1 James Kenyon, b England 1633; d -; m at Oldham Parish Church, Lancashire, England, 2 May 1654, Ester, dau John Smith, b 1633; d-.

Children: 
1 John Kenyon, b 26 Apr. 1655; baptized 6 May 1655; d 1732; m Anna, dau Thomas Mumford, d before 1712. 
2 James Kenyon, b 4 July 1657; baptized 12 July 1657; d 1724; m Ruth Wells. 
a Mary Kenyon, b-; baptized 20 May 1760; d-. In the burial register of the Oldham Parish Church it shows that on 19 Nov. 1665 a child of James Kenyon was buried. No means of identifying. 

A deed in Vol. Ill, p. 169, Land Evidence, South Kingstown, R. I., from John Kenyon (1) to his son, John Kenyon (11), refers to both Peleg Mumford and Thomas Mumford as brothers-in- law of John Kenyon (1) and states that John Kenyon was given this land by Thomas Mumford. Thomas Mumford, Sr., died intestate in 1692 and his son, Thomas, distributed his estate, which was in the Pettaquamscott purchase. Thomas Mumford Family Tree

As no other record than this deed exists relative to the part acquired by John Kenyon, and as Austen made up his list of Mumford children from those mentioned in the distribution of the estate of the first Thomas, it is obvious that the name of John’s wife was not included in the Genealogical Dictionary because of do execution of deed that in this case would have preserved the name of this Mumford daughter, which was recorded as Anna in the Oldham Parish Church. Having acquired land from the Mumford administration and being a brother-in-law to both Mumford brothers is conclusive that John Kenyon married their sister. It would have been possible for both the Mumford brothers to marry sisters of John Kenyon and thus become his brothers-in-law, but this situation would not have left John Kenyon (1) eligible to share in the Mumford estate. It is still possible that a sister of John Kenyon married a Mumford, but since there is no record to that effect and no record at all that John Kenyon had two sisters, it is unlikely and altogether improbable that he became a brother-in-law to both Mumfords except by a marriage to their sister. 

The records from the Oldham Parish Church citing births, baptisms, and deaths as given herein were copied by Mr. Thomas Stubbs, Clerk of Oldham Parish Church, during his searches for HNK at different periods between 1922 and 1930. (See pp. 30-44.) A letter from Mr. James N. Arnold, who compiled the Vital Records of Rhode Island, to HNK and dated 14 Feb. 1922, states: “The first Kenyon that we meet in our Washington County records is one James in 1670. He was a miller—had the first grant to the mill privilege where Stuart, the painter, was born afterward. We do not find that he improved the place Philip’s War probably causing change of plans. Mr. Austen in his work gives an assumed name of John, but the record we saw said James.'’ This original letter is now (1933) in the possession of HNK. These records of Washington County referred to by Mr. Arnold were on file in North Kingstown and later destroyed by fire. (See pp. 26-28.) The two sons of James Kenyon (I) were taxed in South Kingstown in 1687. The millsite referred to by Mr. Arnold was in the possession of James Kenyon (2) until 2 Feb. 1702, when his wife, Ruth, joined in the conveyance to Joseph Smith. This deed was on file in North Kingstown in 1930 when it was inspected. In 1718 the same mill was conveyed by William Gardiner and wife, Abigail, to Elisha Cole. There was no deed on file from Smith to Gardiner. This millsite adjoined the land of Stephen Northup and was on the original Pettaquamscott purchase of 1658. John Kenyon (1) lived on land beside the millsite of his brother, James, from about 1683 to 1691, which land he rented at that time from a Mr. Killum of Boston. Stephen Northup took the place over when John Kenyon (1) moved out. Near this time Thomas Mumford died and his son, Thomas, “gave” land to John Kenyon(l) who leaves no further public record until he conveys this land acquired from the Mumfords to his son, John, in 1712. In 1726, while Elisha Cole owned the mill, a quarrel between Northup and Cole over water rights caused the discontinuation of milling. This trouble was settled by a decree of the assembly which stated that this was the only mill in North and South Kingstown (p. 116 & 140, Austen’s Gen. Diet., R. I.). In 1746 Elizabeth Cole, widow of Elisha, quitclaimed the mill to her son, Edward. In 1750, Edward Cole conveys to Thomas Moffatt this site of 270 acres for 2,000 pounds and right to operate snuff mill; in 1751 Cole, Moffatt and Gilbert Stuart, father of the painter, entered into articles of partnership to erect and operate a snuff mill on this site. In the record of marriage of James Kenyon (I) it is stated that he was a linen weaver at the time of his marriage and resided in Droylsden in the parish of Manchester. The record also states that his wife was a spinster, daughter of John Smith within Glodwick, in the parish of Oldham, and that both James Kenyon (I) and his wife were about the age of one and twenty years at the date of their marriage. All recorded births of his children show him a resident of Glodwick after his marriage. There is no record of his death in Rhode Island. The dates of birth and names of his children and grandchildren conclusively prove his identity. Since there are many grandchildren in this family named Hannah, it is most likely that such was the name of the Mumford wife of John Kenyon (1) and that the church record entry was of the old style spelling corresponding to the characteristic English pronunciation of Hannah with the first H silent. Before proceeding with the succeeding generations in the New World, in order to understand more clearly the significance of dates and places of land and town clerk records of early Rhode Island, the following items are included at this point: 
Westerly was set off from the King's Province, 14 May 1669. Charlestown was set off from Westerly, 22 Aug. 1738. Richmond was set off from Charlestown, 18 Aug. 1747. About half of the village of Carolina is in the town (township) of Richmond and the offices of the town clerks of Richmond and of Charlestown are situated in Carolina. Hopkinton was set off from Westerly in 1757. . The Baptist Church at Potter Hill, which was established as early as 1680 (The First Sabbatarian Church), was the one to which many of the early Kenyons belonged. When Hopkinton was set off from Westerly it left those Kenyons who settled in Charlestown with their former land records in Westerly and church records in Hopkinton. In the case of David Kenyon(16), who settled in Richmond while it was still a part of Westerly, he had land records in Westerly, town clerk records of births of his children in both Charlestown and Richmond, and his later land and civil records in Richmond. Most of his children were born while his land was a part of Charlestown. Thus it can be seen that at this period (1669-1757) land records of the same party who remained in the same place will be on file in several different towns. 

