Person:John Kenyon (19)

Much of the information about this family was obtained from the book by Howard Nathaniel Kenyon, "American Kenyons : History of Kenyons and English connections of American Kenyons, genealogy of the American Kenyons of Rhode Island, miscellaneous Kenyon material," Rutland, Vt.: Tuttle, 1979, orgiinally published in 1935.

The numbers below refer to families numbered using the Henry system in the "American Kenyons" book. This John Kenyon family was not included in the book.

Sometime during the 1990's, the author corresponded via email or on a message board with Richard R. Kenyon, who was gathering Kenyon family data together based on the previous work, and additions to the Howard Kenyon by the author (who died in 1957). He included these paragraphs from Howard Kenyon's 1935 work:

"The book "A Commemorative Biographical Record of Tolland and Windham Counties, Connecticut," by J. H. Beers, 1903, indicates that John Kenyon (1134) was the son of John Kenyon (1111) of Exeter, RI and Freelove Reynolds. This is clearly incorrect, since John Kenyon (11111) moved to Oswego, NY, where he was a pensioner for services in the Revolutionary War and where he made extensive affidavits relative to his identity and his war service. The author of this work erroneously assumed that the 1790 census for John Kenyon (1134) was the record of John Kenyon (167) who was reported in Hoosick, NY, 1790, since the latter John executed a deed in Voluntown to land in Rhode Island, which land transaction clearly identified the owner. However, there is no [other] record that John Kenyon (167) ever lived in Voluntown and it is clear that John Kenyon (1134) was first deeded land in Voluntown in 1778 and died there with a will.

"He was deeded land in Richmond, RI, by his father, Sylvester Kenyon (113) in 1769. His mother, Anne, signed the conveyance. In the census in Rhode Island of 1774, he and his brother, Giles, were listed as heads of two families living together [in] Exeter. He made no claim for Revolutionary War service. He cannot be identified as being listed on the military census of 1777. He may have moved. In the deed to land from Peleg Kenyon of Voluntown, 1775, 100 acres, it recited that John was from Exeter, RI. He bought four other pieces of land in Voluntown and in 1793 sold 16 acres to his brother, Moses Kenyon (1136). The son, Lewis Kenyon (11341), was willed the farm bought from Jeremiah Babcock. George got one half the land purchased from Peleg Kenyon; Sylvester got the other half. One of his sons had a daughter named Phoebe. No identity of his wife is disclosed on his land transactions in Connecticut. He was shown in the census of 1790 and in successive census reports prior to his death. [Note by the editor: A handwritten note appears at this point in the typewritten manuscript: "Note error on m. of Anne Kenyon" It appears to have been entered at the same time the wife of John Kenyon (1134) was added. The handwriting in these two cases is different (not as neat as elsewhere). The cause for his comment is not clear. -- RRK]

The book "Mayflower Families Through Five Generations," Volume Three, George Soule, edited by Anne Borden Harding, General society of Mayflower Descendants, 1990 states on page 290:

"The identity and circumstances of marriage have not been proven. A John Kenyon m. Newport, RI, 24 xxx 1764 Ann Kenyon. Shortly thereafter his father Sylvester deeded him land in Richmond RI as his son of Portsmouth of Newport Co. RI. On 5 March 1778 John and wife Anna of Richmond with Sylvester and his wife Anna of Exeter sold Richmond holdings to Joseph Woodmansee. He removed from RI to CT about the time of the Revolution and acquired land and farms in Voluntown and Sterling CT. His will was proved in Sterling CT 8 Aug. 1831 but did not contain the name of his wife. In the will be gives sons Lewis, George and Sylvester farms; names son John, daughters Almey Perkins, Nancy Champlin, Abigail Warren and Cynthia Kenyon. He names nine grandsons and nine granddaughters: Samuel, Joseph, John and George Hassard Champlin; James, Varnum, Searls, George and Palmer Dixon; Betsey, Fanny, Alsi (Elsie) and Abigail Champlin; Phebe Kenyon, Almey Oatley, Polly Wilcox, Harriet Card and Nancy Dixon."

