The Kenney family of Augusta Co., Virginia and Bourbon Co., Kentucky
James Barnett Kenney born about 1720 in Ireland.
He married a Miss Kramer in 1751 in Augusta County Virginia.
Their Children:
James Kenney Sr. born 29 November 1752 in Augusta County Virginia. He died 13 March 1814 in Bourbon County Kentcuky and is buried in the Kenney Graveyard by Stoner Creek. He was married in 1771 to (1)Mary Frame born 14 May 1747. She died 22 September 1796 in Bourbon County Kentucky and is buried in the Kenney Graveyard. James married (2) Margaret Johnson 17 June 1799 in Bourbon County Kentucky. Margaret was born 11 January 1770 of Alexandria Virginia and died 26 May 1829 in Bourbon County Kentucky and is buried in the Kenney Graveyard by Stoner Creek
James Kenney Sr. and Mary Frame
Their Children:
i. David Kenney born 26 January 1772 in Augusta County Virginia.
ii. Elizabeth Kenney born 10 October 1773 in Augusta County Virginia.
iii. John C. Kenney born 8 July 1775 in Augusta County Virginia. He died about 1847 in Kenney, DeWitt County Illinois.
iv. Mary (Polly) Kenney born 4 July 1779 in Augusta County Virginia. She died after 1850 in Indianola, Vermillion County Illinois.
v. James Kenney Jr. born 24 July 1782 in Bourbon County Kentucky. He died 30 January 1813 at Ft. Defiance, Defiance County Ohio.
vi. Moses Kenney born 4 April 1784 in Bourbon County Kentucky. He died March of 1836 in Preble County Ohio.
vii. Sarah (Sallie) Kenney born 24 July 1786 in Bourbon County Kentucky. She died before 1850 in DeWitt County Illinois. She was married 15 June 1806 in Bourbon County Kentucky to John I. Barnett born 29 January 1780 in August County Virginia. He died 16 May 1854 in Barnett Township, DeWitt County Illinois and is buried in Barnett Cemetery in Barnett Twp., DeWitt County Illinois.
viii. Nancy Kenney born 4 August 1788 in Bourbon County Kentucky.
James Kenney Sr. and Margaret Johnson
Their Children:
i. Marie Louise Kenney born 18 March 1800 in Bourbon County Kentucky. She died 26 April 1850. She was married 11 July 1816 to May Joy Robinett
ii. Abigail Kenney born 8 October 1801 in Bourbon County Kentucky. She died 15 July 1856. She was married 8 January 1824 to James H. Houston.
iii. Helena Kenney born 7 January 1804 in Bourbon County Kentucky. She died 3 August 1849. She was married 15 September 1822 to David Johnson.
iv. Joseph Bonaparte Kenney born 19 January 1806 in Bourbon County Kentucky. He died 1 January 1887. He was married 8 March 1827 to Margaret Lander.
v. Napoleon Bonaparte Kenney born 12 February 1808 in Bourbon County Kentucky. He died 16 October 1836.
vi. Charlotte Corday Kenney born 12 December 1809 in Bourbon County Kentucky. She was married 10 June 1830 to David Leer Jr.
vii. Victor Mareau Kenney
viii. Margaret "Peggy" Kenney born 14 December 1813. She died 16 May 1829. She was married 5 March 1836 to John Johnson.
ix. Mary Ann Kenney born 20 May 1815 in Bourbon County Kentucky. She was married 18 April 1830 to Diamal(?) Barnett.
Sarah (Sallie) Kenney and John I. Barnett
Notes for JAMES KENNEY
by Carol Lovitt
rdlwcl@alltel.net
"James Kenney Sr. was born Nov. 29, 1752 in Augusta Co. Virginia to James Barnett Kenney and Miss Kramer. James Barnett Kenney was born in Northern Ireland in 1720 and came to the US. around 1740. He settled in Augusta Co. near Staunton. In 1751 he married Miss Kramer.
In 1771 James Sr. married Mary Frame, daughter of John and Margaret Hogshead Frame.
James Sr. came to Kentucky in April 1776 and lived at Boonesborough until June 1776. He brought with him his brother Joseph.
James met Michael Stoner at Boonesborough and Mr. Stoner invited James and Joseph to come to his improvement on what was to become known as Stoner Creek, near Paris, Bourbon Co. Kentucky.
Mr. Stoner gave James 50 acres of land in payment for "stocking" a shovel plough for him. James liked the look of Kentucky and decided to settle here.
James and Joseph went back to Virginia and fought in the Revolution. Joseph was killed in Kentucky in the war. James was made the administrator of Joseph's estate, which was land granted to him in Kentucky.
James enlisted in Virginia in Capt. Joseph Crockett's Company, 7th Virginia Regiment, commanded by Lieut. Col. Holt Richeson. James was taken prisoner 10-4-1778 at Germantown. At the close of the war James held the rank of Captain.
At the end of the war James brought his son John C. to his land on Stoner Creek and made a camp, he left John there alone while he went back to Virginia to bring the rest of the family to their new home. Polly Kenney, James' fourth child told her children she remembered the long trip on horseback as she sat in front of her father in the same saddle.
James was a farmer all of his life. He owned several acres of land on the Stoner and willed it to his wife and children when he died.
James was one of the original trustees of the Bourbon Co. Academy founded in 1798.
James and Mary Frame were the parents of: David, Elizabeth, John C., Polly, James Jr., Moses, Sallie, and Nancy.
Mary Frame Kenney died 9-22-1796 in Bourbon Co. Kentucky. James married Margaret
Johnson, daughter of Andrew and Mary Gregg Johnson on 6-17-1799 in Bourbon Co.