Land Evidence, Vol. I, p. 169, South Kingston, Rhode Island. To all Christian people at whom these presents shall come, I, John Kinyon, of Kingston in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England, Yeoman, send greeting: Know ye that I the said John Kinyon for and in consideration of the love, good will and affection which I have and do bare unto my son, John Kinyon, of the Town and Colony aforesaid, Have Given Granted and Bequeath, and by these presents to give, grant and bequeath All that my farm or tract of land whereon he, my said son now dwelleth in said Kingston, 

Containing by Estimation, one hundred and seventy acres, be it more or less, and is butted and bounded (viz.) on the East by the land of my Brother-in-law, Peleg Mumford; Northerly on the land of Thomas Mumford, Southerly on the highway in part, and partly on the land in the Tennor of Alec. Wilson; and Westerly on Sautucket River or however other bounded or reputed to be bounded, it being that Tract of Land which I had of my Brother-in-Law Thomas Mumford, the whole of which and every part thereof, I do in and for the consideration by these presents aforesaid, Give, Grant and Bequeath unto my loving Son, John Kinyon, Aforesaid in free and Ample- manner, together with all the Housing, Buildings, Orchards, Meadows, Fences, Woods, Underwoods, Water, Waterways, Courses, Rights, members and appurtenances to the said Farm or Tract of Land belonging or any wise appertaining to have and to hold the said farm with all the Appurtenances as aforesaid to be unto him my said son, his heirs, Executors, Administer or assigns to the only proper use, Benefit and Behoof of him, my said Son, his heirs, Executors, Administrators and assignes forever, and further the said John Kinyon, Sen., do promise and declare to and with my said Son that the same is free and clear and clearly acquited of any from all and all other former Gifts, Grants or Incumberances whatsoever had made or done or suffered to be had made or done in or by me or any other Person or Persons from by or under me and further doth oblige my self to and with my said Son to warrant and Defend the premises from the Lawful Claims and Demands of All People Whomsoever and in witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in Kingston Aforesaid this 16th day of October in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and twelve. Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presence of Agnes x (her mark) Belfore, John x (his mark) Kinyon (Seal). William Browne, October 17th, 1712. 

The above mentioned John Kinyon Personally appeared before me this 14th day of October, 1715, and Acknowledged the Above Within Instrument to be his real Act and Deed before me John Eldred Assistant.