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Paul Lange

Manchester, CT
Keeney Questions
The records below are laid out to show both similarities and conflicts between two sources of Manchester, CT Keeney history. The left most column comes from unidentified, but cited, notes found in the Keeney file at the Manchester Historical Society. The right column(s) come from a commonly referenced summary in the "Keeney Update."

The goal in laying this out is to provide a roadmap for research and/or to elicit any primary source information and clarification available.

Please forward comments to Paul Lange

   1. Alexander Keeney d. 1680 Wethersfield, CT
m. Alice Colfax

    2.

  1. Alexander b. ca. 1662
  2. Thomas b. ca. 1664 (twin)
  3. Sarah b. ca. 1664 (twin)
  4. Joseph b. ca. 1666 (see below)
  5. Lydia b. ca. 1669
  6. Ebenezer b. ca. 1672
  7. Richard b. ca. 1674 (see below)

As per notes found at the Manchester Historical Society

2. iv. Joseph (Alexander) b. ca. 1666
m. Hannah Hills

    3. Children born at Hartford

  1. Joseph Jr. b. 8-Nov-1693 d. 1780 in East Hartford (probated)
    m. between 1742 and 1749 Ann (-) Forbes, widow of James Forbes, Jr.
  2. Benjamin 18-Jan-1695/96
  3. John 22-May-1699
  4. Hannah 7-Jan-1700/1
    m. John Risley
  5. Mabel 25-Nov-1704
    m. Joseph Roberts 3-Sep-1725 East Hartford
  6. Dorothy 29-May-1707
    m. (1) Charles Burnham d. at East Hartford, 26-Dec-1752 ae. 53. Will proved 5-Feb-1753
    m. (2) - Morrissy aft 1755
  7. Alexander b. ca. 1709 d. 1814 Coventry (see below)
  8. Susannah
    m. Joseph Kellogg, Jr. of Hebron 15-Nov-1739
  9. Mary
    m. John Ashcroft; will dated 4-Apr-1745, proved 7-Jan-1745/6, names wife Mary and children, Anne, Samuel & Timothy

Reconciliation: Notes are from the MHS materials in the left column. Conflicts are in red.

Alexander Keeney of Hartford on 9-Jan1754 conveyed in exchange to "my Brother" Joseph Keeney of Hartford. On 21-Dec-1753, in four separate deeds, Mary Ashcroft of Glastonbury, Dorothy Burnham of Hartford (mentioning her late husband, Charles Burnham, deceased), John Risley, Jr. of Hartford and his wife Hannah, and Joseph Roberts of Hartford and Mabel his wife, conveyed to Joseph Keeney of Hartford land on the east side of Keeney's Point; and a similar deed was given 5-Apr-1754 by Joseph Kellogg, Jr. of Hebron and Susannah his wife.

Joseph Jr.'s will, not dated, proved 18-Sep-1780, gave to his wife Anna half of his estate in lieu of dower; to brother John Keeney's children, David Keeney and Hannah Keeney, one quarter; and to sister Dorothy Moucy (Moricy?) a quarter.

Alexander, d. 1814 ae. 106, the Connecticut Mirror of 24 Oct.

As per "Keeney Update" Vol XVII, Number 2, Spring 2000

2. iv. Joseph b. ca. 1666
m. Hannah Hills

3.

  1. Joseph Jr. 8-Nov-1692 d. 8-Sep-1780
    m. Ann Buckland, d/o William & Elizabeth Hills Buckland
  2. Benjamin 18-Jan-1695/96; probably died young
  3. John 22-May-1699;
    m. (1) Marcy Smith d/o Samuel & Mary Smith
    m. (2) Sarah Webster Case d/o Jonathan & Esther Judd Webster
  4. Hannah 7-Jan-1700 d. 1777 according to probate
    m. John Risley Jr. (b. ca. 1700)
  5. Mabel 25-Nov-1704
    m. Joseph Roberts 3-Sep-1725
  6. Dorothy 29-May-1701 twin of Alexander
    m. (1) Charles Burnham (1699-1753)
    m. (2) - Morley
  7. Alexander b. 29-May-1707 at East Hartford, d. 24-Oct-1814 Coventry
    m. Mabel Roberts in 1735 (see below)
  8. Susannah b. 6-Jan-1710
    m. Joseph Kellogg Jr. (b. 8-Aug-1717 at Hebron) on 15-Nov-1739 at Colchester
  9. Mary b. 14-Sep-1696
    m. John Ashcroft     (1696-1745)

