JAMES KENNEDY AND JUDITH ANNE DUANE  

James (sometimes called Rufus James) Kennedy was christened 1 March 1781 in the parish church of St. Michael's in Tipperary town, the son of William Kennedy and Ellen Cunningham. He married Judith/Anne Duane 23 February 1800 at St. Michael's parish in Tipperary, Co. Tipperary, Ireland. She is most likely the daughter of Michael Dwan of Tipperary. Witnesses at the wedding were William Duane and Winifred Ryan. William may be Judith's brother.

Judith and Johanna were interchangeable names in  Ireland, according to irishgenealogy.ie. She was shown as Judith in her marriage record, as Judith at John and Anne's baptisms, and Joan at Patrick's baptisms. Her granddaughter recorded her name as Anne, perhaps short for Johanna.

Tipperary Town

James acted as a witness at the marriage of his brother Edmund in 1809.

The Religious Census of 1766 for the town of Tipperary listed three Kennedys, all shown as Catholics: Thomas Kennedy, John Kennedy, and James Kennedy. One of these is likely the father of William Kennedy. The census was ordered by Irish Parliament, and asked all Church of Ireland (Protestant) ministers to list the religions of the members of their parish, and whether they were of the Church of Ireland, Catholic, or Presbyterian. The census lists all of the male heads of household in the town of Tipperary.

The same census of 1766 lists only one Dwan (Duane): Michael Dwan. Michael is most likely the father of Judith Duane. The later Title Applotment (about 1829) in Tipperary town shows only one Dwan: Stephen Dwan, who is probably a brother of Judith.

James Kennedy and Judith Duane had the following children:
 

1. John was christened 30 December 1805 in Tipperary parish. The sponsors were John McGrath and Ellen Burke. John died and was buried 13 April 1875 in Tipperary. He was a bachelor of Goats Lane

 

*2. Anne was christened 17 October 1808 in Tipperary parish. The sponsors were Daniel O'Brien and Catherine Ryan. She married James Harrigan 16 February 1833 in Tipperary parish.

 

3. Patrick was christened 4 September 1810 in Tipperary parish: "Patricius ex Joanni Kennedy & Joanna Duan, sp. Joannes Dwyer & Maria Hiffernan.". The sponsors were John Dwyer and Mary Hiffernan. Patrick died 8 December 1887 in Henry Street, Tipperary. His occupation was listed as butter merchant. Timothy Kennedy, Patrick's son, was the witness at the death.

Baptism for Patrick Kennedy in Tipperary




Death certificate for Patrick Kennedy in Tipperary
 

James Kennedy of Church Street acted as a surety for Biddy Carty in 1847. This may be our James. He is shown as being of Church Street, which is where the Harrigans lived in 1846.

James Kennedy did not appear in the 1851 Griffiths Valuation in Tipperary, and may have died.  Only one James Kennedy was listed in Griffiths: James Kennedy on Main Street in Carrownreddy, who was a baker.

 

SOURCES: Parish register of St. Michael's parish, Tipperary town; 1766 Religious Census of Ireland; Tithe Applotment - Tipperary, Tipperary, Ireland; death certificates for John and Patrick Kennedy, irishgenealy.ie.

  THE FAMILY OF
WILLIAM KENNEDY AND
ELLEN CUNNINGHAM

William Kennedy was born in about 1750 of Tipperary. He and Ellen Cunningham were married in about 1775 in Tipperary, County Tipperary, Ireland. William's father may be Thomas, John or James Kennedy, who are listed in Tipperary town in the Religious Census of 1766. William's oldest son was named Thomas, so possibly Thomas was his father.

In the Religious Census of 1766, only one Cunningham is listed in the city of Tipperary: John Cunningham. He is listed as a Catholic. John Cunningham is likely the father of Ellen.

William Kennedy acted as a witness twice in 1794 - in January at the wedding of Patrick Flin and May Leonard, and in June at the wedding of Patrick Martin and Mary Egan, all in Tipperary parish. John Kennedy was also a witness at the Flin wedding.

William and Ellen had the following children:

1. Thomas, born about 1780; married Mary Murphy in 1795 "at the ridiculously young age of 15"; children: Timothy (1796 - 1802), William (1805), Patrick (1807), and Judith (1810).

*2.  James (called "Rufus" for his red hair), christened 1 March 1781 in Tipperary, County Tipperary; married Judith Anne Duane 23 February 1800 in Tipperary town. The sponsors were Thomas Carew and Margaret Carew.

