Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of illustrations
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Map: ‘The South part of New-England, as it is Planted this yeare, 1634’
- Map: New England, c. 1660
- Timeline
- Introduction
- Life-stories from early New England
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- R
- S
- T
- V
- W
- Y
- Appendix 1 Settlers leaving New England before 1640
- Appendix 2 Settlers visiting England, 1640–1660
- Bibliography
- Index
K
from Life-stories from early New England
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 August 2013
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of illustrations
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Map: ‘The South part of New-England, as it is Planted this yeare, 1634’
- Map: New England, c. 1660
- Timeline
- Introduction
- Life-stories from early New England
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- R
- S
- T
- V
- W
- Y
- Appendix 1 Settlers leaving New England before 1640
- Appendix 2 Settlers visiting England, 1640–1660
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
KEAYNE, Benjamin
Benjamin Keayne was the only son of Robert and Anne Keayne, and cousin of Benjamin Jupe* and Mary Morse*. His father was one of Boston's wealthiest merchants. Keayne arrived with his parents in 1635. He joined the Artillery Company at its formation in 1638, with his father as captain; he was a senior sergeant in 1641. Benjamin Keayne married Sarah*, the daughter of Thomas Dudley (ANB). On 9 June 1639 both Benjamin and Sarah were admitted to Boston church. Benjamin Keayne became a freeman of Massachusetts on 9 September 1639. He and Sarah moved to Lynn and were recommended to the church there on 3 May 1640. Benjamin was dismissed from the Boston church to Lynn on 10 July 1642.
Keayne went back to his native country to join the parliamentary army. Robert Keayne wrote that his son had been ‘in the wars in England’. Keayne may have been a major in Stephen Winthrop's* regiment, or was perhaps the captain ‘Kaine’ in Colonel Weldon's regiment of foot, fighting in the West Country in 1645. His wife Sarah followed him back and acquired a reputation as a radical: ‘My she Cosin Keane is growne a great preacher’, Stephen Winthrop reported, 27 March 1645/6. Brampton Gurdon of Assington, Suffolk, reported to John Winthrop, 6 June 1649:
Heere goes some speech of a N.E. couple that lately came from thence the husband first, And then the wife followed after with what goods she could get together but we heare all her goods miscarryed, and she escaped only with her life. the man was Canes son . . . the woman is returned to N.E. and resolves there to take another Husband. I hope your lawes will not tollerate such wicked actions.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Abandoning AmericaLife-Stories from Early New England, pp. 166 - 173Publisher: Boydell & BrewerPrint publication year: 2013