Israel Kingshott
One of the more impressively named members of the Kingshott family was a chap called Israel Kingshott, one of at least two children born to John & Sarah Kingshott of Chiddingfold, Surrey, England.
Israel was born on 6th May 1812 at Chiddingfold, Surrey and was baptised there on 31st May.
Israel trained as a Cabinet Maker and was, therefore, one of the more skilled members of the 19th-century family. He seems to have started his career well and married Frances Page, again at Chiddingfold, in May 1834.
As Israel's career took off, he moved around Surrey before moving up into London, in what is now Camden. Between 1836 and 1858, he had ten children. Their birthplaces show where the family moved: Guildford, Chiddingfold, Dorking, and Epsom.
The census records for Israel Kingshott show that in 1841 and 1851, he was in Guildford. By 1861, he was living in Epsom, and in the 1871 and 1891 censuses, he was living in Drummond Street, St Pancras, London. Despite extensive searching, I have not located the family in the 1881 census. If anyone manages to do so, please let me know.
The advertisement above appeared in an 1860 publication entitled "A Handbook of Epsom", by CJ Swete. A copy is available and downloadable, at no cost, from Google Books. This advertisement appears on page 36 of the advertisements at the back of the book. Interestingly, on page 37, Israel's wife Frances, has her own advertisement, having branched out from assisting her husband. Her advertisement appears below.
So, even by 1860, Israel and Frances were clearly doing very well. His career can also be traced via the census. In 1851, he is recorded as a cabinet maker. By 1861, a year after the publication of these advertisements, he describes himself as a master cabinet maker. In 1871 he diversifies and becomes an upholsterer and by 1891 he is back to recording himself as a cabinet maker.
Israel's death certificate adds a further interesting dimension to his work. He died on July 5, 1896, at 65 Stanhope Street, St Pancras, London. He was recorded as a cabinet maker and a pianoforte maker.
Other Kingshott family members from different branches followed in Israel's footsteps. Most notable of these is Jim Kingshott who was Israel's fourth cousin twice removed.
I am still actively researching descendants of this family. The information that I have so far can be found here. This is very much a work in progress and any information on any descendants of this family would be gratefully received. A particularly interesting feature of this family is that three of Israel's daughters emigrated to New Zealand and started large families out there. You can find them here.
Israel Kingshott was my 4th cousin 4 times removed.
Though not a Kingshott, one of Israel Kingshott's descendants was a man called Leonard Dove. He emigrated to the USA and became a magazine illustrator and cartoonist, creating many iconic images for the famous "New Yorker" magazine. There is a sample of his work below, but if you Google "Leonard Dove" and click the images tab, you will see the full range of his work. I don't know a great deal about the Dove family, so if anyone can shed any light on them, please contact me.
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