The Township of Londonderry, New Hampshire, was settled previous to the year 1718 by sixteen families. On the 26th of March, 1718, a petition was signed by three hundred and nineteen persons, of Londonderry, Ireland, to Samuel Suitte, Governor of New England, asking him to protect them and their families. These persons arrived in New Hampshire the same year; and a large number of them were the forefathers of those who first settled Colchester and other parts of Nova Scotia. Among them, we find the names of Cook, Dunlap, Blair, Paterson, Wilson, Campbell, Wright, King, Christie, McKeen, Smith, Henderson, Boyd, Johnson, Flemming, Murdoch, Alexander, Craig, Kennedy, Hunter, Watson, Millar, Caldwell, Moor, and Thompson.
On April 12th, 1719, the first sermon was preached to these settlers of Londonderry, N. H., by the Rev. James McGregor, under the wide-spreading branches of a venerable oak, which, for more than a century after, marked the spot. Then, for the first time, did this wilderness and solitary place, over which savage tribes had roamed for centuries, resound with the voice of prayer and praise, and echo the sound of the glorious Gospel. The text was chosen from Isaiah 32nd chapter and 2nd verse--"And a man shall be as a hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place; as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land."
James McKeen, ancestor of all the McKeens that came to New England and Nova Scotia, lived in the North of Ireland. He was a staunch Protestant, and took an active part in the defense of Londonderry in the years 1688 and 1689. He and his brother John were partners in business. They resided in Ballymony, and became comparatively wealthy.
James McKeen, his eldest son with his second wife, Annis Cargill, and family, came to America in the year 1718, and settled in Londonderry, New Hampshire. Here he was an active, lending man for years. He was the first Justice of the Peace in Londonderry; his Commission is dated April 29th, 1720, and was in a state of good preservation in 1850, in the possession of his grandson, Rev. Silas McKeen of Bradford, Vermont. He was born in Ireland, in the year 1666, and died in Londonderry, N. H., November 9th, 1756, in the ninetieth year of his age. His widow, Annis Cargill, died August 8th, 1782, aged 93 years.
John, the eldest son of James and Annis McKeen, was born in Ballymony, Ireland, April 13th, 1714. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church in Londonderry, N. H. He was a representative in the Legislature, and held several other civil offices in the town. He married Mary McKeen, daughter of his uncle John, and had a large family.
James McKeen, their eldest son, was married to Miss Cunningham. Soon after their marriage they removed to Peterborough, where he died in 1790. His son Levi McKeen removed to the State of New York, 1790, where he went by the name of Judge McKeen for many years. He filled a number of responsible offices in the State.
Rev. Joseph McKeen, D. D., was the third son of John McKeen, and grandson of James McKeen, Esq. Who emigrated to New Hampshire, 1718. He was born in Londonderry, N. H., October 15th, 1757. When quite young, he manifested a strong desire to obtain a liberal education. With this end in view, he continued to prosecute his studies until the year 1775, when he joined the army as a private soldier to fight for independence. After the war was over, he again resumed his studies; and, in a short time, was licensed by the Presbytery of Londonderry to preach the everlasting Gospel. After preaching some time in Boston, he was called to take charge of a congregation in Beverly, Mass. He accepted the call, and was ordained in May, 1785. Here he continued to labour as a minister of Christ for seventeen years, when he was called to the office of President of Bowden College. His inauguration took place on the second day of September, 1802. There being no church in the village, the people used to assemble in a grove, not idolatrously, we presume; and then he would conduct the worship of God, under the blue canopy of heaven, shaded from the scorching sun by the beautiful trees, grander than any modern church.
Dr. McKeen was, in person, above the ordinary stature, and of noble appearance. He was dignified, yet simple, gentle and affable in his manners. His walk and conversation, in the church and in the world, were becoming and consistent. As a public speaker, his voice was clear and strong. He managed the affairs of the college in such a way as to give general satisfaction, until September, 1805, when he was laid aside by illness. He bore his sickness with Christian submission and fortitude. Towards the close of his life, the fifty-first Psalm was his favourite subject of meditation and conversation. Deeply sensible of past sins, he relied on the free and sovereign grace of God in Christ Jesus. He fell asleep in Jesus, July 15th, 1807, aged 52 years.
