James Kenyon

Notes:

In the record of marriage of James Kenyon, it is stated that he was a linen weaver at the time of his marriage and resided in Droylsden in the parish of Manchester.  The record also states that his wife was a spinster, daughter of John Smith within Glodwick, in the parish of Oldham, and that both James Kenyon and his wife were about the age of one and twenty years at the date of their marriage. All recorded births of his children show him as a resident of Glodwick after his marriage. There is no record of his death in Rhode Island. The dates of birth and names of his children and grandchildren conclusively prove his identity.

Since there are many grandchildren in this family named Hannah, it is most likely that such was the name of the Mumford wife of John Kenyon and that the church record entry was of the old style spelling corresponding to the characteristic English pronunciation of Hannah with the silent
H'.

He may have come to Rhode Island from Muddy River (now known as
Brookline') Massachusetts.

The elder son, John, may have followed or preceded the family to America by way of Virginia on the
Thomas and John' from England.  The passenger list for the
Thomas and John' bound for Virginia, lists two Kenyons, Jo: and Geo:.  The entry
Jo:' is believed to be that of John Kenyon.  No current knowledge is known regarding the
Geo:' entry by this author. Some family folklore is available that states that John and George were sent by the eldest son of the family, to find their riches, in the new land of America.

James married Ester Smith 2 May 1654, Oldham Parish Church, Lancashire, England, UK. Ester (daughter of John Smith and Miss [--?--]) was born 1633; died Unknown, South Kingstown, Washington Co., RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

From such records as remain, it appears that James Kenyon came to the colony at or about the date given by Arnold for the land grant of his father, James Kenyon.

He owned the mill, the tools, and the adjoining land of the mill site at Pettaquamscott, and his wife Ruth, joined in the deed of this property in 1702 to Joseph Smith.  He owned comparatively large tracts of land in South Kingstown.  His last recorded deed of land in South Kingstown was in 1722.  What appears as his first purchase of land in Westerly was in 1723.  He evidently moved from South Kingstown to Westerly between 1722 and 1723 where his will was proven the following year in 1724.  There is no record to indicate he ever resumed the milling business after the sale of the mill in 1702.  In South Kingstown on 6 Sept 1687, he was taxed 4s-5d.  On 20 May 1700, he was granted an earmark for sheep.  On 20 Dec 1706, he deeded George Thomas 36 acres in South Kingstown for 20£-10s. His wife, Ruth, signed the deed.  On 16 Dec 1722, he deeded Jeffery Hazard 300 acres and a house for 800£ Ruth signed this deed also.  On 18 May 1723, he bought land from John Firman, Jabez Utter, and Thomas Utter.  On 4 Aug 1723, he deeded land to his son, Peter, in Westerly.

His will was proven in Westerly on 4 May 1724.  He mentions all the children and left the home to his son, Ebenezer.  His son, Peter, and his wife, Ruth, were named executor and executrix.  His personal inventory was 335£-13s-6d.  There is no certain record of names of his wife other than Ruth, but such descendants as claim it to be Wells seem to be well supported by the evidence.  One of the sons appears to be named for his father and the other for his Uncle Peter.

James — Ruth Wells. Ruth (daughter of Thomas Wells and Naoma [--?--]) died Unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

John Kenyon appears to have come to the colony several months before his family.  He testified that he started living on the land of Mr. Killum in 1683.  Early in 1684 he had a daughter baptized in Oldham Parish Church, Oldham England.  Sarah was the last recorded birth of this branch of the Kenyons in England.  A family record states that the son, James Kenyon, was born 1684-5.  This would indicate that his family came to the colony early in 1684.

