|
a.
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Continued: James Kennedy's Genealogy
Here is how I came to the conclusion that this is our James Kennedy'sfamily. As is in Point 1 below, the bio of Daniel Bain III born 1827 theson of Daniel Bain 1794 and Nancy
Ann Kennedy. He states that his mother's folks lived in a fort inCrawford County, on the Wabash River. Point 2 below from the"Crawford-Clark County IL Archives History - Books ...Chapter III 1883"it has that Thomas and James Kennedy was living at Fort Lamotte. Inpoint 3 below from Jesse Kennedy's genealogy from 1852 (Jesse Kennedyborn
1787 brother to Thomas and James Kennedy). Jesse states that his brothersThomas and James lived in Christian County Kentucky before moving toIllinois. As we know Nancy Ann Kennedy was born in Christian CountyKentucky. Jesse Kennedy states that James had died in Illinois more than20 years before (this in 1852). It would appear on the 1830 census forVigo County Indiana (Point 4 below), Daniel Bain and Nancy Kennedy has aolder woman living with them that would appear to be Phoebe Kennedy, whowas living with them in 1840
and 1850 in Franklin County Illinois. This would mean that James probablydied before that census of 1830. Also Jesse Kennedy states that JamesKennedy's sons and daughters
mostly were living near Terrehaute Indiana. On the 1850 census for VigoCounty Indiana there is three Kennedys that seam to fit this profile:Jesse born 1809 Ky., William and Edmund
born 1812 Il. all of them have similar names for there children as NancyAnn Kennedy/Bain. There is a Margaret Kennedy who got married in CrawfordCounty Illinois in 1822 who
married the brother of Jesse Kennedy's (born 1809) wife who also wasliving in Vigo County Indiana who appears to be a daughter of James andPhoebe. (Point 5 Below). I don't know why Nancy Kennedy had got marriedin Edwards County Illinois, but it doesn't appear that James Kennedy hadever lived in Edwards County Illinois.
James Kennedy's family tree point 8 below. Marty Restivo
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Point 1
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilfrankl/bios/bain.htm
Daniel BAIN
Daniel Bain, a pioneer and leading farmer, was born August 28, 1827, inWhite County, the second of eleven children (two deceased) of Daniel andNancy (Canada) Bain. The
father, of Scotch stock, was born in 1794 in North Carolina, and themother was born in Tennessee in 1803, and of the same origin. Theysettled in Illinois April 3, 1838, the mothers
folks in White County, and were married about 1824. The father was inTennessee first, and a soldier in the war of 1812 for three months. Themothers folks live in a fort in Crawford County, on the Wabash River, forfive years. When our subject was about two years old they moved to VigoCounty, Indiana. After ten years farming there they came to FranklinCounty and settled on their farm in Northern Township, until 1858, whenhe bought a farm in the southwest corner of the same township, where thefather died in 1869. The mother still lives with her youngest daughter,Mrs Jasper Whittington. With limited educational advantages our subjectremained at home until nearly twenty-four, and then returned to VigoCounty, Indiana and married Eliza J, daughter of John and Polly (Kimball)Reese, born in that county about 1831. Their eleven children are Julia A(deceased, wife of John Britton), Mary E. (deceased), William A,Maraney C (wife of Scott Roberson), Nancy E. (deceased), Millard F,Martha F (wife of Henry Davis), Sarah E (wife of E Webb), Ora E,Rosetta (deceased)
and Hester. His wife died in November 1874, at our subjects presenthome. After farming there until October he came to Franklin County andsettled on the farm now owned by Alfred Groves. In 1858 he sold it, andafter about nine months merchandising settled on his present farm inSections 29 and 30. In December 1875, he married Sarah, widow of GeorgeW Beaty, and daughter of Luke and Margaret (Rogers) Bosley. TheirChildren are Ida, Daniel E. and Margaret C. His wife was born in 1839 inJefferson County, Illinois. She had these children by
her first husband: George W, Henry J, Frances M, Phillip C, James W,Sarah E and Eliza J. He has cleared two woodland farms somewhat, and nowowns 277 acres, mostly improved
and cultivated, and all fenced. He has acquired this from a beginning ofnothing in the woods as a pioneer. Formerly a Whig, he has become aRepublican since the war, and first voted
for Taylor. He is a member of the Macedonia Lodge, I O O F and the F M BA, and of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while his wife and one of herfirst husbands children, and William, Maraney, Fannie and Ora E aremembers of the Missionary Baptist Church. Sarah E belongs to the oldRegular Baptist Church.
Typed by Sheila Smith Cadwalader
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Point 2
http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/il/crawford/history/1883/historyo/chapteri4ms.txt
Crawford-Clark County IL Archives History - Books .....Chapter III 1883
Edward N. Cullom, next to the Kitchells, was one of the most prominent ofthe
early settlers, and has a son, Leonard D. Cullom, still living inLawrenceville,
Ill. Mr. Cullom landed at Palestine November 25, 1814, or rather at Fort
Lamotte, where Palestine now stands. We are informed by Mr. LeonardCullom, whom
we visited at his home in Lawrenceville, that when his father's familyarrived
at Fort Lamotte, there were then within its protecting walls twenty-six
families, and ninety rangers, who were stationed there for the purpose of
guarding these isolated settlers. This blockhouse or fort had beenerected here
about the commencement of the war of 1812, and the rangers quartered init were
under the command of Capt. Pierce Andrew, a frontier officer. Mr. Cullomnow
only remembers, among those living in the fort, the following families:Isaac
and Samuel Brimberry, Thomas and James Kennedy, the Eatons, the Shaws,Joseph
Waldrop and two sonsWilliam and Johnthe Garrards, the Woods, David Shookand a
man named Harding. The latter was "skin dresser," and a ratherdisagreeable man
in his family. Mr. Cullom calls to mind a circumstance in which Hardingfigured
conspicuously, in the days when they were "forted." Harding, for whippinghis
wife, was taken by the rangers and shut up in his "skin-house," a housewhere he
was in the habit of smoking and drying his skins, and put through muchthe same
process for indulging in such family pastimes.
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Point 3 [the following is from Jesse Kennedy interview with Rev. JohnShane in 1852] [full Jesse Kennedy's interview listed in point 7 below]
JESSEE KENNEDY MSS. #1 Bourbon Co.,Ky 1852
Note: Jessee Kennedy was the youngest son (by second wife) of "StrodesStation" Thomas Kennedy who was born in 1744 at Dublin Plantation inMaryland. (then Fredrick but later Cumberland Co.)
