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William Keeney (abt. 1601 - abt. 1675)

William Keeney aka Keene, Kiene, Keiney, Keeny
Born about in Ilfracombe, Devon, Englandmap [uncertain]
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married about 1626 in Ilfracombe, Devon, Englandmap [uncertain]
Descendants descendants
Died about at about age 74 in New London, New London County, Connecticut Colonymap
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Profile last modified | Created 8 Jul 2011
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The Puritan Great Migration.
William Keeney migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 191)
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Contents

Biography

This is the profile for the immigrant William Keeney of Marblehead, Gloucester and New London.

Spelling of Surname

William's surname in records relating to him, and to his family during his lifetime, was variously spelled as Keayne, Kenie, Keeny, Keney, Keeney, Keinie, Keiny, Keynie, Keenie, Kiene, Keine, Kieney, Keene, and Keiney. The presumption from these spellings is that his name was pronounced "Keenee", with two long E sounds.

Date of Birth

William was probably born sometime about 1601. His date of birth is estimated based on a statement in Caulkins' History of New London which states that he was 61 in 1662.[1] That statement appears to have been based on information in a 1662 list of inhabitants of New London or perhaps a 1662 deposition. No copy of such a list or deposition appears to have been found modern genealogists.

Possible English Records

Two English records have been found that have been identified as possibly relating to William:

  • There is a record of the marriage on November 30, 1627 of a William Kynney and an Agnes or Mary Ducket in Ashby Parva, Leicestershire.[2] The entry had originally said Mary Ducket, but the name Mary was crossed out and the name Agnis written above it. The revision was probably made sometime after the original record was written, since it is in a different ink, but how long after is uncertain. This marriage record is consistent with the first name of William's wife and consistent with the estimated date of marriage of William and Susannah's mother. There is, however, no direct or circumstantial evidence that connects William and Agnes of Ashby Parva to this profile's William. Moreover, there are several reasons for suspecting that thIs marriage record does not relate to the marriage of this profile's William. First, the spelling of William Kynney of Ashby Parva's surname indicates that it was pronounced "Kinnee", whereas, as discussed above, the spellings of the surname of this profile's William in New England records indicate that his surname was pronounced "Keenee", which suggests that they were different families. Second, William was a ship's master/mariner, which is an unlikely occupation for someone from a landlocked county like Leicestershire. Third, as discussed in the profiles for William Kynney and Agnes (Ducket) Kynney, there are parish records from Lutterworth (only three miles from Ashby Parva) that suggest that it is probable that, after their marriage in Ashby Parva in 1627, William Kynney and Agnes (Ducket) Kynney removed to Lutterworth, had a son there and died there.
  • A record that more probably relates to this profile's William Keeney is the record of the baptism in Ilfracombe, Devonshire of "Susanna, daughter of William Keene and Agnis his wife" on August 15, 1627.[3][4] The proposition that this record relates to this profile's William is supported by the following: (1) the names of the father, mother and child in the baptismal record are consistent with the fact (discussed below) that this profile's William was married to a woman named Agnes and had a daughter named Susanna/Susannah, (2) the 1627 date of baptism is consistent with the 1628 estimated date of birth for Susannah the daughter of this profile's William, (3) the surname Keene in the baptismal record is one of the spelling variations used in New England records for this profile's William and is consistent with his name being pronounced "Keenee", (4) the Ilfracombe baptismal record is the only baptismal record that has been found that could reasonably relate to the baptism of Susannah the daughter of this profile's William and (5) Ilfracombe is on the Devonshire coast, which is consistent with this profile's William being a ship's master/mariner.

Since Ilfracombe, Devonshire is almost 200 miles from Ashby Parva, Leicestershire, it is highly unlikely that both records relate to the same person.

Place of Birth

William was almost certainly born in England, but the town, or even the area, in England is uncertain. Some family pages and postings say that he was born in King's Lynn, Norfolk, England, while others say he was born in Ashby Parva (aka Little Ashby), Leicestershire, England. The proposition that William was from King's Lynn, Norfolk is based on the unlikely theory (discussed below) that William was the son of a Sir Thomas Kinne of King's Lynn, Norfolk, while the proposition that he was born in Ashby Parva, Leicestershire is based on the somewhat more plausible theory (discussed below) that he was married there in 1627. Since, however, as discussed above, it is more probable that the 1627 Ilfracombe, Devonshire baptismal record relates to this profile's William than the 1627 Ashby Parva, Leicestershire marriage record, among the options, the most likely possible place of birth for this profile's William is probably in or near Ilfracombe, Devonshire.

