Other Events:

• Occupation: Gunsmith

Notes:

From GRADUATES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA 1798-1851, Taken from Historical Sketches of North Carolina by Col. John H. Wheeler, published 1851 and re-printed 1925: William W. Kennedy listed as an 1830 graduate. I cannot be certain that this is the same person as William Wesley Kennedy; however, considering his family's wealth and prominence at that time, as well as his age (which would have been about right for a college graduate in that part of the nineteenth century), I think it is a strong possibility that this is William Wesley Kennedy. (http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/nc/orange/school/unc1851.txt)
Listed in 1850 Census of Tippah County Mississippi, p. 477b, line 14:
Kennedy, W.W., Age 34, Male, Gun Smith, North Carolina (birthplace).
Kennedy, Cynthia W., 30, Female, Georgia (birthplace).
Kennedy, Oliver S., 9, Male, Alabama (birthplace).
Kennedy, Narcissa, 7, Female, Mississippi (birthplace).
Kennedy, Adalia P., 5, Female, Mississippi (birthplace).
Kennedy, Mary E., 3, Female, Mississippi (birthplace).
Kennedy, Lutitia, 1, Female, Mississippi (birthplace).
We can, therefore, pinpoint W.W. Kennedy's move from Lauderdale County, Alabama to Tippah County Mississippi as taking place between 1840 and 1843. It is interesting that W.W. Kennedy continued the "family business" of gun- smithing.
There is some confusion regarding exact spellings and constructions of the unusual names of his children.

Died:
Age: 62

William married Cynthia Walker PALMER on 10 Mar 1840 in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Cynthia (daughter of Randolph Eubanks PALMER and Sarah WALKER) was born about 1817 in Georgia; died on 3 Sep 1894 in Texas; was buried on 4 Sep 1894 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Oliver Sylvester KENNEDY was born on 24 Jan 1840 in Lauderdale County, Alabama; died on 26 Feb 1909 in Tarrant County, Texas; was buried in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, USA.
2. Panthea Narcissa KENNEDY was born about 1843 in Mississippi; died on 24 October 1915 in Denton, Texas.
3. Adelia Parthenia KENNEDY was born on 28 Jul 1844 in Tippah, Mississippi, United States; died on 17 May 1921 in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas; was buried in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas, USA.
4. Mary Elizabeth KENNEDY was born on 9 Jul 1847 in Tippah County, Mississippi, USA; died on 3 Jun 1907 in Hedley, Donley, Texas, USA; was buried between 1900 and 1910 in Rowe Cemetery, Hedley, Donley County, Texas.
5. Luletia KENNEDY was born about 1850.
6. Mittalene Cynthia KENNEDY was born about 1852 in Mississippi; died on 24 Jun 1876 in Alamo, Crockett County, Tennessee.
7. William Oscar KENNEDY was born about 1853 in Mississippi; died in in Fort Worth, Tarrant, Texas, USA.
8. Hiram Randolph KENNEDY was born about 1856 in Tippah, Mississippi, United States; died in 1915 in Fort Worth, Tarrant, Texas, USA.
9. Ophelia Adrian KENNEDY was born about 1859 in , Tippah, Mississippi, USA; died on 25 December 1879 in Texas.

Notes:

Hiram Kennedy and his family moved to Lauderdale County, Alabama about 1824; at this time, they had four children. He was one of the first to buy land in Lauderdale County; the Government first sold land grants in Lauderdale County on March 5, 1818, and he bought a land grant on June 19 of that year (the earliest grants were signed by the President). Eventually, he owned over two thousand acres in this county near the village of Green Hill, about fifteen miles from Florence on the Military Road -- now Jackson Highway. The Kennedy home was east of the highway before Green Hill, and other land was west of the home on Shoal Creek at a community called Cowpens. The home stood until about 1944, but as none of the family had lived in it since 1875, it had greatly deteriorated. Originally, it was a fine house of considerable size. The woodwork -- mantels, door, and window frames and wainscoating in the principal rooms were all hand carved. There is still evidence of a gun factory northeast of where the home stood.
The family cemetery is south (and across a dirt road) from where the home stood; in 1957 a new fence was placed around it. In it, Hiram and his wife Mary were buried; he died August 20, 1862 and she died January 22, 1875. After his death, she continued to live on the Kennedy Plantation, although toward the end of her life she lived with her youngest child, on the Brookes Plantation. Although only six when her grandmother died, Mary's granddaughter recalls seeing her grandmother reading her Bible by candlelight.
Hiram and Mary Spinks Kennedy were considered exceedingly fine and gentle people, living the good life and providing well for their large family. When they settled far from other like families, they lacked social contacts, but they maintained their standards of culture and education. There was no ostentation, unless sending to London for the wedding trousseau of a granddaughter they raised was that; and life was so pleasant, a grandson, John Robie Kennedy, when he was married in Tuscaloosa brought his bride to visit his widowed grandmother on their honeymoon.
"Matthew, Wilson, and Hiram Kennedy took the census of the county in 1850. They were required to list a real estate evaluation for each property owner. Less than $1,000 was the value of the majority of most peoples' real estate. The enumerators were also required to make a list of all persons who had died in the county ending 1 June 1850. Only the list kept by Hiram Kennedy was available."

