Solomon1 Keyes (Keies) was b. in England. Was said to be one of two brothers from England. He settled first in Newbury, Mass.; m. Oct. 2, 1653, Frances Grant in Newbury, and soon after that date rem. to Chelmsford, Mass., He had a grant on the north side of Frances Hill (undoubted named for Francis Grant) , and there he fixed his home. He was in Chelmsford in 1664 and possibly earlier as well. He was town clerk and tything man in Chelmsford.
"the old Keyes homestead, par excellance, a roomy, two story white house, now more than two hundred years old, stands (in the 1800s) in the town of Westford"
He appears to have been the first permanent settler in the town of Westford where he d. March 28 1702; his wife d. 1708.,
There was a Joseph who was probably Solomon1's brother.

Children (See History of Westford)

1. Solomon2. b. 1665 in Chelmsford. children-
   • Solomon; b. 1701. He was wounded in the battle of Lovewell's pond. He was married and had eight children
2. Joseph2; b. 1667, m. Joanna Cleveland
   • Lydia3; b. 1693
   • Joanna3; b. 1695
   • Joseph3; b1698. m. Elizabeth ------
3. Moses2 b. March 21, 1671

Moses2 (Solomon1), their third son, was b. in Chelmsford, March 21, 1671; m. Mehitable ---- about 1693; res. in Chelmsford, where he d. Jan. 14, 1746.
Ezekiel3 (Moses2, Solomon1), the third son, was b. March 19, 1699; m. Abigail ----; res. in Chelmsford, where he d. 1742.

• 1. Abner4 (Ezekiel3, Moses2, Solomon1), was the youngest son, b. 1738 (or 1735 per History of Ashburnham). m. Dec. 30, 1763, Mary Shedd, of Billerica, Mass.; rem. to Hollis, subsequently to Rumney, and about the year 1792 to H., where he d. at the home of his son, Abner5, in 1819. He was a soldier in the French war. and also in the war of the Revolution & drew a pension. Belonged to Capt. Fletcher's co. in an expedition to Canada in 1758 "an account of which is given in a journal kept by Joseph Holt of Wilton NH". Eleven children, b. between 1764 and 1785.
  
• 2. Anna5, m. Feb. 5, 1795, Ebenezer Russell. (q.v.)
  
• 3.Esther5, m. Jan. 17, 1796, Eli Maynard. (q.v.)
  
• 4. dau. ------5, m. ------ Rice.
  
• 5. William5, m. Feb. 22, 1805, Betsey Russell (q.v.); res. at the place marked "C. Keyes". rem. to Hillsboro'.
  CHILDREN BORN IN HANCOCK
  1. Polly6, b. Dec. 12, 1803. 2. William6, b. Dec. 6, 1804.
  3. Betsey6, b. Feb. 1, 1807.

  
  

• 6. Abner5 [13], b. Aug. 2, 1780.
  
• 7. Mary5, m. ---- French.
  
• 8. Rebecca5, m. Edwin Sargent.
  
• 9. Lucy5, m. Lemuel Cooledge. One son, Cornelius6, res. Hillsboro'.
  
• 10. Elizabeth5, m. John Bryant,.of Sandwich. One dau., Elizabeth6 b. in Billerica, Mass., Oct. 31, 1807. m. Sept. 15, 1829, Leonard Winch. (q.v.)
  
• 11. dau. ----5, m. ------ Wheat.
  
• 12. Hannah5, m. Nathaniel Shattuck. (q.v.)
  
• 13. Abner5 [6] (Abner4, Ezekiel3, Moses2, Solomon1), m. Nov. 27, 1806, Susanna Barton, of Barton, Vt. Came to H. with his parents when about 12 years of age; res. at the place marked "No.65" until about 1814, when he rem. to place marked
  

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  GENEALOGY: KEYES 689

  
  "C.Keyes," where he d. Feb. 12, 1837. His wife, who was b. Aug. 31, 1788, d. Nov.23,1858. Children:--
  

• 14. Abner6, b. Dec. 2, 1807 ; d. March 1, 1826.
  
• 15. Ruth6 (Mary on town records), b. Aug. 25, 1809. m. Dec. 26, 1839, Col. Hiram Munroe, of Hillsboro' ; she d. March, 1848. Four children, one living: Owen P.7, res. Maro, Madison county, Ill.
  