On 6 Sept. 1687, he was taxed 8s-11d in Kingstown, R.I.  On 16 Oct. 1712, he deeded his son, John Kenyon, 170 acres of land in South Kingstown bounded on one side by land of Peleg Mumford, brother-in-law of John Kenyon.  No wife signed this or any other deed of John Kenyon.  This is his first recorded land deed.  The record of how he acquired this land may have been destroyed in North Kingstown.  He first acquired land in Westerly by deed from Joseph Brown, 13 Dec 1709; from Jabez Tucker, 11 Aug. 1711; and from Francis Robinson, 21 Aug 1711.  On 26 Nov 1716, he deeded land to his son-in-law, John Webster, in Westerly.  In August, 1719, in Westerly, he deeded land to his son James.  On 8 Aug 1719, he deeded land in Westerly to his son Samuel.  On 10 July 1721, he deeded land in Westerly to his son Enoch.  On 3 Feb. 1724, he deeded land in Westerly to his son Jonathan.  On 6 Feb. 1724 he deeded land in Westerly to his son David.  On 30 Dec 1724, he again deeded land in Westerly to his son Jonathan.

Mrs. John L. Kenyon thought that John Kenyon settled on the Wells place south of Wyoming, then (1905) called the "Clear Water Trout Farm", owned by the American Fish Company.  She also thought he was buried on this place.  John Larkin Kenyon surveyed this property and found in the land records that it was owned by a John Kenyon at a date that would indicate John Kenyon.  The land dealings and property of this John Kenyon were quite extensive for his time and day.

In 1727, he was also listed as a Freeman of Westerly town as "Old Mr. John Kenyon."  In 1727, his sons contributed money for the building of the Episcopal Church of Westerly.  However, this church was short lived and most of the Kenyons joined the local Baptist Churches.  On 8 Aug. 1717, calling himself aged 70 or thereabouts, he testified that in the year 1683 or thereabouts, he went to live on the farm of Stephen Northup of North Kingstown and paid rental to Major Smith in behalf of a Mr. Killum of Boston and lived there for eight years and Stephen Northup went in when he left it.  His will was proved on 12 June,1732 in Westerly. His son Jonathan was named executor.  Sons John, James, Enoch, Joseph and David were mentioned in the will.  No mention of wife or any other relatives of the family.  His inventory of personal property was listed at 180£ 8s.

John married Anna Mumford ____, ____, England, UK. Anna (daughter of Thomas Mumford and Sarah Sherman) was born 1657, ____, ____, England, UK; died Bef 1712. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

He was admitted a freeman in 1712.  He was deeded land by his father in South Kingstown in 1712, 170 acres.  In 1726 he bought the land of John Handson in South Kingstown.  In 1731, he sold the land bought of John Handson to Charles Dickinson.  He deeded land in Westerly to his son, George, in 1734.  In Westerly in 1732, he deeded land to his son, John. In 1734, in Westerly he deeded land to his son Sylvester.  When his daughter, Elizabeth, married in 1735, it was entered on the town clerk's record that she was the daughter of "John, deceased."  He left no record of administration.  From the records on file in Richmond, Rhode Island, it appears that the youngest son, Benedict, was born in 1735, which leaves this year as the date of the father's death, unless Benedict was actually born somewhat earlier in the year and the father died in the latter part of 1734.  His wife, Elizabeth, died on or before 1747, when her son, Thomas, was appointed administrator of her estate.  The orphaned minors lived with their relatives.

Mrs. Edward (Susan Card) Barber [grand-daughter of Mary Kenyon] said John Kenyon and Elizabeth, his wife, were first buried side by side at the Wood River Church, English fashion, and when the church was repaired they were taken up and buried in the Wood River Cemetery (old part given by Enoch Card-the south part) southwest of the church in the southwest corner of the lot, on a knoll by themselves-near the present turnpike. This part of the Wood River Cemetery has deteriorated and their markers can no longer be seen.

(Told by Mrs. John L. Kenyon)
Records in Charlestown indicate that John Kenyon was a bridge builder.  A number of his grandchildren told Mrs. JLK that he was killed by a binder on a log while crossing Wood River.

