William Kennedy copybook

William Kennedy was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 26, 1801 to Sarah Prinier (1780-1842) and James Kennedy (1780-1831). He became a ship's captain in 1820 at the age of 19 and was engaged in maritime trade for many years. Kennedy captained ships such as the Wanderer and El Dorado, who frequently sailed to the bustling port town of Veracruz, on the Gulf of Mexico, and island destinations along their way to the East Coast. In 1831 he came to Baltimore, Maryland and married Mary Ann Jenkins (1799-1873), daughter of William Jenkins (1767-1843), with whom he partnered in the hide and leather business. He later founded and was President of the Mount Vernon Company, a cotton manufacturer.

William and Mary Ann Kennedy had two daughters: Mary Josephine (1839-1873), who married Richard Cromwell; and Sarah Prinier (1842-1883), who married William Marshall Boone. The Kennedys were Roman Catholic and donated funds for the erection of St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church on Greenmount Avenue and 22nd Street. Although they did not live to see the completion of the church, both Captain Kennedy and Mary Ann Kennedy were buried under the main aisle. They both died in 1873.