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In family letters, the name of Elizabeth JACKSON was given as the only daughter of Willington and Mary (or Elsie) (DAVIS) JACKSON. In the marriage records for Jackson Co., Indiana there are records for two women named Elizabeth JACKSON who were married there prior to 1850. The first marriage of Elizabeth JACKSON to Isaac Williams on 23 Dec 1835 was probably not that of Willington’s daughter, since the 1840 Jackson Co. census record shows only 2 females in the household of Willington JACKSON, one aged 50-60 (probably Mary/Elsie (DAVIS) JACKSON) and one aged 15-20 (probably Elizabeth JACKSON). Another researcher on this JACKSON family has estimated that Elizabeth was born about 1828, so she would have only been 7 years old in 1835, or at most 15 in 1835, assuming she was 20 years of age in 1840. The other marriage record for an Elizabeth JACKSON was to Anderson WRAY on 30 Aug 1849. Assuming Elizabeth was born about 1828, in 1849 she would have been 21 years old, so this second marriage appears to be the one for Willington and Mary/Elsie (DAVIS) Jackson’s daughter, but this latter conclusion has proved to be in error when an affidavit signed by Simeon L. Henderson, dated 4 Oct 1920, from the records of the Jackson County courthouse identified the daughter of Joel Jackson, Sr. as the wife of Anderson Wray. See the expanded information on the Jacksons
The 1850 census for Jackson Co., Indiana shows Jordon JACKSON was age 35, born in Tennessee. He married Lavina HINDERLITER in Jackson Co., Indiana on 18 Apr 1836. She was born about 1818 in Kentucky. (See also note for Lavina (HINDERLITER) JACKSON.)
The 1850 census shows they had the following six children, all born in Indiana:
It seems unlikely that they had 16 children, as stated in the Bunce Genealogy and History on p. 40, since Jordon JACKSON’s wife, Lavina (HINDERLITER) JACKSON died in Rozetta township, Henderson Co., Illinois in 1854, at age 36 years. They may have had at most 9 children. It is possible that Jordon JACKSON married a second time, for which we have no record at this time.
The name of Lavina (HINDERLITER) JACKSON does not appear in this genealogy under this name, because her maiden name was not known until after publication of this book. She was the wife of Jordon JACKSON. They married in Jackson Co., Indiana on 18 Apr 1836 according to county marriage records. A gravestone in the Rozetta Cemetery in Rozetta Township, Henderson Co., Illinois reads: “JACKSON, Lavina, wife of Jordon, died Oct. 26, 1854, age 36y, 8m, 23d.” She is buried next to the graves of her brother-in-law, Asa JACKSON and members of his family. The fact she is buried there suggests that the story of Jordon JACKSON having lived for a while in Oquawka, Henderson Co., Illinois (p. 38) and then returning to Jackson Co., Indiana was true.
In the book Biographical Record of Bartholomew and Jackson Counties, p. 562, there is an account of the HINDERLITER family in Jackson County. According to this sketch, the first of the family in America were Adam and Eve HINDERLITER who came to America from Germany and settled in what later became Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Their son, Michael, also born in Germany, went to Kentucky as a young man, and came to Jackson Co., Indiana in 1821, where he was a farmer and operated a boat on the White River. Michael and his wife, Mary, had 2 sons and 6 daughters (not named), but two of the daughters were probably Lavina and Lavisa HINDERLITER, and one of the sons was Joel HINDERLITER who was about age 10, when the family came to Jackson Co., Indiana from Kentucky. Joel married Ellen PECK, daughter of Damiel PECK, in Jackson Co., Indiana, and they had 7 children: Daniel P. (age 11 in 1850); Wellington, died at age 6 (possibly before 1850 or after 1850, as his name is not on the 1850 census); John (age 7 in 1850); Eveline, died in infancy; Maria (age 2 in 1850) died at age 30; and Joel and Ellen who were twins and probably born after 1850, since their names do not appear on the 1850 census. Joel HINDERLITER died in 1852 at age 38, and his widow died in 1893.
