From My cousin in Charleston SC who travelled to Edgefield & researched Kennedy family. Let me know if you would like to contact :


Major Thomas Ellis from Edgefield, SC had 2 girls: Martha Patsy and Mary. Stephen (b. 9/2/1780), (d.11/4/1854) married Martha Patsy Ellis. They had 3 children: James Augustus b. 1819, Elizabeth Ann b. 1802, Martha Caroline b. 1803.

I have a proof of sale of land on January 29, 1839 witnessed by Elizabeth (Stephen's daughter) and James Young Blocker who was the son of Michael Blocker from Edgefield.

I have a document giving Stephen and Patsy's children land. It is witnessed by "My trusted friend" Jessy Cannady (Jesse Kennedy). I think Jesse was a cousin who also came from Edgefield. Not sure who moved to the Natchez area first, but I think Stephen followed other family there.

Stephen is well-known in Edgefield as Becky Cotton's brother. Her father (James Augustus Kennedy) was very proud of her because she was so beautiful and "gutsy". James made several of his neighbors angry. Murdered by Martin Cloud, Morris Pardew, and James Vann. Edgefield history legends say that Gus was a mean man, wicked and dishonest. He lived near Turkey Creek about 10 miles from Edgefield. No will or deeds. Becky was furious with her husband because he did not help her father and she blamed him for his death. Therefore, she killed him.

Becky and Stephen openly fought in the town square and Stephen hit her with a rock on the side of the head. (I stood in the very spot where it happened!) It took her a long time to die (maybe several days) and he left town - but did not rush since no one seemed to be after him at the time. He packed up his stuff and left - I think to join other family members in the Natchez area.

I would say that Becky and Stephen are two of the most famous people born in Edgefield. Everyone was very excited to meet me when I was there. They all knew of Stephen and Becky. There is lots of documentation about the Kennedy family in stories.

I was told that there was no record of what happened to Stephen's brother, David. He had helped Becky dispose of her husband's body. He was known as strange or as a simpleton.