John Kennedy Jr. was born on 16. Oct. 1742 at Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland. He was the son of
John Kennedy and
Elizabeth Owen. John Kennedy Jr. married
Esther Stille, daughter of
Peter Stille Sr. and
Mary (Unknown), c 1770. John Kennedy Jr. was captured by the British at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina on 15. Mar. 1781. He died on 26. Jun. 1781 at age 38; on board British prison ship
Jersey. In 1776 John Kennedy, Jr., son of Dr. John Kennedy, Sr., his brother, Joseph and brother, Thomas, and John Kennedy, son of his half brother, Daniel, with others making a party of 18, set out from Frederick Town (Frederick, MD) to establish Fort Boonsborough in Kentucky. Joseph lived at Frederick, and probably several others. They arrived at Fort Boonsborough on April 1, 1776. Trustees for the townsite of 640 acres were Daniel Boone and John Kennedy among others. This was about 1779. ("Boonesborough" by Ranck, page 111). Moved to Bedford, Virginia and entered the Revolutionary War from Bedford, Virginia as a volunteer as a private in General Nathaniel Green's division, was captured and taken prisoner at the battle of Guilford Court House, North Carolina, March 15, 1781; put on a British prison ship, "Jersey", off the Virginia Capes and died of starvation. He was interred at the Eastern Shore Chapel, Prince Ann County, Virginia. ("Collins History of Kentucky", Vol II, Page 71).
John Kennedy, Jr., is listed in the D.A.R. Patriots Index as follows: “John Kennedy, born 10-16-1742, died 6-21-1781, married Esther Stilly.” John lived in Maryland until he moved to Bedford, County, Virginia, perhaps in the 1770s. A John Kennedy was a buyer at the estate sale of Charles Ewing there on July 15, 1772. He was also a buyer at an estate sale of Adam and Elizabeth Beard on March 26, 1778. He bought land in Bedford County in 1779. He and his brothers, Thomas and Joseph, had plans to buy land in Kentucky. This was during the Revolutionary War years, and as seen in Jesse Kennedy’s history, John was called to duty. Just before he went off to war he wrote the following letter to his brother, Thomas Kennedy in Kentucky. The letter was published in Virginia Appalachian Notes, Vol. 11, No. 4, 1987:
Bedford County, Virginia, 16th Day of February 1781
Dear Brother:
I have the happiness to write to you by David Crews, who is my particular friend, and who will either, I hope, deliver my letter or send it safely to you. I send by him a quire of paper for you and Mr. Constant, which you must divide. I would have sent you a quire apiece, but Mr. Crews has many things of his own to carry. My family are well. I had a letter from brother Joseph a little while before Christmas. He was in health, so was Mother and all the friends there. I saw a man that lodged at brother Joseph’s, in January, who brings me word that he been to see brother Hugh, who had moved to Shando, near Cunningham’s Mill, in Virginia, and that was he very sick and likely to die, and had, when Joseph left him, not taken any nourishment for fifteen days; consequently we may expect he is gone to the world of spirits, where we are all hastening. I expect brother Joseph here in the next month. He is mightly desirous, I learn by his letter, to move to Kentucky, and indeed, I have a great mind to venture in a short time myself, and I wish I knew what was best. Times are exceedingly troublesome here, our taxes are so high. But I should not, I think, be worsted, if I had not such a parcel of girls. When we drafted for regular soldiers in August last, it was every fifteenth man; if it falls to my lot again, it is hard luck indeed. Col. Morgan has lately taken five or six hundred British prisoners, which are now passing though this country; but notwithstanding this little piece of good luck of ours, you may depend, I have of late, been very much afraid we should become a conquered people.
