Richard Kenny was a leading Friend of Pennsville MM and its first men's MM Clerk.
Kenny was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, c. 1778. His parents were Daniel Kenny (1742-1801) and Phebe James (died 1820). Because his father was not a Friend, Richard was not a birthright member. His obituary in The Friend stated "This dear Friend was not born a member of our religious Society, but in early life became convinced of its doctrines and testimonies, and through the purifying operation of Divine grace, was enabled to take up the cross, and walk consistent with his profession in his intercourse with his fellow man, maintaining a correct example of honesty, uprightness and punctuality in all his dealings." His mother was a member at Uwchlan Meeting in Lionville. in 1799, he married (1) Mary Mechem (daughter of John & Sarah Mechem of Pikeland Meeting); they had a daughter Jane around 1800, and Mary died in 1806.
Richard lived in Ohio briefly during the years 1805 and 1809. He purchased land in Belmont County in 1805, but he rented this land to his brother-in-law George Mechem. Kenny returned to Philadelphia YM in 1809.
Kenny returned to Ohio with his daughter Jane in 1821. He had purchased additional land in Monroe County, Ohio, in 1815. While a member at Stillwater, Kenny was appointed to a committee to help Deerfield PM deal with a difficult situation (Stillwater MM 7/26/1823). He was then appointed Assistant Clerk at Stillwater, serving 1824-1826. He was appointed an overseer at Stillwater in 1825.
Kenny moved to Deerfield Meeting (Morgan County, Ohio) around 1826. When Deerfield became a MM in 1827, Kenny was appointed the first men's MM Clerk. He served for two years in addition to serving as an overseer from 1828 to 1829 and as membership recorder 1827-1829.
Kenny married (2) Susanna Harris in the Mount Pleasant Meeting House in 1829. Kenny's membership was briefly at Short Creek and then at Stillwater, but he returned to Pennsville in 1830 and lived there the remainder of his life except for a brief absence in 1839-1840. He held no offices in Deerfield/Pennsville MM after his return, though his obituary stated "While health permitted, he was diligent and seasonable in the attendance of all our religious meetings, and while there, his solid weighty deportment gave evidence, that he was engaged in worshipping his Divine Master. In our meetings for discipline, he was engaged to warn Friends to watch against drowsiness, believing it to be a temptation of the evil one. Through all the overturnings that have been permitted to come to our Society, his faith remained unshaken in its ancient doctrines and testimonies, gaining strength from beholding the deplorable effects of a departure therefrom. He expressed his belief that if Friends would keep near to the Divine witness in their hearts, they would be preserved in purity and simplicity, and from following after the world’s wisdom and notions, and from trampling under foot the hedge thrown around us by our Holy Head, as the external bonds of gospel fellowship. Unassuming in his manners, simple and plain in language and attire, and economical in his domestic concerns, though his income was small, yet he was always ready to hand forth liberally for the uses of the Society, to aid in all its benevolent concerns, and for the relief of suffering poor of all classes and situations."
Kenny died in his residence in Pennsville on 3/24/1855. His obituary states "Through obedience to his Divine Master, he was favoured to feel a blessed reward of peace, which he often expressed, and appeared to be ready, waiting his time to be called hence. A few days before his death, he told his wife (whose health was very feeble) that he should be first taken, and that the time was near at hand. At that time he was able to sit up and converse with Friends, who called to see them, and no important change was perceptible in his health. On the evening of his death, he gave directions to a friend to make certain preparations, as he would soon pass away. About twenty minutes before he died, he rose up in bed, took a little refreshment and a drink of water, and before he laid down, asked the friend who was with him, if he observed a change in his speech, who replied he had, and asked the cause; he answered, the change is about to take place; and then, in a very solemn, impressive manner, said, 'The prospect before me is very comfortable;' he then laid down again, and passed away so quietly, that those present thought he was going to sleep."
Sources: The Friend, 4/1855; EAQG 4:233, 415, 1063; Stillwater, Deerfield, and Pennsville MM minutes; correspondence with James Kenny, a relative (2012). |
