Person Page - 848

          Sarah Kemble, daughter of Roger Kemble and Sarah Ward, was born on 5 July 1755.¹
     Sarah married William Siddons on 26 November 1773.¹
     Sarah died on 8 June 1831 at age 75.¹
     English actress, the eldest of twelve children of Roger Kemble, was born in the "Shoulder of Mutton" public-house, Brecon, Wales, on the 5th of July 1755. Through the special care of her mother in sending her to the schools in the towns where the company played, Sarah Kemble received a remarkably good education, although she was accustomed to make her appearance on the stage while still a child. She became attached to William Siddons, an actor of the company; but this was discountenanced by her parents, who wished her to accept the offer of a squire. Siddons was dismissed from the company, and she was sent to a situation as lady's maid to Mrs. Greathead at Guy's Cliff in Warwickshire. Here she recited Shakespeare, Milton and Rowe in the servants' hall, and occasionally before aristocratic company, and here also she began to develop a capacity for sculpture which was subsequently developed (between 1789 and 1790), and of which she provided samples in busts of herself and of her son. The necessary consent to her union with Siddons was at last obtained, and the marriage took place at Trinity Church, Coventry, on the 26th of November 1773. It was while playing at Cheltenham in the following year that Mrs. Siddons met with the earliest decided recognition of her powers as an actress, when by her representation of Belvidera in Thomas Otway's Venice Preserved she moved to tears a party of "people of quality" who had come to scoff. Her merits were made known by them to David Garrick, who sent his deputy to Cheltenham to see her as Calista in Rowe's Fair Penitent, the result being that she was engaged to appear at Drury Lane at a salary of £5 a week. Owing to inexperience as well as other circumstances, her first appearances as Portia and in other parts were unfortunate, and when, after playing with success in Birmingham, she was about to return to town she received a note from the manager of Drury Lane stating that her services would not be required. Thus, in her own words, "banished from Drury Lane as a worthless candidate for fame and fortune", she again in the beginning of 1777 went on "the circuit" in the provinces. After a very successful engagement at Bath, beginning in 1778 and lasting five years, she again accepted an offer from Drury Lane, when her appearance as Isabella in Garrick's version of Thomas Southerne's Fatal Marriage, on the 10th of October 1782, was a triumph, only equalled in the history of the English stage by that of Garrick's first night at Drury Lane in 1741 and that of Edmund Kean's in 1814. In her earlier years it was in scenes of a tender and melting character that she exercised the strongest sway over an audience; but in the performance of Lady Macbeth, in which she appeared on the 2nd of February 1785 for the first time in London, it was the grandeur of her exhibition of the more terrible passions as related to one awful purpose that held them spellbound. In Lady Macbeth she found the highest and best scope for her gifts. It fitted her as no other character did, and as perhaps it will never fit another actress. Her extraordinary and peculiar physical endowments -- tall and striking figure, brilliant beauty, powerfully expressive eyes, and solemn dignity of demeanor -- enabled her to confer a weird majesty on the character which inexpressibly heightened the tragic awe surrounding her fate. After Lady Macbeth she played Desdemona, Rosalind and Ophelia, all with great success; but it was in Queen Catherine -- which she first played on the occasion of her brother John Kemble's spectacular revival of Henry VIII in 1788 -- that she discovered a part almost as well adapted to her peculiar powers as that of Lady Macbeth. As Volumnia in Kemble's version of Coriolanus she also secured a triumph. In her early life she had attempted comedy, but her gifts in this respect were very limited. It was of course inevitable that comparisons should be made between her and her only peer, Rachel, who undoubtedly excelled her in intensity and the portrayal of fierce passion, but was a less finished artist and lacked Siddons' dignity and pathos. Though Siddons' minute and systematic study perhaps gave a certain amount of stiffness to her representations, it conferred on them a symmetry and proportion to which Rachel never attained. Siddons formally retired from the stage in 1812, but occasionally appeared on special occasions even when advanced in years. Her last appearance was on the 9th of June 1819 as Lady Randolph in John Home's Douglas, for the benefit of Mr. and Mrs Charles Kemble. Her most striking impersonations, besides the roles already mentioned, were those of Zara in William Congreve's Mourning Bride, Constance in King John, Mrs. Hailer in The Stranger, and Elvira in Pizarro. In private life Siddons enjoyed the friendship and respect of many of the most eminent persons of her time. Horace Walpole at first refused to join the fashionable chorus of her praise, but he was ultimately won over. Samuel Johnson wrote his name on the hem of her garment in the famous picture of the actress as the Tragic Muse by Reynolds (now in the Dulwich Gallery). "I would not lose", he said, "the honor this opportunity afforded to me for my name going down to posterity on the hem of your garment." Siddons died in London on the 8th of June 1831, and was buried in Paddington churchyard. (www.nndb.com/people).

