Rodham Kenner was born on 23 March 1671 in Northumberland County, Virginia, to Richard Kenner and Elizabeth Rodham. He married Miss Hannah Fox, daughter of Captain David Fox and Hannah Ball of Lancaster County, Virginia, sometime prior to 22 Jun 1702. To them were born three known children: Elizabeth, who would marry Richard Bushrod of Westmoreland; Hannah Kenner, who would marry Richard Hull and later John Harris, and Richard Kenner, who would marry Elizabeth Winder.

Before his untimely death in the fall of 1706 at the age of 35, he served Northumberland County as a member of the House of Burgesses [Captain, 1697], Sheriff [1692, 1699], and Justice [1699]. The following letter to Robert Carter, Speaker of the House of Burgesses, records his serious illness:

April 26, 1697.
Worthy Sir -- This pus I take to inform you that I have bread on the side of my neck a Verry grate Impostu and it is late break'd, so that now is a Hole on my Neck that a man may put in three of his fingers. The doctor tells me that it will be verry dangerous to goe soe much as about the plantation, soe I am affraide I shall not be able to appere on the day perfixet at towne; I humbly therefore request that you will please to inform the House of Burgesses of the occasion of my absence from he said House, and that they may assurdedly conclude that as soone as ever shall please God to make me able, shall give my true attendance on the House, the Contrary I hope will neither by you nor them be supposed. Sr, ye favor herein will oblige Sr, yr, Humble Svt. Rodham Kenner
To Mr. Robt Carter, Speaker of the House of Burgesses, at James City

Rodham Kenner penned his Last Will and Testament on 07 July 1706, naming daughters Elizabeth and Hannah, son Richard, brothers Francis, John and Matthew, and cousin Christopher Neale. There is no mention of his wife Hannah even though she is living and remarries after her husband’s death. The will was proved on 21 August 1706 in the Northumberland County, Virginia, courthouse. His exact date of death is not known, nor is the place of burial. It has been tradition for many years, particularly the early years, in the state of Virginia to bury family at their home place. This is likely where Rodham Kenner was buried.

NOTE REGARDING BIRTHPLACE OF RODHAM KENNER ADDED BY D. A. Powell: In 1653, Chickacone Parish was created in Northumberland County. It took its name from the Chickacone Indian District from which Northumberland County was originally formed in 1648. Chickacone Parish was renamed Fairfield Parish in 1664, and its upper half was known locally as Boutracy/Bowtracy Parish. Then, in 1698, St. Stephen's Parish was created from Bowtracy Parish and Fairfield Parish. Therefore, depending on where his parents' home was located in Northumberland County in 1671, Rodham Kenner was likely born in either Bowtracy Parish (which later became the upper half of St. Stephens Parish) OR he was born in Fairfield Parish (which later became the lower half of St. Stephen's Parish.

References:
*Married Well and Often – Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649-1800, Robert K. Headley Jr., p212
*Northumberland County Virginia Court Order Book, Part 1 [1699-1713], Transcribed and edited by Charles & Virginia Hamrick, Athens, GA: Iberian Publishing Co., c1999, 2 Vol. Library of Congress Call No. F232.N87 H127 1999, pps102/10
*Virginia Genealogies: Genealogies of the Glassell Family of Scotland and Virginia – Also of Ball, Brown, Bryan, Conway, Daniel, Ewell, Hall, Lewis, Littlepage, Moncure, Peyton, Robinson, Scott, Taylor, Wallace, and Others of Virginia and Maryland, Horace Edwin Hayden, E. B. Yordy, Printer, 1 Jan 1891, p82
*William & Mary Quarterly, Volume 9, #3, Jan 1901 - KENNER Family, p185.

WRITTEN BY:
Rebecca Reuben Dyer
9th Great Granddaughter
Updated September 2016