I'm trying to research my maternal grandmother's family, who's name was Keech. My grandmother was born on the Isle of Wight, and I'm led to believe that there's a lot of them over there. Her father Frederick William Keech (25 nov 1879) was born in Bridport, Dorset to William and Elizabeth Keech.
I've got no further than this and would love to get in contact with anyone who knows more.
Tamsyn
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Re: Looking for UK Keeches
Hi Tamsyn, as you can see I am a Keech and from across the water from the Isle of Wight, I was born in Gosport UK to Ronald Arthur Keech and Edwina Piggott...he was born on 3rd May 1921 and died 30thy July 1976..hope this helps I have more info if you would like to drop me an e-mail sometime.regards Mike Keech
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Re: Looking for UK Keeches
1880 British Census shows:
Household:
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability William KEECH Head M Male 32 Bridport, Dorset, England Yarn Bleacher Elizabeth KEECH Wife M Female 32 Up Loder, Dorset, England Emily KEECH Daur Female 8 Bridport, Dorset, England Scholar George KEECH Son Male 5 Bridport, Dorset, England Scholar Fred KEECH Son Male 2 Bridport, Dorset, England Scholar
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Re: Looking for UK Keeches
Hi Bryan,
I've already found these. Fred Keech is my g grandfather. I haven't got back any further though.
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Re: Looking for UK Keeches
This is an old thread, but I'm researching the Keech family in the Isle of Wight (probably Shalfleet). Respond if either of you are still there and I'll fill you in with more details.
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Re: Looking for UK Keeches
Hi, I have just picked up your message. My 4 x great grandfather William Fowles married a Susan Keetch on 10 Mar 1808 in Newchurch, Isle of Wight. Without going there, it is going to be difficult to get any further back, but I wondered if you had had any success with your research on the family?
Many thanks
Vivien
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Re: Looking for UK Keeches
Hi, Hope all is well with you. I too have William Fowles and Susan Keetch as my 4th Great Grandparents and have struggled to identify parents, what made them moved to the IOW and where Susan was born. Their son William Ward Fowles was my 3rd ggrandfather and his daughter Rose Fowles my 2nd ggrandmother. have you been successful in progressing beyond William and Susan? If you have it might be good to share information especially if the other names I mention ring a bell. All the best Col Saunders
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Re: Looking for UK Keeches
Hi I have loads of Keeches on my family tree you are welcome to look at it if you like it is a public tree, all my keeches mainly originate from Dorset. Lorraine
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Re: Looking for UK Keeches
Hi, Sorry for the delay in replying. Everyone I have spoken to has drawn a blank on William and Susan. One person I have contacted has even been out to St Kitts but been totally unsuccessful. Part of the problem was that there are few records that old out there due to humidity and hurricanes. William seems to have turned up in 1808 to marry Susan, but where he came from or why he ended up on the IOW, is a total mystery. Someone else came up with the question 'was he white'. I would assume that he at least looked 100% white for that era and as far as I am aware, no babies have come out other than white in his descendants on our branch (through Arthur Wellington Fowles), so I think we can assume so, but as St Kitts was a slave colony I suppose anything is possible. If of mixed race though, it would seem unlikely that he had been able to make his way to the UK unaided, even if freed, so I would say it is improbable - but .... Lots of theories, but no concrete evidence of anything prior to 1808. Very frustrating.
Regards
Vivien
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Re: Looking for UK Keeches
Thanks for your reply. Our family line is through William Ward Fowles(1786-1866)and his daughter Rose(1843-1904). Rose went to India with her husband (from Dublin) who appears to have purchased a number of comissions. Interms of William being born in the West Indies,any racial makeup is possible as history now suggests that the writers Elizabeth Barrett Browning,Jamacia,Robert,her husband, St.Kitts,and Jean Rhys,Dominica, all have links to plantations and possible mixed heritage. Unlike the American experience the different races and classes in the Caribbean appear to have mixed more readily.
Have you been able to find parents for Susan/Susannah? Her origins appear to also be a mystery. Good luck with your search.
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