Kinney Genealogy

James Kinney
(1805-1888)

James Kinney was born 15 October 1805 in Georgia and died 17 October 1888 in Tippah County, Mississippi. He was most likely the son of Robert Kinney and Delila Patton of Haywood County, Tennessee, who are both buried in the Old Moore Family Cemetery near the Hillville community. James married Catharine Johnson, daughter of Duncan Johnson and Margaret McKee, about 1829, probably in Haywood County, Tennessee. There the family farmed in District 1, south of the Hatchie River, in the southeast corner of the county near the Hardeman County border. Their first four children were born there. The Haywood County 1830 census entry for James Kinny, age 20-29, with one female,age 30-39, and one male child, age 10-14, is most likely this family. James Kinney appears in the court records of Haywood County on Thursday, March 13, 1834, as party of a lawsuit, “James Kinny vs. Robert H. Hall,” which was dismissed by consent of both parties, with Robert H. Hall assuming all costs. (A Robert H. Hall online genealogy lists his profession as “well digger,” so one can imagine the nature of the dispute!) James appears in the court records again on Saturday, September 13, 1834, as an appointee of a jury to “view a road from the South and of a turnpike road across Hatchie River the nearest and best way to the County Line in a direction to the town of Bolivar and make a report to the next term of this court.”

Around 1823, Catharine’s father, Duncan Johnson, died in Wilson County, Tennessee, where his property was inventoried and sold. Catharine’s mother, Margaret, was appointed guardian of the minor heirs in Wilson County, Tennessee. Duncan Johnson also owned property in Madison County, Tennessee, and the deed books of that county record the division of his property there among his heirs in 1834. Catharine’s siblings (Daniel, Alexander, John, Duncan, Christian, Polly, Sarah, Malcolm A.) and their spouses are named in the court records:

Madison County, Tennessee, Deed Book Four
p. 48-49. DANIEL JOHNSON, ALEXANDER JOHNSON, JOHN JOHNSON, DUNCAN JOHNSON, JAMES KINNEY and wife, CATHARINE; TRISTRAM PATTON and wife, CHRISTIAN; ALCEY PACE and wife, POLLY; ISAAC NEAL and wife, SARAH; MALCOLM A. JOHNSON; all hrs of Dunkin Johnson, dec. deeded 96½ acres "on the waters of the south fork of the Forked Deer River", SD 10, R 2, S 8, to CHRISTOPHER HUTCHINGS for $300. Wits R. C. Hodge, Saml. McClanahan, George Neal, J. Hartmel (?), Wm. D. Johnson, Alexander Johnson (for Daniel Johnson), F. C. Edwards. June 10, 1834. Reg Dec. 22, 1834. All the women grantors signed the deed with their "x" marks. p. 426-427.

p. 427-428. DUNCAN JOHNSON and SARAH NEAL, formerly Johnson, both of Wilson Co., Tenn. sold for $70, 100 acres in Madison Co. as legatees of Duncan Johnson. Oct. 20, 1835. Reg Feb. 9, 1836. Wits James Buchanon, D. A. McEacher.
p. 428-429. Same parties, as on pages 426-427, sold acreage in Madison Co. to JOHN JOHNSON, Oct. 20, 1835. Reg Feb. 10, 1836.

p. 428-429. DANIEL JOHNSON, ALEXANDER JOHNSON, MALCOM JOHNSON, A. M. N. JOHNSON, JAMES KINNEY and wife, CATHARINE; TRISTRAM PATTON and wife, CHRISTIAN; ALSEY PACE and wife, POLLY; hrs of Duncan Johnson sold to JOHN JOHNSON 100 acres in SD 10, R 2, S 10 for $300. Jan. 30, 1836. Reg. Feb. 10, 1836. No wits.

The Kinneys lost no time in reinvesting their inheritance. In 1836, Tippah County, Mississippi, was formed from Chickasaw territory and land became available for purchase. Many Haywood County residents took advantage of the opportunity. The records indicate that the James Kinney family made their move to Mississippi some time in 1836 because James appears in the tax lists in both Haywood County, Tennessee, and Tippah County, Mississippi, in that year. After that, he disappears completely from the Haywood County records, although his father, Robert, and brothers, Thomas and George, continued to appear in the census, tax, and court records there and in neighboring Hardeman County. Some of Catharine’s Johnson siblings (Alexander, Malcolm, and Polly) remained in the neighborhood, as well, although at least two of her siblings (John and Christian) removed to Tippah County at about this time. Ripley was named the Tippah county seat in 1837. The original courthouse made of logs was quickly replaced by a brick building in 1838, which stood until July 9, 1864, when it was burned by Union troops. A new courthouse was built in 1870 and renovated in 1928.