Kentucky.
James and Margaret were the parents of: Marie Louise, Abigail, Helena, Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon Bonaparte, Charlotte Corday, Victor Mareau and Margaret "Peggy".
James died 3-13-1814, he is buried in the Kenney Graveyard on his farm on Stoner Creek. Margaret Johnson Kenney was born 1-11-1777 near Alexandria Virginia. and died 5-26-1829 and is also buried in the Kenney Graveyard. Mary Frame Kenney as well as several of the family are buried with James.
This information came from:
Early Bourbon Co. Families, James Kenney and his descendants written by Corday Leer Buckley in The Kentuckian-Citizen, Paris Kentucky. 1944.
Collins's History 1776
Deposition of James taken in 1809 from Kentucky. Court and other records, Vol. II pg. 115
Excerpts from Perrin's "History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison and Nicholas counties.
Old Kenney bible copied by Corday Leer Buckley.
Will of James Kenney, will book E. pg. 91
Will of Margaret Johnson Kenney, will book H pg. 255
Cemetery records and photos
Kentucky Census for 1790
1800 Bourbon Co. Tax List
1810 Bourbon Co. Kentucky. census
Judith Brumm
Justin Howery
KENNEY, JAMES, of Bourbon Co.-(Will copy certified by Thos. P. Smith, D. C. B. C. and donated by Mrs. B F. Buckley, Lexington). Written March. 12, 1814. Names wife Peggy, Sons, John, Victor, Joseph, Moses, Napoleon Dau's., Maria, Abbe, Helena, Cordee, and Peggy. Dau's., Sally Barnett, Elizabeth Trotter, Nancy Rhodes, and Polly Hildreth. Exec's., Wife, Peggy Kenney, James Hughes and John Barnett. Witnesses, Thos. Rogers, Josiah McDowell and Alexander Barnett. Will of James Kenney, deceased, proved June Court 1814.
Vol. CXXV p. 104, 124001-125000, 1916 James Kinney (1752-1814) enlisted in Virginia in Capt. Joseph Crockett's Company, 7th Virginia regiment, commanded by Lieut. Col. Holt Richeson, Also No. 110361. And also, "Captain James C. Kenney served in the Revolutionary war in Captain Joseph Crockett's Company, 7th Virginia commanded by Lt. Col. Holt Richeson, as a mere boy. Reenlisted in 1778, taken prisoner Oct. 4, 1778 at Germantown." from DAR membership application dated 6/15/1914.
The father of John C. Kenney came from Virginia to Kentucky about 1775-1779, bringing John C with him. He purchased land two miles from the present site of Paris, KY. The father and son established a camp in the wilderness and then the father returned to Virginia to bring he rest of the family to their new home, leaving John C, then just 16 years old, in the camp alone for 60 days. during that time John C. caught sight of a man across a creek, about a mile from camp, but could not see the man plainly enough to know if he was a white man or Indian. He saw no other human being during the time that his father was away. John C. Kenney was known as Captain Kenney, probably because he served in the State Militia.
In the "History of Bourbon County," James Kenney is listed along with the first people to raise corn, a quarter acre each. (p.70) "The first corn ever raised in Bourbon County was in 1775, by John Cooper, near Hinkston Creek. Thomas Whitledge, James Kenney and several others raised corn on a quarter an acre or two each.
Copied from old Kenney Bible by Corday Leer Buckley
Born the year of our Lord 1752, Nov 29, James Kenney, Sr.
Born May 14, 1747, Mary Kenney, wife of James Kenney.
David Kenney was born in the year of our Lord, Jan 26, 1772.
Elizabeth Kenney was born Oct 10, 1773.
John Kenney was born July 8, 1775
Polly Kenney was born July 4, 1779
James Kenney, Jr. was born July 24, 1782
Moses Kenney was born April 4, 1784.
Sallie Kenney was born July 24, 1786
Nancy Kenney Aug 4, 1788
Peggy Kenney, 2nd wife of James Kenney was born the 11th day of Jan., 1770.
Marie Kenney was born Mch 18, 1800.
Abby Kenney was born Oct 8, 1801
Helena Kenney was born Jan 7, 1804
Joseph B. Kenney was born Jan 19, 1806
Napoleon Kenney was born Feb 12, 1808
Charlotte Corday Kenney was born Dec 12, 1809
Victor Mareau Kenney was bor Dec 14, 1812.
Peggy Kenney was born Dec 14, 1813.
Mary Ann Kenney was born May 20, 1815.
Marie Kenney married May Joy Robinett, July 11, 1816
Abigail Kenney married James H. Houston, Jan 8, 1824
Helena Kenney married David Johnson, Sept 15, 1822
Peggy Kenney married John Johnson Mch 5, 1836
Charlotte Corday Kenney married David Leer, Jr. June 10, 1830.
Joseph B Kinney mar Margaret Lander of flemingsburg, Mch 8, 1827
Mary Ann Kenney and Diamal Barnett were married Apr 18, 1830.
Margaret Kenney departed this liffe May 16, 1829.
Napoleon Kenney departed this life Oct 16, 1836.
James H. Houston departed this life May 1, 1849.
Helena Johnson departed this life Aug 3, 1849.
Marie Robnett departed this life Apr 26, 1850.
Abigail Houston departed this life July 15, 1856
Jas Kenney, Jr. died Jan 30, 1813 at Fort Defiance.
Mary Kenney, wife of James Kenney Sr., departed this life Sept 22, 1796
Peggy Kenney, 2nd wife of James Kenney, died May 30, 1829.
James Kenney, Sr., died Mch 18, 1814
Jospeh B. Kenney died Jan 1, 1887