In 1840, The Rev. John Shane ( first a Presbyterian Minister to KY butlater assigned by the Church to travel and gather data on the earlysettlers and early church records did an interview with
Jessee. When Shane died---L.C. Draper bought the first 14 Vols. atauction. These are now lodged in the Draper Mss. Collection under the'Kentucky Papers" (Draper 11 CC 12)
[1-Thomas Kennedy, Jr.]
Thomas [Kennedy, Jr., of S.S.Tom Kenendy] , (the oldest) was born 24thMarch, 1773 and is now [1852] an aged and respectable citizen of CrawfordCounty, Illinois. He has been a Baptist Preacher for about fifty years,and is nearly worn out in the service.
[2-James Kennedy]
Brother James [Kennedy] died in Illinois more than twenty years ago[1832], leaving a family of sons and daughters--most of whom are livingnear. Terrhaute [sic] in the State of Indianna [sic].
Brother Thomas and James, migrated to the Green River country and afterliving several years in Logan and Christian County, went to Illinois withtheir families in 1811--I think.
You can see all of Jesse Kennedy's genealogy notes at the following webpage.
http://davidkennedysocietyinc.org/KYKennedys/JesseMss1.htm
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Point 4
Here is the 1830 census for Vigo Co. In. The three young males listedbelow are: John S. 1826, Daniel 1827 and James 1829. The 1 in red for themales might be Jesse Kennedy born
1809 Ky (1809-1815). The older female is more than likely Pheobe Kennedy(1769-1790).
1830 Vigo County Indiana census
MALES FEMALES
90 17 BAIN Daniel Jr3001010000000 0000101000000 000000 0000007
Males Females
1st Digit under age 5 7th Digit age 40 but under50
2nd Digit age 5 but under 10 8th Digit age 50 but under 60
3rd Digit age 10 but under 15 9th Digit age 60 but under 70
4th Digit age 15 but under 20 10th Digit age 70 but under 80
5th Digit age 20 but under 30 11th Digit age 80 but under 90
6th Digit age 30 but under 40 12th Digit age 90 but under 100
13th Digit over 100
*****************************************************************************************************************************************
Point 5
The 1850 Census
IN Vigo Fayette Township
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LN# FM# DW# LAST NAME FIRST NAME AGE SX COL OCCUPR/E BIRTH MAR A/S R/W DF
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25 224 225 Canady Edmund 38 M FarmerIllinois X (born in Illinois in about 1812)
26 224 225 " Elizabeth 35 FKentucky X
27 224 225 " Margaret 14 FIndiana X
28 224 225 " Eliza 13 F" X
29 224 225 " Benjamin 11 M"
30 224 225 " Elizabeth 9 F"
31 224 225 " William 7 M"
32 224 225 " Phoebe 5 F"
33 224 225 " Susan 2 F"
34 224 225 " James 2/1M"
35 225 226 Kennedy William 38 M Farmer 800Illinois X (born in Illinois in about 1812)
36 225 226 " Mary 29 FKentucky
37 225 226 " James 12 MIndiana X
38 225 226 " Margaret 8 F" X
39 225 226 " Sarah 6 F"
40 225 226 " Joseph 3 M"
41 225 226 " Emily 8/1F"
Name: Rick Smith <edcojerryohio@aol.com>
Date: 2001-07-26
What surnames are you looking for? smith
Where and/or what years are you searching? 1820 and up
Comments:
John smith married Margeret Kennedy and settled in Vigo county in the1820's. They had 12 children. Lucinda, James, Mary, Nancy, Adam, Pheobe,George, Margeret, John, William, almira and Sarah. They had a farmsomewhere around Saint Mary's.
Name: Daniel II BAIN
Surname: Bain
Birth: 1794
Marriage 1 Nancy Ann KENNEDY b: 5 Mar 1803
Married: 21 Jul 1825 in Edwards Co. Illinois
Children
Margaret BAIN b: 1842
Daniel III BAIN b 1827
Rachael BAIN b 1833
WIlliam BAIN b 1836
Robert BAIN b 1838
Lucinda BAIN b 1840
Nancy BAIN b 1844
Phoebe BAIN b 1848
James BAIN b 1829
Emily BAIN b
Sarah Bain b 1833
John Bain b 1826
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1840 Federal Census, FRANKLIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Age brackets for Free White Males & Females
1st Digit under age 5 8th Digit 50 - 60
2nd Digit 5 - 10 9th Digit 60 - 70
3rd Digit 10 - 15 10th Digit 70 - 80
4th Digit 15 - 20 11th Digit 80 - 90
5th Digit 20 - 30 12th Digit 90 - 100
6th Digit 30 - 40 13th Digit Over 100
7th Digit 40 - 50
Bain, Daniel 1840 203001 111001001 P 199
1850 FRANKLIN COUNTY ILLINOIS CENSUS
80/82
Daniel Bain 56m NC Farmer 2000
Nancy [Kennady] 47f KY
Daniel 23m IN
Rachel 17f IN
William 14m IN
Robert 12m IN
Lucinda 11f IL
Margaret 9f IL
Nancy 6f IL
Phebe J 3f IL
James 21m IN Farmer
Emily 13f IL
Phebe Kennady 77f NC widow of James
*****************************************************************************************************************************************
Point 6
CENSUS YEAR: 1820 STATE: IL COUNTY: Crawford MICROFILM#: M33-12ENUMERATOR: Robert C. Ford
| |10 |16 |16 |26 | 0 |10|16 |26
Head of Household |to |to |to|to |to |45 |to |to |to |to |45
PG# LN# LAST NAME FIRST NAME |10 |16 |18 |26 |45|up |10 |16 |26 |45|up
42 7 Kenedy James 2 2. . . 1 1 2 1
1810/ 1804/ before 1804/ 1794before
1820 1810 1775 1810 18041775
William (1812) Jesse (1809) James (1772) ? Margaret (1800)Phoebe (1773)
Edmund (1812) ? Nancy (1802)
(born in Illinois) (all in red on this census added)
********************************************************************************************************************************************************
1810 Federal Census Christian County, Kentucky
| |Free White persons
| | MaleFemale
| | 0 10 16 26 45 |0 10 16 26 45 |
LN | First name Last name | 10 16 25 45 +| 10 16 25 45 +
23 | James Kennedy | 2 1| 2 1 1
Jesse (1809) James (1772) Nancy (1802) Margaret (1800) Phoebe(1773)
? ? (all in red on this census added)
*****************************************************************************************************************************************
Point 7
http://davidkennedysocietyinc.org/KYKennedys/JesseMss1.htm
JESSEE KENNEDY MSS. #1
Bourbon Co., Ky
1852
Note: Jessee Kennedy was the youngest son (by second wife) of "StrodesStation" Thomas Kennedy who was born in 1744 at Dublin Plantation inMaryland. (then Fredrick but later Cumberland Co.)
