Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

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John Kemp (b. ? - d. ?)
MSA SC 5496-5940
Accomplice to slave flight, Prince George's County, Maryland, 1864

Biography:

John Kemp of Prince George's County was charged with enticing slaves to run away from their masters in or around P.G. County.  It is believed that he fled to the District of Columbia after being charged with this crime.  He had a requisition on him issued to the District of Columbia by Governor A.W. Bradford on January 5, 1864 along with 5 other people (William and Leethe Brown; William Brown; William Lee; and Henry Norton) who stood charged with enticing and assisting slaves to run away in or around Prince George's County.  The Governor appointed Judson F. Richardson (Sheriff of Prince George's County) Agent to receive the 6 requisitioned persons.  On May 6, 1864, (the same date of Henry Norton's second requisition for enticing slaves to run away), Kemp again had a requisition placed on him to the Districe of Columbia, as he was charged on two counts of enticing, persuading and assisting slaves to run away from their masters and owners.  The second charge of John Kemp and Henry Norton enticing slaves to run away may be evidence of a systematic network of assisting slaves in their flight.  No record of John Kemp was recorded in the Maryland Penitentiary Records, it is likely he was never found.

Return to John Kemp's Introductory Page


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