Thursday, 31 March 2016

Wills relating to the Keen Family

Information provided by Terry Sharpe


William Keen

Been Sworn by Commission duty of Barristers

In the Name of God Amen

I ,William Keen of West Teignmouth ,in the County of Devon, being of perfect sound mind and memory and in perfect health and shortly bound on a Voyage to Sea and calling to mind the dangers there of and the mortality of my body and to prevent disputes after my death, I do make this my Last Will and Testament, and in manner following that it is to say principally and first of all foremost my soul to God who gave it trusting to his Glory through the trust of my Holy Saviour Jesus Christ and my body as it shall please him to dispose of it or as something such worldly goods wherewith it hath pleased God to -?bless-----me, Forgive, Bestow and Bequeath the same manner hereinafter mentioned ?Imprimus I will and direct that all legacies that were left by my father William Keen Esquire to my children that shall be unpaid at the time of my death with lawful interest therein from the time of their attaining the age of twenty-one years respectively at which time the said legacies become due to them all shall be paid out of my efforts. I give my son William Keen, my daughter Silence Tucker and my daughter Mary Kean each one hundred pounds sterling, and to my son Benjamin Keen five hundred pounds sterling agreeable to my said father’s will. Then I will give and bequeath to my beloved wife Elizabeth Keen the interest of one thousand pounds sterling for which the sum may be put into some public fund or Government Security but if my Executors shall choose to pay to my said wife the ?total /annual sum equal to the interest to be obtained in such Public Fund growth it would have be such as will be most secure and advantageous then and in that case they giving her proper security for it may pay her the value of said interest without putting it into such a fund for if they find it more for their mutual benefit to pay an interest equal to what would arise from the sum of one thousand pounds put into such a fund as aforesaid. I will give them the use of their own judgment in that case as all I want of them is that my said wife may fairly receive a yearly sum equal to such interest as would arise from one thousand pounds sterling if put into such public funds and it grew and make no difference to her from where the money comes so that she has security for it to be paid to her yearly and every year during her natural life and no longer provided she shall so long live in the State of Widowhood and no longer and the said annual interest of the sum of one thousand pounds with the other articles herein after mentioned I give to my said wife Elizabeth Keen in full satisfactions and ------ proven legacies or part of my Estate that she might or could claim and on her death and burial or on the day of her future marriage all payment of this legacy is to cease. I also give to my said wife all her own wearing apparel and rings, gold watch, jewels and a gold snuff box. My best bed ------with all its apparatus with her dressing table one other mahogany table , 6 of the best chairs and one guilt framed looking glass, my picture drawn by Pine I leave to my wife during her life of future marriage but at her death my said picture is to be given to my daughter Mary Keen and her forever. Then I give to my daughter Silence Tucker and her the sum of one thousand pounds to be paid out of my Estate in good and lawful money of Great Britain. Then I give to my daughter Mary Keen the life sum of one thousand pounds to be paid out of my Estate. Then I give all the furniture of my house at West Teignmouth or that shall be part of any house I may possess at the time of my death in any of Great Britain except what has before been mentioned for my wife and except my bookcase and books so say all household stuff and furniture. German Wooden plate and every other article of furniture to be equally divided between my two daughters Silence Tucker and Mary Keen. Then my gold repeating watch made by Browne I give to my son Benjamin Keene along with my bookcase and all my books. Then my father’s picture in miniature set in gold with the other picture in the same case I give to my daughter Silence Tucker. Then my gold watch made by Dobson I give to my daughter Mary Keen. Then my wife’s picture drawn by Pine and my father’s picture drawn by ?Sall ,I give to my son Robert alias Robbin Keen. Then whereas my son William Keen my oldest son has misbehaved and still continues to do so and by the impurity of his conduct last year has throwing off his filial duty to me who am conscious of no other fault towards him than a too tender and indulgent a disposition was  a means of prejudicing my interest in my trade near a thousand pounds sterling and without having any remorse for such ill conduct shows me no more hope of his altering his practices which I have often expressed my dislike of but directly contrary to my commands persists obstinately in his disobedience , I therefore with sorrow an d regret but in justice to myself and family who have all been prejudiced by his sinful and base disobedience and as punishment for an undutiful son I give and bequeath to him my said eldest son William Keen my Brigantine Drake with all her apparel, tables and furniture as she shall stand at the time of my death, that ----- is no insured of four hundred pounds .If it should so happen that the said ----- should not be  in being so that he may ---- her at the time of my death then my will is that my executors may pay him out of my estate the sum of four hundred pounds as a equivalent or in lieu of the said Brigantine Drake but and if my said son William Shall repent after my death and show such marks of repentance as not to solemnize a marriage with wife Elizabeth Escott which I so absolutely  disallow and forbid I say if he does not marry the said wife Elizabeth Escott and will give my Executors hereinafter mentioned a bond for five Thousand Pounds that he has or will Solemnize such marriage with wife Elizabeth Escott as