Kennedy

Rodger "Rody" Kennedy

Rodger "Rody" Kennedy was born 1784, in County Tipperary, Ireland. According to old letters in possession of the family, Rody was an orphan,¹ and was only known by the name "Rody", even though he was christened "Rodger". Family sources state that Rody was forced to flee Ireland after participating in Emmet's Rebellion in 1803. He stayed with his uncle, Hugh Smith, in Charleston, South Carolina. He became a U.S. citizen on 30 Apr 1814.

It is not known when or why Rody left Charleston, but he decided to settle in the lush green piedmont of South Carolina's upcountry known as Laurens County. Rody fell in love with Leannah Barksdale, the daughter of Nathan Barksdale and Mary Allen. Family lore has it that Nathan, a "dyed-in-the-wool" Baptist, was against his daughter marrying a Catholic, so Rody and Leannah waited to marry until after her father had passed away.

Rody and Leannah were married on 24 Dec 1815 in Laurens. Leannah was described by family as being "short and blonde". Rody became a successful planter. He died on 30 November 1830 and is recorded to be buried in the Williams-Kennedy family cemetery. His Bolt descendants erected a replacement marker for him in Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church cemetery.

Deed Book O, page 202, 1849, has Roderick R. Gary mortgaging 150 acres on Rabun Creek to Leonnah Kennedy. Borders Robt. Thomason, Gideon Thomason, Joseph Thomason, Frances Thomason, and Thurman Coker. Deed O-105, 1842, has Roderick mortgaging the same land to John N. Young, except that it is stated to be 139 acres. Bordered N. by Robt Willis, S. by Thurman Coker and Frances Thomason, and W. by Robt Thomason.

Rody and Leannah's children:

James Parks, b. 24 Jan 1817, d. 12 Feb 1851, unm.

Samuel Barksdale, b. 23 Sep 1818, d. 6 Jun 1842, unm.

Maria P. (Parks?)², b. 1 Aug 1820, d. 17 Mar 1837, unm.

Nancy B. (Barksdale?), b. 23 Feb 1822, d. 15 May 1908
m. John M. Franks

Nathaniel O'Brien, b. 1 Jan 1824, d. 8 May 1888
m. Frances Meador

Susan B. (Barksdale?), b. 15 Dec 1825
m. Thomas L. Badgett

Ellen P. (Parks?) b. 10 Oct 1827, d. 18 Aug 1888, Laurens Co., S.C. Burial: Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery
m. Samuel Bolt

John B. (Barksdale?), b. 29 Nov 1829, d. 27 Aug 1844

Other Kennedy links:

Williams-Kennedy Cemetery

Origin of the Kennedy surname

Sources:

1 "The Barksdale Genealogy" p 116-119

2 Middle initials of the children are transcribed from a handwritten record in, "Eight Letters on Open Communion Addressed to Rufus Anderson, A.M." by Daniel Merrill, A.M.; Manning & Loring, No. 5, Cornhill; Boston; 1805

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