Arthur Kingshott

One of the later emigrants to Canada was the family of Arthur Kingshott who was born in the Sussex village of Trotton in 1869. His parents were James Kingshott and Emma Turner and Arthur was the fourth of eight children.

By the time of the 1881 census, Arthur's father had moved his his family to a place called Piper's Farm in the village of Didling, some 4.5 miles away from Trotton. Arthur was still at school at this time, but in common with most working class boys was not looking forward to a high-powered career, but a life working in and around the farms of Sussex.

Around 1892, Arthur's father died and he took over the running of Piper's Farm.

He was left to look after his mother and sisters. He was still there at the time of the 1901 census, married and with one son.

This photograph shows the countryside that Arthur farmed. It is taken from Piper's Farm, looking towards Didling Hill.

Photo used by kind permission of John Barrett

By the time of the 1911 census, Arthur had sold Piper's Farm and was living in Littlehampton. He was working as a coal merchant and dairyman. By this time he had another four children, making a total of five. Things were clearly not going as well as he had hoped, so Arthur decided to take his family and try his luck in Canada.

They sailed out to Canada on the Allen Line steamer SS Virginian which departed Liverpool on 21st July 1911 and arrived in Montreal, Quebec on 9th August 1911. He eventually settled in a place called Orangeville, Ontario.

The family group sheet for this family is shown here.

Arthur Kingshott was my 5th cousin three times removed.

Kingshott Family History

by Jan Kingshott