Biographical notes

In many ways Mary is the key to this family and is one of the few children recorded in the Census as living with her parents and also visiting other members of the family, thus providing a valuable historical link. Parents are thought to be John Kennedy and Ann Wilson, but they appear to have had two daughters named Mary. First Mary born in 1897 birth registered in Riccarton OPR's. Possibly died in infancy as all later references in 1841, 1851 and 1861 Census returns give her place of birth as Tarbolton and, together with her death certificate, consistently give her date of birth as about 1816.

Recorded in the 1841 Census living with her parents at Knockshoggle Holme, Coylton, Ayrshire

In the 1851 Census Mary is visiting the family of Andrew McCrindle, the widower of Mary's sister Isabella McCrindle (nee Kennedy), at Corsehill Square, Dreghorn.

In the 1861 Census, Mary is still unmarried and living with her mother Mary Kennedy (nee Wilson) at 14 Content Street in the 1861. They are sharing the house with the family of her brother in law James Pettigrew (1801) and his wife (Mary's sister Agnes Pettigrew, nee Kennedy).

No attempt has been made to trace Mary in the 1871 and 1881 Census records. Recorded age at death in 1886 was 71.