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Civil War Pension File - Mary (Fox) Kenna

2006-09-03 10:42:46

I recently ordered and received the civil war mother's claim pension application file for Mary (Fox) Kenna , mother of William Kenna Jr. , from the NARA. She filed for support around 1877 and the file includes testimony from friends and relatives as to her sources of income and obligations. William Jr. was killed in action at the battle of Cold Harbor, VA on 31 May 1864. His father, William Kenna Sr. was also serving at the time in a different unit, having enlisted earlier in 1864. One of the most touching contents of the file is a letter from William Jr. to his parents on 22 Oct 1863.

The file contais testimony that provides the names, birth dates and marriage information for all the children of William and Mary's family. In addition the file includes affidavits from James Kenna Sr. and James Kenna Jr. James Sr. was present at William Jr.'s birth, and James Jr. calls William Jr. his cousin. This information provides more evidence that James Kenna Sr. (my ggg-grandfather) and William Kenna Sr. were brothers, who immigrated to the US and settled in Little Falls, NY together.

The file includes new mysteries, like the other person who witnessed William Kenna Jr.'s birth with James Kenna Sr., a Mary O'Rourk (sp?). The surname O'Rourk(e) shows up elsewhere amoung documents I have, so I wonder what relationship that family has to the Kenna's.

There's a bit of a scandal mentioned as well regarding William & Mary Kenna's second son Thomas Kenna who was forced to leave Little Falls due to bad debt or forgery problems. It could not have lasted long though, since census information has him in their household in later years.

Comments

Cindy McInerney ([email protected])0000-00-00 00:00:00
Hi Wayne, I can solve one of your mysteries. The O'Rourke (various sp) is tied to the Kenna's by marriage. Mary O'Rourke and Edward Kenna were the parents of Charles Kenna. I have done a bit of chasing of the O'Rourke name because James Kenna m. H. L Rorke and a Mary Emmerson was suppose to be married to Edward Kenna and may very well have been, but the obit for Charles Kenna lists Mary O'Rourke as mother although the marriage announcement for Edward Kenna lists marry Emmerson as new wife. O'rourke's name shows up in the cemetery at St. Mary's connected to the Kenna's and on a 1850 census a man named Brian last name was unreadable but could be Rorke (first name was Brian) was residing with James and Margaret Kenna. I have not seen anything other than a newspaper that states Mary Emmerson married Edward Kenna. Also the cause of death of Jennie Kenna age 7 yrs. 7 m was diptheria according to her obit. Also adding to family military history, my daughter Rachael Ann(Pattison) Darnes is currently in the Air Force going on her 11th year. She is gg grandaughter for Kenneth and Myrtle Kenna. One small correction, as for my gg grandmother Jenny Kenna (her Jenny was spelled with a y instead of ie). Also adding to your family history site, 2 children already deceased of my grandparents Kenneth W. Kenna and Myrtle Louisa Stewart Kenna are my uncle Roger Kenna,who I have to check for exact date, but I believe it was the early 1980's and my mother Janet Elizabeth Kenna who passed away at age 38 in Oct. 1975. The others are still alive so I would prefer not to release their info.
Also deceased is my younger sister,(daughter of Janet Kenna Moltz Campanie) Deborah Lee Moltz who died at the age of 6. Debbie was from my mother's first marriage. As for people who are related by marriage, Myrtle Louisa Kenna was the daughter of Ward Stewart and Eliza Cramer, Stratford-Little Falls area. I have lots on the Cramer's side, and
since we had talked a long while ago I haven't had much time to be on line but I am trying to chase down more info on the Stewart side of the family as you are doing so well with the Kenna's, but I had to check to see if you had the military updates I had and to see if anything was new. If any of your viewers are looking for Cramer or Stewart info let them know I have done that side which also includes Steele and Rumrill last names and if anyone knows anything about orphanage records for about 1866 in Little Falls I would love some help. As always, great job, let me know when your planning a family reunion, that would be such great fun. As always if I can be of any help, let me know. Cindy

Civil War Pension File - Mary (Fox) Kenna

2006-09-03 10:42:46

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