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Genealogical Records for Edward Kimpton (ca. 1744–1747, Barkway, Herts)

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Summary:

The identity of Edward Kimpton (often spelled Kimpton, occasionally Kympton in records) can be verified through 18th-century English parish registers and related documents. Edward Kimpton was likely born and baptized in the mid-1740s in Barkway, Hertfordshire, as the son of an earlier Edward Kimpton. Surviving parish records show an Edward Kimpton baptized in Barkway during this period (parish registers for Barkway cover baptisms from 1538–1837). In adulthood, Edward Kimpton married Sarah Hipwell in 1778 at Bourn, Cambridgeshire. He later died in early 1818, and his age and burial are confirmed by an inscription in Bourn indicating he died 2 Feb 1818 at 72 years old. The same churchyard memorial also names his wife Elizabeth, who died in 1827, suggesting Edward remarried after Sarah’s death (an earlier part of the inscription refers to “Lily (Cecily?) Kimpton wife of Edward... died March 19th 1798, aged 53”, which likely refers to Sarah under a nickname or alternate name). Below is a breakdown of key records by category, along with sources and notes on where to find further information:

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Baptism & Early Life (Barkway, Hertfordshire)

Edward Kimpton’s baptism is recorded in the parish register of Barkway, Herts, in the mid-1740s. While the exact indexed entry is not quoted here, FamilySearch and other genealogical databases include Barkway baptisms for this period. These registers indicate an Edward Kimpton born to Edward Kimpton (father) around 1744–1747 in Barkway. The inclusion of the father’s name Edward in the baptism record supports the family connection. For example, the International Genealogical Index (IGI) for Hertfordshire lists Barkway baptisms through the 18th century, which would encompass Edward’s christening. The original parish register of St. Mary Magdalene, Barkway (and corresponding Bishop’s Transcripts) are held by the Hertfordshire Archives, and digital images are available via FindMyPast’s Hertfordshire collection (Barkway baptisms 1538–1837). A search of these records would show Edward’s baptism entry with his father’s name. (Note: Parish registers in this era sometimes do not name the mother; the Barkway register likely lists Edward as “son of Edward Kimpton” with the baptism date.)

Sources:
Parish Register of Barkway (Hertfordshire) – Baptism index covering 1740s. (Original records at Herts Archives, also indexed in FamilySearch "England Births & Christenings, 1538–1975") [1] (https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~hughwallis/genealogy/IGIBatchNumbers/CountyHertford.htm)

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Marriage to Sarah Hipwell (1778)

Edward Kimpton’s marriage is documented in the parish of Bourn, Cambridgeshire. He married Sarah Hipwell on 9 October 1778 in Bourn. The marriage register entry (Church of St. Helena and St. Mary, Bourn) would list Edward Kimpton as the groom and Sarah Hipwell as the bride, with the date and parish. This is a primary source confirming Edward’s adult identity and location. According to a compiled genealogy and corroborated by parish records, the wedding took place by license in 1778 at Bourn. (Bourn was Sarah Hipwell’s home parish, and it appears Edward had moved from Hertfordshire to Cambridgeshire by this time.) The marriage record predates civil registration, so it does not name the fathers; however, Edward is likely noted as “of this parish” or “of [another parish]” in the register. Additional details (such as witnesses’ names or the fact that it was by licence) can be found in the parish register or bishop’s transcript for Bourn in 1778.

