Person:Clarissa Davis (4)

1) BIRTH-PARENTS NAMES: From Cliff McCarthy, via GenCircles on internet, 2 April 2001. "I believe I have a match for you. I live in an old house in Belchertown, MA built by local character James Harvey Davis in the 1850s. In researching his history, I compiled a fair amount of family data, including a reference to Clarissa Davis, born 16 October 1801. This must be your Clarissa D. Davis who married William Keenan (sic). FYI: Clarissa's father was Aaron Davis (b. abt 1754, d. 13 May 1813, Belchertown, MA). Her mother's name was Elizabeth, maiden name unknown. Clarissa had older siblings named Aaron, Jr.; Colburn; Betsey; John; Tirzah; and Joel." All this data fits - there was an Aaron Davis living in Crete in the 1850 census, also a Betsey Davis in Crete 1850 who received $500 from the estate of William Keeney when he died in 1849. Several Keeney sons also lived with her in both the 1850 and 1860 census for Crete, Will County, Illinois.

2) BIRTH: From Belchertown, Hampshire, Massachusetts vital records, via town clerk, e-mail 10 April 2001.

3) INHERITANCE: On 11 January 1823 William KINNEY and wife Clarissa KINNEY, living in Northampton received $50 for her share of farm of deceased father. (Hampshire Co. Deed Book #58, pp. 226-229)

4) BIRTH-SPOUSE-DEATH: Tombstone data gives death date and age (birthdate calculated from tombstone). Crete cemetery, corner of Exchange St. and Vincennes Ave., Crete, Will Co., IL. Also listed in reading of Crete Cemetery (1978) p. 6. published by South Suburban Genealogical & Historical Society, South Holland, Illinois.

4a) NEWPAPER OBIT: KE(?)NY, Clarissa; age 43, consort of William Ke(?)ny, 1/14/1844 in Thorn Grove, consumption; JS 3/27/1844. (from Joliet Signal). This dates does not agree with tombstone stone. The age on the stone exactly agrees with her birth in Massachusetts.

5) NAME/MARRIAGE: from Keeney Update edited by Roscoe Keeney, Jr. January 1991. Accompanying letter (Feb. 1994) says she is from Vernon, CT. and married by Isaac D. Bolton. Also marriage found on FHL film # 2908, Barbour Collection, East Hartford, Hartford Co., CT Vital Records, Vol. 1, p. 96, by Rev. Isaac Dwinel, pastor of Baptist Church in East Hartford. (Second instance believed to be correct.)

6) MARRIAGE ANNOUNCEMENT: Found at CT State Library (1993-or 1994) From Hartford Courant, 3 July 1821 extract marriage p. 426 KEENEY, William, East Windsor, Merchant, to DAVIS, Miss Clarissa, Belchertown, married at East Hartford. [We spent a long time looking for Belchertown near Tolland and Vernon, CT never thought to look in Massachusetts!]