     
     William married Sarah Kemble, daughter of Roger Kemble and Sarah Ward, on 26 November 1773.¹

          John Philip Kemble, son of Roger Kemble and Sarah Ward, was born in 1757.¹
     John married Priscill Hopkins on 8 December 1787.¹
     John died on 26 February 1823 in Lausanne, Switzerland.¹
     The second child of Roger Kemble, he was born at Prescot, Lancashire. His mother being a Roman Catholic, he was educated at Sedgeley Park Catholic seminary, near Wolverhampton, and the English college at Douai, with a view to becoming a priest. At the end of the four years' course, he still felt no vocation for the priesthood, and returning to England he joined the theatrical company of Crump & Chamberlain, his first appearance being as Theodosius in Nathaniel Lee's tragedy of that name at Wolverhampton on January 8, 1776.

In 1778, Kemble joined the York company of Tate Wilkinson, appearing at Wakefield as Captain Plume in George Farquhar's The Recruiting Officer; in Hull for the first time as Macbeth on October 30, and in York as Orestes in Ambrose Philips's Distresset Mother. In 1781 he obtained a "star" engagement at Dublin making his first appearance there on November 2 as Hamlet. He also achieved great success as Raymond in The Count of Narbonne, a play taken from Horace Walpole's Castle of Otranto.

Gradually he won for himself a high reputation as a careful and finished actor, and this, combined with the greater fame of his sister, Sarah, led to an engagement at Drury Lane, where he made his first appearance on September 30, 1783 as Hamlet. In this role he awakened interest and discussion among the critics rather than the enthusiastic approval of the public. As Macbeth on March 31, 1785 he shared in the enthusiasm aroused by Sarah Siddons, and established a reputation among living actors second only to hers. Brother and sister had first appeared together at Drury Lane on November 22, 1783, as Beverley and Mrs Beverley in Edward Moore's The Gamester, and as King John and Constance in Shakespeare's tragedy.

In the following year they played Montgomerie and Matilda in Richard Cumberland's The Carmelite, and in 1785 Adorni and Camiola in Kemble's adaptation of Philip Massinger's A Maid of Honor, and Othello and Desdemona. Between 1785 and 1787 Kemble appeared in a variety of roles, his Mentevole in Robert Jephson's Julia producing an overwhelming impression.

In December 1787 he married Priscilla Hopkins Brereton, the widow of an actor and herself an actress. Kemble's appointment as manager of Drury Lane in 1788 gave him full opportunity to dress the characters less according to tradition than in harmony with his own conception of what was suitable. He was also able to experiment with whatever parts might strike his fancy, and of this privilege he took advantage with greater courage than discretion.

He played a huge number of parts, including a large number of Shakespearian characters and also a great many in plays now forgotten, in his own version of Coriolanus, which was revived during his first season, the character of the "noble Roman" was so exactly suited to his powers that he not only played it with a perfection that has never been approached, but, it is said, unconsciously allowed its influence to colour his private manner and modes of speech. His tall and imposing person, noble countenance, and solemn and grave demeanour were uniquely adapted for the Roman characters in Shakespeare's plays; and, when in addition had to depict the gradual growth and development of one absorbing passion, his representation gathered a momentum and majestic force that were irresistible.

His defect was in flexibility, variety, rapidity; the characteristic of his style was method, regularity, precision, elaboration even of the minutest details, founded on a thorough psychological study of the special personality he had to represent. His elocutionary art, his fine sense of rhythm and emphasis, enabled him to excel in declamation, but physically he was incapable of giving expression to impetuous vehemence and searching pathos. In Coriolanus and Cato he was beyond praise, and possibly he may have been superior to both Garrick and Kean in Macbeth, although it must be remembered that in it part of his inspiration must have been caught from Mrs Siddons.

In all the other great Shakespearian characters he was, according to the best critics, inferior to them, least so in Lear, Hamlet and Wolsey, and most so in Shylock and Richard III. On account of the eccentricities of Sheridan, the proprietor of Drury Lane, Kemble withdrew from the management, and, although he resumed his duties at the beginning of the season 1800-1801, he at the close of 1802 finally resigned connection with it.