John, the brother of James McKeen, Esq., intended to emigrate with him. He died, however, a short time before the vessel sailed. His widow, Janet, with her four children, came to America with James.
Her son, John McKeen, Esq., was another of the early settlers of Truro. He was a Grantee of the Township. Two of his sons, William and John, were Grantees also. Their three house lots were adjoining each other, and are now owned by Jas. F. Blanchard, Esq., J. L. Crow, Esq., Dr. Charles Bent, Mr. George Gunn, James Berrell, Esq., Mr. Charles B. Archibald, and a number of others, extending the same breadth north to the interval. They all resided on these lots for a short time. John McKeen, Esq., was born in Ireland in the year 1700. His wife, Martha Cargill, was born in 1707. They were married in 1741, and had three sons and two daughters, who came to Nova Scotia with them in the year 1760. Mr. and Mrs. McKeen both died in one day, December 30th, 1767.
William, the eldest son of John and Martha McKeen, was born in 1745. He was married to Ann, the second daughter of David Archibald, Esq., and Elisabeth Elliott, October 3rd, 1771. He sold out his property in the village about the year 1780, and purchased the Mill site and Mills which were owned by Alexander Miller and Capt. John Morrison. Here he resided and carried on Milling until the spring of the year 1815. He then sold out in Truro to Mr. John McDougall, and removed to Musquodoboit, where he continued a number of years. He died there in 1826. His wife was deprived of her sight for an number of years before they left Truro. She died at Mabou, Cape Breton, in the house of her son Samuel in 1836, aged 84 years. Martha, the eldest daughter of William and Ann McKeen, was born in Truro, September 26th, 1772. She died February 5th, 1773. * He followed the sea when he was a young man. He served some time on board a ship of war as carpenter. He returned home about the year 1811. He was married to Isabell Thomson in 1812. They settled beside the old Halifax road, about three miles south of Gay's River, where they kept an inn, and spent the remainder of their lives. He died there June, 1857, aged 83 years. His wife died in Halifax, July 16th, 1834. Eliza Ann McKeen, their eldest daughter, was born May 28th, 1813. She was married to James Etter of Halifax, August 7th, 1834. They had five sons and three daughters. They settled at Shubenacadie, where he died July, 1869. Margaret McKeen, their second daughter, was born March 25th, 1815. She was married to Samuel Kerr, April, 1846. They had two sons and three daughters. William McKeen, their eldest son, was born February, 1817. He was married to Jane Keys. They had three sons and six daughters. James Alexander, the second son of John and Isabell McKeen, was born in 1819. He died a bachelor in 1848. Isabell Thomson McKeen, their third daughter, was born March 10th, 1821. She was married to William, the eldest son of David and Martha Whippie, of Onslow, November 7th, 1839. They had three sons and eight daughters. John McKeen, their third son, was born May 20th, 1824. He learned the trade of saddler and harness maker with John McKeen, of Mabou, C. B. He removed to the United States, was married there, and had two sons and one daughter. On May 12th, 1859, some man forced into his shop, dragged him to the door, and stabbed him with a knife, causing instant death. His wife died about the year 1861. David McKeen, their fourth son, was born October, 1826. He was married to Elizabeth Irvin, of Musquodoboit. They had four sons and two daughters. Mrs. McKeen died, and he was married again to Isabell Irvin. They had three sons and one daughter. Caroline McKeen, their fourth daughter, was married to Adam Benvey, of Mabou, C. B., August, 1860. Livinia L. McKeen, their fifth daughter, removed to the United States, and was married there to Frank Taylor. They had three daughters. Mr. Taylor died, and she was married again to William Mullon. Martha, the eldest daughter of John McKeen, Esq., was born in 1742. She married in the States, and remained there. [*Hand written sentence at the top of the page. John McKeen, their eldest son was born Dec. 13th, 1779.]