Parentage

William's parentage is unknown. The only theory of his parentage that seems to have been proposed is that he was the son of a Sir Thomas Kinne of King's Lynn, Norfolk. There was indeed a prominent Kinne family in King's Lynn around 1600, as shown by the fact that a John Kinne/Kynne, Esq. was a member of Parliament for Lynn about 1570.[5] As discussed in the profile for Henry Kinne (a supposed grandson of Sir Thomas Kinne), however, there is no reliable evidence that Sir Thomas Kinne existed. There is also no evidence connecting William to any of the Kinne's of Norfolk or to County Korfolk. In addition, all the spellings of William's surname in New England records indicate that his name was pronounced with a long E, like "Keenee", whereas "Kinne" was no doubt pronounced with a short i sound, like "Kinnee", which suggests that William's family and the Kinne family of Norfolk were different and unrelated families.

Marriage

William was married to a woman named Agnes. Her is established by the records of the First Church of Boston which refer to "Agnes Keayne the wife of one Willyam Keayne" and "Our Sister Agnes Keeny"[6] and apparently by 1662 list or deposition referenced in History of New London which seems to have given her name as Annis.[1]

Based on William's estimated date of birth (1601) and the estimated date of birth of William's oldest known child, Susannah (1628), William probably married Susannah's mother about 1625-7. It is very probable that Agnes was the mother of William's children Mary and John, but it is less certain that she was the mother of his eldest child Susannah, who was born about 10 years before the other two children. As a result, there is some uncertainty as to whether William's marriage about 1625-7 was with Agnes.

Based on the record discussed above of the marriage on November 30, 1627 of a William Kynney and an Agnes or Mary Ducket in Ashby Parva, Leicestershire, many family trees and internet posts say that Agnes's name was Agnes Ducket and that she and William were married on November 30, 1627 in Ashby Parva (aka Little Ashby), Leicestershire. However, as also discussed above, there are reasons to doubt that that record relates to this profile's William, and it is more likely that the 1627 Ilfracombe, Devonshire baptismal record relates to this profile's William. If the 1627 Ilfracombe, Devonshire baptismal record relates to this profile's William, that removes any doubt that Agnes was the mother of Susannah as well as Mary and John, but means that Agnes's maiden name and and their date and place of marriage is unknown, but it was probably about 1625-7 in or near Ilfracombe, Devonshire.

First Presence in New England; Immigration

The earliest New England record that probably relates to William is the following grant of land by the town of Salem, found in the first volume of the Salem town record book:

The severall proportions of Land laid out at Marble head this 14th of the 9th moneth 1638 being formerly granted. . . . To Will Keene & Nich. Liston on John Peaches neck 3 Acres. more to them on the great neck 5 acres.[7]

The proposition that this record relates to this profile's William Keeny is based on the fact that it is consistent with a string of Essex County Quarterly Court records for a William Keene/Kiene/Keine/Kieney/Keney of Marblehead from 1641 to 1645 that are followed by records Essex County Quarterly Court records for a William Keiney of Gloucester in 1648. The fact that there are no records for William Kieney (or variant spellings) in Marblehead after 1645 and no record for William Keiney (or variant spellings) of Gloucester prior to 1648 strongly suggests that they were one and the same person.

The proposition that William Keene who received land in Marblehead in 1638 is the same person as William Keeny who moved from Gloucester to New London about 1650 is also supported by the following entry in Anderson's 2014 The Great Migration Directory:

Keene, William: Unknown, 1638; Marblehead, Gloucester, Boston, New London [STR 1:74; EQC 1:31, 36, 47, 48, 50, 76, 77, 93, 157; BChR 46, 54, 302; New London Hist 291, 306; Miner Anc 117-18].[8]

Based on the assumption that the 1638 grant of land to William Keene in Marblehead relates to this profile's William Keeny, William probably emigrated from England to New England in 1638, but it is possible that he emigrated somewhat earlier.

Essex County Quarterly Court Records

The records of the Essex County Quarterly Courts contain the following entries, which all very probably relate to this profile's William Keeny.

