John Keen1

#21554, (c 1793 - 1877)
Relationship2nd great-grandfather of Wilma Ilene Collins
Extended Family
ChartsAncestors of Wilma Ilene Collins (5 generations) (#1)
Ancestors of Wilma Ilene Collins (5 generations) (#2)
Ancestors of Wilma Ilene Collins (5 generations) (#3)
John Keen - Children & Grandchildren

Children of John Keen and Sarah Wells

Children of John Keen and Elizabeth Jackson McCoy

Life Events

Overview
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John Keen is a tricky fellow to research but he is rather important because he is our ancestor three times over.
John was born c1793 in Virginia, then lived in Sumner County, Tennessee. There were several Keen families there, likely all related.
John married Sarah Wells there and they had nine known children, two of whom are our ancestors - Milly, born about 1825 and Judah Catherine, born about 1839. John and Sarah and family migrated to Perry County, Illinois, in the early1840s.
Sarah died and John married Elizabeth Jackson McCoy. Elizabeth had children from her previous two marriages and also came from Sumner County, Tennessee. John and Elizabeth had three known children together, including our ancestor Hardin, born c1853.
John has not been found on the 1860 or 1870 census but is known to have died in 1877. Fortunately, there are probate records for him which list his heirs.

* * * * *

 
BirthJohn Keen was born circa 1793 in Virginia.1
 
MarriageHe married Sarah Wells.2
 
Tax ListA John Keen appeared on the 1819 tax list for Sumner County, Tennessee, but the number of acres or location was not recorded. [No way to know if it was this John or another]. Other Keens listed were William (113 acres, Drakes Creek), Ashford (200 acres, Sulphur Fork Drakes Creek) and Currell (82 1/2 acres, Caney Ford).3 
1830 CensusJohn Keen was listed as the head of a family on the 1830 census taken on 1 Jun 1830 in Sumner County, Tennessee. Adjacent to him in the list were Currel Keen and Elisha Keen. John's family consisted of:
1 male age 30-39
1 boy age 5-9
1 boy under 5
1 female age 40-49
1 girl age 10-14
2 girls age 5-9
2 girls under 5.4
Note.1838. The Scholastic Population of Sumner County, District 18 listed a John Keen with one child. In district 13, a John Keen had 6 children in his household subject to common school. [This would be our John Keen]5 
1840 CensusHe was listed as the head of a family on the 1840 census taken on 1 Jun 1840 in Sumner County, Tennessee. The tally for his household showed:
1 male age 40-49
1 male age 10-14
1 male age 5-9
1 female age 30-39
1 female age 15-19
1 female age 10-14
1 female age 5-9
1 female under 5.6
Research Note There was another John Keen in Sumner county in 1840...a man & woman age 20-30, a boy 5-10, and 2 boys and a girl under 5. 
MarriageHe married Elizabeth Jackson McCoy on 29 Dec 1848 in Perry County, Illinois.
The officiant was Willis Smith, JP. Elizabeth was recorded as Mrs Elizabeth Clarke and John as John Keene, Sr.7 
1850 CensusJohn Keen appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Perry County, Illinois, enumerated 18 Sep 1850. John was 57, a Farmer, and was born in Virginia. With him were Maston (14), Catharine (11), and William J (8), all born in Tennessee. His wife Elizabeth and son Amos were enumerated separately.1
Research Note Many online trees show Maston to be a son of John. Although Maston is with John in the 1850 census (which does not show relationships) I have not seen any evidence that they are father/son. The administration of John's estate does not mention Maston. 
Research Note Not yet found on the 1860, 1865 or 1870 census. 
DeathJohn died on 20 Feb 1877.8
 
ProbateHis estate was proved in Apr 1877. There was no will and his son-in-law Daniel E Holeman was appointed administrator. The heirs listed were John C, William, Lemuel, Hardin, & Amos Keen, Amy Holeman, Milly Collins, Catharine Preswood, Sarah Jones & (if living) Jane formerly Prock, his children, and the heirs of Betsey Collins, dec'd. A bond of $140 was posted by Daniel E Holeman, William J Keen & John C Keen. Personal property was estimated at $60-70. When probate was finished, $78.60 had been paid out and the balance due was $0.8 
Research Note The Perry County history book includes a son Johnson Keen but he is not mentioned in John's probate administration so either the book is mistaken or Johnson died without issue before the administration. 
Last Edited2 Apr 2014

Citations

  1. [S1554] United States 1850 Federal Census. Illinois, Perry County, family number 516. Image viewed at Familysearch.
  2. [S1690] Perry County Historical Society Perry County, Illinois, Turner Pub Co, Paducah, Kentucky (1988-1998) 0938021524, 1563114720, John C Keene biography, page 180.
  3. [S1864] Website Sumner County, Tennessee Genealogists Companion (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/…), Record of the Taxable Property and Polls in Sumner County for the year 1819.
  4. [S1757] 1830 Federal Census for United States, Tennessee, Sumner County, Roll 181, Page 159. Digital image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  5. [S1864] Website Sumner County, Tennessee Genealogists Companion (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/…), Scholastic Population, Sumner County, Tennessee, District 13 & 18 - 1838.
  6. [S1756] 1840 Federal Census for United States, Tennessee, Sumner County, Roll 534, Page 409. Digital image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  7. [S1687] Elizabeth Eiker Spurgeon and Dorothy I Cooke Perry County, Illinois, marriages 1827-1850 with genealogical notes, Heritage House, Thomson, Illinois (1973) (Family History Library, 977.3 A1 no. 81), John Keene, Sr & Mrs Elizabeth Clarke, 1848.
  8. [S1689] John Keen, Estate Records, 1877 Box 359, File 1165, page 533, FHL film # 975933 (microfilm of original records in the Perry County courthouse, Pinckneyville, Illinois).
  9. [S1687] Elizabeth Eiker Spurgeon and Dorothy I Cooke Perry County, Illinois, marriages 1827-1850 with genealogical notes, Heritage House, Thomson, Illinois (1973) (Family History Library, 977.3 A1 no. 81), Mr James Collins & Mrs Milly Wix, 1849.