Although we have tried to be as accurate as possible in our research, mistakes happen, if you know of any corrections or additions to this family please contact me, thanks Laurie lselpien@msn.com
ASHFORD KEEN FAMILY
The information on this family is based on compiled information from several sources, Genealogy of the Keen Family of Wayne County Illinois by Harry T. Keen; John Wood of Wayne County Illinois and Descendants 1817 – 1878 by Gary Edward Wood; Illustrated and Descriptive Sketch Book of Wayne Co., Il. (1903); The Dickeys Ancestors of Thomas West Dickey and Anna Eliza Vernon of Walker county Georgia and Wayne County, Illinois by Joybelle Dickey Graig; the state database records found on line as well as personal obituaries saved by my grandmother Hazel SMITH Lane, obituaries exchanged with other researchers, the Illinois State Historic Library, Legacy of Kin 1&2, as well as Betty Beeson and Doris Bland books. Special thanks to all that had contributed!
Ashford Keen was the first known Keen to settle in Wayne county Illinois. He was born in Virginia about 1770 believed to be in the Williamsburg area. He can be found in the 1820 census in Tennessee, He served in the War of 1812 in the Battle of Lake Erie under Commodore Perry. Ashford married Polly BRACKEN daughter of William and Elizabeth Bracken. He died in 1835 and was buried in Mifflin Cemetery in Wayne County. His grave was marked with a sand stone that has since wash away and no trace of it can be found today.
The Bracken family was among the earliest settlers in Sumner County Tennessee. There are land and marriage records to show this, there is even a town called Brackentown. Some of the family spelled there name Bracken others Brackin. The bracken family is believed to have originated in Ireland.
Ashford KEEN.1 Born abt 1770 in Virginia. Ashford died in Wayne Co., Il. in 1835, he was 65. Buried in Mifflin Cemetery, Wayne Co., Il. Military Service: War of 1812 under Commodore Perry.
Ashford married Polly BRACKEN1, daughter of William BRACKEN & Elizabeth (-1821), in Sumner Co., Tennessee. Polly died bef 1830 in Tennessee.
They had the following children:
2 i. William (1808-1881)
3 ii. James (1812-)
4 iii. John Sumpter (1815-)
iv. Jane1. died young
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