Rebecca Morrison1

(c 1830 - 1908)
Extended Family
ChartsAncestors of Faith Kennedy

Children of Rebecca Morrison and James Kennedy
  • Elizabeth Kennedy4 (1850 - before 1860)
  • James Edward Kennedy8 (circa 1851 - 1908)
  • Celeste Kennedy3,10 (1854 - 1925)
  • Samuel Miller Kennedy+ 3,11 (circa 1857 - 1923)
  • Ida May Kennedy3 (1860 - before 1900)
  • Elisabeth Kennedy5,12 (1863 - 1942)

Life Events

Overview
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Rebecca Morrison was born about 1830 in Pennsylvania and married James Kennedy. Together they had six known children; the first died as a young child. The youngest was a toddler when James died in the Civil War. Rebecca received a widow's pension, raised the children without remarrying, and lived in the same house for over 50 years.

* * * * *

 
BirthRebecca Morrison was born circa 1830 in Venango County, Pennsylvania.
[Still to be resolved - Her obituary cites her birthplace as Venango County but the newspaper account of her funeral gives her birthplace as Kittanning, which is in Armstrong County. The funeral notice gives her age as 72, i.e. born c1836]1,2 
MarriageShe married James Kennedy.3
 
1850 CensusJames and Rebecca Kennedy appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, enumerated 1 Nov 1850. James was 22 and a farmer. Rebecca was 20. Both were born in Pennsylvania. With them was Elizabeth, 4 months old. Enumerated on the same page were Kennedy and Morrison families.4 
1860 CensusJames and Rebecca Kennedy appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Liberty Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, enumerated 2 Jun 1860. James was 32, a day laborer owning personal goods worth $50 and Rebecca was 30 and a housewife. The children were Edward (8, attending school), Celeste (4), Samuel (2), and Ida May (4 months).3 
1870 CensusRebecca Kennedy appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Slippery Rock Township, enumerated 19 Jul 1870. The nearest post office was New Castle. Rebecca was the head of the household, owned real estate worth $200 [this was a small amount], and was born in Pennsylvania. The children were Edward (19), Salista (15), Samuel (13), Ida M (10), and Elisabeth (7). The two youngest attended school and all were born in Pennsylvania.5 
1880 CensusRebeca Kennedy appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Princeton Village, Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, enumerated 23 Jun 1880. She was 50, widowed, keeping house, and born in Pennsylvania, as were her parents. Her daughters at home were Ida (20) and Lizie (17).6 
1900 CensusRebecca Kennedy and her daughter Elizabeth appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, enumerated 6 Jun 1900. Rebecca was 70, widowed, born in April 1830 in Pennsylvania, and was the mother of 6 children of whom 4 were still living. Elisabeth [no surname recorded] was 37, widowed, born in Apr 1863, and was the mother of one child, no longer living.7 
(Mentioned) ObituaryShe was mentioned in James Edward Kennedy's January 1908 obituary as his mother Mrs Rebecca Morrison Kennedy.8 
DeathRebecca died in Dec 1908.1
 
BurialShe was buried in Lutheran Cemetery, Princeton.1 
ObituaryHer obituary was published on 12 Dec 1908 in the New Castle News.1
Mrs Rebecca Kennedy
Obituary
13 December 1908 in the New Castle News
Newspaper15 Dec 19082
Mrs Rebecca Kennedy
Funeral
15 December 1908 in the New Castle News
Item. Descendants of Rebecca and James continued to gather at annual reunions for many years after her death (until at least 1953).9
Kennedy Reunion
New Castle News, 6 September 1922
Research Note Next to Rebecca and James in the 1850 census is a Morrison family which includes a Hiram (the name of Rebecca's brother as noted in her obit) age 6. This is a good lead to follow up. 
Last Edited24 Sep 2009

Citations

  1. [S1914] Obituary of Mrs Rebecca Kennedy in New Castle [Pennsylvania] News, 12 December 1908. image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  2. [S1908] New Castle News (Pennsylvania), Mrs Rebecca Kennedy funeral, 15 December 1908. image online at Ancestry.com's historical newspaper collection.
  3. [S1740] 1860 Federal Census for United States, Pennsylvania, Mercer County, Liberty, Roll M653_1139, Page 389. Digital image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  4. [S857] 1850 Federal Census for United States, Pennsylvania, Lawrence County, Slippery Rock, Roll M432_790, Page 132. Digital image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  5. [S1739] 1870 Federal Census for United States, Pennsylvania, Lawrence County, Slippery Rock, Roll M593_1360, Page 275. Digital image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  6. [S938] 1880 Federal Census for United States, Pennsylvania, Lawrence County, Princeton, Roll T9_1144, ED 225, Page 283B. Digital image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  7. [S939] 1900 Federal Census for United States, Pennsylvania, Lawrence County, Slippery Rock, Roll T623_1427, ED 121, Page 5A. Digital image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  8. [S1917] Obituary of James E Kennedy in New Castle [Pennsylvania] News, 29 January 1908. image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  9. [S1908] New Castle News (Pennsylvania), Kennedy Reunion, 6 September 1922. image online at Ancestry.com's historical newspaper collection.
  10. [S1922] Obituary of Mrs Elaskey Stickle in New Castle [Pennsylvania] News, 25 June 1925. image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  11. [S1941] Obituary of Samuel Kennedy in New Castle [Pennsylvania] Herald, 27 March 1923. transcribed by Dianne.
  12. [S1916] Obituary of Mrs Elizabeth Kennedy Stickel in New Castle [Pennsylvania] News, 10 January 1942. image viewed at Ancestry.com.