The province was surrounded by powerful tribes of Indians who watched the white settlers with an eager hostility, and seized every occasion to molest them by secret inroad, and often by open assault.

S. Poor investments resulted in his father declaring bankruptcy in 1809. While abroad Kennedy became a friend of William Makepeace Thackeray and wrote or outlined the fourth chapter of the second volume of The Virginians a fact which accounts for the great accuracy of its scenic descriptions.

S. He was the brother of U. Senator Anthony Kennedy.