Thomas Keene, Junior ^{1 2 3 4 5}

  General Notes:

I have taken the following information from J Craig Canada's Family Tree

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. Marys County, Md. This might mean that Capt Evelin was responsible for bringing these colonists to Kent Island form England or merely that he took them form 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. 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 Willam 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 Severall Lands of Ralph Horsly and Edward Coppedge South and South East upon Claughtons Creeke and North East upon Cherry poynt 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.

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.

  Research Notes:

"Garner-Keene Families of Northern Neck Virginia " by Ruth Ritchie and Sudie Rucker Wood, 1952, pg. 187-193

"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". ⁶

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Cooper and merchant: Suffolk, England. ²

• Occupation: Planter: Kent Island In The Potomac. ²

• Estate Probated, 20 Jan 1651/52, Northhampton, Virginia. ⁵

• Will, 27 Nov 1652, Northhampton, Virginia. ^{5 7} In the name of God amen know all men that I Thomas Keene being fresh of memory doeth as followeth ffirst I bequeath my spiritt to God that gave it after my body to the earth and then as followeth I give and beequeath to my sone Thomas one Cowe named Cole next to my Daughter Susanna one Heifer called by the name of Su next I give my sone William one heifer named Gentle next I give my sone Matthew the next Cowe Calfe that falleth of the old Cowes.

Know all men that I doe 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 Tobco when my debts is paid to my wife Also I give this land and plantacon to my wife during her life after her decease I give the said land to my sone 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.

Thomas married Mary Thorley. (Mary Thorley was born in Anne Arundle Co, Maryland ⁸.)