David, the second son of William and Ann McKeen, was born in Truro, July 31st, 1775. He was married to Diana Huchinson, 1801. They settled at Musquodoboit. He carried on milling at the same place that James and Matthew Archibald's mills now stand. His first wife died there in February, 1811. He was married again to Susan, daughter of John and Ann Logan, of Truro, 1811. She died, of consumption, in 1813. He was married the third time to Lucy, daughter of Ebenezer Hoar and Catherine Downing, of Onslow, widow of the elate Thomas Taylor, March, 1818. He died in July, 1824. After his death, his widow and children returned to Truro, and resided on her first husband's farm, until about the year 1843. She then removed to Pictou town with her sons, Thomas and Ebenezer McKeen, where she died October 4th, 1847. John, the eldest son of David and Diana McKeen, was born May 7th, 1802. He served with Mr. Alexander Knight, of Truro, and learned the trade of saddle and harness making. He removed to Mabou, C. B. He was married there to Grace Smith, November 9th, 1826. They had four sons and four daughters. Mrs. McKeen died February 13th, 1870. William McKeen, their second son, was born May 27th, 1804. He removed to Mabou also. He was married there to Rebecca Smith, about the year 1830. They had two sons and seven daughters. He died there March 26th, 1867. David McKeen, their third son, was born August 6th, 1806. He was married to Susan Higgins, of Musquodoboit, January 5th, 1831. They had seven daughters. Mr. McKeen, Joseph Parker, James Higgins and John Read, went together to a lake south of Musquodoboit to fish. By some means they were thrown from their boat or raft into the lake, and were all found drowned, June 13th, 1851. Ann, the only daughter of David and Diana McKeen, was born June 4th, 1808. She died at Mabou, C. B., February, 1827, aged 19 years.
Susan, the only daughter of David and Lucy McKeen, was born June, 1819. She was married to Thomas Nelson, of Musquodoboit, in 1840. They had one son and two daughters. She died about the year 1848. Thomas, the eldest son of David and Lucy McKeen, was born in 1821. He learned the trade of tanning and shoe making with Major A. L. Archibald, of Truro. He removed to Pictou town, and carried on his business there for a number of years. He then removed to Cape Breton, where he still resides. He was married in Pictou to Mary Roach, May, 1849. They had four sons and seven daughters. Ebenezer McKeen, their second and youngest son, was born in 1823. He removed to Pictou with his mother and brother Thomas. He died there June, 1847, aged 24 years.
Margaret, the second daughter of William and Ann McKeen, was born in Truro, September 18th, 1777. She died when young.
James, their third son, was born April 10th, 1779. He removed to Cape Breton, and was married to Eliza Scott, of Musquodoboit, August, 1824. They had four sons and two daughters. He died at Mabou, C. B., in 1847, aged 68 years. His widow and family removed to the United States. Mrs. McKeen died there in 1853. Elizabeth, the third daughter of William and Ann McKeen, removed to Musquodoboit with her parents and family. She died there unmarried, July 1851. Margaret McKeen, their fourth daughter, was born in Truro, 1786. She was married to Robert Higgins, of Musquodoboit. They had two sons and two daughters. She died July, 1860.
William McKeen, their fourth son, was born in Truro, August 18th, 1789. He left home when a young man and went to Pictou for awhile, when the timber trade was brisk there. He returned and went to Musquodoboit, where he was married to Elizabeth McDougall, July, 1811; and, soon after, they removed to Mabou, C. B., where he carried on a large business as a merchant and farmer. They had five sons and six daughters. His first wife died December 18th, 1834. He was married again to Christiann Smith in April, 1835. They had five sons and seven daughters. He was a member of the Legislative Council of Nova Scotia for a number of years before his death. He died May 17th, 1865, aged 76 years. Martha McKeen, their fifth daughter, was born in 1792. She was married to Samuel Benvey, of Musquodoboit, about 1820. They had five sons and five daughters. Mr. Benver died in March, 1841, aged 50 years. A few years after the death of her husband, she removed with her family to Cape Breton.
Samuel, the fifth and youngest son of William and Ann McKeen, was born in Truro, August 25th, 1794. He removed with his parents and the rest of the family to Musquodoboit, in 1815. He was married there to Jane Higgins, in 1818. They had four sons and two daughters. He removed to Cape Breton. His wife died there April 10th, 1865. He was married again to Mrs. Mary Ross, of Margaree, March, 1871.
