New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
“I grew up in Fall River, but I thought I’d share some of my New Bedford heritage on the birthday of my 4th great-grandmother, who lived most of her long life in NB.
Amazingly, I recently discovered photos of both of them in an online collection at the Harvard libraries.
Her husband, my 4th great-grandfather, Phineas H. Kenney was born around Sep 1784 in North Fairhaven, Massachusetts to Jacob Kenney and Pernal Hammond. During the War of 1812 he served as a Private in Captain William Nye’s Company in the 2nd Regiment, Massachusetts militia.
Phineas married Achsah Bennet in 1807 in New Bedford. She had been born in Sandwich. He was a mason, a profession his son Lorenzo and grandson Alonzo would also enter. Phineas was highly instrumental in the organization of the Methodist Episcopal church in New Bedford.
He died in 1870 shortly before his 86th birthday. Achsah would die in 1886 at the age of 95.” Photos by Chris Kenney.
Chris Kenney photo.
Chris Kenney photo.
