The Kennedy Family of Virginia

Generation 6

Note: Information on the Lewis Family before Walden Lewis b. c. 1774 in Virginia comes from assumptions based on multiple sources. Therefore, the information on this page is not reliable for genealogical purposes.

Reuben Kennedy (5Joseph, 4John, 3James, 2James, 1Edmund) Lewis of Virginia

There is a yDNA connection between this person and my ancestor, Walden Lewis b. c. 1774 Spotsylvania Co VA. yDNA confirms an exact match (67/67) to some tests. And, there are close (66/67) matches and almost close (65/67) matches. All of theses matches deserve research to determine how the different families are related.

These test results can be found at the Lewis Surname DNA Project. Additionally, a detailed discussion of the significance of these test results and a comparison of the results for the five Lewis families of northern Virginia can be found at DNA Results.

This analysis focuses on the 37/37 match to Reuben Kennedy of Culpeper Co VA. As Walden Lewis b. c. 1774 Spotsylvania Co VA is my ancestor. How can someone named Kennedy be a perfect match? [Research]

The first record for this Kennedy family is in 1801 in Culpeper Co VA where Reuben Kennedy married Ursula Faulconer.

Previously, Reuben Kennedy's father was reported to be John Kennedy of Fredericktown MD. But, that family migrated c. 1776 to Boonesborough KY, settled in Bedford Co VA from whence John Kennedy enlisted as a volunteer in the Revolutionary War. After John died in 1781, John's wife and her "little children" migrated to Bourbon Co KY where she collected on his bounty land.

In 1776 JOHN KENNEDY, JR, son of DR. JOHN KENNEDY, SR., his brother, JOSEPH KENNEDY and brother, THOMAS KENNEDY, and JOHN KENNEDY, son of his half brother, DANIEL KENNEDY, with others making a party of 18, set out from Frederick Town (Frederick, MD) to establish Fort Boonesborough in Kentucky arriving at Fort Boonesborough on April 1, 1776. Trustees for the town site of 640 acres were DANIEL BOONE and JOHN KENNEDY among others. This was about 1779. ("Boonesborough" by Ranck, page 111)

JOHN KENNEDY, JR. removed to Bedford, Virginia and entered the Revolutionary War from there as a volunteer, Private in General Nathaniel Green's division. He was captured and taken prisoner at the Battle of Guilford Court House, North Carolina, on March 15, 1781 and ended up on a British prison ship, the "Jersey", off the Virginia Capes where he died of starvation. He was interred at the Eastern Shore Chapel, Prince Ann County, Virginia. ("Collins History of Kentucky", Vol II, Page 71).

But, this Kennedy family stayed in northern Virginia, settling in Orange county. The task is to work backwards to find the history for this family.

Reuben Kennedy was born in 1782, probably in Caroline Co VA. On 4/15/1801 in Culpeper Co VA, Reuben married Ursula Faulconer b. 1765 Essex Co VA. But, Ursula died by 1834. On 6/24/1834 in Orange Co VA, Reuben married Mary Hancock Garton b. c. 1780.

Reuben is found twice in the 1850 census; first in Orange Co living near son Edward Newman and second in Madison Co near son Littleton. And, in both records, Reuben is cited as a "cooper." From these records, we learn that second wife Mary had died, and Reuben moved on.

Reuben died 1/12/1858 in Madison Co VA. 

Following Reuben is difficult.
-1801 married in Culpeper Co VA.
-From 1820 to 1834, we find Reuben Kennedy in Orange Co VA, while he was married to Ursula.
-By 1840 a Reuben Kennedy is found in Stafford Co VA.
-By 1850 Reuben and son Littleton are found in Madison Co VA.
-Reuben died 1/12/1858 in Madison Co VA. 

1850 Federal Census: Orange County, Virginia
HN  FN  LAST     FIRST      AGE Sex Occup.    BIRTH 
====================================================
196 197 Kennedy  Reuben     67  M   Cooper    VA
 
1850 Federal Census: Madison County, Virginia
HN  FN  LAST     FIRST      AGE Sex Occup.    BIRTH 
====================================================
169     Jackson  Thomas     76  M             VA
                 Drusilla   85  F             VA
        Kennedy  Reuban     68  M             VA

    Children

    1. Littleton Kennedy b. 1802 Culpeper Co VA

    2. Edward Newman Kennedy 

1850 Federal Census: Orange County, Virginia
HN  FN  LAST     FIRST      AGE Sex Occup.    BIRTH 
====================================================
191 192 Kennedy  Edward N.  48  M   Cooper    VA
                 Sidney     48  F             VA
                 Hiram      17  M   Cooper    VA
                 Wesley     15  M   Cooper    VA
                 Clifton    13  M             VA
 
1860 Federal Census: Henrico County, Virginia
HN  FN  LAST     FIRST      AGE Sex Occup.    BIRTH 
====================================================
127 123 Kennedy  E. N.      59  M   Laborer   VA
                 Sydney     59  F             VA

    3. Hiram Kennedy 

1870 Federal Census: Orange County, Virginia
HN   FN   LAST     FIRST      AGE Sex Occup.    BIRTH 
======================================================
1533 1723 Kennedy  Hiram P.   64  M   Farmer    VA
                   Mary A.    63  F             VA

    4. Louisa Kennedy

1850 Federal Census: Pettis County, Missouri
HN  FN  LAST     FIRST      AGE Sex Occup.    BIRTH 
====================================================
202 203 Garton   Charles S  41  M   Farmer    VA
                 Louisa M   37  F             VA
 
1860 Federal Census: Vernon County, Missouri
HN  FN  LAST     FIRST      AGE Sex Occup.    BIRTH 
====================================================
826 798 Garton   C. S.      53  M   Farmer    VA
                 Louisa     47  F             VA
 
1870 Federal Census: Vernon County, Missouri
HN  FN  LAST     FIRST      AGE Sex Occup.    BIRTH 
====================================================
17  19  Pryor    Richard    40  M   Farmer    Tenn
        Garton   Charles S. 61  M   Farmer    VA

Generation #7

Caveat
This site is provided for reference only. Except where specifically cited, information contained is conjecture and should not be considered as fact.
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