The Keenans of Adjala Township

In the first half of the 1820s John, James, Dennis and William Keenan all immigrated to Canada and settled in  Simcoe county, Ontario just west of Toronto. We know by various documents that John and James were brothers and it seems likely that Dennis and William were either brothers or cousins, but that is not proven.

James Keenan Land Petition 1824-1825

• John 1773 Aghaloo, Tyrone, Ireland - Aug 1866 Adjala, Ontario, Canada. John is our direct ancestor. Read about him in Keenans to Adjala. 

• James  1776 Aghaloo, Tyrone, Ireland - Jan 1859 Adjala, Ontario, Canada.  He married Margaret Fox before 1802 in Ireland. James settled in Adjala in 1824 with his wife and four children.

• Ann 1802-1879 m. Frank Morrow and had 10 children
• Mary abt 1803-1838 m. Patrick Feheley and had children. Patrick died in 1841 and children named in his probate are Elizabeth, Thomas and James. 
• Robert 1805-1896 married Mary Ahern  (Robert Keenan, the first settler in Keenansville, which perpetuates his name, was the representative for the Cardwell District from 1846 to 1857. From 1858 we find the names of Patrick Tracey, J.T. Connor, Thomas Langley, Thomas Kidd, P.D. Kelly, Peter Small, G.P. Hughes, and Matt Ronan. In 1880, the year of publication of the Atlas, John Kelly and Joseph Wright were Reeve and Deputy Reeve.  (Sunday, August 3, 2008  Pioneer History Pioneer Times An excerpt from South Adjala 1825-1965, by George Keogh, Nobleton Press, 1965.)   
• Margaret 1842-1855
• James 1843 - 1904 married Agnes Bill and they had 7 known children
• Eleanor 1845 m James Morrow and they had six known children
• John 1847-1928 
• Mary 1848 m Thomas Casserly Morrow and they had eight known children
• Anne 1852-1870 
• Sarah Camilla 1853-1941 M James Casserly Hart and they had eleven known children
• Robert 1855-1936
• Thomas m three times and had one known child.

• Dennis received a military land grant in 1831. He had been in the 68th regiment of foot in Ireland. 1813-28  serving in Ireland, Ionian Islands during Greek War of Independence and Canada.  This Denis settled in Esquesing Township in Halton County.  No information has been found to prove a connection

• William (Keenan/Keeran) obtained land in Albion in 1823.  His land petition states he has 3 sons and two daughters.