Keen, John

Keen, John

ohn Keen, eldest son of Matthias and Mary (Swift) Keen, was born in Philadelphia and apprenticed to Robert Smith. He became a member of The Carpenters' Company in 1772 and rapidly joined the inner circle of master builders; he served The Company as a committee member or officer from the time of his election as Warden in 1776 to 1785. In 1801 he became Vice-President of The Company. Nothing is known of Keen's architectural work, but he was an "encourager" of the Philadelphia edition of Abraham Swan, The British Architect (printed by R. Bell for J. Norman, 1775), the first book on architecture published in America. According to a nineteenth-century biographical sketch published in the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography by Gregory B. Keen, John Keen "sided with the Colonies in the War of the Revolution, and fought in Captain Richard Humphreys's Company, in General Cadwalader's Division of Pennsylvania Militia, at the battle of Princeton, where he was slightly wounded by a fence-rail splintered by a cannon ball, while giving some information about the enemy to General Washington."

Written by Roger W. Moss, from the Philadelphia Architects and Builders website. 

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Keen

John

3/29/1747

10/29/1832

9/20/1770

Mildred Cooke

Matthias Keen

Mary Swift

1/4/1772

Vice President, 1801

Book Prices Committee, 1781-85,95-1800

See Comments

Subscribed to 8 shares for erection of Hall. ----------------------- Tatman & Moss Bio Dictionary Phila. Architects page 435. Eldest son of Matthias and Mary (Swift) Keen, was born in Philadelphia and apprenticed to Robert Smith (q.v.). He became a member of The Company in 1772 and rapidly joined the inner circle of master builders; he served The Company as a committee member or officer from the time of his election as Warden in 1776 to 1785. In 1801 he became Vice President of The Company. Nothing is known of Keen's architectural work, but he was an "encourager" of the Philadelphia edition of Abraham Swan "The British Architect" (printed by R. Bell for J. Norman, 1775), the first book on architecture printed in America. According to the 19th century biographical sketch, Keen "sided with the Colonies in the War of the Revolution, and fought in Captain Richard Humphreys's Company, in General Cadwalader's Division of Pennsylvania Militia, at the battle of Princeton, where he was slightly wounded by a fence rail splintered by a cannon ball, while giving some information about the enemy to General Washington." ----------------------- See C.E. Peterson's book "Robert Smith", page 21, col 2, para 2: Keen was an apprentice to Robert Smith. --------------------- Prime Directory: Listed as house carpenter, 23 Duke St., Northern Liberties (1793); 38 Strawberry St. (1795); 26 Green St., Northern Liberties (1799) ---------------------- City Directory - 1805 - John, sen, carpenter, 26 Green John, jun., carpenter, 80 Green 1814 - John, carpenter, 26 Green ----------------------- Hannah Roach-APS: March 7, 1775 - his house on north side of Callowhill between Water st. and the river. March 5, 1775 - store of, north side of Callowhill near river. ------------------------ Trans. APS Vol. 43, Part I (1953), page 99 Listed among original (1770) subscribers to construction of Hall. ------------------------ City Records D.S.B. book # 335; filed June 15, 1811; acknowledged satisfaction - John Bacon for the late firm of John Keen & Co. John Keen & Co. vs. Mary Newman. Claim for $412 filed against a certain three story brick house situate on Beach Street opposite Main Street, Kensington. ---------------------- Managing Committee Minutes-1773-2-65 John Keen elected. WM-1779-2-132 Arrears & quarterages collected amounting to 2 pounds 12 shillings, which John Keen is directed to pay to the Master. Carpenters' Co. Minutes-1876-303 Communication from L.R. Fortescue for aid in behalf of Miss Susan Hand, a daughter of John Keen who died in 1832. --------------------- PA Gazette 8/2/1786 - #3454 Reporting theft from his house in Front St., above Pool's bridge, value 30 pounds. ------------------- Documentation from PA Magazine Vol. 4 of Names of his father and mother, early homes and details of his life.

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