In 1840, The Rev. John Shane ( first a Presbyterian Minister to KY butlater assigned by the Church to travel and gather data on the earlysettlers and early church records did an interview with
Jessee. When Shane died---L.C. Draper bought the first 14 Vols. atauction. These are now lodged in the Draper Mss. Collection under the'Kentucky Papers" (Draper 11 CC 12)
Draper described the Depo of Jessee as incoherent and unacceptable forresearch data.cwkjr.
Now---here --12 years later Jessee gives us his #1 Mss. ( I have beentold there are 3 or 4)
On the right margin of the Xerox copy (sent to me) says, "by JessaKennedy-written at age 65; born 1787 in KY".
[page one]
"Concord, June 1852
The following is a brief genealogy of the Kennedy family in the UnitedStates of America, of which I am a branch, as derived from my father inhis lifetime--
according to the best of my recollection.
My Grandfather (John Kennedy) [meaning: John (father of John) of DublinPlantation, Maryland and Immigrant from Belfast with at least one nearlygrown son
Daniel]
was kidnapped on the shores of Ireland in company with several otherboys, when about six or seven years old, brought to the colony ofMaryland,.. and
sold for a term of years.
Note: Jessee Kennedy, son of Strodes' Station Thomas Kennedy is the ONEwho started this Myth! It is now on the internet and everywhere! Fact--Immigrant "Dublin" John Kennedy, Sr. was literate, married with childrenand family when he sailed from Belfast with Capt. James Patton to
Philadelphia and then south to Fredrick Co., MD where he settled onMontacreacy Creek. HE developed his iron vein and built a blast furnaceand was an
Iron Monger! In the second Mss. this Jessee will propel Old John to an"eminent Physician in Md."cwkjr.
After performing his term of servitude [not true], he married a wife, wholeft him at her death, two sons: namely FRANCIS KENNEDY and DANIELKENNEDY. He [Old John] afterwards married a lady from Wales[unproven]by the name of [Elizabeth] Owen; by whom he had six sons and onedaughter. The names of his sons (beginning
with the oldest and coming regularly down) were John Kennedy [son ofJohn],
Thomas Kennedy [ Strodes' Tom] , James Kennedy, Butler Kennedy, JOSEPHKENNEDY , and Hugh Kennedy; the daughters name was Elizabeth Kennedy ;but whether she was the oldest or came in between some of the boys, I donot remember but think she married a man by the name of Hagarty; andthat a man by the name of Archbold married her daughter, or a daughter ofuncle James Kennedy--not certain which, and raise a family in the Stateof Virginia.
I met with one of the young Archbol's between Lower Sandusky and CampMeigs (alias Fort Meigs in February 1813. He was a sprightly andintelligent young man; belonged to a volunteer Militia Company calledthe Virginia Blues and was one of the artificier's. We recognized eachother as cousins then, but have not seen each
other since.
Grandfather (John Kennedy) was a heavy set man low in stature andinclined to be corpulent; of a kind, benevolent disposition, and being aphysician by nature
[not true], was skillful among the sick ,an excellent nurse, useful inhis neighborhood--was of course -such beloved by those who knew him. Hedied at an age not
far beyond the meridian of life while useful in the community in which,he lived--greatly lamented by said co-unity.
Of his oldest [actually second son] FRANCIS KENNEDY I can say but littleexcept that he was a very famous fiddler, [he] raise a family in Maryland, removed to the southern part of Kentucky in early times, and was KILLEDBY THE INDIANS . One of his sons, (Samuel Kennedy) was at my father'shouse when I was a boy: he [Samuel Kenendy] went to Natchieze[sic] andhas long since been dead as I have understood.
DANIEL KENNEDY was also a very remouned musician. Made his living inearly life by teaching musick [sic] was a portly good looking man , ofgenteel deportment
and popular manners; devoted several
of the last years of his life in performing the duties of Sheriff in thecounty in which he lived in Maryland. He was very popular as a man, muchbelieved by those
who knew him--and died young.
Note: We know from the existing Maryland and VA records that this DanielKennedy was the eldest son. He was first an Iron Monger with old Johnand was
married and had three children by his first wife in Maryland--they were1) William Kennedy [who will removed to N.C. and marry Col. Brandon'ssister and then
remove to Union Co., S.C and become "Squire Wm Kennedy Sr" so quoted byDraper; the daughter would marry a Bedford Co. Penn and they would removeto
Kentucky; & 30 is the most famous of all--JOHN (SON OF DANIEL) KENNEDY.He would be carried to Martinsburg and into the home of his step motherand then
his father dies. This John(of Daniel) would be apprenticed to the worst"cooper" in Winchester ,Va.
David Gass was his young superior and Michael Stoner was also anapprentice. Conditions became so bad that a "mutiny" occurred and allthree abscounded!
They headed north and somehow met Daniel Boone on one of his many tripsback to New Jersey from Yadkin. This John Kennedy would marry in N.J.and had
a son Charles who gave a P.S. from Ky. This John(son of Daniel) was oneof Boone's 30 guns hired to cut the horse trail to Boonesboro forHenderson after the
Cherokee "sale" at Limestone on March 17th, 1775.
This John Kennedy would pilot Strodes Station Tom and Joseph Kennedy in1776 to Ky to set up the lands of John (son of John) Kennedy of Bedford.This John
(son of Daniel) will become NELSON CO. JOHN KENNEDY! Nelson Co, JohnKennedy came to Paris Ky to testify in a land case. He was involvedbecause he was a
pilot and early surveyor. His son was thrown from a horse and killed.More on him later.
Old Daniel had by his second wife a son Thomas and a son Daniel anddaughters. The widow will remove to Mecklenburg area of N.C, and educateher sons.
This Daniel (son of Daniel) will remove to Green County, TN and becomeGeneral Daniel Kennedy of the American Revolution. Cwkjr.
Back to Jessee
His[meaning old Daniel] wife died previously and left him a son and adaughter.
[page two]
His son (John)[meaning old Daniel's son John who was called John (ofDaniel) and later called Nelson County John] was the father of DanielKennedy [of Nelson Co.] , who was killed by a fall from his horse atParis when I was a boy. He [John son of Daniel] was here on a visit andon business.[This business was to testify at Paris over land disputecases of the Kennedy's and the Penn's]
His daughter was married by [to] Joseph [Penn] in Maryland, removed toKentucky and became the mother of the elder Part of the Penn family ofthis county. [This statement is correct!cwkjr.]
His son (John Kennedy) [meaning John son of Daniel] died in Ohio manyyears ago--he may have children yet living in that state.
Note: For this Nelson John Kennedy, read John Sid Kennedy's book onNelson John and family for proof.
