Susannah Keene

Susannah married John Garner about 1660 in Northumberland County. He was an English immigrant who had arrived in Northumberland as a head right in 1650. John and Susannah went on to have ten children.

In October, 1672, John and Susannah bought 100 acres on the Yeocomico River from Nicholas Jenkins. On January 15, 1695 John Jenkins of Cople Parish sold to John and Vincent Garner 100 acres in Horne Point on Yeocomico River. At his death, John Garner owned more than 800 acres in one tract of land, a second plantation and more lands adjoining it and a separate parcel of land in Horn Point.

John Garner wrote his will on January 22nd, 1702 and left to Susannah:

Item-I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Susan all the rest of my Estate as Goods and Chattels moveables and unmoveables and do make my said loving wife Susan the sole Executor of this my last will and testament, willing all my due debts to be paid, revoking all other wills and testimonies, this my last will and testament, also my will is that my well beloved wife Susan her heirs of Executors pay the one half of the tobacco which is given to my said sons being four thousand, the 22nd day of Jan: 1702.

The will of John Garner was proven on May 26th, 1702.

In 1705 Susannah's brother, Matthew Keene of Stafford County, gave her 875 acres in Westmoreland County to be divided between her sons John and Henry.

Susannah died before March 28th, 1716. On that date her son Benjamin testified that she had died without a will and was ordered to take an inventory and appraisal of her estate. Among her most valuable possessions were a yoke of oxen, four head of cattle and a copper kettle.

Susannah Keene is our great-grandmother through two different lines. Through her son Parish she is the 5th Great-Grandmother of Laura Alice Sisson through Garner and Cralle lines. Through her daughter Mary she is also a 6th Great-Grandmother to Laura Alice Sisson through the Tune and Gordon families.