Birth: in County Antrim, Ireland

The Kennedys, through some historians have stated that they came originally from Ireland, were probably indigenous to the southwest Scotland.  Leonardo Andrea, a geneologist who prepared D.A.R. application papers for a Kennedy descendant, stated that Alexander Kennedy was an Irishman whose family originated in Killokennedy, Ireland near Killaloe in and around Glenomura.  The clan later crossed the Shannon River and settled in Upper and Lower Ormond where the head of the clan became the Lord of Ormond.  The Kennedys have been in America since the early 17th century.  Many of the American Kennedys are descendents of Robert and William Kennedy (brothers) who came from Ireland to Bucks County, PA in 1730.  Others are descendants of David Kennedy of Butler County, PA.  Sometime soon after 1600 one branch of the O'Kennedy clan migrated to County Antrim; some of these came from County Antrim to Fairfield County, South Carolina.  The Bounty Act passed by the General Assembly of the South Carolina Colony on July 25, 1761 encouraged many Protestants to come to South Carolina. The Royal Land Grants from King George III of England allowed the head of the family to receive 100 acres of land, with an additional 50 acres for the wife and each child under 15.  In return the settler promised to support the Protestant House of Orange in religious controversy.  Alexander Kennedy may have been prompted to leave County Antrim in Northern Ireland by the prospect of religious freedom and economic opportunity.  Many of the people left because of the potato famines of the late 1700's.   Alexander was in Charleston, S. C. by January 24, 1764 based on the South Carolina Council Journal, Volume 30, pp.20-31.  He, his wife, and 6 children had arrived in Charleston on the ship Prince Henry, commanded by Capt. James Egger.  Alexander petitioned for 400 acres, indicating that he was petitioning 100 acres for himself and 50 acres each for his wife and 5 children under age 16.

The children were listed as:
Alexander who was over 16 (born in 1741) and granted 100 acres for himself in Craven District (per Royal Land Grants, Vol. 15, pp. 564).
Elizabeth
Robert
Agnes
William
John

Alexander was granted 400 acres in Granville County on a branch of Great Rocky Creek on Mar. 2 , 1768 (surveyed by John Pickens on July 30, 1767).  This was located in the present Abbeville County.  See Royal Land Grants, Vol. 15, pg. 564 and Land Surveys or Plats, vol. 17, pg 416."

According to the "Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution" (Bobby Gilmer Ross), Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, 1985:
"Alexander Kennedy.  He enlisted in the Fourth Regiment on 1 December 1776 as a corporal and was discharged on 31 May 1777.  NA853".
NA853 is Lists of North Carolina and South Carolina Troops and of Officers and Men of Continental Organizations Raised from more than one state, 1775-1783.  Washington, D.C.: National Archives, M853, Roll 16.