Patrick Kennedy (1823–1858) 1

Patrick Kennedy (1823–1858)

Patrick KennedyBorn c. 1823

Dunganstown, County Wexford, Ireland

Died November 22, 1858 (aged 34–35)East Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Cause of death cholera

Resting place Cambridge, Massachusetts

Nationality Irish

Religion Roman Catholic

Spouse Bridget Murphy Kennedy (1849)

Children Mary L. (1851–1926)Joanna L. (1852–1926)John (1854–1855)Margaret M. (1855–1929)Patrick Joseph (1858–1929)

Parents James Kennedy and Maria Kennedy

Relatives Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., grandsonJohn F. Kennedy, great-grandson

Patrick Kennedy (c. 1823 – November 22, 1858) was the father of P. J. Kennedy and great-grandfather to John F.Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States. He was born in Dunganstown, County Wexford, Ireland, andemigrated to the United States, settling in East Boston, Massachusetts.

Early lifePatrick Kennedy was a son of a farmer James Kennedy (c. 1770 – c. 1835) and his wife Maria (c. 1779 – February16, 1835). James Kennedy was born in Dunganstown (Whitechurch, New Ross, County Wexford) in southernIreland to John Kennedy (1738–1803) and Bridget Shallow (1744–1774).[1] He inherited a small farm from hisfather, John Kennedy, during the Penal Law times in Ireland. Patrick had three siblings:• Mary Kennedy, who married James Molloy[1] ;• John Kennedy (1804–1864), who married Mary K. Gunnip (1816–1881) and was a local farmer[1] ;• James Kennedy (1816–1881), who married Catherine Colfer and was also a local farmer[1] .

AdulthoodBy the time Patrick reached adulthood, both his parents were apparently dead and the family homestead wascontrolled by his older brother John Kennedy, more than a dozen years Patrick's senior, who was already marriedand the father of four children. The eldest son normally inherited whatever claims existed to the family's farm.Because of the life-threatening scarcity of food and resources, the rest of the children, such as third son PatrickKennedy, usually were expected to leave for the New World.Patrick's life as a farmer in Dunganstown consisted mainly of cutting and tying bundles of grain by hand, andplanting and tilling potatoes for his family's consumption. This routine varied only when he ventured into the nearesttown, New Ross, with supplies of barley, and when the family attended mass about a mile away.

Patrick Kennedy (1823–1858) 2

At the age of 26, Kennedy decided to leave Ireland. It is assumed this was for reasons of starvation related to theIrish Famine, illness, or because he knew that a third-born son had virtually no hope of running his family's farm. Hisgood friend at Cherry Bros. Brewery in New Ross, Patrick Barron, who taught Kennedy the skills of coopering, hadcome to that conclusion months earlier and left for America. In October 1848, in love with Barron's cousin BridgetMurphy and with a plan to wed, Patrick Kennedy decided to follow.[2]

Patrick Kennedy arrived in Boston on April 22, 1849, having sailed from Liverpool, England on the WashingtonIrving, a substantial packet ship from the East Boston yard of Donald McKay.[3] Patrick Barron helped settle himinto Boston life and organised his coopering job on Noddle's Island in east Boston. Not long after, his fiancéeBridget made her way to Boston and six months later they were married, on September 26, 1849 in the HolyRedeemer Church by Father John Williams, who later became Boston's Roman Catholic Archbishop.[4]

ChildrenThe Kennedys had five children as follows:

Name Birth Death Notes

Mary L. Kennedy August 6, 1851 March 7, 1926 Married on January 1, 1883 to Lawrence M. Kane; had issue.

Joanna L. Kennedy November 27, 1852 February 23, 1926 Married on September 22, 1872 to Humphrey Charles Mahoney; had issue.

John Kennedy January 4, 1854 September 24, 1855

Margaret M. Kennedy July 18, 1855 April 2, 1929 Married on February 21, 1882 to John Caulfield; had issue.

Patrick J. Kennedy January 14, 1858 May 18, 1929 Married on November 23, 1887 to Mary Augusta Hickey; had issue.

The arrival of their fifth child was a particularly happy occasion after the death of John. However that same yearthirty five year old Kennedy succumbed to the highly infectious cholera that infested East Boston, and died onNovember 22, 1858–105 years to the day before his great-grandson John F. Kennedy would be assassinated.Bridget Kennedy later went on to buy a stationery and notions store in east Boston where she had worked. Thebusiness took off and expanded into a grocery and liquor store, which helped pave the way for the success of her sonP. J. Kennedy.The story of Patrick Kennedy has become probably the most famous of any of Ireland's millions of emigrants, due tothe quick success of his children and grandchildren in American society and ultimately his great-grandson John F.Kennedy's election as the first Irish-American Catholic President (the only Roman Catholic to date). In June 1963,John F. Kennedy made a state visit to Ireland, in which he visited Dunganstown and New Ross in County Wexfordin what was seen as a personal tribute to his ancestry.

ReferencesNotes[1] (http:/ / www. touringireland. net/ kennedy_homestead. htm)[2] Maier, Thomas (2003). The Kennedys: America's Emerald Kings (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=yCmmPID9HLQC& pg=PA32&

lpg=PA32& dq=Patrick+ Kennedy+ marry+ Bridget+ Ireland& source=web& ots=jg5udlfQO7& sig=jSe7kBE73wOJBhJcARfg46s8310&hl=en& sa=X& oi=book_result& resnum=6& ct=result#PPA31,M1). Basic Books. pp. 31–32. ISBN 9780465043170. . Retrieved December21, 2008.

[3] Laxton, Edward The Famine Ships The Irish Exodus to America 1846-51 London Bloomsbury 1997 p144 ISBN 0747535000[4] Collier, P. and D. Horowitz (1984). The Kennedys - An American Drama.

Sources• "Kennedy" (http:/ / politicalgraveyard. com/ bio/ kennedy7. html). Political Graveyard. Retrieved December 21,

2008.

Article Sources and Contributors 3

Article Sources and ContributorsPatrick Kennedy (1823–1858)  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=378294416  Contributors: Academic Challenger, Adnghiem501, AgarwalSumeet, Andyjsmith, Angr, Ardfern,AstroZombieDC, Atari 667, Avdoyle80, Ben-w, Beyond My Ken, Billdescoteaux, BrainyBroad, BrownHairedGirl, C.Fred, CanisRufus, Caponer, Chrisn4255, Colipon, Connormah, Corpx,Cptnono, Crispness, D6, Daniel Quinlan, Daphoenyx, Delux, Docu, Domer48, Dryazan, ERcheck, EamonnPKeane, FeanorStar7, Fordmadoxfraud, Frecklefaerie, G.-M. Cupertino, Gang14,Garion96, Girlwithgreeneyes, Goodralph, Guat6, Harrisonlatour, Harro5, Higgyb, Hmains, Hottentot, I love wiki, IAC-62, Itsmejudith, J JMesserly, JasonBux, Jeepday, Joe Egan, Joseph Solis inAustralia, Jrssr5, Jun Nijo, Ken Gallager, Kernel Saunters, Kvaks, MadMax120, Matchups, MichiganCharms, Mifter, Millbanks, Nib-dawg, O'Donoghue, Ozzy1647GTL, Prolog, Rjwilmsi, Rl,SE7, Scwlong, Shabeki, Slaniel, Someone else, Spangineer, Swampyank, Tad Lincoln, Template namespace initialisation script, Thesomeone987, Tom, TonyTheTiger, Twas Now, Unnyn, 82anonymous edits

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