John Kenyon, of Westerly

Not the son of James Kenyon, of Glodwick & Esther Kenyon & not the same as ‘Old’ John Kenyon, of Glodwick

Disambiguation

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Kenyon-83

It has been proven that the John Kenyon of Glodick (Oldham), born 1655, and the John Kenyon of Westerly were not the same person. That family never left England and death records have been found for all of them.

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We really must have John Kenyon linked to the Accrington line once again. It is amazing that the present descendants from Accrington lineage who are still English and have the Kenyon ydna are R-FT383870. That comes directly from R-A1308 and the FT Discovery tool confirms that all those subclades coming from A1308 in the next subclade are confirmed now to be from the same SNP line of A1308 through sons and fathers. The subclades of the brothers are: R-FTA91130, R-A6341, R-A1309, R-A1148, R-FT198982, and R-FGC5494 along with R-FT383870. It is obvious now that the FTdna Kenyon Project admins have those groups all together under the Kenyons of Accrington with sibling subclades. Now what that will eventually do to the Group at the top of the Kenyon Project STR charts, that is left to be seen later. It is a question of really proving all of the descendant lines of the Lauton YDNA and the genealogical paper trails down to modern Kenyons.

Biography

John Kenyon was born before 1657 in a part of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations then called “The Kings Province” or “The Kings Providence” (Kings Town) and died at Westerly, Rhode Island. He wrote his Will on 12 June 1732, and it was proved in court on 26 June 1732, so he died between those dates. No wife was mentioned.

The Will mentioned these children:

1. John Kenyon born about 1682 in Westerly, Rhode Island. Married Elizabeth Remington.
2. James Kenyon, exact birth unknown[3]. Married 1) Mary Place 2) Sarah Gardiner
3. Enoch (Kinyon) Kenyon (abt.1688-abt.1781)[3]. Married Married 1) Sarah Eldred 2) Ann Auckmudy
4. Joseph Kenyon b. exact birth unknown[3]. Married Marcy G. Hazelton
5. David Kenyon exact birth unknown[3]. Married Mary Sanford.
6. Jonathan Kenyon exact birth unknown[3]. Married 1) Sarah Rogers 2) Mary Gardiner

Was there also a Samuel?

Sarah Kenyon Was born in England, so (probably) not the wife of John Webster, of Westerly and not the daughter of this John Kenyon, of Westerly. However, “The John Webster marriage comes from this "son-in-law" deed, but "son-in-law" at the time was synonymous with "stepson."

Wife / Wives

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Kenyon-1162
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Mumford-88

It has been proven that John Kenyon had only one wife.[1]. The name of John Kenyon's wife has been in dispute for many years, but it is known that she was a daughter of Thomas Mumford.[1][2][3]

She was probably born about 1664, assuming she was 18 at the time of her marriage. Since she is not mentioned in her husband's will, it can be assumed that she died before 1732.

John Kenyon married Unknown (Mumford) Kenyon in Rhode Island is established also by the deed records. These deeds (there is more than one) are dated ca 1712, about 17 years after the birth of Jonathan, John's youngest son.[4]. Land evidence records in North Kingstown and South Kingstown show that John Kenyon was brother-in-law of Thomas and Peleg Mumford.

‘widow Webster’ is speculated as a 2nd or 3rd wife.

Older notes

Note: John Kenyon did not marry Anna Mulford

"One of the most persistent genealogical myths is that John Kenyon, immigrant ancestor of most Kenyons in 0the United States, married Anna Mumford. The source of this myth is the 1935 Kenyon genealogy, American Kenyons, by Captain Howard N. Kenyon. Shortly after Capt. Kenyon published his book, Meredith Colket, refuted Capt. Kenyon's assertion regarding this marriage in an article published in The American Genealogist."

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The following from "American Kenyons" by Captain Howard N. Kenyon, published 1935: p. 53. Has errors.

