Ebenezer Keen
1707 - 1737 - 1771 - 1814
John Keen 1578-1649
John Keen was born about 1578 in London and died in Hingham, Massachusetts, on November 14, 1649. John came to America on the ship CONFIDENCE from Southampton, England on April 24, 1638 with his wife, Martha, and children John, Elizabeth, Martha, Josiah, and Sarah. Two sons remained in England. The family settled in Hingham where John was a mariner and an innkeeper.
Josiah Keen 1629-1710
Josiah was born on London Bridge in 1629 which, at the time, was an enormous structure that contained houses and shops, as the bridge had since the medieval period. Its population in the second half of the 1600s was over 500. The views above are 1600 and 1616, while the one below is 1632, spanning the time of Josiah’s birth on the bridge. Josiah moved from Hingham to Marshfield, then to Duxbury. He first married Abigail Little around 1656. Abigail was the daughter of Thomas Little and Ann Warren, whose parents were MAYFLOWER passenger Richard Warren and his wife Elizabeth Walker. Abigail died young and Josiah married, second, Hannah Dingley, and had children John, Matthew, Ephraim, Hannah, Elizabeth, Abigail and Sarah. Josiah was surveyor in 1666, constable in 1667, and on the grand jury from Duxbury in 1689 and 1703. An entry in the Duxbury Records for June 20, 1695 refers to the sale of about 20 acres, “for 4 pounds in silver money to Josiah Keen, Sr.” and, on February 24, 1696/7, for a tract of land of 30 acres being “laid forth to Josiah Keen, Sen.”
Josiah and Abigail had one son, Josiah, whose son, Hezekiah, kept a private account book that still exists today – 478 pages long with wooden covers and iron hinges. It not only explains the Warren connection, and shows marriages to the Howland and Winslow families, but it provides significant information about the family’s origins:
“My Grandfather was Born in London on London Bredg and he Came out of England with his father & mother & left In London two Brothers Behind them & my grat grandfather & grat grandmother Came to Boston In New england & from thence to Hengham & from there to Meshfeld and there my Grandfather Josiah Keen mared with Abigil Lettel who he had my father Josiah Keen By & one Dafter Who Died young and my granmother Dyed allso & Left only my father Josiah Keen……Abigil Lettel She Died & then my grandfather mared with his Sekent wife who was Hannah Dengley who my Granfather had 3 Sons & four Dafters…the Sons nams was John Mathew Ephrim & Hannah Elesebeth Abigil & Sarah….Mathew Keen mared with Martha Mackfarland.”
Matthew Keen 1667-1717
Matthew was born September 2, 1667 in Duxbury and, similar to the details in Hezekiah’s account book, his marriage is recorded in the Hingham town records, 1698 – “Keen – The 20th day of December, 1698, Matthew Keen, of Duxbury, was marryed to Martha Mackfarlin, the daughter of Purthe Mackfarlin of Hingham, by Mr. John Norton, pastor of the Church in Hingham.” As is Martha’s birth in 1671 – “Mackfarlin – Martha Mackfarlin, the daughter of Purthe Mackfarlin and of Patience Mackfarlin his wife was born on the 15th day of Jan. 1671” “1667 – July 3, Purdy Magvarlo married to Patience Russell.” The year before, on March 10, 1670 at the Hingham town meeting, Martha’s father was given a lot as a proprietor – “John Langlee and Purthe Mackfarlin drew their shares in 1 Lot.” After the birth of Martha & Matthew’s daughters, they named their first son, Matthew, and their second son, Ebenezer.
Ebenezer Keen 1707-1790
Ebenezer – the first of many – was born July 9, 1708. He moved to Rochester, Massachusetts in 1724, where his marriage appears in the town records, “Ebenezar Keen & Mary Whiteredge married at 31 of Decem. 1730.” They purchased land and built a house around 1740 on what is today Keene Road in Acushnet, then part of the town of Dartmouth – which also included New Bedford and Fairhaven. Ebenezer’s wife was known as Mercy, and her name was generally spelled “Whitridge.” Both are buried in the White Cemetery about a mile from their house on Keene Road. Many of the stones, though very old, are replacements and the stonecutter was unable to read the original dates. Their house still stands at 203 Keene Road in Acushnet.
Ebenezer Keen 1737-1815
Ebenezer was the first son of Ebenezer & Mercy Whitridge. He was born in Rochester prior to the family’s move to Acushnet. He was married twice – first, at the age of 20, to Hannah Cole, then much later in life, at the age of 69, to Deborah Shearman, shortly after Hannah’s death.
Dartmouth town records show, “The intentions of marriage between Ebenezar Cain son of Ebenezar Cain of Dartmouth and Hannah Cole of Plim Town was entered with me ye 20 Day of August 1757.” Hannah’s gravestone gives a birthdate of 1735 which matches the Eastham vital records of her birth to Gershom Cole and Mary Rogers on May 10, 1735. There are no other possible women of this name that would qualify, there are strong family connections in both Eastham and Dartmouth/Acushnet (particularly amongst Snow & Sears), and the family naming conventions are quite clear. In particular, Ebenezer & Hannah named their second daughter, Ruth – a name that does not exist anywhere in Ebenezer’s ancestry yet was notable in Hannah’s. Their first daughter was named Hannah after her mother and extensive use of the name on that side, and Hannah was also the name of Ebenezer’s great-great grandmother, the wife of Josiah Keen – Ebenezer’s immigrant ancestor. Hannah was a descendant of MAYFLOWER passengers Stephen Hopkins and Thomas Rogers. Ebenezer and Hannah had a large family, giving birth to nine children from 1758 to 1781. Two of their children, also named Ebenezer and Hannah, married two children of Nathaniel Sears and Elizabeth Winslow, Susan and Nathanial, respectively.
