Simeon Keene (1725 - 1790)

Born 30 Sep 1725 in Pembroke, Plymouth, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Lydia (Stevens) Keen — married 16 May 1751 (to 17 Jul 1790) in Marshfield, Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died 17 Jul 1790 at age 64 in Marshfield, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States [uncertain]

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Biography

Simeon Keene, son of Isaac and Deborah (Dwelley) Keene^[1] was born at Pembroke on 30 September 1725. His mother died on 1 April 1729, when he was just three years old.^[2] His birth is also given as 23 April 1733 in the published Pembroke Vital Records.^[3]

In 1743, Simeon made the choice of his father, Isaac to be guardian of the estate that he inherited from his uncle, Lemuel Dwelley.^[4]

Simeon Keen, then of Pembroke, married Lydia Stephens of Marshfield on 16 May 1751 in Marshfield after intentions were published there on 13 April.^[5]

Simeon was a shipwright in Marshfield.^[6]

He died on 17 July 1790, "in his 66th year" and was buried in the Old Burial Ground in Marshfield. His gravestone inscription was recorded in 1911.^[7]

In his will,^[6] dated 19 June 1790, Simeon Keen of Marshfield, shipwright, named his wife Lydia Keen; daughters Lucy Porter (20s.), Ruth Little (20s.), Lydia Keen; four sons Simeon, Stevens (spelled this way several times in the will), Benjamin and William Keen. He bequeaths all his estate to be divided among his four sons and daughter Lydia, and irects them to maintain his wife, Lydia with "an Honourable Maintenance" in lieu of her right of dower. He also directs them to maintain his daughter Ruth Little if she be "under necessity." He directs his legatees to not bring any demands against the estate or bills, except for son Simeon for "labour done on the sloop now lying on Scituate Beach." He named his friend William Macomber as sole executor, and it was witnessed by William Lewis, Elijah Phillips and Mercy Phillips. He signed his name Simeon Keen. The will was proved on 30 July 1790.

Inventory of his estate was taken on 29 July 1790 and included real estate valued at £963, the schooner Neptune (58 tons), sloop Industry (80 tons), hull of the sloop Dolphin (80 tons), and a pew in the South Meeting House at Marshfield. Total value was £1531.^[6] On 22 July 1790, Lydia Keen advised the court that she did not accept the maintenance that her husband's will outlined instead of her right of dower or thirds in his estate. She signed her name as Lydia P. Keen. On 19 April 1791, she was assigned one half of the house that "she now lives in" and a piece of upland surrounding the house.^[6] On 29 Oct 1791, executor William Macomber testified that he sold real estate to pay the debts of the estate to the value of £108.^[6]

Children of Simeon & Lydia born Marshfield:^[8][6]

1. Lucy/Luce Keen, b. 18 Nov 1752; m. Oliver Porter 11 Aug 1773.
2. Ruth Keen, b. 31 Jul 1756; m. Peabody Little int. 26 Aug 1780.
3. Lydia Keen, b. 28 Apr 1758; unm. in 1790
4. Simeon Keen, b. 26 Nov 1761; m. Chrisitana Joyce int. Apr. 10, 1787, daughter of John & Faith Joyce, b. Marshfield 30 Dec 1765.
5. Stephen/Stevens Keen, b. 24 Jun 1766
6. Benjamin Keen, b. 29 Mar 1769
7. William Keen, b. 11 Jul 1771

Research notes

There is a discrepancy between the birth date published in the Pembroke Vital Records, which is derived from a "private record" given as 23 April 1733,^[3] and what is given in the Mayflower Families as 30 September 1725. His gravestone inscription calculates to a birth year of 1725, but does not supply a specific date of 30 September. Some of their children's marriages are also recorded in the Marshfield VRs. ^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ George Ernest Bowman, "Hezakiah Keen's Account Book with Family Records," The Mayflower Descendant Vol. XXVIII (Jan. 1930), p. 6.

   "Isaac Keen mared with Debrah Dwelley and had 1 Son By hir who is Semeon."

2. ↑ Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Volume Eighteen, Part 2, The Descendants of Richard Warren Through His Children Mary, Anna, and Elizabeth, Published 2011, Page 122. (Available via AmericanAncestors.org by $ubscritption.)
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} NEHGS, compiler, Vital Records of Pembroke, MA, to the Year 1850 (Boston, MA: NEHGS, 1911), p. 134, citing a private record from a "Keene family record, now [1911] in the possession of Miss Carrie Randall of West Duxbury."

   "KEENE, Simeon, ch. Isaac and Deborah (Dwelley), Apr. 23, 1733."

4. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L97D-JVVJ : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1742-1745 and 1844-1856 vol 9-9M > image 36 of 583; State Archives, Boston.
5. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (20 May 2014), Plymouth > Marshfield > Town records 1637-1802 vol 2 > image 24 of 222; citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston. Marshfield Vital Records, Vol. 2:46.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5} "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897D-P3LZ?cc=2018320&wc=M6BX-R3F%3A338494201 : 20 May 2014), Probate case files 1686-1881 no 11744-11829 > image 1056 of 1235; State Archives, Boston. Plymouth County Probate file #11818, Simeon Keen, shipwright of Marshfield, 1790.
7. ↑ Willard, John W., "Records from the Old Burial Ground at the Congregational Church, Marshfield, Mass." Mayflower Descendant Vol. 13(1911):47.

   "Keen, Simeon, died 17 July, 1790, in his 66th year."

8. ↑ Mayflower Descendant: A Magazine of Pilgrim Genealogy and History. Boston, MA: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1899- . (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010). Bowman, George Ernest, "Marshfield, Mass., Vital Records," Mayflower Descendant Vol. 29:109, citing original Marshfield Records Volume II, page 77.

   "Luce Keen the Daughter of Simeon Keen & Lydia his wife was Born November 18th 1752.

   "Ruth Keen the Daughter of Simeon Keen & Lydia his wife was Born July 31 : 1756.

   "Lydia Keen the Daughter of Simeon Keen & Lydia his wife was Born April 28 : 1758.

   "Simeon Keen the Son of Simeon Keen & Lydia his wife was Born November 26 : 1761.

   "Stephen Keen the Son of Simeon Keen & Lydia his wife was Born June 24 : 1766.

   "Benjamin Keen the Son of Simeon Keen & Lydia his wife was Born march 29th 1769.

   "William Keen the Son of Simeon Keen & Lydia his wife was Born July 11th 1771."

9. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (20 May 2014), Plymouth > Marshfield > Town records 1637-1802 vol 2 > image 24 of 222; citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston. Marshfield Vital Records, Vol. 2:46.

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 18 March 2021), memorial page for Simeon Keen (1725–17 Jul 1790), Find A Grave: Memorial #65204007, citing Cedar Grove Cemetery, Marshfield, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by Beverly Burnett (contributor 46898315) .