Author Topic: British Surgeon in Revolutionary America  (Read 951 times)

Offline Maybole1599

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British Surgeon in Revolutionary America
« on: Wednesday 02 May 12 18:29 BST (UK) »
Hi

I am new to RootsChat.com.

My ancestor Benjamin Kennedy was a British surgeon who practised inoculation in Maryland in the 1770s.  He was originally from Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. 

He brought his wife Damaris and young son Rann over to America with him sometime before the Revolution began.  I have reason to believe he was in favour of the revolution at first but eventually turned Loyalist (but have no evidence).  He died in New York in 1781 or 1782 at the hands of vengeful American patriots, I have heard (but have no evidence).

He was probably working at the Hospital in New York,  as I have a letter from the head of that hospital to his widow.  She had fled back to England by that time.

If anyone has any leads about Benjamin and Damaris, or where I might look for more information, I would be most grateful.

Regards,

Tim

Offline Genealiza

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Re: British Surgeon in Revolutionary America
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 03 May 12 14:13 BST (UK) »
Here is a statement giving Damaris permission to leave Elizabeth Town for NYC, thence to sail to Britain.

Archives of Maryland

http://aomol.net/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/000001/000043/html/am43--304.html


Here's an entry for Benjamin:

http://aomol.net/000001/000011/html/am11--326.html

Offline jorose

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Re: British Surgeon in Revolutionary America
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 03 May 12 16:17 BST (UK) »
A couple more from 1777 - could it be his death was earlier than you thought?
http://aomol.net/000001/000016/html/am16--241.html
Quote
Doctr Kennedy late of this Town is now with the Enemy in New York

http://aomol.net/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/000001/000016/html/am16--289.html
 
Quote
Mrs Danl Kennedy Admr of Benj. Kennedy
(as in "adminstrator of estate"?)
Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline Maybole1599

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Re: British Surgeon in Revolutionary America
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 03 May 12 21:10 BST (UK) »
Hi

Thank you so much,  I have trawled various documentation of the Maryland Revolutionary authorities over half a decade,  but clearly I missed these key snippets.

My family and I are truly grateful for this new information .

Thanks again!

Tim Kennedy


Offline Genealiza

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Re: British Surgeon in Revolutionary America
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 03 May 12 21:41 BST (UK) »
If you have time and patience, you might try looking through the Maryland Wills Index on www.familysearch.org.  They aren't indexed, and I don't know whether they are chronological.  Since Baltimore is mentioned in the Maryland Archives, you might try looking there first.