Letters dated 1975 and 1976, from Mrs. Ruth JACKSON, wife of Danny JACKSON, whose great-great grandfather was named Joel JACKSON, suggest that our Elisha Jackson’s brother, Joel, married and had a family, contrary to what appears in the Bunce Genealogy and History. The following is a synopsis of the record from Mrs. Ruth JACKSON:
Joel JACKSON, Sr. was born 12 Oct 1801 in North Carolina. The North Carolina birthplace and date of birth for Joel JACKSON, Sr. was corroborated by another descendant of Joel JACKSON, Larry D. Wayt, then a resident of Jackson Co., Indiana, and he was not acquainted with the family of Danny JACKSON. In a letter dated 13 Mar 1993, to Bonnie BUNCE, Larry wrote that the 1900 Jackson Co., Indiana census records that Joel JACKSON, Jr. gave North Carolina as the birthplace of his father, Joel JACKSON, Sr., so it appears that Willington JACKSON (Joel, Sr.’s purported father) and his family lived for a while in North Carolina, perhaps near the border with Tennessee, before moving to Tennessee where his son Jordon JACKSON was born in 1815, and then later the family moved to Indiana prior to April, 1817. For many years the area of the state of Tennessee was considered an extension of North Carolina. Joel JACKSON, Sr. died on 15 Dec 1847, in Jackson Co., Indiana. He married Luanna CORDELL on 28 Nov 1829, in Jackson Co., Indiana; however, the first name of Luanna was erroneously recorded on county records as “Susannah.” Their children were:
It is interesting to note that Ruth JACKSON wrote that one of the children of Jesse JACKSON above was named Leander Willington JACKSON, which shows there was probably a link between the family of Joel JACKSON, Sr. and that of Elisha DAVIS JACKSON. Joel JACKSON Sr.’s birthdate was taken from a family Bible. The birthdates of these children of Joel JACKSON, Sr. are corroborated by their ages in the 1850 Jackson Co., Indiana census where a record of them appeared in the household headed by their mother, Luanna (Cordell) JACKSON, in Salt Creek Township, p. 115, 274th family enumerated in the census.
To further support the theory that Joel JACKSON, who married Luanna CORDELL, was a son of Willington JACKSON as well as a brother of Elisha DAVIS JACKSON, in the 1820 Jackson Co., Indiana census, only 3 families with the JACKSON surname appeared. Willington (also sometimes spelled Millington, but was spelled Meliton JACKSON on the 1820 federal Indiana census) appears to have been the only man old enough to have fathered a child by 1801, the other two, Mathias and Samuel JACKSON, were younger men. Mathias JACKSON (age 63 in the 1850 Jackson Co., Indiana census) would have only been about 14 years old in 1801, and Samuel G. Jackson’s household in 1820 has a record of only 4 people, himself, his wife and 2 daughters under age 10, but no sons. According to the History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller published in 1886, p. 39, Joel JACKSON was one of the first settlers on Muddy Fork, Salt Creek Township.
There is evidence the 12th unknown son of Willington and Elsie (DAVIS) JACKSON was named Byram JACKSON. First, Joel JACKSON, Sr. named one of his sons, Byram JACKSON, which suggests the name may have been one used in the family. Secondly, in the 1850 census, the family of Byram JACKSON (the 275th family in the census) lived next door to the family of Luanna (Cordell) JACKSON. This record says Byram JACKSON was age 39, born in Indiana, giving him an approximate date of birth of 1811, which would have made him 10 years younger than Joel JACKSON, but 9 years older than Elisha DAVIS JACKSON. His wife was Nancy JACKSON, age 38, born in Kentucky. Also residing with them were: Mary JACKSON, age 22, (too old to have been their daughter), and Margaret George, age 13, probably their daughter. There’s a marriage record in Jackson Co., Indiana that Byram JACKSON married Nancy MITCHNER on 19 Aug 1832.
A copy of the application Lewis JACKSON filled out to gain admittance to the Soldiers’ Home in Hot Springs, South Dakota reveals he served through almost the entire Civil War for a total of 39 months, 2 enlistments in Co. F. 16th Illinois Cavalry. A copy of his U.S. Army discharge paper dated 8 Jul 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky, stated “Said Lewis W. JACKSON was born in Jackson in the State of Indiana, is thirty years of age, five feet eight inches high, dark complexion, black eyes, black hair, and by occupation when enrolled, a farmer.” His age of 30 in 1865 would have given him an approximate date of birth of 1834 or 1835. He stated his age was 60 years on the application to the Soldiers Home of 26 Dec 1895. He had resided in South Dakota for 17 years prior to his application to the home, or since about 1878, probably at Belle Fourche, Butte Co., as that was his residence prior to his admittance to the home. He had sought admittance to the home on account of poor health due to rheumatism and paralysis of his left side, and thus he was unable to support himself by manual labor, which was supported by the signed statement of a medical doctor. He stated that “My nearest relative is" ‘E. D. JACKSON, Brother somewhere in Kansas.’” The application also revealed he had never collected a pension for his Civil War service, which may be one reason why he was admitted to the home, i.e. in lieu of a pension. The application form had a requirement that he had to have an income of less than $250 per year in order to be considered as a candidate for admission to the home. He resided at the home from 13 Jan 1896, to the date of his death, on 2 Dec 1900, just as the Bunce Genealogy and History states. He was unmarried at the time of his death and was buried with military and GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) honors in the Soldiers Home cemetery. According to the record at the South Dakota Soldiers’ Home, Lewis W. Jackson was a sergeant in Co. F 16th Ill. Cavalry, under Capt. John W. Herberts. He enlisted at Oquawka, Henderson Co., Ill., and served two enlistments of about two years each.