Catharine Johnson Kinney was born in 1799 in North Carolina, and raised in the Round Lick Creek community in Wilson County, Tennessee, as one of the nine children of Duncan and Margaret Johnson. She married most likely in Haywood County, Tennessee, bore four children there, and then moved with her family to Tippah County, Mississippi, where she had two more children and remained until her death at the age of 70 on 15 April 1869. Her cause of death is given on the 1870 census mortality schedule as “dropsy” (congestive heart failure).

James Kinney can be found in the Tippah County federal censuses of 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880, the Mississippi state census of 1841, and most of the extant Tippah County tax records between 1836 and his death in 1884. James and Catharine’s plantation was located in Section 20, Township 4S, Range 3E, a few miles west of Ripley. James was a slave owner, as shown in the census slave schedules of 1840, 1850, and 1860. He owned a single male boy slave in 1840; 10 slaves, 5 adults and 5 children, in 1850; and 20 slaves, 6 adults and 14 children, in 1860. Through the labors of all of these people, the Kinney plantation prospered.

Both of James and Catharine’s sons and two sons-in-law fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War. One son, Robert D., and one son-in-law, Elijah Godwin, were killed in the conflict. Because of the many important transportation routes across the state, Mississippi witnessed much fighting between 1861 and 1865. Between early 1862 and late 1864 Tippah was raided by federal troops at least sixty times. Farms were stripped of provisions and livestock, fences and bridges were destroyed, all aspects of community life were disrupted, and many slaves were appropriated by the troops. The area around Ripley was not spared during the war. There was at least one battle (Brice’s Crossroads) and several skirmishes nearby, and armies of both sides passed through the area frequently, helping themselves to any provisions they found on the plantations. The Kinney farm was raided several times and all of the horses and mules taken. According to the Civil War diary of Judge Orlando Davis, on May 11 and 12, 1863, a mixed Union regiment was camped on this farm overnight. Judge Davis reports the events of July 9, 1864, that resulted in the almost total destruction of the town of Ripley.

“At 7 A. M. the Federal army under Gen. A. J. Smith commenced arriving on the LaGrange road, and were until 3 P. M. passing through Ripley. The scenes of this visitation were the most terrible we have ever experienced in Ripley. The Yankees were infuriated because of their former defeat here and came swearing vengeance on the town. Thirty-five stores, dwellings and church, including the courthouse were burned. The south side of the square was fired by the cavalry in the morning, the rest by negroes in the evening. Mrs. Price's, Col. Falkner's and Mrs. Ford's dwellings were burned. The courthouse, Cumberland Presbyterian Church, the Methodist Church and the Female Academy shared the same fate.”

He writes that towards the last days of the war troops pillaged every house within twelve miles of Ripley.

Although other members of their extended family chose to leave Mississippi after the war and move west to Texas, most of the Kinneys stayed in Tippah County. After Catharine’s death, James married Mrs. Baliza Sanford, widow of G.W. Sanford, on 2 September 1869 in Tippah County, Mississippi. Baliza was born about 1821 in Knoxville, Tennessee, and died 8 February 1907 in Memphis.

James and Catharine are buried on the old home property in a small family cemetery known as Marvin Cemetery that sits on private land near the Ripley airport. Baliza is buried in Ripley Cemetery.

Will of James Kinney

The State of Mississippi
Tippah County

I James Kinney a citizen of said County and State being of sound mind memory and understanding do make publish and declare the following to be my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all other will made by me. 1st -- I will and bequeath to my wife B L. Kinney 120 acres of the NW ¼ of Section 20 in Township 4 Range 3 East being all of said quarter except 40 acres already conveyed to her except 1 acre deeded to the Church. One horse to be worth One hundred and fifty dollars one Hundred dollars in money and the Kitchen Furniture and one half of the household furniture. 2nd -- I give and bequeath to my grandson James J. Kinney a son of James A. Kinney One hundred dollars in money. 3rd -- I give and bequeath to my daughter Margaret Grissom Five dollars and nothing more. 4th -- I give and bequeath to my son James A. Kinney and my daughter Jane Hill after the payment of the foregoing bequests and my debts if any all the balance of my estate of every kind and description to be equally divided between them. 5th -- I hereby appoint Thomas A. Hunt Executor of this my last Will and Testament.

