Illegitimate Daughter of Mary, Daughter of Arthur Keam

Research note by Wesley Johnston - Begun 3 Jun 2021, Last Updated 3 Jun 2021

https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/12001386/person/422293588318/media/456f5495-b45b-4795-b053-ce0f6e462e07?_phsrc=yui7585&usePUBJs=true

The Problem

In his 8 May 1836 will, Robert Keam made this bequest:

"I give to Mary the Daughter of my son Arthur, four guineas and to her female Bastard child fifteen guineas to be paid to her when and if she shall attain the age of twenty one years or be married which shall first happen, with lawful interest for the same"

He does not give the girl's name. He further states:

"All the rest residue and remainder of my goods and chattels rights and credits ready money personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever I give and bequeath to my son Matthew whom I constitute the sole Executor of this my Will & the trustee & the guardian of the said female bastard child"

So, who was the girl, and what became of her?

1841 Census

By 1841, Mary had married Walter Whitehair (they married 9 Sep 1837 at St. Blazey). In 1841, the couple with their 2 year old son Walter lived at St. Blazey Church Town. So, the girl was not living with them.

In the same census, Matthew Keam's family in St. Blazey Village did not include anyone younger than 7 (Matthew's own daughter Matilda who was baptized at St. Blazey). So, the girl was not living with her guardian.

Since Mary was born 1815, she was 21 when her grandfather wrote his will 8 May 1836. So, the child was born before that date. So, either the child had died by 1841 or was living somewhere other than with her guardian Matthew Keam (her mother's father's brother).

Baptisms

There was only one baptism in Cornwall of a non-marital daughter of a Mary Keam prior to 8 May 1836, which was in 1811, before Mary Keam was born. There were two baptisms in 1837 (one in St. Blazey and one in Luxulyan) and then none until 1867.

So, was the child born before 8 May 1836 baptized in 1837?

16 Mar 1837 St. Blazey

The image is at

    familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DHC4-DGT?cc=1769414&wc=3CBC-923

It shows Cassandra as the "(Illegitimate)" of Mary Keam, "Single Woman" of Church Town.

This where the family were living and at a date that could be a late baptism for the child in the Will. There is no other record, death or otherwise, for Cassandra Keam.

12 Dec 1837 at Luxulyan

The image is at

    familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DB5G-L4?cc=1769414&wc=3CBC-YWR

It shows Elfrida Thomas as the daughter of Spinster Mary Keam, abiding at Minorca.

Thomas appears to be a surname.

This is highly unlikely to be the right one, since it is the wrong parish and is also after Arthur Keam's daughter Mary married with Walter Whitehair.

Working Conclusion

The illegitimate daughter of Mary Keam, daughter of Arthur Keam, referenced in Arthur's father Robert Keam's will was Cassandra Keam, baptized 16 Mar 1837 at St. Blazey. The child had died by the time of the 1841 Census.

This is how I will carry the records until I have significant evidence that it is not correct. It is clearly not proven, but it is the best fit with the evidence that I have found at this time.