In a handwritten letter from W. V. Lucas, Commandant of Home, dated 31 May 1902, to “Q.M. General, Washington D.C.” (probably Quarter Master General):
“Sir: Replying to yours of 26th inst. relative to Lewis W. Jackson’s service, I herewith transmit to you his discharge and pension certificate.
“In Vol. 2 Adjutant Gen’l’s report of Illinois troops, pages 19 & 20, Lewis W. Jackson is reported. He was a soldier from 1861 to 1865, and a good one, too. There can be no doubt about his service, the records in the War Dept. to the contrary notwithstanding.
“There are several men here who knew him well and intimately for 25 years. I knew him well for over 10 years.”
Very respectfully yours,Col. W. V. Lucas
Commandant
[signed]
It has been passed down in our family that Lewis JACKSON claimed to have marched with General Sherman in his famous “march to the sea” during the Civil War. This was probably true, since “a concise history of each and every Regiment, Battery, Battalion and other Organizations mustered by the several States for service …” is recorded in the book, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, by Frederick H. Dyer, published in 1908 by The Dyer Publishing Company in Des Moines, Iowa. On pp. 1031-32 of this book, it gives the history of the 16th Illinois Regiment Cavalry. From that history, it appears that Co. F, 16th Ill. Cavalry was the last unit Lewis JACKSON served in during the Civil War, since Co. F was organized January 2, 1863, and according to his application on file at the South Dakota Soldiers’ Home, Lewis Jackson’s first term of service in the Union Army commenced May 24, 1861, and ended with his discharge December 22, 1863. He immediately re-enlisted the following day, December 23, 1863, at Kelly Ferry, Tennessee and served an additional year and a half until his final discharge on July 8, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky. He served first as a corporal and was a sergeant when he was discharged. Among the battles Co. F took part in was one at Muddy Creek on June 17, 1864. It also was involved in the siege of Atlanta July 22 to August 25, 1864, which was part of Sherman’s campaign across the South. They also took part in the battle of Franklin, November 30, 1864, and the battle of Nashville December 15-16, and was involved in the pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River December 17-28, 1864, among other duties. The entire unit was mustered out on August 19, 1865. A total of 262 enlisted men and officers were killed or died from disease during the war, but only 33 from wounds incurred during battle, the remainder died from disease.
The name of Louisa (HINDERLITER) JACKSON does not appear in the genealogy under this surname, as her maiden name was not known until after the publication of the genealogy. Her maiden name appeared in a biography of her husband, Asa JACKSON, in the book Portrait and Biographical Record of Hancock, McDonough and Henderson Counties, Illinois, published in 1894 by Lake Publishing Co. of Chicago, where it says on p. 416 that Asa JACKSON had lived in Jackson Co. Indiana until 1849, when he moved to Henderson Co., Illinois. “Prior to his removal, Mr. JACKSON was married, having in 1836 led to the marriage altar Miss L. Henlider.” Since Asa’s brother Jordon had married a woman with nearly the same name, it is believed Louisa also had the name of HINDERLITER. Moreover, her gravestone shows that her given name was not Louisa, but rather Lavisa M. JACKSON who was born 31 Mar 1819 and died 27 Oct 1865 at age 46 and is buried in the Rozetta Cemetery next to her husband, Asa JACKSON.
New information has been uncovered that suggests the son named "S. JACKSON" in this genealogy and history was probably Dr. Solomon JACKSON who married Elizabeth Olive CRANE in Jackson Co., Indiana on 7 Nov 1842, and later resided at Columbus, Bartholomew Co., Indiana. He probably died before 1894, if the biography on Asa JACKSON is accurate when it said all but 3 of the JACKSON siblings, i.e. Asa, Elisha and Lewis, had died prior to the spring of 1894. According to a will survey done by Ye Olde Genealogy Shoppe of Indianapolis, Indiana there is a probate record for Dr. Solomon JACKSON on file in Jackson Co., Indiana, but no date was provided for it.
Neither the 1850 Henderson Co., Illinois census nor the biography of Asa JACKSON stated he had a son named Wilbur. Wilbur may have been the son of another of the JACKSON brothers.
