JAMES was born in Lebanon, Lee County, Virginia. Every census confirms he was born in Virginia, but according to family lore and his granddaughter, Pauline Lucy Keen Lane, JAMES claimed to have stowed away on a ship and came to America with his brother, from Ireland because they did not like their new stepfather. On JAMES' son, Thomas Gilbert Keen's death certificate it is stated that James was born in Ireland. These family stories have turned out to be just that, made up stories. I believe James either did not know who his true biological parents were or was ashamed of his true parentage. Through DNA matches I have come to find that my 2nd great grandfather was actually born out of wedlock to Susanna Keen 1802-1880 and Ambrose James Mullins , both of Russell County, Virginia. With the ancestry.com DNA "Thru Lines" feature I discovered JAMES' half siblings by his mother Susanna Keen's other children that she also had out of wedlock. All of Susanna's children have her maiden name, Keen. All but James were fathered by Henry Dickenson Aston. Aston even mentions Susanna and her children in his will. They never married as he was already married with a family. I also found James' biological father is Ambrose James Mullins Jr. This is also proved through DNA matches of Ambrose James Mullins' children to JAMES M KEEN. DNA matches show Ambrose James Mullins Jr's children are half siblings to JAMES M KEEN. Ambrose and Susanna never married as he was also married with a family at the time at the time of James' birth.
JAMES was born in Lebanon, Lee County, Virginia. Every census confirms he was born in Virginia, but according to family lore and his granddaughter, Pauline Lucy Keen Lane, JAMES claimed to have stowed away on a ship and came to America with his brother, from Ireland because they did not like their new stepfather. On JAMES' son, Thomas Gilbert Keen's death certificate it is stated that James was born in Ireland. These family stories have turned out to be just that, made up stories. I believe James either did not know who his true biological parents were or was ashamed of his true parentage. Through DNA matches I have come to find that my 2nd great grandfather was actually born out of wedlock to Susanna Keen 1802-1880 and Ambrose James Mullins , both of Russell County, Virginia. With the ancestry.com DNA "Thru Lines" feature I discovered JAMES' half siblings by his mother Susanna Keen's other children that she also had out of wedlock. All of Susanna's children have her maiden name, Keen. All but James were fathered by Henry Dickenson Aston. Aston even mentions Susanna and her children in his will. They never married as he was already married with a family. I also found James' biological father is Ambrose James Mullins Jr. This is also proved through DNA matches of Ambrose James Mullins' children to JAMES M KEEN. DNA matches show Ambrose James Mullins Jr's children are half siblings to JAMES M KEEN. Ambrose and Susanna never married as he was also married with a family at the time at the time of James' birth.
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