  • 1641. William Kiene of Marblehead v. John Devorix "y makerel to be divided between Jno Devorix & Edw Clark et Keine."[9]
  • 1641. William Kiene v. Abram Whitheire. Slander.[9]
  • 1641. William Keine of Marblehead fined £3 for striking john Barstall with a stone in his hand and swearing by the blood of God.[10]
  • 1642. Joseph Dalebar testified that Singleman was distempered in liquor and reeled out of Kieney's house.[11]
  • 1642. William Keney (also Keine) of Marblehead presented for suffering disorder in his house. Quit; not being in his house. Witnesses were Joseph Dallabar, Abraham Whiyeare and Devorux his man Thomas.[12]
  • 1642. John Colever, servant to Wm. Kieney, presented for carrying a burden on the Lord's day.[13]
  • 1644. Fine of William Keene was abated.[14]
  • 1644. John Devoreux, Matthew Gillett, Richard Cook, John Focor, Wm. Davies, Thomas Oddensell, Jno Lyon, John Northy, Wm. Keene and Thomas Bowen fined for drinking wine, etc.[15]
  • 1645. Richard Cooke, John Devereux and Willia Kieney were witnesses in a case against John Bartall for working on the Sabbath day. Warrant addressed to the constable of Marblehead.[16]
  • 1648. Joane Tippitt fined for second drunk. Presentment from Gloucester. Wit. Will. Keiney, Jno. Studley, Sarah Vincon and Grace Dutch.[17]
  • 1648. Richard Windoe, presented for living apart from his wife. Discharged. Gloucester presentment. Wit: Will. Vincen and Will. Keiney.[17]
(Note: the Essex County Quarterly Court records from the court in June 1641 relating to a suit by Joseph Harrington, servant to Cp. Keane v. Thomas Keysar of Lynn[18] and a deposition by Peter Pettford of Marblehead regarding killing a sow for Mr. Keans (also Kayne)[19] almost certainly relate to Captain Robert Keayne of Boston.)

Residency in Marblehead

Based on the Essex County Quarterly Court records, it appears that William settled in Marblehead in 1638 and resided there until sometime between 1645 and 1648.

Residency in Gloucester

The Essex County Quarterly Court records indicate that William moved from Marblehead to Gloucester sometime in 1645-1648. Babson's History of Gloucester includes "William Kenie" in a list of persons who were residents of Gloucester prior to the end of 1650,[20] but provides no information about the date of his arrival. William was still in Gloucester in August 1650, when Rev. Blinman wrote a letter from Gloucester to John Winthrop Jr. in the Connecticut Colony regarding making arrangements for Blinman's arrival in New London and requesting Winthrop to have his return messenger seek out Goodman Keeny of their plantation [Gloucester] if Blinman had left before the messenger arrived.[21] In 1652, after moving to New London, William sold his house and land in Gloucester to Thomas Prince.[22]

Children

William had the following children:

  1. Susannah, b. about 1628[23] in England[24] (possibly bpt. August 15, 1627 in Ilfracombe, Devonshire[3][4]), m. 1st by January 31, 1665 Ralph Parker[25] probably in New London,[26] m. 2d December 26, 1678 John Turner[27]
  2. Mary, b. about November 1638[28] probably in Salem or elsewhere in New England,[29] m. probably about 1660 Samuel Beebe in New London[30] presumably in New London[31]
  3. John, b. about July 1642 probably in Marblehead, m. 1st October 1661 Sarah Douglas in New London, m. 2d about 1690 Elizabeth Latham in New London, m. 3d February 17, 1703 Naomi (Burdick) Rogers at New London, d. February 3, 1716 in Nahantick. (See sources and discussion in John's profile.)

In her profile of Samuel Beeby in History of New London, Caulkins stated that Samuel's first wife was Agnes or Annis, daughter of Wiliam Keeny, and that Samuel's second wife was a woman named Mary.[32] In reliance on Caulkins, a number of other secondary sources repeated this claim. Torrey's New England Marriages to 1700 includes a listing for a marriage between Samuel Beebe and an Agnes Keeney but marks it as questionable.[33] As others have suggested,[34] it is possible if not probable that Caulkins' (and her followers') assertion that Samuel Beebe's first wife was Agnes Keeny was an error and that his only wife was Mary Keeny, as no evidence has been found that William had a daughter named Agnes or that Samuel Beeby was married to a woman named Agnes. Caulkins herself in her profile of William Keeny in History of New London only mentions Susannah, Mary and John as his children.[1]

