James T. Kennedy (my 4th great grandfather), was living with his son, William, in Cherokee Co., Alabama, when the 1860 federal census was enumerated. His age at that time is listed as 80. This census shows his birthplace as Alabama.
William (my 3rd great grandfather) indicates his birthplace as South Carolina in both the 1850 Cherokee Co., Alabama, and 1860 Cherokee Co., Alabama, federal censuses. In the 1850 census, his age is indicated as 49; in the 1860 census, it is listed as 52. His brother, (D)Willard, also indicates his birthplace as South Carolina in both censuses. However, in the 1850 census, (D)Willard's age is shown as 46, three years younger than William, and in the 1860 census, (D)Willard's age is shown as 56. It is apparent that William's age during the taking of the 1860 federal census, was most probably 59.
There was another Kennedy family residing in Cherokee Co. during this time who used many of the same names as my Kennedy/Canada family and the two may be related, but do not seem to be the same line as birth dates don't quite jibe with one another.
John Henry enlisted at Cedar Bluff (Shelby Co.), Alabama, on January 28, 1862, as a Private in Company K of the 55th Alabama Infantry. He deserted some time before the war ended. No one will ever know whether his desertion was caused by his repeated bouts of sickness or dissolution with the war effort. In 1865, he married Amanda M. Weldon in Shelby Co., Alabama.
By the 1870 federal census, the family is living in Sequatchie Co., Tennessee, and shown headed by William's wife (my 3rd great grandmother), Elizabeth (maiden name unknown), and neither William nor his father, James, are listed. Elizabeth and the remaining unmarried or minor children (Nancy, Carroll (a/k/a Darling), Susan, Elizabeth, and Thomas) were living next door to John Henry (William's and Elizabeth's second son and my 2nd great grandfather) and Amanda Weldon Keneda (name as shown in the census). John's and Amanda's first two sons, James and William (my great grandfather), are listed in their household.
During the 1880 census, John and Amanda are enumerated in Marion Co., Tennessee. No records have been located which relate the death dates and burial places for James, William and Elizabeth.
The Kennedy to Canada name change occurred after the move from Alabama to Tennessee. There is speculation that the change of name, as well as the move to Tennessee, wasn't a mere fluke of illiteracy and speech patterns, but that my 2nd great grandfather, John Henry Canada, killed one of his brothers-in-law for beating John's sister. So far, no proof has surfaced as to this rumor or any other.
The family arrived by wagon train in Shoal Creek, Logan Co., Arkansas in 1882, travelling with several other families including the Whitecottons, Varnells, Turners and others.
In 1901, John applied for and was approved to receive a Confederate pension by the State of Arkansas. No death records or burial site for Amanda Weldon Canada has been located. In 1909, John married Sarah Frances Doran in Logan Co. John died on November 21, 1920 in Sebastian Co., Arkansas, where he and Sarah had been living since approximately 1913.
William Jackson Canada (my great grandfather and John's & Amanda's second son) was born March 9, 1869 in Cherokee Co., Alabama, moving with his parents to Tennessee and then to Arkansas. On February 1, 1888, he married Susan Agnes Sims in Shoal Creek, Logan Co., Arkansas. Jack and Suda had 13 children, 12 of their own and 1 daughter who they took as foster child as an infant shortly after her mother died.
My Family Database at WorldConnect/Rootsweb.com
Canada (Kenned(a)y) Bits and Pieces
Canada/Kenned(a)y Surname Links
