Virginia and Virginians eminent Virginians, executives of the colony of Virginia from Sir Thomas Smyth to Lord Dunmore. Executives of the state of Virginia, from Patrick Henry to Fitzhugh Lee. Sketches of Gens. Ambrose Powel Hill, Robert E. Lee, Thos. Jonathan Jackson, Commodore Maury |
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RICHARD KEMPE. |
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RICHARD KEMPE.
Richard Kempe appears as a Member of the Council of Virginia in
1642, and as its President, in June, 1644, upon the departure of Sir
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colony. It is notable that during his incumbency the first fast and thanksgiving
days in the Colony of which any record is preserved, were ordered.
"Att James Cittye the 17th of February, 1644-5," it was "enacted by
the Governour, Counsell and Burgesses of this present Grand Assembly,
for God's glory and the publick benefit of the collony to the end that
God might avert his heavie judgments that are now vpon vs, That the
last Wednesday in every month be sett apart for a day of ffast and
humiliation, And that it be wholly dedicated to prayers and preaching,"
also, "That the eighteenth day of April be yearly celebrated by
thanksgivings for our deliverance from the hands of the Salvages."
[Referring to the recent massacre by the Indians.] (Hening's Statutes,
I., pp. 289, 290.)
Sir William Berkeley, returning in June, 1645, resumed the government
of Virginia, but Richard Kempe continued to serve the colony as a
member of the Council until 1648, and perhaps later, latterly as the Secretary
of the body. He died sometime before 1678. William Kempe,
probably a kinsman, was a Burgess from Elizabeth City County in
1630. The name is a highly respected one in Virginia, and the parish
records of Middlesex county present frequent representatives among the
lists of vestrymen.
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