In the Visitation of Cornwall, in the Kempe Pedigree, John Kempe is shown as the second son of Thomas Kempe and Catherine Courtenay. His eldest brother was Humphrey Kempe who appears in a number of records, including one pertaining to a reversion of lands in Dinham and Treswebyn, St Minver, dated 20 Mar 1604. The two parties involved were Humphry Kemp of Blisland, esquire, and Thomas Kent of St. Minver, yeoman. To quote directly (italics mine):
"Freely acquitted except for lease of same premises by John Kemp and William Kemp deceased, great grandfather and grandfather of Humphry Kempe to John Kent for 70 years, 18th June 1541. Rent reserved: £3, 6 shillings and 8 pence. Also settlement by Thomas Kemp deceased, father of Humphry Kempe for provision for jointure of Thomas Kemp's wife Katherine, Humphry Kempe's mother, premises in Dynham conveyed by fine levied by Thomas Kemp to Francis Courteney and John Cavell deceased Courtney and Cavell granted premises back again to Thomas and Katherine Kemp and heir(s) 12th August 1564." 3
Humphry's patrilineage as shown above matches that provided in the Visitation. John's and Humphrey's grandfather, William Kempe of Lavethan (in Blisland), married Margaret Smyth on 20 Sep 1540 in Blisland. For John's father, Thomas, to have been the son of Margaret, he would have been born shortly afterwards, say, 1541/2. If Thomas was around 18 years old when he married (1559/60), then John as his second son would have been born after 1563, the year in which Humphry's baptism was recorded. This is chronologically untenable, as John Kempe married in 1572 and would have been born no later than 1554. In oher words, John Kempe was neither the second son of Thomas nor of the same generation as Humphry who married twenty-two years after John. Timewise, John Kempe was far more likely to have been the second son of William Kempe and younger brother to Thomas which is how he is shown in the pedigree above.
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John Kempe late of the parish of St. Minver, gent, died intestate. An inventory of his goods & chattels was taken and appraised by Thomas Hore, John Penvose and William Manfield on 23 Sep 1622. This included the arrears of one annual rent of £30 at the time of his death by virtue of a demise made by John Kempe to Robert Kempe his son.
Administration was granted on 4 Jan 1622/3 to John Bayly of [illegible]. 3
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