First Church of Boston Records

While living in Essex County, William's wife Agnes, but apparently not William himself, joined the First Church of Boston. The Church's records show that "Agnes Keayne the wife of one Willyam Keayne" was admitted on the 31st day of the 3d Moneth (May) 1646.[35] There is no record that suggests that William himself ever became a member of that church. The First Church of Boston's records also contain an entry for the baptisms on the 31st day of the 3d Moneth (May) 1646 of "Mary Keayne the Daughter of our Sister Agnes the wife of Willyam Keayne about 7 years and an half old and John Keayne hir Sohnne being about 3 years and 10 Monethes old."[36] (Note: the spelling of their surname as "Keayne" is probably attributable to the fact Capt. Robert Keayne and his son Benjamin Keayne were also members of the Church[37] and therefore the clerk who made the entries used that spelling since it was familiar to him, even though the names were probably pronounced slightly differently.) The removal of the family from the Boston area to New London is reflected by a First Church of Boston record stating that "Our Sister Agnes Keeny upon her owne desire and with the consent of the Church granted her Letter of dismission unto the Church at Pequot the 10th day of the 5th month [July] 1653."[38]

Member of the Cape Ann Company, but not the Blinman Company

While living in Gloucester, William became acquainted with the Rev. Richard Blinman. Blinman was the leader of a group of families (sometimes known as the Blinman Company or Party) that emigrated to New England in 1640. They initially settled at Green's Harbor (which later became Marshfield) in the Plymouth Colony, but quickly had a falling out with other settlers there and moved to Gloucester in 1641.[39]

About 1650, a group of families from Gloucester, including many members of Blinman's Company moved to New London.[39] The group that moved to New London was known as the Cape Ann Company from the area of Massachusetts from whence they came. William was clearly part of the Cape Ann Company that removed from Gloucester to New London around 1650,[40][41] but since evidence indicates that he was already in Marblehead in 1638, he was definitely not part of the Blinman Company that emigrated to in 1640 and initially settled at Green's Harbor/Marshfield.

Removal to and Residency in New London

Rev. Blynman and several member of the Cape Ann Company received grants of land in New London on October 19, 1650 and William Keeny and his (present or future) son-in-law Ralph Parker received grants of nearly the same date.[41] Nine 6-acre lots were opened upon on New Street, in the rear of the town plot. William's lot was on the south entrance to New Street, on the road to Nahantick.[42] A July 1651 list of the inhabitants of New London, made by Obadiah Bruen, includes "Keny", showing that William was a resident there by that time.[43] Later, William was granted land up at Nahantick on the bay near John Winthrop Jr's property and the farms of John Prentis and Hugh Caulkins.[44]

"William Keney" was made a Freeman of the Connecticut Colony on May 20, 1658.[45] A list of the names of the Freemen of New London taken on September 28, 1669 included 21 persons, including "William Keeney",[46] which is the only record that has been found with that spelling of his surname.

William was a ship's master, as was his son-in-law Ralph Parker.[47] A number of John Winthrop Jr's letters suggest William's status as a ship's master:

  • In a letter dated September 1651, John Pickworth (who had unexpectedly left New London to return permanently to Salem) requested John Winthrop Jr. to have Goodman Keney bring his daughter up to Salem at the next opportunity.[48]
  • John Winthrop signed the March 14, 1652/3 deposition of Joseph Garlick regarding a disagreement about the amount of corn that William Keinie had transported from Connecticut to Charlestown about 7 years earlier (about 1646) aboard his barque. (In the deposition, William's name is spelled Keinie, Keiny, Keynie, Keenie.)[49]
  • In a letter dated August 22, 1659 from Ferryland Harbour, Newfoundland, Richard Blinman mentioned being welcomed there by Master Keeny and Ralph Parker.[50]

Between 1660 and 1664, Hugh Mold and John Coit built several ships, including a barque called Hopewell, which was built for William Keeny.[51]

An October 5, 1670 list of the members of the New London Church includes Goodwife Keeny, but as in the case of the First Church of Boston, it appears that William did not become a member.[52]

After a violent border dispute between inhabitants of Lyme and inhabitants of New London, at the County Court in Hartford on March 12, 1671/2 about 25 men were charged with resistance to authority and assault including both "Old Keeny" and "John Keeny",[53] who were no doubt William and his son John.

