George Key (1733 - 1799)

Born 1733 in Albemarle, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Center) Key — married 14 Oct 1782 in Bedford, Virginia, United States

Husband of Isabella (Kennedy) Key — married 1785 in Bedford County, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died 1799 at about age 66 in Henry County, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Revolutionary War Vet

George Key.>

Born 1733 Albemarle, Virginia, USA. Died 1799 Henry, Virginia, USA.

Research Notes

Info taken from the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy: George was married three times. His 1st wife was Nancy Edwards. His 2nd wife was Mary Senter/Center. (There are 2 spellings for the last name in the old records.) Nancy and Mary were sisters. It is not sure if Edwards or Senter was the maiden name, but it's likely Mary was a widow of the Senter name. Mary is referred to as Miss Edwards in the "Key and Allied Families", so this may be the maiden name, but it is also noted that Mary is from the Stephen and Sussanah Senter family, which could be a former husband's parents. Mary's children from Susan (Sukie) and all others carrying the Senter/Center name where referred to by the "alias, Key" surname in George's will. There were 15 children listed in his will. Normally "alias" denotes illegitimacy, but it seems that George Key was naming several stepchildren since there is the marriage bond for his marriage to Mary Senter in 1782. On the other hand the genealogy states it is possible that it could mean that George had several children by Mary while his first wife was still living and finally married Mary after Nancy, her sister had died. In such case the children would have been called Senter before George and Mary 's marriage. Strangely, some of the same names, Tandy and Dabney given to Mary's children also occurred in the Key Family. In colonial times, the term alias was used for illegitimate as well as stepchildren. The 3rd wife was Isabella Kennedy and there is no record of her being the mother of any of the children. Isabella Key relinquished her dower right in the connection with the sale of property before the writing of George's will. George referred to all 15 as "His children" in his will and they shared equally in the inheritance of his estaste. All the male Senter/Center named children used Key as their sursname as did their descendants who settled in Georgia, Alabama and Texas.

Notes

George Key - Henry Co, VA., will probated 1799. In which he mentions his sons, Thomas, Crossey, Dabney, Stephens, Reuben Carr and Tandy Center. His daughters Milly, Martha, Susanna, Elizabeth, Sallie, Ouah, Mary Ann, Lucinda and Rebecca. The executors to this will were Crossey and Tandy Key and Wm. Mitchell.

George Key was a Revolutionary Solder. Enlisted as private in Capt. Samuel Jordan Cabell's Company in the 6th Virginia Regiment of Foot, commanded by Lieut. Colonel James Hendricks. The company muster roll for the months of May and June, 1777.

Richmond, Va., May 20, 1829, in council: It is advised that George Key be allowed land bounty for three years service as a private in the Continential Line.

Warrant No. 9229, for 50 acres issued on 22nd Nov., 1849 to Wm. Key and Betsy Morris, heirs at law of George Key, late private in the Continential Line, and No. 9230 for 50 acres, issued to Robert B. Bagby, heir of Wm. Key.

Sources

• Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly Vol 27, Number 3. "The Three Families of George Key of Louisa, Bedford, and Henry Counties, Virginia" by Marcus M. Key and Sue B. Senter (references George Key's will)
• Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly Original data: The Virginia Genealogical Society. Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly and Magazine of Virginia Genealogy. https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/6131/VGS_1989_01_01_0162/518554786?backurl=https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/83516054/person/38478683848/facts/citation/862097015077/edit/record#?imageId=VGS_1989_01_01_0160