William Kenworthy

William Kenworthy was born 9mo 14 1794 a son of Jesse & Rachel Kenworthy. He married at Elk Friends Meeting, Preble Co., OH, 2mo 8, 1821, Alice Ballard, d/o Joseph and Elizabeth. In 1836 he moved to Wayne Co., IN, where he died 11th Mo 17, 1877. He and his wife had five children: Amos, Joseph, Jesse, Mary and Elizabeth. After the death of his wife he married secondly Anna (French) Townsend 25 11m 1852 at Cincinnati MM, OH.

"The Christian Worker, Twelfth Month 20, 1877
KENWORTHY--At Richmond, Indiana, on the 17th of Eleventh mo. 1877, William Kenworthy aged 83 years. He wrote down the following text and left it for his children:

'I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, thought he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.'"

The following additional information is from contributor 48222303
"Story No. 1: Guided Quaker evangelist Joseph John Gurney on travels through North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania in 1837 (and perhaps longer). Gurney mentioned WK twice in memoirs: Writing to children from New Garden, N.C., on 8 Nov., 1837, Gurney wrote, “I wish you could take a peep at me and my carriage, driven by my honest, serious companion, William Kenworthy, and drawn by those homely, lively, faithful ‘creatures,’ David and Jonathan, the former bay, the latter white.” On 16 Nov., from Eno, N.C., “I have enjoyed and prized the quietness of this day, passed in travelling; the Bible and Comstock’s familiar work on Philosophy having been (in addition to William Kenworthy and Horace Cannon) my acceptable companions.” (Memoirs of Joseph John Gurney, with selections from his journal and correspondence, 1854)

Story No. 2: Sympathetic to anti-slavery movement, though no proof of personal involvement. Abolitionist Levi Coffin (1798-1877) mentioned an encounter when carrying a load of escaped slaves: “We…passed through the eastern edge of (Richmond, Ind.), by way of Moffat's mill, on the east fork of Whitewater. The mill then belonged to William Kenworthy and Benjamin Fulghum, of Richmond, and as we drew near it, I discovered them among a company of men who were raising an addition to the building, and noticed that their attention was attracted to us. When we got opposite the company, perhaps fifty yards distant, I sang out at the top of my voice the words of an old anti-slavery song,"Ho! the car Emancipation moves majestic through the nation.” The men suspended work to cheer us in reply. They recognized the President of the Underground Railroad at work, and came out in a body to greet us and wish us God-speed. They were mostly Friends, and well known to me; we felt no fear.” (Reminiscences of Levi Coffin, 1968 reprint)

Story No. 3: With son Jesse J. Kenworthy (K1/8), purchased mill built 1815 in Richmond, Ind., by Charles Moffitt. “This mill was known far and near, and was patronized by settlers as far west as Indianapolis and as far north as Fort Wayne. It was situated at northern extremity of present (1958) North 12th Street.” (Richmond Palladium-Item)"* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Feb 1 2024, 12:30:06 UTC