Person:Thomas Keef (1)

About Thomas Keef, Sr.

Records appear to show that Thomas Keef, Sr. is the likely father of John Keef, Thomas Keef, Jr., Susanna Keef and Reuben Keef [and perhaps others]. Based upon the birth year of his likely son John Keef in Maryland in 1767, it is estimated that Thomas was likely born abt. 1745. Based upon Census records of son John and the rest of his likely children, he appears to have lived in the Maryland and Pennsylvania area in the 1760's and 1770's, likely migrating to Montgomery County, Virginia prior to 1783 where he signed a Petition, and migrated to Tennessee prior to 1787 when he received a land grant in Washington County, and another land grant in the same year in Greene County [which was formed from part of Washington County in 1783. Other records in Tennessee show his migration to Grainger County prior to 1801 when he signed a petition for the formation of that county, and later to Warren County prior to 1820 when he was listed in the U.S. Census there and where he is listed on a 1823 deed transaction between Elijah Dodson and Thomas Hopkins as living nearby. The name of the wife of Thomas Keef is unknown, and it is suspected that he likely died prior to 1830 as he does not appear to be listed in the 1830 Census in Warren or other surrounding counties. Additional research and records are needed on this family.

Records in Virginia

abt. 1783, Montgomery Co., VA, Petition from the Inhabitants of the upper Settlement of Clinch River on the Frontier.

Signers include: Thomas Keef.

[Source: Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. XXIX, December 1921, Preston Papers, pg. 33-35]

Land Grant

1787, Washington County, TN, 773. David Stewart & Thomas Keef.

TNGenWeb.org

Records in Tennessee

1787, Land Grant, Keef, Thomas, Greene TN (2); 360 acres, 1787.

David Stuart and Thomas Keef (Warrant No. 1138), TN Greene Co, Entered: 1779, Issued: 1787, 160 acres, On the No. side of Holsten River and on the No. side of Buffaloe creek, File #566

[1].

26 June 1792, Thomas Keefe was wounded by Indians at Ziegler's Station, Tennessee [Source: 1770-1790 Census of the Cumberland Settlements, Davidson County].

Red River Settlers, On 30 Jul 1800 in Montgomery County, Morgan Brown, Esqr., chairman of the county Court, and George Oldham, by order of the court, appretice shipped William Murphy, orphan of Patrick Murphey, deceased. At the same time, Margaret Murphey, an orphan of Patrick, deceased, was bound to Thomas Keefe. Montgomery County, Tennessee Will Book A, pp. 83, 119

1801, Petition to change the Grainger County boundaries.

."to form that part of the County of Grainger that lies northwest of Clinch River into a sepperate & distinct county..•"

Signers include: John Keef, Thomas Keef

Ansearchin' News, Winter 1992

1804, Greene County, TN Deed Book 7, page 50: Thomas Keef sold 290 acres to Phillip Rader on Skipper Creek in Lick Creek Valley. [Source: Casper Rader 1732-1812 Wythe County, Virginia, by James L. Rader, pg. 136]

Pg. 41, Warren County, TN; 20 Oct 1823: Elijah Dodson to Thomas Hopkins, 99 acres... where Thomas Keef now lives... originally granted to Jesse Dodson, Sr. by the state. Witnesses: John Cox, John Miller. Acknowledged by the conveyor 7 Oct 1823; registered 22 Apr 1824. [Ansearchin' News, Vol. 26, Number 4, Winter 1979]

1.   Geni.com: (not a reliable primary source).

   Greene Co., NC (later TN) was created on 17 MAY 1783 and in the marriage records there we find a (1)Susanna KEEF to a Nehemiah PETTIT on 28 APR.1795 with security given by a Thomas KEEF
   Greene Co., NC (later TN) we find a Reuben KEEF to a Margaret LEWIS on 19 NOV.1801 with security given by a Thomas KEEF.
   Grainger Co.,TN. was created on 22 APR.1796 and on a petition[dated 30 APR.1801]there we find these KEEF's amoung the signers are(1)John KEEF (2)Thomas KEEF.
   Claiborne Co.,TN. was created in 1801 and on the 1803 Tax List there we find amoung those listed are(1)Jn. KEEF (2)Reuben KEEF (3)Thomas KEEF,Sr. (4)Thomas KEEF,Jr.
   Smith Co.,TN. was created on 26 OCT.1799 and listed there amoung the signers on a petition to create Warren Co.,TN. that is dated 6 AUG.1806 is a Ruben KIFIE.
   Madison Co., KY has listed on it's 1810 Census the following KEEF's...(1)Thomas KEEF on page 241 and (2)Reuben KEEF also on page 241.
   Madison Co., KY- marriage record there for a Thomas KEETH to a Delila WALKER on 20 FEB.1813.
   Warren Co.,TN. was created on 26 NOV.1807 and there we find amoung those listed on the 1812[dated 30 AUG.]Tax List (1)John KEEFE (2)Ruben KEEF.
   Next in Warren Co.,TN. we find on the 1820 Census (1)John KEIF on page 284 and (2)Thomas KEEF on page 315.
   Next in Warren Co.,TN. we find on the 1830 Census (1)Thomas CHEIF on page 308 ,(2)John KEEF on page 323 ,(3)Reuben KEEF on page 353 and (4)John KEEF{this is the son of Reuben} also on page 353. {Note:It is believed that Reuben KEEF had moved to Cass Co.,GA. before 1836 as he does not appear on the 1836 Tax List or any other records after that year in Warren Co.,TN.}
   Cass Co.,GA. has on it's 1840 Census the following KEEF's...(1)Reuben KEEF on page 82 and(2)John KEEF{this is the son of Reuben} also on page 82.
   