John married Elizabeth Remington Jul 1704, South Kingstown, Washington Co., RI. Elizabeth (daughter of John Remington and Abigail Richmond) was born 1686, ____, ____, RI; died 1748, ____, ____, RI. [Group Sheet]

Sarah — John Webster. John was born , of Westerly, Washington Co., RI; died Unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The first land record of James Kenyon is dated 25 March 1719 in South Kingstown and shows that Benjamin Peckham conveys to him a one-acre lot next to the Presbyterian Meeting House.  On 23 March 1720/1, James Kenyon (Tavern Keeper) conveys sand lot to Robert Case.  His wife, Sarah, signed the deed which was executed the day before the birth of their son, Benjamin.  James Kenyon was deeded land by his father in Westerly in August 1719.  He moved to Colchester, Connecticut on or before 1722.  He deeded away land in Westerly in 1733, to Clement West.  He was deeded real estate in Colchester, Conn. in April 1724, and deeded it away in December 1732.  On 24 Dec 1722 in Colchester, he was appointed a way warden and on 13 Dec 1725 he was appointed a surveyor.  The births of his daughters, Mary and Abigail, are recorded in Colchester.  He settled in Dutchess County, N.Y., around 1730 and died there.  He left many descendants in New York State.

James married Mary Place 17 Dec 1716. Mary (daughter of Thomas Place and Hannah Cole) was born 5 Jan 1690/91, Kingstown, Washington Co., RI; died Bef 22 May 1719. [Group Sheet]

James married Sarah Gardiner 22 May 1719. Sarah (daughter of Benjamin Gardiner and Abigail [--?--]) died Unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

While living in Westerly he was admitted a Freeman in February of 1729. While residing at Charlestown he was commissioned a Lieutenant of the 1st Charlestown Company, 1742, under Captain James Adams (
Civil and Military Lists, R.I., p. 91').  Three of his seven sons served as officers in the colonial wars or in the American Revolution.

There is no public record of his marriage.  The account is from a private record and is substantiated by the appearance of several Sanford names in David's family.  Likewise, there appears to be no public record of his birth of baptism.  The births of all of his children are recorded in Charlestown and Richmond.

In the census of 1774, his widow was living in Richmond with one other female in the family.  She left a will in Richmond.  He was deeded land by his father in Westerly in 1724-25.  He deeded land to Stephen Sweet in 1734/5.  He deeded land to his brother Joseph in 1732.  He was deeded land by John Tefft in 1734.  He deeded land to his son, William, in Richmond in 1757.  He deeded land to Benjamin Barber in 1765.  He served a number of years on the Richmond town council.  His will was probated in Richmond in 1772.  He mentioned his wife, Mary, and all his children in the will.

David married Mary Sanford Bef 1724. Mary (daughter of William Sanford and Hope Sisson) was born 16 Nov 1703, Kingstown, Washington Co., RI; died Unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

He was made a Freeman in 1733. He served as Justice of the Peace in Richmond from 1750 to 1752, 1755 to 1762 and from 1770 to 1771. In the military census of 1777 he was living in Richmond and listed as "60-up". In the census of 1774, he had a family of 1 male over 16, two females over 16, one female under 16 and 2 Indians. He was a deputy from Richmond in 1762. At that time the General Assembly of the colony was in Newport. His wife and children "George and Betty", were mentioned in the will of Sarah Ney, mother of Catherine Ney, whose will was proved in South Kingstown on 18 November 1746. His will was proved in 1778. He mentioned his wife and all living children and his granddaughter, Martha, daughter of the youngest child, Catherine, who was obviously dead at the time. On 5 October 1747, he was granted letters of administration upon the estate of his deceased mother, Elizabeth Kenyon, in Richmond. He and his wife are buried near the "Captain Thomas-Deacon David Farm." Their gravestones were four feet in height but were unlettered.

The "Captain Thomas Kenyon Farm" was just north of that of Thomas Kenyon, Sr., which the latter farm was just to the north of that of Thomas Kenyon, Jr. who was called "Rabbit Thomas".  These three farms made a stretch of land about two miles in length and were in the Shannock Purchase.  The house of Thomas Kenyon, Sr., and Catherine had entirely disappeared in 1897, but at that time there remained a trace of the cellar and door steps. Near Shannock in 1832 the sandhills were dug out to fill up the railroad bed when the Providence and Stonington Railroad was built.  A group of Indian skeletons sitting in a large tomb of logs was found. An Indian fight took place there before 1680 between the Pequots and the Narragansetts.

