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there was but little of that commodity to be had in the remote
district of Knocknalling。 The parish…school was six miles distant；
and the teaching given in it was of a very inferior sortusually
administered by students； probationers for the ministry； or by
half…fledged dominies； themselves more needing instruction than able
to impart it。 The Kennedys could only attend the school during a few
months in summer…time； so that what they had acquired by the end of
one season was often forgotten by the beginning of the next。 They
learnt； however； to read the Testament； say their catechism； and
write their own names。
As the children grew up； they each longed for the time to come when
they could be put to a trade。 The family were poorly clad； stockings
and shoes were luxuries rarely indulged in； and Mr。 Kennedy used in
after…life to tell his grandchildren of a certain Sunday which he
remembered shortly after his father died； when he was setting out for
Dalry church； and had borrowed his brother Alexander's stockings； his
brother ran after him and cried； 〃See that you keep out of the dirt；
for mind you have got my stockings on！〃 John indulged in many
day…dreams about the world that lay beyond the valley and the
mountains which surrounded the place of his birth。 Though a mere boy；
the natural objects； eternally unchangeable； which daily met his
eyesthe profound silence of the scene； broken only by the bleating
of a solitary sheep； or the crowing of a distant cock； or the
thrasher beating out with his flail the scanty grain of the black
oats spread upon a skin in the open air； or the streamlets leaping
from the rocky clefts； or the distant church…bell sounding up the
valley on Sundays all bred in his mind a profound melancholy and
feeling of loneliness； and he used to think to himself； 〃What can I
do to see and know something of the world beyond this？〃 The greatest
pleasure he experienced during that period was when packmen came
round with their stores of clothing and hardware； and displayed them
for sale； he eagerly listened to all that such visitors had to tell
of the ongoings of the world beyond the valley。
The people of the Knocknalling district were very poor。 The greater
part of them were unable to support the younger members； whose custom
it was to move off elsewhere in search of a living when they arrived
at working years；some to America； some to the West Indies； and some
to the manufacturing districts of the south。 Whole families took
their departure in this way； and the few friendships which Kennedy
formed amongst those of his own age were thus suddenly snapped； and
only a great blank remained。 But he too could follow their example；
and enter upon that wider world in which so many others had ventured
and succeeded。 As early as eight years of age； his mother still
impressing upon her boys the necessity of learning to work； John
gathered courage to say to her that he wished to leave home and
apprentice himself to some handicraft business。 Having seen some
carpenters working in the neighbourhood； with good clothes on their
backs； and hearing the men's characters well spoken of； he thought it
would be a fine thing to be a carpenter too； particularly as the
occupation would enable him to move from place to place and see the
world。 He was as yet； however； of too tender an age to set out on the
journey of life； but when he was about eleven years old； Adam Murray；
one of his most intimate acquaintances； having gone off to serve an
apprenticeship in Lancashire with Mr。 Cannan of Chowbent； himself a
native of the district； the event again awakened in him a strong
desire to migrate from Knocknalling。 Others had gone after Murray；
James MacConnel and two or three more； and at length； at about
fourteen years of age； Kennedy himself left his native home for
Lancashire。 About the time that he set out； Paul Jones was ravaging
the coasts of Galloway； and producing general consternation
throughout the district。 Great excitement also prevailed through the
occurrence of the Gordon riots in London； which extended into remote
country places； and Kennedy remembered being nearly frightened out of
his wits on one occasion by a poor dominie whose school he attended；
who preached to his boys about the horrors that were coming upon the
land through the introduction of Popery。 The boy set out for England
on the 2nd of February； 1784； mounted upon a Galloway； his little
package of clothes and necessaries strapped behind him。 As he passed
along the glen； recognising each familiar spot； his heart was in his
mouth； and he dared scarcely trust himself to look back。 The ground
was covered with snow； and nature quite frozen up。 He had the company
of his brother Alexander as far as the town of New Galloway； where he
slept the first night。 The next day； accompanied by one of his future
masters； Mr。 James Smith； a partner of Mr。 Cannan's； who had
originally entered his service as a workman； they started on ponyback
for Dumfries。 After a long day's ride； they entered the town in the
evening； and amongst the things which excited the boy's surprise were
the few street…lamps of the town； and a waggon with four horses and
four wheels。 In his remote valley carts were as yet unknown； and even
in Dumfries itself they were comparative rarities； the common means
of transport in the district being what were called 〃tumbling cars。〃
The day after； they reached Longtown； and slept there； the boy noting
ANOTHER lamp。 The next stage was to Carlisle； where Mr。 Smith； whose
firm had supplied a carding engine and spinning…jenny to a small
manufacturer in the town； went to 〃gate〃 and trim them。 One was put
up in a small house； the other in a small room； and the sight of
these machines was John Kennedy's first introduction to
cotton…spinning。 While going up the inn…stairs he was amazed and not
a little alarmed at seeing two men in armourhe had heard of the
battles between the Scots and Englishand believed these to be some
of the fighting men； though they proved to be but effigies。 Five more
days were occupied in travelling southward； the resting places being
at Penrith； Kendal； Preston； and Chorley； the two travellers arriving
at Chowbent on Sunday the 8th of February； 1784。 Mr。 Cannan seems to
have collected about him a little colony of Scotsmen； mostly from the
same neighbourhood； and in the evening there was quite an assembly of
them at the 〃Bear's Paw；〃 where Kennedy put up； to hear the tidings
from their native county brought by the last new comer。 On the
following morning the boy began his apprenticeship as a carpenter
with the firm of Cannan and Smith； serving seven years for his meat
and clothing。 He applied himself to his trade； and became a good；
steady workman。 He was thoughtful and self…improving； always
endeavouring to acquire knowledge of new arts and to obtain insight
into new machines。 〃Even in early life；〃 said he； in the account