The Mayflower Families book is, by far, the most authoritative work for this family to date, although the revised Howard Kenyon work (supplied by Richard R. Kenyon) seems to agree in the details, especially the names of the children of John and Ann Kenyon.

John Kenyon died testate, having wreitten a will on 6 May 1824, and proved on 8 August 1831 in Plainfield Connecticut. The will reads (transcribed from a clerk's copy in Connecticut Probate Records (Plainfield District), 1747-1918, Register of Probate Records, Volume 19 (1830-1835), Pages 206-209, accessed on FHL Microfilm 0,005,449, separated into paragraphs for readability):

1. ↑ Connecticut, Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999
   [1].

   "Probate Office, Plainfield District, August 8th, 1831, Present Joseph Eaton, Esq. Judge
   
   ""In the name of God amen. I John Kenyon of Sterling in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut although labouring at present under some indisposition of body yet being of sound disposingm ind memory & understanding through the Mercy of God do make and ordain this my last will & testament in manner and form following - First & principally I resign my soul with the utmost humility into the hands of Almighty God, my Creator humbly hoping for a blessed immortality through the merits and mediation of my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, and also my body I desire may be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors herein after to be named and as for in [all?] temporal estate as the Lord in his great goodness and mercy hath entrusted me to be steward of I give devise & dispose of as follows --
   
   "Imprimus I give & bequeath to my eldest & beloved son, Lewis Kenyon, my farm which I bought of Jeremiah Babcock to him & his heirs and assigns forever -
   
   "Item I give & bequeath to my beloved son John Kenyon my right & interest in the house & lot where I now live which I bought of Preserved Fish also the lot of land I bought of Patrick Campbell & likewise the lot that I bought of Benajah Burgess & John Burgess & one pair of large Iron andirons which with what he has already received will be in full of his portion -
   
   "Item I give & bequeath to my beloved son George Kenyon one half of the farm on which he now lives it being the Farm which I bought of Peleg Kenyon together with all the privileges & appurtenances thereunto belonging he paying therefor to my son Lewis Kenyon the sum of fifty dollars in two years after my decease which will be the full of his portion -
   
   "Item I give & bequeath to my beloved son Sylvester Kenyon one half of the farm on which he now lives & being the farm which I bought of Peleg Kenyon together with the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging to him & his male heirs forever he paying therefor to my son Lewis Kenyon fifty dollars in two years after my decease which will be in full of his portion -
   
   "Item I give & bequeath to my beloved daughter Almey Perkins one dollar to be paid her by my Executor herein after named in one year after my decease which with what she hath already has & received [....] in full for her portion
   
   "Item, I give & bequeath to my daughter Nancy Champlin one dollar to be paid two years after my decease in full of her portion -
   
   "Item I give & bequeath to my grandson Samuel Champlin one dollart to be paid two years after my decease in full of his portion -
   
   "Item I give & bequeath to my grandson Joseph Champlin one dollar to be paid two years after my decease in full of his portion -
   
   "Item I give to my grandson John Champlin one dollar to be paid two years after my decease in full of his portion -
   
   "Item I give to my grandson George Haszard Champlin one dollar to be paid in two years after my decease in full of his portion -
   
   "Item I give to my grand daughter Phebe Kenyon one dollar to be paid in two years after my decease in full for her portion.
   
   "Item I give to my grand daughter Polly Wilcox one dollar to be paid in two years after my decease in full for her portion
   
   "Item I give to my grand daughter Almey Oatly one dollar to be paid in two years after my decease in full for her portion
   
   "Item I give to my grand daughter Betsey Champlin one dollar to be paid in two years after my decease in full for her portion
   
   "Item I give to my grand daughter Fanny Champlin one dollar to be paid in two years after my decease in full for her portion
   
   "Item I give to my grand daughter Alsi Champlin one dollar to be paid in two years after my decease in full for her portion
   
   "Item I give to my grandson James Dixon one dollar to be paid in two years after my decease in full for his portion
   
   "Item I give to my grandson Varnum Dixon one dollar to be paid in two years after my decease in full for his portion
   
   "Item I give to my grandson Searls Dixon one dollar to be paid in two years after my decease in full for his portion
   
   "Item I give to my grandson George Dixon one dollar to be paid in two years after my decease in full for his portion
   