Thomas married Catherine Ney Bef 1733. Catherine died Unknown. [Group Sheet]

Sarah married Ebenezer Niles 25 Mar 1730, Westerly, Washington Co., RI. Ebenezer was born 3 Jan 1682/83, South Kingstown, Washington Co., RI; died 3 Mar 1751/52, Stonington, New London Co., CT. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

His wife Ruth, who was a Mayflower descendant through her mother, Ester (Brownelle) Tefft.

In the census of 1774, he was living in Richmond with a family of 3 male over 16, four males under 16, one female over 16 and three females under 16.

In 1770 he was captain of the Richmond company of militia (C.M.L., p. 288).  The record states, "Captain Thomas Kenyon, son of David."  Since he did not live to apply for pension for Revolutionary War service and almost the sole records of the militia service of that war are recorded in statements made in pension applications, it is not shown on record that he served in the Revolution, but is most likely as he retained captaincy of the militia company during the period of the Revolution. Those parties actually in service at the time of the taking of the military census of 1777 are not listed in such census records.  Since he was omitted, it is more than likely that he was with his company, of which he had been made captain some seven years previous.  Sarah Kenyon, the only sister of Pardon Waterman Kenyon, told Amy C. Kenyon that her grandfather, Captain Thomas Kenyon, fought in the Revolution.  She said this as they were both standing before the gravestone of Captain Thomas Kenyon in 1863.  Amy C. Kenyon has been a careful and lifelong student of her family history and was living in 1933.

Captain Thomas Kenyon and his two wives are buried in the Wood River cemetery, Rhode Island.

Thomas married Ruth Tefft 15 Apr 1756. Ruth (daughter of Joseph Tefft and Esther Brownell) was born 27 Mar 1729; died 15 Feb 1806. [Group Sheet]

Thomas married Huldah Fiske Aft 1772. Huldah was born Abt 1760; died 25 May 1823. [Group Sheet]

Mary married William Tefft 21 Mar 1754, Richmond, Washington Co., RI. William (son of Joseph Tefft and Esther Brownell) was born 29 Feb 1731/32, Richmond, Washington Co., RI; died 28 Nov 1822, Easton, Washington Co., NY. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Alt. Birth: Bef 1 Oct 1735
• Alt. Death: 2 Oct 1805, Greenwich, Washington Co., NY

Robert — Ruth Barber. Ruth (daughter of Benjamin Barber and Mary Tefft) was born Abt 1743, Hopkinton, Washington Co., RI; died 25 Mar 1825, Greenwich, Washington Co., NY; was buried Aft 25 Mar 1825, Bottskill Baptist Churchyard - Greenwich, Washington Co., NY. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

He was living in Hopkinton in the census of 1774 with a family of 2 males over 16, 2 males under 16, 2 females over 16 and 2 females under 16.

He executed a considerable number of land deeds and was deeded a large tract of land by James Ladd in West Greenwich in 1783.  He was an invalid in 1790 when he made out his will.  In the census of 1790 his wife, Elizabeth, was given as head of the family, which included 2 males over 16, 2 males under 16, and 2 females.  From the arrangement of children listed in the will, it appears that Gardiner T. Kenyon was the eldest son although other family sources maintain that John Stanton was the eldest. His will was probated in Hopkinton, 16 March 1791.

His three older sons settled in Voluntown, Conn., but Gardiner T. Kenyon removed from Voluntown and settled on land that had been his father's in West Greenwich shortly after his father's death, as he was in West Greenwich in 1792. Peleg Kenyon had a mortgage on land of one John Franklin of South Kingstown for 4950£.  This mortgage was foreclosed by Peleg, Jr. in 1793 while Peleg Jr., was a resident of Voluntown.  No records of military service.

Peleg married Joanna Barber Abt 1759. Joanna (daughter of Benjamin Barber and Mary Tefft) was born Abt 1741, Hopkinton, Washington Co., RI; died Bef 1766. [Group Sheet]

Peleg married Elizabeth Stanton 1 Oct 1766. Elizabeth (daughter of John D. Stanton and Susannah Lamphere) was born 2 Jan 1741/42, Charlestown, Washington Co., RI; died Unknown. [Group Sheet]