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Robert Keyes |
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Sarah Swett |
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Robert Keyes ★ married Sara Swett on April 8, 1632 in New Buckenham, Norfolk County, England NO11. Robert “Kyes” appeared at the manorial court of New Buckenham, Norfolk County in 1632 in which he presented an excuse for the absence of John Swett WE23. An article by Randy West, Robert Battle, and Robert Charles Anderson stated that Robert Keyes and John Swett, Jr. were listed together in the manorial records of New Buckenham when they paid a fine in 1635 WE23. I was unable to locate these names when I attempted to read these records for the year 1635, which appear in Family History Library Film Number 1471889 (images 503 and 517 through 519) MA68. Admittedly, I am absolutely a novice at understanding manorial court records, and while I can decipher court hand when it is written by a clerk with relatively tidy penmanship, I struggle with the Latin abbreviations. Additionally, I did not read the entire volume to locate a court record which may have been recorded out of chronological order.
Robert Keyes probably relocated from Norfolk County, England to Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts around the year 1637, as he did not hold a proprietary right; parcels with proprietary shares in Watertown were likely already distributed to earlier settlers by that year WE23. A record of the Court of Assistants at Cambridge, dated June 5, 1638, stated that Robert Keyes was bound in the sum of twenty pounds to appear, probably to the Salem Court, because he was mentioned with two other men who were instructed “to carry their wifes to Salem Court” SH17. On June 26, 1638, he and Goody Newell were sentenced to sit in the stocks at Lynn for one hour, and again for another hour in Cambridge on July 4, 1638; Robert’s crime was “unseemly behavior toward Goody Newell” AN4.
In the First Inventory of Grants and Possessions of Watertown, which was a synopsis of each person’s land holdings, Robert “Keies” owned a “homestall” or house lot in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts which was three acres; his neighbors were Thomas Brigan on the east and north sides of his property and Samuel Saltenstall on the southwest side of his property WA21. He sold two acres of meadow in the “remote Meddowes” to Deacon Nicholas Guy WA21. While it was unstated in this First Inventory of Grants and Possessions, it appeared that Robert Keies may have purchased this three-acre house lot from William Woolcocks, whose bounds of that parcel were identical WA21. William Woolcocks does not appear in any of the early records of births, marriages, and deaths of Watertown, indicating that he did not remain in Watertown. William Woolcocks was also called William Wilcocks, who himself had probably purchased that lot from an earlier settler, and in 1636 he was a resident of Cambridge, indicating he had left Watertown WE23.
Robert moved to Newbury in 1644 AN4 or between 1643 and 1645 KE11, and then perhaps to Sudbury, Massachusetts in 1646 KE11. Newbury and Sudbury are approximately fifty miles apart from each other. Robert Keyes died on July 16, 1647 MA26, AN4, KE11, BO6 in Watertown BE7, Newbury NO11, MA26, AN4, BO6, or Sudbury KE11. His death was recorded not only at each of those towns in Massachusetts, but also in Plymouth KE11.
Sarah Swett ★ (John, Phebe) was the daughter of John Swett and Phebe (Benton) Swett WE23. She has also been called “Sary” WA21 and “Sareth” TH28. Sarah Swett was baptized on May 6, 1610 in New Buckenham, Norfolk County, England (“Sarah the daught[e]r of John Swett was bapt: the 6t of May”) NO11. She was the mother of Solomon, Sarah, Rebecca, Phoebe, Mary, who died in infancy, Elias, Mary, and perhaps Peter NO11, WE23, BE7, AN4, KE11, BO6.
Solomon Keyes was baptized in New Buckenham, Norfolk, England on March 23, 1632/3 (“Solomon, the sonne of Robert Keyes & Sara his wife was baptised the 23 rd day of march”) NO11. Sollomon Keyes married Francis Grant on October 2, 1653 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI6. Solomon (or Sollomon) Keyes was the father of five children whose births were recorded in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI28. These were Hanna, born on September 12, 1654, Sara, born on August 24, 1656, Mary, born on September 26, 1658, Jane, born on October 5, 1660, and Judith, born on September 16, 1662 VI28.
