Genealogy – Keepers Family of The
Carolinas
Group 17
The connection between this family group and other groups
has yet to be made. The earliest known
member, Thomas Keepers, born before 1756, may have been in the Revolutionary
War in the New Jersey militia. It is possible that he received bounty land in
South Carolina for his service. Thomas, his wife, and two daughters, appear in
the 1810 census in South Carolina.
William Keepers and his wife, Catherine Sifford, appear in the 1800
census in South Carolina, but they were married in North Carolina. Other than geography, there is no known
connection between Thomas and William.
William and Catherine Keepers have not been found in the
1810 federal census, but there is strong evidence that they migrated to southwestern
Missouri in the early 1800’s. They settled in Cape Girardeau Co.,
Missouri. According to later census
records, they had two daughters who were born in North Carolina. One daughter, Ethel Eleanor, married Daniel
Link of North Carolina. The other
daughter, Catherine, married William Wray, also of North Carolina, and moved on
to Arkansas. Emma Hill,
g-g-g-granddaughter of William & Catherine Keepers, has the William
Wray/Catherine Keepers family bible and was a main contributor for this group.
Thomas and his family have not been found in the 1820
federal census, but a Thomas Keepers appears in the historical records of
Connellsville, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, during the 1820’s. That Thomas was a tavern keeper in
Connellsville. John Keepers, the progenitor of Group 10, and his large family
resided in Connellsville at that time, and Thomas may have been John’s
brother. Thomas does not appear in the
1830 census.
[