I have of late heard from those families who were taken from Martin’s and Ruddle’s station. Three young men have lately made their escape from Detroit, and bring word they are comfortably settled in that neighborhood, except those who were butchered by the savages before they reached there. Col. Bird, they say, is very kind to them, etc. I have not seen the men, but one of my acquaintances tells me it is a fact. If you do not live in great fear, I think you live in more satisfaction than we do here. I would be glad to have the lands surveyed and the works made ready for the grants as soon as it may be done with safety; but I am not able to get anymore warrants till brother Joseph comes out with cash; besides, you may depend, it appears to me to be a great risk at present, whether we can support our independence or not: so that I am unwilling to borrow money if I could get to venture. Several able people that were to have been joined with me in getting warrants to send to Kentucky, to Mr. Constant, have all fell back. Some think they cannot pay their taxes without the money they had intended for that use. However, if brother Joseph brings cash, I indend to lay it out in warrants, if things don’t get worse. It is expected the seat of the war will be in Virginia next summer. Mr. Crew tells me that if our warrants are located wrong in the surveyors book, we can locate them over again, provided no other location interferes. If so perhaps those warrants Duncan located may be altered. You did not inform me in your letter of the 21st of November, wether you were likely to raise any hogs. Pray remember me in kindest manner to Mr. Constant and Couchman, and all acquaintances in the Fort.
Do not let any, except a particular acquaintance, know that I think our country is in a bad way, because it is only my private opinion, and would fain hope I am mistaken. I wish you many blessings and above all, a constant and grateful sense of God’s almighty goodness.. This is the ardent wish of your affectionate brother.
John Kennedy
P.S. My wife joins me in love to you and the children. Since writing the above, we are all bodily summoned to meet the English,who are within a day’s ride of us, we learn, with a considerable force. What the issue will be, time will determine. In less than three hours I am to leave my family and go in defense of my country.
J.K.
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John never returned from the war. He was captured by the British at Guilford Court House, North Carolina, on March 5, 1781, and died of starvation aboard the prison ship, Jersey, on June 26. (Perrin’s History of Fayette County, Kentucky, page 803)
The infamous prison ship, Jersey, was permanently docked on the shore of Long Island during the war. Ebenezer Fox was a prisoner for a time and later told of his experience in his book, The Revolutionary Adventures of Ebenezer Fox of Roxbury, Massachussets, published in 1838. Fox recalled his first impressions upon being lowered into the hatch which housed the inmates:
Here was a motley crew, covered with rags and filth; visages pallid with disease, emaciated with hunger and anxiety, and retaining hardly a trace of their original appearance. Here were men, who had once enjoyed life while riding over the mountain wave or roaming through pleasant fields, full of health and vigor, now shriveled by a scanty and unwholesome diet, ghastly with inhaling an impure atmosphere, exposed to contagion and disease, and surrounded with the horrors of sickness of death.
The diet on board the Jersey, according to Fox, consisted of moldy bread filled with worms and meat that had been cooked in salt water fouled by human excrement. Prisoners passed their time by picking at their lice. Estimates of fatalities on board the ship range in the thousands. No one knows for sure. But one we know is John Kennedy.
John’s will was proven in Bedford County, Virginia, on September 24, 1781. It was written earlier that same year, February 22, 1781, right after he wrote the above letter, and before he went off to war. Omitting the introduction about his health, etc., here is the text as found in Will Book 1, pages 401-402:
Whereas in the course of the Winter 1780 while I was in Kentucky I found it likely to be to the united advantage of my brother Joseph Kennedy of Maryland and myself to contract with Mr. James Rucker and Reuben Coward to clear out and procure the Grants to us for two tracts, being preemptive rights of 1000 acres each, one of which grants in the name of Joseph Kennedy and the other in my own name. After they are obtained Joseph Kennedy and myself, or some person for us, to take first choice of these two tracts of land, which first choice must in a fair and equal manner be divided - one half to Joseph Kennedy his heirs and assigns and the other half to my heirs. I do therefore hereby empower my Executors and I do hereby require them to comply in all respects on my part with the agreement to said Rucker and Coward and also that they or either of them deal by Joseph Kennedy or his heirs according to these instructions and what may appear to be just by referring to the said agreement in writing dated Janurary 1780. In case the said Joseph Kennedy or his heirs do ratify and confirm the said agreement with said Rucker and Coward with regard to the tract of land they are to have in case it be the one whose grant is obtained in his name or divided with my Executors for the use off my heirs (making rights, etc.) as the case may be according to these instructions and what appears just by the said agreement. In that case, my will is that as soon as Grants are obtained for three following Warrants that is to say one of 750 acres and two Warrants of 10000 each all dated the 16th of October 1779, that my Executors lay off unto Joseph Kennedy and his heirs 1000 acres of the lands obtained by the said Warrants and also unto Peter Kelly 750 acres of the said lands to be laid off to each of them in one body or more bodies according to justice and equity so as to render the lands most valuable to all persons concerned they paying to my heirs Major Daniel Boons charge for locating land surveying the said Warrants. The remaining part of what property I am possessed of except a negro call Jane, I give and dispose of a follows.