Hiram married Mary SPINKS on 28 Jan 1813 in Moore County, North Carolina. Mary (daughter of Raleigh SPINKS and Mary PEARCE) was born on 20 Jan 1793 in Randolph County, North Carolina; died on 22 Jan 1875 in Lauderdale County, Alabama; was buried in Jan 1875 in Kennedy-Stutts Cemetery, Lauderdale County, Alabama. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1790 Census: David Kennedy and family resided in the Fayette District, Moore County, North Carolina.
p. 248, line 14: David Cannady - (Males): 4 (under 10), 1 (10-16), 1 (16-26), 1 (26-45), 1 (45+); and (Females): 2 (under 10), 1 (16-26), 1 (26-45), 1 (45+). Slaves - 2.
1800 Census: David Kennedy and family resided in Moore County, North Carolina.
p. 603, line 15: David Kennedy - (Males): 3 (under 10), 1 (10-16), 3 (16-26), 1 (26-45); and (Females): 1 (under 10), 1 (10-16), 1 (16-26), 1 (26-45), 1 (45+). Slaves - 11.
1815 Tax List for Moore County, North Carolina: Total of 1178 acres valued at $2750.
Before 1825: member of Fall Creek Baptist Church. Petitioned to establish a church near his "schoolhouse," from which Mechanics Hill Baptist Church was born. Kennedy was the chief contributor to the building of their meeting house, and he was their first deacon.
From the Moore County Historical [rest of title illegible], "Country Doctor for a Half Century," by H.B. Shields, M.D. (1975): "Probably the most famous character produced by the upper end of Moore County shortly after the Revolutionary War was David Kennedy, gun-smith, mill-owner, and fiddler. Following in the footsteps of his father, Alexander Kennedy, a Revolutionary soldier who made the "Kennedy rifle" used in the Continental armies, David Kennedy carried on the gun-making business, and had at one time the largest gun factory in this section of the South. The part of the county known as Hemp, now Robbins, North Carolina, was once called Mechanics Hill, after his guns shops and other industries of a mechanical nature. Besides his business activities, his interest in education and religion were likewise known and recognized. He gave the land for old Mechanics Hill Baptist Church, was its first deacon, and represented it at various meetings of the Sandy Creek Baptist Association.
When Kennedy moved to Alabama around 1835, my grandfather, Cornelius Shields, bought the old Kennedy homestead ... my remembrance of the old David Kennedy home is quite vivid. It was a splendid house for its day and age; not equaled by any in the county unless it were the House in the Horseshoe, which it resembled. I remember, especially, the long covered passageway, with banisters on either side, that connected the 100 foot distance between the main house and the kitchen. In the parlor of this house was the finest hand-carved mantel that I have ever seen. It was intricately carved, in bas-relief, in grape-vine design, with the leafy vine running up both sides and across the top of the mantel."
From http://www.mooreyp.com/communities.html: "In 1795 gunsmith David Kennedy built a sawmill on the spot where the Fayetteville-Salem road crossed Bear Creek in northern Moore County. Kennedy also manufactured rifles that were Moore County's main contribution to the War of 1812. Later, gold was found on the same 400 acres Kennedy had sold for only $4. It was only a trickle of gold but it kept the town alive until the Durham-Charlotte railroad came through in 1904. "