My grandmother was redheaded: large in stature, possessing great muscularpowers for a woman: industrious and economical in all the businessrelations of life. Having been left poor with seven children to raisecalled into requisition all the powers of both body and mind to rear themin a manner to make them useful citizens. Fortunately however for boththem and her she married an Englishman (Robert Darr) who was a scholarand a gentleman; a teacher by profession from whom her children receivedmoderate(?) educations..most of which was obtained at such lesson hoursat home as could be spared for that purpose--they having to work hard fora living. He was a good-husband to her and a good father to her children.
Uncle John Kennedy [meaning John (son of John) of Bedford Co.] was theoldest of Grandfather's children
by his last wife; and being of a delicate constitution; too weakly toperform much manual labor, consequently got a pretty good education; andowing to his steady
habit, and provident deportment it was often said of him, "He had a man'shead on a boy's shoulders." while still a minor, he commenced and carriedon successfully
the business of common school keeping, and subsequently connected that ofteaching vocal musick with it--and ultimately devoted all his time to thelater. Thus figuring
for years in the best circles of society, he became refined in hismanners, prepossessing in his demeanor and highly intellectual.
He made no profession of religion,[ Jessee did not know that his UncleJohn belonged to the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Maryland. He did notknow that when John removed to Bedford he help form the Peaks of OtterPresbyterian Church and his name is on a Legislative Petition to theGovernor as a MEMBER!]
but was strictly 'Moral in his habits; a man of sterling integrity andconsequently enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all who knew him.
He married the daughter of a wealthy dutchman whose name was Peter Stillywho thought him not rich enough to be his son-in-law; conseqently theyoung folk, acting on their own responsibility
eloped and were married without his consent, but were permitted to enjoynone of his estate. Being thrown upon his own resources Uncle [John sonof John] bought a farm in Bedford County Virginia, bought some negroes,employed an overseer and set them to farming while he turned hisattention to sheriffing--and prospered finely for a time. But theRevolutionary War came on, and being drafted as a militiaman, he wastaken prisoner at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina,,and died on board of a British prison ship-literally starved to death.
Note: I don't know where Jesse dreamed this scenario BUT it was pureVictorian Junk!--Go to the Misc. Legislative Petitions and read thePetition of one William Millam of Bedford--said he was a mess mate withJohn.
Said he was severely wounded--stayed with him as a prisoner---got adischarge from his captives to bring the dead body of John ,son of John,Kennedy back to Bedford. The State believed Millam and PAID HIM for hisservices!
By his last will and testament, wrote by himself previous to hisdeparture from home, he made it the duty of his administrator to sell hisfarm and most of his slaves and personal property for the payment of hisdebts; and directed that his family should remove to what was then calledthe wild land in
[page three]
Kentucky--all which was carried out accordingly; and his widow andunmarried children migrated to Kentucky and settled on Kennedy's Creekwhere S.N. Clay now resides[1852]; where she lived for a number of years,and died at a good old age in October, 1820--if I mistake not.
Uncle John left at his death, -five daughters, and two sons[Wrong! John(son of John) left two infant sons and one adult son named REUBENKENNEDY--for
proof see Bedford Settlement this web];
whose names I will record in the order of their birth. Elizabeth Kennedy,{Reuben Kennedy], Rebecah Kennedy , Julia Kennedy , Eli Kennedy ,Sophia Kennedy , Washington Kennedy , and Avi (or Ari) Kennedy.
None of them was married when their father died. (Note: this isdebatable--Elizabeth Kennedy and Reuben Kennedy could have been marriedeither at or shortly after
this John Kennedy's death in 1781.cwkjr)
ELIZABETH [KENNEDY] was married in Virginia by [to] Zacharriah Wheat,who made a very industrious farmer: removed to Kentucky and settled onhis wife's land, where he raised a large and respectable family ofchildren and died at a moderately old age. Among his sons, who are allheads of families, are farmers, mechanics,
and merchants; one physician and one lawyer--who is now a judge of theCircuit Court in the judicial district where he resides. His widow[Elizabeth Kennedy,
1852] is a very amiable old lady still residing on her own farm whereher husband died.
REBECAH [KENNEDY] , was also married in Virginia by Josiah Ashurst, avery industrious farmer and mechanic--a brick mason. He also migrated toKentucky and settled on his wife's land when after raising a family ofsons and daughters--he died. His widow, a respectable old lady is yetenjoying good health for one of her age in
the same domicile where her husband died.
JULIA [KENNEDY] , was also married in Virginia by [to] Sam Hatcher ofwhom father[ Strodes Station Thomas Kennedy] used to say if his brotherhad lived
"no such damned rascal would ever have got into his family". Theymigrated to Kentucky and lived on his wife's land until he spent it in alife of profligacy,
vice and dissapation. Thev had but one child (a son) and all of them aredead long since. Cousin Julia, was a very amiable woman, much esteemed byall her acquaintances; made an excellent wife to a worthless husband.
SOPHIA [KENNEDY] came to Kentucky in a state of celib celibacy with hermother: Married JOSHUA ROLLINGS with whom I was not acquainted. He diedleaving
her a young widow with two daughters and a son--Lee Rollings. After theywere all grown and married, she migrated with her son to Clay County,MISSOURI ,
where she was still living in a state of widowhood when I last heardfrom her.
AVI [ARI] KENNEDY (the youngest) was married by [to] Nicholas Talbot, awheelright by trade& a good workman and an honest man. He settled on hiswife's land
and became a respectable farmer; filled to great acceptance for a numberof years (until his death) the office of justice of the Peace, and oncerepresented his county in the lower branch of the Legislature. He died inthe meridian of life and usefulness; leaving his wife, three daughtersand five or six sons to mourn their loss-
-who have made highly respectable men and women.
Cousin Avi [ARI] is still living in a state of widowhood with her sonCharles P. Talbot, who is a widower himself without children.
{page 4}
--a very intelligent and worthy man much like his father in many (money)respects.
Cousin ELI KENNEDY , came to Kentucky with his sister JULIA [KENNEDY] andSamuel Hatcher when about 17 or 18 years old, the year before his mothercame, to
aid in making provision for her and the ballance
of the family. He became a brick mason which trade he followed forseveral years, and afterward became a respectable farmer.
He [ELI KENNEDY] married PATSEY MCCONELL , who at her death, left himtwo sons and a daughter. He subsequently married POLLY MCCLANIHAN , bywhom he reared
four daughters and
a son--Eli M. Kennedy; who is intelligent and highly respectable--hissisters equally so. Cousin Eli was much esteemed as a citizen and aChristian; was in comfortable circumstances in life, but fell victim toCholera in June 1835 leaving a very interesting widow--at least shebecame very interesting to me and to my children; for she has been tothem one of the best of step mothers, and to me one of the best ofwives. And that is not all; for she has furnishes; two of my sons withexcellent wives also.