An old letter written by his first cousin, Samuel F. KRESS, indicates that George J. JONES had at least two sons, Herman JONES, who was vice principal of Binghamton High School in Binghamton, New York in 1906, and Dr. Frank JONES, who practiced medicine near Buffalo, New York in 1906. In his will, Samuel F. KRESS left part of his estate to “Herman B. JONES, a cousin of Ridgefield Park, N.J.” in 1924, according to the probate record case no. 19276, found in the Surrogate’s Court of Bath, Steuben Co., New York.
The record of the family of Luman A. JONES can be found in the January-April, 1945, Vol. 76 issue of the New York Genealogical and Historical Journal on pp. 16-25 in an article entitled “Origin and Some Descendants of Cornelius JONES of Orange Co., New York.” According to this article, Luman was the 5th of 12 children of George (1787-1868) and Jane (LAZAER) (1788-1857) JONES, a descendant of Cornelius JONES, who first lived at Stamford, Connecticut in 1657 and later moved to New York. Also, the 1855 New York State census (62nd family) revealed that the JONES family lived in a frame dwelling worth $500. Luman A. JONES was age 39, was a landowner and farmer and had been born in Orange Co., New York, a resident of Yates Co. for 16 years. His wife, Sophia JONES, was age 35, had been born in Mass. and had lived in Yates Co. for 30 years. Their son George was age 12 and had been born in Yates Co. Their daughter Rhoda A. JONES was age 10, also born in Yates Co. Their second son, Edwin JONES, was age 4, also a native of Yates Co.
A letter to Dorothy (BUNCE) LUNDBOM dated 7 Nov 1982 from the town historian for Great Barrington, Mass. provided new information on the KARNER family. Andrew KARNER was not the son of Lodowick KARNER as stated in this genealogy and history, but was instead his brother based information found in an old land deed. The information in this genealogy and history on the KARNER family was from the History of Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, published 1885 by J. B. Beers & Co, which contained errors with regard to the KARNERs.
Andrew KARNER married Elizabeth STUYWER at Linlithgo Church, Livingston, New York on 6 Dec 1726. They indicated at the time of their marriage that they were residing at Westenhook and were originally from Hoogduytschland. Westenhook was an area in dispute between New York and Mass. covering the present area of eastern Columbia Co. and the southeastern part of Berkshire Co., Mass. This dispute lasted until about 1787. Both had been born in Germany. They had 8 children, one of whom was Mary KARNER, bap. 16 Aug 1741 at the Linlithgo Church in Livingston, New York. Mary was the wife of Michael LOOMIS. The town historian believed that Lodowick, Andrew and their sister Mary, who had married John VAN GUILDER, were the children of Niclaus KERNER, who lived at the Palatine settlement on the west side of the Hudson River. She found his name in Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. III, published 1850 by Weed, Parsons & Co., Public Printers. Niclaus KERNER was listed as the head of a family and also his name appears on a list of militia for Livingstone Manor in 1710/11. See Karner Family of New York State for more details.
Another source stated that Nicholas Johann KOERNER and Anna Magdalena KOENER were the full names of the parents of Lodowick, Andrew and Mary KARNER, likely source she got it from is the book by Hank Z. Jones, Palatines to America.
“Jessie Osborn KENNEDY” was a man, not a woman, and his first name should have been spelled “Jesse” in the book, Bunce Genealogy and History. This more recent information is from the death certificate of Ida Richardson (KENNEDY) COLE, who died in Leominster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts on 1 Aug 1898. The certificate from the Massachusetts State Archives states that her father was Jesse O. KENNEDY and her mother was Rebecca RICHARDSON, so they were also the grandparents of Charles Charron COLE. The household of “Jesse O. KENNADY” (as his last name was spelled on the census) was enumerated on p. 554 of the 1860 census for East Nottingham Twp., Chester Co., Pennsylvania. This record shows that Ida Kennedy was age 9, or born about 1851, which differs from family records which state she was born in 1855.
Ida Richardson KENNEDY was a grand-daughter of James KENNEDY, born in Scotland on 21 Jul 1785 (source of birthplace is death certificate for Jesse O. KENNEDY), and Catharine (DeHAVEN) KENNEDY. Catharine DeHAVEN was born 22 May 1794, the third child, but eldest daughter (referred to in her father’s will by her nickname as “Kitty”) of Jesse (1773-1835) and Mary Magdalene (PLUCK) DeHAVEN (of Germany (1774-1838)), who lived in Chester Co., Pennsylvania and are buried at the New London Township, Chester Co., Pennsylvania Presbyterian Churchyard.
