John Key, I

Birth: Dec., 1682 Philadelphia County Pennsylvania, USA Death: Jul. 5, 1767 Kennett Square Chester County Pennsylvania, USA

KEY & ALLIED FAMILIES: The first child born of English parents in William Penn's colony was John Key, son of Robert Key, who with his wife came to America and settled on the bank of the Delaware River. In the side of this high shore or bank, Robert Key and the other adventurers dug caves in which to live, until houses could be built. It was in one of these caves, where John Key was born, December 1682. The place was afterwards known as "Penny Plot" near Sassafras Street.

John Key appears in the following Chester County, Pennsylvania Tax Indexes:

1719/20 (Kennett Township, Category: Landholder, County, Page 20)

1721 (Kennett Township, Category: Landholder, County, Page 11)

1726/27 (Kennett Township, Category: Landholder, County, Page 16)

1730 (Kennett Township, Category: Landholder, County, Page 13) (Last name spelled Cay in the 1730 Tax Index)

1732 (Kennett Township, Category: Landholder, County, Page 63)

1734/35 (Kennett Township, Category: Landholder, County [C12-A], Page 31)

1735/36 (Kennett Township, Category: Landholder, County [C13-A], Page 40)

1737/38 (Kennett Township, Category: Landholder, County [C14-B], Page 9)

1739 (Kennett Township, Category: Landholder, County [C-15], Page 10)

1740 (Kennett Township, Category: Landholder, County [C-16], Page 14)

1749/50 (Kennett Township, County [C-18], Page 23)

1754 (Kennett Township, Category: Inmate, County [C-22], Page 67)

1756 (Kennett Township, Category: Inmate, County, Page 67)

(Last name spelled Kay in the 1756 tax index) (See the Chester County Archives website: http://dsf.chesco.org/archives)

John Key of Kennett Township appears in the Chester County Provincial Tax Minutes. Date: January 25, 1757, pg 9. (See the Chester County Archives website: http://dsf.chesco.org/archives)

The History of Pennsyvania Hospital notes that John Key was sent an invitation to the cornerstone laying ceremony at Pennsylvania Hospital held on May 28, 1755, that he accepted the invitation and attended the ceremony. See: The History of Pennsylvania Hospital, 1751-1851, by Thomas G. Morton, M.D., 1897

To the PRINTER of the LONDON CHRONICLE: SIR, I have often heard it remarked, that our Colonies in North America were unhealthy and unfavourable to long life; and more particularly so upon their first settlement. In opposition to this groundless notion, I here send you two paragraphs taken from the Pensylvania Gazette of July 16, and the New-York Gazette of August 27, giving an account of the deaths of the first-born of the city of Philadelphia, and of the province of Pennsylvania:

Philadelphia, July 16, 1767: "At Kennet, in Chester County, the 5th instant, died John Key, in the 85th year of his age, and the next day was interred in the burial place belonging to the people called Quakers, in that township, attended by a large number of reputable people, his neighbours and acquaintance. He was born in a cave (near the Delaware River), long afterwards known by the name of Penny-Pot, near Race-street, and William Penn, our first proprietor, gave him a lot of ground, as a compliment on his being the first child born in this city.

In the early part of his life his conversation was very engaging, and his company much sought after by those of his own age; in his decline he was much esteemed for his peaceable disposition. His constitution was very healthy till about 80, when he was seized with the palsy, and continued weakly till his death. About six years ago he walked on foot from Kennet to Philadelphia in one day, which is near 30 miles.

It has been said that people in this province are short-lived; but when we consider how few children were born here 75 years ago, and observe how many old people there are still alive among us (who were born here) we shall rather think no quarter of the world can shew a greater number of aged persons then this province can, in proportion to the children born."

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

Even when spelled Key, the name was pronounced "Kay". (Kathryn E. Kay's letter to Dr. Isaac Kay, which is set forth in Genealogy of the Kay Family in America, by Dr. Isaac Kay, P. 6). This is the reason for the name being spelled Kay in early records. Family members changed the spelling of the name to KAY to reflect the pronunciation. (Steve Kay)

Family links:

Parents:

 Robert Key (1650 - ____)

Spouse:

 Rebecca Key (1686 - ____)

Children:

 Hannah Kay Lane (1717 - ____)*

 John Key (1723 - 1793)*

 Zacheus Key (1725 - 1799)*

*Calculated relationship

Note: NO GRAVE MARKER

Burial: Kennett Friends Burial Ground Kennett Square Chester County Pennsylvania, USA

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Created by: Sue Macduff:) Record added: Dec 30, 2009 Find A Grave Memorial# 46158810 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=46158810