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Thomas Keene

b. 1592/93 · England  |  d. 1652/53 · Northumberland, Virginia

Parents

Events

Birth
1592/93 · England
Death
1652/53 · Northumberland, Virginia

Family

Spouse: Mary Thorley (–1662) · m. ABOUT 1640 · probably, Maryland

Children:

  1. William Keene (10 Mar 1642–8 Feb 1684)
    m. Elizabeth Rogers (–1720)
    Children: William Keene (1665–1700); Elizabeth Keene (1669–1720); John Keene (1671–1740); Hannah Keene (1676–1739); Sarah Keene (1678–)
  2. Thomas Keene (BEFORE 1650–1678)
  3. Susanna Keene (1641–BEFORE 28 Mar 1716)
    m. John Garner (1632/33–1702) · ABOUT 1660
    Children: John Garner (–1713); Henry Garner (–1745); Vincent Garner (–1710); Thomas Garner (–1726); Parish Garner (–1718); Benjamin Garner (1681–1718); James Garner (–1726); Mary Garner (–1720); Susan Garner; Martha Garner
  4. Matthew Keene (ABOUT 1650–1731)
    m. Bridget (ABOUT 1658–ABOUT 1752) · ABOUT 1678 · Stafford Co., Virginia
    Children: Elizabeth Keene (1682–1749)

Notes

A very nice genealogy is written of him in ["Garner-Keene Families of Northern Neck Virginia" by Ruth Ritchie and Sudie Rucker Wood, 1952, pg. 187-193] In a 1648 deposition, he stated his age to be 55 [Md. Arch., Vol. 4, pg. 452]. Thus, he was born about 1593. He may have been the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Gosnold) Keene of Suffolk, England. That couple did have a son Thomas Keene, named as a grandson in the will of Robert Gosnold of Earleshall, County Suffolk, Esq., 1615. That son also had a cousin, Anthony Gosnold, in Virginia in 1615. But absolute proof that the the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Gosnold) Keene is the same person as the Thomas Keene of Kent Island, Maryland has not, to the best of my knowledge, yet been established conclusively. He lived on Kent Island, Maryland, from probably 1631 until probably 1644. It is possible he was among a group of inhabitants who moved to St. Mary's county, Maryland in 1638, but if so, he returned to Kent Island by 9 Nov 1640. He was probably with a group of islanders led by Col. Clayborne that moved to Northumberland Co., Virginia in 1644, but in 1648 he was resident in St. Marys County, Maryland (just across the Potomac). He resided at Cherry Point, Northumberland Co., Va by 9 Dec 1650 where he died in 1652. He was a cooper and possibly merchant by trade, as well as a planter, and directed the making of "pipe staves" while on Kent Island. !Will: Dated 27 Nov 1652, probated Jan 20, 1653, [Northumberland Co., Va. R.B. 14, p. 16; Ritchie & Wood p. 190]. Names son Thomas, dau. Susanna, son William, son Matthew, wife Mary. Also contains a long list of people owing him or owed to by him. Overseers: Hen. Mosely, John Stanley, Thomas Orlye, Matthew Rhodon. Wit: Henry Rainer, John Knight.