Susanna's exact date of birth is unknown. Parish records, Baptismal records , Bibles or other forms of documentation have not been found with a record of her birth. It is speculated that she was born between 1641 and 1646 (between age 14 to age 19) as she was married circa 1660.......Susanna Keene is believed to have been born at Kent Island, Maryland. Kent Island is located near present day Annapolis, Maryland. It is the largest island in the Chesapeake Bay, and consists of 31.62 square miles. The first settlement on Kent Island consisted of twenty five colonists from England, settling there August 21, 1631. It was named Winston's Island. Susanna's father would have been an early settler there, but not among the first twenty five. It had been occupied by Native Americans for 12,000 years, prior to the English settlement in 1631, and the founding of Kent Fort. "Winston's Island" was later named "Kent Island", named for Kent, England, home of one of the early colonists. Today, Kent Island is a part of Queen Anne's County, which was founded in 1706, (after Susanna's birth) and named for Queen Anne of Great Britain (b. 1665 d. 1714). Susanna was the daughter of Thomas Keene, Jr., born 1593 in England and died 20 Jan 1652/53, Northumberland County, Virginia, and his wife Mary (or Margie) Thorley, believed to be from Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Susanna had three siblings, brothers William Keene, Sr., Thomas Keene, and Matthew Keene.

Susanna was most likely born on Kent Island during the period 1634-1649 when there was a dispute between Virginia and Maryland. Kent Island became a part of Maryland in 1649.

Susanna married John Garner (1633-1702) between 1659 and 1661, most likely in 1660, in Northumberland County, Virginia. (In 1659, Susanna was listed as Susanna "Keene", when her stepfather, Thomas Broughton gives her her share of cattle from her father Thomas Keene's estate. In 1662, Susanna is listed as the wife of John Garner, and the mother of a daughter, in her mother Mary Broughton's will.)

.......Susanna and John lived in Northumberland County, later moving farther north to Westmoreland County, Virginia. John Garner died in 1702. His will was dated January 22, 1702, and was proved May 26, 1702, and recorded January 1, 1703 in Westmoreland County, Virginia,

.......Susanna lived another 14 years, after John's death. She did not leave a will. Her estate was inventoried March 28, 1716, she most likely died in late 1715, or early 1716. Inventories were generally conducted very soon after a death to account for goods and property bequeathed to heirs. Susanna survived the death of her son John Garner, who predeceased her in 1713.

......Susanna and John had 10 children: John Garner, Henry Garner, Vincent Garner, Thomas Garner, Parish Garner, Benjamin Garner, James Garner, Mary Garner, Susan Garner, and Martha Garner.

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By: Rebecca Prillaman