Based on an obituary written for Jesse O. KENNEDY on 6 Jun 1906, in a newspaper published in West Chester, Chester Co., Pennsylvania, as well as a copy of his death certificate, it has been proved that James and Catharine (DeHaven) KENNEDY were the parents of “Jesse Osburn” KENNEDY, (as referred to in his father James Kennedy’s will), in addition to six other children, of whom we only have the names of Mary, Matilda, William Henry, and Elisa Jane, in addition to Jesse Osburn who were named in their father’s will dated 5 Sep 1846, probated 2 May 1859 in Chester Co., Pennsylvania, which will also named his grandson David KENNADY, son of his daughter Matilda, and another grandson named John Harper, obviously the son of a daughter who had died before the date of the will.
The following census information was taken from p. 554, Dwelling 498 of the 1860 census of East Nottingham Twp., Chester Co., Pennsylvania, which shows Jesse KENNEDY was born about 1821, later confirmed in his obit as being 6 Apr 1821, died 5 Jun 1906, West Chester, Pennsylvania.
| Name | A g e | S e x | C o l o r | Occupation | Value of Real Estate | Value of Personal Estate | Place of Birth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jesse O. KENNADY | 39 | M | W | Farmer | 10,000 | 840 | Del. |
| Rebecca KENNADY | 40 | F | " | Pa. | |||
| Lydia A. KENNADY | 16 | F | " | Pa. | |||
| Matilda KENNADY | 15 | F | " | Pa. | |||
| George KENNADY | 13 | M | " | Pa. | |||
| Annie R. KENNADY | 11 | F | " | Pa. | |||
| Ida KENNADY | 9 | F | " | Pa. | |||
| Ella KENNADY | 3 | F | " | Pa. | |||
| Wm. Shannon* | 21 | M | " | M. Miller | 300 | Pa. |
* We are not sure who Wm. Shannon was, and are not sure that is even the correct spelling of his name, since the handwriting for his name on the census was rather illegible; he may have been a hired hand or boarder.
The full text of the obituary for Jesse Osborn KENNEDY follows:
L 6.5.1906—Jesse O. KENNEDYJesse O. KENNEDY, who was in his 86th year, is dead at the home of Conductor and Mrs. Wellington G. PRIEST, West Gay street, where he had been residing for the past seven years. For nineteen years Mr. KENNEDY had been living there at times, and seven years ago he settled there to remain during his life.
On the 16th of last April he passed his 85th birthday. [This would have given him a date of birth of April 16, 1821, which matches the birth date provided on his death certificate.]
Mr. KENNEDY was born in Franklin township, along the Maryland border, a son of James and Katharine DeHAVEN KENNEDY. His mother was a prominent member of the Old School Baptist Church, in Mill Creek Hundred [Delaware], and Jesse was brought up in this way, but did not become a member of the church, though he led a moral life and had a great respect for religious teachings. In politics he was a stalwart Republican.
During the Rebellion he was in business in Oxford, and throughout his life, until about thirty-five years ago, he lived in the southern part of Chester county. Later he went to Carlyle, Ill., where he conducted a successful business until advancing years obliged him to relinquish it. Since then he had been making his home with his children.
Mr. KENNEDY was the last surviving member of a family of seven boys and girls. He married Rebecca RICHARDSON, of New Garden, who died eighteen years ago, and was the mother of seven children; Lena, wife of Wellington G. PRIEST; Mrs. KENFIELD, who is not living; George KENNEDY, of St. Louis,; Mrs. Anna R. DuBREE, Philadelphia; Mrs. E.E. WILKINSON, Philadelphia; Mrs. COLE, of New England, who is not living, and Mrs. Dr. McGAFFIGAN, of St. Louis.
[Emphasis added.]
More information on the family of Jesse and Rebecca (Richardson) Kennedy was received on May 30, 2000, from the Clinton County Historical Society in Carlyle, Illinois:
Copies of death notices published in a local newspaper at Carlyle, Illinois for Rebecca (Richardson) Kennedy:
Personal Mention. Mrs. Priest, Mrs. Wilkerson and Mrs. Cole, from the eastern states, were in the city this week attending the funeral of their mother, Mrs. Kennedy.
Copy of gravestone inscription in Carlyle Cemetery obtained from Clinton County Historical Society:
Rebecca R. Kennedy, Nov. 19, 1817 — May 2, 1887.