David Kennedy served in the General Assembly of North Carolina until 1790, and with his brother Alexander, was appointed a Trustee of Mount Parnassus Academy in 1809 (Laws of N.C. 1809, Chapter 76). Under his wise and talented handling, the manufacture of guns progressed greatly after the family was established in Moore County; they employed seventy-five men, making it a large industry for that day; this enterprise is still remembered in North Carolina and the Kennedy rifle was rather famous and specimens still existing are valued. When they were in their fifties, David Kennedy and his wife moved to Lauderdale County, Alabama, and lived with their son Hiram on his plantation, about fifteen miles north of Florence near Green Hill; they are buried in the old family cemetery.
The manufacturing process Kennedy used in making his guns was unique. Large grindstones operated by water power shaped the barrels into octagonal design. The metal was then drawn out and molded by large trip hammers, also operated by water power.
At last came the test of truing the sights. This was accomplished by shooting across the mill pond to a target on the other side, close to which a man stood to mark the deviation from the bull's eye. Patiently, the sights were varied until found absolutely true. Being shrewd, and a talented fiddle player, Kennedy used this for his business. Not wanting to keep paying such high prices for gun locks he imported from New York, Kennedy made a horse-back trip to the factory with just one thought in mind. Upon arrival, it was not long until Kennedy learned the method was a carefully guarded secret. Soon he was winning the hearts of the workers with his violin, and he was able to enter the factory and access "The Big Secret." He observed and remembered. It was no longer necessary to import locks, he made his own.
Records show that the gunmaker was church-minded. He gave the land and bore the expense of the construction of the Mechanic's Hill Baptist Church, a frame building 40 x 60 feet. Inside are narrow uncomfortable wooden benches of an earlier day, the pews divided from each other by plank wood railings. Kennedy served as the first deacon of this church. An "act of God" saved his life from a rolling timber in his log yard. He was said to have declared that because God had allowed him to live, he would use some of his logs for spiritual purposes.
Despite his devotion to religion and his business success, misfortune overtook him when he stood security for his brother for a large stock of merchandise. He was forced to sell out for a song. One 300 tract of land sold for $4.00. Thousands of dollars of gold dust was mined later from this same tract.
Discouraged, David Kennedy disposed of all his possessions and moved to Alabama with his son Hiram. The Kennedy Homestead was located on the road from Robbins to the Standard Mineral Company.
Where are the Kennedy rifles? They still exist, but have vanished from public view. Their scarcity, compared to the number who want them, makes them collector's item. There are still Kennedy rifles around Robbins but they say folks don't want it known -- it's a big secret. Kennedy rifles were manufactured for the War of 1812.
Book 137 Page 305
200 acres, Moore County, on Bear Creek
Entered 21 February 1812
Issued 24 December 1812
Book 127 Page 438
240 acres, Moore County, on Persimmon Branch
Entered 2 January 1808
Issued 6 July 1811 between 1808 and 1812 Moore County, NC.213
A Bible which Kennedy gave to the church proves his piety. On the fly leaf of the book he wrote -- "David Kennedy his book he may read good but God knows when. "

