David was born in on 13th August 1863 in Rickinghall. His parents were David, aged 33 and Maria Kemp (née Garnham), aged 26.
In the 1881 Census David was aged 18 and living at Rickinghall Inferior.
On the 21st August 1886 he married Emma Largent. He was 23. Before the First World War they had 9 children in 19 years.
In the 1891 Census David was 28 years old. Unfortunately he was at HM Prison, St Margaret’s, St Helen’s St. in Ipswich. He was described as an Engine Driver.
In the 1901 Census he was living in Great Waldingfield, near Sudbury with his wife Emma.
In the 1911 Census There is no trace of David.
Military and War: He served in the Army Service Corps V Company Forage Department but because he did not serve abroad he received no medals. In his Service Record he enlisted on 16th December 1916 and his address is given as 8, Finsbury Square, Bury St. Edmunds. He states that he had previously served 2 years in the West Suffolk Militia. He was discharged on 25th September 1917.
Post War: In the 1939 register David was living at Priors Road, Bury St Edmunds (perhaps with his brother who lived at No. 121 Priors Road?).
He died in June 1944 at the age of 82 in Bury St Edmunds, three months after the death of his wife Emma who was 76.
David had a lengthy and varied criminal history. Amongst other convictions, in November 1870 at the age of 7 he was sentenced to 12 months for burglary. In January1883 at the age of 20 he was sentenced to 2 years hard labour for attempted rape. In the East Anglian Daily Times of November 6th 1901 it is reported that David was accused of stealing coal at Halstead, Essex. In the same year, in October, he is accused of poaching. In 1913 he is again up before The Petty Sessions for having a gun without a licence and fined 10s. As far as we are able to establish David’s last appearance in court was in December 1936 when he was 76.
Perhaps the prison record was the reason his son, Albert William, is found living with his grandparents Abraham and Mary Largent (Emma’s parents) in Badwell Ash.