3. Edmund, born 1784; married Alice O'Dwyer 18 January 1809 in Tipperary town; James Kennedy was a witness for his brother's marriage; had children: Ellen (1810), James (1812), Martin (1814), Mary (1818), Mary (1819), Edmond (1821), Maria (1822), and Michael (1823).

Marriage record for Edmund Kennedy in Tipperary town: "Conjuncti sunt Edmundus Kennedy & Allisia Dwyer testes Jacobus Kennedy & Martinus Dwyer"

(Joined in marriage were Edmund Kennedy and Alice Dwyer, witnesses James Kennedy and Martin Dwyer). James Kennedy wa s a witness for
his brother's marriage.

SOURCES: Tipperary RC parish register; Religious Census of 1766, Tipperary; information provided by granddaughter Mary Harrigan Carey; additional information for Thomas and Edmund provided by Josephine Mcnern via County Tipperary Facebook page, citing information "from a direct descendant of these, still living in Cordangan".

KENNEDYS OF TIPPERARY TOWN

The parish records for Tipperary town show other family groups of Kennedys, who may be brothers of James, and the children of William and Ellen:

Thomas Kennedy and Mary Murphy had the following children:

William, christened 11 October 1805 in Tipperary.
Patrick, christened 15 March 1807 in Tipperary.
Judith, christened 1 June 1810 in Tipperary.

Edmond Kennedy was born in 1784 in Tipperary. He married Alice O'Dwyer 18 January 1809 in Tipperary. His brother James served as a witness at the wedding. Edmund was buried with his wife Alice, and daughter Maria in St. Mary's Cemetery in Tipperary.

Edmond Kennedy and Alice O'Dwyer had the following children:

Ellen, christened 4 January 1810 in Tipperary. Sponsors are John Kennedy (possible brother of William?) and Mary Downey.
James, christened 5 January 1812 in Tipperary.

Martin, christened 3 January 1814 in Tipperary. Martin emigrated to Canada.
Mary, christened 1 March 1818 in Tipperary.
Mary, christened 29 September 1819 in Tipperary.
Edmond, christened 19 November 1821 in Tipperary.
Maria, born 1822 in Tipperary; died in 1838 at age 16.

Michael, christened 4 December 1823 in Tipperary.

(Sources: Tipperary parish registers; and information supplied by Edmond's descendant Daniel Kennedy.)

Michael Kennedy and Elizabeth Ryan had the following children:

James, christened 21 July 1805 in Tipperary.
Ellen, christened 11 July 1807 in Tipperary.
Michael, christened 9 April 1813 in Tipperary.
Brigid, christened 1 August 1815 in Tipperary.

John Kennedy and Margaret O'Dwyer had the following children:

Ellen, christened 25 January 1805 in Tipperary.
Mary, christened 18 June 1806 in Tipperary.
Timothy, christened 8 August 1808 in Tipperary.
Ellen, christened 7 January 1811 in Tipperary. (Sponsors: Patrick O'Mahoney and Judith Kennedy)
John, 21 June 1813 in Tipperary.

William Kennedy and Brigid Burke had the following children:

Patrick, christened 26 February 1804 in Tipperary.
Brigid, christened 21 February 1806 in Tipperary.
Timothy, christened 26 January 1808 in Tipperary.
Edmond, christened 29 August 1810 in Tipperary.
Ellen, christened 4 March 1815 in Tipperary.

William Kennedy and Winifred Murphy had the following children:

Timothy, christened 18 January 1805 in Tipperary.
Thomas, christened 4 February 1807 in Tipperary.
Stephen, christened 29 December 1808 in Tipperary.
William, christened 11 July 1811 in Tipperary.
Mary, christened 31 January 1814 in Tipperary.

John Kennedy and Mary Heffernan had the following children:

Joan, christened 28 February 1806 in Tipperary.
James, christened 8 May 1808 in Tipperary.
John, christened 28 December 1810 in Tipperary.
Michael, christened 13 April 1813 in Tipperary.
Mary, christened 11 January 1816 in Tipperary.

The first five listed Kennedys: Thomas, Edmond, Michael, John, and William are most likely children of William and Ellen Kennedy. Nearly all have daughters named Ellen, and Thomas' oldest son is William. Edmond and Michael both served as sponsors at the christenings of James Harrigan and Anne Kennedy's children.

