> I recently found a wood kayak frame laying in the alley behind my house

How I envy you!

> tight with out any wrinkles. I am stuck now. Should I cement the small
> amount of material above the staples to the frame, before applying the top
> covering? Thank you for any responses

The plans and books I have do not recommend that, but they do suggest that the hull covering is stretched around the gunwale and stapled on the inside. The plans from which I will be building this summer suggest a wooden half-round glued and tacked over the edge of the deck covering, after it is applied.