John Bastin's Brother-in-law, John Keath, Jr.

John Bastin, son of Thomas and Hannah (Brockman) Bastin migrated from Caswell County, NC to Kentucky, eventually living in east Barren County, KY from about December 1830 until the early 1840's. His first wife (identity not proven) died during this time, and John re-married. His second (40 years younger!) wife was Margaret Keath (Keith, Keeth). He and Margaret Keath were married in Edmonson County, KY on July 05, 1837. In the early 1840's, John and Margaret moved from Kentucky to Monroe County, Indiana. John died there in 1857, and Margaret died after 1860, being listed as being 48 years old there on the 1860 US Census.

Margaret Keith (Keath, Keeth) was the daughter of John Keith, Sr. (b. 1776-1779 in VA). Margaret was born in Warren County, KY, in that part that became Edmonson County. Margaret's mother is unknown as she died in 1820. Her father, John Keith, Sr. remarried to Ruhama Allen in November 1820 in Warren County, KY. (John and Ruhama are the 3G Grand parents to Shirley (Keeth) Shaffer).

The following excellent picture, scanned with a camcorder using WebTV, is courtesy of John and Shirley (Keeth) Shaffer of Springfield, MO, and is of John Keeth Jr., son of John Keeth Sr. and Ruhama (Allen) Keeth. John Sr. is Margaret's father. Ruhama is Margaret's step-mother. John Jr. is Margaret's half brother. So, John Jr. is John Bastin's brother-in-law (actually half brother-in-law). John Shaffer is a 50 year plus hobbyist photographer, this is the oldest picture that he and his wife, Shirley (Keeth) Shaffer have, and the scan is of very good quality!

The surname was spelled in at least three ways, Keeth, Keith, and Keeth. Jonathan, the son of John Keeth Jr. is from about the time his line went to the present-day spelling of Keeth.

(John Shaffer did a family history on his wife's line tracing back through time from original documents and stopping with John Sr. only when he ran out of original documents. The above information is courtesy of John Shaffer and his wife, Shirley (Keeth) Shaffer. Thanks, John and Shirley!)

Some additional information on John Keith, and the Keith/Keath/Keeth family can also be found in the archives of the SOUTH-CENTRAL-KENTUCKY mailing list at RootsWeb. One sample message containing information on this family is summarized below, with only the Keith/Keath/Keeth information retained:

From: DPardueATC@aol.com
To: SOUTH-CENTRAL-KENTUCKY@rootsweb.com
Subject: Cedar Springs Baptist Church Messengers
Date: Thursday, September 10, 1998 12:32 PM
Listed below are the messengers to the Green River Association from Cedar Springs Baptist Church in Edmonson County (KY).
...
1835 Daniel Keith, Daniel Spurlock
...
1845 Elder F. Meredith, John Keith, James Doddy
...
1847 Elder F. Meredith, Issac Cross, J. Keith
1848 D. Keith, J. Keith, J. M. Kelly
1849 F. Meredith, J. Keith, Jas. Kelly
1851 John Keith, Issac Cross, W. V. Cole
1852 John Keith, W. W. Cole, Issac Cross
...
1854 John Keith
1855 Rev. John Keeth, W. V. Cole. Issac Cross
1856 Rev. John Keeth, Issac Cross, W. V. Cole
...
1890 Elder Samuel Hatler, Dave Keeth, Thomas Meredith
...
1895 P. Rountree, S. Hatler, Daniel Keath
...
1897 P. Rountree, Daniel Keith
The above information was taken from "Spencer's History of Kentucky Baptist Churches".

(Photo and family information is courtesy of John and Shirley (Keeth) Shaffer. Thanks!)

John Keath, Jr.

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