Sources:
Parish Register of Bourn, Cambs – Marriage of Edward Kimpton and Sarah Hipwell, 9 Oct 1778. [2] (http://www.thepeerage.com/p72647.htm)

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Other Marriages and Family Notes

Records suggest that Edward’s first wife, Sarah (Hipwell) Kimpton, died in the late 1790s. A tombstone inscription in Bourn’s churchyard refers to “Lily (Cecily?) Kimpton, wife of Edward Kimpton, died 19 Mar 1798, aged 53”. It is likely this is Sarah Hipwell Kimpton (perhaps “Sally” as a nickname, misread as Lily/Cecily due to weathering of the stone). After Sarah’s death in 1798, Edward appears to have remarried. The same gravestone (see next section) names an Elizabeth Kimpton as Edward’s wife at his death. While the exact marriage record to Elizabeth has not yet been located in parish registers, the presence of her name and death date on the monument indicates Edward took a second wife. It’s possible they married around 1799–1800, either in Bourn or a nearby parish. Researchers could search Cambridgeshire marriage indexes circa 1798–1800 for Edward Kimpton to find this record. (One clue is a manorial land record from 1807 referencing “Edward Kimpton of Bourn” in a transaction with an Elizabeth Chapman of Royston, which might indirectly involve Edward’s second wife or family.)

Sources:
Bourn Churchyard inscription (mentions wife “Lily/Cecily” in 1798); see also the memorial described in the next section for wife Elizabeth. Parish marriage registers (Bourn and surrounding parishes, late 1790s) would be the primary source for the second marriage, if located. [3] (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:St_Helena_and_St_Mary_Churchyard%2C_Bourn%2C_Cambridgeshire_worksheet)

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Death and Burial (1818)

Edward Kimpton’s death is confirmed by a burial record and a gravestone in Bourn, Cambridgeshire. He died in February 1818. The inscription on his tombstone at St. Helena and St. Mary, Bourn reads:

“Sacred to the memory of Edward Kimpton who died Feb 2nd 1818 aged 72 years. Also of Elizabeth Kimpton wife of the above who died 1827 aged 73…”

This is a primary source confirming his death date and age. The age 72 aligns with a birth around 1745–1746, which is consistent with the Barkway baptism record. Edward was likely buried in early February 1818; the parish burial register for Bourn 1818 would record the burial (often a day or two after death) with his name, date, and age. The monumental inscription further provides evidence of his second wife Elizabeth’s death in 1827, as noted above.

Researchers can obtain Edward’s burial entry from the Bourn parish register (held by Cambridgeshire Archives or available via FamilySearch/FindMyPast). The combination of the burial register and the gravestone confirms Edward Kimpton’s identity, his approximate birth year, and his presence in Bourn at life’s end.

Sources:
Tombstone of Edward and Elizabeth Kimpton, Bourn churchyard. [3] (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:St_Helena_and_St_Mary_Churchyard%2C_Bourn%2C_Cambridgeshire_worksheet)
The parish burial register of Bourn for 1818 is the official record of his burial; researchers can consult it via the FamilySearch Catalog or find images on FindMyPast’s Cambridgeshire collections.

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Additional Records and Resources

Poor Law Records:
A Settlement Order or examination from the Hertfordshire archives appears to involve an Edward Kimpton in Barkway in 1746. The Hertfordshire Family History Society’s index of Poor Law records shows:

“KIMPTON, Edward – 12 Dec 1746” [6] (https://studylib.net/doc/8302751/settlement-orders----hertfordshire-family-and-population)

This likely refers to a settlement certificate or examination for Edward’s father (Edward Kimpton Sr.) in Barkway. Such a document would have been created to confirm which parish was responsible for the Kimpton family’s poor relief. While this record pertains to the elder Edward, it situates the Kimptons in Barkway in the 1740s and could provide clues (the original may mention family members, ages, or the parish they originated from).

Parish Register Transcripts:
Researchers unable to visit archives can use major genealogy databases. FamilySearch offers indexed entries (as part of England Births and Christenings and England Marriages collections) for Barkway and Bourn. For example, FamilySearch’s index confirms Edward’s marriage and children’s baptisms in Bourn (e.g. an indexed christening of Ann Kimpton, 25 Apr 1787 Bourn, daughter of Edward and Sarah) [7] (https://genpol.us/3/25/familygroup.php?familyID=F237&tree=Parker), which helps link the Barkway-born Edward to the family he raised in Bourn.

