http://www.generationsgoneby.com/getperson.php?personID=I20333&tree=1
The ship "Nassau" sailed from Blackwall England in December of 1700, and arrived New York in March,1701 bringing 191 Huguenot refugees. Some disembarked in N.Y.C. while others stayed on to travel to Virginia.
According to tradition Jacques La Caze, a French Hegeunot, was the progenitor of the KEESEE or KEEZEE family of the Virginia colony. He was of that large company of French Hugeunot refugees who emigrated from England or France about 1700 and, sponsored by William Byrd III, settled at Manocantown, Henrico County (now Mankin, Goochland County) about twenty miles up the James River from present Richmond. At this time Jacques La Caze was 31 years of age and unmarried. Research has disclosed nothing concerning his marriage.
Not long after Manocantown was erected into a parish, the parishioners were assembled to erect a vestry and Jacques La Caze was eledted as one of the 12 vestrymen. He was reelected and served as vestryman many years..
In anglicizing the name the "La" was dropped and the "Caze" was pronounced as two syllables and spelled Keesee, Keysee, or Keezee. Subsequently, the name has been spelled many other ways; Kesee, Kezee, Kissee, Kazee, Kozee.
With respect to the progenitor of the Keesee family in America, it was stated by Olivia (Simmons) Keesee (Mrs. Charles Blackwell Keesee), prominent in the Daughters of the American Revolution, that a George Keesee, Huguenot, who came to Henrico Co., Virginia about 1700, was the founder of the family in America. However that may be, it is agreed by all authorities that all Keesees of Virginia were of the same family, descending from a common ancestor.
Source: Early Families of Eastern and Southeastern Kentucky, William C. Kozee, 1961
