The Study of Racialism

gemini072 · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2942 }

KEE/ KEYS FAMILY

1. ____ Kee, born say 1700, was a soldier who was slain in the expedition against the Spaniards at Carthagena. His widow Elizabeth Kee, a "Mulatto," petitioned the Virginia House of Burgesses for a pension and was granted an allowance of five pounds on 26 May 1742 [McIlwaine, Journals of the House of Burgesses, 20, 37]. They were probably the ancestors of

2 i. Andrew, born say 1760.

3 ii. John, born about 1763.

4 iii. Betty, born say 1785.

2. Andrew Kee, born say 1760, was living in Essex County on 17 May 1784 when he was presented for failing to list himself as a tithable. On 20 December 1785 he and Humphrey Fortune were sued in Essex County for a debt of 2,500 pounds of tobacco with interest from 15 October 1782 [Orders 1784-7, 9, 174]. He may have been the father of

i. Robert, born about 1780, registered as a free Negro in Essex County on 17 August 1829: born free by certificate of John Micon, Sr., bright Mulattoe, 49 years of age, 5 feet 5-1/8 inches [Essex County Register 1810-43, p.98, no.216].

ii. Walker Key, born about 1789, registered as a free Negro in Essex County on 17 August 1829: born free by certificate of John Micon, Sr., dark Mulattoe, 40 years of age, 5 feet 7-3/4 inches [Essex County Register 1810-43, p.95, no.209]. He was a "free Negro" counted in St. Ann's Parish, Essex County, with a female over the age of sixteen in 1813 [Waldrep, 1813 Tax List].

iii. Judith, married Thomas Fortune, 23 December 1813 Essex County bond.

3. John1 Key, born about 1763, was a Lunenburg County, Virginia soldier of dark complexion who was born free in King and Queen County in 1763. In 1853 his widow Faithy Lester Key began receiving a pension for his services in the Revolutionary War [Jackson, Virginia Negro Soldiers, 39]. They may have been the parents of

i. John2, born about 1809, registered in Amherst County on 20 January 1851: a free man of Colour born in the County of King and Queen, bright Mulatto 5 feet 6-3/4 Inches high ... age 42 years ... derives his freedom from ancestors free prior to the 1st of May 1806 [McLeroy, Strangers in their Midst, 75]. Esix Key, a 95 year-old "Mulatto," was counted in his household in the 1850 census for Amherst County.

4. Betty Key, born say 1785, was the mother of at least two persons who registered as free Negroes in Amherst county:

i. Frances, born about 1809, registered in Amherst County on 21 May 1851: a free woman of Colour daughter of Betsey Key a dark mulatto about forty two years of age, long strait black hair, five feet four and 1/2 Inches high born in Nelson County of parents free prior to the 1st of May 1806.

ii. Sally, born about 1816, registered in Amherst County on 17 February 1851: daughter of Betsey Key bright mulatto 5 feet 3-1/2 Inches high ... about 35 years of age, born in Nelson County [McLeroy, Strangers in their Midst, 82].

iii. ?William, born about 1821, registered in Amherst County on 17 February 1851: about thirty years of age a dark mulatto ... born of ancestors free prior to the 1st of May 1806 [McLeroy, Strangers in their Midst, 75-6, 82].

Other members of the family were

i. Milly Keys, head of a Petersburg Town household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [VA:334a].

ii. Polly Keys, head of a Spotsylvania County household of 2 "other free" in 1810 [VA:113a].

iii. Brener Keys, head of a Spotsylvania County household of 1 "other free" in 1810 [VA:112a].

iv. Betty Key, a "free Negro" living in Middlesex County, Virginia, in 1813 [Personal Property Tax List 1782-1850, frame 272].

Beaufort County, North Carolina

1. Milly Keys, born say 1765, was head of a Beaufort County, North Carolina household of 4 "other free" in 1790 [NC:126] and 6 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:23]. She may have been the mother of

i. Clary, head of a Beaufort County household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [NC:114].

ii. Silvy, head of a Beaufort County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [NC:127].

iii. Amy, head of a Beaufort County household of 2 "other free" in 1810 [NC:114].

iv. Mary, born 1776-1794, head of a Beaufort County household of 4 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:23].

v. Nancy, born 1776-1794, head of a Beaufort County household of 4 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:24].

vi. Sally, born 1776-1794, head of a Beaufort County household in 1810 [NC:127] and 5 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:23].

vii. Penny, born 1776-1794, head of a Beaufort County household of "free colored" in 1820 [NC:23].