Sometime prior to October 16, 1661, Solomon Keyes sold a three-acre parcel of meadow of upland at the head of a little river in Newbury, as well as a two-acre parcel of marsh adjacent to the little river in Newbury, to Nicholas Wallington of Newbury SA21. On that date, those parcels were sold by Nicholas Wallington to John Woolcott SA21. Solomon Keyes of Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts, and his wife, Francis, sold a parcel of four acres in Newbury to John Webster of Newbury for the sum of forty pounds on May 13, 1663 SA21. The deed below was transcribed by George Freeman Sanborn, Jr. and is reproduced here under a Creative Commons “Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International” license SA21:
To all Christian people to whom this present writing shall come I Solomon Keyes of Newbury in the County of Essex in New England and Francis my wife send greeting Know yee that I the abovesayd Solomon Keyes & Francis my wife, for and in considderation of forty pounds in hand payd and by me received Have Given Granted Covenanted enfeoffed and fully Bargayned and Sould And by these presents doe Give, grant, covenant, enfeoffe Bargaine, confirme, Sell, and make over, unto John Webster of the abovesayd Towne and County All that pcell of Land conteineing by estimation foure acres be it more or less as it lyeth Scituate in Newbury in the South field being bounded with the land of William Steevens deceased ont he west syde and North end John Knight Jun on the east and the Common on the South, with all and Singular the pfitts fences and apptenances therunto belonging. To have and to hold all the abovesayd foure acres respectively to the pper use and behoofe, of the abovesayd John Webster his heires executors and assignes for ever, and I the abovesayd Solomon Keyes and Francis my wife for ourselves our heires executors and assignes doe covenant promise and agree to and with the sayd John Webster, his heires executors or assignes to warrantize the Sale of the abovesayd premisses, that the sayd John Webster his heires executors or assignes, shall from time to time and att all times henceforth forever, have, hold, use, occupie, posses, and enjoy all thew abovesayd premisses, without any lett, molestation, hindrance or interruption of me the abovesayd Solomon Keyes, or Francis my wife, our heires executors or assignes, or any pson or psons lawfully claimeing In by from or under us, or any of either of us either any or either of our heires Executors, or assignes and doe acknowledge to have given lawfull possession of the abovesayd premisses unto the above mentioned John Webster In wittnes wherof I the abovesayd Solomon Keyes and Francis my wife have Sett our hands & Seales the thirteenth day of May in the yeare of our Lord one thousand six hundred sixty three.
Solomon Keyes and a Seale
Francis Keyes and a marke and seale
Signed Sealed & dd in the presents of us
Anthony Somerby
Amos Stickny
Solomon and Francis were then named as the parents of five children whose births were recorded in Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts VI21. Sollomon and Francis Keyes were the parents of Sollomon, born on June 24, 1665 VI21. Solloman and Francis Keyes were the parents of Joseph, born on May 24, 1667 VI21. Solmon and Francis Keies were the parents of Ruth, who was born on April 4, 1669 and died on March 31, 1671 in Chelmsford VI21. Solomon and Francis Keies were the parents of Moses, born on March 25, probably in 1671 VI21. Solomon and Francis Keies were the parents of John, born on August 14, 1674 VI21. Sergeant Solomon Keyes died on March 28, 1702 in Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts VI21.
Sara Keyes was baptized in New Buckenham, Norfolk, England on June 29, 1634 (“Sara the daughter of Robert Keyes & Sara his wife was baptised the 29th day of Junne”) NO11. An additional birth record recorded in Watertown, Massachusetts stated “Sary keies the daughter of Robert and Sary keies borne the 26 of the third month” in 1633 WA21. The “third month” indicates that she was born in May, which was the third month because Lady Day (March 25) commenced the new year, but the addition of this record in Watertown, Massachusetts when she was baptized in Norfolk, England is not clear. Sarah Keies married Samuel Buswell on July 8, 1656 in Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI36. Samuell and Sarah Buswell were the parents of six sons who were born in Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI36. These were Isaac, born on August 6, 1657, John, born on October 7, 1659, Samuell, born on May 25, 1662, William, born on August 5, 1664, Robert, born on February 8, 1666/7, and James, born on March 20, 1668/9 VI36. Samuell Busswell was the father of Joseph, born on August 20, 1674 and of Mary, born on June 1, 1677, both in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts VI10.