After paying all my just debts and my wife having her thirds according to Law, to be equally divided among all my children.
Unto Esther my well beloved wife a negro called Jane during her life and afterwards to all my children.
My Executors to sell all the lands I have a right to in Bedford County in such manner as they think best.
Executors: my trusty and well beloved friend Thomas Logwood and Esther my beloved wife.
Witnesses: Thomas Williams, John Hardwick, John Hardwick, Jr.
John's estate was inventoried and appraised on January 24, 1782, and among the things of value were “Negroes Beck, Joe, and Jane,” household furnishings, livestock, farm equip- ment and “18 window lights.” Appraisers were Julius Hatcher, William Miller and John Wheat.
The division of the estate was entered into the court record on April 14, 1791. It was not completed until September 22, 1794. (Wills, Inventories & Accounts, pp. 139-140) The document is of interest, for it lists the heirs.
Perrin’s history of Bourbon County, page 477, gives some biographical sketches of some Kennedy descendants, and includes this comment: “John Kennedy...entered land upon the Kennedy’s Creek, which bears his name; he never came to Kentucky to live. He had two sons Eli and Washington, who located on the land.”
As noted above, John Kennedy, Jr., married Esther Stilly, daughter of Peter and Mary Stilly. Mary’s will of September 30, 1784, in Frederick County, Maryland, named “my daughter, Esther Kennedy, wife of John Kennedy (deceased)...” The Stillys were of Swedish ancestry. (See chapter on the Stillys) According to L.V. Hagan, Jr., Esther was born on January 14, 1745, in Frederick County, Maryland; and died on October 20, 1820, in Bourbon County, Kentucky. Apparently after the death of her husband in 1781, Esther and the children stayed for a time in Bedford County, Virginia, for she is listed on the tax rolls of 1782-1787. They probably remained until the estate was finally settled in 1794. Then they moved to Bourbon County to live on land patented to them. Kentucky Land Grants by W.R. Jilson notes that 400 acres were surveyed on Kennedy Creek for John Kennady on December 27, 1782.
The Bourbon County Minute Book of 1794-1796 includes these items of interest:
March 1795. Infant orphans of John Kennedy, Eli Kennedy and Sophia Kennedy came into court and made choise of Josiah Ashurst as their Guardian, who is to enter bond in the Clerk’s office with Joseph Kennedy, his surety under penalty of L1000 according to Law.
March 1795. Guardians to Ary Kennedy and Washington Kennedy, Infants of John Kennedy, dec’d, upon his entry into Bond with Joseph Kennedy and Penn his sureties in the sum of L500 in the clerk’s office.
May 1795. Josiah Ashurst having been chosen Guardian to Eli Kennedy & Sophia Kennedy orphans of John Kennedy. Alex Brown & Samuel Hatcher Bondsmen. Bond L1200.
May 1795. Washington Kennedy and Ary Kennedy orphans of John Kennedy Surety. Bond L1200.
August 1795. On motion of Esther Kennedy, widow of John Kennedy dec’d. to appoint Commissioners to set apart her Dower in the lands whereof the said John Kennedy died seised (sic) to having withdrawn the said motion. Ordered that James Duncan recover his cost for defending the same including an attorneys fee.
In the October Court of 1799, the heirs of John Kennedy, Jr., divided the land left to them in Bourbon County. Here is an abstract of that record:
John Kennedy’s Hrs. Division of Land. On motion of Zachariah Wheat and Nicholas Talbott, ordered that Jno. Boyd and Jas Duncan, commrs., divide between Zachariah Wheat and Elizabeth; Josiah Ashurst and Rebeckah; Samuel Hatcher and Julia; Eli Kennedy; Joshua Rawlings and Sophia; Nicholas Talbott and Ary, and Washington Kennedy, hrs. of John Kennedy, dec’d., two tracts of 1000 a. each patented in name of John Kennedy, so of John Kennedy. Eli Kennedy apptd. gdn. of Washington Kennedy. Esther Kennedy, widow of John Kennedy, assigned her dower.