As per notes found at the Manchester Historical Society

2. vii. Richard (Alexander). b. ca. 1674 d. aft. 1744
m. (1) Mary Miles, born at New Haven 10-Mar-1669/70
m. (2) Eunice (Fox) House betw. 1712 and 1725, daughter of Richard & Beriah (Smith) Fox, widow of John House

    3. Children of Richard & Mary (Miles) Keeney born at Glastonbury

  1. Mary b. ca. 1697
    m. Nathaniel Bidwell, b. 4-Nov-1688 in Middletown to Dea. Samuel & Elizabeth (Stow) Bidwell, 22-Dec-1720 at Glastonbury
  2. Elizabeth b. ca. 1699
    m. Thomas Loveland, Jr., b. abt. 1700, d. at Marlborough, CT 29-Nov-1795 in 96th year (g.s)
  3. Thomas b. ca. 1701, d. 1761
  4. Richard b. ca. 1703, d. 3-Jun-1789
    m. Prudence (-) (see below)
  5. Sarah b. ca. 1712, d. 29-Oct-1794 at Eastbury

    Probable child of Eunice (Fox)(House) Keeney
  6. Benjamin b. ca. 1718, d. 16-Oct-1793 at Eastbury ae. 75

Reconciliation: Notes are from the MHS materials in the left column. Conflicts are in red.

On 4-Mar-1729/30, Richard Keeney, Sr. of Glastonbury, conveyed to his son, Thomas, of Glastonbury. Richard Keeney and Eunice his wife, conveyed 9-Jul-1733 to son, Thomas Keeny. (Glastonbury Deeds, 6:479)

Richard Keeney, Sr., of Glastonbury, conveyed 16-Feb-1743/4 for love to his son, Benjamin Keeney of Glastonbury, 25 acres in Hartford

On 7-Feb-1743/4 Jonathan Webster, then of Hartford, sold to Richard Keeney (Jr.) of Hartford, 25 acres bounded south on land of Richard Keeney, Sr., and north on Richard (Jr.)'s own land. (Glastonbury Deeds, 9:231)(This same land had been sold earlier by Richard Keeney, Sr. to Hollister, who sold it to Webster).

The deeds cited above would seem to corroborate Thomas, Richard Jr. and Benjamin at left.

The trouble starts with this generation of Richards. While there is rough agreement on birth and marriage, there is major divergence on who the children were, as shown below.

As per "Keeney Update" Vol XVII, Number 2, Spring 2000

2. vii. Richard (Alexander). 1674-1744
m. (1) Eunice Fox (widow of John House) 1683-1744
m. (2) Mary Miles (1670-1720) in 1704

    3.

  1. John b. 1697
    m. Sarah Webster d/o Jonathan & Esther Judd Webster (b. 13-Jan-1718 Hartford) on 20-Jun-1725 at Glastonbury
  2. Mary b. ca. 1699
    m. Nathaniel Bidwell (b. 4-Nov-1688, d. ca. 1758), 22-Dec-1720 at Glastonbury
  3. Elizabeth b. ca. 1700
    m. Thomas Loveland (1724-1771) at Chatham, CT, s/o Thomas & Eunice House Loveland of Marlborough, CT
  4. Richard b. 1702
    m. (1) Rebecca Keeney (1705-1775)
    m. (2) Prudence Cate (1707-1789) (see below)

