Richard Kemp (governor)

[4][5] His relation with William Kempe, formerly of Howes in Leicestershire, England who had represented the "upper parts of Elizabeth City"" in the House of Burgesses in 1629-1630 is unclear.

[8][9] Kemp was a political ally and friend of Sir John Harvey, the first royally appointed Colonial Governor of Virginia, who served until 1639.

[8][10] As the secretary for the Virginia colony, Kemp was responsible (and received fees) for issuing permits and grants, handling legal paperwork, and overseeing all official correspondence with the King.

[12] Kemp stowed away to England to plead his case to King Charles I to allow him to resume his duties as Secretary for the Colony of Virginia.

[13][11] In 1636, Kemp purchased the 1200 acre Rich Neck Plantation in James City County, Virginia, in what is now known as Newport News.

[1] However, his job required that he live at Jamestown at least during sessions of the Virginia General Assembly, even though the climate was notoriously unhealthy in the summertime.

[1] Kemp wrote his last will and testament on January 4, 1649, instructing his widow to dispose of his house in Jamestown and leave Virginia with their daughter (although she ultimately did neither).