William B. Kennedy &
Rachel Thompson

William B. Kennedy, possibly the son of Aaron Canady, Sr., of Wilkes and Surry Co., NC, was born May 13, 1798, probably in Wilkes Co., NC, and died 1874 in Wilkes Co., NC. He married Rachel Thompson on May 15, 1819, in Surry Co., NC. She was born abt. 1799 and died bet. 1860-1870 in Wilkes Co., NC.

Children of William B. Kennedy & Rachel Thompson:

1. Ruffin Kennedy, b. May 19, 1820, Surry or Wilkes Co., NC; d. 1870-1880, Wilkes Co., NC; m. Nancy, last name unk., abt. 1842 (b. abt. 1820; d. 1870-1880). Children: Alfred Kennedy (c.1843), Frances J. Kennedy (c.1845), James Kennedy (c.1846), Elizabeth Rachel Kennedy (1849) m. Creed EDWARDS, Newton Kennedy (1851), William Jasper Kennedy (c.1853), Thomas Jackson Kennedy (c.1855), Ruffin Kennedy Jr. (c.1858), Mary E. Kennedy (c.1861).
2. Sedilia Kennedy, b. May 30, 1821, Wilkes Co., NC; d. unk; m. Nathan Hardin GAMBILL, son of John GAMBILL & Sarah ALEXANDER (b. Dec. 19, 1810; d. Apr. 28, 1889). Children: Sarah Gambill (c.1847), William D. Gambill (c.1849), Sadilla Elizabeth Gambill (c.1852), Nathan H. Gambill (c.1856), Susan Frances Gambill (c.1856), Rachel Catherine Gambill (c.1860), Lula A. Gambill (c.1862), Milly C. Gambill (c.1863).
3. Mary Little Kennedy, b. Feb. 21, 1823, Wilkes Co., NC; d. Feb. 13, 1898, Alleghany Co., NC; m. Moses O. WOODRUFF, son of John M. WOODRUFF & Candace CROUSE, Oct. 15, 1850, Wilkes Co., NC (b. Oct. 17, 1823; d. Oct. 30, 1892); bur. Woodruff Primitive Baptist Church, Alleghany Co., NC. Children: John Thompson Woodruff (1851), Millie Woodruff (1853), Phebe Woodruff (1854), James Franklin Woodruff (1856) m. Olevia Jane COCKERHAM; Moses "Mode" Woodruff (1858) m. Milly C. KENNEDY; Ruffin Woodruff (1861), David Woodruff (c.1863), Sowell Woodruff (1863), William Horton Woodruff (1867), Andrew Jackson Woodruff (1869).
4. +William Aaron Kennedy, b. abt. 1824, Wilkes Co., NC; d. bet. 1860-1870 in Wilkes Co., NC; m. Amanda EDWARDS, daughter of Young EDWARDS, Jr., & Catherine COX, Nov. 22, 1855, Alleghany Co., NC (b. June 11, 1834; d. Oct. 31, 1903); Amanda is buried at Glade Creek Church, Alleghany Co., NC.
5. Thompson Kennedy, b. Feb. 10, 1829, Wilkes Co., NC; d. Aug. 13, 1900, Alleghany Co., NC; m. Sarah EDWARDS, daughter of Young EDWARDS, Jr., & Catherine COX, abt. 1851 (b. Aug. 5, 1832; d. Aug. 1, 1894); bur. Glade Creek Church, Hooker, Alleghany Co., NC. Children: William B. Kennedy (1852), James N. Kennedy (c.1854), John T. Kennedy (1856) m. Mary EDWARDS.
6. Norwood Kennedy, b. Feb. 18, 1832, Wilkes Co., NC; d. aft. 1880, Wilkes Co., NC; m. Frances Lucinda JOHNSON, Feb. 13, 1862, Wilkes Co., NC (b. abt. 1828; d. aft. 1880). No children?
7. Amelia Brown "Milly" Kennedy, b. Jan. 27, 1835, Wilkes Co., NC; d. aft. 1900, Wilkes Co., NC; m. William CHEATWOOD, Apr. 16, 1856, Wilkes Co., NC (b. Apr. 1825; d. aft. 1900). Children: Thomas Newton Cheatwood (c.1855), John Cheatwood (c.1859), James Cheatwood (c.1863), William Cheatwood (c.1866), Charles Cheatwood (c.1868).

