John Kennedy (1735 - 1801)

Born 6 Mar 1735 in Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1 Sep 1801 at age 66 in Beaufort, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

John Kennedy was born on 6 Mar 1735 in Virginia, son of John Kennedy (ca 1697-1 May 1769) and Elizabeth possibly Basye Miller.^[1] John was the son of John Kennedy, 1697-1769, and the latter's wife, Elizabeth (maiden name unknown). Beaufort County 1760 records show, "John Kennedy Jr. the son of John Kennedy and Elizabeth his wife." It's also noted in the will of John's paternal aunt, Ann Kennedy Adams (1693-1760) of Beaufort County, "John Kennedy, son of John Kennedy & his wife Elizabeth." (John was an heir of his Aunt Ann's estate). Records show that John and his siblings, Warren, William and Sarah, were born in Virginia.

He married Apsley Spier Holland, the widow of John Holland and mother to 3 Holland children, in September 1762. Apsley was the daughter of John and Martha Speirs. They had the following known children:

1. Apsley (Kennedy) Hanrahan (1764– )^[1]
2. John Kennedy (1765– )^[1]
3. William L Kennedy ^[1]
4. Martha Kennedy (1770–1771)^[1]
5. Warren (Willie) Kennedy (1770–1808)^[1]

Robert A. Moore, the author of the book "Early Kennedys in Pitt and Beaufort Counties," states that John, "arrived in Beaufort County North Carolina from Virginia sometime prior to 1750..." He built his Beaufort County home, Creekmere, in 1750, so obviously, he was in that area in some unknown prior year. It is noted in Ann Kennedy Adams's bible records that John's father, John, also went to Beaufort County, per the latter's death information in the family bible, dated 1769. Moore's book mentions that John was a descendant of "an ancient Scottish family," though no further information about his Scottish ancestors; their location in Scotland; who the Scottish ancestor was who emigrated to Virginia. It is not clear if John's father was the immigrant or he was also born in Virginia . Other early references to John Kennedy occurred in the 1755 list of North Carolina Taxpayers in Beaufort County, in 1762 and 1764 in Pitt County, 1779, 1782, 1786 in Beaufort County, and 1786 in Pitt County. Other early records in 1760 are of "John Kennedy Jr. the son of John Kennedy and Elizabeth his wife" John Kennedy is listed in many Land transactions as early as 2 March 1761 and many others.

Colonel John Kennedy performed Patriotic Service in North Carolina in the American Revolution.

John Kennedy is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A064731.

John Kennedy Sr. was an influential person in the community as indicated by his representing Beaufort County in the House of Commons in 1779 and in the State Senate in 1791. He also served as High Sheriff of Beaufort County from 1788 - 1796.^[2] A further breakdown of dates indicates that he serves as High Sheriff from 1788 & 1791, 1792 - 1793 and 1795 - 1796.^[3]

Colonel John Kennedy died 1st day of September 1801, Aged 66 years, and is buried at Kennedy Cemetery, Beaufort County, North Carolina.^[4][5]

Creekmere, His Plantation

Creekmere, on Tranters Creek about two miles from Washington, was built by Colonel Kennedy in 1750. "This home was the social center of refined hospitality" per Moore's book. The ends of the house are of brick while the front and back are of wood. The interior was very elegant in its day and though marred by abuse and time, the living room is a fine example of the panel work and wainscoting of that period. In the bedrooms upstairs there are little corner fireplaces not larger than 12 inches wide. Allen Grist bought this place from Kennedy and lived there during the winter months and ran a large fishery.

His main dwelling was on the top of the hill about a mile away, where S.M. Lee lived following the Civil War. Creekmere was then owned by Mrs. Mary Hackett, a daughter of General Grimes, who purchased it after the Civil War..^[6]

Slaves

In this period, the ownership of land and slaves was an indication of a man's wealth and usually his social, as well as economic position. In 1790, over half the taxpayers of the county owned two hundred or more acres of land. The percentage of those owning one thousand acres or more was 8.4%. The largest landowner had more than twenty thousand acres. Ten wealthy men owned 25% of the total number of slaves in the county. 6th in that list was John Kennedy with 30 slaves, not counting those owned by his three sons.

Research Notes

One Ancestry record states their home county in Virginia was Fairfax, though it does not provide the document showing this.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Transcriptions from the 1763 Kennedy Family Bible, transcribed by Robert A. Moore
2. ↑ "Washington and the Pamlico" Ursula F. Loy and Pauline M. Worthy Editors. Washington - Beaufort County Bicentennial Commission. p401.
3. ↑ C. Wingate Reed; Beaufort County Two Centuries of Its History, p 168
4. ↑ [http://www.ncroots.com/Beaufort/KennedyCem.htm House, Leslie F., "Kennedy Cemetery, Beaufort County, North Carolina," 6 Mar 1979
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images ( Find A Grave: Memorial #182118938 john-kennedy: accessed 14 April 2023), memorial page for COL John Kennedy Jr. (16 Mar 1735–1 Sep 1801), Find a Grave Memorial ID 182118938, citing Kennedy Cemetery, Washington, Beaufort County, North Carolina, USA; Maintained by MarilynGeniSeeker (contributor 48570135).
6. ↑ "Interesting Old Places Near Washington Include Mill Creek Plantation, Others" Washington Daily News; August 17, 1951 p.2.