DR. SETH KENNEDY
Biography
1758 –1835
Seth Kennedy was born 14 Aug 1758 in
Norwich,
Connecticut to Benjamin and Olive Rude Kennedy. (1) He died in Hancock County, Georgia 4 June
1835 (2) Seth served with Nathan Watkins, Captain of a company of Minute-men
which marched April 22, 1775 in response to the alarm of April 19, 1775.
After this service,
Seth joined the Continental Navy and served on the frigate
Confederacy. (3)
On 17 September 1779 Confederacy was ordered to carry
the French Minister and his family back to
France. Later John Jay, the first American Minister
of
Spain, his
secretary, and family were added to the passenger list. During the passage on 7 November 1779
Confederacy was completely dismasted and almost lost, but managed through the
skillful seamanship of Captain Harding to reach
Martinique early
in December. After repairs, she returned
to convoy duty. (4). The Ship’s
Surgeon asked that Kennedy be made Surgeon’s mate to give his assistance. Thereafter he was considered a doctor.
Seth Kennedy received a land grant in
Georgia for
his service. (5)
Seth Kennedy and Elizabeth Greer were married in
Columbia County, Georgia on 10 January 1794 (6) and one child Elizabeth was
born on
30
October 1794. The mother
died last Thursday 30th ult. at the Kiokee, Mrs.
Elizabeth Kennedy consort of Dr. Seph (sic) Kennedy
(7) and is buried Kiokee in Columbia,
County,
Georgia.
On 16 September 16, 1795 Seth Kennedy married Mary
(Polly) Adams, daughter of James Adams, Revolutionary Soldier and Mary
Montgomery. Seth and Mary
reared Elizabeth with
their own children. These are their
children:
Nancy Kennedy, born 30 August 1796 and married James Youngblood on 7
September 1812 in Hancock County, Georgia.
Nancy died 21 March in Dacula, Ala.
Mary (Polly) Kennedy born 8 May 1798 and
married Richard Smith in
Hancock
County,
Georgia and
died
14
July 1870.
Timothy Kennedy born 11 August 1800 and died 2 December 1802.
Seth Kennedy, Jr. born 28 September 1802 and married
Marie Davenport in Hancock County, Georgia on 10 August 1837. His date and place of death is unknown,
possibly in
Texas or on
the way to
Texas.
Green Kennedy born 28 September 1802 and killed on 6 April 1817 when thrown from a horse.
Leroy Kennedy born 4 October 1804 and married
Elizabeth Watkins on 25 March 1830 in Washington County, Georgia. He died in
Worth
County,
Georgia
7 November 1857.
James Adams Ross Kennedy born 6 September 1806 and
married Elmira Antionette Arnold in Hancock County,
Georgia
24
September 1849. He died on 23 October 1885 and
this couple is buried in a family cemetery on the Kennedy property.
Louisa Kennedy born 13 December 1807 and
married Loudy David Layfield
on
22
July 1832. She died 14 November 1867.
Permilia Kennedy born
9 April 1809 and
married Timothy Dupree on 19 January in 1826 in
Hancock
County. She died 30 November 1863.
David A Kennedy born 4 May 1811 and died 10 December 1814.
Rebecca A. Kennedy born 30 June 1813 and
married John G Raines
on
31
January 1837. She died 6 June 1842.
On Saturday, 6 March 1802 ORDERED That
a passport through the Creek nation to the western territory be prepared for
--------Eilard, Doctor Seth Kennedy and Cedar Powell
which was presented and signed. (8)
Seth Kennedy was a tobacco inspector as well as a
doctor. So he may have traveled to Creek
territory to sell tobacco or possible give medical assistance. Since he lived near the
Oconee
River there
is the possibility that he crossed at
Fort
Wilkinson which
was an Indian Community.
Seth Kennedy applied for a pension in 1834 for service
on the Confederacy which was denied, but later approved. The family has the original pension and
response from the War Department in
Washington. One of this grand daughters, who never
married kept all these family artifacts.
Seth and Mary were buried in a family cemetery in Hancock County and in
April 2005 the John Milledge Chapter Sons of the
American Revolution dedicated a grave marker for his service on the Kennedy
property which is still in the family after over 200 years.
1. Vital
Records of
Norwich
1659-1848 Part I Pg 359
2. Kennedy
Family Bible presently owned by a sixth great grandson
3. DAR Records
4. Continental
Navy Frigate Confederacy
5. This
original land grand presently owned by a sixth great granddaughter
6. Colonial
Georgia
Marriage Records Pg 00076
7. The
Georgia
Genealogical Magazine No 10 October 1968
8. Passports of
Southeastern Pioneers 1770-1823 Pg 180
Information furnished by Katherine C.
Kennedy-Bray, July 2007
(kcbray@alltel.net)