aforesaid but bonefide without fraud shall comply with my will in the matter in which is that he does not ever marry the said wife Elizabeth Escott that then and in that case he shall come in equal with my other two son rest s Benjamin Keen and Robert Alias Robbin Keen for an equal share of everything that I shall leave after paying of all the legacies in the Will and all my just debts and in that case the Brigantine Drake shall not be given to him I manner aforesaid as his whole legacy but be disposed of as hereinafter mentioned how I furthermore direct that my son Benjamin Keen shall pay out of his own part of the efforts money and that I shall leave to him the sum of one hundred pounds sterling towards the defraying of expenses of two years schooling from the time of my son Robert alias Robbin Keen in order to make some equality in the expense of his education as that of Said Benjamin has already paid by me for all the and provisions of my Estate, Real and Personal, Lands, Tenements and Establishments, Fishing Rooms, Stages, Stores and all manner of fishing craft ,ships boats stocks in Trade ,debts, bonds ,rotes of sand leases loans legacies goods and chattels of what kind so ever. I am now or at the time of my death I shall be so possessed of or entitled to whosoever to be found in Europe, Asia , Africa and America on hose high seas or on any land to be equally divided between my two sons Benjamin Keen and Robert Alias Robbin Keen provided always that in case my son William Keen shall repent an d give servility above mentioned for his not solemnizing matrimony with his wife Elizabeth Escott that then it is my will and always has been my intention that he my said son William Keen son shall be comprehended in this last noted Clause as amply and fully as if his name had been first mentioned therein and that he come in for an equal share of all my efforts and Estates with his two brothers Benjamin Keen and Robert alias Robbin Keen anything herein contained to the contrary in any ways notwithstanding and then the Brigantine Drake or value if lost and the insurance had or to be had is to be thrown into the joint stock but as my son William and my son Benjamin are of age and capable of pursuing my business but my son Robert alias Robbin is now only of the age of fourteen years or thereabouts it will so prosper that the two older sons William and Benjamin should not meet with any burden or in pursuing the Trade in Newfoundland by my dying at such a season of the year for want of my directions time may be lost. Fish or direct that if my sons William and Benjamin intend to pursue the Trade that they choose good, honest and proper xxxxxto value the Sea Triumph with my son William shall have and the ?sloop Elizabeth which my son Benjamin shall have they paying the one third of real value of each according to a just valuation , to my son Robert alias Robbin Keen that is to say on his behalf to this Guardian herein after mentioned as also my said son William Keen and my said son Benjamin Keen shall have each three shallops with their sails ,ropes and riggings not to take all the best but fairly divide them so that my said son Robert alias Robbin not be injured thereby they paying Robert alias Robbin or his Guardian for his own third share of at a moderate and just valuation and as they my said sons William and Benjamin may make use of some of the fishing rooms stages flakes and for reviving their own trade one third of which and shall belong to their brother Robert Keen now a minor in my house in Teignmouth,my will is that he the said Robert alias Robbin Keen’s one third part not be neglected but kept in good an d proper repair by the said William and Benjamin until he the said Robert alias Robbin shall attain an age of 21 years if they or either of them shall so long occupy any of the same fishing rooms, stages, or so long as they should occupy the same and whatever part or parcel shall be occupied by them or either of them one third of which shall be and deemed to belong to said brother Robert alia Robbin Keen and for all and every three boats, rooms they shall so occupy they shall allow their said brother Robert alias Robbin Keen five pounds sterling per annum and they the said William and Benjamin keep the whole in good repair at their own expense until my said son Robert alias Robert Keen becomes Twenty one years of age and shall enter upon and take possession of his said one third of the whole of the above noted legacy and before he arrives to that age his guardian shall get and receive all his ??? for him and for the rents and profits of all my other Fishing Rooms in Newfoundland not occupied by my said sons they shall account yearly and every year with the guardian of my said son Robert alias Robbin as well as for all other rents and profits any way arising out of my Estates wherein my said son Robert alias Robbin has any part share or interest in it is  here and always to be noted that what I have said in this last noted part giving my son William an equal share with his brothers is founded on his reforming to the former part of this my will namely that he does not marry wife Elizabeth Escott and give the mentioned servility for other ways my said son William is not to be entitled to any share of my efforts with my other children but to have only the Brigantine Drake as above noted anything therein to the contrary notwithstanding. Then I appoint my wife Elizabeth Keen Guardian to and for my son Robert alias Robbin till he attains the age of twenty one years. Then I appoint my son in law Thomas Tucker with my son Benjamin Keen with my wife Elizabeth Keen an d my daughter Mary Keen joint executors and executrixes of this my last will and testament enjoining them to peace and brotherly and filial love revoking all other wills and bequests whatever. I confirm this to be my last Will and Testament written with my own hand sealed with my own seal in Teignmouth the 20thday of April 1772. Published or pronounced and declared to be his last will and testament in the presence of us John Rendell, Sarah Rendell, Rose ?Teasey her mark X