• 16. Jonathan French6, b. Aug. 25, 1811; m. 1, Aug. 11, 1830, Mary Woods of Francestown who d. Dec. 18, 1852; m.2, in 1853, Susan (Kelley) Robinson, of New Hampton. He began to Work in the first paper mill at H. Factory in 1828, where he remained until 1848, when he rem. to Holderness (now Ashland), where he continued in the same business until 1872. He joined a temperance society when about 30 years old, and has continued to be an earnest temperance man; has been grand worthy patriarch of the New Hampshire division, Sons of Temperance, and also a delegate to the North American division in New Haven, Conn., and Montreal, P.Q.A Congregationalist, he has been most of his life a member of an Episcopal society. He was appointed postmaster by President Pierce, and held the office six years; was proprietor of the principal store in the village many years; has been selectman, town treasurer, county commissioner for six years, president of Grafton county Agricultural association for twelve years, chairman of the board of education five years, and treasurer of Ashland savings bank from its foundation until 1880. A life-long Democrat, he still holds his own in a Relpublican town, county, and state.
  CHILDREN.
  
  1. Orlando Woods7, b. April 5, 1832; mn Aug. 1, 1855, Sarah L. Ellis, of Plymouth, who d. within a short time. He attended Francestown academy; was a paper-maker and an active business man. also a Free Mason, a Son of Temperance, and a member of the Episcopal parish in Holderness; was first lieutenant and afterwards captain of Co. D, 12th N. H. vols., and was killed at Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863.
     
  2. Mary Elizabeth7, b. April 30, 1834; m. Oct. 6, 1863, Thomas Perkins Cheney, who has been superintendent of the New England mail service, and later pension agent for New Hampshire and Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Cheney are Freewill Baptists. Children. (1), Olney Sherwood8, b. Oct. 7, 1856; d. June 9, 1860. (2), Rodney Woods8, b. Dec. 29, 1860. (3), Jonathan Morrison8, b. Dec. 15, 1863. (4), Alice Maud8, b. May 15, 1865. (5), Harry Applebee8, b. Nov. 20, 1870. (6), Sarah Addie8, b. May 26, 1872. (7), George Bangs8, b. Nov. 6, 1873; d. Nov. 9, 1879. (8). Anne Perkins8, b.Dec. 5, 1876.

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     690 GENEALOGY : KEYES.

     
     

  3. Lucy Ann7, b. April 10, 1836; m. July 13, 1869, R.R.D. Dearborn, editor and proprietor of the Ashland Item, which he founded. Both are Freewill Baptists. She has for many years been town librarian, and has also for a long time represented Ashland at the Grafton county fairs.
     
  4. Susannah Emily7, b. July 29, 1838; m. June 4, 1862, John Hubbard Fay, of Peterboro' -- a paper-maker. She d. in Ashland, June 15, 1876; was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal church, Ashland. Children : (1), Edgar Partridge8, b. in York, Me., April 30, 1863. (2), Genive8 b. in Ashland in 1867. d. when a few months old. (3), Orland Keyes8, b. in Ashland, June 16, 1868. (4), Dot8, b. in Fairview, Pa., Dec. 18, 1874.
     
  5. Henry French7, b. Oct. 12, 1841 ; m. Aug. 7, 1864, Martha W. Shaw. He was a soldier in the Civil war, and lost an arm at Chancellorsville. was appointed postmaster, and served until his death, July, 24, 1865. Child: Henry Sheridan8, res. Cambridge, Mass.
     
  6. Alice Jane7, b. June 13, 1845; m. April 6, 1867, Eri G. Clapp; present res., Ashland. He is a tinman. He is one of the selectmen of the town and postmaster; is a Universalist; his wife is an Episcopalian. Children: (1), Carleton French8 b. Feb. 13, 1872, . (2), Helen Elizabeth8, b. in Bethel, Vt., Aug. 31, 1874. (3), Arthur Brett8, b. Dec. 24, 1876. (4), Philip Scott8, b. May 11, 1879. (5), Stacy Wendell8, b. Jan. 19, 1882.
     
  7. Fanny Mariah7, b. Dec. 31, 1847; was graduated with the first class from the New Hampton Commercial college and from the Hew Hampton institute in 1868, and with the second class at the Normal school in Plymouth in 1872 ; has taught school in Rumney, Milford, Brunswick, N. Y., and Ashland; has been a clerk in the Ashland post-office some five years; she is an Episcopalian.
     
  8. Josephine Whittemore7, b. Jan. 25, 1850; m. Nov. 21, 1872, John Harlan Blakslee, of New York city, where she has res. most of the time since; present res., Columbus. Wis. She is an Episcopalian. Children: (1), Clyde Balch8, b. in Fairview, Pa., Feb. 2, 1874. (2), Henry Sheldon8, b. in Whitefield, Dec. 12, 1875. (3), Edith Mayflower8, b. in New York city, May 4, 1879. (5), Eva8, b. in New York city, Feb. 1, 1884.
     
