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Subject: [TnWeakle] Kennedy Clan
Date: Wed, 1 May 2002 05:47:57 EDT

Found this while looking up the Kennedy's in my Killebrew file and though I
would pass it on.
Clan Kennedy

The Clan Kennedy is said to originate from a branch of the Celtic Lords
of Galloway and they are associated with the Carrick district of Ayrshire in
the far south-west of Scotland. John Kennedy of Dunure and Cassillis married
the heiress of the Carrick earls. Their grandson, James Kennedy who married
King Robert III's daughter, had two sons. As the grandsons of the King one
was created Lord Kennedy in 1457 and the other, James, was appointed Bishop
of St. Andrews and became advisor to James II. After the accidental death of
James II by a cannon in 1400, Bishop Kennedy assisted his widow in governing
and educating the infant James III. He was also regarded as the co-founder of
St. Andrews University. Following his death in 1465, his brother Lord Kennedy
took part in the palace revolution that made him one of the Regents until
James III came of age. This did not however recommend him to the King, but
his successor, the 3rd Earl, did find favour with James IV and was created
Earl of Cassillis in 1509. He was later to fall with his King at Flodden in
1513. His successors also died violently; the 2nd Earl was murdered by
Campbell of Loudon and the 3rd died mysteriously returning from Mary Queen of
Scots marriage to the Dauphin. The 4th Earl, in his quest for more lands is
remembered for "roasting the Abbot of Crossraguel" over a slow fire in his
castle at Dunure to force him to surrender the title to the abbey properties.
The 6th Earl is also renowned for his merciless treatment. For when his wife
fell in love with Johnnie Faa, the gypsy King, also known as Sir John Faa of
Dunbar as granted by James V to his ancestors, they eloped together. However
they were unfortunately caught by the outraged Earl who hanged Johnnie Faa in
front of her eyes and imprisoned her for the rest of her life. The 8th Earl
had no children and the title passed to the Kennedys of Culzean descended
from the younger son of the 3rd Earl. Archibald fought in the American War of
Independence and his son the 12th was created Marquess of Ailsa in 1806.
Culzean Castle, the seat of the Kennedys was designed by Robert Adam and is
now owned by the National Trust for Scotland.

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