Copy of obituary for Mary Matilda (Kennedy) Kenfield:
Mrs. Kenfield was born in Maryland, her parents moving to Pennsylvania a few years subsequent to her birth, and from thence to Carlyle some ten years ago. On the 1st of May, 1871, she was married to Mr. William F. Kenfield, of Michigan, the marriage having taken place in the city of Philadelphia where she then resided. . . . She was seized with her last illness at Nashville, Tenn.
KENFIELD, MARY M., wife of Wm. F. Kenfield & Dau. of J. O. & R. Kennedy, Died Jan. 12, 1881, age 35 yrs 2 mos 20 ds.
Excerpts from Carlyle newspaper articles about their only son George Kennedy:
Copies of newspaper excerpts obtained from Clinton County Historical Society, Carlyle, Illinois about the youngest child, Ella Kennedy:
The name of Dr. A. McGaffigan appears on a chart of land owners in the township of Carlyle, Clinton Co., Illinois in the book, Platt Book of Clinton County, Illinois, published by The Occidental Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892. It says his occupation was physician & surgeon, that he had been born in 1849 in New York & came to Clinton Co. in 1852. The next name on the list was John J. McGaffigan, occupation: lawyer & real estate agent, born in Virginia in 1852, came to Clinton Co. in 1852, & was a brother of A.J. per a biographical sketch on him. See also copies of obituaries for Dr. A. J. McGAFFIGAN and Ella (KENNEDY) McGAFFIGAN.
Another name of the seven children of James and Catherine (DeHaven) KENNEDY appears in the book, Delaware Bible Records, by Donald Virdin, Vol. 3, pp. 30-32, published by Heritage Books. It shows James KENNEDY and Catherine (DeHaven) KENNEDY were the parents of Matilda KENNEDY (b. 1815) who married Isaac Newton CHAMBERS, a Quaker, of London Britain Twp., Chester Co., Pennsylvania in 1835. Isaac N. and Matilda (KENNEDY) CHAMBERS had 9 children, of which I copied only their dates of birth, but the dates of death and places of burial for most of the children were also included in this book, and apparently in the original Bible:
Matilda KENNEDY, daughter of James and Catherine (DeHAVEN) KENNEDY, was born 13 Feb 1815, and died 25 May 1891. Isaac N. CHAMBERS, son of Isaac and Lydia (BEESON) CHAMBERS, was born 11 Jul 1809, and died 27 Nov 1879. Isaac N. CHAMBERS was an active Quaker in Chester Co., Pennsylvania, as were his parents.
This Bible record compared with the last will and testament of James KENNEDY leads me to believe that either Matilda was married once before her marriage to Isaac CHAMBERS and lost her first husband, but had a child by him, David KENNADY (who may have been the same David KENNADY living in Carlyle, Illinois in 1883), or she may have had a child out of wedlock who took her surname.
According to the death certificate of Jesse O. KENNEDY filed with the Vital Records Department of Pennsylvania, his father,James KENNEDY, was a native of Scotland. James KENNEDY passed away about May, 1859 in London Britain Twp., Chester Co., Pennsylvania, since his will was filed for probate in that month and year, and mentions only four children: Jesse Osburn (executor), William Henry, Matilda and Mary. He also left a bequest of $100 to Elisa Jane, “my daughter,” “as a bar against any claim she may make against my estate.” This is somewhat puzzling, since he mentioned Elisa Jane in a separate paragraph apart from the listing of his other four children; at this point do not know if she was also the daughter of his wife, Catherine (DeHAVEN) KENNEDY, or perhaps a child by another woman, or perhaps also a sibling of the others, but James KENNEDY was angry with her and decided to leave her next to nothing. Also he left $50 to his grandson John HARPER (probably a son of a deceased daughter, whose name we do not have yet), and to his grandson David KENNADY he left a fourth part of the portion his estate which was to go to his daughter Matilda (David’s mother) after the death of his wife, Catherine (DeHAVEN) KENNADY. This bequest was puzzling, too, since the Bible record found for the family of Isaac N. and Matilda (KENNEDY) CHAMBERS does not show they had a son named David KENNADY CHAMBERS. It is possible Matilda was married once before her marriage to Isaac CHAMBERS, and lost her first husband, since she was 20 years old when she married Isaac CHAMBERS, and women often married early in life in the 1800s. More research needs to be done to attempt an answer to these questions: (1) Who exactly was Elisa Jane KENNEDY? (2) Was Matilda (KENNEDY) CHAMBERS married twice, once to a man with the same surname as hers and had a child named David KENNEDY? Also, on a related note, did David KENNEDY move to Carlyle, Clinton Co., Illinois along with his uncle Jesse O. KENNEDY, since the name of David KENNEDY, a native of Chester Co., PA, was found on a list of patrons in the county history, History of Marion and Clinton Counties, Illinois, published by Brink, McDonough & Co., 1881. (3) Who were the parents of John HARPER, grandson of James KENNEDY? and lastly, (4) even with the name of Eliza Jane KENNEDY in his will, there are only 5 children mentioned in James KENNEDY’s will, so who were the other 2 children of James and Catherine (DeHAVEN) KENNEDY, totaling the 7 children who were referenced in Jesse O. Kennedy’s obituary?
