-or-Miss Hotel", Windmill Street.

Cox's Sydney PO Directory 1857 has a William Kempster, cooper, 25 Windmill St.(From Argyle St. to Lower Fort St.) Also a Kempster, cooper, 25 Windmill St.

Various relevant sketches, maps of the vicinity are available in 2 books about the area. A compilation of early family names from the Sydney Assessment Rolls, indicating relevant addresses has been made including Kempster. It seems that the early years 1845-48 were at Windmill Street and at Philip Street 1861-67. Sands Directory 1858 has a William Kempster, cooper, at 30 Windmill St. And a Sands 1865 Directory places William Kempster, cooper, at 76 Phillip St. On 19th June, 1868, William Kempster, "for many years" foreman of the "City Cooperage", purchased the business from the Estate of the late Charles Chapman. The SMH in 1868 noted that William Kempster and Frederick Palmer were fined 10 shillings each for allowing their horses to stray in the streets. A notice was placed in the SMH in 1870 by father William Kempster regarding debts contracted by son John Henry. This indicated the business was named "City Cooperage", George Street. Funeral of grandson William George Gordon in 1870 was noted to to leave from his Grandfather's address, 243 Castlereagh St, Sydney.In 1872 William was called to give expert evidence as a cooper,in a court case. In 1875 Sands Directory has William, cooper, at 246 castlereagh St.This directory also has a William Kempster, cooper, at Erskine St. Perhaps this is the son.William's address, as a ratepayer in Macquarie Ward, in 1879 was 241 castlereagh St.

The SMH in 1894, various dates, reported the voluntary bankruptcy of a William Kempster, boarding house keeper, 143 castlereagh St. Whether this is William senior or junior is uncertain.There was also another William Kempster born in Sydney in 1819, died 1906, who was unmarried.

Death certificate has '56 years in NSW' which makes arrival 1849, but his marriage was in 1844.

Unclaimed letters in NSW Govt. Gazettes 1847

His Death certificate says he had 2 male children deceased.

Burial witnesses John Thomas Brand, G Dangar

Headstone has age 86, so birth c.1817 perhaps.

William was a member of 'Loyal Mariners Rest No. 925 GCOOF Lodge a/c to a funeral notice.^{2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22}

Margaret KNIGHT, daughter of William KNIGHT (1789- ) and Elizabeth LEMMON (1799- ), was born in 1822 in Liverpool, England. calculated as baptism date. Margaret was baptised on 13 Apr 1823 in St. Nicholas, Liverpool, England.²³ She was a Domestic Servant.²⁴ She died on 12 Dec 1900 in Sydney Hospital, Sydney, N.S.W.²¹ 1900/114488 Cardiac failure, chronic bronchitis. Margaret was buried on 13 Dec 1900 in Rookwood Cemetery Anglican.²¹ Headstone with husband.

Margaret was listed in 1841 census as living at Rodney Street, Toxteth Park. With uncle Simon Lemon and family, listed as Family Servant.

Simon, 46, Shipwright; Mary, 38, wife; Ann, 14,; Elizabeth, 12; George, 9; Henry, 7; James, 5; Edward, 1;and Margaret Knight. All born Lancashire.

Margaret could not write (according to her wedding cert.) She arrived in Australia on the ship "William Sharples" on 29.1.1842, aged 17 (Would have been 19 a/c to baptism date). For the journey to Australia Margaret had been placed in the care of Michael Riley, his wife and family by her father. Michael was 47, a farm servant, born Roscommon. Margaret was described as a domestic servant, native of Liverpool, who could not read or write. After her arrival she was engaged by Mrs. Moore, George St. Sydney, at 12 pounds per annum, for 3 months.

She was married to William Kempster, a cooper, in 1854. Unclaimed letters in NSW Govt. Gazettes (Mrs MA, Mrs M Kempster) 1854, 1852

According to NSW Government Gazettes, Margaret was acquitted of assault on a female neighbour in 1857. In 1869 she was victim of theft by her servant, and although she prosecuted her, Margaret paid her fine. And in 1871 Margaret was a witness in a trial about a brothel in her neighbourhood, Castlereagh St. In 1892 she was the victim of theft again.

Her address in 1899 was 112 Riley St as informant son John's death.

Her Death certificate says late of Bullanaming St., Redfern (by 1934 this was re-named Renwick St.)

Death cert says 2m, 1f deceased chn.

Granddaughter Isabel Brand 33 Bullanaming St (from death cert)

Burial witnesses FJH Walton, Thomas McCarthy

Sydney Morning Herald reports her death: Margaret Kempster, beloved wife of John Kempster, aged 76 years

Also: Grandmother of Mrs. White, Martha, Nellie and Hugh Gordon.

Also grandmother Mrs. E. Knight, Mr/s J Brand, Mr. GW Gordon, Mr/S AJ Winkworth

2 years after her death husband William inserted a memoriam in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Her headstone was rediscovered by RK in November 2006. Details on SAG Rookwood C^{2,20,21,22,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31}D

Margaret KNIGHT and William KEMPSTER had the following children: