KENNEDY, David Sr.^[1]

1804 - 1865  (61 years)  Submit Photo / Document

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• Name	KENNEDY, David
  Suffix	Sr.
  Birth	1804	Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland
  Gender	Male
  _TAG	Reviewed on FS
  Burial	Apr 1865	Yarra Bend, Victoria, Australia
  Death	5 Apr 1865	Yarra Bend, Victoria, Australia
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I1764	Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy Mack Smith
  Last Modified	19 Aug 2021

  
  

  Father	KENNEDY, John ,   b. 1 Feb 1772, Ireland Irelandd. 1832, Falkirk, Scotland (Age 59 years)
  Mother	ADA, Mary ,   b. 1773, Scotland Scotland
  Marriage	1792	Scotland
  Notes	~SEALING_TO_SPOUSE: Also shown as SealSp 27 Sep 1984, PROVO.
  Family ID	F1068	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	BURNS, Janet ,   b. 1 Oct 1805, Kilsyth, Stirlingshire, Scotland Kilsyth, Stirlingshire, Scotlandd. 10 Oct 1888, Beechworth, Victoria, Australia (Age 83 years)
  Marriage	19 Nov 1830	Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland
  Children	4 sons and 3 daughters
  + 1. KENNEDY, David Robert ,   b. 25 Oct 1831, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotlandd. 12 Apr 1922, Brunswick, Victoria, Australia (Age 90 years)   2. KENNEDY, William Burns ,   b. 28 Jun 1833, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotlandbur. 9 Aug 1885, Beechworth, Victoria, AustraliaBeechworth, Victoria, Australia (Age ~ 52 years)   3. KENNEDY, John ,   b. 23 Dec 1836, Kilsyth, Stirlingshire, Scotland Kilsyth, Stirlingshire, Scotland + 4. KENNEDY, Janet Burns ,   b. 12 Jan 1838, Kilsyth, Stirlingshire, Scotland Kilsyth, Stirlingshire, Scotlandd. 5 Mar 1905, Myrtleford, Victoria, Australia (Age 67 years)   5. KENNEDY, Janet ,   b. 1839, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland + 6. KENNEDY, Ann Gordon Lockhart ,   b. 17 Sep 1840, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotlandd. 9 Dec 1892, Plymouth, Devonshire, England (Age 52 years)   7. KENNEDY, James ,   b. 24 Oct 1842, St Croix Falls, Midlothian, Scotland St Croix Falls, Midlothian, Scotland
  Family ID	F1083	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	24 Jan 2022

  
  

• Notes

  Went to Australia about 1860. Kept wholesale liquor store on High Street. Edinburgh, Scotland. In 1868 the children from Silver Creek were travelling to school at Beechwrth or Hurdle Flat to receive their education In 1909 at the Silver Creek picnic on New Years Day a program of entertainment was arranged with a Recitation from the niece of Thomas and Jane, Annie Blackmore Janet Burns was born in Kilsyth Scotland in about 1809. It is believed that her parents were Robert Burns and Elizabeth Forrester. Her future husband, David Kennedy, who gave his occupation as a Mason, was born in Falkirk, in the County of Stirlingshire in Scotland about 1803, the 6th child in a family of 8 known children. According to the marriage record, No 50200 from the Parish of Falkirk in the County of Stirling David Kennedy married Janet Burns from the Parish of Kilsyth, on the 19 November 1830. David and Janet had 7 children David Robert Kennedy, born 1831, William Burns Kennedy, born 1833, John Kennedy. 9th November 1834, John Kennedy 23 December 1836, Janet Burns Kennedy born 1840 and Ann Gordon Lockhart Kennedy born 1841 and James Kennedy b 24 October 1842, both Ann and James were born in Edinburgh. Prior to leaving Scotland David kept a wholesale liquor store in High Street Edinburgh. (As told by Wendy Elizabeth Higgins) Leaving Liverpool David and Janet set sail on the ship “Athletae”, a sailing vessel of 1060 tonnes, carrying 409 assisted migrants, which left Birkenhead England on November 23, 1854 and arrived in Portland Bay, Australia in February 19, 1855 under the Captaincy of Mr. H Bradley. David Kennedy (Senior) as he later became known, was aged 40 years, his wife Janet Burns Kennedy was aged 44 years, when they embarked on their journey to Australia with four of their seven children David Robert Kennedy, born 1831, William Burns Kennedy, born 1833 Janet Burns Kennedy born 1840 and Ann Gordon Lockhart Kennedy born 1841. All of the children stated on the record they came "with parents". Accompanying them on their voyage were the ‘spouses to be’ of their eldest son David, and daughter Janet. Ellen Nelson Gillies later married David Kennedy and Janet Kennedy married Albert Wallace. Both Albert and Ellen registering on the passenger list that they came “with friends”. On the immigration record the family said that they were all Presbyterian and could read and write. They disembarked in Melbourne in February 1855 The Journey to Australia On Saturday 18, November 1854 passengers began boarding the “Athletae” at Liverpool for the journey to Australia. “Athletae”” was described as a “fine ship” with very “comfortable berths.’ On the following day, the riggers were on deck preparing the rigging ready for the ship to sail. On Tuesday 21 November a child was born, - the child, David Joseph, was the child of David Robert Kennedy and Ellen Nelson Gillies. The addition to the passenger list was described by a Thomas Dickson, a passenger on the “Athletae”, in his diary “ we have got another added to our number tonight by the berth of a child it is a son born about eight at night and the mother sat down to her tea about tow hours before so that was quick and soon over and the mother doing well….” The preacher who also buried those who died on the voyage baptized the child. (The Preacher also conducted divine service every Sunday and prayers each night following the ringing of the bells.) On November 23, 1854 two steam tugs pushed her away and at 5 am the “Athletae” sailed from Birkenhead. According to the records, as the ship farewelled the coast of Ireland most of the passengers became very seasick as the weather during the early part of the voyage was wet, snowing and very cold. As the winds rose the ship regularly received a battering with huge swells breaking over her bow. On those occasions it was all hands on deck for the bucketing of water, with the carpenters working feverishly to stop up the holes as chests began to float from the hold. Often the berths were so sodden in the fore part of the ship that beds were brought up on deck each day to air except when it was bitterly cold. One passenger described such conditions; “it was the cruellest sight I have ever seen”. During some very rough weather the “Athletae” lost its Foretop Gallant and Royal Mast, and once again the carpenters were set to work on repairs As the weather gradually improved and the passengers settled to the long journey ahead, but not without much discomfort and some difficult times. Passengers were divided into “Divisions” and by gender. Men and women spent the journey in separate quarters with a constable who was responsible for the good conduct of each Division. Sometimes fare winds would ensure the ship was running at nine miles per hour, although from time to time the wind dropped and the sea was as calm as a lake. There were days when the ship travelled only six miles in two whole days. In between fare winds and squalls the best the passengers could do to amuse themselves at a four miles per hour pace was play games, dance and sing. They passed their time participating in a number of activities such as the singing of Psalms which was conducted by the Preacher and enjoyed by all and often in the background was heard the familiar and rhythmic sound of the sailors singing their rendition of “Rob Roy McGregor” as they pumped the ship’s water. Some passengers played musical instruments including the clarinet, accordion and drums, and some sailors entertained with triangles, all for the passenger’s pleasure. In between musical pursuits passengers enjoyed the birdlife constantly circling the ship. There were many sightings of porpoises, dolphins and sperm whales. Both Tinkers and Albatross also flew around the ship and were regularly caught by the passengers and sailors. It seems that the killing of albatross for the feet was a pastime not to be missed, as was the taking of feathers for quill pens. “Athletae” passed the coast of Portugal and the first land sighted was Madeira on the “clearest morning ever seen.”, Madeira passed and on Wednesday 6, December 1854 the “Athletae” sailed passed the Canary Islands. Many ships passed “ Athletae” on her journey including “Redrock” sailing from Newport to Calles. Much later into the journey it was reported that on New Years Eve a ship the Clipper “Bourke Stamford” from Liverpool was sighted bound for the Bay of Bengal. On Monday 11 December the passengers received their first fresh water ration, after queuing all night to receive their share. Chests were also removed from the hold for those who wanted to obtain clean clothes.. Because the weather was warming up, stockings were put away as were shoes. Sleeping on deck became a habit until about 3am when passengers returned in the cool of the morning to their berths for the remainder of the night. Reports indicate that health and hygiene was maintained rigorously by a doctor who inspected the passengers regularly to ensure “they all had clean shirts on “Dirty shirts meant a sentence of bread and water for a week. Berths were regularly washed out and inspected by the Doctor. If fault was found the whole Division, was deprived of rations. Children then often went to bed crying with hunger. Many passengers challenged the Doctor about retaining the entire division meat because one or two had not cleaned berths properly, and noted that more often than not however the ration was under the required weight anyway. It was the Captain’s responsibility to speak to the passengers, and discipline the Doctor, Constable and Third Mate, hence the ration weight was rectified – even if only for a short while however. In the case of the “Athletae” it was reported that the Doctor “ was often worse for drink “ and probably had little notion of his responsibilities in ensuring adequate passenger rations. Some days later the passengers mutinied, deciding that the Doctor was not doing his duty and that they believed he was incapable of doing so. A petition was drawn up which outlined the need for more room for beds, more fresh water and improved ration arrangements. Punishment for laziness was severe. One passenger, a Duncan McMillan was punished: “ Having been suffering from a severe attack of lazy …insubordination as evinced by his determined shirking of his fair share of the work of the last two days and his obstinate inattention to the direction of the constable of his Division.” “ In order to cure his present disorder and to prevent the repetition of such complaint for the future I consider it advisable that he should take moderate exercise he will therefore during the next seven days receive every morning on application at the surgery Soap – Water and a brush with which he will carefully clean every part of each Water closet on deck both inside; the dose to be repeated in the evening – Wm Johnson Rowland Surgeon Superintendent. December 13 1854. On Tuesday 19 December the “Athletae” crossed the equator at or near St Pauls, a reef of rocks. Neptune boarded the ship in traditional style and asked about the health of the children, and the following day preparations for celebrations began. Shaving was the highlight and on the quarter deck, Neptune, the Captain and his family paraded to the tune of the Highland Bagpipes as the Baker was shaved first and after soaping him with Molasses and flour he was then hosed off. Sailors were shaved, people danced and sang and the line was crossed in the stiff breeze of the South East Trades. December 31st arrived and the passengers sang in the New Year without “drop of spirits” as the captain was under a threat of a fine of five hundred pounds if he sold liquor to passengers. Illicit liquor however for three shillings was available and as one passenger declared, “ nice drop of rum it is too”. Ships travelling to the UK were used to deliver return mail from passengers. As they passed a boat was lowered if it was safe and the passengers’ mail passed over by the Captain. Tuesday 9th January 1855 saw the half way mark of the journey with Quail landing on the Topsail yard, almost the size of a turtledove. At the same time all was not well with the ague and fever rife among the sailors. Often the female passengers were confined to the Quarter Deck until later in the evening then allowed to go below to their berth. This practice did nothing to improve the health of the women as the weather grew colder and damp. In addition it was not unusual for the crew not to light fires and the passengers were forced to warm themselves in the Galley if they were able. On Wednesday 19 February the ship sighted a very ‘high coast and many hills” It was the coast of Australia, and 88 days since the “Athletae” had left Liverpool. A Doctor boarded as the ship docked in order to check the health of the passengers. Some had “ship fever” and were quarantined. Information provided to the passengers suggested that the land ahead was both inhospitable, with very harsh living conditions. The forthcoming land was described as “everything dear, low wages and very little prospects for work, and plenty of sharks.” On arrival at Portland fire was raging on land and many of the passengers were given orders to report to Port Fairy for work. Following the docking of the ship the ship’s Captain and the Doctor had charges brought against them and on Wednesday 21 February, the sailors stopped work. Mounted police with guns took away the Captain and the women gave evidence on board about their ill treatment when unwell, the rations being taken away and the children’s hunger. At the conclusion of the voyage many were unwell, disillusioned and wondering what was ahead of them. Captain Henry Arthur Bradley however was subsequently reported by the Portland newspaper as a disgrace. Arrival in Australia – Emerald Hill On arrival in Australia David Kennedy (Senior) and his family settled in Emerald Hill. (Later known as South Melbourne) .The family remained in Melbourne until later in 1856 when they moved on to the Beechworth goldfields. Whilst living at Emerald Hill, their son David Kennedy married Helen “ Ellen” Nelson Gillies, and daughter Janet Kennedy married Albert Wallace. At the time of marriage David Kennedy was about 22 years, a bachelor and Cabinet Maker/Joiner by trade. Ellen "Helen" Gillies was about 19 years, a spinster from Edinburgh Scotland and indicated on the passenger records that she was a “Domestic”. David and Ellen were married on New Years Day 1856 at St Peters Church of England Eastern Hill, Melbourne according to the rites of the Church of England by the Rev John Barbour in the presence of David Kennedy's sister Janet Burns Wallace (Kennedy) and Albert Wallace her husband. (Janet Burns Kennedy married Albert Wallace on the same day in the same church). David & Ellen declared that they were members of the Free Church of Scotland and their marriage record indicates Ellen’s father as Adam Gillies was a Cordwainer (a shoemaker) and her mother Mary Nelson. [This conflicts with later information on her death certificate which indicates her father as Peter Gillies, profession unknown, and her mother as Jane Nelson.] Ellen signed the marriage record with a cross indicating that she could neither read or write. In 1856, just prior to leaving Emerald Hill David and Ellen had their second child Robert Nelson Gillies Kennedy who was born on 26 July. Beechworth and the Goldfields It was later in 1856 that the Kennedy families, senior and Junior, and Wallace family moved on to the goldfields of Beechworth in Northern Victoria. They were in fact were part of the pioneer migration to the gold rushes in Victoria in the 1850’s. Rate Records of 1856 indicate that they lived opposite the Newtown Bridge owning "a building to the value of 10 shillings. Gold was first discovered in Spring Creek (later known as Beechworth) in 1852 and the area became known as the Ovens Goldfields. About that time the population in the Spring Creek district grew from a small number of pastoralists to 15000 immigrants from USA, Canada and Scotland, and some Chinese. All came to seek their fortune in a very inhospitable environment. In addition to mining as pioneers of the Beechworth district the family along with their countrymen built many of the stone buildings and bridges in the district, many of which remain today and reminders of the Stonemasons skills and as a monument to their commitment to a life in a new country. As the families arrived, they erected either a tent or a slab hut along the miner’s race, the original site of the Spring Creek diggings. At that time, it was reported that holes had been dug to fifty feet in depth and sluicing was carried on in the bed of the river. According to Ros Shennan in her book “Silver Threads and Golden Needles” …it was the middle of Winter and water was a problem….Along the creek for about a quarter of a mile to the right, a Mr. Kennedy had first hole on the flat, and the area was subsequently known as “Kennedy’s Flat”. It is suggested that this claim belonged to my third great grandfather David Kennedy who was apparently successful for it was reported in the "Constitution" that the popular cry at Silver Creek was " forward to Kennedy's claim". According to reports at that time Silver Creek was a frenzy of activity. It was also noted that ‘Kennedy’s claim” later belonged to his son, David Robert Kennedy and later his grandchild David Joseph Kennedy. Rate records indicate that the family lived within close proximity from each other for many years. 