Thomas Keene (1593 - abt. 1653)

Born 1593 in England

Husband of Mary (Thorley) Broughton — married 1638 in Kent Island, Queen Anne's Co, Province of Maryland

Descendants

Died about 20 Jan 1653 at about age 60 in Cherry Point Neck, Northumberland County, Colony of Virginia

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Biography

Thomas Keene migrated from England to Colonial America.

We first find Thomas Keene living on Kent Island. This island, which lies just off the coast of Maryland in Chesapeake Bay, was first colonized in 1631 when Col. William Clayborne of Virginia led a band of about 100 colonists there and established a trading post. In 1632 the colonists sent a representative to the Virginia Assembly at Jamestown. However, Lord Baltimore had been granted a claim which overlapped that of Virginia and on February 27, 1634, after a long and stormy voyage, 300 of his colonists reached Maryland. A conflict then arose between the Kent Islanders, who wished to belong to Virginia and the Marylanders who claimed the island for their colony. This dispute lasted for fifteen years.

In Dec 1636 Capt George Evelin appeared on Kent Island and put himself in the good graces of the inhabitants by seeming to favor their claims to Virginia allegiance. Early in 1637, however, he changed sides and by trickery and double-dealing managed to supplant Col. Clayborne as leader of the colony. He was given the title of Commander of Kent Island by Gov. Calvert of Maryland and became a virtual dictator over the inhabitants. Streeter says 'John Struman, Sr. and Thomas Keyme, coopers,' were directed to devote their time to making pipe-staves, assisted by seven servants. April 30, 1638, we find this record: 'Entered by Capt. George Evelin for the Manor of Evelinton in the Baronie of St. Maries:' Following this were the names of 23 men among them Thomas Keane, William Medcalf, Matthew Roadham and Thomas Orley, all of whom later moved to Northumberland County, VA, just across the Potomac River from St. Mary's County, Md. This might mean that Capt Evelin was responsible for bringing these colonists to Kent Island from England or merely that he took them from Kent Island to St. Marys. Many of the names listed were mentioned by Streeter as having been on Kent Island.

Thomas Keene may have been one of the original settlers of Kent Island who went there from Virginia with Col. Clayborne in 1631. If he did live for a while on St. Marys, he later returned to Kent Island, where on Nov 9, 1640, he patented 100 acres of land in Hog Pen Creek and Chesapeake Bay on the West. We know that his eldest son was born on Kent in 1642. The Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1633-47, give an assessment by Lieut. Grall and Council for levying 2000 pounds of tobacco to the account of the last expedition-'levies upon the county of Kent after the rates following.' Among those levied upon was Thomas Keyne.

In 1644, Col. Clayborne moved to Virginia, taking 100 men, for each of which he received 50 acres of land on the south side of the York River.^[1] Thomas Keene was claimed as one of these headrights, though this claim was not recorded until 1653. The land grant states that William Clayborne 'came up the Pamunkey River in the narrows abutting on the mouth of a creek called Tankes, parting same land from the land of Captain John West's running west to a point of land whereon said Col. Clayborne landed his army under his command, in 1644.' Thomas Keene may have served for a time with Col. Clayborne near West Point, Virginia. However, in 1648 he was in St. Marys County, Maryland, where he made the deposition stating his age.