Witness my signature this the 16th day of October 1884. Signed and published
& declared in presence
of A.G. Barnett
H. B. McCord

James Kinney

Children of James Kinney and Catharine Johnson are:

i. Robert D. Kinney was born about 1830 and died in hospital in October 1862 in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, after being severely wounded during the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, on 8 October 1862. He was one of more than 7,500 casualties that covered the fields after five hours of fighting. Nearly every church, barn, and home was converted into a hospital. Local citizens were left to bury the dead and to care for the living. Robert served in Company B of the 34th Mississippi Regiment and is described in his military file as 30 years old at death, 5 feet 11 inches tall, fair complexion, gray eyes, and unmarried. His father, James Kinney, signed a deposition to collect Robert's pay on March 10, 1864, in Tippah County, Mississippi. He died intestate and his brother James A. Kinney purchased his two sisters' interest in his land:

"James A. Kinney Deed from Edmond Grisham et al. This Indenture made and entered into this 21st day of November 1863 between Edward Grisham and his wife Margaret D. Grisham and Lucinda Jane Godwin of the first part and James A. Kinney of the second part. Witnesseth that whereas Robert D. Kinney lately departed this life intestate, leaving as his only lawful heirs the said Margaret D. Grisham and Lucinda Jane Godwin his sisters and the said James his brother and whereas also the said Robert having died seized and possessed of the lands hereinafter mentioned, and the said Margaret and Jane having sold their undivided interest in said lands to the said James A. Kinney their brother and Co-heir at law-Now in consideration of the promises and in further consideration of Two thousand dollars in hand paid by the said party of the second part to the parties of the first part, we the said parties of the first part do hereby bargain sell and convey unto the said James A. Kinney all our undivided interest in the South West 1/w of Section Sixteen (16) Township 4 of Range 3 East and 58 acres more or less lying on the north part of the NW ¼ of Sec 21 Township 4 of Range 3 East - the latter described 58 acres being the same land conveyed in a deed made by Hiram C. Spencer to the said Robert D. Kinney dated Oct 27th 1860 - and duly recorded in the Probate Clerk Office of Tippah Co. Miss. In Deed book T on pages 464 & 465 and all of said land 208 acres more or less lying and being situated in Tippah County Mississippi. To have and to hold unto the said James A. Kinney his heirs to forever. And the said parties of the first part do covenant that they will warrant and defend the title of their undivided interest aforesaid in said land unto the said James A. Kinney forever. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands & seals this day and year first above written.
E. Grissom {seal}
Margaret D. Grissom X her mark
Lucinda Jane Godwin X her mark {seal}"

ii. Margaret Delilah Kinney was born 12 November 1831 in Haywood County, Tennessee and died 25 December 1885 in Tippah County, Mississippi. She was named after her two grandmothers. She married Edwin Grissom 6 January 1849 in Tippah County, Mississippi; he was born 24 April 1822 in Tennessee (possibly Union City, Obion County) and died 10 September 1896 in Ripley, Tippah County, Mississippi. Margaret and Edwin lived next door to Margaret’s parents and are reportedly buried in unmarked graves in Marvin Cemetery on the former site of the old family farm.

iii. Martha Lucinda Jane Kinney was born 28 December 1832 in Tennessee and died 14 Oct 1911 in Blue Mountain, Tippah County, Mississippi. She married (1) Elisha Houston Godwin 1852 in Mississippi; he was born in 1832 in Montgomery County, North Carolina and died while serving in the Civil War 5 February 1863 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She married (2) Samuel Hill on 9 August 1869 in Tippah County, Mississippi; he was born 3 August 1830 in Tennessee and died 16 October 1915 in Blue Mountain, Tippah County, Mississippi. Martha Lucinda Jane is buried in Blue Mountain Cemetery, Tippah County.

iv. Mary Johnson Kinney, born about 1835 according to the 1850 census. Nothing more is known about her.

v. James A. Kinney, born 5 February 1840 in Tippah County, Mississippi, and died 12 February 1918 in Tippah County, Mississippi. He married (1) Caroline Frances Pickens 31 March 1859 in Tippah County, Mississippi; born 25 June 1840 and died 13 January 1913. He married (2) Margaret Ella Worsham 18 January 1915 in Tippah County, Mississippi; born 6 June 1846 in Amelia County, Virginia; died 23 May 1936 in Tippah County, Mississippi.

