John Burroughs McKeever (abt. 1807 - 1875)

Born about 1807 in Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

Died 18 Dec 1875 at about age 68 in Pennsylvania, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Steve Ryan [send private message]

Biography

John was born in 1809 or 1814 according to census records in 1860 ^[1] and 1870, ^[2] but FindAGrave shows his death in 1875, with a headstone saying he was 67, so the date may have been as early as 1807. ^[3]

John married Elizabeth by 1836, but a direct source is lacking. Her last name was Saunders according to a death record for their son Edward^[4] but so far this is the only mention of her last name. It does appear as the middle name of their children Mary and Edward.

The family of John McKeever is documented in a book of records from St. Andrew's Episcopal church in Philadelphia. All of his children were with Elizabeth except the last.^[5]

So far there is no proper source for the death of Elizabeth. She last appears with the birth of Laura in 1853 and is missing in the 1860 census. FindAGrave has in Elizabeth McKeever (1810-1856), interred 23 Jun 1856 in Philadelphia. This fits in nicely, but there is no photo and there are no family details to show whether this is the same Elizabeth.^[6]

The 1860 census shows J. B. McKeever with three of his children. It is unknown whether Mary, Henry, and Frank died before 1860, married, or perhaps joined other relatives after their mother's death. Note that J. B. occupation is transcribed "Machinist", but that part of the scan is poor enough to put that in doubt. ^[1]

John married Susan Hill Engle Marsh on 17 Sep 1860 according to a Sons of the American Revolution application made by a descendant of daughter Marion.^[7] Engle was her birth name, and Marsh was from her first husband. The same application gives John's parents as James McKeever (31 May 1780 - 1822) and Ann Burroughs or Burrows (Oct 1782 - 10 Dec 1811). The claimed revolutionary ancestor was in the next generation, John McKeever (1755, Cumb. co, Pa - 4 Jan 1810, Phila, Pa).

The 1870 census show John as James B., but includes wife Susan (50), children Edward (21) and Laura (17) as in the 1860 census, and new child Marion, age 8. James(?) is a book keeper and Edward is a clerk in sugar mill. They have two domestic servants with surname Bias.^[2]

John is buried in Chester Rural Cemetery, Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States with a death date of 18 December 1875.^[8]

Research Notes

A Samuel and Elizabeth McKeever in Chester county Pennsylvania had a son Edward of about the same age as John and Elizabeth's Edward, but the other children were different.

John appears in records as J. B, or John B., and once as James B.. His middle name was probably Burroughs, or possibly Burrows.

It would be interesting to see whether there is enough evidence to connect back to probable ancestor Richard Flower (1724-abt.1762), father-in-law of the John McKeever who fought in the revolution. His daughter was Jemima Edwards Flower in most sources, or Gemima in his 1752 will.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} 1860 Census: "1860 United States Federal Census"
   The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Chester Middle Ward, Delaware, Pennsylvania; Roll: M653_1105; Page: 176; Family History Library Film: 805105
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7667 #3606076 (accessed 28 June 2023)
   J B McKeever (46), Machinist, in Chester Middle Ward, Delaware, Pennsylvania. Born in Pennsylvania.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} 1870 Census: "United States Census, 1870"
   citing Page: 45; Affiliate Publication Number: M593; Line: 7; FHL microfilm: 000552835; Record number: 6614;
   FamilySearch Record: MZGK-FPF (accessed 28 June 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HY-6QM9-157 Image number 00172
   James B McKever (61) head of household in Chester, Delaware, Pennsylvania, United States. Born in Pennsylvania.
3. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #191955006 (accessed 28 June 2023)
   Memorial page for John Burroughs McKeever (1807-18 Dec 1875), citing Chester Rural Cemetery, Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, USA (plot: Section B, Lot 93, Grave 5); Maintained by Crypt Tonight (contributor 48494116).
4. ↑ Death: "Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1969"
   Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, Pa; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Certificate Number Range: 049001-052000; Certificate Number: 51117
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 5164 #1904952 (accessed 28 June 2023)
   Edward S McKeever death 19 Apr 1919 (born 28 Apr 1849), son of John B McKeever & Elizabeth Saunders, in Upland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, USA.
5. ↑ Baptism of child Jemima McKeever: "Pennsylvania and New Jersey, U.S., Church and Town Records, 1669-2013"
   Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records; Reel: 374
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2451 #23062492 (accessed 28 June 2023)
   J B McKeever's child Jemima McKeever baptism in Jul 1836 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
6. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (no image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #143861022 (accessed 28 June 2023)
   Memorial page for Elizabeth McKeever (1810-1856), citing Woodlands Cemetery, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA (plot: D 77); Maintained by Crypt Tonight (contributor 48494116).
7. ↑ Family History or Pedigree: "U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970"
   Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2204 #983137 (accessed 28 June 2023)
   Name: John Burroughs McKeever; Birth Date: 1814; Birth Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Death Date: 18 Dec 1874; Death Place: Del, Pennsylvania; SAR Membership: 91468; Role: Ancestor; Application Date: 17 Jun 1964; Father: James McKeever; Mother: Ann Burroughs; Spouse: Susan Hill Engle Marsh; Children: Marion S McKeever.
8. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #191955006 (accessed 28 June 2023)
   Memorial page for John Burroughs McKeever (1807-18 Dec 1875), citing Chester Rural Cemetery, Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, USA (plot: Section B, Lot 93, Grave 5); Maintained by Crypt Tonight (contributor 48494116).