Notes

ennedy is a common surname in both Ireland and Scotland.  Most Kennedys (and Canadys) who arrived in America during Colonial times were either Protestant Scots from Northern Ireland (commonly known as the Scotch-Irish) or Irish Quakers.  The Irish Catholic Kennedys came later, during the 19th century.  The Kennedy surname seems to have been especially challenging for early clerks and census-takers, and every possible spelling variation from Kanidy to Canada can be found in the records.

A number Kennedys, Kanadys, and Canadys appear in the early records of Surry and Wilkes County, NC.  William B. Kennedy (1798-1824) was possibly the son of Aaron Canady, Sr., who purchased 200 acres of land on both sides of Big Elkin Creek on May 10, 1798 (Wilkes DB D, p.633).  Aaron may have been the son of an earlier William Canady who entered land claims on Big Elkin Creek in 1778-1779 (Wilkes Land Entry No. 311, 1100, 1478).

Aaron Canady is listed in the Wilkes County census in 1790 and 1800, and was executor of his son-in-law Job WINFREY's estate in 1815 (Wilkes WB 3, p.99).  After 1815, he is mainly found in the records of Surry County.  He may have lived very close to the county line, or the county line may have shifted.  Political boundaries were often unclear in the isolated parts of the Blue Ridge.  He is probably the Aaron Canada, Sr., age 70-79, in the 1840 census of Surry County, NC.  According to the book Wilkes County Heritage, p.306, Aaron Canady had four sons: William, John, Larkin, and Aaron Canady, Jr. 

William B. Kennedy was born in 1798 and married Rachel Thompson on May 15, 1819, in Surry County, NC.  The Thompson and Kennedy families were probably neighbors, although Rachel's parents have not been positively identified.  In the 1810 census of Surry County, NC, page 669, there is a Joseph Thompson listed on the same page as Aaron Kanady, Jesse Canada, Samuel Kanady, and Keziah Kanady.  It seems likely that Rachel was related to Joseph Thompson in some fashion.  She may have been his daughter or granddaughter.  Records indicate that Joseph Thompson owned land on Mitchell River in Surry County, which is just across the county line from Big Elkin Creek where Aaron Canady, Sr., owned land.  In August 1808, Joseph Thompson was appointed overseer of the "New Road lately laid off from the Ashe County line down Tyre Ridge and Thompson's Mill Creek to Rockford Road." (Surry Court Minutes.)  To oversee this road effectively, Joseph Thompson must have lived in the Blue Ridge no more than a few miles from the Ashe County line.

An unusual reference to Joseph Thompson appears in Diary of a Geological Tour by Dr. Elisha Mitchell.  Dr. Mitchell was a geologist who traveled to the upper New River Valley in 1827 and 1828 to explore the region's mineral deposits.  He wrote detailed letters to his wife that were later published by the University of North Carolina.  One afternoon while visiting an ore bank in Surry County belonging to a Quaker named Ben Hutchins, Dr. Mitchell writes, "rode down to Joseph Thompson's—an old gander of a fellow."  The editor explains, "Dr. Mitchell was fond of this term.  It is not one of ridicule or reproach.  He means that Thompson was of a solitary habit and odd, peculiar ways—like an old gander, who has lost his mate."

In February 1826, the Surry County Court appointed a list of men including James Thompson, Sr., Joseph Thompson, Joseph Thompson, Jr., William Thompson, Sr., Aaron Kennedy, William Kennedy, and John Kennedy to provide hands to cut "the road leading from Jonesville to the intersection of said road with the Main State Road leading to Gap Civil".  Gap Civil is located across the Blue Ridge in Ashe (Alleghany) County.  The described road would have had to start at the Yadkin River and run northwest to the top of the Blue Ridge, following a path between Big Elkin Creek (to the west) and Mitchell River (to the east).  The Kennedy and Thompson families must have lived along the proposed route of this road, or they would not have been required to provide labor for the road crew.  In later years, there are records of a "Thompson Gap Road" in Surry County which was apparently located on Mitchell River close to the Ashe County line.  (Alleghany DB 7:357, 7:451, 7:452).

All of the above clues place the Thompson family high in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the upper branches of Mitchell River, not far from the windy mountain pass called Roaring Gap.  In fact, there is a Thompson Family Cemetery on the Mitchell River near the town of Devotion, less than 10 miles from Roaring Gap as the crow files (somewhat longer by road, due to the steep terrain).