The Tithe Applotment for Tipperary town (about 1829) lists only one Kennedy: Andrew Kennedy. Since the Tithe Applotment was assessed only on properties of one acre or more, the town-dwelling Kennedys, who generally had only houses and a small yard, may not have been included.

Griffith's Valuation in 1851 listed the following Kennedys in Tipperary town:

Timothy Kennedy lived next door to James Harrigan on Bohercrow Street in Tipperary town. Timothy is not found living there in the Valuation List of 1858, so may have moved, emigrated or died. He was Anne's nephew, the son of Patrick Kennedy.

Patrick Kennedy lived on Bohercrow Street in Tipperary town. He had a house and yard.

Morgan Kennedy lived next door to Michael Harrigan in Carrownreddy, on Donohill Road in Tipperary town. He had a house and yard.

James Kennedy lived in Carrownreddy, on Main Street in Tipperary town. He had a house, offices and yard.

Martin Kennedy lived on the same street as James in Carrownreddy.

John Kennedy and Michael Magrath owned a house on Meetinghouse Lane in Tipperary town.

Patrick Kennedy lived on Henry Street in Tipperary town. He had a house, offices and yard.

Edmond Kennedy lived on Gaol Lane in Tipperary town. He had a store.

In Slater's 1846 Commercial Directory for Tipperary, the following Kennedys were listed:

James Kennedy, baker, 8 East Main Street.

James Kennedy, public house, 8 East Main Street.

Edmund Kennedy, china, glass and earthenware dealers, 76 West Main Street.

Edmund Kennedy, linen and woolen drapers and haberdashers, 76 West Main Street.

The Petty Court Sessions Registers have these cases involving Kennedys of Tipperary Town:

Martin Kennedy of Tipperary Town, for "Larceny of a bottle of whiskey, the property of Wm. Burke on the 12th February 1852 at Clonmel", which was dismissed on merit without costs.

Edmond Kennedy of Bohercrow, for "Rioting and disturbing the peace of the town of Tipperary" 26 June 1852.

Edmond Kennedy of Bohercrow, for "Leaving his employment on the 26th of May last past contrary to agreement" case presented 3 June 1858.

Edmond Kennedy of Bohercrow for "Assaulting complainant at Bohercrow on 25th of September 1867".

1867 Directory, Tipperary
Martin Kennedy, boot and shoe maker, Main St.
Robert Kennedy, bootmaker, Henry St.
James Kennedy, Baker, Main St.

1870 Directory, Tipperary
Martin Kennedy, Tipperary Town, West Main St. Boot and Shoe Maker
Rodoph Kennedy, same, Bank place.
James Kennedy, East Main St. China, Glass & Earthernware
Daniel Kennedy, Pallas green, Carpenter
Patrick Kennedy, Henry St, Butter merchant

James Kennedy of Main Street in Tipperary died 19 December 1878 in Tipperary. He was 66 years old. He was shown as a baker and flour merchant. He died of congestion of the lungs. Martin Kennedy was present at his death. James left a will proven 7 March 1879. Martin Kennedy shopkeeer and John Ryan merchant were executors for the will.  His estate was valued at less than £4,000. Hanora Kennedy, the widow of James Kennedy shopkeeper of Main Street, died in 1883. Her brother was Timothy English.
   

In Bassett's City Directory for Tipperary in 1889,  the following Kennedys are listed:

Edmond Kennedy, grocer, Henry Street.th
James Kennedy, baker, Main Street
Martin Kennedy, boot and shoe maker, Main Street. Martin married Eliza
Michael Kennedy, cattle dealer, John Street
Timothy Kennedy, butter merchant, Henry Street. He was Anne's nephew, the son of Patrick Kennedy.

                                              The Book of County Tipperary, 1889

This may give clues to the occupations of the earlier Kennedys.

 
                                              The Book of County Tipperary, 1889

A Religious Census was taken in Tipperary in 1766. This is the list of Kennedys for Tipperary town (all listed as Catholic):

Thomas Kennedy

John Kennedy
James Kennedy

Earlier records: The Hearth Money Rolls of 1666-7 were a householder tax. They show two Kennedys in the town of Tipperary - Teige Kennedie and James Kennedie. One of these may be the ancestor of our Kennedys. This was a tax assessment based on the number of hearths in a home. The numbers following the name indicate the number of hearths and the amount of the tax paid in shillings.