Cousin WASHNGTON KENNEDY , came to Kentucky with his mother when about 15years old, worked for [her] during his minority, [and] managed andconducted
her [Esther Stilley Kennedy] business during her life and decentlyinterred her at her death.
He [Washington Kennedy] became a brick-mason by trace and subsequentlyone of the best of Bourbon [County] farmers.
He was a man of steady habit, strict moral integrity--indeed he was oneof the best of men. Nicholas Talbot and him here [were] two of my bestfriends; whose
loss I felt more terribly [sic], and -more deepley deplored, than thatof any friends I have ever lost--with the exception of the mother of mychildren. When I
lost my venerable parents their age and infirmities, rendered death ablessing to them, since their loss could not be rationally so muchdeplored as the loss of
those friends who were called off in the midst of their usefulness; andit is my earnest desire that amity and shall ever shine between theirchildren and mine.
After having enjoyed a state of single blessedness (if there be anyenjoyment in it) until he had acquired the character of a Batchelor ,cousin Washington
married on the 25th of June 1812 (his birthday) Elizabeth Bedford, ofhis own vicinity - [the] eldest daughter of Little Berry Bedford. By herhe had three sons
(the oldest of whichdied young) and four daughters--all of whom arerespectable men anc women--all --married but his youngest son.
Cousin Washington [KENNEDY] died of fever, in August 1832 leaving hisfamily in affluent circumstances. His widow died not long after.
Note: This ends Jessee's data on the children of John (son of JohnKennedy with the exception of the son REUBEN KENNEDY. From the BedfordCo., VA data we
glean that Reuben was the eldest son and was either of legal age at thisfather's death or near it. Reuben was of draft age in VA and it appearsthat Reuben
married young and removed to N.C. with his wife's people to escape theWAR! He is cited in the Settlement in Bedford and is listed as theeldest son (actually
the only legal son at this time). We do pick Reuben up in N.C. taxrecords in Surry Co. Now in 1794 a young Samuel Kennedy comes in to theNorth Fork of
Holston in old Washington Co.,VA. First on Smith Creek where Saml. Goesbelly up over a purchase of a mill--then across the river on the nowScott Co. side
we see the appearance of a group of Kennedy's we call "North Fork ofHolston" Kennedy's. Samuel, Mark, Charles, etc. and then in the 1810Census---REUBEN KENNEDY , an old man and apparently head of this groupappears! Now--there are only three Reuben Kennedy/Kennerly men in 18thCentury VA Records---1) Reuben,
son of John (son of John) of the Bedford Settlement; 2) Reuben of the1810 Washington Co. Census and 3) one Reuben Kennerly who was cited inhis father's
District Court Will (James Kennerley/Kennedy) of Culpeper Co.,VA. but theAugusta Co. minute book tells us that this Reuben ( who has married UrlsaFaulkner
[from Essex Co]) is dead by 1797.
It is my belief, that the Samuel Kennedy of the mill [1794] on N.F.Holston is eldest son of Reuben and this group will migrate between1810>1820 to WAYNE CO., KY!
Cwkjr.
[Strodes' Station, THOMAS KENNEDY, second child and second son of oldDublin John and second wife, Owen.]
To continue with Jessee:
My father was the next in age of grandfather's children--of whom I shallsay more in the sequal [sic].
[JAMES KENNEDY, third son of Old Dublin John and second wife Owen]
Uncle James Kennedy was a mechanic that worked in wood, and was thoughtto be one of the best fiddlers in the world; a fine
[page five]
Jolly fellow, beloved by all who knew him, but was too fond of livelycompany and high spirits for his own good, and died young, leaving afamily in Virginia of which I can give no account.
[ PIERCE BUTLER KENENDY, fourth son of Old Dublin John and second wifeOwen]
Uncle Butler -comes next in order of time, I can say nothing of hismusical talents. He married young to what was denominated an old maid,who issued fourth children with great rapidity, and subjected him to apeticoat form of government to which he submited with greatalacrity---being naturally kind and industrious.
UNDER her influence he removed to North Carolina and back, two or threetimes, but the last time he got there he died and his family beingunable to get back, remained--and I can tell nothing more about them,except that cousin Washington [Kennedy] told me that he accidently fellin and tarried all night with one of his daughters in North Carolina manyyears ago--that she was married and doing well.
[JOSEPH ( of Dublin John or John(father of John) KENNEDY]
Uncle JOSEPH [KENNEDY] , was a man low of stature, heavy set and inclinedto be corpulent from a child :--said to be more like his father in personthan any of grand father's children and
at his death (not quite fifty years of age ) weighed about 300 pounds.
He [Joseph] married the widow King, a dutch lady in Maryland. She wasthe mother of John King, Esq. of this County.
Uncle Jo seemed to be a farmer by nature; turned his attention to it whenyoung, followed it some years in Maryland, removed with his family toKentucky settled on his own land in
Bourbon County, and was one of the best Bourbon farmers in his day. Hewas a man of strict moral integrity ; attended judiciously andsuccessfully to his own business without officiously meddling with that
of others.
He was a man of peace, and though not a member of any church, gave aregular attendance on the Baptist ministry of which church his wife was amember--in brief he endeavored to
deal justly, live mesery (?), and walk humbly before God. He came to hisend by taking arsenic[sic] he had bought at a store for cream of tarter.
Feeling a little unwell in the morning he took it and died in the eveningof the same day, and was buried on his own farm. He left a widow, foursons and three daughters to morn his loss;
and to them, who were all in their minority, the loss was irreparable.
DAVID [KENNEDY] , the oldest son [OF JOSEPH] died an old bachelor two orthree years ago in this neighborhood.
Elizabeth [KENNEDY] , (the oldest daughter) [OF JOSEPH KENNEDY] marriedJOSEPH HILDRETH -both of whom are dead, having reared a respectablefamily of sons and daughters. Joseph [Kennedy Hildreth], the next oldestyet resides in this county; and Jacob [Kennedy Hildreth] died severalyears ago in the lower country, without a family.
SOPHIA KENNEDY married big John Redmond and died several years ago,leaving him a son and daughter---both yet living in this County.[Bourbon]
[begin page 6]
the daughter is the wife of Henry Cronton [Gronton?]. (?)
Rebecah [daughter of Dublin JOSEPH KENNEDY] , married James Hildrith[Hildreth?], and is the mother of a large family in Rush County, lndianaNathern(sic) [ NATHAN KENNEDY, son of Dublin JOSEPH KENNEDY } theyoungest , yet resides in Bourbon [Co.]. See his Bio this web.
[HUGH KENNEDY, youngest son of old Dublin John and second wife Owen.]