Death

William died in 1675 in New London.[54][1]

Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Caulkins, Frances Manwaring. "History of New London, Connecticut". H.D. Utley, 1895. p. 291. Link to page at archive.org.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "England, Leicestershire Parish Registers, 1533-1991," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP47-29PP : 6 June 2018), William Kynney and Agnis Ducket, 30 Nov 1627; records extracted by findmypast, images digitized by FamilySearch; citing Marriage, Ashby Parva, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom, page 40, citing the Record Office of Leicestershire, Leicester, and Rutland, Wigston, UK.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Parish register of Ilfracombe, Devon, England. South West Heritage Trust, Archive reference 3253A/PR/1/1. Link to transcription and image at findmypast,com. See image attached to this profile.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JMR7-JXP : 11 February 2018, Suzanne Keene, 15 Aug 1627); citing , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 916,849.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Le Strange, Hamon. Norfolk Official Lists, from the Earliest Period to the Present Day. 1890. p. 213. Link to page at books.google.com.
  6. See "First Church of Boston Records" in this profile.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Town of Salem, Massachusetts, Volume I, 1634-1659. The Essex Institute, 1868. p. 74. Link to page at archive.org.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration Directory: Immigrants to New England. A Concise Compendium. New England Genealogical Society. 2015. Entry for "Keene, William".
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume I 1636-1656. The Essex Institute, 1911. p. 31. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume I 1636-1656. The Essex Institute, 1911. p. 36. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume I 1636-1656. The Essex Institute, 1911. p. 47. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume I 1636-1656. The Essex Institute, 1911. p. 48. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume I 1636-1656. The Essex Institute, 1911. p. 50. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  14. 14.0 14.1 Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume I 1636-1656. The Essex Institute, 1911. p. 76. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume I 1636-1656. The Essex Institute, 1911. p. 77. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  16. 16.0 16.1 Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume I 1636-1656. The Essex Institute, 1911. p. 92. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume I 1636-1656. The Essex Institute, 1911. p. 157. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  18. 18.0 18.1 Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume I 1636-1656. The Essex Institute, 1911. p. 26. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  19. 19.0 19.1 Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume I 1636-1656. The Essex Institute, 1911. p. 27. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  20. 20.0 20.1 Babson, John J. History of the Town of Gloucester, Cape Ann, Including the Town of Rockport. Procter Brothers, 1860. p 52. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  21. 21.0 21.1 Freiberg, Malcom. "Letter from John Pickworth to John Winthrop Jr., Salem, 9: Septem. 1651". Winthrop Papers, Volume VI, 1650-1654". Massachusetts Historical Society, 1992. p. 53-54
  22. 22.0 22.1 Babson, John J. History of the Town of Gloucester, Cape Ann, Including the Town of Rockport. Procter Brothers, 1860. p 110. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  23. 23.0 23.1 Daughter Susannah's date of birth of about 1628 is based on the statement in History of New London that Mary was 22 in 1662. See Caulkins, Frances Manwaring. "History of New London, Connecticut". H.D. Utley, 1895. p. 291. Link to page at archive.org.
  24. 24.0 24.1 The proposition that Susannah was born in England is based on the assumption that her family did not emigrate to New England until 1638.
  25. 25.0 25.1 Susannah married Ralph Parker by January 31, 1665 based on a deed dated that date from William Keeney to his son-in-law Ralph Parker. See Jacobus, Donald Lines. "John Prentice of New London, Conn. and His Two Nichols Wives". The American Genealogist. Vol. 34 (1958). p. 82. Link to page at americanancestors.org.
  26. 26.0 26.1 Daughter Susannah's New London place of marriage is based on the assumption that she and Ralph Parker were married in or after 1651 when both her family and Ralph Parker would have been residents of New London.
  27. 27.0 27.1 Caulkins, Frances Manwaring. "History of New London, Connecticut". H.D. Utley, 1895. p. 346. Link to page at archive.org.
