George Key

Events

Date of Baptism: 13 July 1692 (or 1693).

Place of Baptism: Priors Marston, Warwickshire.

The baptism is recorded in the parish register. The bishop's transcripts give 13 July 1693.

Date of Burial: 27 March 1769.

Place of Burial: Hellidon, Northamptonshire.

The burial is recorded in the parish register.

Relationships

Father: John Key.

Mother: Sarah.

George's baptism record gives his parents' names as John Key and Sarah. Another George was baptized the same year in Priors Marston to Joseph and Margaret Key. The names of George's children suggests that John and Sarah were his parents.

Spouse: Elizabeth Cleaver. Married 26 May 1718 in Hellidon, Northamptonshire.

The marriage is recorded in the parish register. It is written under the year 1717, but from the date and the order of the marriages recorded in the register, it would appear to have taken place in 1718. This is the year the marriage is recorded under in the bishop’s transcripts.

Children:

(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)

John Key (baptized 10 April 1721 in Hellidon - buried 29 April 1797 in Hellidon) married Ann.

Elizabeth Key (baptized 3 March 1722/3 in Hellidon - died 24 October 1806, buried in Southam, Warwickshire) married John Arnold 1 January 1744/5 in Napton-on-the-Hill, Warwickshire.

Sarah Key (baptized 4 April 1725 in Hellidon, Northamptonshire) married John Arnold 1 May 1747 in Wormleighton, Warwickshire.

Evidence

from the Hellidon parish register:

[1717/1718]

Gorge Key & Elizebeth Clever Marr. the Banns first published May the 26

[1721]

John Key son of Gorge Key & Elizabeth his Wife Baptized April the ---10

[1722]

Elizabeth Key Daughter of Gorge Key and of Elizabeth his wife Baptized March the --- 3

1725

Sarah Georgij et Elizabetha Key Filia baptiz. Fuit Aprilis Dies 4.^to

from an electoral register (1748):

George Key --- [Hellidon]---- K

[“K” is a vote for Valentine Knightley.]

Burials (Hellidon):

[1769]

George Key --- March 27

[1773]

Elizabeth Key Widow --- Sept 25

George's will:

In the name of God Amen I George Key the Elder of Hellidon in the County of Northampton Yeoman being in an indifferent state of bodily Health but of a perfect sound and disposing mind memory and understanding Praised by God for the same/ but considering the frailty of human nature the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof Do therefore make and declare this alone to be my last Will and Testament in manner following (that is to say) First all that my Messuage Tenement or Dwelling House with the Appurtenances situate standing and being in Hellidon aforesaid wherein I now inhabit and dwell and which I bought and purchased of and from John Tilley and Ruth his wife or one of them And also all that my Quartern or fourth part of one Yard Land with the Commons and Appurtenances thereunto belonging lying and being dispersedly in the open and common fields and Parish of Hellidon aforesaid and now in my own occupation and which I lately bought and purchased to me and my heirs for ever of and from the said Ruth Tilley and John Tilley her Son and Heir by the said John Tilley the Elder And all other my real Estate in Hellidon aforesaid or elsewhere I give and devise unto my loving wife Elizabeth and her Assigns for and during the Term of her natural life (without Impeachment of waste / voluntary waste in pulling down Houses and Buildings excepted/ And immediately from and after her decease Then I give and devise the same Premises with their Appurtenances unto my Eldest Son John and to his heir and assigns To the sole only and absolute proper use and behoof of my said Son John and of his heirs and assigns for ever he and they thereout paying unto my Daughter Elizabeth Arnold the Wife of John Arnold of Southam in the County of Warwick Blacksmith the Sum of Twenty five Pounds of lawful money of Great Britain within twelve Calendar Months next after the decease of my said loving wife And also unto my other Daughter Sarah Arnold of Southam aforesaid Widow the Sum of Ten Pounds of like lawful money within twelve calendar Months next after the decease of my said loving Wife Also I give and bequeath unto my Grandson George Key the Younger such one of my said two black Mares as he shall elect and choose Also I give and bequeath unto my said loving wife the use of all and singular my Goods Household Goods beds bedding linnen woollen brass pewter barrels brewing vessells of all kinds Chattels Cattle Crop Stock Effects Implements of Husbandry and all other my personal Estate whatsoever (except my ready money) for and during the term of her natural life And from and after her decease Then I give and bequeath the same / Except my said Linnen and ready money as aforesaid/ unto my said Son John his Executors Administrators and Assigns to and for his and their sole use and benefit And the said Linnen I do hereby give and bequeath after the decease of my said Wife unto my said Daughter Sarah Arnold to and for her own sole use and benefit Also all and singular my ready money debts and securities for money which I shall have in the house or be possessed of at the time of my decease I give and bequeath the same unto my said Wife and Son John Key equally to be divided between them share and share alike they thereout paying all my just debts my funeral Expences and the charges of proving this my Will But in case my said Ready Money debts and Securities as aforesaid shall not be sufficient for those purposes Then I do hereby order and direct my said Son John his Heirs and Assigns to pay the Deficiency out of my real Estate hereinbefore devised to him after the decease of my Wife as aforesaid And I do hereby charge my said Estate with the payment of such Deficiency And Lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said Son John Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any time or times heretofore made And I do declare this alone to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Testator have to this my last Will and Testament set my hand and seal this twenty Sixth ---day of March --- in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty seven.----

Geo Key [seal]

Published and declared by the above named George Key the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in our presence and attested and subscribed in his presence and in the presence of each other--- By us G. Hayden. Robert Brown Robert Bates

[Proved 26 February 1774]

References

A Copy of the Poll for a Knight of the Shire for the County of Northampton, Taken at Northampton, On Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Monday, The 14th, 15th, 16th, and 18th Days Of April, 1748. Digital images on Ancestry.com, accessed 17 December 2017.

Hellidon, Northamptonshire, parish registers. Digital images on Ancestry.com, accessed 17 December 2017.

Will of George Key of Hellidon, Northamptonshire, yeoman. Proved 1774 in the Archdeaconry Court of Northampton. Digital images on FamilySearch, accessed 11 January 2018.

Will of John Key of Napton-on-the-Hill, Warwickshire, proved 1797. Consistory Court of Coventry and Lichfield. Digital image on Findmypast.co.uk, accessed 17 December 2017.