John Kingston of Copthall Chambers

NB. There appear to have been at least three John Kingstons (two living, one dead) involved in the claim for the Claremont estate in British Guiana. One of the men given in the compensation records of the 1830s was John Kingston 'of Gloucester Place' as executor of John Kingston MP (q.v.) who died c. 1820; the other was John Kingston of Copthall Chambers, executor with Edward Egan (q.v.) of Robert Kingston (q.v.). Although these were conceivably the same man, the attribution of different addresses suggests two men. In addition, John Kingston of Clarence Terrace (q.v), who appears to have been the son (and executor under the will) of John Kingston MP, was a different man from the John Kingston who lived at 81 Gloucester Place in the 1830s. Much of the genealogical material around the family is (understandably) confused. Our tentative conclusion is that (1) John Kingston of Clarence Terrace was the son and executor of John Kingston MP, was temporarily associated with Gloucester Place in the 1820s where we believe he lived at no. 69 c. 1826, and died in 1839; (2) John Kingston, the brother of Robert Kingston, and who was in Demerara in 1816, subsequently returned to London, became a merchant, and is the John Kingston of Copthall Chambers, and of 81 Gloucester Place, who married Louisa Henrietta Edmonstone. The two men were probably cousins. This entry is intended to be for the second of these men, John Kingston of Copthall Chambers.

1. Will of John Kingston of Princes Street Hanover Square proved 08/02/1821. The same man presumably is referred to as of George Street Hanover Square in the London Gazette in the 1830s in the context of contestation over Claremont between the respective executors of John and Robert Kingston. The will of Robert Kingston of Demerara West Indies proved 02/01/1816 identifies his brothers as Benjamin and John and his sister as Alicia, wife of Edward Egan.

2. In 1841 John Kingston 'Ind' aged 47 born Ireland was living at Grove End Road, St John's parish, St Marylebone; the family was still at the same address in 1851 when he was shown aged 56 and as a West India merchant; in 1861 and 1871 he was at 12 Gloucester Gardens. This is probably the John Kingston of Copthall Chambers and executor of Robert Kingston. The firm of John Kingston & Co. failed in 1848, but continued to appear on the trade directories for several decades. John Kingston of Gloucester Gardens left £16,000 on his death in 1881 despite the reversal in the 1840s.

3. Although Cambridge University Alumni shows John Kingston (1780-1839) the son of John Kingston MP as marrying Dec. 15, 1829, Louisa Henrietta, dau. of Sir Charles Edmonstone, Bart., by his 2nd wife, the Hon. Louisa Hotham, and dying in Sept. 22, 1839, aged 59, these details are not consistent with the will of John Kingston of Clarence Terrace proved in 1839, which shows his wife as Harriet Ann and children identifiable as from his previous marriage to a woman called Julia. By contrast, among the children baptised by John Kingston and Louisa Henrietta Kingston at St Mary Bryanston Square between 1831 and 1839 (Alice Frances; John Hotham; Charles Fullarton, Emma Susannah, Henrietta Emily, Mary Emilia), John Hotham is identified as the son of John Kingston d. 1881 in the National Probate Calendar, while Alice might be the same Alice aged 18 in the 1851 census. In 1851 John Kingston d. 1881 also had living with him Louisa aged 20 and Charlotte aged 17; in 1861 Charlotte was still living with him, as was John H. No baptism has yet been found for Charlotte.

4. Louisa Henrietta Edmonstone had married John Kingston a bachelor by licence at St Mary Hampton 15/12/1829. Mrs Louisa Henrietta Kingston was shown as of 81 Gloucester Place when she was buried aged 32 at All Souls Kensal Green 21/03/1840. Her husband was variously described as of Gloucester Place and of 'Clairmont', Demerara in contemporary directories of the baronetage.

1. PROB 11/1639/180; PROB 11/1576/10; family trees for Alicia Kingston on Ancestry.com suggest that John Kingston (1737-1820) had a son John (1780-1839) as well as a daughter Alicia who married Edward Egan (q.v.). Alicia was in fact the sister of Benjamin and Robert Kingston (each of whom q.v.) and John Kingston of this colony, all cited in the will of Robert Kingston of Demerara. The family trees also show John Kingston (d. 1839) marrying Louisa Henrietta Edmonstone, which is repeated in the Cambridge University Alumni entry for John Kingston d. 1839. John Kingston of Clarence Terrace whose will was proved in 1839 does however appear to be John Kingston the younger, son of John Kingston MP.

2. 1841, 1851, 1861 and 1871 censuses online; National Probate Calendar 1881.

3. Ancestry.com, Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900 [database online].

4. Ancestry.com, London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921; Ancestry.com, London, England, Deaths and Burials, 1813-1980 [database online].