THE KEMPTON’S ,WEST STREET, MILTON

 

Early immigrants to Liverpool Falls in 1760 built a sawmill. It did not work out very well, and a fire resulted. Entrepreneur Simeon Perkins came along and rescued the enterprise and made it work. While rescuing the venture S.P. supervised personally and lived in a house that exists today, that occupied by George Fraser, near the lower bridge. (348 West St.) S.P.’s diary tells the story.

 

He soon developed markets for his lumber, because lumber was a scarce item for the new communities being created, Loyalist’s were crowding to Shelburne, Port Mouton was being formed, and new townships were being built elsewhere in the province.

 

Another family saw the need for logs to feed these hungry mills, and moved onto what is today West Street in Milton. Richard Kempton had been granted a section of land 12 rods wide and ½ mile deep from the river; its location was a few chains north of the Perkins mill. His property was covered with beautiful trees, virgin timber, pine, spruce and hemlock, as well as large hardwoods such as beech and birch,

 

A generous stream flowed from the hillside into the riverbank. It was here that Richard Kempton built his first house. Its location was on the Indian trail that paralleled the river.  Its location was opposite to Bernard Hemeon’s driveway in 2000, soon a nest of houses built by his sons followed.

 

Three such houses are still nested there in 2000; that built by Jacob Curtis Kempton (390 West St.), that by John Winslow Kempton (385 West St.), and that by Francis Kempton (382 West St.). The original Richard Kempton house no longer exists.

 

Back in 1760, Richard Kempton, a discharged soldier of the French wars for Louisburg and Quebec, had began an adventure to Nova Scotia where he would receive a land grant, The ship with his building materials went astray, a storm landed him and it at Liverpool, a new town site. He became interested in this location after he married another immigrant, Fear Curtis from Plymouth, Mass. in 1762. The sons that followed were to become important lumbermen, merchants, ship owners and sailors.

 

Thomas was born 1n 1767, Jacob Curtis, b.1772, John Winslow, b.1775, and Francis, b. 1778.  These four sons built homes nearby, Thomas’ home no longer exist; the other homes remain in good condition. Both Thomas and Jacob Curtis were very successful lumbermen; John Winslow Kempton built a tannery beside the brook as it entered the river, and created another new industry for this growing community.

 

Francis, the youngest and a surviving twin followed the sea. He was a privateer captain and had many adventures at sea. A log from a captured Spanish ship was in the possession of Francis Kempton as reported by historian Francis Tupper. This has been sought for years and never discovered. The Francis K. home is on the market, as part of the estate of Mrs. Lila Manthorne, in 2003.

 

Richard’s original grant soon was used up, his grandchildren later showed interest developing farms in North Queens where land was made available to enterprising young people. Today, in 2003, many descendants are found in that area.

 

Hannah Kempton was born 1798, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Doggett) Kempton. She was visiting an uncle in Brookfield, North Queens, when she met a visiting missionary clergyman from Carolina, USA. She and William Washington Ashley were married in 1820. Hannah’s father Thomas Kempton donated a piece of land in Liverpool Falls, and a new building called Mount Zion Chapel had been created. This allowed the Milton people to attend services there, as their church in Liverpool had just lost its preacher, John Payzant, by death. This group  eventually evolved as the Milton Christian Church.

 

The Ashley family lived in a Kempton home located where today is the home of the Robert Legges. There, 10 children were born; six sons eventually were Free Will Baptist Ministers, all preaching in the USA. One son, Edward, became a captain of a sailing vessel, involved in migration to California, when passengers went to Panama, crossed the Isthmus, and sailed up the Pacific coast. Another son, Barnabus, also a minister, wrote books for boys, adventures from pioneer life of Milton, a tannery, and early life here. Persons enjoying history should seek out; Tan Pan Jim, and Dick on Sable Island.

 

Sons of Jacob Curtis Kempton also worth mention are Edward Kempton, and James Kempton. James’ house exists in 2000, Ann and Jeff. Langille have done improvements at 391 West St. and recently sold to new owners. He had been born in 1822 and his daughter later became the wife of John Henry Harlow, who built a financial empire with his partner Philson Kempton. James had continued in the lumbering and sawmilling enterprises.

 

Edward Kempton, b.1810, proved to be an enterprising merchant and businessman. His original house exists today, that of Lorne and Stephanie Wilson, location is 375 West St. Edward Kempton’s store was on the corner of Bridge and High. #8.This was made available when Silvanus Morton built a new store, it having been built in the younger days of Morton. Edward also owned a hotel at this location. His brother Augustus Kempton, became  a partner in his business and together they built the sailing vessel, Enterprise.