As per notes found at the Manchester Historical Society

3. vii. Alexander (Joseph, Alexander) b. ca. 1709, d. at Coventry

    4. Children baptized at East Hartford

  1. Charles bapt. 15-Feb-1735/6
  2. Jeruscha bapt. 13-Nov-1737
  3. Margaret bapt. 28-Oct-1739
  4. Alexander b. ca. 1741, d. at Farmington, CT, 27-Jan-1809 ae. 69
    m. Sarah Webster b. 8-Aug-1744

5. Children of Alexander & Sarah. All but 1st baptized at Vernon, CT

  1. Alexander b. ca. 1766
  2. Sarah bapt. 29-May-1768
    m. at Vernon, 24-Jun-1784, Daniel Dorchester
  3. Augustus bapt. 11-Aug-1771(twin)
  4. Erastus bapt. 11-Aug-1771(twin)
  5. Chloe bapt. 17-Oct-1773, d. 22-May-1776 ae. 2 1/2
  6. Warren bapt. 21-Jul-1776
  7. Chloe bapt. 17-Jan-1779
  8. Daniel bapt. 27-Apr-1781
  9. Chester bapt. 1-Aug-1784
  10. Peggy bapt. 12-Mar-1786
  11. Aurora bapt. 24-Jun-1787

Reconciliation: Notes are from the MHS materials in the left column. Conflicts are in red.

Alexander, d. 1814 ae. 106, the Connecticut Mirror of 24 Oct.

Alexander Keeney's will, dated 13-Sep-1808, gave all his estate to his wife Sarah; son-in-law Gideon Morley, executor.

Lots of conflicts here. After Margaret things diverge widely. Richard (at right) born in 1742 marries Chloe. There is not much dispute as to who Richard and Chloe's children are as shown in the next table. But Chloe's husband Richard died in 1813 and was 81 (i.e. 1732!) as per First Congregational Church records and his own gravestone. And if Alexander and Mabel married in 1735 Richard doesn't fit here.

I would also argue that John, "born and died in New London," and Thomas, "native of Litchfield," do not belong here either.

As per "Keeney Update" Vol XVII, Number 2, Spring 2000

3. vii. Alexander III (Joseph, Alexander) b. 29-May-1707 at East Hartford, d. 24-Oct-1814 at 106 at Coventry
m. Mabel Roberts in 1735

    4.

  1. Chloe b. 1735
  2. Jeruscha b. 1737, d. 13-Mar-1825
    m. Elisha Andrews
  3. Margaret b. 28-Oct-1739, d. 1817
    m. Simon Keeney, son of Richard & Rebecca Keeney
  4. Richard b. 11-Feb-1742
    m. Chloe Keeney (b. 1734, d. 17-May-1825)
  5. Theodora b. 1744
  6. Sarah b. 1745
  7. John b. 1746, d. 181, born and died in New London
    m. Abigail Lester in 1771
  8. Lt. Alexander b. 1748, d. 1796
    m. Martha Miner
  9. Theodore b. 1748
  10. Thomas b. 1751, d. 10-Jan-1840, native of Litchfield
    m. Mercy Lamb

As per notes found at the Manchester Historical Society

3. iv. Richard (Richard, Alexander) b. ca. 1703 at Glastonbury, d. 3-Jun-1789, age 81 (gravestone)
m. Prudence (-), born ca. 1708, died 26-Sep-1789 at East Hartford, ae 81 (gravestone)

    4.

  1. Richard b. ca. 1732, d. 13-Dec-1813 in East Hartford (g.s. 25-Dec-1813, ae 81)
    m. Chloe

      5. Children of Richard & Chloe

    1. Stephen b. ca. 1769, d. 9-Aug-1840 at Manchester, ae. 71
      m. Rebecca (-), b. ca. 1772, d. 28-Dec-1834, ae. 62 (g.s)
    2. Russel b. 2-Aug-1772, d. 20-Sep-1859 at Manchester (g.s.)
      m. Jeruscha Darte, b. 11-Nov-1771, d. 3-Dec-1840 (g.s.)
    3. Huldah b. ca. 1779, d. 13-Feb-1811 at Manchester, in 32nd year (g.s.)
  2. Simon
    1. Simon bapt. 30-Mar-1766 at East Hartford
      m. Mary (-)
  3. John

Reconciliation: Notes are from the MHS materials in the left column. Conflicts are in red.