  28. 28.0 28.1 Daughter Mary's date of birth of about November 1638 is based on her baptismal record, which states that she was about 7 and a half when she was baptized on May 31, 1646. See "First Church of Boston Records" in this profile. According to the profile of her family in History of New London, Mary was 22 in 1662. See Caulkins, Frances Manwaring. "History of New London, Connecticut". H.D. Utley, 1895. p. 291. Link to page at archive.org. However, the baptismal date is probably more accurate.
  29. 29.0 29.1 The proposition that Mary was born in Salem or elsewhere in New England is based on the assumption that since Mary's estimated date of birth is almost exactly at the same time that William received his grant of land in Marblehead, William had not yet settled at Marblehead but was instead probably living in Salem or elsewhere in New England.
  30. 30.0 30.1 Mary's and Samuel Beebe's 1660 date of marriage is estimated based on the estimated date of birth of their eldest child, Samuel Beebe, Jr. ( sometime in 1660-1662).
  31. 31.0 31.1 Mary and Samuel Beebe were probably married in New London based on the fact that both her family and Samuel Beebe were residents of New London at her estimated date of marriage (about 1660).
  32. 32.0 32.1 Caulkins, Frances Manwaring. "History of New London, Connecticut". H.D. Utley, 1895. p. 339. Link to page at archive.org.
  33. 33.0 33.1 Torrey, Clarence Almon. New England Marriages to 1700. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008. Vol 1. p. 121. Link to page at americanancestors.org.
  34. 34.0 34.1 Don Kelly's rootsweb.com Beebe page
  35. 35.0 35.1 "Records of the First Church in Boston 1630-1868". Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, Volume XXXIX, Collections. 1961. p. 46 (original pagination). Link to the volume at colonialsociety.org.
  36. 36.0 36.1 "Records of the First Church in Boston 1630-1868". Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, Volume XXXIX, Collections. 1961. p. 302 or 303 (original pagination). Link to the volume at colonialsociety.org.
  37. 37.0 37.1 "Records of the First Church in Boston 1630-1868". Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, Volume XXXIX, Collections. 1961. pp. 25, 26, 29, and 37 (original pagination). Link to the volume at colonialsociety.org.
  38. 38.0 38.1 "Records of the First Church in Boston 1630-1868". Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, Volume XXXIX, Collections. 1961. p. 54 (original pagination). Link to the volume at colonialsociety.org.
  39. 39.0 39.1 39.2 "Focus on Clerical Companies". Great Migration Newsletter. Vol. 23, No. 3 (July-September 2014). pp 20-21. Link to article at americanancestors.org.
  40. 40.0 40.1 Babson, John J. History of the Town of Gloucester, Cape Ann, Including the Town of Rockport. Procter Brothers, 1860. pp 51-52. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  41. 41.0 41.1 41.2 Caulkins, Frances Manwaring. "History of New London, Connecticut". H.D. Utley, 1895. p. 67. Link to page at archive.org.
  42. 42.0 42.1 Caulkins, Frances Manwaring. "History of New London, Connecticut". H.D. Utley, 1895. p. 71. Link to page at archive.org.
  43. 43.0 43.1 Caulkins, Frances Manwaring. "History of New London, Connecticut". H.D. Utley, 1895. p. 75. Link to page at archive.org.
  44. 44.0 44.1 Caulkins, Frances Manwaring. "History of New London, Connecticut". H.D. Utley, 1895. p. 94. Link to page at archive.org.
  45. 45.0 45.1 Trumbull, J. Hammond. The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, Prior to the Union with New Haven Colony, May, 1665. 1850. p. 315. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  46. 46.0 46.1 Trumbull, J. Hammond. The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, From 1665 to 1678; with the Journal of the Council of War, 1675 to 1678. 1852. p. 523. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  47. 47.0 47.1 Caulkins, Frances Manwaring. "History of New London, Connecticut". H.D. Utley, 1895. p. 306. Link to page at archive.org.
  48. 48.0 48.1 Freiberg, Malcom. "Letter from Richard Blinman to John Winthrop Jr., Glocester, 7th, 6t, 1650". Winthrop Papers, Volume VI, 1650-1654". Massachusetts Historical Society, 1992. pp. 139-140
  49. 49.0 49.1 Freiberg, Malcom. "Deposition of Joseph Garlick, Mar. 14: 1652[/53}". Winthrop Papers, Volume VI, 1650-1654". Massachusetts Historical Society, 1992. pp. 261-262
  50. 50.0 50.1 "Letter by Richard Blinman to John Winthrop, Ferryland Harbour, August 22, 1659". "Winthrop Papers, vol 5, Massachusetts Historical Society. 1643. Link to extract of letter at heritage.nf.ca.
  51. 51.0 51.1 Caulkins, Frances Manwaring. "History of New London, Connecticut". H.D. Utley, 1895. p. 231. Link to page at archive.org.
  52. 52.0 52.1 Caulkins, Frances Manwaring. "History of New London, Connecticut". H.D. Utley, 1895. p. 144. Link to page at archive.org.
  53. 53.0 53.1 Trumbull, J. Hammond. The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, From 1665 to 1678; with the Journal of the Council of War, 1675 to 1678. 1852. p. 558. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  54. 54.0 54.1 New London Vital Statistics from the Collated Copy from the Original Records, Vol. 1. pp. 70-70. Link to pages at ctgenweb.org.