Uncle Hugh [Kennedy], was the youngest of grandfather's children. He wasa portly good looking man; of a lively disposition and somewhatcorpulent; a tailor by trade and a Methodist by profession--greatlygifted in exhortation and prayer--and one of the best singers in thecountry in
which he lived. He, married a widow in good circumstances and become afarmer in Frederiek[sic] county, Virginia. He raised two daughters,
the oldest of which (Susan) married John Steele, migrated to Ohio anddied in 1848--leaving a family of sons and daughters. John W. Steel
and Virginia Steele, are two of then. His other daughtermarried--,Mr.Bosley, Esq. of Baltimore and died soon after.
Uncle Hugh [Kennedy], was murdered and robed in Virginia. his watch andsome of his moneys were recovered and identified and James Steele (themurderer) was convicted of the crime--he was his son-inlaw's brother.
[Strodes' Station THOMAS KENNEDY, second son of old Dublin John andsecond wife Owen]
My father (Thomas Kennedy) was born in Maryland [at Dublin, then Fredrickbut later Cumberland,Co.], on the 22nd of January, 1744; was a small leanman, whose standing weight when in the prime of life was 136 pounds. Hefluctuated in weight but little and never weighed over 140 pounds. Hehad an excellent Physical constitution; was enerjetic and hardy--it beingoften said of Him that he was as hardy as a Pine Knot. His mentalabilities were naturally good, but without polish, his education beingvery limited. He was a man of great fortitude in whatever he conceived tobe the Path
of Duty. He might be lead but could not be drove.
He was a man of great hospitality, strict moral integrity; It being oftensaid of him that an honester man God never made. He would voluntarilysubmit to the loss of dollars himself , rather than wrong, or be thoughtto wrong others out of cents. The violent evitability of his temper washis greatest infirmity; and caused him more mental agony and contritionthan everything else.
He was married in Maryland to ANN LOCKER on the 19th of April, 1772; andin the fall of the year 1775 went to North Carolina in search of a
home for life, for himself and, family. He returned without beingsufficiently pleased to induce him to migrate thither; and in the SPRINGof
the year 1776, he came to Kentucky on the same business, under a verbalcontract with his brothers (John and Joseph) to procure land for them,
as well as himself, in case he should like the country well enough tobecome a citizen thereof; they promising to remunerate him satisfactorly
out of land or otherwise ... and to remove to the country and become hisneighbors. He accordingly came to Boonesborough where he fell in
with Michael Stoner , who invited him to go with him and help him clear afield and plant corn. He accepted this invitation, helped clear thefield--
[begin page 7]
and planted corn, in what was long after known as Stoner field. The landis now owned by Samuel Clay; adjoined the farm of Mrs. Morn, Northward
and down Stoner [Creek]. I have often heard him say that upon thatoccasion he lived three months, without either bread or salt.
The country was full of wild game, -and -they had a variety of freshmeat,--but the Bufalo[sic] furnished their principle food--in the absenceof which the country could not have been settled when it was. In theSummer or Fall of the same year[1776] he returned to FAQUIER CO. Co,Virginia, where his family then resided, intending to return with themIMMEDIATELY to Kentucky; but owing to
various Difficulties that interferred, principally growing out of theRevolutionary War, he did not return until the fall and Winter of theyear 1779--with his family.
Note: Strodes Station Thomas Kennedy did not serve in the REV WAR inMaryland or Virginia. He discovered that he could travel aroundrecruiting SOLDIERS and could make big money. He signed up Holston MosesKennedy for three years in Continental Establishment---he signed up ourWilliam Kennedy,Jr. & then soldier James Kennedy of Louisa Co. in the 7thVa Regiment and then then their 3 years was up--he signed them up for theRegiment of Guards at Albemarle Barracks along with Opie Smith of LouisaCo.! See his web pages for the original vouchers this Thomas Kennedyreceived!cwkjr.
Father was a brick mason an carpenter by trade, could do rough stonework--and was also a plasterer.
He started to Ky. with a train of pack horses well laden with householdand kitchen furniture, and such tools as belonged to hisbusiness--expecting to have use for them in his adopted country. Owinghowever to the difficulties of traversing the great extent of WildernessCountry that
lay before him, without a road, and without forage, his horses tired andgave out, one after another, causing him to hide his plunder in thewoods, at different places, until he was disrobed of almost everythingand ultimately got to Boonesborough, in December 1779--with but one horse
beast and a bull on which he packed a bed.
He then had three sons and a daughter; and being reduced to extremities,he made two baskets out of white oak splits, in each of, which he placedone of his boys (Jacky and Johhy)[ I suppose this means John and Joseph ]connecting the baskets with hickory bark or buffalo tugs, swung one oreach side of the mare and placed Thomas [Jr] on top, who was then aboutsix or seven years old.[Therefore Thomas Jr. was born 1772/3]
Father walked and carried Nancy on his back-she was born in Februarypreceding. [Meaning Nancy Kennedy of Thomas was born February 1779] Hiswife walked also and carried such articles of clothing as she could.
He never went back to recover any of his provender deposited in thewilderness. Owing to the lapse of time before the forbiding
circumstances would permit him to do so he could not expect to find them.After remaining a short time at Boonesborough, he joined a
Company (Capt. John Strode at their head) and helped to build any settleSTRODES STATION , where he resided four or five Years.
Somewhere on their journey the nag fell down anJ broke the rider'sleg[Meaning Thomas Jr.] --not hurting the other children; they bandagedit up as well as they could under the circumstances--put him up again andfinished their journey without much lapse of time. The winter of 1779-80was unusually cold, so severe that the corn in the country-on which thebuffalo wintered was mostly killed, which caused many of them to die withpoverty, and caused much suffering among the emigrants, for bufalo meatwas their principle reliance for food. There was some bear, plenty of
deer, turkeys, etc. but they were poor also.
[page 8]
Sometime in the spring of 1780 father's wife died [Ann Locker] , leavinghim four children--one of which (Jacky) died the same year[ John
Kennedy (of S.S.Tom) died 1780]. Father was not a good woodsman orhunter--not being expert in the use of a gun but the hunters supplies
him and his family with meat for the use of his mare on which to packtheir game.
He procured what was called a settlement and prescription of land forhimself and each of his brothers (John and Joseph). He located his
claim on Strode's Creek and his brothers (John & Joseph) on KennedyCreek --giving name to the creek. He would have located his own land
on this creek also, has there been room enough for all of them withoutclashing with others who wanted some of the Kennedy Creek land.
He greatly preferred a location here [Kennedy's Creek] to one onStrode's Creek but gave the preference to his brothers to avoid sensure;concluding that as they would pay him in land for his services (about 200acres each that would be as much as he would want for his own use; that
he and his brothers, would live as neighbors on Kennedy Creek, and hewould settle his children on the Strodes Creek when they should
want it. He therefore settled the place where I now live for his ownresidence.
