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Guide to the John Tabor Kempe Papers 1678-1782 (bulk 1752-1774) MS 344

John Tabor Kempe Papers

Call Number

MS 344

Date

1678-1782 (bulk 1752-1774), inclusive

Creator

Extent

7.5 Linear feet

Language of Materials

English .

Abstract

The John Tabor Kempe Papers contain primarily court case records (12 boxes) for the colonial province of New York during the tenures of Attorneys General William Kempe and his son, John Tabor Kempe. The bulk of these records date from 1752 to 1774, and concern civil disputes, often over land ownership, tenancy and estates, as well as criminal acts. Also included in the papers are professional correspondences of both John Tabor Kempe and William Kempe, court agendas and fees, legal papers, land and property records, financial records, government documents, and a photograph.

Biographical Note

Missing Title

1752 Nov. William Kempe appointed Attorney General for the Province of New York
1759 July/Aug. William Kempe dies; his son, John Tabor Kempe, is appointed Attorney General for the Province of New York
1766 John Tabor Kempe marries Grace Coxe
1767 John Tabor Kempe travels to England; James Duane serves as acting Attorney General in his absence
1768 John Tabor Kempe resumes position, is re-appointed
1777 John Tabor Kempe's tenure as Attorney General ends
1783 John Tabor Kempe returns to England, makes Loyalist land claims
1791 John Tabor Kempe dies in England

Arrangement

The John Tabor Kempe Papers are organized into the following seven series:

Missing Title

  1. Series 1: Court Case Records, 1678-1778 (bulk 1752-1774), and Undated
  2. Series 2: Correspondence, 1730-1775 (bulk 1753-1774), and Undated
  3. Series 3: Legal Papers, 1760-1782 and Undated
  4. Series 4: Land and Property Records, 1742-1775 and Undated
  5. Series 5: Financial Records, 1718-1775 and Undated
  6. Series 6: Government Records, 1722-1773 and Undated
  7. Series 7: Photograph, Undated

Scope and Contents note

The John Tabor Kempe Papers contain primarily court case records (12 boxes) for the colonial province of New York during the tenures of Attorneys General William Kempe and his son, John Tabor Kempe. The bulk of these records date from 1752 to 1774, and concern civil disputes, often over land ownership, tenancy and estates, as well as criminal acts. Offenses range from minor assaults and infractions to capital crimes, including murder and high treason. A separate database exists for the court case records in this collection, containing over 750 entries.

Also included in the papers are professional correspondences of both John Tabor and William Kempe, court agendas and fees, legal papers, land and property records, financial records, government documents, and a photograph.

While a number of well-known legal cases are represented in this collection (i.e. The King vs. Alexander McDougall), the John Tabor Kempe Papers also support research in the lives of ordinary colonial New Yorkers, many of whom are otherwise undocumented. Records also detail numerous land conflicts that erupted in the decades prior to the Revolutionary War, including riots and intrusion cases in the counties, and territorial disputes with Native Americans and with neighboring colonies, especially Connecticut and New Hampshire. Historians of colonial law will find a variety of cases and legal documents in this collection, and John Tabor Kempe's trial notes and correspondence provide insight into a prominent eighteenth-century legal mind.

This collection contains mostly professional records, with very little personal material for either John Tabor Kempe or William Kempe.

Subjects

Organizations

Genres

People

Topics

Assault and battery -- New York (State).; Indians Of North America -- Land tenure -- New York (State) -- Dutchess County.; Extinguishment of Indian title -- New York (State) -- Dutchess County.; Ejectment -- New York (State).; Decedents' estates -- New York (State); Courts -- New York (State); Courts -- New York (State) -- New York.; Counterfeits and counterfeiting -- New York (State).; Costs (Law) -- New York (State).; Attorneys general; Jews -- New York (State) -- New York.; Justice, Administration of -- New York (State).; Landlord and tenant -- New York (State); Larceny -- New York (State).; Lawyers -- Fees -- New York (State); Law -- New York (State).; Practice of law -- New York (State); Murder -- New York (State).; Libel and slander -- New York (State).; Rape -- New York (State); Prostitution -- New York (State).; Prisoners -- New York (State).; Real property -- New York (State); Trading with the enemy; Riots -- New York (State).; Treason -- New York (State).; Trials -- New York (State).; Trespass -- New York (State).; Trover and conversion -- New York (State).; Wappinger Indians; Land grants

Places

Occupations

Access Restrictions

Open to qualified researchers.

Use Restrictions

Permission to quote from this collection in a publication must be requested and granted in writing. Send permission requests, citing the name of the collection from which you wish to quote to: Manuscript Curator, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024

Preferred Citation note

This collection should be cited as the John Tabor Kempe, MS 344, The New-York Historical Society.

Separated Materials

BV NYS -- Boundaries -- Oblong; two boxes of papers pertaining to the Oblong dispute.

Related Material at The New-York Historical Society

The Alexander Papers, 1668-1818 (bulk 1717-1786), which also contain colonial court records.

Collection processed by

Melissa Haley

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 15:47:09 -0400.
Language: Finding aid written in English.

Repository

New-York Historical Society
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024
https://www.nyhistory.org/library