  9. and 10. Joseph Woods7 and Mary7,b. Dec. 18,1852; lived about a month.
     

  The children of Jonathan French Keyes who grew up to manhood and womanhood all had good opportunities for an education. Several of them were students at New Hampton and Newbury, Vt.
  

• 17. Varanus6, b. Sept. 23, 1813; m. Nov. 6, 1831, Mary G. Lewis, of Pittsfield, Mass. Has res. in Lee, Mass., Nashua, Ashland, and Weston, Mass.; present res., Antrim.

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  GENEALOGY: KEYES 691

  
  

  CHILDREN

  
  

  1. Franklin L.7, b. in Lee, Mass., Aug. 31, 1832; m. 1, Oct. 30, 1854, Eliza Hay, of Nashua, who d. April 9, 1860; m. 2, Aug. 1, 1866, Almena P., sister of Professor Quimby, of Dartmouth college. He was a soldier in the Civil war, and has a highly honorable record; was signal officer and messenger for General McClellan; was severely wounded by the bursting of a shell when carrying reports on the last day of the seven days fight before Richmond. He has been for many years a helpless cripple, but a worthy and much-respected man. I have before me a valuable letter from him, giving information and encouragement, and evincing an interest in this work. It closes with these words: "I desire to do all the good I can." He res. in Portsmouth. Two children by first wife; both d. young.
     
  2. Susan E.7 b. Aug. 26, 1835; m. 1, Andrew J. Varnum, who d.; m. 2, ----Weston.
     
  3. Flora M.7, b. Sept. 21, 1846; m. Arthur Porter, a tinmaker; res. North Adams, Mass.

  
  

• 18. Horace Wells6, b. Feb. 18, 1816; m. 1, Jan. 23, 1845, Sophia K. Page, who was b. Oct. 23, 1819; d. April 2, 1866; m. 2 Ann J., W-----; res. in Milford about thirty years; rem. to Amherst in 1877, where he now res.
  CHILDREN.

  
  

  1. Alfred P.7 b. March 22, 1845; m. Nov. 22, 1866, Hattie N. Wheeler; res. Nashua.
     
  2. Ellen R.7, b. Feb. 18, 1848; m. Allen R. Hurd; res. Bennington.
     
  3. Edmund P.7, b. Sept. 30, 1850; d. Jan. 8, 1851.
     
  4. Abbie S.7, b. July 23, 1852; d. Oct.19, 1861.
     
  5. Emma T.7 b.Oct. 30, 1861; d.Dec. 5, 1883; m.Warren H. Dow.
     
  6. Annie S.7, b. Dec. 14, 1869.

  
  

• 19. Ephraim6, b.Nov. 6, 1818; d.Feb. 27, 1837.
  
• 20. Reuben H.6, b. May 8, 1821 ; d. April 27, 1832.
  
• 21. Alfred6, b. July 19, 1823; d. Feb. 9, 1828.
  
• 22. Corydon Dennis6, b. May 2, 1825. m. Dec. 9, 1847, Alma Campbell, who d. Oct. 8, 1853; was a soldier in the Civil war, being a member of the 16th regt. N.H. vols.; d. at Baton Rouge, La., June 28, 1863. One son, Owen B.7, was with his father in the army; a member of the same regiment; d. at Cairo, Ill., Aug. 20, 1863. A child of C.D. Keyes d. Sept. 15, 1853, aged 6 months. A child of "Mr." Keyes d. April 12, 1852, aged 4 years.
  
• 23. Albert Barton6, b. Jan. 26, 1828; m. Aug. 2, 1851, Hannah Gordon, of Ashland; res. Washington, D. C.
  CHILDREN.

  
  

  1. Mary E.7, b. Sept. 12, 1864.
     
  2. William H.7, b. Sept. 20, 1866. d. Aug. 21, 1876.*

  
  

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* I find the names of Mary E. and William H. in connection with that of Albert Barton6, but am not sure that they are his children. The names of the children of Abner4 are not probably given in their true order, as there was nothing to guide me. Nathan Keyes m. March 11, 1802, Sally Duncan. (q.v.) --- Keyes m. Betty Todd Duncan. (q.v.), but their connection with Abner Keyes is not known; and in the church records I find George Keyes d. Sept. 28, 1851, aged 8.