   "Item I give to my grandson Palmer Dixon one dollar to be paid in two years after my decease in full for his portion
   
   "Item I give to my grand daughter Hariet Card one dollar to be paid in two years after my decease in full for his portion
   
   "Item I give to my grand daughter Nancy Dixon one dollar to be paid in two years after my decease in full for his portion
   
   "Item I give to my grand daughter Abigail Champlin one dollar to be paid in two years after my decease in full for his portion
   
   "Item I give to my beloved daughter Abigail Warren one certain tract of land which I purchased of Thomas Gordon which will be in full for her portion with which she has already has received -
   
   "Item I give to my dearly beloved wife the use & improvement of one third part of all of all my Real estate during her natural life and one third part of all my moveable estate to be at her own disposal, my said wife to support my daughter Cynthia Kenyon during the life of my said wife, asnd after the decease of my said wife my will is that my two sons George Kenyon & Sylvester Kenyon to support & maintain my said daughter Cinthia Kenyon during the remainder of her natural life.
   
   "Item I give & bequeath to my daughter Cynthia Kenyon one dollar to be paid her by my said Executor herein after named one year after my decease which will be in full of her portion -
   
   "And I fo hereby constitute and appoint George Kenyon and John Thurston my Joint Executors to this my last will & testament
   
   "Item I will that all the rest & residue of my estate not heretofore disposed of be placed in the hands of my executors to pay my Lawful debts funeral charges and settlement of my said estate and after paying all the above said charges if any thing remain to be equally divided among my [...] four sons Lewis Kenyon John Kenyon George Kenyon and Sylvester Kenyon and I do hereby revoke all other wills by me formerly made and declare this only to be my Last Will and Testament in Witness whereof I the said John Kenyon have hereunto set my hand and seal this ?th day of May AD 1824.
   
   " John Kenyon
   
   "Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator John Kenyon as and for his last will and Testament in the presence of of us who have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto in the presence of the said Testator and of each other
   Archibald Douglas
   Rebecca Douglas
   Louisa Thurston"
   
   "The above and foregoing is a true copy of the Last Will & Testament of John Kenyon which was by this .... [one word] duly Proven & appriv...[?] and is due to be recorded ... ..... [two words] in the files of this court.
   attest Geo. H.Middleton clerk."
   
   "At a Court of Probate holden at Plainfield within and for the District of Plainfield on the 8th day of August AD 1831
   "Present Joseph Eaton Esqr Judge on motion of George Kenyon and John Thurston Executors of the last will & Testament of John Kenyon late of Sterling within said district decd. This court doth declare that six months be allowed the auditors of said Executors after they shall have given public notice of this order by advertising the same in a newspaper published in Brooklyn and by putting the same on a public sign put in said Town of Sterling.
   Joseph Eaton Judge of Probate
   Per Prder
   attest Geo. H. Middleton clerk."
   
   "Probate office ... Plainfield Aug 8th 1831
   
   "Present Joseph Eaton Judge
   This Court do appoint Calvin Hubbard and John I. Kenyon of Sterling in Windham County disinterested freeholders appraisers to appraise the Estate of John Kenyon late of Sterling decd as its true & just value in money and a true & perfect Inventory thereof make and present to the Registry of this Court on or before the 1st Tuesday of Sept next and to be under oath for the aforesaid purpose.
   Joseph Eaton Judge of Probate
   Per Order
   Attest Geo. H. Middleton Clerk."

2.   LAND:
   -11 Sep 1769 Sylvester Kinyon of Richmond, yeoman & Anne his wife for love to his son John Kinyon of Portsmouth, husbandman, land bounded by Thomas Kinyon son of David's land.
   Witnesses: Edward Perry, Dorcas Perry. [Richmond Land pps. 496-497]
   -5 Mar 1778 Sylvester Kinyon of Richmond, yeoman, & Anna his wife and John Kinyon of Exeter, yeoman & Anna his wife to Joseph Woodmansee Jr of Richmond, yeoman.
   Witnesses: Edward Perry, Edmund Burdick, Thomas Robins, Benoni Robins. [Richmond Land pps. 190-191]