Mary Winch Keene

Mary Winch Keene joined the Baptist church at Maze Pond on 3 November 1765, and remained a member until her death in 1813 (Maze Pond 2.f.183).  She was the widow of Henry Keene (1726?-97), a coal merchant in Blackman Street, Southwark, who served over 32 years as a deacon at Maze Pond; he was also active in matters of political and religious reform during the 1780s and ’90s (see “Keene,” Appendix 7). It seems probable that the street on which the Gurney’s lived, Keene’s Row, was named after him.  Mrs. Dore was the former Elizabeth Winch (most likely Mrs. Keene’s relation); she joined Maze Pond on 7 August 1796, the same day as William B. Gurney and his future wife, Ann Benham. See Maze Pond Church Book, 1744-1783, Angus Library, Regent’s Park College, Oxford, f.17.