Codicil of William Keen’s Will

I William Keen of Teignmouth in the County of Devon inhabitant now in Greenspond in Newfoundland on this the Thirtieth day of November 1773 make and publish this codicil to my last will and testament which will I left in the hands of my daughter Silence Tucker of Teignmouth after my leaving last from there in the manner following that is to say that whereas I said in the last will explaining my dislikes to the marriage of my son William Keen to his wife Elizabeth Escott and accordingly did leave to him but some small portion of what I said should be possessed of at the time of my death in case he should marry the said wife Escott as reforming being ? so the said Will and Testament will appear I do hereby order and declare that my will is that my said son William shall not be so deprived as mentioned in my said past will and Testament for his marrying the said wife Escott but that he shall have an equal share with my two other sons Benjamin Keen and Robert alias Robbin Keen of all other efforts that shall leave whether Lands, Tenements and Investments, Money, Goods, Stocks in Trade, Ships, Craft Bills, Bonds ???? of Land, Mortgages Debt in Newfoundland as well as Great Britain, as well as in America or wherever the same may be found after the paying the fortunes to my two daughters Silence Tucker and Mary Keen and the provisions made for my wife Elizabeth Keen out of the whole of my Estates and efforts as directed in my said last will and testament provided always that my said son William shall pay truly and without fraud out of his part or share as aforesaid the just sum of two hundred pounds of good and lawful money of Great Britain unto Mary Carter of Greenspond, spinster or to her order ??? in cash or good bills of exchange on England for the value of two hundred pounds for to be paid by him within one year of my death or as much sooner as may and lastly it is my desire that this my present codicil be annexed to and made part of my last will and testament to all intents and purposes in ???? Whereas I have set my hand and seal this 30thday of November 1773. W. Keen signed and sealed.

Published and declared by the above named William Keen as a codicil to be Annexed to his last will and testament in the presence of William Bickford, John Grace and Francis Connor.

This will was proved at London with a codicil on the nineteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six before the Right and Worshipful Sir George Gray Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury and lawfully constituted by the oaths of Thomas Tucker, Benjamin Keen the son, ????? Elizabeth Keen Widow son Robert alias Robbin Keen, and Mary Keen spinster daughter of the deceased and executors named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the goods ,chattels, and credits of the said deceased they having been first sworn by Commission duly to Administers EX

Generation 2. 2. William Keen (unknown Kean) was born Abt 1658 in Salem,Massachusetts,USA. He married Jane Keen Abt 1686 .she was daughter of John Keen and Hannah Stebbins. She was born Abt 1662.

