John Rodgers Kennison 1750-1820

John Rodgers Kennison 1750-1820 My 5th great-grandfather

John Rodgers Kennison was born about 1750 in Virginia.  He was reportedly the son of Joseph Kennison. He married Sarah (last name not known) in about 1768. Their first child, Absalom, was born in Virginia around 1769.  My 4th great-grandmother, Hannah, was born about 1770, followed by Sarah “Sallie,” born about 1775. 

The 1780’s produced more children and more information about John himself. In about 1780, son John Jr. was born. 

In 1783, in the Jefferson County Court, John Kennison was a plaintiff in a lawsuit against John Fooks & others, described as “as tenants.” This places him in Jefferson County before Kentucky statehood (1792).  John Fooks was likely a frontier settler or squatter living on land claimed by John Kennison in 1783, named in court only because he was physically in possession of the disputed tract.

In about 1784, a daughter, Amelia, was born to John and Sarah Kennison. Daughter Temperance was born around 1787, and another daughter, Elizabeth, was born in 1788.

In April 1788, in Jefferson County, Richard McMahan sold 150 acres on Pond Creek to John Kennison. This was the beginning of John Kennison’s many land transactions over the years.

In 1788, another daughter, named Nancy, was born.

On the 3rd of August 3, 1789, in Jefferson County (still Virginia), a Marriage bond was filed for Groom: James Ferrel and Bride: Hannah Kennison, daughter of John Kennison.  Bondsman was John Kennison (her father). Hannah Kennison Ferrel was my 4th great-grandmother.

Around 1790, changes were still happening with the family. Two more sons were born to John and Sarah: Stephen W. and Joseph Kennison. Their oldest son, Absolum, also married Margaret Berne around 1790.

John  Kennison was listed on the 1791 Jefferson County Tax List, as did his son, Absalom Kennison, confirming he and his family were still living in Jefferson County, Kentucky.

In June of 1792, in Jefferson County, another marriage bond was filed: Groom: Stephen Peter and Bride: Elizabeth Adams with Bondsman: John Kennison

In June of 1794, in Jefferson County, Abner Field & wife Jenny sold 99 acres to John Kennison. And in September of 1795, a deed from John Kennison to Thomas Guille was proved by three witnesses. Two years later (1796), John Kennison & wife sold the 150 acres (from 1788) to Joseph Brooks.

John’s oldest son, Absalom, and his family moved to Perry County, Missouri around 1797.

Sadly, in 1799, John’s daughter Hannah Kennison Ferrel died, leaving her husband with four young boys. Her husband remarried in 1800 in Ohio, so they may have been living there at the time of her death. The family moved to Vigo County, Indiana soon afterward.

The 1800s began with more marriages, more grandchildren, and increased legal activity for the John Kennison family. By 1800, John and  Sarah had seven grandchildren. Temperance Kennison married George Rice, and Amelia Kennison married John Riley Plasters, both in 1802 in Jefferson County.

On 11 August 1806, George Rice & Temperance Kennison Rice sold land to John Kennison.  Even though the Kennisons lived in Jefferson County, the land purchased in 1806 was in Washington County, Kentucky, on Cartwright’s Creek. Witnesses include Stephen Kennison and John Kennison Jr

John Kennison Jr. married Rebecca Cristin May in 1808 in Bullitt County, Kentucky.  In 1815, daughter Nancy Kennison married Elijah Cochran.

There were some family losses in the next few years. John and Sarah’s eldest son, Absalom Kennison, died in 1816 in Perry County, Missouri, at the age of about forty-seven. He left a wife, Sarah, and seven or eight children. His exact date of death is unknown at this time. John’s daughter Sarah Kennison Adams died before 1820. She left a husband and one son. Then in December of 1820, John Kennison Sr. died. He was seventy years old.

In January of 1821, John Kennison’s probate was opened. His Widow was Sarah Kennison, and the Administrator was Elijah Cochran (his son-in-law).

The court notes: “Sarah Kennison, widow of said John deceased, having relinquished her right to administer on the estate…”. This means: Sarah could have been the administrator, but she declined and allowed the court to appoint someone else. Then the court ordered: James W. Thornberry, David B. Phillips, John Jones, and Samuel Churchill, or any three of them, after being sworn, to appraise the slaves (if any) and personal estate of John Kennison, deceased, and make report to the court. This is the official appointment of the appraisers. The bond amount ($1,500) shows the estate was substantial. This was a large bond for 1821.

Later that year, John and Sarah’s daughter, Elizabeth “Betsey, married William Givens

In March of 1823, the final settlement of John Kennison’s estate began. The settlement stated: “$707.58 includes the widow’s dower and is due the widow and the heirs…”. So, widow (Sarah Kennison) received her one‑third dower. The remaining two‑thirds was divided among the children. The estate was substantial. Gross value: $853.15. This was a large estate for 1823.

Some background: John Kennison died intestate (without a will). At his death, he owned a 100‑acre tract on Mill Creek, in the “Settlement,” adjoining: This is the same land conveyed to him by Allen Field on 10 June 1794, recorded 1 October 1794. John Kennison left seven living children at his death. 

John had 31 known grandchildren when he died. He had lost two daughters and one son before his death.