James Kennedy often signed his last name as “Kennady,” rather than the more conventional spelling today of Kennedy. In the probate records for his wife’s parents, Jesse and Mary Magdalene (Pluck) DeHaven, it appears spelled as “Kennady.”
According to the death certificate on file for his son, Jesse Osborn Kennedy, dated June, 1906, James Kennedy was a native of Scotland.
The following is is a transcribed copy of the last will and testament of James Kennady, dated 5 Sep 1846, Will Book C (?), File No. 13545, Chester County Court, Chester Co., Pennsylvania, proved 2 May 1859, recorded in Will Book, Vol. 21, page 192, and Letters Testamentary were issued to Catharine Kennady and Jesse O. Kennady on 2 May 1859.
In the name of God amen. I James Kennady of the Township of London Britain County of Chester and State of Pennsylvania being weak in body but of sound mind, memory and understanding, praised be God for it, and considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty as to the time thereof, and to the end I may be better prepared to leave this world whenever it shall please God to call me, hence do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following, to wit:
First. It is my will and I order and direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be duly paid as soon as conveniently can be after my decease.
Second. To my dearly beloved wife Catharin I give and devise and bequeath all of my estate both real and personal of whatsoever kind the same may be or wheresoever found during her natural life and at her decease to be distributed in the manner and form following, to wit,
First, to my Grand Son John Harper I give and bequeath the sum of Fifty Dollars.
Second, To my grandson David Kennady I leave and bequeath one fourth of his mother (Matilda) share to be paid to him at the decease of my wife.
Third, to my daughter Elisa Jane I devise and bequeath one hundred dollars which is in bar against any claim which she may make against my estate.
Fourth, all the rest and residue of my estate both real and personal I give, devise and bequeath unto my four children, to wit, Mary, Matilda, Jesse Osburn sic and William Henry, share and share alike to them, their heirs and assigns forever. Matilda’s share to be subject to the before mentioned bequest of one-fourth part to her son David.
And Lastly I nominate, constitute and appoint my dearly beloved wife Catharine and my son Jesse Osmond sic to be executors of this my last will and Testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifth day of September A.D. one thousand eight hundred and forty six.
[signed] James Kennedy [seal]Signed and sealed by the Testator
to be his last will and testament in
the presence of us and in the
presence of each other.Jno. C. Powley
George H. Watson
West Chester, May 2nd, 1859, then personally appeared Jno. C. Powley & George H. Watson, who on their solemn affirmations did respectfully say that they were personally present and did see and hear James Kennady the Testator in the foregoing instrument of writing named sign and seal, publish, pronounce, and declare the same as and for his last will and testament, and that at the time of so doing he was of a sound and well disposing mind and memory to the best of their knowledge and belief.
Affirmed before me.
A. Strickland, RegistrarBe it remembered that on the second day of May A.D. 1859 the last will and Testament of James Kennady deceased was proved and approved in due form of law, and Letters Testamentary thereon were duly granted to Catharine Kennady & Jesse O. Kennady, who were affirmed well and truly to administer the goods and chattels rights and credits of said deceased James Kennedy.
| Source: Microfilm M432_764, page 129 1850 U.S. Federal Census of London Britain, Chester Co., Pennsylvania Taken 10 Oct 1850, 59th Dwelling, 59th family |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | A g e | S e x | R a c e | Occupation | Value of Real Estate Owned | Birthplace | [col. 11] Attended School within the year |
| James KENNEDY* | 65 | M | Farmer | $2,000 | Penna. | ||
| Catarine KENNEDY** | 66 | F | " | ||||
| Mary BARNS† | 38 | F | " | ||||
| Elisa J. KENNEDY | 30 | F | " | ||||
| William KENNEDY | 19 | M | Laborer | " | |||
| Mary J. KENNEDY†† | 13 | F | " | 1 | |||
| Catharine? BARNES | 12 | F | " | 1 | |||
| Charles KENNEDY | 4 | M | " | ||||
| John G. RICHARDSON | 12 | M | " | ||||
Notes on Census:
* According to the death certificate of his son, Jesse O. Kennedy, James Kennedy was born in the country of Scotland, not in the US. The census taker seems to have been careless about recording places of birth as there is the abbreviation “Penna.” at the top of this page followed by ditto marks in the column down the page until almost the last entry. There is also the possibility that someone other than James or Catherine provided information to the census taker, since the age given for Catherine (DeHaven) Kennedy was far older than her age at that time.