In 1803 he became manager of Covent Garden, in which he had acquired a sixth share for 23,000. The theatre was burned down on September 20, 1808, and the raising of the prices after the opening of the new theatre, in 1809, led to riots, which practically suspended the performances for three months. Kemble had been nearly ruined by the fire, and was only saved by a generous loan, afterwards converted into a gift, of £10,000 from the duke of Northumberland. Kemble took his final leave of the stage in the part of Coriolanus on June 23, 1817.

His retirement was probably hastened by the rising popularity of Edmund Kean. The remaining years of his life were spent chiefly abroad, and he died at Lausanne on the 26th of February 1823.²

          Priscill Hopkins was born in 1755.¹
     Priscill married John Philip Kemble, son of Roger Kemble and Sarah Ward, on 8 December 1787.¹
     Priscill died in May 1845.¹

     
     A Shakespearean actor, well known in later life for his girth and for his performance as Falstaff, especially at Covent Garden (1806) and the Drury Lane (1816). He also managed (1792–1800) the Edinburgh theater.      George Stephen Kemble, son of Roger Kemble and Sarah Ward, was born in 1758.¹
     George married Elizabeth Satchell in 1783 at London, England.¹
     George died on 5 June 1822.¹

          Elizabeth Satchell was born in 1763.¹
     Elizabeth married George Stephen Kemble, son of Roger Kemble and Sarah Ward, in 1783 at London, England.¹
     Elizabeth died in 1841.¹

          Elizabeth Kemble, daughter of Roger Kemble and Sarah Ward, was born in 1761.¹
     Elizabeth married Charles Edward Witlock in 1785.¹
     Elizabeth died in 1836.¹
     She married the actor Charles Edward Whitlock and with him went (1792) to the United States, where she acted in several roles. Perhaps best known for her performance of Portia, she retired in 1807.

     
     Charles married Elizabeth Kemble, daughter of Roger Kemble and Sarah Ward, in 1785.¹

          Anne Kemble, daughter of Roger Kemble and Sarah Ward, was born on 16 May 1764.¹
     Anne died in 1838.¹

          Jane Kemble, daughter of Roger Kemble and Sarah Ward, was born in 1777.¹

     
••••••••• Households Listed •••••••••.

Ellen Wrenshall "Nellie" Grant.¹
Henry Evans Gordon.²

          Nancy Skinner was born in 1850 in Missouri.¹ She lived with Ellen and Thomas Kemble, in 1860 at Prairie Township in Lincoln County, Missouri.¹
     Nancy was enumerated with Thomas Kemble on the 1860 U. S. Census for Prairie Township, Missouri. No relationship was stated. She was listed as a ten-year-old girl born in Missouri.¹

          John Hummel, son of (?) Hummel, was born in 1882 in Hungary.¹
     John married Elizabeth Kersch, daughter of (?) Kersch and Elizabeth (?), circa 1903 at Hungary.¹
     John Hummel immigrated in 1905 from Hungary.²
     Apparently John immigrated first around 1905 or 1906 then in 1907 Elizabeth followed with the children, her mother and her brother. It could be the rest of the family waited until Peter was old enough to travel, he was born in about December 1906.³
     John was a grave digger in a cemetery in 1910.²
     Elizabeth and John Hummel lived in 1910 at 3630 Rosewell Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri. Residing with them were, their children Miklos, Peter and Helen, John's brother, Joseph Hummel, Elizabeth's mother, Elizabeth Kersch.²
     John is a head of household on the 1910 U. S. Census for ward 12, St. Louis, Missouri. He was identified as a 29-year-old man born in Magyar as were his parents; he had been married for seven years in this marraige which was his first. He was not a citizen and could not read or write English. He was renting a home. Enumerated with him were: his wife, Elizabeth, his sons Miklos and Peter, his daughter Helen, his mother-in-law Elizabeth (?), his brother Joseph.²
     John was a truck farmer in 1920 at Union Road, St. Louis County, Missouri.¹
     Elizabeth and John Hummel lived in 1920 at Union Road in Missouri. Residing with them were, their children Miklos, Helen and Teresa, Elizabeth's mother, Elizabeth Kersch.¹
     John is a head of household on the 1920 U. S. Census for Carondelet Township, St. Louis County, Missouri. He was identified as a married 38-year-old man born in Hungary (Magyar) as were his parents; he was renting a farm which was listed on farm schedule 169 and could not read, write or speak English. Enumerated with him were: his wife, Elizabeth, his sons Miklos, his daughters Helen and Teresa, his mother-in-law Elizabeth Kersch.¹
     John was a school porter in 1930.⁴
     Elizabeth and John Hummel lived in 1930 at 4325 Eichelburger Street in St. Louis, Missouri. Residing with them were, their children Miklos.⁴
     John is a head of household on the 1930 U. S. Census for ward 13, St. Louis, Missouri. He was identified as a married 45-year-old man born in Hungary (Magyar) as were his parents; he was renting a home for $31.00 per month and could now read, write and speak English. Enumerated with him were: his wife, Elizabeth, his sons Miklos.⁴
     There are some apparent problems with this family on the 1930 census.
John Jr. is shown as 22-years-old he actually should have been about 15-years-old, younger that Mick.
Mick is shown as 20-years-old, he should have been about 26. His birth place is shown as Missouri, actually born in Hungary.
John Sr. is shown as 45, should have been about 48.
Elizabeth is shown as 42, should have been about 45.
Daughter Margaret, age 17, doesn't exist on the 1920 census, could be either Theresa who would have been 19 or Helen who would have been 22. I have added as a seperate person but don't this she really is.
John and Elizabeths marriage date would be 1907 or 1908 was actually closer to 1903.⁴

