Revolutionary War, a well-known writer says, "Morning and evening the domestic altar was surrounded, to unite in prayer and praise, for the blessings of the day, and the protection of the night, at the close of the week, preparation was made for the Sabbath. It was held sacred to public and private worship, and works of necessity and mercy. You might see not only on horseback, but both males and females, for miles on foot, making their way to the Sanctuary." The Kennan and Smith families, and nearly all of the other settlers in that region, were either of the Presbyterian or Congregational faith and it was not long before they had built a house of worship and choosen a minister. The Presbyterians, were very conscientious in wishing to have their children dedicated in baptism at the first opportunity after their birth;-some were so tenacious of having the ordinance administered by those of their particular tenets that, in spite of bad roads and other difficulties they carried their infants in their arms on horseback as far as Pelham, to have the ordinance administered in Presbyterian form.

At one of the first church meetings in Rutland they decided to call the Rev. Benjamin Willard to be their minister, but before he was ordained and installed he was killed by the Indians. A call was then extended to Rev. Mr. Frink and later in 1741 to Rev. Joseph Buckminster who afterwards officiated at the marriage of James MacKennan to Margaret Smith.

Quoting again from the above writer he says:

"Their morning and evening meals were of the variety of spoonfare from the rich, pure milk, to the wholesome bean-porridge, on long days a luncheon; at noon the long white table was placed, the linen cloth

spread, the wooden plates (as white as female hands could make them), set,—the large brown dish, well filled with pork or beef from the stall, fowl from the yard, game from the forest, or fish from the waters; on baking days a platter of rich pork and beans and a delicious indian pudding. The father and mother at the head, the ruddy sons on one side and blooming daughters on the other, after the blessing craved, they sat down and partook of a friendly, social, and hearty dinner;after thanks for the same, each to their employment."

Their clothing was principally of home manufacture, of strong texture made from wool from the sheep, and flax from the earth; young men did not wear watches or leather boots, or carry silver headed canes. They dressed in plain apparel calculated for comfort and health more than for ornament. The food, dress and employment of the youth had a tendency to promote vigor and strength. And another writing of those times said "Our young men were enured to the enjoyment of the farm, our young women to the loom and both united in milking the cows and pulling and stretching the flax and most of them made good and industrious husbands and wives."

"The long winter evenings were enjoyed by a blazing fire and bright torch light in a way domestic, in reading tales, singing animating songs, eating fruit, etc. Our young men were courageous and athletic, our young women industrious, cheerful and healthy. From such was the independence of America achieved."

The Kennans appear to have been people of rank in the old country, as they had a coat of arms and Crest. The picture on the title page shows the form, although not the coloring, of the Kennan Crest, as

published in "Fairbairns Crests of the families of Great Britain and Ireland." See plate No. 166 in Volume 2 Crest No. 9. Edition published in 1892.*

James McKennan resided many years on his farm in Rutland and raised a large family of children. Some of his direct descendants are still living in that vicinity. The children of James and Margaret (Smith) Mac Kennan were:

2-1. John MacKennan, born April 7, 1745.

3-2. Agnes MacKennan, born August 3, 1746. 4-3. James MacKennan, born March 4, 1748. 5-4. Jean MacKennan, born February 12, 1750. 6-5. George MacKennan, born January 2, 1752. 7-6. Andrew MacKennan, born April 20, 1754. 8-7. Isaac MacKennan, born December 6, 1757. 9-8. Daniel MacKennan, born September 21,

1759.

10-9. Mary MacKennan, born February 12, 1761.

*The MacKennan Crest is the trunk of an oak tree shooting out new branches. See Plate No. 145, Crest No. 2, in Fairbairn's Crests.

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CHAPTER II.

Second Generation

2. John Kennan, son of James and Margaret (Smith) MacKennan, was born at Rutland, on April 7, 1745. He served as a private in the Revolutionary War, in Lieut. Joseph Warren's company, which marched from Charlemont on April 21, 1775. He enlisted again on May 10, 1777, in Capt. Lawrence Kemp's company. The company was detached from Hampshire County militia for service under Col. David Wells in the Northern Department.

4. James Kennan, son of James and Margaret (Smith) MacKennan was born on March 4, 1748, at Rutland, Mass. Not traced.

6. George Kennan son of James and Margaret (Smith) MacKennan was born February 2, 1752, and married Abigail Sherman about 1772. He lived for many years at Charlemont and appears to have held a commission as lieutenant in the revolutionary war, probably in the state militia. The writer of this visited Charlemont on his way to New York in 1894, for the purpose of examining the town records and gaining some information in regard to the ancestors. who had formerly lived there. An examination of the town records disclosed the fact that George Kennan had been quite an active and prominent man in the town

and had held many offices of public trust and in the records he was constantly referred to as "Lieut. George Kennan." Some of the entries in the town records were as follows: "1782, Lieut. George Kennan chosen selectman. 1782, Lieut. George Kennan was chosen to apportion school money. 1783, Lieut. George Kennan was chosen selectman and assessor. 1785, Lieut. George Kennan, highway surveyor." He was a farmer and seems to have been a man of considerable means for that early day. He owned a large farm on Deerfield River near the village. In the office of the Register of deeds was found a number of conveyances of land to him and also from him, some of which were as follows:

Margaret Kennan (widow) and Andrew Kennan, yeoman, convey, in consideration of 400 Pounds Sterling to George Kennan, Gentleman, 158 acres of land on the bank of Deerfield River, Charlemont. Deed dated Apr. 13, 1781.

Isaac Kennan, Yeoman, in consideration of 50 Pounds Sterling, conveys to George Kennan of Charlemont, Gentleman, 50 acres of land on the bank of Deerfield River.

George Kennan of Charlemont, Gentleman, in consideration of 200 Pounds Sterling conveyed to Jonathan Hastings land in Charlemont by a deed dated Feb. 14, 1792.

Oliver Avery, in consideration of 200 Pounds Sterling, conveys to George Kennan, of Charlemont, Gentle man, lands situated on Deerfield River. Deed dated Feb. 25, 1793.

George Kennan, of Charlemont, Gentleman, in consideration of 100 Pounds Sterling, conveys to Margaret Kennan, of Charlemont, certain lands therein de