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Kerney-7 and Keeney-82 appear to represent the same person because: Same death
posted by Anne B
Since The Great Migration Directory spells his last name Keene, and the surname is also spelled Keene in the baptism of his apparent daughter Susanna in Devonshire, I wonder if it would be best to change the LNAB for both William and Susannah's profiles to Keene.
posted by Kenneth Kinman
I'm not a fan of the current LNAB, since Keeney was one of the lesser-used variations in his records. Keene makes sense. My only reservation is that I think most people today would pronounce that spelling as Keen, when the spelling variations make it pretty clear it was pronounced Keenee.
posted by Chase Ashley
edited by Chase Ashley
Q. Who is Ephraim Keene? Like William Keene and Ralph Parker, he is included in a list of "Settlers of Marblehead 1628-1649 (From The Founding of Marblehead, by Thomas E. Gray)."

The Essex Genealogist. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2018.) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB396/i/12593/151/143261983

posted by Perry Streeter
I find nothing for him except as one of many who owed money to George Pollard of Marblehead at his death in 1646. See https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo1.ark:/13960/t0sq9g462&view=1up&seq=80 and https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.35112104150240&view=1up&seq=119 I suppose he may have been related, but I think there were a bunch of unrelated Keenes in the area.
posted by Chase Ashley
edited by Chase Ashley
A possible match for this family group--or at least one worthy of further investigation:

Name: Suzanne Keene Gender: Female Baptism Date: 15 Aug 1627 Baptism Place: Ilfracombe,Devon,England Father: William Keene Mother: Agnes FHL Film Number: 916849

Source Information Ancestry.com. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.

posted by Perry Streeter
Perry - I agree that the Ilfracombe record looks more probable than the Agnes Ducket one. The spelling of the last name is more consistent, the location on the coast seems more probable for a mariner, and the inclusion of the birth of a daughter Susanna is consistent across 3 first names rather than just 2 for the Ducket marriage record. I found images of the actual parish register on findmypast and posted a clip. To me, the K of Keene is pretty hard to make out.
posted by Chase Ashley
Chase--Thank you for the rapid response and articulating some of my own thoughts! Unfortunately, I have not found any other records in Ilfracombe or nearby for the family group of William & Agnes. However, the Keene family seems to be well established there from the mid-1500s. William & Agnes may have married in her native parish nearby and the registers for that parish may not survive or may not have been digitized/indexed yet. At least it is a new theory to confirm or refute! Perry
posted by Perry Streeter
edited by Perry Streeter
Perry - I more fully incorporated the Ilfracombe evidence in the bio.
posted by Chase Ashley
One thing to note about Anderson's Great Migration series and his PGM Directory is that, while he and his team exhaustively research US primary sources, they don't research English primary sources. That means that he is much less useful on the "origin" side of things.
posted by Chase Ashley
The origins of William Keene [Keeney] of Marblehead, Glouchester and Boston, Massachusetts; and New London, Connecticut are unknown (Robert Charles Anderson, FASG [Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists], The Great Migration Directory: Immigrants to New England, 1620–1640; a Concise Compendium [Boston: New England Historical and Genealogical Society, 2015], 191).
posted by Perry Streeter
I can't believe I didn't find the Great Migration Directory entry until AFTER discovering the Salem town records grant and the Essex Quarterly Court records. Could have saved myself dozens of hours of work. [insert headslap emoji]
posted by Chase Ashley
Kinne-39 and Keeney-82 appear to represent the same person because: Same birth year and birth place; same father; same wife Agnes (but her maiden name usually said to be Duckett, not Douglas).
posted by Kenneth Kinman