36. David20
Kennedy (Alexander19,
John18, Alexander17,
Alexander16, Alexander15,
Thomas14, Gilbert13,
Gilbert12, David11,
John10, Gilbert9,
James8, Gilbert7,
John6, Gilbert5de
Carrick, Gilbert4,
Roland3, Nicol,2,
Duncan1) was born on
20 Jan 1768 Orange Co., NC.208
He married Joanna
Moore, daughter of Edward Moore and Martha
Thompson, on 24 May 1788 Orange
Co., NC.209
He died on 2 May 1837 Lauderdale
Co., AL, at age 69.210
"He 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. He and his wife when they were in their fifties moved to Lauderdale County, Alabama, and lived with their son Hiram on his plantation, about fifteen miles north of Florence near Green Hill; and in the old family cemetery they are buried." 211"The manufacturing process 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 stood a man to mark the diviation 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. It wasn't long before he was winning the hearts of the workers with his violin, soon he was inside the factory and this meant access to "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 "actof 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 over took 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, located the road from Robbins to the Standard Mineral Company. One person describes the Kennedy house "a splendid house for its age". The long covered passageway with banisters on each side, which connected the house and the kitchen (100 feet apart). In the parlor the mantlepiece was "intricately" carved in bias-relief, in grapevine design, with the leafy vine running up both sides and across the top of the mantel.
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."212Book 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 he 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. " In 1976 it was my pleasure to visit Orange County, North Carolina. While in Orange County I was unable to locate the David Kennedy Bible that was in the old church. Also the church is no longer standing." -Johnson? on 22 Sep 1823.214
Children of David20 Kennedy and Joanna Moore were
as follows:
He descendants living now in Carthage, Moore Co., NC.220
Aaron O. Kennedy -- Justice of Peace 1840-1841 in 1836.229
Alexander Kennedy (father of Josiah) reared a large family of children circa 1800.235
Children of Alexander20 Kennedy and an unknown
spouse were as follows:
Children of Lucy20 Grymes and Henry (Lightfoot) Lee were as follows:
Children of Baldwin Mathews20 Smith and Frances or Fanny Burgess were:
Children of Baldwin Mathews20 Smith and Ann Lee were:
40. Samuel20 Washington (Augustine19, Mildred18Warner, Augustine17, Augustine16, Elizabeth15Southerton, Augustine14, Elizabeth13(Stewart) Steward, James12Stewart, Janet11Kennedy, John10, Gilbert9, James8, Gilbert7, John6, Gilbert5de Carrick, Gilbert4, Roland3, Nicol,2, Duncan1) was born on 16 Nov 1734 Westmoreland, VA.255 He married Anne Steptoe, daughter of William Steptoe and (--?--) Howson, on 24 Mar 1764.256 He died on 9 Sep 1781 Berkely, VA, at age 46.257
Children of Samuel20 Washington and Anne Steptoe were:
Please send e-mail to: rl1946@epix.net
Created with The Master Genealogist
for Windows on 12 Apr 2000 at 11:56:44.