Rebecca Keyes was born on March 17, 1638 in Watertown, Massachusetts WA21; this could be interpreted as March 17, 1637/8 WE23. Rebecka Keas married William Smith on July 6, 1657 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts VI10. William Smith was the father of several children whose births were recorded in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts VI10. Smith children whose father was “William” and whose births or baptisms occurred from 1658 through 1691 have been included here, but it is unlikely that Rebecca would have given birth at age fifty-three in 1691. Just one child was born to “Will” Smith, and this was William, born on July 17, 1658 VI10. The remainder were born to William Smith: Rebecka was born on March 3, 1662/3, Joseph was born on June 28, 1665, Benjamin was born on January 5, 1667/8, Solomon was born on March 3, 1669/70, Samuel was born on April 6, 1672, Sarah was born on July 10, 1674, and Mary was born on July 3, 1680 VI10. A nine-year gap follows Mary’s birth, and then Rebecka was baptized on December 22, 1689 and Martha was baptized on April 26, 1691 VI10. The last two baptismal records may or may not have belonged to children born to William and Rebecka Smith. Rebecka Smith married Daniel Killum of Wenham on March 29, 1693 in Topsfield VI10.
Phebe Keyes was born on June 17, 1639 in Watertown, Massachusetts (“phebe keyes the Daughter of Robert and Sary keyes borne – ye – 17d - 4m”) WA21.
Mary Keyes was born in February 1641/2 in Watertown, Massachusetts but died or was buried on July 20, 1642 WA21, WE23.
Elias Keyes was born on May 20, 1643 in Watertown, Massachusetts WA21. Elias Keies married Sarah Blanford on September 11, 1665 in Sudbury, Middlesex County, Massachusetts VI39. They were probably the parents of four children whose births were recorded in Sudbury, Middlesex County, Massachusetts VI39. Elyas and Sarah Keies were the parents of Elyas, born on November 15, 1666 VI39. Elijah and Sarah Keayes were the parents of James, born on September 13, 1670 VI39. Elijah and Sarah Keeys were the parents of Sarah, born on April 11, 1673 VI39. Elyas and Sarah Keeys were the parents of Thomas, born on February 8, 1674 VI39.
Mary Keyes was born in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts on June 16, 1645 MA26, KE11. Mary Keyes married Benjamine Gadge on February 16, 1663 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI3. Mary Gage died by October 11, 1671 WE23.
The birth of Peter Keyes was not recorded; he was born approximately 1635 and married Elizabeth by the year 1667 WE23.
She was called “Widdow Keyes” on March 1, 1651, when she was listed as a freeholder with an interest in the common land of Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts CU7. After the death of Robert, Sarah Keyes married John Gage on November 7, 1658 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts MA26, AN4. John Gage of Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts sold a six-acre parcel of salt marsh in Ipswich to Aron Pengry of Ipswich for the sum of seventeen pounds on August 10, 1662 SA21. Sarah Gage, the wife of John Gage, consented to this sale and resigned her interest in the parcel the following day before Daniel Denison SA21. The deed below was transcribed by George Freeman Sanborn, Jr. and is reproduced here under a Creative Commons “Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International” license SA21:
This present wrighting wittnesseth, that I, John Gage of Rowley, in the county of essex, for and in considderation of seaventeen pounds in hand payd, and doe by these presents acknowledge to have received: have granted, bargained, alienated, sould and confirmed unto Aron Pengry of Ipswich, and by these presents doe fully and clearly grant, bargaine, alienate, sell and confirme unto the sd Aron Pengry, all that my parcell of sault marsh, conteining six acres, be it more or less, granted unto me the sd John Gage by the towne of Ipswich, scituate, lying and being in Ipswich aforesaid, in ye marshes on the north side of the town, having a great creeke toward ye south and west, having the marsh of Marke Quilter toward the east, & other marsh now in the possession of Maxemilian Jewett toward the north. To have & to hould and quietly and peaceably to enjoy all the sayd parcell of marsh, be it more or less, unto the sayd Aron Pengry, his heires and assignes forever, and that the sayd Aron shall from tyme to tyme and at all tymes heereafter, have, use, occupie, possess & enjoye all the sayd marsh, and every part & parcell thereof, with all the appurtenances and privilidges thereunto belonging, without the lett, hinderance, deniall or interruption of me the sayd John Gage, my heires, executors, administrators or any of them, or any other person or persons whatsoever claiming title thereunto, from, by or under me, my heires, executors, administrators or any of them forever. In wittnes whereof I the sayd John Gage have heerunto Sett my hand and seale, the 10th of August, 1662.
John Gage with a marke.