** According to family records and a Bible record found in a published book, Catherine (DeHaven) Kennedy was born in 1793, so she would have been 57 years old in 1850, not 66. This seems to be another recording error by the census taker, or whoever provided information to him.
† The last name of this woman seems to have been recorded wrong, as family records show that James and Catherine (DeHaven) Kennedy had a daughter Mary, who married Robert Burns, not Barns.
†† It seems improbable that this girl would have been a daughter of James and Catherine Kennedy, since they had an older daughter also named Mary. Perhaps she was a sister of the child named Charles, who also was unlikely to have been their child. Also since they had only two sons and five daughters these two children are unlikely to have been grandchildren, since their son William Henry Kennedy married in 1852, and there’s no record of son Jesse Osborne Kennedy having had a son named Charles. Furthermore, Jesse’s daughter Mary Matilda was born in 1845, not in 1838.
‡ It is unknown who this John G. Richardson was. Possibly he was related to the wife of Jesse Osburn Kennedy, Rebecca Richardson, who in 1850 was 33 years old.
On this same page in the census, under the listing for family 53, dwelling 53, is the household headed by Phebe Harper, age 41 years, female, born in “Penna.” Other members of the household were John C. Harper, age 21 years, male, farmer, born in “Penna.”; and John Davit, age 11 years, born in “Penna.,” who had attended school within the year. It’s possible that this Phebe Harper was the unknown daughter of James and Catharine (DeHaven) Kennedy, because James made a bequest of $50 to his grandson John Harper in his will, but John's mother was not identified. It was common in the 1850s for related families to live near one another, but more research should be done to confirm this tentative conclusion, since one could also conclude that John Harper’s parents were dead in 1846 at the time James drew up his will. On the other hand, James may not have wanted to include Phebe in the distribution of his estate, or perhaps she had not wanted to be included for some reason. There is also the possibility that Phebe was John Harper’s stepmother and that his real mother died when he was younger, and his father remarried.
From newspaper clippings about William Henry KENNADY copies of which were obtained from the Chester County Historical Society:
L 1-2-1886
Family Reunion—A family reunion was held at the residence of William KENNEDY in Franklin township, on Friday (New Year’s Day). About forty persons were present, some of them residing in that neighborhood, others in Wilmington and elsewhere. Harry G. Smith, and James A. Conner of West Chester, were also at the reunion and they represent it as having been a very agreeable trip and the day as having been full of enjoyment to all present. A sumptuous dinner was served, and old times recalled when the families now scattered were all united and living in that immediate vicinity.
1852. 1902.
Golden Wedding.
You are cordially invited to attend
the Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary
of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H. KENNEDY,
Tuesday, March 25th, 1902, near Kimblesville, Pa.
10:30 o’clock A. M.
Note: A record confirming the marriage date of William Henry KENNEDY was found online in the Accessible Archives website as follows:
VILLAGE RECORD
[West Chester, Chester Co., Pennsylvania newspaper]
ITEM #9206
April 6, 1852
Marriage On the 25th of March, by the Rev. John M. Dickey, Mr. WM. H. KENNADY, to Miss MARY E. PICKERING, all of Chester county.
Funeral from his late residence, near Kemblesville, Pa., on Wednesday, June 28th. Meet at the house at 10 o’clock A.M. Services at the house. Interment at Rose Bank Cemetery. Carriages will meet morning train at Landenberg.
Mr. William Henry KENNEDY died Sunday, June 25, at the home of his son-in-law, Charles DAVIS, near Appleton, Cecil county, Maryland. The deceased passed away very peacefully and suddenly while spending the day away from home. He was born near Strickersville, Chester county, June 24, 1831. In the early ’50s he married Mary E. PICKERING, and has lived almost ever since in the vicinity of his recent home, between Kembleville and Strickerville. He was one of the oldest members of the New London Lodge of Odd Fellows, having joined in 1853, and was also an honorary member of Strickerville Council, Jr. O.U.A.M., under which order he was buried.
Mr. KENNEDY leaves a wife and three children: Elmer KENNEDY of Marshalton, Delaware; Mrs. Charles DAVIS of Appleton, and Miss Minnie KENNEDY. The funeral services on June 28 at the house and grave at Rosebank cemetery were largely attended—many relatives and friends being present to show the respect which the deceased so richly deserved by his exemplary life.
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