Today’s Friday Find features another set of handwritten family records preserved in the collection of Preston Wells of Michigan—my 3rd cousin once removed. Preston and I share common ancestors in Ozias Wells and Mary Kennedy. These notes shed light on the family of Mary’s father, John Kennedy, providing valuable details about his life, his wife Anna, and their children.
Original Papers belong to Trenton Weell 10884 Trapper Lane Sterwood, Mo 42346
John Kennedy (the father) died at Sullivan, Mad. Co., N.Y. Aug. 28 – 1831
Anna Kennedy (the mother) died at Sullivan Feb. 17 – 1820
B. Hall
RIGHT COLUMN:
John Kennedy born at Volentown Feb 1 – 1767
Anna Kennedy born at Williamstown Apr 28 – 1775
Children
Betsey Kennedy born at Halfmoon, Saratoga Co., N.Y. Mar. 23 – 1793 Died at Norway Dec. 26 – 1801
David Kennedy born at Halfmoon July 15 – 1794 Died at Sullivan, Mad. Co., N.Y. May 11 – 1850
Hannah Kennedy born at Halfmoon Dec. 28 – 1796 Died at Barrie, Orleans Co., N.Y. 1842
SECOND PAGE
Mary Kennedy born at Halfmoon Oct 21 – 1799 Died at Calamo Eaton Co. Mich Mar 23 – 1885
Lucinda Kennedy born at Norway May 22 – 1801 Died at Quincy Mich Apr 2 – 1895
Betsey Kennedy born at Norway Oct 6 – 1802 Died at Darien Gen Co. N.Y. July 11 – 1881
Achsha Kennedy born at Norway June 19 – 1804 Died at Adrian Leneway Co. Mich Aug 27 – 1845
John Kennedy born at Norway Oct 3 – 1806 Died at Eckford Calhoun Co. Mich Dec 1843
RIGHT COLUMN
Barns Kennedy born at Norway Apr 12 – 1808 Died at Clarendon Jan 12 – 1890
William Kennedy born at Norway July 22 – 1810 Died at Calamo Eaton Co. Mich Mar 2 – 1878
Harvey Kennedy born at Norway June 21 – 1812 Died at Clarendon Eaton Co. Mich May 16 – 1886
Chas Kennedy born at Sullivan Mad Co. N.Y. Mar 17 – 1814 Died at Grand Lodge Mich Apr 13 – 1872
Anna Kennedy born at Sullivan May 30 – 1816 Died at Clarendon Eaton Co. Mich June 19 – 1886
Having used ChatGPT to do the transcriptions, the AI tool asked if I would like the information in a ‘family genealogy register’ type report, which it produced.
Kennedy Family Genealogical Register
Parents
John Kennedy Born: 1 Feb 1767, Volentown Died: 28 Aug 1831, Sullivan, Madison Co., New York
Anna (—) Kennedy Born: 28 Apr 1775, Williamstown Died: 17 Feb 1820, Sullivan, Madison Co., New York
Children
Betsey Kennedy Born: 23 Mar 1793, Halfmoon, Saratoga Co., New York Died: 26 Dec 1801, Norway
David Kennedy Born: 15 Jul 1794, Halfmoon, Saratoga Co., New York Died: 11 May 1850, Sullivan, Madison Co., New York
Hannah Kennedy Born: 28 Dec 1796, Halfmoon, Saratoga Co., New York Died: 1842, Barrie, Orleans Co., New York
Mary Kennedy Born: 21 Feb 1799, Halfmoon, Saratoga Co., New York Died: 23 Mar 1885, Calamo, Eaton Co., Michigan
William Kennedy Born: 22 Jul 1810, Norway Died: 2 Mar 1878, Calamo, Eaton Co., Michigan
Harvey Kennedy Born: 21 Jun 1812, Norway Died: 16 May 1886, Clarendon, Eaton Co., Michigan
Chas Kennedy Born: 17 Mar 1814, Sullivan, Madison Co., New York Died: 13 Apr 1872, Grand Ledge, Michigan
Anna Kennedy Born: 30 May 1816, Sullivan, Madison Co., New York Died: 19 Jun 1886, Clarendon, Eaton Co., Michigan
These handwritten notes provide a rare glimpse into the lives of John and Anna Kennedy and their thirteen children, tracing the family’s movement from New York into Michigan. By carefully recording births, deaths, and places of residence, the notes preserve a family story that might otherwise have been lost. For me, they not only highlight the value of preserving original documents, but also strengthen my connection to this branch of my family tree through Mary Kennedy, my direct ancestor.
