Richard KEENEY

  General Notes:

S13620, CT Line, sol was a son of Richard Keeney & was born 22 Jul 1765 at East Hartford, CT. Married Margaret Porter in Sept 1784. Richard served in place of his father who was drafted. Described his father in his pension declaration as a "mighty timid" man. Declaration in 1852 references "the following married children which are his only children him surviving" "Richard Keeney of Lima New York, Delana Terry of Lima, Delight Burr of Lima and John W. Keeney of Manchester Connecticut"

Gravestones, East Cemetery, Manchester, CT read:
"Richard Keeney died Dec 16, 1851 aged 87 A patriot of the revolution"
"Revolutionary War Richard Keeney Capt. Loomis' Co. Dec. 16, 1851 AE 87" ^190,191

  Research Notes:

"I served at least two months as a private in a militia Company commanded by Captain Jonathan Wells at New London. I was a substitute for my father Richard Keeney who died many years ago. This service I verily believe was performed the forepart of the year 1779."

"When I served as a substitute for my father, who was drafted and got me to go in his place, I went down to New London in Nov 1779 and served under Captain Amasa Loomis for a period of two months."

Richard's lawyer Samuel Parsons writes: "I would add the following made to me by him at the time of taking this declaration but then deemed too trifling for insertion...His fancy was first with military order and he secondly formed the idea of becoming a "Hero". He accordingly "ran away" from his father's house (who by the way was a "mightily timid man") and applied to Mr. Pitkin for a certificate of his ability to do military duty."

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Richard married Margaret PORTER, daughter of David PORTER and Margaret OLMSTEAD, in Sep 1784.¹⁹⁰ (Margaret PORTER was born on 11 Mar 1763 in East Hartford, CT ¹⁹⁰ and died on 14 Apr 1850 ⁸¹.)