Ebenezer (1737) in the Revolutionary War
During the Revolutionary War, Ebenezer served as a private in Capt. Thomas Crandon’s company, Col. John Hathaway’s regiment. His service was very brief. Ebenezer enlisted on August 2, 1780 and was discharged on August 8, 1780, six days in total, on an alarm in nearby Rhode Island. The British had withdrawn from Rhode Island in October 1779 and French troops arrived in Newport in July 1780, yet the British were sailing offshore and Rhode Island was again threatened by a landing. Major General William Heath wrote Washington on August 2 about the “militia who are coming in from all quarters. It has been agreed that about three thousand Militia shall act upon the Island – about 1500 near Quaker Hill. If Sir Henry Clinton should land South of the Town the militia will Support Genl Rochambeau. If he lands on the north of the French Army, he will be between two fires and the 1500 (the advance of the militia) will be supported by 1500 more who will be posted on Butt’s Hill. The remainder of the militia are to be posted on the East Side of the ferry in order to Secure the communication.” (source) On August 3, 1780, he wrote to Washington “we have so many accounts of this that we have no doubt of it, and are pursing measures accordingly.” By August 4, Heath was in Newport and said “Two thousand men have been & still are advance near this Town about 1500 at Butts hill and the remainder at Howlands and Bristol Ferry perhaps a greater spirit never was discovered than has been on the present occasion. The Militia of this Sate & that of the County of Bristol in the Sate of Massachusetts with six other Regiments from that Sate have come in…Two thousand of these are to be posted between Quaker Hill and the town Black Point. The remainder at Butts Hill.” (source) On August 8, Washington wrote to Heath “I am exceedingly happy in the conduct of the Militia, in turning out with so much spirit & alacrity. It does them great honor, at the same time it is very interesting in the Common cause.” From Howland’s Ferry, in Portsmouth, which ran across the Sakonnet to the mainland, Heath wrote on August 9, “…I, immediately after consulting General Count de Rochambeau, discharged the Militia who had come in on the alarm. The spirit & ardour discovered by the Militia on this occasion, I think will have a very powerfull effect on the mind, both of our Friends, & Enemies. P.S. Newport August 12th I returned here yesterday, The British Fleet are gone to Gardners Island, except the Frigates who are Cruising off the Harbor.” Ebenezer’s brother, Jesse, was on the same alarm. Jesse had served since April 19, 1775, first as a minuteman from Roxbury. Their brother, Ephraim, served more extensively from April 16, 1776 and ultimately joined the Continental Army where he died during the Valley Forge winter on January 28, 1778.
Second Marriage
Hannah’s date of death is not on her tombstone or the records, but it had to have occurred before February 1, 1807, when Ebenezer, at 69, married his second wife, Deborah Shearman, aged 44. It’s unclear whether this was her married name (it may have been Winslow). In the 1800 census, there was only a man and woman (Hannah) recorded in Ebenezer’s household, both over 45. But in 1810, there was man and a woman (Deborah) over 45 as well as a daughter under 10. The young girl was Mercy Keen. Ebenezer names both Mercy and Deborah, along with his children with Hannah, in his will dated July 1, 1809. When referring to Mercy, he also says “her mother,” implying Deborah, and not himself. Though Ebenezer provided for Mercy in his will, we do not know when the relationship between Ebenezer & Deborah began – particularly in relation to Hannah’s death. Hannah is buried to Ebenezer’s left, and Deborah to his right.
Ebenezer Keen 1771-1825
While there is no published vital record for Ebenezer’s birth in 1771, there is substantial evidence supporting his parentage. Ebenezer’s father became a Baptist and helped found the church in Long Plain, adjacent to Acushnet. Ebenezer (born 1771) became a Deacon of this church.
Ebenezer married first, on April 7, 1794, Sarah “Sally” Winslow, a descendant of MAYFLOWER passenger William Bradford and of Kenelm Winslow, brother of MAYFLOWER passenger, Edward. Sally was born on September 6, 1768 in Rochester, Massachusetts. Ebenezer married second, on February 17, 1808, Susanna “Susan” Sears, who was born June 4, 1775 in Rochester. Susan was Sally’s first cousin, and Susan was a descendant of MAYFLOWER passenger, William Brewster. Ebenezer died rather young at 54 years, while Susan lived to be 85. Similar to his father, who was buried with his first and second wives to his left and right, respectively, Ebenezer’s gravestone is flanked by Sally to his left and Susan to his right.
Ebenezer’s house still stands at 245 Keene Road in Acushnet.
Ebenezer Keen 1814-1858
A housewright by trade, he lived at 221 County Street, New Bedford, in the height of the whaling industry. The 1850 census showed that he had two boarders – a sailor and his wife. He died at the young age of 44 years. Buried in Oak Grove cemetery in New Bedford with his wife, Mary Jane Bunker, whose family was from New Hampshire. Ebenezer’s stone reads: Farewell dear wife and children. Farewell my mother dear. For one another trust in God. For he is always near. Weep not for me all grief dispel. We’ll meet again till then farewell. Mary Jane lived until she was 91, and died on Dec 2, 1903.
Sylvanus Bunker Keen 1839-1914
Growing up in New Bedford as it was peaking as a whaling town proved irresistible…Sylvanus shipped out on the barque PACIFIC for four years, and missed his father’s death. Details of the voyage are covered on a separate page for Sylvanus.
