The Family of James Kennedy Jr.

submitted by Rick Gray

James Kennedy Jr.
                             Born              1777 Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA
                             Died              20 Oct 1837 Marshall County, Tennessee, USA
                             Buried            Hill Cemetery, Marshall County, Tennessee, USA

                             Married          21 Feb 1797 Madison County, Kentucky, USA
 

Father                   James Kennedy Sr. (Abt 1735-1825)
Mother                 Elizabeth or Hannah

Events
1.     He is listed with 1 white male above 21 on the tax list of 1797 in Garrard County, Kentucky, USA.
2.     He is listed with 1 white male over 21 and 2 total blacks on the tax list of 1799 in Garrard County,
        Kentucky, USA.
3.     He was listed on the Tax List for Garrard County, Kentucky in 1800.
4.     He is listed with 100 acres 2nd rate land on Paint Lick in Garrard, 1 white male above 21, and 2 total
        blacks on the tax list of 1801 in Garrard County, Kentucky, USA.
5.     He is listed with 100 acres 2nd rate land on Paint Lick in Garrard, 1 white male over 21, and 2 total
        blacks on the tax list of 1802 in Garrard County, Kentucky, USA.
6.     He is listed with 100 acres 2nd rate land on Paint Lick in Garrard, 1 white male over 21, and 2 total
        blacks on the tax list of 1803 in Garrard County, Kentucky, USA.
7.     He is listed with 100 acres 2nd rate land on Paint Lick in Garrard, 1 white male over 21, 1 white
        male above 16, and 2 total blacks on the tax list of 1804 in Garrard County, Kentucky, USA. The
        listings do not show James Jr. or James Sr. this year. Based on land entries for the previous years, I
        am entering them with the amount of land that they had. Also James Jr. is shown in previous years
        with blacks in his household and James Sr. is not. This shows James Jr. having a male of age 16 and
        over in his household this year. Since James Sr. does not show a male of 16 years and above, it can
        be assumed that Robert has gone to live with his brother. David Kennedy is the next oldest son in
        James Sr.'s household and he would have been about 14 in 1804.
8.     He is listed with 100 acres 2nd rate land on Paint Lick in Garrard, 1 white maleover 21, 1 white male
        above 16, adn 2 total blacks on the tax list of 1805 in Garrard County, Kentucky, USA. The listings
        do not show James Jr. or James Sr. this year. Based on land entries for the previous years, I am
        entering them with the amount of land that they had. Also James Jr. is shown in previous years with
        blacks in his household and James Sr. is not. This shows James Jr. having a male of age 16 and over
        in his household this year. The 1805 tax list makes us question if Robert is the 16 and older male
        living with James Jr. Robert has his own listing that year. He and Elizabeth King married in March
        and have set up their own home. David Kennedy is the next oldest son in James Sr.'s household and
        he would have been about 15 in 1805.
9.     He emigrated after 1807 to Maury County, Tennessee, USA. From an article on Wilson Hill by
        Donald C. Jeter in the Marshall County publication: "Other early settlers in the valley were James
        Houston, Samuel McConnell, William Cowden, and James Dysert by 1810; Jonathan Bills, William
        Bills, John Bills, John Darton, James Kennedy, Robert McCord, James Looney, and Alexander
        Osburn by 1812; Samuel Hillis, Daniel Bills, John Brown, James Davis, and John London, Sr. by
        1815; and John Evans, Robert Marsh, James Denny, William Emerson, Thomas Wilson, James
        Jackson and Durham Collins by 1820.”
10.   He was a Colonel in the Tennessee militia.
11.   He was listed on the Tax List of 1811 for Maury County, Tennessee.
12.   William Davidson of Davidson County, Tennessee conveyed him 200 acres on Globe Creek in Maury
        County, Tennessee.
13.   He was listed on the 1836 Tax List as part of District 17 of Giles County, Tennessee, owning 116
        acres of land.
14.   James was an elder at the Old Bethberri Church and one of the founders of the Church Society.
 

Burial Notes (Husband)
                                 The inscription on his tombstone reads: "in the 60th year of his age"
                                General Notes (Husband)
                                The following deeds I deal with the sale of James Kennedy's land shortly after his death:
                                TSLA Roll # A-2188, Marshall Co. TN Probate Deeds 1836-1840, Page 86: Robert Gordon's Deed for 114
                                Acres of Land in Giles County executed to him by Mary Kenedy John W Record James C. Record John R
                                Hill Thomas D Kenedy and John Gordon was this day proven before me by the Oaths of Brandon W
                                Cowden and Joseph N. Cowden Subscribing witnesses and by me certified for Registration May 3rd 1838 M
                                W Oakley clk By Wm Williams DC
                                TSLA Roll # A-2188, Marshall Co. TN Probate Deeds 1836-1840, Page 86: William Cowden Deed to 106
                                 1/2 acres Land in Marshall County executed to him by Mary Kenedy Thomas Kenedy John W Record
                                 James C Record John Gordon and John R Hill was this day proven before me by the oaths of Brandon W
                                 Cowden and Josephus N Cowden Subscribing witnesses and by me certified for Registration May 3rd 1838
                                 M W Oakley clk By Wm Williams D.C.
                                 TSLA Roll # A-2188, Marshall Co. TN Probate Deeds 1836-1840, Page 87: John R Hill Deed for 227 Acres
                                 of of Land in Marshall County executed to him by John W Record James C Record Mary Kenedy Thomas
                                 D Kenedy and John Gordon was this day proven before me by the Oaths of Brandon W Cowden and
                                 Josephus N Cowden Subscribing witnesses and by me certified for Registration May 3rd 1838 M W Oakley
                                 clk By Wm Williams D.C.

