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KENNEDY FAMILY- GLENCOE TO AUSTRALIA 1840'S. KEPPOCH/KILMONIVAIG.

For some years now, I've sought information on my ancestors, Duncan & Mary KENNEDY (nee BUTTER ; likely the same Mary Butter, born 1787, who was the daughter of Archibald Butter & Peggy Cameron; Peggy was from Kilmallie it appears.), who were married in Keppoch, 6th February, 1808, with the marriage recorded in the Parish records of Kilmonivaig.  I have the extract from the wedding register and Duncan was a fisherman by profession. Their son JOHN KENNEDY, who gave his hometown as GLENCOE, ARGLYLESHIRE, migrated to Australia in the 1840's. From John onward, our history is documented. It is the original ancestors whose details evade me. I know they spoke Gaelic, not surprisingly, and that John married a young widow, Margaret Drane, ( maiden name McPhee, also of GLENCOE). They met and wed in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on 25th April, 1849. Did he know her from Scotland perhaps? So if anyone is descended from Duncan & Mary, please let me know, if you wish to assist me. The only additional info is that the Kennedys have traditionally been non-drinkers, protestants and quite conservative. John worked as an overseer on a sheep farm, which may indicate some prior knowledge of shepherding in Scotland.  His wife, Margaret, was the first person to discover gold in Bendigo, in September 1851. She never left me a nugget though. John Kennedy died in 1883 and is buried in Stawell, Victoria. Margaret died in 1905 and is buried in Buangor, Victoria. One of John & Margaret's sons, Duncan Donald KENNEDY, was a police constable in Victoria, between about 1886-1918, when he died. Family legend has it that he made return trips to England ( Scotland?) with prisoners. Perhaps he went home and saw the clan when there? Other children of theirs wed and bred in Victoria. One son, William Kennedy,born 1857, became a Vet, ( " horse doctor ") and attained notoriety in the St. Arnaud area, when, in 1915, he stood trial in the Supreme Court, on a charge of behaving indecently with a young female, Violet Reyne, based on him being observed out in the bush with the girl. He gave a plausible account and he was acquitted. He lived at that time in the Rostron area near St. Arnaud and later in Merbein. His wife was named Jessie, a woman whom William wed " late in life" according to an elderly Kennedy source. Jessie was a local from St. Arnaud area, with another local, Mrs. Catherine McKay, referring to Jessie as her aunt. Nothing is known of where he died and is buried. I'll await any information on him please. Another son, Robert Kennedy, worked for the Victorian Railways, as did his son, Kenneth John Kennedy and Ken's son, ( my dad), Robert ( Bob) Kennedy. The family has had strong links to Stawell and for a time to Warracknabeal, Victoria. If anyone can fill in any gaps, please, especially re the ancient Scottish ancestors, I'd be grateful. Kind regards from Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Peter Kennedy.

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