William B. Kennedy and his wife also lived in Roaring Gap, which is near the point where Wilkes, Surry, and Alleghany County (formerly Ashe County) come together.  For example, on Aug. 15, 1851, William sold a 50 acre tract of land to James ROBERTS which is described as being in both Surry and Ashe Counties on top of the ridge on the county line (Alleghany DB 1:344).  William and Rachel raised seven children in this remote, mountainous region.  Rachel seems to have died between 1860 and 1870, based on census records.  William B. "Kenneday's" will, dated Oct. 5, 1860, was proved on Sept. 5, 1874, in Wilkes County, NC (14 years after it was written).  The will names William's wife Rachel, sons Ruffin, William, and Norwood, daughters Sedilia, Mary, and Millia.  The executor was Norwood Kennedy, and the will was witnessed by Joseph F. GENTRY & Hugh HANKS.

Records

May 15, 1819. William CANADY & Rachel THOMPSON posted a marriage bond in Surry Co., NC. Bondsman: George DUGLASS [DOUGLAS].

1820 Census, Surry Co., NC, p.772: WM KENNADY

1 w/m 16-25

1 w/f 16-25

1830 Census, Wilkes Co., NC, p.336: WILLIAM KENNADAY, JR.

2 w/m under 5	2 w/f 5-9
1 w/m 10-14	1 w/f 20-29
1 w/m 30-39

1840 Census, Wilkes Co., NC, Spicer's Dist., p.84: WILLIAM CANADA

1 w/m 5-9	1 w/f 5-9
2 w/m 10-14	1 w/f 15-19
1 w/m 20-29	1 w/f 30-39
1 w/m 40-49

1850 Census, Wilkes Co., NC, p.255 (HH#84):
WILLIAM KENNEDY, 52, farmer, $200, born in Wilkes NC

-- Rachel, 51, Surry NC
-- Aron, 23, Wilkes NC
-- Thompson, 21, Wilkes NC
-- Norwood, 15, Wilkes NC
-- Amelia, 18, Wilkes NC

Aug. 15, 1851. William B. KENNEDY to James ROBERTS, both of Wilkes Co., NC, 50 acres in Surry & Ashe Counties on top of the ridge on the county line. Signed: William B. KENEDY. Wits: Thomas SMITH, Joel SMITH. Proved Sept. 27, 1869, by R. KENEDY from Thomas SMITH's handwriting. (Alleghany DB 1:344.)

Sept. 3, 1857. William B. KENEDY of Wilkes Co., NC, to William L. HARRIS of Ashe Co., NC, 25 acres on Big Elkin Creek in Wilkes Co. beg. near the county line east of a branch, adj. said HARRIS & his old tract, for $3. Signed: Wm. B. KENEDY. Wits: L.C. BOOKS [BROOKS], Thm. KENEDY. Proved Aug. 19, 1869, by Lewis HARRIS. (Alleghany DB 1:287.)

1860 Census, Wilkes Co., NC, Roaring Gap Twp., p.62/p.124 (HH#885):
KENNADY, Wm. B., 62, farmer, $800, $2000, NC

-- Rachel, 60, NC

-- Norwood, 28, NC

JOHNSON, Joseph, 14, NC

1860 Census, Wilkes Co., NC, Lower Division, Slave Schedule Wm B. Kennedy, 1 slave

1870 Census, Wilkes Co., NC, p.397, Trap Hill Twp (HH#114):
WILLIAM B. KENEDY, 72, farmer, $300, $300, b. in NC

-- Phoebe, 43, keeping house, NC

-- Edward, 13, farm hand, NC

Feb. 4, 1879. James ROBERTS & wife Nancy of Alleghany Co., NC, to J.C. ROBERTS of Ashe Co., NC, 212 acres adj. J.F. ROBERTS, M.V.B. NORMAN, Hardin BROOKS, Wm. B. KENNEDY's former tract, Thompson KENNEDY's former tract, & John THOMPSON's former tract, crossing the Bear Branch, for $500. Signed: James ROBERTS, Nancy (X) ROBERTS. Wits: A.M. SMITH, J.F. ROBERTS. Proved Dec. 28, 1885 by A.M. SMITH. (Alleghany DB 7:235.)