This is the complete Hearth Money Roll list for Tipperary town:

Tipperary Hearth Money Rolls 1666/7
Parish of Tipperary
             Hearths  s.
David Hall  1  2
Daniell Spaine  1  2
Daniell McShane  1  2
Robert Stones   2  4
John Stones  1  2
Anthony Baker  1  2
Donnogh Quin  1  2
John Whaly  2  4
John Creese  2  4
Richard Triplett  1  2
Francis Cherry  2  4
Hugh Rian  1  2
Redmond Heagh  1  2
Thomas O’Shea  1  2
Donnogh Mary  1  2
Richard Canter  2  4
Darby Madine  1  2
Edmond Meagher  1  2
James Kennedie  1  2
James Devereaux 1  2
David Fahy  1 & a forge 4
William Bore  1  2
Edward Russell 2  4
Thomas Haines  2  4
James Bardon  1  2
Sachary Spencer  1  2
Teige O’Fahy Smith  1 & a forge 2
Teige O’Fahy  1  2
Farrell Cosker  1  2
Donnogh Clinsey  1  2
Edmund Dearicks  1  2
Thomas Reagh  1  2
John O’Shesy  1  2
Teige Terny  1  2
Richard Woodle  1  2
Richard Stapleton  1  2
Teige O’Kinknane  1  2
Daniell Rian  1  2
William Newland  1  2
Teigh Roe  1  2
John O’Dawe  1  2
Daniell McShane  1  2
Donogh O’Cawsey  1  2
Teige Kennedie  1  2
John Cooper  1  2
Daniel Flin  1  2
Nicholas Pinson  4  8
Richard Scoffeild  2  4
Edmund Rian  1  2
James Woods  5  10
Josias Pettit  4 & an oven  10
Mortagh Madin  1  2
Nath Steanes  2  4
Lawrence Dowdall  1  2
James Poor  1  2
Morrish Nonan  1  2
Richard Caffoe  1  2
William Rian Bane  1  2
William Hogane  1  2
John O’Faghie  2 & an oven  6
Edmund Gront  1  2
Michael Cantwell 1  2
James Fitz-Garrelie  1  2
Derby Hickey 1  2

Carran
Mahew Yard  2  4
Michaell Stapley  1  2
James Rian  1  2
James Moclegh  1  2

Booercroe
Thomas Rian  1  2
John Comin  1  2
Thomas O’Quin  1  2
Roger Comin  1  2
Flan Magrah  1  2

Ballina-Mott
Edmond O’Crockane  1  2
Neale Meagher  1  2
James Meagher  1  2
Robert Smyth  1  2
Derby Conney  1  2
Donnogh O’Carrane  1  2
David Bourke  1  2
Edmund McWilliam  1  2

Ballinalard
Widd. Ballard  1  2
William O’Dea  1  2
Samuell Adam  1  2
William Serpen  1  2

Tober-Bryan
Isaac Anderton  1  2
John Comin  1  2
William English  1  2
John Hall  1  2
Widd. Howlie  1  2
Joan Bourke  1  2
Widd. Rian  1  2
John Sulevan  1  2
Lawrence  Crosse 1  2

Pender's Census of 1659 shows the principal Irish names in the Barony of Clanwilliam, which includes Tipperary town. There were 16 Kenedys listed.

According to Mary Harrigan, James Kennedy's granddaughter, James was of the Red Kennedys of Tipperary and Brian Boru clian: "The Kennedy sept split into three branches, the chiefs of which were referred to by their hair colours: don (brown), fionn (blond), and rua (red)...The name Cinnéide belonged to Brian Boru's father Cennétig mac Lorcáin, King of Thomond, in the tenth century AD.[1] (Brian Boru was an Ard Rí or High King of Ireland). The Kennedys did not descend directly from Brian Boru, but from Cinnéide's eldest son Donncuan. Donncuan's son Mahon was the first to call himself Ó Cinnéide which is Irish for grandson of Cinnéide." (wikipedia.com)

This family tree is speculative:

SOURCES: Tipperary parish register; Griffith's Valuation - Tipperary; Tithe Applotment - Tipperary; information provided by Daniel Kennedy via e-mail; Hearth Money Roll 1666-7 for Tipperary; Irish Petty Court Registers on findmypast.com; Religious Census 1766, Tipperary; Calendar of Wills and Administrations, National Archives of Ireland.