Very confusing here. Differences have not been highlighted. There is basic agreement in columns 1 and 3 as to 4. Richard's children. As described above, the question is Richard's parentage.

As stated above, Richard died 1813 age 81 which would put him in column 1. Additionally, the land records (below) put a Richard as having sons Richard, Simon and John which doesn't remotely match either column 3 or 4.

Fianlly, all the land records below are for property on the Manchester/Glastonbury border which is where my Keeney family lived (specifically, north of Line St. bordering Isaac Hale's property.)

Richard Keeney of Hartford conveyed 8-Oct-1770, for love to his son, John Keeney of Hartford, part of his homelot of 21 acres.

On 30-May-1777, Richard Keney of Hartford conveyed for love to his son, John Keney, land purchased of Jeduthun Smith of Glastonbury, being one-eight of the land I and my three sons (Richard, Simon, and John) purchased. (Glastonbury Deeds, 12:649)

The will of Richard Keeney of East Hartford, dated 27-Jan-1789, proved 7-Jul-1789, gave to his granddaughter, Mary Keeney wife of Simon Keeney, Jr., furniture, etc. Simon Keeney gave bond as administrator.

30-May-1777, Richard conveys to son Simon 44 acres, bounded north by land I this day deeded to my son John Keney (East Hartford Land Records, 2:167)

30-May-1777, Richard exchanges land with son John Keeny (East Hartford Land Records, 3:32?)

20-Dec-1787, Richard Keeney of East Hartford sell to Richard Keeney Jr., of East Hartford 40 acres in the Society of Orford (Manchester) (East Hartford Land Records, 2:291). 21-Dec-1787, Richard Keeney, Jr. sells a portion of that land to his son David.

Will of Richard Keeney of East Hartford, dated 12-Jan-1809, proved 17-Dec-1813, mentions wife, Chloe, daughter, Huldah, and sons Stephen and Russell.

As per "Keeney Update" Vol XVII, Number 2, Spring 2000

3. vii. Alexander III (Joseph, Alexander) b. 29-May-1707 at East Hartford, d. 24-Oct-1814 at 106 at Coventry
m. Mabel Roberts in 1735

    4. Richard b. 11-Feb-1742
    m. Chloe Keeney (b. 1734, d. 17-May-1825)

      5. Children of Richard & Chloe.

    1. Richard b. 22-Jul-1764 in East Hartford, d. 16-Dec-1851
      m. Margaret Porter (b. 11-Mar-1763, d. 14-Apr-1850) in 1785
    2. Stephen b. 20-Feb-1769, d. 8-Aug-1840
      m. Rebecca Hale (b. 3-1772, d. 28-Dec-1834) on 19-May-1788
    3. Mary b. 1770, d. 1850
      m. Major William Bentley (b. 24-Sep-1772, d. 9-1854) on 11-Feb-1791in Chemung, NY
    4. Russell b. 2-Mar-1772, d. 20-Aug-1859
      m. Jeruscha Darte (1771-1840)
    5. Huldah b. 1779, d. 13-Feb-1812

As per "Keeney Update" Vol XVII, Number 2, Spring 2000

3. iv. Richard (Richard, Alexander) b. 1702
m. (1) Rebecca Keeney (1707-1775)
m. (2) Prudence Cate (1707-1789)

    4.

  1. Richard b. 1732, d. 25-Dec-1831
    m. Mabel Keeney
  2. Reuben b. 1746 at Wethersfield, CT, d. 31-Jul-1797 at Bernardstown, MA
    m. Jemima Webster, d/o Stephen & Rebecca Williams Webster, on 22-Feb-1770, at Eastburg.
  3. Isaac b. ca. 1725, d. 16-Apr-1806
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