John, the second son of John and Martha McKeen, was born before they came to Nova Scotia, in 1747. In the after part of his life, he went by the name of Captain McKeen. He was married to Rachel, daughter of Lieut. John and Sarah Johnson, December 30th, 1769. He resided a large portion of his life in a house which stood near the place where Mr. Tremain now resides. Mr. William Logan, his neighbour, was passing the house of Mr. McKeen, who was busily engaged chopping wood. Mr. Logan said to him, you are hard at work this morning, Mr. McKeen. Mr. McKeen replied: "O yes; it has become a second nature for me to work." Mr. Logan replied: I'm glad of it, for it was never your first. His first wife, Rachel, died December 3rd, 1781. He was married again to Rachel Duncan, widow of the late Samuel Archibald, 2nd, February 12th, 1783. In his old days, he removed to St. Mary's, to live with his youngest son, William, and his wife remained in Truro. Once he said that he travelled all the way from St. Mary's to Truro to see his wife, and when he came he could not see her. He had lost his sight a few years before. He died at St. Mary's. His second wife died in Truro, January 20th, 1814, aged 71 years.
John, the eldest son of Captain John and Rachel McKeen, was born in Truro, December 30th, 1770. He was married to Elizabeth, the third daughter of Dr. John Harris and Elizabeth Scott, December, 1798. (They were the first whom Mr. Waddell married after he came to Truro.) He settled and cleared a small part of the farm that Mr. Hugh Clarke now resides upon. He sold this farm to Samuel Clark in 1805. He removed to St. Mary's, and continued there until 1817. He then removed to Tatamagouche Mountain, where he and his sons reclaimed their farms from the forest. He died there October 17th, 1854, aged 84 years. His wife died there January 6th, 1820, aged 45 years. Rachel McKeen, their eldest daughter was born January 13th, 1800. She was married to Hiram Downing, December 31st, 1829. They had two sons and two daughters. She died March, 1835, aged 35 years. John McKeen, their eldest son, was born May 31st, 1802. He inherited a part of his father's property on Tatamagouche Mountain, where he died a bachelor October 20th, 1857, aged 55 years. Sarah McKeen, their second daughter, was born January 14th, 1804. She was married to Peter Teed, Esq., of Wallace, December, 1827. She died March, 1856, aged 52 years. On November 12th, 1848, Mr. Teed was burned to death in his barn, trying to save a waggon. Martha McKeen, their third daughter, was born November 22nd, 1806. She was married to Richard Wooden (a school teacher), November 13th, 1824. They had three sons and three daughters. She died April, 1865, aged 58 years. Her husband died October, 1858. William McKeen, their second son, was born October 16th, 1808. He was married to Amelia, the third daughter of James Drysdale and Nancy Brown, March, 1833. Mrs. McKeen died July 3rd, 1833, aged 16 years. He was married again to Jane, daughter of George and Sarah Crow, February, 1837. He died October 16th, 1846, aged 38 years. His widow died in 1848. Eliza McKeen, their fourth daughter, was born May 25th, 1810. She was married to John, the eldest son of Joseph Mahon and Margaret Crow, December 24th, 1833. They had three sons and two daughters. Mr. Mahon died October 10th, 1858. Margaret McKeen, their fifth daughter, was born April 25th, 1812. She was married to John, the eldest son of James and Nancy Drysdale, March 20th, 1845. They had three sons and one daughter. They reside on Tatamagouche Mountain. Maria McKeen, their sixth daughter, was born February 28th, 1815. She was married to Adam Armstrong, of Chiganoise, March 20th, 1851. They had one son. Mr. Armstrong died February 28th, 1864. Susan, their seventh daughter, was born April 6th, 1817. James McKeen, their third and youngest son, was born May 17th, 1819. He was married to Abigail, daughter of George and Sarah Crow, March 20th, 1845. They had sons and daughters. He resides on Tatamagouche Mountain.
Martha Cargill, the eldest daughter of Captain John and Rachel McKeen, was born in Truro, October 26th, 1772.
James, the second son of Captain John and Rachel McKeen, was born in Truro, November 28th, 1774. He died April 19th, 1791, aged 16 years. Samuel McKeen, their third son, was born April 17th, 1777. He was married to Sarah, daughter of John and Ann Logan, June 16th, 1803. They had three sons and one daughter. About the year 1845, as he was riding home on horseback, he fell from his horse, and was taken up dead. His widow died in 1866, in St. Mary's, where they had resided from about the time they were married.
