Have found an interesting possibility for Reuben Kendall's grandfather - His name is partially "burned away" on the 1840 Census of Montgomery Co., N.C. (West of The Pee Dee River). He appears to have been, Thomas Kendall,born abt. 1742, son of William and Jemima Kendall, (living two farms away from Thornton Kendall). He is listed as being (80-90 yrs.) with another "erased" notation in the column of (someone over 100), a female (60-70), and a male (10-15)yrs.
If anyone can verify or correct this finding, I would greatly appreciate your help. Have been researching Kendall family for about seven years.

The name burned in the census area is indeed that of Thomas Kendall. This is confirmed by an earlier Montgomery Co. census.However your statement "son of William and Jemima Kendall" is unsubstantiated from the 1840 census information. According to my research, Thomas and Thornton were both sons of John S. and Amy Thornton Kendall of King George County, Virginia