 

An advertisement in Hutchinson’s Directory for 1864 was for the Mansion House of Milton, N. S. by Edward Kempton. It was located on Milton’s East side, the corner of Main and Bridge streets. It was located where today Milton’s Post Office exists. This would be near the new Milton Baptist Church where Edward was a senior Deacon. Edward was a very important businessman in Milton’s history. He was it’s first Post Master, and carried on a very busy merchandising enterprise. Gilbert Kempton, Queens County early photographer was one of his sons.

 

The other children of Thomas Kempton occupied a considerable amount of real estate along today’s West Street. Simeon Gardner Kempton carried on in lumbering. His house exists in 2000, 408 West St., now occupied by Aubrey and Dianne Coombs. He had married a daughter of Rev. Wm. Payzant, Jane Payzant; children were Mary Ann, Catherine, Thaddeus, Charlotte, Capt. Samuel Thomas Kempton, and Stephen Harvey.

 

Mary Anne Kempton married James Morton Freeman, and they built a home, still existing on High, #8, that of Richard and Marguerite Cole today. Catherine married John Cameron and built 430 West St., where they had family. Her husband drowned during a river drive of logs to the mills. Some years later the James Walker family cared for this widow and held a maintenance agreement.

 

Next-door south from John Cameron was another lumberman of this family, Thaddeus. His wife was Annie Tupper.

 

Cap’t. Sam Kempton and father,(Simeon Gardner Kempton),and his brothers were in a woodworking enterprise when the depression of 1850 ruined the business. Sam closed the company, returned to a life at sea as a second mate on a trip to the West Indies. His diaries are very informative, as his valuable genealogies record valuable research material. He eventually became captain of a ship that made many sailings to Boston, long before steam ferries and railroads. His Milton home was near the churches on Milton’s eastside.

 

Stephen Harvey Kempton had spent some time in the USA, in a Rhode Island bottling works that taught him the trade of mixing soft drinks. His interest in a young lady in Westfield, in North Queens County, Miss Alice Mansfield, caused him to return to Novy Scarcity.(Sam Slick’s name for Nova Scotia) Back home and anxious to remain, he was encouraged by entrepreneur John Henry Harlow, and other investors, to start the Milton Aerated Waterworks, a much needed enterprise that was a sudden success.

 

A barn (since destroyed) on his father’s property (now owned by Aubrey Coombs)(408 West Street) was converted to a bottling works. His father having passed away he moved into his father’s home. This product was well known in the early 1900’s, and continued for many years until the mid 1920’s. The originator died in 1922, his sons Fred and Thaddeus carried on for several years then closed it down. The unique pop bottle was unusual, and today is much in demand by antique dealers.

 

Nearby Benjamin Kempton built a house. He had been born in North Queens, but involved himself as a sawmill sawyer and so worked in one of the Potanoc sawmills. His house was built on a filled in or rock walled lot, directly overlooking the Mersey River. It is the only double Gothic structure in Milton, and has been well maintained during its lifetime.

 

The next several house built in the early 1800’s, and on this West St.  were of the Harlow Family. They were also very much involved with the lumbering industry. Several sons of Harlow have followed the sea, and were lost at sea. Others became businessmen, while many opened farms in North Queens and Sable River.

 

450 West street has always stood out in majesty. It was built for Jacob Curtis Kempton son of Jacob Curtis Kempton. Both father and son were great lumbermen and did well in that Milton Industry. Jacob the son had built a home next door at 458 West St. in 1839 when he married Jane Gardner of Brooklyn, and they had a large family. (This is the home of Mrs. Norma Walker in 2003) One of Jock’s daughter married an immigrant from Ireland, James Telfer, who was a carpenter. Jacob having been a successful lumberman decided to build a more modern home, and he had James Telfer as carpenter. Jacob’s original home became the property of James Telfer and his wife.

 

Several other houses in this neighborhood were Kempton houses also. One daughter had married John Dexter of Brooklyn who was an associate in woods work and lumbering with the Kempton interests. That was the origination of the Dexter family in this part of Milton. John Dexter and wife built the house recently of Dick and Harmonia (Ayling) Dagley. Warren and Harris Dexter, sons of John Dexter also built homes nearby.

 

It was at Potanoc Dam that John Harlow and Philson Kempton operated their manufacturing enterprise.  The sawmills had been those of Ford Brothers, Minard and others. A factory built by Churchill became their door and sash factory. Philson Kempton built a magnificent home on the corner of West St. and Potanoc bridge.

 

Other homes nearby belonged to Eldred Minard. Levi Minard, and Allen Minard. Soon the railroad, the Milton and Liverpool tramway, had a station nearby and a spur line into the mills on Potanoc Bridge.

 

Farther up was the lower Pulp Mills, on the Cowie Falls dam. Several homes lie along that stretch of West St. The first railway lay right in the street, and later at a rebuild, was moved away from the houses.

 

Recently a sewer has been laid along some of this street, the work has damaged the roadways, so the planned repaving of this street will be welcomed by all.