To read the original manuscript click on page 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.

(start of page 2 right) James Kemp was born at Hose in the year 1672. He had two brothers, there father was a farmer. One son was apprentice to a baker, one to a grocer and James to a blacksmith at Harby, with Mr Blanekley. The shop was whe Mrs Musson old houses is in the Nether Street. I can remember the old shop door with brands on it all over, letters as they stampd forck shafts with. James servd seven years there. When he was out of his time he left his old master. (start of page 3 left) He went to Southwell to learn to make geers and chains as horses drawd all in rops at that time. His master was calld Red Hot Tom. He stopd there 12 months. His master died. They sent for him back to Harby, so he began to make geers the first in Leicestershire. In some time he marrie the widow. His eldest son learnt the trade. They made so many geers they saved a sum of money. They was 4 on them (start of page 3 right) almost night and day.

At that time there was never a waggon, never a clock, nor a pump, nor a poor man. The shaft horse had nothing but a cart saddle, no breech. They carts sides come all the lenth and for shafts and at the end of the shafts 4 inche of the end ther was a three quarter hole bored and a pin of wood to fit it. They had a staple put into the hame and a peice of white leather to fit the shaft. (start of page 4 left) So they put this leather ring on the shaft, and then the wood pin through this. It was cald the towpin. When they took they horse out, they took the pin out, and the ring came off.

This James Kemp eldest son he was called James. He was born in the year 1700. He came a companion with of a yong man, his name was Thomas Gregg. He was born about the same date. (start of page 4 right) These 2 yong men married two sisters the name of Harby of Harby. J Kemps wifes name was Elizabeth. T Greggs wife was Catherine. There father was a farmer and had a house and land of his own at Harby. He gave these two daughters a fortune and the land to his only son John Harby at his mothers death. She was left a widow and her son perswaded (start of page 5 left) to give her house and land to him then and he wold maintain her for life. In a few years he died and as there was no written agreement his widow would not pay any think to her so she was destute of house and mantence. James K having a house in the town so these two Good Samaritans put her into this house and maintained her as long as she lived and paid all funerl expnsers betwixt them. (start of page 5 right) This T Gregg hed house of his own in the town. I can git no farthe back of his as I never heard my father say whether he was bor at Harby or a stranger. But I think he was a native of Harby upon having this house of his own. I never heard of him buying it.

Thos Gregg was a sheepherd and lived in his own house. He had 4 sons, Thomas, Richard, John, and Henry, all brought up watching there fleece care.

(start of page 6 left) This J Kemp and T Gregg, there estates joined together and they lived in unitey all the days of there lifes.

Now these two brother was stricken in years, the betwixt seventy and eighty. There was a great election betwix Hungerford and Putchin for the County of Leicester, such a one as never was before nor never since. The Duke of Rutland gave Esqr Putchin his intrust. (start of page 6 right) All them as could not ride on horseback they fetcht in caches and Chaies. There was Plungar, Barkestone, Redmile, and Bottesford, all whent throw Harby. This Mr Gregg and Mr Kemp, as the Duke calld them, for he came acanvisen hisself, so they gave him there votes.

Mrs Gregg and Mrs Kemp told there husbands as they wold never fetch sich old men as them. This is 75 years since.

(start of page 7 left) The day before the election they let them all know to get ready at 8 o'clock on the next morning. Mr Gregg and his wife came to our house about 7 o'clock. In a litle wile a man come and to them as the coaches was again Whittles they might come directly. Mr Gregg and my granfather got up, and he said ‘Now Betty, you said they whould never fetch us.' (start of page 7 right) Then Betty and Kate cried. They got into the coch, and ther was sich Huzzas, ‘Putchin for ever’. Old Mrs Hawoodd mother and Mr Julians mother, as they had no votes, pulled off there caps and twirled them over there heads and shouted ‘Hungerford for ever, Huzza’.

There was never seen so many in the Nether Street before, for cochees was seldom seen in those days. (start of page 8 left) Mr Gregg was a verry stout, bulky man, and Mr Kemp was verry stout. There was a man, his name was Richard Hawley, a verey little deformd man, humpd back, but full of concequence. He was put into the coach to Mr Gregg and Mr Kemp. They crushd, he cried, and whould not ride. He whould come out but they snap too the door and away went. My cousin Dickey, (start of page 8 right) for evereybody cald him cousin Dickey, they whould keep him verry warm.