702 1856 Albert Wallace Owner. Spring creek. Opp Newtown bridge. Sept – 10 Shillings. Building 704 1856 David Kennedy Owner. As Above. Paid 5 Shillings 696 1859-60 Albert Wallace Government land- Spring Creek. Owner - Building 8 Shillings, 4 Shillings, 4 Shillings. 698 1859-60 David Kennedy Government land. Building burnt down 699 1859-60 D Kennedy Senior Government land. Building. July 1860 674 1860-61 D Kennedy Senior Spring Creek near One Mile Road. Building. Burnt down 675 1860-61 D Kennedy Junior Spring Creek near One Mile Road. Building. Burnt down 676 1860-61 Albert Wallace Spring Creek near One Mile Road. Building 1861-62 D Kennedy Senior Hut. 12x111/2. Slab and Bark. 1861-62 D Kennedy Junior Slab and Paling roof. House. 13x151/2. Annihilated by fire. 559 1863 D Kennedy Senior Church Street – Owner – Bellett. Land and Building 1 Pound 10 Shillings 643 1862-63 D Kennedy Junior Hut. 20x10.Slab and Bark. Across Spring Creek on government land. Burnt down. 646 1862-63 Albert Wallace Hut. Slab and Bark. 12x11.6. Removed 1866. 647 1862-63 Albert Wallace Hut. 16x12.6 632 1864 D Kennedy Senior 12x11.6. Burnt down 633 1864 Albert Wallace Spring Creek. 116x12.6 628 1865 William Kennedy Spring Creek. Removed 629 1865 Mrs. Kennedy Senior Slab and Bark. Burnt down 1872 The family lived in a "weatherboard house" in Spring Creek next door to Albert and Jane Wallace (Kennedy), David's sister and near Janet Kennedy (Burns) senior who at that stage was the widow of David senior. Unfortunately David Kennedy [Senior] was admitted to the Yarra Bend Lunatic Asylum in June 1864 suffering from mental illness. A Dr Thomas Dick the resident medical Officer in his Deposition following the inquest into David’s death in April 1865 said that David Kennedy had been admitted suffering from “ mania”. According to the Inquisition Report he had become “paralysed and experienced several convulsive seizures”. It seemed he was physically in “reasonable condition” and died on 5 April, 1865 aged 60 years from “ a disease of the brain” Diseases of old age such as Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia were unheard of at that time and no clinical diagnosis was made other that a “disease of the brain” He is buried in the Asylum cemetery which now lies beneath the Eastern Freeway in Melbourne. Victoria. The deposition of an Attendant noted, “his sister was with him two days before he died”. (His sister was named as Janet Burns wife of William Burns. It is now known that Janet was the daughter of his brother John Eddie Kennedy. John had migrated to Canada but his daughter Janet had married a William Burns and migrated to live in Williamstown in Victoria Australia. Following the death of her husband in 1865 Janet Kennedy his wife remained in Beechworth near her family living in what was described as a "slab house" Records indicate that she died of 'old age" at 84 years on October 8, 1888, at her home in Kerford Street Beechworth. She was buried in the Presbyterian Section of the Beechworth Cemetery, by the Rev Henry Swan. The two other children of David and Janet Kennedy grew up in Beechworth. Their son William Kennedy remained a bachelor and lived in Beechworth until his death. He died of Asthma in the Ovens and District Hospital aged 52 years on the 9 August 1885. He is buried in the Presbyterian section of the Beechworth cemetery Ann Gordon Lockhart Kennedy at this stage cannot be located. There is a reference to her on her mother Janet’s death certificate as the youngest living child aged 42 years at the time of her mother’s death. David Kennedy, a mason, travelled to Australia on the Athletae in 1855. He was 40 years old and was accompanied by his wife Janet and four children, David, William, Anne and Janet. [Source: PRO Fiche Assisted Migrants No] 1841 Scottish Census for Edinburgh, St Andrew-Midlothian, Enumeration District: 40, Civil Parish: St Cuthbert's Ecclesiastical Parish, Address: 3 James Place North: Surname First name(s) Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks KENNEDY David M 25 Labourer Outside Census County (1841) KENNEDY Janet F 25 Green Grocer Outside Census County (1841) KENNEDY David Jnr M 9 Outside Census County (1841) KENNEDY William M 7 Outside Census County (1841) KENNEDY John M 4 Outside Census County (1841) KENNEDY Janet F 2 Outside Census County (1841) KENNEDY Jane F 8m Outside Census County (1841) . [Source: Annette on Talking Scot, UK 1841 Census, Piece: SCT1841/685, Folio: 142 Page: 5 ]

  
  

• Sources

  [S56] THe Kennedy Family Tree Project.