Semple family

I found a few details on your Alexander - he is mentioned in various Newspaper Articles (I've attached a couple of examples below..), most from Freeman's Journal, the earliest dated 4th October 1831 where Mr. Alexander Semple was sworn in as coronor to Kilkenny. He mentioned in connection with inquests over the years following e.g. 7th October 1833 where Mr. A. Semple esq. coroner presided over the case of a Private William Smith shot during an altercation with another Army private. He coninues to appear in various article up to at least the the mid 1840, when I lose track of him as coroner, might be worth a more general search to see if there are later article which mention Alexander..

I also I found was at the marriage of his son Alexander jnr. to Lydia Elizabeth Bloom in Freshford Co. Kilkenny on 27th Ocober 1857.  Lydia is noted as the eldest daughter of John Broom  of London.

Slater's 1846 includes a listing for an Alexander Semple at High Street, Kilkenny city as a watch & clock maker/Jewellers & silversmith. Another Semple is listed for the city in this directory  - Humphry Semple proctor (like a solicitor) also High St. The only mention of the surname Semple in the Kilkenny city listed in Slater's 1870 directory is a Lydia Semple, Patrick Street under a schools listing.. presumbly Alexander jnr's wife (or widow ?)

RootsIreland (pay-website) has some transcript of Church of Ireland records for Kilkenny city and including the baptism of one of their children, an Anne Semple, in St. Mary's Church of Ireland Kilkenny City on the 12th January 1828, I didn't find any other baptism records for the family. RootsIreland also have a more details of the marriage of Alexander jnr. which shows Alexander senior's occupation as Watchmaker.

The details recorded on the marriage of Alexander Semple and Ann Gore are very basic unfortunately, no addresses or occupation, so few clues as to their origins (the entry is a transcript - most of the early records for St. Andrew were lost in 1922). There are a few earlier Semple entries in the Dublin city parish records on IrishGenealogy, but no definite connection that I was able to locate. The Treble Almanac (Wilson's directory) of 1812 lists  three Semples in the Dublin Merchants and Traders listing :  John Semple, "Sheriff's peer" & builder, William Semple carpenter and Semple & Co. merchants, also from a directory, 1829 Piggot's, in Kilkenny city a Humphry Semple is listed as "under agent to the Earl of Ormond" with an address at the Castle - see the last entry under agents. An earlier 1788 listing for Kilkenny city in Lucas' General Directory doesn't include any Semples.

Thank you so much for all that.  Some of the information I had, but I never had any record that Anne Semple was baptised.  She was born December 28, 1828 and died in Louisville, Kentucky on January 2, 1899.  She never married.  I knew about the son Alexander marrying Lydia Farrant and they had several chldren.  That Alexander Semple died on November 11, 1860.  

In all, Alexander and Ann(e) Semple had 11 children but only four or five of them never reached adulthood. 

Their children were as follows: 1) Samuel Henry or Henry Samuel Semple b. 6/13/1815. Died On McCarthy's Island, River Gambia, West Africa on 7/18/1847. He was an Assistant Surgeon on the staff of the British Army. He married a Jane Smith on 8/21/1836 and she died on March 11, 1837.  2) Humphrey Semple b. December 15, 1816 and died November 7, 1865. I have a record that Humphrey Semple married Mary Swiney on January 1, 1850.  They had five children. 3) Alexander Semple b. 4/20/1819 d. 11/11/1860 4) William Semple b. 1820 d. 1821  5) Margaret Semple b. December 14, 1821 married James Jenks on November 2, 1846 in St. Mary's Church, Kilkenny.  They came to America and settled in North Dakota. 6) Elizabeth Semple b. November 7, 1823 and died June 11, 1828. 7) John Boyle Semple b. September 17, 1825 death unknown  8) Anne Semple (already discussed)  9) Jane Semple b. October 4, 1829 and d. April 1830  10) Edward Semple b. April 28, 1831 d. January 9, 1840  11) Charles Denroche Gore Semple b. March 27, 1833 died in Louisville, Kentucky May 8, 1903.

Anne Gore Semple was born, I believe, October 18, 1790 and died a widow on December 6, 1876. I do believe that her husband Alexander Boyle Semple was a watchmaker as indicated by the information I have seen and the information that was found on his son's marriage to Lydia Farrant.  

What I have never been able to find is proof of Charles Semple's birth and his leaving Ireland for America in 1852.  I also do not know when Alexander Boyle Semple was born and when he died. There is a Alexander Semple that died on October 15, 1861, but I don't know if that is my Alexander Semple.  There is some information that his paternal grandfather was a Captain in the British Army and was for some time the cammandent of Tullow Barracks, County Carlow, Ireland. And his materal grandfather was Captain Henry Gore of the 24th Light Dragoons, British Army.

Now, I think you have as much information as I have. There seem to be a ton of Alexander Semples and trying to decipher them has been a little tedious from so far away. So again, any information would be appreciated.

Thank you again,

Amelia Fitzgerald