David married Joanah MOORE on 24 May 1788 in Orange County, North Carolina. Joanah (daughter of Edward MOORE and Martha THOMPSON) was born on 17 Jul 1766 in Orange County, North Carolina; died on 12 Oct 1857 in Lauderdale County, Alabama; was buried in Oct 1857 in Kennedy-Stutts Cemetery, Lauderdale County, Alabama. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

According the Family Bible of David Kennedy, "The family of my wife, Johaner (Joanna) as follows her father's name was Edward Moore of Welch (Welsh) descent. Her mother's name [was] Marthe Thomson (Martha Thompson), bor raised in the Jerseys. Their children [were] as follows: Susey, Salley, Mary, William, Elisebeth, John, Thomas, Martha, Joaner, and Edward."

Raleigh married Mary PEARCE about 1790 in Randolph County, North Carolina. Mary (daughter of Windsor PEARCE and Mary SEARCY) was born in 1772 in Randolph, North Carolina, United States; died in 1823 in Clarke, Alabama, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Alexander Kennedy was born in the home of his parents, John Kennedy and ? located in Ireland.
According the Family Bible of David Kennedy: "Alexander, my father was married in Philadelphia, where his wife died, when he married my mother, Mary Thomas in Maryland. She was born and raised in London and married to John Thomas and had two children: Thomas and Jane, all of which died. Her maiden name was Tanday. My father had by her: Nancy, John, David, Mary, and Alexander. She died when I was small. My father then married the Widow Lavin, and by her he had: George, Annie, Joseph, Robert, Nathan, and Esther."
According to the pamphlet entitled, "The Kennedy Family of Moore County," "John Alexander Kennedy -- soldier and gun-maker in Philadelphia for the American army. Drew a pension. He fled to North Carolina after Phildelphia fell to the British."
According to a book entitled, "Elise High School and Upper Moore County (1974) by Edwin Arthur West, p. 4, "On the Falls of Bear Creek, near where the Robbins Water Plant now stands, Alexander Kennedy established the first of the Moore County Gunworks, and continued to turn out guns for our soldiers to use against the British."
More about the Kennedy Rifle: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~lelandva/kennedygun.html
From http://www.sandhills.net/robbins.cfm: "During the latter days of the American Revolution, Alexander Kennedy left Philadelphia and headed south. He wound up establishing a gun factory on the falls of Bear Creek near present day Robbins. From this new location, Kennedy supplied General George Washington’s Continental forces with firearms. Kennedy’s son, David, expanded the operations of the gun factory to a level unequaled in the South; he also produced fine, silver-plated rifles and swords. The gunworks employed nearly 100 workers and supplied many of the guns used in the War of 1812. Large grindstones, operated by waterpower from Bear Creek, shaped the gun barrels. The Kennedy shop led to the establishment of other factories with products similar to that of the gunsmith. Around 1795 the community was labeled with the name "Mechanics Hill." Falling upon hard times in the 1830's David Kennedy moved to Alabama about 1835. He donated the land for the first Mechanics Hill Baptist Church and played a key role in the construction of a store and one of the area’s first schoolhouses. After his departure, the community slowly took shape. Its growth was attributed largely to the Plank Road and a mini gold rush. "
Kennedy was "settled in Orange County, North Carolina, as shown in North Carolina Colonial Records, Vol. VII, pp 733-737; by 1793 he had moved across the Deep River into Moore County. By profession he made guns and swords of a high quality; his service to the colonies have been recognized by the Sons of the American Revolution; further, an Alexander Kennedy of North Carolina is recorded as drawing a pension and it may have been this same Alexander Kennedy. In addition to making the Kennedy rifle, he operated a merchant-mill and saw-mill where the Salem Road crossed Bear Creek near Robbins (formerly Hemp) in the upper part of Moore County."
Of his children by his second marriage, we know nothing of Nancy, John and Mary, but it seems likely they stayed in North Carolina. However, the youngest child of this marriage, Alexander, settled in Alabama; he had a son Josiah who settled in Centerville, Alabama and there married Eliza or Elizabeth Ann McNeill.
Of his children by his third wife: George came to Lauderdale County, Alabama, with his brother David, and the latter's son Hiram; he was not married; he built a church that still stands just south of Green Hill in this county. The other children of the third marriage probably went on to Mississippi to settle."
North Carolina, Department of the Secretary of State Land Grant office.
Book 84 page 242
100 acres, Moore County, North Carolina
Entered 3 January 1783
Issued 6 December 1794
Book 133 Page 79
250 acres
Entered 12 June 1813. Moore County, North Side
Issued 5 December 1818, Bear Creek between 1793 and 1818 Moore County, NC.

Alexander married Mary TANDAY before 1764 in Maryland. Mary (daughter of Samuel TANDY and Elizabeth TANDY) was born in 1742 in London, England; died before 16 Nov 1780 in Cumberland County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Widow of John Thomas of Maryland.

Edward married Martha THOMPSON in 1746-11-10 in Alloways Creek,Salem,New Jersey,USA. Martha was born on 30 Nov 1724 in Alloways Creek, Salem, New Jersey, United States; died in in Moore, North Carolina, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Enoch married Amy PEARCE in UNKNOWN. Amy was born in UNKNOWN; died in UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Windsor married Mary SEARCY. Mary was born in 1760 in North Carolina, United States; died in 1823 in North Carolina, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]