John Kinshott was baptised in East Meon, Hampshire, on 28th July 1845, son of James & Mary Ann Kinshott, and younger brother of the future Superintendent of Hampshire Police George Kinshott. He was therefore a member of the Kinshott family centered on East Meon, and discussed here.

 

John Kinshott was sworn into service as a Police Constable on 4th January 1869 at Cowes on the Isle of Wight. According to his service record he was 24 years old when he joined, 5 feet 8 inches tall, with an oval face, "stout" physique, dark brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion.

 

After initial training, George was posted to West Cowes on the Isle of Wight, and moved every couple of years to a new town in rural Hampshire. By 1878, he was working in Liphook, just across the road from the Kingshott stronghold of Bramshott. It was whilst serving here that the following incident occurred, and was reported in the newspaper.

 

DRUNK AND RIOTOUS AND ASSAULTING THE POLICE

Thomas Robert Farringdon, a bootmaker of Bramshott, was summoned for being drunk and riotous at Bramshott on the 30th ult., and further for assaulting John Kinshott who was in the execution of his duty.

 

PC Kinshott deposed that on the day in question, at about seven o'clock in the evening, he was coming past the Dragon Inn at Liphook when he had heard the defendant's voice inside, and at the same time Mrs Earwicker, the person in charge, complained of his (defendants) behaviour. The defendant, at the request of the landlord, left the house, and when in the highway became very noisy. He asked defendant to go home, but he refused, and struck him on the shoulder, nearly knocking him down. With assistance he removed the defendant to his own home, where the latter struck and kicked him. He was obliged to get a horse and cart and take him into Petersfield. The defendant, who has several times previously been convicted of similar offences, was fined for the drunkenness, 10 shillings, and fined 6 pounds costs; and in the latter case, the magistrates taking into consideration the fact of his having been imprisoned for nine days, and have his promises of amendment, imposed a fine of 6 shillings only, together with the costs six shillings and sixpence.; but warned him that they should not be so lenient if he were again brought before them.

 

Hampshire Telegraph and Sussex Chronicle etc (Portsmouth, England), Saturday, October 12, 1878; Issue 4816

 

PC Kinshott was content to remain a career constable and finally retired from the Hampshire Police, as a Constable 1st Class, on 21st November 1894. His character was described as exemplary and he was granted a pension of £46 12s 9d for his service.
 

John Kinshott was my 5th cousin 3 times removed.