Wife                       Mary Denny
                              AKA                 Mary Kenedy
                              Born                  2 Feb 1783 Kentucky, USA
                              Died                  25 Jan 1864 Marshall County, Tennessee, USA
                              Buried               Hill Cemetery, Marshall County, Tennessee, USA

Father         Alexander Denny                                                                                                                                                                                                             Mother       Mary Allinson ( -Abt 1785)

Events
1.     Mary Kennedy, John W. Record, James C. Record, John R. Hill, Thomas D. Kennedy, and John
        Gordon sell Robert Gordon 114 acres in Giles County, Tennessee on 3 May 1838.
2.     Mary Kennedy, John W. Record, James C. Record, John R. Hill, Thomas D. Kennedy, and John
        Gordon sell to William Cowden 106 and one half acres in Marshall County, Tennessee on 3 May
        1838.
3.     Mary Kennedy, John W. Record, James C. Record, Thomas D. Kennedy, and John Gordon sell to
        John R. Hill 227 acres of land in Marshall County, Tennessee, deed executed on 3 May 1838.

           Birth Notes (Wife)
                               Mary's tombstone lists her birth year as 1773. Bible records and other sources state the birth year was 1783.
                               Research Notes (Wife)
                               Lee Biles states in a letter she wrote to an unknown Ruth that Mary Denny was adopted or becamse the foster
                               child of General Thomas Kennedy and his 1st wife Agnes Ross. She said this was due to her age when her
                               mother died and due to her father's second marriage to the Widow Adams. She was still young enough to bear     
                               children and bore Alexander more children. She already had six children that were probably still young enough
                               to be at home. Alexander had several children too. She stated that Gen. Thomas came in and took Mary to his
                               home and raised her. I am not sure if all of this is accurate or not. I do know that Mary's children referred to
                               Gen. Thomas as grandfather but I am not sure if this is because he raised Mary or because of the fact that Gen.
                               Thomas also raised Mary Allinson Denny, the mother of Mary Denny Kennedy. We know that Mary Allinson
                               was either the foster child or adopted child of Thomas and Agnes. I do know that Mary Denny Kennedy was
                               about 2 years old when her mother died and her father remarried so it is very possible that Thomas and Agnes
                               took Mary in and raised her as the Denny house was very full at this point.

Children

I.                               Col. Thomas Denny Kennedy
                                 AKA                 Thomas D. Kenedy
                                 Born                  20 Sep 1798 Garrard County, Kentucky, USA
                                 Died                  24 Mar 1884 Ladonia, Fannin County, Texas, USA
                                 Buried                Ladonia Cemetery, Ladonia, Fannin County, Texas, USA
                                 Spouse               Louisa A. Marsh (1813-1886) 23 Dec 1829 - Tennessee, USA
 

II.                             Mary Ann "Annie" Kennedy
                                 Born                   10 Oct 1801 Garrard County, Kentucky, USA
                                 Died                    25 Apr 1871 Giles County, Tennessee, USA
                                 Buried                 Brick Church Cemetery, Giles County, Tennessee, USA
                                 Spouse                Maj. John Boyd Gordon (1798-1890) 4 Oct 1821 - Maury County, Tennessee, USA
 

III.                            Nancy R. Kennedy
                                 Born                   Abt 1803 Kentucky, USA
                                 Died                   After 1860 Texas, USA
                                 Spouse               James Carroll Record (1794-Aft 1850) 19 Jan 1820 - Maury County, Tennessee, USA
 

IV.                            Elizabeth Herron Kennedy
                                 Born                   1806 Kentucky, USA
                                 Died                   6 Jun 1878 Marshall County, Tennessee, USA
                                 Buried                Hill Cemetery, Marshall County, Tennessee, USA
                                 Spouse               Col. John Royal Hill (1802-1880) 7 Oct 1821 - Maury County, Tennessee, USA
 

V.                             Hannah Kennedy
                                 Spouse               John W. Record Jr. (1790- ) 12 Dec 1816 - Maury County, Tennessee, USA