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m. Bef 1715 - Roger KeysEst 1715 - Bef 1781
- John KeysEst 1730 - Bef 1799
Facts and Events
John Keys was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
Related
- Analysis. Relationship between John Keys and Roger Keys
Early Land Acquisition in Augusta County
Acquisition of Land from Chalkley's:
- Page 203.--13th February, 1761. Nathaniel Evins and Mary to John Keys, £15, 161 acres on west side of the South River alias the River Mary, a branch of James River, patented to Nathaniel, 1759; cor. tract belonging to heirs of John McDowell, the low ground of Reverend Alexander McDowell. Teste: Thomas Bowyer, Samuel and James McDowell.
Disposition of Land from Chalkley's:
- Page 129.--21st November, 1772. John Keys and Agness ( ) to Walter Smelly (Smiley), on west side of the South River, alias the River Mary, a branch of James River, corner tract belonging to the heirs of the late John McDowell, low ground of the Rev. Alex. McDowell. Teste: Archibald Alexander, Andrew Bird, William Alexander, Robert Fearis, Joseph Alexander. Delivered to Mr. Smiley, 10th February, 1786.
Processioning List of 1767-68
- "Processioning" was the periodic review and agreement of property lines between settler's lands. Processioning Lists are useful in determining the general area of a settlers lands and their neighbors at specific time periods:
- Page 450.--1767-68: Processioned by John Pall, John Lyle: For John Keys, John Parks, Robert Caruthers, Roger Keys, Jno. Paul, John Hays, Thomas Willson, David Williamson, Jno. Boid, Thomas Boid, Walter Smiley, Jno. Clemans, James McClung, Wm. Alexander, John Lusk, James Ritchey, Jno. Sloan, Joseph Alexander. Processioned by James Hugart: For Charles Donelly, Jno. Cartmill, Robert Stewart, Thomas Galespie, Jno. McCashling, Mary Moore, James McCay, Wm. McCay, Ralph Laferty, John Galespie, James Hugart.
Washington County, VA Records
- Page 167 - John Keys...274 ac...Commissioners Certificate...on the Laurel Fork of Holstein River...Beginning at the foot of the South Mountain at the head of a spring hollow...over Squarrel Knob...on the bank of the Laurel Fork...before Ben McCords house on the bank of the Laurel fork...on Archibald McSpaddens line...on the head of a spring...May 23, 1782 - John Keys...400 ac...on the Laurel Fork, branch of the south fork of Holstein River, includes improvements, actual settlement made in 1772...August 29, 1781. (Note: the settlement date of 1772 appears to line up with when John Keys sold his land in Augusta County, record listed above).
- Know all men by these presents that I Wm. RAMSEY of Davidson Co., TN do hereby nominate ... appoint my son Jacob W. RAMSEY of WC VA my true & lawful attorney for me ... to convey ... land, 150 acres in WC VA on both sides of Laurel Fork of Holston River immediately below the mouth of Beaver Dam Fork, adjoining a tract of land formerly belonging to John KEYS Sr. ... authority to execute ... deed ... 11 Aug 1809. Witnesses: Joseph COLEMAN & Joseph GREEN, Justices of the peace ... at Court, 19 Sep 1809, Power of Attorney Recorded ... (WC VA Deed Book 4:219-220). [Source: WC VA DB 4, 1808-1811, (2004), by Jack Hockett, pages 48-49].
Rockbridge County, VA Records
- Rockbridge County, Virginia. Deed book B. p.41.
- 17 March 1789 - John Keis / Keys and Agness his wife of Washington Co., VA, for one part and Samuel Keys of Rockbridge for the other part. For 50 pounds paid by Samuel Keys for 136 acres in Rockbridge Co. formerly the property of Roger Keis and at his death descended to the said John Keis and his heir at law, adj. the Borden patent line, Keys.
- Signed: John Keys
- Witnesses: John Evans, Matt’w Lyle, James Lyle
- Recorded: April 1789 - Adam Freem DCT
- Recorded: 1 June 1790 - above deed further proven by oath of Matthew Lyle as witness.
- A. Keis DCT
Records in Augusta County, VA
From Chalkley’s Augusta County Records:
- Page 257.--8th March, 1753. Borden, &c., to Alexander Craighead, late of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1753. Cor. Richard Woods; cor Peter Wallace, 553 acres of 92100 sold in testator's lifetime. Cap. Lapsley's line. Teste: Roger and John Keyes, Nathaniel Evins
- Page 1.--30th March. 1753. Benjamin Borden's will, Gent. Stepsons, Saml. McDowell and James McDowell. Stepdaughter, Sarah McDowell. Wife. Magdalen. Negro wench named Moll. Daughter, Martha; daughter, Hannah. Executors, John Lyie. Archibald Alexander, and wife, Magdalen. Father. Benj. Borden. Brothers. Brother, Joseph. Teste: Roger Keys, John Keys, Jacob Gray. Proved, 21st November, 1753, by all witnesses. John Lyle refuses to execute, others qualify, with sureties John Lyle. Andrew Hays, Thos. Paxton.
- Page 294.--17th October. 1763. William Adair's will--Daughter, Sarah Keys; to Roger Keys; to John Keys; to Saml. Keys; to Benj. Keys; to Sarah Keys; to Margaret Keys; to Wm. Wilson, Ann Poage, Nancy Wilson, the note of James Park, the money due by David Dredan; to Alex. McMolan; to Wm. McMolan; to William Wolson; to Ann Poage and Easter McMolan, Easter McMolan Poage, Ann Poage Baxter; to John Rays, whom I appoint executor. "Wolison on ye Sacrament." Executors, Roger Keys. Teste: John Paul, Sarah Keys, Margt. Keys. Proved, 15th November, 1763, by the witnesses. Executor qualified, with John Paul.
Research Notes
Washington County, Virginia;
John Keys [brother of Benjamin Keys?] died in the fall of 1799. His land was on Laurel Fork near Vail's Mill along U.S. 58 just north of Damascus near route 715 (Washington Co., VA Survey Book 1:167). [Signers of the 1772 Rev. Edward Cummings Petition, Location of the Homes of the Signers. The Historical Society of Washington Co., VA, Publication Series II, No. 16, May, 1979, page 18]. [Source: http://www.ramblingroots.com/RYB-p/p10897.htm].
Note: John Keys was more likely an uncle of Benjamin Keys (son of Roger Keys), not his brother.
Actually the wills (of William Adair and Roger Keys) and all of the Augusta County & Washington County land records (particularly the one where John splits his land inheritance from his father Roger with his brother Samuel) collectively connect to John being the son of Roger and much older brother of the rest of the known siblings. We have no idea of when Roger was born. He easily could have been married before Sarah Adair and John could have come from this marriage. Or if Sarah was pretty young when they got married, the math could work out for John to descend from her. I descend from Samuel McSpadden and Sarah Keys, and believe that this John, Roger's oldest known son, was probably Sarah's father.
Roger had a son named John, estimated to have been born 1750-55. It is highly unlikely that he had two sons named John.
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