There was open houses at Melton, and on the road the Duke and Lord Granby, Putchin, and all the nobility met them on the road almost 2 mile to welcome them into the town. They was so many carriages and horses that they reached a mile. (start of page 9 left) The gentlemen rode first. There was sich a show as Leicester had never seen. They was well treated, wines, rum, brandy, and anythink as they wishd to drink. Esq. Putchin came to there inn to see if the old gentlemen where good care taken of. Hungerford was voted in. They was brought home to there own door with their hats all over robbins, pleased enough to tell Betty and Kate as they was better look on there than at home.

(start of page 9 right) All thse things was before my day, as my (father) was 40 years older (than) me.

The fields was open at that time. It was iclosed in the year 1790. Before the inclosure it being almost all plowd, so we was at work betime in the morning and late at night. We often had 20 pair of plow irons to be done by 6 oclock in the morning so in the middle of the day (start of page 2 left) so my father and my brother James and me sat on an old coffer, so he told us what hapend in his day, and his father told him what whappend in his day, and his fathers. Now my brother could rember nothing. I can rember it as well as if it had been told me yerster day, so my brother James if he wanted to know any think in our family he came to me. I could tell him (start of page 10 right) as well as if I had it in a book before me.

Now this is in my rembrence. I was 3 years and a half old. My granfather and Mr Gregg ushd to sit under a crab tree upon some trees as lay under it, there long stafs in there hands and somtimes. One time Mr Rouse of Hose about there age all sat under this large tree. He was an old compnion of thers, all with there long stafs, about 2 yards long. This puts me in mind of keeping there staf in there hands, as long as live. (start of page 11 left) Tommy as with them. Mr Rouse was telling them as when he was first married he whent to Nottingham with the team, and he brought a peck of tators, the firs as come into Hose. They went again son after and told the man to bring a strike and the Mrs said they should not for they should not eat them, whilst they were good. Mr Rouse lighted his pipe with a glass by the sun.

(start of page 11 right) It was the last time meting. My granfather taken ill and soon died. At is funeral Mrs Gregg stopped at home with my sister Mary and me. She was about half a year old. Mrs Gregg, I rember, knocked her stick on the harthstone to quiet Mary, and said “Churn, butter, churn”. Mr Gregg lived but a few months after. Mr gav his son Henry his Estate, to take care of his widow. (start of page 12 left) I have heard my mother say as she was well taken care of, and well used as they was a great to doo with my aunt Kate. She oftimes came to drink tea with us. She was a great favourite of my fathers. My father and mother was at her funerl, and I hope thsee is all gone to happiness. Mr Girton was as good as his promise. His old servant was put into his house and land. There young daughter always lived with them. (start of page 12 right) The eldest son of Mr Gregg and one Mr Leadbetter, both young men, married 2 co heirs at Long Clawson the name of Harby. They an estate at Harby and a good fortune beside. Then this young Mr Gregg took a farm at Sommerby and liv there the remains of his days. The youngest son Henry went to live with Mr Girton of Shelford. He was a faithful servant and livead with him a many years. This Mr had a house and land at Harby. (start of page 13 left) He promised his old servant he should have it when at liberty. This H Gregg married a young woman of Hucknall Torket where the learned Lord Byron was interd. She was of high blood. She was own aunt to the champin caunt. She was a fine young woman without flatterry. Her name was Martha Butler so this coople came to live at Harby with thre father and mother till Mr Girtons house was at liberty.

(start of page 13 right) To the end of there days I was a near neighbour to them and oftimes went in. This daughter was verey kind to her wdowed mother and they lived in peace and comfort. But now her beloved parents is gone to there long home. H Greggs estate blong to his only son Samuel. There was Thomas and Henry but they are gone to the realms above. It is a bewtiful place, it has been new rebilt, it is a paridice. (start of page 14) I could speak verry highly of the family but perhaps you whould think I was a flatterer.

And so adieu. Janary 1850. I have seen 74 Christmas Days. T Kemp.