John Kenyon appears to have come to the colony several months before his family. He testified that he started living on the land of Mr. Killum in 1683. Early in 1684 he had a daugbter baptized in Oldham Parish Church, Oldham, England. Sarah was the last recorded birth of this branch of the Kenyons in England. A family record states that the son, James Kenyon, was born 1684-5. This would indicate that his family came to the colony early in 1684. On 6 Sept. 1687, he was taxed 8s-11d in Kingstown, R. I. On 16 Oct. 1712, he deeded his son, John Kenyon, 170 acres of land in South Kingstown bounded on one side by land of Peleg Mumford, brother-in-law of John Kenyon. No wife signed this or any other deed of John Keoyon. This is his first recorded land deed. The record of how be acquired this land may have been destroyed in North Kingstown. He first acquired land in Westerly by deed from Joseph Brown, 13 Dec. 1709; from Jabez Tucker, 11 Aug. 1711; and from Francis Robinson, 21 Aug. 1711. On 26 Nov. 1716, he deeded land to his son-in-law, John Webster, in Westerly. In August, 1719, in Westerly, he deeded land to his son James. On 8 Aug. 1719, he deeded land in Westerly to his son Samuel. On 10 July 1721, he deeded land in Westerly to his son Enoch. On 3 Feb. 1724, he deeded land in Westerly to his son Jonathan. On 6 Feb. 1724, he deeded land in Westerly to his son David. On 30 Dec. 1724, he again deeded land in Westerly to his son Jonathan.

Mrs. John L. Kenyon of Wyoming, R. I., thought John Kenyon settled on the Wells place about three miles South of Wyoming, then (1905) "Clear Water Trout Farm," owned by the American Fish Company. She also thought he was buried on this place. John Larkin Kenyon surveyed this property and found in land records that it was owned by a John Kenyon at a date which would indicate John Kenyon. The land dealings and property of this John were quite extensive for his day and time. In 1727, be was on a list of the freemen of Westerly Town as "Old Mr. John Kenyon." In 1727, his sons contributed money for building the Episcopal Church of Westerly of whicb he was probably a member. However, this church was comparatively short-lived and most of the Kenyons joined the local Baptist churches.

On 8 Aug. 1717, calling himself aged 70 or thereabouts, he testified that in the year 1683 or thereabouts, he went to live on the farm that Stephen Northup of North Kingstown now (1935) lives on and paid rental to Major Smith in behalf of a Mr. Killum of Boston and lived there for eight years and Stephen Northup went in when he left it. His will was proved 12 June 1732 in Westerly. His son Jonathan was named executor. Sons John, James, Enoch, Joseph and David mentioned in will. No mention of wife or any other relatives of family. His inventory of personal property was listed at 180ú 8s.

1) John Kenyon was born about 1647 (his testimony) or by 1657 (Torrey record) most likely in Rhode Island, not England. His father John Kenyon per Torrey record cites a marriage in Kings Town, Rhode Island by 1657. A 1687 tax record places him in Kingstown (aka Kings Town). He married twice. One of these marriages was to a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Sherman) Mumford whose given name is unknown. He had a farm in Kingstown on land that he received from his father-In-Law Thomas Mumford. He made out his will June 12, 1732, and died shortly afterward in Westerly, Washington County, Rhode Island. His will was proved June 26, 1732. The children of John Kenyon are named in his will: John (b 1682), James (b. 1684-5), Enoch, Joseph, Samuel, David (b. 1693), & Jonathon (b. 1695).

This second wife may have died and John Kenyon possibly married a widow Webster with a son, John Webster. Alternatively, old John Kenyon may have had a daughter (name uncertain) who did marry John Webster. We don't have a clue as to who is the mother of John Kenyon's known six younger children. John Kenyon purchased land in Kingstown from his brother-in-law, Thomas Mumford, Jr. in 1717. He signed using an "I" with a dash through it. He then gave some of the land to his son, John, Jr.. The Mumfords lived in America since 1652 with their children. (Ancestors and Descendants of William Browning Greene and Mary Hoxsie Lewis with allied families)
6 Sep. 1687 - He is taxed 8 shillings
July 1704 - His son, John Jr. marries Elizabeth Remington
16 Oct. 1712 - He deed to son John, for love, &c., 170 acres where son dwells
28 Aug. 1727 - Westerly. He, calling himself aged seventy years or thereabouts, testified that in the year 1683 or thereabouts, he went to live on the farm that Stephen Northup, of North Kingstown, now lives on, and paid rental to Major Smith, in behalf of Mr. Killum, of Boston, and lived there for eight years, and Stephen Northup went in when I left it.
27 March 1728 - His son John, calls himself aged forty-six years last January. (making his birth year 1682)
12 June 1732 - Will-proved 1732, Jun 26. Ex. son Jonathon. To sons John, James, Enoch, Joseph, and David, 10 pounds each. to son Jonathon, all movable estate, he paying legacies.
Inventory, 189 Pounds, 8 shillings, viz: wearing apparel 11 pounds, 16 shillings, 2 beds, pewter swine, 4 oxen, 4 cows, 3 calves, 1 steer, 3 yearlings, &c. (Genealogical Dictionary of
Rhode Island, pg. 116, Kenyon)

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=branagak&...

