In the text it says that Matthew is one of 13 children born to John & Jane Kennedy. NOT TRUE. He is John’s son but NOT Jane’s. This is based on the following:

[A] The text says that John left Scotland for Canada [Gueluph] in 1832. He remained there 18 months then retuned to Scotland where he married Jane April 10 1834 in Dumfries Scotland. By this time Matthew was nearly 4 years old. Jane was born Aug. 5 1810 in Dumfries. died Aug. 11 1896 in Italy Hill.   [B] David Kennedy’s pension file has a listing of John & Jane’s children taken from the family bible. It lists 12 children, but not Matthew.   [C] Matthew’s mothers name is not listed in his death records.  [D]  Family Search.org shows a Matthew Kennedy born June 27 1830 in Kells Kirkcudbright Scotland to John Kennedy & Margaret Fisher. The date of birth given agrees with the Italy Hill Cemetery records. It is not known if John & Margaret were married. Her birth date is unknown. She died Dec. 31 1831 in Knocknalling Scotland.

A story told to the author by his Aunt Ellen Borden said Matthew came to North America as a cabin boy in the care of a man named John Harris. She was usually right about family history.

Matthew’s death records say he had lived in the US for 70 years. This would make him about 6 years old when came over in 1836.

Mary E. born May 2 1834 - died ?

Ellen born Oct. 22 1835 - died ? 

David born Oct. 24 1837 - died May 20 1922

Barbara A. born Nov. 8 1839 - died ?

Jane & Margaret [twins] born Feb. 12 1842.

Jane died March 21 1843

Margaret died ?

Sarah F. born June 24 1844 - died March 27 1845 [ Just 6 days after sister Jane]

Agnes D. born Sept. 12 1846 - died ?

Johnston born Nov. 4 1849 - died May 23 1883

William A. born April 2 1851 - died 1929 

John & Jane or Janie [twins] born July 22 1853

John died 1929

Janie died ?

The pictures above are from an original print. It is also in a History of Yates County New York published in 1876 for the US Centennial. The originals contain a history of John & Jane Kennedy & family of Italy Hill NY. The text is as follows:

     John Kennedy, youngest son of the late David Kennedy, of Knocknalling, near New Galloway Scotland was born June 10 1806. In the year 1832 he left his native heath and embarked for Canada. He remained there eighteen months, and returned to Scotland. Soon after he was united in marriage with Jane Maxwell, daughter of William Carson, writer, of Dumfries, and returned to Canada, were he remained five years, and then moved to Geneva NY. He remained in Geneva about two years, and then located at Italy Hill, Yates County NY. He then purchased a farm upon which he still resides.

    In that early day, the tract upon which Mr. Kennedy located was an uninviting portion of the township, but through his energy and industry, together with his thorough knowledge of agriculture and the duties of the husbandman, he has transformed it to one of the most beautiful and productive farm in the County.

    Thirteen children were born to them,viz., Matthew [see below],  Mary E.,  Ellen,  David,  Barbara A., Margaret and Jane, twins,  Sarah F.,  Agnes D.,  Johnston,  William A.,  John and Janie, twins.  Jane died at three years of age and Sarah F., at the age of nine months.

    Matthew married Emily Madison of Alleghany [NY];  Mary E. married Wm. Crighton of Buffalo [NY];  Ellen married Ezra Squire of Italy Hill;  David married Elizabeth McMichhel of Prattsburg [NY];  Barbara A. married Roger H. Burrell of Seneca [NY];  Margaret married Byron Hayes of Prattsburg and William A. married Ella Doubleday of Starkey [NY].

    At the breaking out of the Rebellion [US Civil war], David and Matthew enlisted in Company C One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Regiment of New York State Volunteers and were assigned to the Fifth Corps of the Army of the Potomac. They were brave and trusty soldiers. The One Hundred Eighty-eighth was a gallant regiment, ever found at the front and no names in the muster-rolls have more honorable records than those of David and Matthew Kennedy. 

    Mr. Kennedy and his estimable companion, though on the down-hill of life,are surrounded by an intelligent and worthy family of children, and are in the enjoyment of all the comforts of a rural home.

US census records state that Mary was born in Scotland.  Ellen, David & Barbara in Canada. The rest in NY. Based on the birth dates & family history we can give an approximate date as to where John & Jane were living. They were in Scotland at least thru May 1834, in Canada by at least Oct. 1837, stayed in Canada until at least Nov. 1839 & were in NY by at least Feb. 1842.