The Family History of Roderick Kennedy, Bohuntin, written by himself in 1893 (This appears in a notebook still in the possession of some of his relatives.)
My grandfather Alexander Kennedy, Alasdair Mac Aonghais mhic Ruairidh, was born at Errachd. His father was, after leaving Errachd, for many years a co-tenant of the farm of Moy on Lochiel's estate which was then possessed by 12 tenants in common, of whom Aonghas MacRuairidh was one. They were evicted by Lochiel in the beginning of the 19th century to makeroom to a South Country man, Hood. Then my grandfather Alexander Kennedy went to Abertarffwhere he was married and had two sons Peter and Donald. Peter was a Pensioner. He was one ofthose who joined the Gordon Highlanders along with Colonel John Cameron of Fassifern when he entered the army.
Peter came home on his pension; he married a Miss Mackay in Glenurquhart with issue, an aunt of Mr William Mackay, presently a solicitor in Inverness. After their marriage they resided for some time in Glenurquhart and then removed to Morayshire, where after many years residence there he died. Peter's family were Mary, Duncan, Alexander and Isabella. Except the latter, they are still married in Morayshire and have large families.
My Uncle Donald was a weaver to trade.He was married with issue. He went to America about the year 1830, where he got on well and where he died in 1868. His family consisted of seven sons and one daughter.
One of the sons and the daughter as well as the parents died in America and the remaining six sons are still alive inthe County of Glengarry in Canada.
My grandfather was married a second time to Mary Kennedy daughter of Ewen Kennedy tenant at Auchterawe near Fort Augustus. Auchterawe was then occupied by small tenants; it was what they call now-a-days a Club Farm. My grandfather himself became a co-tenant of Auchteraweand continued as such until the farm was given to one farmer Archibald Clark. Those of the tenants who were too old to emigrate into some of the colonies remained as cottars at Auchterawe, not under the proprietor, Fraser of Abertarff, but under the farmer Clark. Among whom was my grandfather.
Many of the descendants of those tenants are still to be met with about Fort Augustus, and a few of them are still at Auchterawe.
My grandfather had issue by his 2nd marriage viz. Ewen, Christina and John. Ewen was shepherd on the farm of Auchterawe for a good many years. He married Catherine daughter of Ewen Gillies there, and had four of a family when he emigrated to Australia in 1836. Three of his family died of fever during the voyage and only one of them, Sarah, lived to reach the colony.
However Ewen got on well in Australia. He had 9 of a family after going over but only five of them survived him. He made a little fortune. When he died in 1886 at the advanced age of 88 years, he left a good deal of money and as I am informed by his granddaughter Miss AgnesMacDonell, the very pretty estate of Greenfield on the Manning River in New South Wales to be divided among his surviving children. His wife died a few years before him.
My grandfather stayed at Auchterawe as long as he lived. He and my grandmother Mairi Nion Eobhain mhic Iain died and their remains are buried in Auchterawe Churchyard, Cill Mo Lomag.
I may mention here that my aunt Christina who died unmarried at Auchterawe in 1876 is buriedin Auchterawe along with her father and mother.
And I will leave John my own father last although he was by no means least. I admit that he had no wealth, but he had what was better: thorough education, with sound judgement and sense.
John was born at Auchterawe on the 10th June, 1808. He was educated at Fort Augustus. After finishing his education, he was for some years schoolmaster in Glengarry where he married in 1831, Sarah, 6th daughter of Allan mor McGruer, Monerigy with issue Allan, Alexander, Sarah,Ewen, Ewen, Mary, Allan, Grace.
Now I will give the parents and family with the date of their births and the names of the places where they were born etc:
John Kennedy born at Auchterawe on 10th of June 1808 and he died at Bohuntin on 21st June 1890.
Sarah McGruer was born at Monerigy on the 14th August 1810 and she died at Bohuntin on 13th March 1891. Both of them are buried in the Churchyard of Kilchyrile. (Cillie Choiril)
The following is a list of their family in their order:
1. Allan born at Fachimard 28th March 1832
2. Alexander born at Achluachrach, Glengarry 26th February 1834
3. Sarah was born at Auchterawe on 24th Nov 1836
4. Mary was born at Fachimard on 16th June 1838 and she died at the Croft Glencoe on20/11/1838
5. Roderick was born at the Croft Glencoe on 27/10/1839
6. Margaret was born at Brackletter, Lochaber on 26/11/1841
7. Aeneas was born at Brackletter, Lochaber on 27/12/1843 and he died at Bohuntin on3/12/1848 and is buried in Kilchyrile
8. Ewen was born at Brackletter on 13/3/1846 and he died at Bohuntin on 13/12/1846 and he isburied in the Churchyard of Kilchyrile
9. Ewen was born at Bohuntin on 15/9/1847
(The next entries were in pencil and were done by Ewen Kennedy)
10. Mary Kennedy born at Bohuntin on 26/9/1849
11. Allan Kennedy junior born at Bohuntin on 12/9/1852
12. Grace Kennedy born at Bohuntin on 8/10/1854
Alexander Kennedy died at Bohuntin on 26/1/1894
Roderick Kennedy died at Bohuntin on 15/6/1894
Margaret Kennedy died at Bohuntin on 31/3/1898
Grace Kennedy died at Bohuntin on 21/10/1855
Mary Kennedy died in Inverness on 3/5/1893
Allan Kennedy senior died in Australia in 1910 and he is buried there
Mary Kennedy (senior) is buried in Glencoe
My father and mother and seven of their family are buried in Killichurril, Lochaber, namely:
Aeneas, Ewen senior, Grace, Alexander, Roderick, Margaret and Mary junior. Mary's remains were taken from Inverness and buried in Killichurril. Three of the family are alive at the time of writing this, namely Sarah, Ewen junior and Allan. We are advanced in years and naturally cannot expect to live much longer.
The first portion of this short history was written by my late brother R. Kennedy, and all the pencil work written by me Ewen Kennedy on 17th January 1891. In fact I am very unwell writing this.My father and mother and all those of their family that are dead died fortified by the Rites of the Holy Catholic Church.
May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed Rest in Peace.
