Individual Details
Thomas Keene II
(20 Jan 1593 - 20 Jan 1653)
Parents: Thomas Keene 1560�?615
Elizabeth Gosnold Keene 1570�?665
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 27 Feb 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. On 30 Apr 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, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from St. Marys County, Maryland. This might mean that Capt Evelin was responsible for bringing these colonists to Kent Island from England or merely that he took them from 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 9 Nov 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. 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.
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. Thomas Keene had moved to Cherry Point, Northumberland County, Virginia by 9 Dec 1650, on which date he and Willam Presley appraised an estate. (North. R.B. 1650-52. p. 48) On 13 Apr 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.'
Thomas Keene married Mary Thorley about 1639. He may have been the son of Thomas Keene and Elizabeth Gosnold 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.
His Will, dated 27 Nov 1652, and probated 20 Jan 1653, names son Thomas, daughter Susanna, son William, son Matthew, and wife Mary. It 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.
Thomas Keene II was born in England in 1593 according to a deposition he made in 1648 wherein he stated he was 55 years old. (Maryland archives, Vol. 4, p. 452)
Elizabeth Gosnold Keene 1570�?665
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 27 Feb 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. On 30 Apr 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, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from St. Marys County, Maryland. This might mean that Capt Evelin was responsible for bringing these colonists to Kent Island from England or merely that he took them from 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 9 Nov 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. 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.
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. Thomas Keene had moved to Cherry Point, Northumberland County, Virginia by 9 Dec 1650, on which date he and Willam Presley appraised an estate. (North. R.B. 1650-52. p. 48) On 13 Apr 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.'
Thomas Keene married Mary Thorley about 1639. He may have been the son of Thomas Keene and Elizabeth Gosnold 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.
His Will, dated 27 Nov 1652, and probated 20 Jan 1653, names son Thomas, daughter Susanna, son William, son Matthew, and wife Mary. It 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.
Thomas Keene II was born in England in 1593 according to a deposition he made in 1648 wherein he stated he was 55 years old. (Maryland archives, Vol. 4, p. 452)
Events
| Birth | 20 Jan 1593 | Otley, Suffolk, England | |||
| Marriage | Abt 1638 | Maryland - Mary Elizabeth Thorley | |||
| Will | 27 Nov 1652 |  | |||
| Death | 20 Jan 1653 | Northumberland County, Virginia | |||
| Burial | Cypress Farm Burial Ground, Lewisetta, Northumberland County, Virginia |  |
Families
| Spouse | Mary Elizabeth Thorley (1620 - 1661) |
| Child | William Keene (1642 - 1683) |
| Father | Thomas Keene Sr. (1570 - 1615) |
| Mother | Elizabeth Gosnold (1575 - 1665) |
Notes
Will
Northumberland County Record Book 1652 -1658 pg 16. & 1658-1662 Deed & Will Book Northumberland Co Va; Antient Press: Pg 30. Thomas Keene will 27 Nov 1652.Citation: Thomas Keene will, list debts owed him, distribution of cattle to orphans for their schooling.Source text: Northumberland County Record Book 1652 -1658 pg 16
In the name of God Amen know all men that I Thomas KEENE being fresh of memory doth as followeth First I bequeath my soul to God that giveth it after my body to the earth and in as followeth First I give and bequeath to
my son Thomas a cow named Duke,
next to my daughter Susana one heifer called by the name of [Sa------],
next I give my son William one heifer named Gentle,
next I give to my son Matthew the next cow calf that falleth of the old cows
Mathew Rhodon dueth for a hoghead and 18 pounds since last year
293 Mr. Lee oweth me of [-----] this year for six hogheads and a pail
Richard Walker paid Mr. Wilford for myself For hooping two pails for Mr. Wilford
For a barrel to Mr. Wilford
To Mr. Wilford for two hogheads
Richard White oweth me for a quantity of beef
Richard White for a hoghead
Phillip Carpenter for> hogheads
Phillip Carpenter for a churn
Henry Mosely upon an account this year
William Medcalf upon account last year
Henry Rainer for cask washing and a pail In Mr. Mottroms hands
Simon Richardson for court charges
John Gresham upon an order of court Mr. Lee signed over fifty for my use Gresham to pay Paid for Greshams use to Ralph Horsly
Upon debts when we reconed upon John Greshams account debter Mr. Colclough
George Courtnall oweth
Ralph Horsly oweth me for a quarter of besef this year
Ralph Horsly oweth me for 2 hogheads
Ralph Horsly for a pail and a churn
Ralph Horsly account per of mine last year stands one above another in a little book of his
Francis Simons oweth me
Wm. Reynolds
John Bennett
total 3305
Know all men that I give unto my wife Mary Keene for the bringing up my children all my moveable goods and hogs and cattle but what I have given to my children and the remainder of my tobacco when my debts as paid is to my wife, also I give this land and plantation to my wife during her life after her decease I give the said land to my son Thomas and his heirs forever.
Overseer of the estate Henry Mosely, John Stanly, Thomas Orlye, Matthew Rhodon.
The mark of Thomas Keene witness my hand and seal this 27th of November 1652.
the mark of Thomas Keene.
Witness Henry Rainer, John Knight
20 January 1652 this will was proved by the oaths of Henry Rainer and John Knight and execution there of committed to Mary Keene widow and principal legate and is recorded.
===
1658-1662 Deed & Will Book Northumberland Co Va; Antient Press: Pg 30
The Orphans of THO, CANE their Stock of Cattle
A true Accot. of Cattle belonging to the Children of THOMAS KEENE deced., delivered the 10th of Octobr: 1659;
WILLIAM KEENE, two cowes one three yeare old heyfer, two steares about 2 yeares, three calves, one 2 yeare old heyfer -9;
SUSANNA KEENE, one cow, one two yeare old heyfer, 2 yearelings, one calfe, one steere 6 yeares old -6,
THOMAS KEENE one cove, 2 calves, 2 steeres, one heyfer two yeares old -6,
MATHEW KEENE one heyfer. su( ) old a Guift of the subs( ) -1.
p THO: BROUGHTON
One Steere of THO. KEENEs given for two yeares schooleing
10th 8br: 1659. Jurat in Curt et Recor:p SAMUELL NICHOLLS his Accot
Endnotes
1. Find A Grave Memorial 107216054.