Elizabeth Keene

Evidence needed to support Thomas Keene, II as son of Thomas Keene, I & Elizabeth Keene

Landing at Jameztown, the Susan Constant: the Godspeed and the Discovery

Our information on the Keene family is quite limited. Thomas Keene Sr. married Elizabeth Gosnold (1570-1665) of England in the late 1500's. Elizabeth Gosnold was the daughter of Sir Robert Gosnold III (abt. 1545-abt. 1615) and Ursla Nauton. Elizabeth Gosnold was a first cousin of Bartholomew Gosnold, one of the first settlers of Jamestown in 1607. It is possibly his skeleton that was recently unearthed at Jamestown. He was the captain of the ship HMS Goodspeed picrured on the 2000 Virginia quarter. She was also a second cousin twice removed of Edward Maria Wingfield another first settler of Jamestown and its first president.

Thomas Keene and Elizabeth Gosnold had two sons that we know of, Henry Keene and Thomas Keene Jr. It was Thomas Keene Jr. (abt. 1593-1652/53) who immigrated first to Kent Island Maryland and then to Northumberland County, Virginia, about 1642. His son Matthew Keene (1569-1730) settled in Stafford County, Virginia.

Matthew Keene's daugheter Elizabeth Keene (abt. 1682-1769) married James Withers (1681-1746) also of Staford County, Virginia, in about 1706. It was their daughter Elizabeth Whithers (1706-1746) who married Capt. Abraham Field (1669-1774) of Culpeper County, Virginia. That brought together the Gonsold, the Wingfield the Keene and the Field family lines of Virginia. Both the name Withers and the name Keen have been used as first and middle names in the Field family many times. Keen is still in the family surving in a person in Washington State today.

Links to information on the Keene family:

Descendants of Thomas Keene Sr. (about 1560-aft. 1615) & Elizabeth Gosnold (1570-1665)

Elizabeth was the daughter of Sir Robert Gosnold III (1534-1615) and Ursula Naunton.

She married Thomas Keene, Sr. (1560-1615), England.

Origins

"The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography" page 87.

WILL
ROBERT GOSNOLD OF EARLESHALL, COUNTY SUFFOLK, ESQ.

• 15 August 1615, proved r November 1615. v To be buried at Oteley, near my wife.
• To Elizabeth Keene, my daughter, the wife of Thomas Keene, 8 (pounds) a year.
• To my son Anthony Gosnold my house in Swillon called Eales.
• To my son Thomas Gosnold 200 pounds.
• To my grandson Robert Gosnold all moveable goods in the house at Otely, with the horse mill, brewing house, Dayrie goods, etc.
• To Anthony Gosnold, my grandchild, nowe in Virginia, 100 (pounds) if he shall return within one year after my decease
• To Henry Keene, my grandchild 20 (pounds)
• To Thomas Keene, my chandchild, 20 (pounds)
• To my son John Gosnold, 500 (pounds) which he owes me for buying his office at the Court.
• To John Joanes my house in Otely in occupation of Francis Butterhall.
• To Anthony, my son, a piece of ground in Otely, nowe in lease to Daniel Walton.
• To my executors, towards the performance of this will, lands I bought of my son John Gosnold, unless he pay them 400 (pounds).
• Executors: Son Anthony and Mr. Francis Cornwallis of Earleshall
• Witnesses: Robert Gosnold, John Cornwaleys, Francis Fowkes, Robert Grimble, Richard Webster
• Rudd, IOI

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• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Dec 30 2017, 12:28:46 UTC