Adam McKeen, their fourth son, was born in Truro, September 17th, 1779. He was married to Janet, the eldest daughter of David and Eleanor Taylor, August 15th, 1805. They had four sons and four daughters. They removed to St. Mary's, where they settled, and spent the remainder of their days. He died there, and Mrs. McKeen died. Rachel, the youngest daughter of John and Rachel McKeen, was born December 3rd, 1781. She was married to Thomas Johnson, of the Lower Village of Truro, September 20th, 1804. They had two sons. Mr. Johnson died in 1809. She was married again to Andrew Yuill, October 22nd, 1811. They had one son. She died April 18th, 1813, aged 31 years. William, the only son of John McKeen and Rachel Archibald, his second wife, was born in Truro, June 4th, 1786. He settled at St. Mary's. He was married there to Miss Kirk, in 1812. They had sons and daughters. He died about 1862.
David the third son of John McKeen, Esq., and Martha Cargill, was born in 1749. He was married to Janet, daughter of Captain Matthew Taylor and Elizabeth Archibald, October 22nd, 1773. After the death of James Fulton, and the removal of his sons to Stewiacke and elsewhere, he purchased their place in the Lower Village of Truro, being the place that Charles Crow now resides upon, also the lot that Samuel Soley now resides upon. Here he settled, and built a mill up the brook. Shortly after, a heavy freshet came and carried it away, which discouraged him so much that he removed to St. Mary's, and settled on the farm on which Mr. Samuel Archibald now resides, two miles up the West River, above the Forks. He settled there in 1802. In August, 1818, he came to Truro to have a cancer cut out of his lip. The operation was successfully performed, and he returned home, apparently quite well; but, about eleven years after, it broke out again, and he died in 1830. His wife died in 1820. John Cargill McKeen, their eldest son, was born in Truro, April 15th, 1775. He was married to Sabrina, daughter of Colonel Atwater, of Guysborough, November 1st, 1808. They had seven sons and one daughter. He settled at Stillwater, St. Mary's, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died there in 1852, aged 77 years. His wife died there about 1860. Matthew, the second son of David and Janet McKeen, was born in Truro, March 11th, 1777. He died November 17th, 1790, aged 13 years. William McKeen, their third son, was born February 10th, 1779. He died in the Lower Village in 1798. Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of David and Janet McKeen, was born in Truro, February 2nd, 1781. She was married to James McLain, about 1804. They settled for a time on the south-west side of the St. Mary's River, at the Forks. Rosannah McKeen, their second daughter, was born in Truro, November 30th, 1783. She was married to James, third son of James Archibald, Esq., and Rebecca Barnhill, October, 1808. They had one son and two daughters. She died October 30th, 1814, aged 31 years. Samuel McKeen, their fourth son, was born in Truro, February 11th, 1786. He was married to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Nancy Taylor, of St. Mary's, June, 1809. They had two sons. Mrs. McKeen died in 1814. He was married again to Miss Glencross, in 1815. He settled up the West River of St. Mary's. He died there about they year 1826, aged 40 years. His wife died there too. David McKeen, their fifth son, was born in Truro, May 22nd, 1788. He was married to Miss McKenzie in 1811. They had sons and daughters. He removed to Ohio, U.S., with his family, about the year 1820. Robert, the sixth son of David and Janet McKeen, was born in the Lower Village of Truro, in 1790. He became somewhat insane. Shortly after James Archibald was married to his sister, Rosannah, and had removed to Stewiacke, his attachment to his sister was so strong that he started from St. Mary's and found his way through the woods to Stewiacke. His friends followed him; and when taking him home again, he got away from them into the woods, and was never heard of after. He was 19 years old at the time. James McKeen, their seventh son, was born in 1792. He removed to Ohio, U. S., when he was a young man. Matthew McKeen, their eighth son, was born in 1794. He removed to Ohio, U. S., when he was a young man. Margaret, daughter of John and Martha McKeen, was born in 1751, before they came to Nova Scotia. She was married to James Fisher, February 12th, 1772. They had two sons and three daughters, born in Truro. They removed to St. Mary's. She died there in 1817. Her husband died in the year 1812.
