John Keam, father of 1720's St Mewan family

Research Note by Wesley Johnston, begun 6 Apr 2014, last updated 9 Sep 2014

Based on the Cornwall Family History Society's research database of baptisms at St Mewan, there appear to be two John Keam families in Mewan in the early and mid 1700's. Here is the raw information:

CEAM William Son of CEAM John - St Mewan 20 Nov 1721

KEAM John Son KEAM John - - St Mewan 10 Aug 1724

KEAM Thomas Son KEAM John - - St Mewan 4 Oct 1730

KEAM Robert Son KEAM John - - St Mewan 15 Oct 1733

KEAM Dorathy Dau KEAM John - - St Mewan 2 Jun 1737

KEAM Susannah Dau KEAM John - -St Mewan 24 Jan 1741

KEAM Elizabeth Dau KEAM John - Anne St Mewan 5 Jan 1753

KEAM John Son KEAM John - Ann St Mewan 8 May 1757

There is one cluster of baptisms 1724 to 1741 and another (which show the mother as Ann/Anne) 1753 to 1757. So the following two families seem to be indicated.

John and unknown wife - married about 1723

1721 Nov 20 - William

1724 Aug 10 - John

1730 Oct 4 - Thomas

1733 Oct 15 - Robert

1737 Jun 2 - Dorathy

1741 Jan 24 - Susannah

John and Anne - married about 1752

1753 Jan 5 - Elizabeth

1757 May 8 - John

There is in fact a marriage for John Keam and Ann Williams at St Mewan 26 Jan 1751/2 (old style/modern style) -- the only candidate marriage in the CFHS DB. So I am carrying this marriage as that of the 1724 John.

I can find no marriage in the CFHS DB for John* K*a*m* in the period prior to 1752, except a John KAYME and Emma HONNYE who married 21 Oct 1594 at St Austell. So the c 1723 marriage of the first John is either lost or took place outside of Cornwall.

The earlier John KEAM appears most likely to be the 5 Feb 1694 John CEAME baptized at St Mewan, son of Richard, and I am carrying him as such, although I am open to altering that if new evidence merits that.

The Thomas Keam Conundrum

There is a conundrum here. The Thomas Keam born to John 1730 is the only Thomas Keam in the CFHS DB from 1720 to 1739. And yet there were two 1851 marriages of a Thomas Keam -- one to Mary Prynn in Lanivet (who is known for certain to have been a mason in St Mewan by 1859) and one in St Mewan to Grace Colmer. It is not possible that this was the same Thomas Keam remarrying. So only one of the marriages could have been the 1730 Thomas. But then who is the other Thomas Keam????

I am carrying the 1730 St Mewan Thomas as the husband of Grace Colmer and the Thomas who married Mary Prynn as unattached, but this is very definitely open to revision if new evidence justifies it.

See my separate research note on this issue.