CT Keeney/Kinney/McKinney Clarifications
by Paul D. Lange
April 28, 2003
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Donald Lines Jacobus in a paper titled “Alexander Keeney of Wethersfield, Conn.”, which was found at the Connecticut Historical Society, has wrongly attributed a number of Vernon, CT McKinneys as children of Alexander Jr., and Sarah Webster Keeney. This error stemmed from a number of entries in "Records of the Church in Vernon, Conn. 1762-1824" which listed events for "Kinney"s or close variations, when in fact they were actually McKinneys. The attribution problem was complicated by the presence in Vernon and Bolton of several Alexander Keeney/Kinney/McKinneys at the same time. The easiest way through the confusion is to strip out the family of Alexander and Elizabeth McKinney. But first, the source of the confusion:
Jacobus' notes state that "Alexander Keeney Jr. and wife Sarah owned the Covenant at East Hartford, 18 May 1766". He then attributes all the 1768 - 1786 baptisms of Keeney/Kinney children in Vernon to these parents, except Elizabeth whom he omits. But closer analysis reveals three Alexander Kinney/Keeneys as owning the covenant in Vernon at this time (All of the entries below are from the "Records of the Church in Vernon, Conn. 1762-1824" as published in the NEHGR unless otherwise noted):
"The Persons underwritten have owned the Covenant-":
"Alexander Keney and his Wife Recommended by Mr. Williams of East Hartford" on 20-Jun-1784 (NEHGR 60:203)
"Alexander Kinney Junr & his Wife" on 17-Oct-1788 (NEHGR 60:203)
"Sarah Daughter of Alexander Keeney Hartford 5 Miles" bapt 29-May-1768 (NEHGR 58:195)
"Alexander & Elizabeth Son & Daughter of Alexdr Kinny" bapt. 30-Apr-1769 (NEHGR 58:195)
These two entries address two unrelated families, one Keeney, the other McKinney. Proof can be found in the East Windsor Town Clerk's records which clearly place Alexander and Elizabeth as the children of Alexander and Elizabeth McKinney:
"Alexander son to Alex. McKinney & Elizabeth" b. 10-Dec-1766 ("East Windsor Conn. Births, Deaths and Marriages, 1768 to 1851" Vol. 1 p.19)
"Elizabeth daughter to Alex. McKinney & Elizabeth his wife" b. 16-Feb-1769 ("East Windsor, Conn. Births, Deaths and Marriages, 1768 to 1851" Vol. 1 p.19)
The following entries can be found in the Town Clerk's office in Somers, CT, providing further background on parents Alexander & Elizabeth:
"Alexander Kinney of Windsor & Elizabeth Read of Somers joined in marriage January 9, 1766" ("Births, Deaths and Marriages in Somers, Conn., 1729-1826" Vol. 1 p. 62) [East Windsor was incorporated in 1768 from Windsor, though East Windsor does have the 1766 birth record for Elizabeth.]
"Elizabeth daughter of Daniel & Elizabeth Read born Aug. 16, 1744" ("Births, Deaths and Marriages in Somers, Conn., 1729-1826" Vol. 1 p.12)
An LDS entry lists Alexander McKinney, who was born approximately 1738 based on the age on his gravestone, as an immigrant from Ireland though this is not proved here.
The above information makes it clear that the first couple owning the covenant in Vernon in Dec-1768 is Alexander & Elizabeth McKinney. They are not Keeneys. Alexander & Sarah Keeney are likely the second couple owning the covenant in Jun-1784 given the recommendation from East Hartford where we know they covenanted.The third couple is Alexander McKinney's son and daughter in-law, as will be shown below.