Thomas Keene had moved to Cherry Point, Northumberland County, Virginia by December 9, 1650, on which date he and William Presley appraised an estate. (North. R.B. 1650-52. p.48) April 13, 1652, an oath of allegiance to England was taken by a number of Northumberland colonists as follows: 'Those names here subscribed do promise and engage ourselves to be bound and faithful to the Commonwealth of England as it is now without King or House of Lords.' Among other signers were Thomas Keene, Henry Rayner and Thomas Broughton, successive husbands of the same wife. (North. O.B. 1, p. 72) Sept 20, 1652, Thomas Keene was paid 625 pounds of tobacco out of the estate of Henry Barnes. (North. O.B. 2, p.289) Oct 13, 1653, we find recorded: 'Now Know we that I the said Richard Bennett Esq. Governor give and grant unto Thomas Keene five hundred twenty seven Acres of Land Scituate laying and being in the County of Northumberland and abutting Northwest upon the Several Lands of Ralph Horsly and Edward Coppedge South and South East upon Claughtons Creek and North East upon Cherry point the said Land due unto the said Thomas Keene by and for the transportation of Eleven persons into this Colony to have and to hold...' (L. Gr. B. 3, p.61) Headrights mentioned were Thomas Orley (twice), Archibald Read, Thomas Watson, Margaret Browne, John Earle and wife, Thomas Keene, Mary Keene and William Keene. This was recorded after the death of Thomas and the patent was renewed March 18, 1662. ^[2]

Thomas Keene, the immigrant ancestor of this family, came first to Virginia and then for some reason went to Kent Island, Maryland, where his eldest child, William Keene was born in 1642. This fact is recorded on the elaborate epitaph on the tombstone of his son William Keene. This tombstone recites a full family history; 'William Keene, son of Thomas and Mary Keene, his wife, was born on Kent Island, Maryland and brought to Virginia where he married etc...' Thomas Keene took the oath of allegiance to the Commonwealth of England on April 13, 1652 in Northumberland County, Virginia. The name is spelled Kane, Cane, on the early records and from this spelling as well as a later spelling it is sure that the name was pronounced as though it were spelled Cayne. The spelling even occurs in a few instances as Keyne. Thomas Keene died about 1659 leaving four very young children to the care of his widow Mary. Mary lost no time in making a second marriage to an Englishman names Thomas Broughton by whom she had no issue nor did Thomas Broughton leave issue by any other wife. He pre-deceased the said Mary and left his estate to her children by her first husband. Thomas Keene, orphan, of the above Thomas Keene was allowed 'one steer for two years schooling, October 10, 1659.'

In the division of the cattle belonging to the orphans of Thomas Keene, deceased, the names of the orphans were given as: William, Thomas, Susanna, and Matthew Keene.

A record dated 30 Apr 1638 shows that Thomas was one of 23 men who were transported to St. Mary's County, MD, by Capt. George Evelin to seat the manor of Evelinton. By 9 Dec 1650 Thomas and his family had relocated to Northumberland Co., VA. Thomas left descendants in Northumberland, Stafford, and Westmoreland County in Virginia.

Birth

1593

Otley, Suffolk, , England ^[3]

There are no sources showing that the Thomas Keene of Kent Island Maryland was born at Otley, Suffolk, England where Elizabeth (Gosnold) Keene lived, He was unlikely to have been the son of Elizabeth Gosnold since he was an illiterate cooper. His year of birth of 1593 and birth in England is based on a 1648 deposition in which he identified himself as being age 55 and born in England, but did not identify where or who his parents were.

Death

16 JAN 1652

Cherry Point Neck, Northumberland, Virginia ^[3]

ALTERNATE DEATH INFO : 652-01-16 1653-01-20 1653-01-20 Death Place Northumberland Co., Virginia, USA^{[citation needed]}

Marriage & Children

Husband: Thomas Keene

Wife: Mary Thorley

Date: 1640

Place: Kent Island, Queen Anne's, Maryland.^{[citation needed]}

Children:

1. Anthony Keene
2. William Keene
3. Matthew Keene
4. Susanna Keene
5. Matthew Keene
6. Bridget Keene

Will of Thomas Keene

In the name of God amen know all men that I Thomas Keene being fresh of memory doeth as followeth first I bequeath my spirit to God that gave it after my body to the earth and then as followeth I give and bequeath to my son Thomas one Cowe named Cole next to my Daughter Susanna one Heifer called by the name of Su next I give my son William one heifer named Gentle next I give my son Matthew the next Cow Calfe that falleth of the old Cows.

