Patrick Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Patrick Kennedy 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, and emigrated to the United States
, settling in East Boston, Massachusetts.
, County Wexford
) in southern Ireland
to John Kennedy (1738–1803) and Bridget Shallow (1744–1774). He inherited a small farm from his father, John Kennedy, during the Penal Law
times in Ireland
. Patrick had three siblings:
Patrick's life as a farmer in Dunganstown consisted mainly of cutting and tying bundles of grain by hand, and planting and tilling potatoes for his family's consumption. This routine varied only when he ventured into the nearest town, New Ross
, with supplies of barley, and when the family attended mass about a mile away.
At the age of 26, Kennedy decided to leave Ireland. It is assumed this was for reasons of starvation related to the Irish Famine, illness, or because he knew that a third-born son had virtually no hope of running his family's farm. His good friend at Cherry Bros. Brewery in New Ross, Patrick Barron, who taught Kennedy the skills of coopering, had come to that conclusion months earlier and left for America. In October 1848, in love with Barron's cousin Bridget Murphy and with a plan to wed, Patrick Kennedy decided to follow.
Patrick Kennedy arrived in Boston on April 22, 1849, having sailed from Liverpool, England on the Washington Irving, a substantial packet ship from the East Boston yard of Donald McKay
. Patrick Barron helped settle him into Boston life and organised his coopering job on Noddle's Island
in east Boston. Not long after, his fiancée Bridget made her way to Boston and six months later they were married, on September 26, 1849 in the Holy Redeemer Church by Father John Williams, who later became Boston's Roman Catholic Archbishop.
The arrival of their fifth child was a particularly happy occasion after the death of John. However that same year thirty five year old Kennedy succumbed to the highly infectious cholera
that infested East Boston, and died on November 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. The business took off and expanded into a grocery and liquor store, which helped pave the way for the success of her son P. J. Kennedy
.
The story of Patrick Kennedy has become probably the most famous of any of Ireland's millions of emigrants, due to the 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 Wexford
in what was seen as a personal tribute to his ancestry.
P. J. Kennedy
Patrick Joseph Kennedy was an American politician. He was the father of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., and paternal grandfather to United States President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Senator Edward M. Kennedy.-Early life:P.J...
and great-grandfather to John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, the 35th President of the United States. He was born in Dunganstown, County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
, Ireland, and emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, settling in East Boston, Massachusetts.
Early life
Patrick Kennedy was a son of a farmer, James Kennedy (c. 1770 – c. 1835) and his wife Maria (c. 1779 – February 16, 1835). James Kennedy was born in Dunganstown (Whitechurch, New RossNew Ross
New Ross is a town located in southwest County Wexford, in the southeast of Ireland. In 2006 it had a population of 7,709 people, making it the third largest town in the county after Wexford and Enniscorthy.-History:...
, County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
) in southern Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
to John Kennedy (1738–1803) and Bridget Shallow (1744–1774). He inherited a small farm from his father, John Kennedy, during the Penal Law
Penal Laws (Ireland)
The term Penal Laws in Ireland were a series of laws imposed under English and later British rule that sought to discriminate against Roman Catholics and Protestant dissenters in favour of members of the established Church of Ireland....
times in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Patrick had three siblings:
- Mary Kennedy, who married James Molloy;
- John Kennedy (1804–1864), who married Mary K. Gunnip (1816–1881) and was a local farmer;
- James Kennedy (1816–1881), who married Catherine Colfer and was also a local farmer.
Adulthood
By the time Patrick reached adulthood, both his parents were apparently dead and the family homestead was controlled by his older brother John Kennedy, more than a dozen years Patrick's senior, who was already married and 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 Patrick Kennedy, 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, and planting and tilling potatoes for his family's consumption. This routine varied only when he ventured into the nearest town, New Ross
New Ross
New Ross is a town located in southwest County Wexford, in the southeast of Ireland. In 2006 it had a population of 7,709 people, making it the third largest town in the county after Wexford and Enniscorthy.-History:...
, with supplies of barley, and when the family attended mass about a mile away.
At the age of 26, Kennedy decided to leave Ireland. It is assumed this was for reasons of starvation related to the Irish Famine, illness, or because he knew that a third-born son had virtually no hope of running his family's farm. His good friend at Cherry Bros. Brewery in New Ross, Patrick Barron, who taught Kennedy the skills of coopering, had come to that conclusion months earlier and left for America. In October 1848, in love with Barron's cousin Bridget Murphy and with a plan to wed, Patrick Kennedy decided to follow.
Patrick Kennedy arrived in Boston on April 22, 1849, having sailed from Liverpool, England on the Washington Irving, a substantial packet ship from the East Boston yard of Donald McKay
Donald McKay
Donald McKay was a Canadian-born American designer and builder of sailing ships.He was born in Jordan Falls, Shelburne County on Nova Scotia's South Shore. In 1826 he moved to New York, working for shipbuilders Brown & Bell and Isaac Webb...
. Patrick Barron helped settle him into Boston life and organised his coopering job on Noddle's Island
Noddle's Island
Noddle's Island is one of Boston Harbor Islands off East Boston, Massachusetts. In the 1940s the strait separating Noddle's Island from East Boston was filled, thereby connecting the island to Logan International Airport on the mainland.-History:...
in east Boston. Not long after, his fiancée Bridget made her way to Boston and six months later they were married, on September 26, 1849 in the Holy Redeemer Church by Father John Williams, who later became Boston's Roman Catholic Archbishop.
Children
The 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 year thirty five year old Kennedy succumbed to the highly infectious cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
that infested East Boston, and died on November 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. The business took off and expanded into a grocery and liquor store, which helped pave the way for the success of her son P. J. Kennedy
P. J. Kennedy
Patrick Joseph Kennedy was an American politician. He was the father of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., and paternal grandfather to United States President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Senator Edward M. Kennedy.-Early life:P.J...
.
The story of Patrick Kennedy has become probably the most famous of any of Ireland's millions of emigrants, due to the quick success of his children and grandchildren in American society and ultimately his great-grandson John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
'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
New Ross
New Ross is a town located in southwest County Wexford, in the southeast of Ireland. In 2006 it had a population of 7,709 people, making it the third largest town in the county after Wexford and Enniscorthy.-History:...
in County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
in what was seen as a personal tribute to his ancestry.