   https://www.geni.com/people/Thomas-Keef-Sr/6000000030313595338

2.   Tennessee Supreme Court. Tennessee Reports: Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee
   pg. 196.

   HOGUE v. WM. P. ANDERSON and others.
   Nashville, March 1832.
   
   We must take the case as complaintant states it, to be true. He alleges the warrant for 274 acres was on the 10th of August, 1807,the property of Thomas Keef, that then Keef entered the same in the 2nd district; that the land was lawfully surveyed, and the survey recorded; that after this done, said Keef, for a valuable consideration, assigned and transferred the plat and certificate, in legal form, to Stephen Montgomery, which transfer was attested by two witnesses; and that Stephen Montgomery, on a separate paper, transferred his right and interest to complaintant, Hogue, for a valuable consideration.
   
   There is no evidence, that the transfer alleged by the bill was made, except that Keef proves he transferred the location. The other proof is widely different from the allegations. It appears by a copy of the warrant, that is was located the 10th of August, 1807, in the name of Keef. On the same day, he assigned warrant and location to John Trice. Anderson and Strother were the locators. The entry was surveyed in July, 1808. The entry was afterwards made void by Anderson, one of the locators. The proof shows that Trice purchased the warrant from Keef, and afterwards gave a written order in favor of Stephen Montgomery, directed to Keef, to assign the warrant to Montgomery. Whether this was before or after the entry was made does not appear. The order is not produced, or its non-production accounted for; consequently, verbal evidence of its contents cannot be heard.
   
   Trice remanded the order, and instructed Keef not to assign to Montgomery, who sued Keef and recovered a judgement against him. This, Keef says, he discharged by transferring the plot and certificate. This must have happened long after Keef assigned to Trice. The plat was not returned until July, 1808. The suit of Montgomery against Keef could not affect Trice; nor could the assignment of the plat and certificate, if made by Keef to Montgomery, defeat the assignment previously made by Keef to Trice. Keef had no ihterest to assign.
   
   Trice has long been dead. The legal title to the warrant, by the assignment of 1807, was vested in John Trice; at his death vested in his heirs, and who, from anything appearing on the warrant, are not entitled to its benefit, and the land entered by virtue thereof, in the name of Joseph Lynn, in the Western District. It does not appear any grant has issued to Lynn. Trice's heirs are no parties to this suit; and if they were, there is no evidence that Stephen Montgomery ever paid John Trice any consideration for the warrant. [next paragraph omitted]
   [247] Keef, the complaintant's witness, says he had no interest in the warrant, and acted as the mere agent of Trice, when he accepted the order to assign to Montgomery. He then had, or afterwards did deprive himself of all power over the warrant, by a legal assignment to Trice. The warrant was in the possession of Trice's widow, at the time this bill was filed, and why Trice's heirs were not made parties is not accounted for. They were the legal owners of the warrant from its face; it was in the possession of their agent, perhaps guardian; he assigned it to Bradley in 1820; he to McCorcle, and he to Lynn. This bill was filed in 1816; from that time to September, 1820, Trice's heirs were the only necessary parties.
   
   To the assignment from Keef to Trice in 1807, it is objected that it is not proved by the defendants. It appears on the face of the warrant, as passed by the commissioners for the adjudication of land claims, in 1820 and is prima facie evidence of its own validity; if forged, as intimated by complainant's counsel, the forgery must be proved by complaintant. Upon this description of record evidence rest the titles of millions of acres of land in this state. An intimation by this court that it would disregard the adjudication of the commissioners, and throw the proof on the grantee, that he came by the warrant by regular and legal assignments, would shake the landed titles of the country to a distressing extent. The complaintant has not shown any grounds for relief, and the bill must be dismissed.
   Bill dismissed.

3.   United States. 1820 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M33).

   Name: Thomas Kief
   Home in 1820 (City, County, State): Warren, Tennessee
   Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
   Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 1
   Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 3
   Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: 1 [b. 1775 or before]
   Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 3
   Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1 [b. bet. 1776-1794]
   Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 2
   Number of Persons - Engaged in Manufactures: 1
   Free White Persons - Under 16: 4
   Free White Persons - Over 25: 2
   Total Free White Persons: 9
   Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 9