Signed, sealed & d’d. in the presence of us,
John French.
Robert Lord.
I, Sarah Gage wife unto John Gage, do freely consent to this above bargaine and sale of my husband.
Sarah Gage with a marke.
John Gage acknowledged this his act & deed, & Sarah his wife did freely resigne her interest of dowry, before me Aug: 11: 62. Daniel Denison.
John died sometime before March 25, 1673, the date his will was proved in Ipswich TH27. A portion of the will of John Gage which pertained to Sarah has been transcribed TH27:
I will and Bequeath to my beloued wife Sarah Gag one Cow and al what houshould Goods wase hir owne; During her Life and to Dispose of at hir Death: the Rest of my houshould goods as beading peautar brass Iron Earthen and woodden vessels within house I giue vnto hir During hir Natural Life and at hir Death to Returne to my Children: only I Do Reserve out of these to be now Disposed of to my Children al my wearing Clothes and my Chest ad al yt is In it and a great Kettell and a Cowel: also I giue vnto hir on third part of al the Corne That shal be mine at my Desease and I do will that my fiue Sonns aboue mentioned them ad Each of them thaire heires Execetors adminst. ad asignes shal pay or Cause to be paied to my wife Sarah Gag twenty shillings apeice Every yeare during hir naturul Life In good marchantabel Corne the one halfe In English graine the other halfe In Indian Corne to be Diliuered by hir order In som place In this towne of Bradford or aboard a boate In merimacke Riuer at Havorhill: al ye abouesd partickulars I wil to hir vpon and with hir consent to Relinquis[h] al hir Right In the Rest of my Estate for my Sonns I wil that they Inioy and posses for them and theire heires for Euer…
Sarah died before writing a will TH28, DO19 on July 7, 1681 AN4, TH28 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts BE7, AN4, although she was called “of Bradford” in her probate record TH28. Bradford is on the southern bank of the Merrimack River, southwest of Newburyport and just south of Haverhill, Massachusetts. The administration of her estate was granted to her sons-in-law, John French and William Smith TH28, DO19, and all of her possessions were divided amongst her three living daughters, Sarah, Phoebe, and Rebecca AN4. The inventory of her estate, taken by Stephen “Grenlefe” and Caleb Moody on July 14, 1681 and recorded on September 27, 1681, included AM1:
An inventory of the estate of Sareth gage desesed the seventh daye of Julye… 1681
on fother beade 2 poloes [one feather bed 2 pillows]… an othor beade… on ould gren ruge & blancet… on nue boulstr [one new bolster]… a cevrled [coverlet]… a blancet… 2 knete blancets… blak petecote… serge petecot… a red petecote… on othr red ptecot [one other red petticoat]… a gray cote… gray cloth 4 yards & half… a pese of white cloth… a seafe garde [safeguard]… a serge iumpe… a pair bodes and 2 hodes… a letul chest… a knete petecot… a serge wascot [waistcoat]… a brod bage… on pair shetes… on oth pair with a touell… toe coten pelobers [two cotton pillow biers]… 4 spones… toe sheftes & toe scarfes… toe napcens & toe tabul cloth… son [sic] small lenen clothes in a blue apren… som small lenen in a napcen [some small linen in a napkin]… a cheste & som things in the tell… on dusen [one dozen] trenchers… 3 peis stokes… selke hode & hackeches [perhaps “silk hoode and handkerchiefs”]… cortens & valens [curtains & valences]… a bibull… a wescote… blue lenen… toe gren aprens… a stufe petecote… cortens & valents [curtains and valences]… a wescot… peuter plates & …ware [the document has ripped at the top, down the center, and because of this, part of the previous word is gone]… a warmen pan & scemd… earthen wore & a brose [the previous word was probably “brass”, and the word after “brose” has been obliterated by the tear] … wooden wore & ould se… 2 potes, scelut, cetal [pots, skillet, kettle]… frienpen [frying pan]… firpan tong [firepan and tongs]… traml & gredeyren [trammel & gridiron]… boshal & hulfe rye [a bushel and a half of rye]… a coberd [cupboard] & boxe… 2 chaire, 3 coshes [probably “cushions”], forme [a bench] 2 stoles [stools]… a bage with 3 small bages… som enden bascts [Indian baskets]… a bage with som whete…
this inventory was taken the 14 d of July 81
by us Stephen Grenlefe
Caleb Moody