Petra Vela de Vidal Kenedy
Petra Vela was born on June 29, 1825, in Mier, Mexico to Gregorio and Josefa (Resendez) Vela. Her father was a Spanish governor who oversaw the Native Americans and the territory between the Rio Grande and Nueces River (called the Nueces Strip)
Mexico officially achieved its independence from Spain 1821.
In December 1840 when Petra was 15 she married ( some say they never married and that he had another wife and she was his unofficial partner) Luis Vidal, 12 years her senior, who was originally from Greece and was a colonel of the Mexican regular army. Born 1813 died 1849 from cholera. They were married in 1840 so both were aware of the on going conflict between Texas and Mexico over a disputed land treaty settled when Texas won independence from Mexico in 1836.
Surely he participated in the Dawson Massacre and the Mier Expedition catastrophe. The battle in Mier Mexico began when 300 Texans went there to attack the town in revenge for the Dawson Massacre. Both conflicts were part of continuing efforts by each side to control the land between the Rio Grande and Nueces River.
She had 5 children during the 9-year relationship the youngest was 3-months old when Luis died.
His highly decorated military career allowed him to amass a substantial estate and vital political connections along the Texas-Mexico border. When he died much of his considerable wealth was left to Petra who became a wealthy woman.
It is worth noting that her son Adrian Vidal fought and died fighting for the Union during the Civil War. He was Company Commander, Independent Partisan Rangers Texas Cavalry. Organized at Brownsville, Texas, November 10, 1863. Duty at Brownsville and on the Rio Grande till July, 1864. Ordered to New Orleans and mustered out July 31, 1864. He was the only son of that union. Her four daughters lived long lives.
Three years of being independent ended when in 1852 she married Mifflin Kenedy. This time he was only 7-years older. This marriage resulted in 6 children four of whom she would outlive. Thomas was murdered by a jealous husband when 35, James 29 from consumption, William 17, and Phebe was only 8-months old.
There is another daughter not listed as her child on Find-a-grave but is listed as a daughter of Mifflin. According to her obituary he adopted her because her father was kind to him in Mexico.
The county named Kenedy and the town Kenedy in Texas are not places where the Kenedy family ever lived. The county and the town were named such just for the contribution the Kenedy family made to South Texas.