          Elizabeth Kersch, daughter of (?) Kersch and Elizabeth (?), was born in 1884 in Hungary.¹
     Elizabeth married John Hummel, son of (?) Hummel, circa 1903 at Hungary.¹
     Elizabeth lived in 1907 in Zubadfalu, Hungary, residing with her were, her children Miklos and Peter, her mother Elizabeth Kersch her brother, Peter Kersch.²
     Elizabeth Kersch immigrated on 23 October 1907 to New York, New York, traveling on the ship Kaiser Wilhelm II from Bremen. Arriving with Elizabeth were Miklos "Mick" Hummel, Peter Hummel, Elizabeth Kersch and Peter Kersch.²
     Apparently John immigrated first around 1905 or 1906 then in 1907 Elizabeth followed with the children, her mother and her brother. It could be the rest of the family waited until Peter was old enough to travel, he was born in about December 1906.²
     Elizabeth and John Hummel lived in 1910 at 3630 Rosewell Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri. Residing with them were, their children Miklos, Peter and Helen, John's brother, Joseph Hummel, Elizabeth's mother, Elizabeth Kersch.³
     Elizabeth was enumerated as the wife of John Hummel under the name of "Elizabeth Hummel" on the 1910 U. S. Census for ward 12, St. Louis, Missouri. She was listed as a 24-year-old woman born in Magyar (Hungary) as were her parents; she had been married for seven years and had three children, all still living.³
     Elizabeth and John Hummel lived in 1920 at Union Road in St. Louis County, Missouri. Residing with them were, their children Miklos, Helen and Teresa, Elizabeth's mother, Elizabeth Kersch.¹
     Elizabeth was enumerated as the wife of John Hummel under the name of "Elizabeth Hummel" on the 1920 U. S. Census for Carondelet Township, St. Louis County, Missouri. She was listed as a married 36-year-old woman born in Hungary as were her parents; she could not read, write or speak English.¹
     Elizabeth and John Hummel lived in 1930 at 4325 Eichelburger Street in St. Louis, Missouri. Residing with them were, their children Miklos.⁴
     Elizabeth was enumerated as the wife of John Hummel under the name of "Elizabeth Hummel" on the 1930 U. S. Census for ward 13, St. Louis, Missouri. She was listed as a married 42-year-old woman born in Hungary as were her parents; she could read, write and speak English. She was 20-year-old at the time of her first marriage.⁴