This tree then had Notes for William Keen:
Will of William Keen (1658) of Salem Massachusetts.

In the name of God Amen: the tenth day of December Anno Domini 1729: I William Keen of Concord, in the County of Middlesex in the province of Massachusetts Bay in New England. Gentleman,being sick in body but of a sound mind and memory thanks be given to God therefor calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it's appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain my last will and testament that is to say first and principally. I recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it and I recommend my body to the earth to be determined at he discretion of my executrix xxxxxxxxx. Rescue the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching the worldly estates with which it has pleased God to bless me I dispose of the same in the manner following Imprimus I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Jane Keen whom I xxxxxx and ordain the sole executrix of this my last will and testament,my house in which I now dwell and the land on which it stands also the land a joined to my house plot now in my possession which house and land is situated in Concord in the southerly part thereof with all my movable S with the whole of both real and personal estate whether in town or out of town which doth or may appear:all which I give to my said wife during her natural life for her support and comfort and after her decease the whole of my estate that my said wife shall have I bequeath to my grandchild Hannah Cocksedge to be hers and her heirs begotten of her own body to her and their use benefit and be hers forever. Reserving out of said estate the funeral after expenses viz I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter ten pounds namely Silence Buckley of said Concord and I also give and bequeath to my only son William Keen of Newfoundland forty shillings money my both legacies to come out of my estate. And I do utterly revoke and disannual all and every other and former wills and testaments bequeaths or executes by me xxxxxxxxx confirming this to be my last will and testament.(Probated August 12,1731



Will of Elizabeth Keen
England and Wales,Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills 1384-1854 for Elizabeth Keen
The last Will and Testament in the county of Devon,widow in xxxxxxand published the nineteenth day of February one thousand eight hundred and seventeen. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Martha Ann Keen of West Teignmouth aforesaid spinster all my monies,and xxxxx for money,,xxxxxgold, furniture,plate goods and chattels and all other my personal testamentary Estate and effects of every kind and description and so appoint my said daughter sole Executrix of this my will to witness xxxxxxx. I have here to set and sole the day and your first above written Elizabeth Keen. Signed xxxxx published and declared by the said Elizabeth Keen as and for her Last Will and Testament in the presence of Ann Maynard of West Teignmouth, W. Cartwright xxxxxx of West Teignmouth,Loveday Jackman.

Proved at London 12,July 1817 before the rightful Samuelcxxxxxxxof. Xxxxx of Savxxxx and Storr by the daughter Martha Ann Keen spinster and sole Executrix to obtain
Xxxxx granted having been first sworn duly to administer

Extracted from the Reigiatry of the ? Prerogative Court.



William Keen Will
In the name of God Amen the seventeenth day of September one thousand seven hundred and fifty-four (1754) I William Keen Esquire of St. John's in the island of Newfoundland merchant being sick and weak in body but of perfect mind ad memory thanks be given to God therefore calling nto mind the morality of my body and knowing it is appointed to all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say. Principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it, and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors, nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form. Imprimis, I give and bequeath to my beloved grandson Benjamin Keen, the son of William and Mary Keen when he shall attain the age of Twenty-one the sum of five hundred pounds of lawful money of England to be paid by my Executor out of y estate. Item I give and bequeath to my other grandchildren William Keen, Sarah Keen, Mary Keen and Jane Keen children of the said William and Mary Keen when they shall attain the age of twenty one years each of them the sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money of England to be paid likewise out of my estate by my Executor. Also I give to my well beloved son William Keen whom I likewise constitute and ordain my sole Executor of this my last will and testament all and singular my lands messuages, and Tenements by disaxxxxxx ball and every other former testaments, will, legacies and bequests confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In Witness where I have hereunto set my hand and seal this day signed, sealed, published pronounced and declared by said William Keen.

Witness: Thomas Allan, John Burton, Jas Escott. Proven at London at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury Jan. 9, 1755
 
 





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