Josiah Keen, Jr.

Descendant of Richard Warren of the Mayflower

Josiah, Jr. and his family lived in Marshfield, in Duxbury, and perhaps in Pembroke since Pembroke was part of Marshfield until 1712. The towns of Duxbury, Hingham, Pembroke, and Marshfield are near each other in southeastern Massachusetts and may not have kept separate records in the early days. Josiah, Jr. bought 9 acres next to his father's "range" on the southerly side of Pudding Brook, we assume in Duxbury. Another note of interest was, "Josiah Keen, Jr. and Elnathan Weston with 5 others at the March 7th Town Meeting, 1709/10, entered protest against all the acts made at Town Meeting in Duxborough, Jany 30th 1709/10 for dividing the town's Commons, the said meeting being continued by adjournment till the 7th of March above said."

Josiah, Jr. and his wife Lydia (Baker) Keen had eleven children, all born in Duxbury:

"...my father Josiah Keen who mared with Ledia Baker & theay had Eleven children whos Nams was Benjamin & Josiah who Died young & Abigil elener Ledia & Josiah Nathanel Bethiah Samuel Isaac and my Self who is Hezekiah who was Born 1702) (Hezekiah Keen's Account Book With Family Records, p. 5)

Josiah Keen lived in Pembroke. He made his will 2 February, 1728; but the date of his death has not been found. The first of the witnesses to his will was sworn on 23 December, 1732, and Josiah probably died not long before that date. (The Mayflower Descendant, Vol XIX 1917 p. 128)

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Will of Josiah Keen of Pembroke

[From original will] "Josiah Keen of Pembrok .... yeaman" made his will on 2 February, 1728. Bequests were as follows.

.... will is that .... Debtes and Funerel Charges be satesfied and payed and then that ye legeses here after given to my six sones and yt to my Loving Dafter Elener Thomas and yt to my Grand Child Mary Bruster be Payed by my Executrex .... out of my moveable Estate In one year after my Deseas"

    To "Wife Leadyah Keen a living In my house where in I now Dwell (as long as she shall live) whiich I Reserved in ye Dead I Gave of the same to  my son Isaac Keen allso I Give to my sd wife the use and Improvement of all the Resefu of my moveable Estate So long as She shall remaine my widdow with power to Dispose of such part thare of as may be nessesary for her soport: and further my mind and will is that if my sd widdow shall Se case to mary a gaine then my mind and will is that she shall have Twenty pounds out of my Estate: and the other part thareof shall be Disposed of as is here after ordered"

To "Son Benjemin Keen Four shilings which with what I havae alredy given him by Dead I account a suffitient Porshun for him"
To "Son Josiah Keen Four Shilings which with What I have alredy Given him I apprehend is a suffitient portion for him"
To Son Nethaniel Keen Four Shilings which with what he hath allredy had I account his part or portion of my Estate"
To "son Samuel Keen Four Shilings which with what he hath already had I account his full Portion in my Estate"
To "son Isaac Keen Four Shilings which with what he hath already had is his full portion"
To "Son Hazeciah Keen Four shilings which with what he hath already had is his full portion"
To Dafter Elener Thomas ye wife of Joseph Thomas Four Pounds:"
To "my Grandchild Mary Bruster Twenty Shilings"
"all ye remaining part of my moveable Estate at my wives Deseas or at har marage which Ever shall first hapen shall be Equelly Devided betwen my four Dafters or thare lewgel Representetives that is to say to the Children of my Dafter Abigale Drew one Fourth part and to my Dafter Elener Thomas one fourth part and to the Children of my Dafter Lediah Patridge one Fourth part and to my Dafter Bethiah West one fourth Part:"
"wife Ledeah Keen to be Sole Executrex"
The will was signed by a mark. The witnesses were "Aaron Soul", "Aaron Soul Junr" and Elisha Bisbe". They made oath to the will as follows: Elisha Bisbe on 23 December, 1732; Aaron soul, Jr., on 25 December, 1732; Aaron Soul, Sr., on 26 December, 1732; all before isaac Winslow, Judge of Probate. On 10 January, 1732, *21 January, 1733, in New Style dating. the will of Josiah Keen late of Pembrok" was probated, at Marshfield, and administration granted to "Ledea Keen Relict Widdow of the sd deceased" [The will was also recorded, 6:272.]
[From original warrant] On 2 January, 1732,, 13 January, 1733, in New Style dating, a warrant to appraise the real and personal estate was issued to "Capt Fras Barker Capt Nehemiah Cushing and mr Aron Sole (Israell Turner" was first written, but it was crossed out and "Aron sole" interlined, in the same hand and ink., all of pembroke" [The warrant was also recorded, 6:274.]
[From original inventory] On 5 January, 1732, 16 January 1733, in New Style dating, the inventory was taken, and signed by "Fras Barker", "Nehemiah cushing" and Aaron Soul". The total was 225 pounds, 8s., 9d. No real estate was included. Three interesting items are: "the bed and furniture att Hezekiah Keens" 12 pounds; "one Kittle att Hezekiahs and pare Shares" 13s.; "One promesary Noat From Hezekiah" 2 pounds, 11s.
On 9 January, 1732, "Ledia Keen Executor .... of her late husband Josiah Keen" and the three appraisers made oath to the inventory, before isaac Winslow, Judge of Probate. [The inventory was also recorded, 6:274.] (The Mayflower Descendant Vol. XIX 1917 pp 130-131 )