James A. Kinney served as a sergeant in Company B, 34th Mississippi Infantry, mustering in on February 26, 1862. He was captured November 24, 1863, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, sent to Military Prison in Louisville, Kentucky, and confined in Rock Island, Illinois, from December 3, 1863 to May 27, 1865.

James A. and Caroline Kinney had eleven children together, seven of whom were living in 1900. James and Caroline are buried in Ripley Cemetery, Tippah County, Mississippi..

vi. Martha Kinney, born about 1842 according to the 1850 census. Nothing more is known about her.

Sources:

1. 1840 U.S. Census, Tippah County, MS, Roll: M704; page 176.
2. 1850 U.S. Census, Tippah County, MS, District 2, Roll:M432_381; page 402A
3. 1850 U.S. Census Slave Schedule, Tippah County, MS, District 2, Roll: M432, page 4.
4. 1860 U.S. Census, Tippah County, MS, Southern Subdivision, Roll: M653_592; page 783.
5. 1860 U.S. Census Slave Schedule, Tippah County, MS, Southern Subdivision, Roll: M653; page 161B.
6. 1870 U.S. Census, Tippah County, MS Township 4 Range 3, Roll: M593_750; page: 146.
7. 1870 U.S. Census, Tippah County, MS, Mortality Schedule, Range 3, Township 4, p. 4.
8. 1880 U.S. Census, Tippah County, MS, Beat 2, Roll: T9_665; Family History Film: 1254665; Page: 396.1000; Enumeration District: 190.
9. 1900 U.S. Census, Tippah County, MS, Ripley, Roll: T623 829; Page: 28A; E.D. 105.
10. Old Moore Family Cemetery listing. http://www.tngenweb.org/records/madison/cemeteries/ffhy-01.htm (From Family Findings, Vol. II, No. 1, January 1970, pp. 24-29, Mid-West Tennessee Genealogical Society, 1970).
11. Madison County, Tennessee, Deed Book Four, pp. 48-49; 426-427; 427-428; 428-429. http://www.tngenweb.org/records/madison/smith/deed01-6.htm (Genealogical Gleanings from the Deed Books 1 through 9, 1822-1845, Madison County, Tennessee, by Jonathan K. T. Smith,1995).
12. Gravestone of James Kinney, Marvin Cemetery, Tippah County, MS, photograph in possession of compiler.
13. Will of James Kinney, Tippah County, MS Will Records 1838-1934, FHL Film #895809, p. 143.
14. Gravestone of Catharine Kinney, Marvin Cemetery, Tippah County, MS, photograph in possession of compiler.
15. Cemeteries of Tippah County, Mississippi. Compiled by Tippah County Historical Society, Ripley, MS. http://www.rootsweb.com/~mstippah/CemetariesK.html
16. Tippah County, MS Marriages 1858-1899, USGENWEB, http://www.rootsweb.com/~mstippah/Mar2index.html
17. Death Notices of Tippah County, Mississippi, Vol. 1, Don Martini, Old Timer Press, P. O. Box 572, Ripley, MS 38663.
18. Tippah County, MS Tax Records, 1836-1917, Microfilm Rolls #488-490,492, Clayton Library, Houston.
19. Military Service File of Robert D. Kinney, Confederate Forces, Civil War, NARA, Washington, D.C.
20. James A. Kinney Deed from Edmond Grisham et al., 21 November 1863, Tippah County, MS Deed Book U, p. 627, Tippah County Courthouse, Ripley, MS.
21. Edwin and Margaret Grissom Family Bible, copy in Grissom family file, Ripley Public Library, Ripley, Tippah Co., MS.
22. Will of James A. Kinney, Tippah Co., MS Will Book, p. 334-335.
23. Death Certificate for James A. Kinney, Mississippi Death Certificate Index 1912-1924, #6849, 1918.
24. Death Certificate for Caroline P. Kinney, Mississippi Death Certificate Index 1912-1924, #1570, 1913.
25. Diary of Judge Orlando Davis, http://www.rootsweb.com/~mscivilw/davis.htm Copyright © 1997-2006 by Walter F. Cox, Jr.
26. Heidler, David S. and Jeanne T., eds., Encyclopedia of the American Civil War, vol. III, p. 1339, 2000.
27. Ash, Stephen V. A Year in the South: 1865. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, p. 16, 2004.

For ideas, additions, or corrections, contact Mary Wiley Campbell at info@marywcampbell.com

Return to Home Page