          Miklos "Mick" Hummel, son of John Hummel and Elizabeth Kersch, was born in 1904 in Hungary.^1,2
     He lived with his parent, Elizabeth, in 1907 in Zubadfalu, Hungary.²
     Miklos "Mick" Hummel immigrated along with Elizabeth Kersch on 23 October 1907 at New York, New York, traveling on the ship Kaiser Wilhelm II.²
25438
     Apparently John immigrated first around 1905 or 1906 then in 1907 Elizabeth followed with the children, her mother and her brother. It could be the rest of the family waited until Peter was old enough to travel, he was born in about December 1906.²
     He lived with his parents, Elizabeth and John, in 1910 at 3630 Rosewell Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri.³
     He was enumerated as the son of John Hummel under the name of "Mick Hummel" on the 1910 U. S. Census for ward 12, St. Louis, Missouri. He was listed as a seven-year-old boy born in Magyar (Hungary) as were his parents.³
     He lived with his parents, Elizabeth and John, in 1920 at Union Road in St. Louis County, Missouri.¹
     Miklos was a helper on the home farm in 1920 at Union Road, Missouri.¹
     He was enumerated as the son of John Hummel under the name of "Mick Hummel" on the 1920 U. S. Census for Carondelet Township, St. Louis County, Missouri. He was listed as a 16-year-old boy born in Missouri, his parents were born in Hungary (he was actually born in Hungary.¹
     He lived with his parents, Elizabeth and John, in 1930 at 4325 Eichelburger Street in St. Louis, Missouri.⁴
     Miklos was a tinner in 1930.⁴
     He was enumerated as the son of John Hummel on the 1930 U. S. Census for ward 13, St. Louis, Missouri. He was listed as listed as a single 20-year-old male born in Missouri.⁴

          Helen Hummel, daughter of John Hummel and Elizabeth Kersch, was born in 1908 in Missouri.¹
     She lived with her parents, Elizabeth and John, in 1910 at 3630 Rosewell Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri.²
     Helen was enumerated as the daughter of John Hummel on the 1910 U. S. Census for ward 12, St. Louis, Missouri. She was listed as a two-year-old girl born in Magyar (Hungary) as were her parents.²
     She lived with her parents, Elizabeth and John, in 1920 at Union Road, St. Louis County, Missouri.¹
     She was enumerated as the daughter of John Hummel on the 1920 U. S. Census for Carondelet Township, St. Louis County, Missouri. She was listed as listed as a 12-year-old girl born in Missouri, her parents were born in Hungary; she was attending school.¹

     
     (?) married Elizabeth (?) at Hungary.¹
     (?) died before 1907 in Hungary.¹

     
     Elizabeth married (?) Kersch at Hungary.¹ Elizabeth (?) was also known as Ersebet (?).²      Elizabeth (?) was born in 1844.¹
     She lived with her child, Elizabeth Kersch, in 1907 in Zubadfalu, Hungary.²
     Elizabeth Kersch immigrated along with Elizabeth Kersch on 23 October 1907 at New York, New York, traveling on the ship Kaiser Wilhelm II.²

     Apparently John immigrated first around 1905 or 1906 then in 1907 Elizabeth followed with the children, her mother and her brother. It could be the rest of the family waited until Peter was old enough to travel, he was born in about December 1906.²
     She lived with her son-in-law, John Hummel and daughter, Elizabeth, in 1910 at 3630 Rosewell Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri.³
     Elizabeth was enumerated as the mother-in-law of John Hummel under the name of "Elizabeth Kersch" on the 1910 U. S. Census for ward 12, St. Louis, Missouri. She was listed as a 56-year-old widow born in Magyar (Hungary) as were her parents; she could not read or write English.³
     She lived with her son-in-law, John Hummel and daughter, Elizabeth, in 1920 at Union Road in St. Louis County, Missouri.¹
     Elizabeth was enumerated as the mother-in-law of John Hummel under the name of "Elizabeth Kersch" on the 1920 U. S. Census for Carondelet Township, St. Louis County, Missouri. She was listed as listed as a 76-year-old widow born in Hungary (Magyar) as were her parents.¹

     
     He lived with his parent, Elizabeth, in 1907 in Zubadfalu, Hungary.²      Peter Hummel, son of John Hummel and Elizabeth Kersch, was born in 1907 in Hungary.¹
     Peter Hummel immigrated along with Elizabeth Kersch on 23 October 1907 at New York, New York, traveling on the ship Kaiser Wilhelm II.²

     Apparently John immigrated first around 1905 or 1906 then in 1907 Elizabeth followed with the children, her mother and her brother. It could be the rest of the family waited until Peter was old enough to travel, he was born in about December 1906.²
     He lived with his parents, Elizabeth and John, in 1910 at 3630 Rosewell Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri.³
     He was enumerated as the son of John Hummel on the 1910 U. S. Census for ward 12, St. Louis, Missouri. He was listed as a three-year-old boy born in Magyar (Hungary) as were his parents.³