Birth:
Nov. 3, 1732
Westford
Middlesex County
Massachusetts, USA
Death:
Dec. 3, 1802
Brandon
Rutland County
Vermont, USA
Samuel was the 2nd of 15 children (1st son) born of Jabez Keep
(1706-1774) and the 2nd of 4 children born of his 1st wife Sarah Leonard
(1707-1739). Samuel's siblings were: Sarah (b. 1731), Lucy (1734-1803),
Jabez (b. 1736), Eunice (b. 1741), Leonard (b.1742), Mary (1744-1827),
Jonathan (b. 1745), Ruth (b. 1747), Experience (1748-1750), Elizabeth
(b. 1750), Experience (1752-1817), John (b. 1753), Jemima (b. 1755), and
Rebecca (b. 1758.
After working for a time with his father in
his forge at Westford , Middlesex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony, he
moved to Salisbury, Litchfield County, Colony of Connecticut. In 1761,
he was, with others of Salisbury, one of the grantees of the towns of
Middlebury and Salisbury on the New Hampshire Grants. At the 1st
Proprietors election, January 5, 1762, he was chosen Clerk and continued
as such until 1767. In 1765, he was on a committee to lay out the 3rd
division of land in Middlebury. He had lot no. 37 in Middlebury, but it
is not known that he every lived in that town.
Samuel married,
December 25, 1755 at Salisbury, Connecticut, Sarah Chipman (1722-1804)
the widow of John Chipman (1726-1754). Samuel and Sarah had 2 children
(both daughters): Eunice (b. 1756) and Hannah (1759-1841).
Samuel
settled at Crown Point, Province of New York about 1773. Being
acquainted with the forts at Crown Point and Ticonderoga, he was one of
Ethan Allen's advisers that led to the capture of Fort Ticonderoga in
May 1775. In order to obtain a more perfect knowledge of the fort and
its guards, he made pretense that his cow had strayed and could probably
be found grazing somewhere near the camp ground, and accordingly he was
allowed to pass the guard. After making a full survey of all the place,
he lost no time in giving Allen the benefit of his discoveries which
greatly assisted in the plan for taking the fort immediately after.
Samuel afterward feeling it unsafe for his family to remain in the
vicinity during the revolution, moved back to Salisbury, Connecticut
where he engaged in casting cannon for the Continental Army. After the
close of the war he moved to Salisbury, Addison County, Vermont, still
engaged in iron manufacture (a bloomer).
Samuel died at Brandon,
Rutland County, Vermont, at the residence of his daughter Eunice and
was buried by the side of other descendants at Middlebury, Vermont.
References:
(1) "John Keep of Longmeadow, Massachusetts 1660-1676 and his Descendants" by Frank E. Best, 1899, pages 24-26 and 38
(2) "The Chipman Family A Genealogy of The Chipmans In America 1631-1920" by Bert Lee Chipman, pages 21 and 26-27.
(3)
"Connecticut Vital Records Salisbury Births-Marriages-Deaths 1741-1846
Barbour Collection Connecticut State Library 1927" pages 26, 65 and 66
(4)
The Men With Ethan Allen at the Capture of Ticonderoga - May 10th 1775.
by Robert O. Bascom "Proceedings of the New York State Historical
Association The Eleventh Annual Meeting, With Constitution, By-Laws and
List of Members. - Vol., IX." by the New York State Historical
Association. 1910, pages 304 and 316
(5) "History of Salisbury, Vermont." by John M. Weeks, 1860, pages 17, 127, and 342-342
Family links:
Parents:
Jabez Keep (1706 - 1774) Sarah Keep (1706 - 1738) Spouse:
Sarah Chipman Keep (1722 - 1804)*
Children:
Hannah Keep Sheldon (1759 - 1841)*
Siblings:
Samuel Keep (1732 - 1802) Lucy Keep Rogers (1734 - 1803)*
Mary Keep Proctor (1744 - 1827)*
Experience Keep (1748 - 1750)**
Experience Keep Parker (1752 - 1817)**
*Calculated relationship**Half-sibling Inscription:
SAMUEL KEEP
Died Dec. 3,
1802. In the
71 Year of
his age.
Burial:
Seeley Cemetery Middlebury
Addison County
Vermont, USA