Matthew Rhodon oweth me for 11 heads and 18 pounds since the last year 293

Mr Lee oweth me of amidst this year for sice heads & a paile 180

Richard Walker paid Mr Wilsford for my use for hooping 029

two pailes for Mr Wilford 030

to Mr Wilford for two heads 050

for a Barrell to Mr Wilford 030

Richard White oweth me for a quarter of beef 200

Richard White for a head 025

Philip Carpenter for 3 heads 075

Philip Carpenter for a churne 060

Henry Mosely upon Accot this year 150

Wm Medcalfe upon accot last year 095

Henry Rainer for Caske washing and a paile 555

In Mr Mottroms hand 040

Simon Richardson for Court charges 080

John Gresham upon an Ord'r of Court 213

Mr Lee signed over fifty for my use Gresham to pay 050

Paid for Greshams use to Ralph Horsley 035

Upon debts when wee Reckned upon John Greshams Accts Debtor 330

Mr Colclough 092

George Courtnell oweth 155

Ralph Horsly oweth me for a quarter of Beef this year 200

Ralph Horsley oweth me for 2 heads 050

Ralph Horsley for a paile and a Churne 080

Ralph Horsly accot and myne of last year stands on abut another in a little brooke of his 000

Francis Simons oweth me 048

Wm Reynolds 040

John Bennet 070

3305

Know all men that I do give to my wife Mary Keene for the bringing up of my children all my movable goods and hogs and cattle but what I gave given to my children and the remainder of my Tobacco when my debts is paid to my wife Also I give this land and plantacion to my wife during her life after her decease I give the said land to my son Tho: and his heirs forever.

Overseers of the estate Hen. Mosely John Stanley Thomas Orlye Matther Rhodon. Witness my hand and ---[obliterated] this 27th of Novem: 1652 Witnesses : Henry Rainer

The Mark of Thomas Keene John Knight.

Research Notes

Vital Statistics

Name
The unsourced suffix Jr was previously attached.

Disputed Parents

Thomas Keene Sr (1570-1665) and Elizabeth (Gosnold) Keene (1570-1665) are purported to be his parents on many Family Trees. None of these trees provide a basis for this unsourced relationship.

Per William Crump Jr:

This Thomas Keene does not appear to be the son of English gentry as he could not write his own name. His Will was signed with a mark instead of a signature.

The Will of Thomas Keene who was married to Elizabeth Gosnold does not claim that his son Thomas Keene was in America at the time of his death.

At no time while in America is there any source that indicates this Thomas Keene was born in Otley, Suffolk, England.

Thomas Keene is my 7th great grandfather. Many researchers have tried to prove this Thomas Keene was the son of Elizabeth Gosnold, but to date, 20 Nov 2023, no one has found a document or source that confirms he was her son.

Following the Wikitree policy of promoting accuracy, Thomas Keene Sr (1570-1665) and Elizabeth (Gosnold) Keene (1570-1665) should not be displayed as his parents in the absence of proof. For now, his inability to sign his name is a strong indicator that he was not a descendant of these people.

Sources

1. ↑ Stewart, Robert Armistead, and Nugent, Nell Marion. Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, 1623-1666. United States, Genealogical Publishing Company, 1983. p. 245
2. ↑ Stewart, Robert Armistead, and Nugent, Nell Marion. Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, 1623-1666. United States, Genealogical Publishing Company, 1983. pp. 251 & 495.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} “Thomas Keene, II.” geni_family_tree, 14 Feb. 2020, www.geni.com/people/Thomas-Keene-II [1] BETTER SOURCE SOUGHT.

See also:

• If The Legends Are True...: [2]

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Keene-187 created through the import of Paula's family 5-28-2011.GED on May 29, 2011 by Paula Marksman.
• WikiTree profile Keene-199 created through the import of FISCUS Family Tree.ged on Jun 6, 2011 by Liisa Small.
• WikiTree profile Keene-240 created through the import of 2010-09-14.ged on Jul 28, 2011 by Bob Carson.
• Thank you to Sonia Parsons for creating WikiTree profile Keene-678 through the import of DNA Skeleton Tree.ged on Sep 8, 2013.