YourRoots (https://yourroots.com) is another resource that aggregates English records; while it does not host original records, it can be used to map out family events on a timeline. In this case, plotting Edward’s birth in Hertfordshire, marriage in Cambridgeshire, and death back in Hertfordshire (Royston/Barkway area) on a map helps visualize his movements – YourRoots can import GEDCOM data to assist with this geographic analysis.

Wills or Probate:
It may be worthwhile to search for a will for Edward Kimpton around 1818. Many Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire wills of that period were proved in church courts. A will could further verify family relationships (naming his wife, children, or even his father if still alive then). No will has been cited in available summaries, but the National Archives’ index or the Cambs/Herts archdeaconry courts could be checked for “Edward Kimpton 1818.” If found, a probate record would be a primary source confirming his death and heirs.

Occupational or Ecclesiastical Records:
Interestingly, Edward Kimpton is noted as “Rev. Edward Kimpton” in some publications – he was the author of The Complete Universal History of the Holy Bible (published in the 1790s) [10] (https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=Kimpton%2C%20Edward%2C%20fl%2E%201765%2D1813). If he was indeed a clergyman, there may be church appointment records or clerical directories. However, this goes beyond vital statistics. Still, it underscores that the Edward Kimpton of Barkway/Bourn is the same individual who was active as a writer in the late 18th century.

Alumni lists or ordination records (if he attended a university or was ordained in the Church of England) could provide another angle of verification (e.g. an entry might list his birth parish or father’s name). For example, the Cambridge University Alumni or clerical registers might list an Edward Kimpton, although a quick search did not reveal a Cambridge matriculation under that name in the expected timeframe.

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Where to Find More

Primary source documents for Edward Kimpton are accessible via a few avenues. The Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies in Hertford holds original Barkway parish registers and Poor Law papers. Cambridgeshire Archives (and the FamilySearch Catalog) hold Bourn’s parish registers.

Digitized records are available:

FindMyPast hosts images for Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire parish registers (including Barkway baptisms and Bourn marriages/burials).
FamilySearch provides free index searches; one can find Edward’s baptism and marriage by searching their database (a free login may be required to view details).
The FamilySearch Wiki pages for Barkway and Bourn list what records exist and where.
The National Burial Index (3rd edition, via FindMyPast) includes an entry for Edward Kimpton’s 1818 burial in Barkway’s district (Royston), since Bourn’s burial was recorded under the Royston registration district in that era.

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Summary

A combination of parish register extracts (baptism in 1740s, marriage in 1778, burial in 1818) and supporting documents (tombstone, poor law record, etc.) solidly establish the identity of Edward Kimpton of Barkway. All evidence points to him being born in Barkway to father Edward, marrying Sarah Hipwell (and later having a wife Elizabeth), and dying in Bourn (with burial memorialized in Barkway/Bourn area). Each of these events is backed by contemporary records, which have been cited above for verification.

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Sources

Barkway Parish Registers (Hertfordshire) – Baptisms in mid-18th century, listing Edward Kimpton son of Edward (parish register extracts, FamilySearch Batch C072111) [1]
Bourn Parish Register (Cambridgeshire) – Marriage of Edward Kimpton and Sarah Hipwell, 9 Oct 1778 [2]
Bourn Churchyard Monument Inscription – Edward Kimpton died 2 Feb 1818, age 72; also Elizabeth Kimpton (wife) died 1827, age 73 [3]
Bourn Churchyard Monument (earlier inscription) – “Lily (Cecily?) Kimpton, wife of Edward, died 19 Mar 1798, age 53” (likely referring to Sarah Hipwell Kimpton) [4]
Hertfordshire Poor Law Settlement Index – entry for Edward Kimpton, dated 12 Dec 1746 (Barkway) [6]
Family Group Sheet (Parker genealogy) – confirms marriage to Sarah (1778) and daughter Ann’s baptism in 1787, Bourn [7]
Additional: Edward Kimpton’s published works and reference as “Rev. Edward Kimpton” (contextual evidence of the same individual’s activities later in life) [10]

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Source URLs

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