History and Genealogy

   The Kendalls are English. The name originated in the Dale of the Ken River - a combination of the words Ken-Dale. In 1060 John and Thomas spelled their names Kendale. Richard Kendale in 1355 still adhered to the original way of spelling the name. John Kendal, secretary to King Richard III, dropped the letter "e". General John Kendall, 1421, General of the Infantry of the Knights of St. John in 1477, added an "l". He was awarded the first medal ever given an Englishman. It was for "outstanding service to his country."

   Some writers interpret the name from Anglo-Saxon words "cyn" meaning "kindred" and "dael" meaning a dale or valley. Its meaning therefore would be "valley kindred" or "relatives of the dale". Others erroneously say the name was taken from the town of Kendal in England. This town was incorporated in 1576, more than 500 years after the name was well known. Some writers say the town of Kendal was laid out by and named for John Kendall, a wealthy and prominent citizen of Westmorland. UNFINISHED KENDALL MEMORANDUM By Parks, Stokes and Kendall of London and Oxford, England Genealogists

   We secured the services of the firm Parks, Stokes and Kendall, Genealogists, to link the Kendalls of the first two English settlements in America with their English ancestors - Jamestown, Virginia, and Plymouth, Massachusetts. Their final records were to have been put in manuscript, fully detailed and explained, but World War II in 1942 wrecked many old Libraries, Archives, Churches, and other historic places, before they completed all their records. They succeeded in getting to us the following Kendall Memorandum, notes and data, and we may never know more than it tells us. Preserve it for what it is worth. We can accept it as correct, until mistakes are found, if any. We called for data beginning with the discovery of America.

   Mr. Norman Festus Kendall, Grafton, W.Va. Find herewith our unfinished notes. The German bombs have wrecked our every plan. If anything is left, and we are living, we may be able to finish them after the war for you. We have only given you the male members of the families. Keep the notes. We hope some day to hear from you again. You have our very best wishes. (Parks, Stokes and Kendall).

   1421-1501 --- JOHN KENDALL. Wife: Margaret. Sons: John, Thomas, William, HENRY, George.

   1441-1520 --- HENRY KENDALL, above. Wife: Edith. Sons: FRANCIS, Richard, Thomas, John, William.

   1480-1561 --- FRANCIS KENDALL, above. Wife: Mary. Sons: JAMES, Jeremiah, Bartholomew, Edward, John, Thomas.

   1504-1578 --- JAMES KENDALL, above. Wife: Elizabeth Miles. Sons: WILLIAM, Samuel, Henry, JOHN, James, Thomas.

   1527-1601 --- WILLIAM KENDALL, above. Wife: Sarah Brayne. Sons: JOHN, William, Thomas, James, Samuel, Henry.

   1548-1628 --- JOHN KENDALL, above. Wife: Mary Miles. Sons: WILLIAM, Thomas, Samuel, Edward, Henry, Miles, John (New England).

   1575-1655 --- WILLIAM KENDALL, above. Wives: first Mary Leigh (Lee) and second Elizabeth Arlington. Sons by first wife: John, William, Thomas. Son by second wife: JOHN (kinsman).

   1617-1679 --- JOHN KENDALL (kinsman), above, half-brother of Lt.Col. William Kendall, son of William and Elizabeth Arlington Kendall, general manager of his half-brother's vast business enterprises, receiving an annual salary of 24,000 pounds of tobacco. Business letters show that this John Kendall had considerable business interests of his own. The records show that he married Susanna Savage, age 18 years, in 1667. She was born in 1649 and records show four children to this union - John, Susanna, Thomas and William. That after Mr. Kendall's death, Mrs. Kendall married Henry Warren and after Mr. Warren's death married Hammond Firkettle. The above are Virginia Records in England.