Sometime after those locations were made, Uncle John Kennedy came to thecountry[ January 1780-see his will in this web] , and being
delighted with the location made for him--and with the countrygenerally; he employed Captain James Duncan to clear his land out of the
office--as they called
it; which was to have it surveyed, pay office fees, etc. for which ,Capt. Duncan took in Michael Conchman[Must be Castleman, brother in law
to Nelson John Kennedy!] a partner in the business ) and this is theway in which they [Duncan & Castleman] became the owners of 300 acreseach, of the land in JOHN KENNEDY'S survey--which at their deathdescended to their heirs[ Meaning Duncan & Castleman heirs].
Captain Duncan also undertook to clear out father's land on Strode'screek on the same terms -but finding that other claims would clash withfathers he: became discouraged; told father he
must return to his family i n Virginia; that if he (father) should thinkproper to have the survey made, to call on his friend EDWARD WILSON ,who
was a surveyor, had money of his in his hand and would do all thebusiness for him any they would hereafter settle on caputable (?) terms.Consequentlv, the business was done by Wilson and father in the absenceof Duncan--father having the trouble of doing much that Duncan ought tohave done himself. Duncan remove his, family from Berkely county,Virginia, to Strode's station--I know not in what year-, and him andfather -
-resided there until they settled on Kennedy's creek, on the first day ofFebruary, 1785; where they continued to exercise toward each other, allthe friendly relations of neighborship until separated by deathaccording to the course of nature. one fact existed in the lives ofthose men that is
quite anomilous; exhibiting rare traits of character in both. It was of avigorous prosecution by one, and an energtic defense by the other, of a
lawsuit of twelve years duration-which was doubtless the principal sourceof most of father's subsequent misfortunes--but the anomaly or marvelis, that such ? could and did exist, without, impairing their friendlyfamily relations.
[page 9]
DUNCAN was plaintiff and Kennedy defendant all the time, while thesuit, in different forms passed through both
Inferior and Superior Courts--Duncan paying cost at every trial fromfirst to last. They lived and died personal friends.
Duncan died in October 1817, and Kennedy in August 1827--the lawsuitoriginated thus.
After father's land had been cleared out of the office, he tenured toDuncan a deed for his portion of the land, in strict conformity to their
written contract which Duncan refused to accept and demanded a generalwarantee deed, which Kennedy refused-to give; and thus the war commencedon the part of Duncan; first for the land with general warantee deed;then for cash in the form of damages; then for the land again and againfor damages. After Duncan refused to take the land, and bringing suitfor damages father sold it and Duncan's demand against him was
$3600--in cash. After lawing a while and paying cost he reduced hisclaim to $1800. After lawing a while longer and paying cost a time or twomore, he fell to $1000. After lawing still a while longer and having costat every trial, and the land having been taken by other claims and having
been purchased by father from the later claimants he modified his claimto $500 and swore he would never take less--also swearing he would
dog Kennedy in law as long as he live: if he aid not give him something.
At this stage of the game, captain Benjamin Bedford stepped in asmediator (the mutual friend of both) and declared that the controversy
should cease. He told Duncan he must take $250 and told Kennedy he mustgive it or he would pay it himself--for it was a damm shame to
protract the controversy longer, after the land about which thecontroversy originate had been taken by a better claim, from both ofthem-
-and thus it terminates; father paying to Bedford, and Bedfored to Duncanthe two hundred and fifty dollars.
So anxious was father to avoid a lawsuit with him, that he proposed tosubmit the case to the arbitrament[sic] of his own lawyer
(James Brown) that he was about to employ to bring the suit against
Him , to which Duncan agreed ;. but when Brown decided against him herefused to abide the decision, an; directed Brown to bring suit, whichcontinued a state of litigation for 12 years and until the land hay beentaken from both. Father.being poor, and thus engaged in a lawsuit withone
of the rich and powerful, (for Duncan wee considered wealthy at that day)promising great loss of time and expenditure of money, he was compelled
to sell land to aid him in opening a farm and defraying the expenses ofthe lawsuit.
Unfortunately, his first sale was to Mr. John Hume[ Note: this John Humewas the grandson of the Old John Hume who was the first surveyor in
Old Augusta--he was chief surveyor for Old Orange Co and he surveyed allthe original surveys in Beverley's Manor-- the grand daughter
married of all people--Albert Kennedy, the eldest son of Adjutant JamesKennedy of the REV; small world] , then a stranger, who turned out to
be a great
sharper and notorious villian, and would not pay for the land until itwas forced from him by law. - This produced a necessity for selling_ moreland, his only source of revenue--and that a very precarious anddisastrious(sic) one to him in the end.
[page 10]
Father also became involved in some little lawsuits with
Sam. Natchez, who had migrated to the country and had resided with hisfamily in father's house receiving gratuitous support during the greater
part of one winter, and was furnished with bread and meat for his familythrough the succeeding Spring and Summer for which he promised to pay;
but ultimately paid not a dime for any, but what was proved and forcedout of him by law--which was probably not more than half the amount
received--thus still argumenting the necessity on the part of father forselling more land--but the most unkind cut of all has not yet been told.
Note: Jesse is now going to tell us how John (son of John) Family did himdirty. Don't believe a word but see my comments on the TRUTH at the'Strodes Station Tom Kennedy page.cwkjr.]
After the widow and heirs of Uncle John Kennedy migrated to Kentucky, andreceived and enjoyed the kind aid and; fostering care of father , untilthey became able to live without his further beneficence[sic],
they then demanded possession of, and brought suit for the two hundredacres of land on which he was living, and which he had expected to retain
as a reasonable reward for services rendered in procuring land for hisbrother [John (son of John)] under a contract previously made with him.The
suit was rigorously prosecuted and vigorously defended; andnotwithstanding father proved his contract clearly and satisfactorily, byhis brother
Joseph Kennedy, and by Thomas Logwood, the executor of John Kennedy'swill; it being a verbal contract of more than five years standing; he wasdefeated by the Statute of Limitations and thus deprived of allremuneration for the hazardous toil performed by him in procuring nearlyall the
lands they were permitted by other claims to hold in the country. Thiswas the most distressing and heart-rending lawsuit that he had , becauseit
was from those from whom he had right to expect kinder treatment--whoowed him a debt of gratitude, as well as of land-the descendants of a
brother that he loved most dearly, and in whom he had the most unboundedconfidence; a debt which would have been punctually discharged had
his brother lived long enough to consumate it--the conduct of the widowand heirs therefore amounted to the very quintessence of ingratitude .