The following individuals have been attributed to the Alexander & Sarah Keeney line by Jacobus (except Elizabeth who was omitted) but belong instead to Alexander and Elizabeth McKinney. We can see the re-establishment of the use of McKinney in the records in Vernon:
"Elizabeth daughter to Alex. McKinney & Elizabeth his wife" b. 16-Feb-1769 ("East Windsor Birth, Death and Marriage, 1768 to 1851" Vol. 1 p.19)
"Alexander & Elizabeth Son & Daughter of Alexdr Kinny" bapt. 30-Apr-1769 (NEHGR 58:195)
“Calvin McRay, & Elisabeth Kinney” m. 29-May-1788 (NEHGR 60:80)
"Alexander & Elizabeth Son & Daughter of Alexdr Kinny" bapt. 30-Apr-1769 (NEHGR 58:195)
"Alexander son to Alex. McKinney & Elizabeth" b. 10-Dec-1766 ("East Windsor Birth, Death and Marriage, 1768 to 1851" Vol. 1 p.19)
"Alexander Kinny Jr. & Roxy Talcott" m. 24-Mar-1788 (NEHGR 60:80)
"The Persons underwritten have owned the Covenant-": "Alexander Kinney Junr & his Wife" on 17-Oct-1788 (NEHGR 60:203)
"Roxy daughter of Alexdr Kinney Jr." d. 5-Dec-1790 (NEHGR 59:96)
"Chauncy, son of Alexander Kinney Jr." b. 9-Jun-1793 (NEHGR 59:97)
"Rachel daughter of Alexdr Kinney Jr." b. 2-Jul-1797 (NEHGR 59:98)
"Rachel daughter of Alexdr Kinney Jr." d. 4-Sep-1798 (NEHGR 59:415)
"Rachel, daughter of Alexander, Jr., and Roxey McKinney, died Sept. 4, 1798, aged 1 year, 3 months, 15 days" ("Inscriptions at Vernon, Conn." NEHGR 59:415)
"Rachel, daughter of Alexdr Kinney Jr." b. 10-Nov-1799 (NEHGR 59:99)
“Alexander McKinney Died Jan. 31, 1845. AE. 79.” (“Connecticut Cemetery Inscriptions” NEHGR 73:41)
"Augustus & Erastus twin sons of Alexander Kinny" bapt. 11-Aug-1771 (NEHGR 58:196)
"Erastus McKinney to widow Lydia Talcott" m. 23-Jun-1802 (NEHGR 60:200)
"Starling son of Erastus McKinney" b. 22-May-1803 (NEHGR 59:100)
"Lora child of Erastus McKinney aged 2 years" d. 4-Sep-1817 (NEHGR 60:74)
"Chloe daughter of Alexandr Kinny" bapt. 17-Oct-1773 (NEHGR 58:196)
"Chloe daughter of Alexander Kinny aged about 2 Years & 1/2" d. 22-May-1776 (NEHGR 59:213)
"Chloe daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth Kinny, died May 2, 1776, in hear 5th year" ("Inscriptions at Vernon, Conn." NEHGR 83:365)
"Warren son of Alexander Kiney" bapt. 21-Jul-1776 (NEHGR 58:197)
"Jula & David, daughter & son of Warren McKinney" b. 30-Aug-1796 (NEHGR 59:98)
"Warren & Betsey Son & daughter of Warren Kinney" b.4-Apr-1802 (NEHGR 59:100)
"Cloe daughter of Alexander Kinny" bapt. 17-Jan-1779 (NEHGR 58:197)
"Charles Bingham to Chloe McKinney" m. 28-Nov-1805 (NEHGR 60:200)
"Daniel son of Capt. Kinney" bapt. 27-Apr-1781 (NEHGR 58:401)
"A child of Daniel McKinney aged about 2 years" d. 18-Oct-1813 (NEHGR 60:74)
"Chester son of Capt. Alexander Kinny" bapt. 1-Aug-1784 (NEHGR 58:402)
"Chester McKinney to Sophia Talcott" m. 19-Aug-1812 (NEHGR 60:201)
It is not 100% certain these two are McKinneys, but the spelling and timing fit.
"Peggy, daughter of Alexander Kinny" bapt. 12-Mar-1786 (NEHGR 58:403)
"Aurora, Daughter of Alexander Kinney" bapt. 24-Jun-1787 (NEHGR 58:403)
“Elizabeth, wife of Capt. Alexander McKinney, died July 4, 1814, AE. 67” (“Inscriptions at Vernon, Conn.” NEHGR 83:365)
“The wife of Capt Alexdr McKinney, aged 69 years 11 months” d. July 5, 1814 (NEHGR 60:74)
“Alexander McKinney aged 81” d. 25-Mar-1819 (NEHGR 60:76)
“Capt. Alexander McKinney died Mar. 27, 1819, AE. 81” (“Inscriptions at Vernon, Conn.” NEHGR 83:365)
What we are left with is an incomplete record of “Keeney” activity in Vernon. For some unknown reason, Alexander Keeney's daughter is brought from “Hartford 5 Miles” (which is today's Manchester) to Vernon to be baptised in 1768. It is then 16 years before he and his wife join the church in Vernon, in time to see his daughter married in 1784. He has and loses a son shortly thereafter, and apparently his son marries there.
These entries stand out versus all those above in that the name is “Keeney” is spelled with “e”s and not “i”:
"Alexander Keney and his Wife Recommended by Mr. Williams of East Hartford" on 20-Jun-1784 (NEHGR 60:203)
“Jeffe Son of Alexander Kenee” bapt. 12-Nov-1784 (NEHGR 58:402)
“Jeffe, Son of Alexander Kenee, Aged 7 months” d. 14-Nov-1784 (NEHGR 59:412)
"Sarah Daughter of Alexander Keeney Hartford 5 Miles" bapt 29-May-1768 (NEHGR 58:195)
“Daniel Dorchester and Sarah Keney” m. 24-Jun-1784 (NEHGR 60:79)
We see two “Alexander Keeney” marriages in the area at this time. Certainly one, and perhaps both if the first wife died soon after marriage, is a child of Alexander and Sarah:
“Alexander Keney Abigail Goodrich” m. 13-May-1791 (“Records of the Church in Bolton, Conn.” NEHGR 54:84)
“Alexander Keney to Esther Talcott” m. 13-Nov-1794 (NEHGR 60:199)
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