Hi all :)

I've been researching my family history and got back several generations, however have now got back as far as I can and stuck, so now turn to here with the hope of assistance.

My Keen family trace back through residency in the Gloucestershire area, and the earliest ancestor I've got back to is Richard Keen in the early 18th century.

Richard was born c1713 and died c1801. He married, date/place unknown, to Ann, surname unknown.

Searching for "Richard Keen 1713±10" on the IGI produced 2 results in Gloucestershire:

1. Richard Keen - christened/baptised: 20/3/1712 Stroud, Glouc. Father: Robert Keen.
2. Richard Keen - christened/baptised: 22/5/1720 Broadwell, Glouc. Father: Thomas Keen.

Seeing how the Richard I'm looking for was born circa 1713, I assume it's likely to be the first result (1712).

Another subsequent IGI search for his father Robert through "Robert Keen 1690±20" produced 3 results in Gloucestershire:

1. Robert Keene - christened/baptised: 28/5/1676 Stroud, Glouc. Father: Charles Keene.
2. Robert Keen - christened/baptised: 25/5/1695 Stroud, Glouc. Father: John Keen.
3. Robert Keen - christened/baptised: 2/11/1703 Stroud, Glouc. Father: Robert Keen.

I'm really not sure which of these is more likely to be the correct person, all seem just as plausable at the moment.

Finally, searching again on IGI for a marriage between Richard (abt1713-1801) and "Ann" I found 3 possible results:

1. Marriage 2/6/1754 Holy Trinity, Coventry, Warwickshire, to Anne Winterton.
2. Marriage 30/9/1724 Cumnor, Berks, to Anne Tench.
3. Marriage 4/3/1720 Haslemere, Stafford, to Ann Westbrook.

The only result seemingly plausable is the first, due to at least Richard needing to be old enough (he'd be too young in the 1720's). Though I was expecting to find a record in the Gloucestershire area, perhaps there's a better one still to be found. I know that their childen were born between 1750 and 1770, so seems reasonable to look for marriages in the date range of about 1730-1760 which is quite broad.

Also just to say I have already had correspondance with the Gloucestershire Family History Society (GFHS) who have been helpful with my research so far, but have informed me that there are very few or in some cases none at all records in the early 1700's and earlier. However the IGI records seem to show that there is the information to find out more.

Hopefully others will kindly be able to assist with furthering my research in regards to these 3 points, which will certainly be much appreciated.

Kind regards,

JK

Does your research happen to include a Richard KEEN (b. abt 1821) and wife Charlotte (LANE)? One of their children is Austin KEEN (b. 1858) who was to become Education Secretary for the Cambridgeshire County Council. Per the census records Austin was born in Blockley, the county most often shown is Worcestershire, but Gloucestershire also is listed. Austin married Emily MILTON. They had a daughter Charlotte and a son Charles. Charles moved to Canada and was my Grandfather.

Hi JK & Dawn,
please note that all the above areas are well outside the Forest of Dean so beyond the scope of this website.
The nearest, Stroud, is t'other side of the County from us, very "foreign" indeed. I presume the aforementioned Broadwell is the one near Stow in the Cotswolds and not the Dean one.

That said, trying to clarify dates a little, according to FreeBMD:

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
Marriages Dec 1840 (>99%)KEEN Richard Shipston on Stour 11 549
Lane Charlotte Shipston on S. 11 549

ie Marriage registered at Shipston on Stour in Qtr upto December 1840.
Shipston included Blockley which was transferred from Worcs to Glos in 1931.
http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/reg/districts/shipston%20on%20stour.html

(NB: there are four marriages registered at Shipston for Richard Lane(s) between Dec 1838 and Dec 1842)

Surname Given Name District Volume Page Transcriber
Births Sep 1857
Keen Austin Shipston on S 6d 493 silvs

Surname First name(s) Age District Vol Page
Marriages Dec 1883 (>99%)
KEEN Austin Shipston 6d 1118
Milton Emily Shipston 6d 1118

Surname Given Name Age District Volume Page Transcribers
Deaths Mar 1922
Keen Austin 64 Chesterton 3b 634 Kirsty_84
(Chesterton is in Cambridgeshire)

Hope this helps a little. Goodluck with your further researches.