There is some speculation as to whether John Kenyon of RI is the same John Kenyon who had children baptized in Glodwick, England, between 1681 and 1687. For a complete explanation of the Kenyon enigma, see Gerald Parson's article in the Jul 2003 issue of The American Genealogist. Parsons offers the following three scenarios:

1. If John Kenyon of Glodwick is the same as the RI man, he could have sailed to RI in late 1686 or early 1687 and sent for his wife Anna [not a Mumford] and surviving children to join him.

2. John Kenyon went to RI in the late 1670s, married there Anna Mumford, returned to Glodwick with his wife and possibly their first son, John, and returned to RI about 1687.

3. John Kenyon of Glodwick is not the same person as John Kenyon of RI.

In TAG 79:207-208, it is shown that "Old John Kenyon" and "Anne Kenyon, widow," were buried in Glodwick on 11 Mar 1731/2 and 28 Aug 1732, respectively, making the third scenario above the correct one.

Research notes

Was John Webster, of Westerly a step son of John Kenyon, of Westerly vía a later wife who was Websters mother? See The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - Vol 61 (1985) Page 61. < digital image >; < AmericanAncestors >

References

1. The American Genealogist, Volume 79 (2004): 207-208 Revisiting the English Origins of John Kenyon and James Kenyon of Rhode Island by Michael J. Wood. $< AmericanAncestors > "Mr. Parsons third scenario as put forth in TAG 78(2003):227 is the accurate one. John Kenyon of Glodwich, weaver, is not same man as his namesake in Rhode Island and the origin for the family outlined by Capt. Kenyon must be rejected."
2. The American Genealogist. Volume 78. (2003) :222-227. Enigmas #17, Revisiting the English Origins of John1 Kenyon and James1 Kenyon of Rhode Island by Gerald J. Parsons FASG. $< AmericanAncestors >
3. John Osborne Austin, Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island: Comprising Three Generations of Settlers Who Came Before 160 - With Additions and Corrections by John Osborne Austin and G. Andrews Moriarty (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1982), pages 116, 140. < Archive.Org >
4. http://users.hal-pc.org/~wmewrght/kenyon.html John KENYON b. 26 Apr 1655, Oldham, Lancashire Co., ENG, m. 1680, in Oldham, Lancashire Co., ENG, Anna (Hannah) MUMFORD, b. abt 1661, Oldham, Lancashire, England, (daughter of Thomas MUMFORD and Sarah SHERMAN) d. bef 1712, RI. John died 1732, Westerly, Washington Co., RI (has errors)
5. https://www.familytreedna.com/public/Kenyon?iframe=yresults IIe Rhode Island branch at R-A6342 (DYS456=15). Line 1- John Kenyon, b abt 1647 RI > Big Y700
6. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KNH4-2LX
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westerly,_Rhode_Island Westerly is a town on the southwestern coastline of Washington County, Rhode Island, first settled by English colonists in 1661 and incorporated as a municipality in 1669. It is a beachfront community on the south shore of the state. Westerly was named for the settlement's location respective to Rhode Island's geography, being the westernmost town in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. The English village was the home of Elder John Crandall (c. 1612–1676), one of Westerly's founding fathers. Crandall settled in Westerly in 1661, and the early history of Westerly contains many references to him and his sons.
8. Source:http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~rtrose/kenyon_family.htm
9. Rhode Island, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1582-1932 [database on-line], Town Council and Probate Records, Vol 2-4, 1699-1736, image 418-419. Westerly, Council and Probate Records, 1731-1736, No. 4, Restored book Page 26-29.
10. https://www.geneamusings.com/search?q=Kenyon CORRECTION: James and Esther (Smith) Kenyon are not the parents of John Kenyon (1657-1732) - see the UPDATE at the bottom of this post:
    1. "KENYON, JOHN, b. ca. 1657, d. Westerly, R.I., 1732. TAG 78:222-27, 79:207-8 (revision of English origins and early generations)."