Most of the heirs however, were sufficiently , magnanamous to permit himto retain the land, by paying its value for it in money or other land.-
-and thus He retained; about 150 acres--his pecuniary condition notenabling him to retain more. It was the wish of Samuel Natchez toexterminate him--but in that he was foiled.
I have often heard father say that it had been a fixed and determinatepurpose with him to live and die on Kennedy's Creek , from the time helocated on it--if consistant with the will of God.
By the time this course of litigation was closed, and his hundred!, andfifty acres of land secured, his out lands were sold and general warantee
deeds made to the purchasors.
This warranting and defending against all persons and claims, whatsoever,was an unfortunate error, and the prolific source of subsequent troublesto himself and family. But I suppose he could not have sold his landotherwise and he was obliged to have money to support lawsuits.
[Page 11]
At the conclusion of the preceeding difficulties father had becomesuperanuated; his ambition moderated; his mental and physical facultiesennervated;
and being then out of law, he determined to keep out--if practicable.
He had however but a short respite until he began to be called on, bythose to whom he had sold land to defend them against claims set
up against his.
The first case was Smith's claims, for which he paid from ten to twelvehundred dollars, for the interference by way of compromise.
Not long afterward, a claim was established by Isaac Davis of Virginia,calling to adjoin
Smith's claim--and taking all the balance of his land.
This case was compromised also by father's paying about two thousanddollars for his claim--so far as it interferred with his--it beingconsidered half price for the land.
In the fall of the year 1812, we succeeded in paying off Davis, but stillowed a goodly sum of money to different individuals ; but being amongfriends we began to feel happy, under the consoling
hope that we would in a few years more be free from all embarassment in apecuniary point of view.
We were Dermitted however to enjoy this happy delusion for but a briefperiod.
Before giving a further detail of those events, it may be proper to saysomething more about father's family. Having lost his wife and second sonwhile living in Strode's Station, he married
My mother; then a widow in Boons station: she having migrated to thecountry with her husband (David Cook) and one child (Abigal Cook ) thesame winter that father did[1779] --her. husband having been killed bythe Indians soon after their arrival--Boons Station was on Boons Creek.
Father [Strodes Station Thomas Kennedy] raised two sons and a daughterfrom his first wife.
[Strodes Station Thomas Kennedy's heirs by first wife Ann Locker]
[1-Thomas Kennedy, Jr.]
Thomas [Kennedy, Jr., of S.S.Tom Kenendy] , (the oldest) was born 24thMarch, 1773 and is now [1852] an aged and respectable citizen of CrawfordCounty, Illinois. He has been a Baptist Preacher for about fifty years,and is nearly worn out in the service. He was successively elected(biannually) for about 20 years in the county where he yet resides,probate judge; and until physical infirmities caused him to decline afurther acceptance of the office. Owing to a tremulous condition Of hishands he is measurable deprived of the use of a gun. Otherwise enjoysgood health for one of his age and so does his wife. His wife had 16children, about one half of which they raised to be men and women. Hisoldest son (Joseph Kennedy )[1852] is in Texas--the balance in Illinois.
[2-James Kennedy]
Brother James [Kennedy] died in Illinois more than twenty years ago[1832], leaving a family of sons and daughters--most of whom are living
near. Terrhaute [sic] in the State of Indianna [sic].
[ 3- Nancy Kennedy]
[page 12]
Sister Nancy married Ephriam Holland who died many years ago in ScottCounty, Kentucky. His widow died in Boone County, Ky., several yearsafter, leaving a family of son and
daughters. Sister Nancy was an excellent woman, Her oldest son, ThomasKennedy Holland is a respectable citizen of Scott County [KY]; andMontgomery Holland , another son,
and one or two daughters, reside in Cincinnati,-Ohio.
Brother Thomas, and Sister Nancy both married young and went to doing forthemselves; brother James went with Thomas--but did not marry young.
Father permitted [brother] Thomas to sell 44 acres of land, andhis.son-in law (Holland) to sell 80 acres and pocket, the money, all ofwhich was lost and redeemed by father, and paid for by me, for thebenefit of the sellers and buyers.
He [ S.S.Thomas Kennedy] gave no land to brother James, because hehappened not to want it until he found that he had none to give--that itwould all be taken by other claims.
Brother Thomas and James, migrated to the Green River country and afterliving several years in Logan and Christian County, went to Illinois withtheir families in 1811--I think.
Father raised no children by my mother, but myself and silly brother(John) who was two years older than me; he was born 27th July, 1785 anddied 2nd of December--1836--he was insane from childhood to death.
My mother's daughter, (Abigal Cook) married John Lyon and became themother of Daniel C.Lyon , Eli Lyon and John Lyon of Missouri; and motherto Polly Lyon, wife of David Penn
of this county and Rachel Lyon, who resides with her sister Polly Lyon--in an afflicted state of celibacy.
I was too young to he consulted by father, in relation to his lawsuits;but grew up in time to bear the burden resulting from his lost lands--andpaying for some.
It was a common saying of father's that Providence just raised me up intime to save him from utter ruin; being prostrated under a load of debtfrom which he never could have extricated himself.
I was born 11th August, 1787 and resided with father, until December1812, without having been forty miles from home more than once.
In the spring of the year 1812, I got my right hand cripple, so as torender it unfit for manual labor for about 12 months. In June 1812 warwas declared by the United states against
England, in consequence of which, a demand ensued for pack horses forthe use of the Government and for men to manage them.
In consequence of my inability to work (owing to my crippled hand) fatherconsented that I might go into the service if I could get the command ofa brigade (?) of packhorses-
-I got it and went.
[page 13]
I left home in December 1812 and returned in April 1813 (after an absenceof about a hundred days) very sick with what was then called the campfever.
I had a hard spell and recovered slowly. When father thought mesufficiently recovered to stand the shock, he discloses
To me the ruined and hopeless condition into which he had fallen in myabsent by telling me that another claim--one of which he had never heard,had been established by Shannon's heirs,
covering a great portion of the land taken by Smith and Davis; and thathe had compromised with them in February preceeding and was to pay neartwo thousand dollars for their right so
far as it interferred with him--this being pronounced by legal men to bethe best claim of all.
Thus you see his land was covered with claims fourteen deep. Havingborrowed money to make his first payment, he had sold cattle and hogs atabout half prices to obtain the means of refunding the same; and left usdestitute of hogs for family use the ensuing year--the balance of thedebt to be paid in annual installments.
He said he had summed up and made an estimate of all his property, andthat his debts amounted to five or six hundred dollars more than all hisproperty was worth at his own prices;
and that he. knew not how to pay them all, but said it must be done ifit could be done by any possible honest means. This he said was aprofound secret, and must so remain. He said
pay the debt, arc live, but could not come to any satisfactory
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