Rev. James Robinson Keys1,2

b. 24 February 1817, d. 8 April 1886
FatherSamuel Keys3
MotherFrances Gentry3
Birth24 Feb 1817 Rev. James Robinson Keys was born on 24 Feb 1817 in Rutherford County, Tennessee.4,5 
Marriage31 Aug 1843 He married first Mary Buchanan Edmondson, daughter of Andrew Edmondson and Martha "Patsy" Edmiston, on 31 Aug 1843.4,6 
Cens-185021 Aug 1850 James and Mary lived in Johnson County, Tennessee, where James taught school. He also owned real estate valued at $3,000. James and Mary's 3 children: William, Martha and Andrew were recorded with them on the 1850 census, as was James's mother, Frances, and John Keys, 23. Several students were also living in their home.7 
Cens-186012 Jun 1860  Mary died in 1851. James remained in Johnson County where he was recorded teaching school and living in Taylorsville [later Mountain City] in 1860. His real estate was valued at $4,800. James's mother was still present, no doubt helping raise his two surviving children.8 
  The exact number (and dates of birth and death) of James and Mary's children is not clear [see below]. 
  As the Civil War approached James found himself at odds with his Johnson County neighbors, most of whom supported the Union cause (Johnson County voted 787 to 111 against secession). James crossed the border back in to Virginia. 
Marriage2 Oct 1861 He married second Martha Moore Horne, daughter of Henry Horne and Martha "Patsy" Edmondson, on 2 Oct 1861 in Washington County, Virginia.3 
  Martha was the first cousin of James's first wife (Martha's mother and Mary's father were siblings). 
  James and Martha remained in Washington County where James established the Liberty Hall Academy at his own expense and served as its first principal [for years a portrait of him hung at the school]. James's daughter Martha (from his first marriage) served as an assistant teacher for several years. In 1878 James retired and the property was purchased by representatives of the Presbyterian Church. Although not strictly a church school, Liberty Hall became well known as the institute of choice for future ministers of the Presbyterian faith. Following James's retirement his son-in-law, Rev. Thomas Hughes, took over as principal. He had married James's daughter Martha in 1872.9,10,11,12 
Cens-18805 Jun 1880 Six years before his death James and Martha were enumerated living in the in Holston district of the county. James listed himself as a farmer. The couple's son Samuel had died in 1874, but their 4 younger sons all helped on the farm.13 
  Two of the boys, David and Bascom, died 6 years later. 
  Besides being an educator James was also a minister. He performed marriages in Johnson County Tennessee and a few in Washington County, Virginia, including the marriage of his daughter Martha to Thomas Hughes.10,14 
Death8 Apr 1886 James died on 8 Apr 1886 at age 69.4 
Burial He was buried in Rock Spring Cemetery, Washington County, Virginia, according to a descendant, although no marker indicates the spot.15 

Research Comment:

George Keys, a descendant of the Rev. James Keys, reported in a 1994 letter to another Keys researcher that he had information from the Bible of James Keys listing a fifth child for James and his first wife, Mary Edmondson. George stated that there was no record that the 5th child was named and that he or she died in 1851, as did Mary. Since James and Mary's 4th child (John) was reported to have been born in May 1850, and Mary died in Feb. 1851 (only 7-8 months later), one wonders if she was pregnant at the time of her death, or perhaps died following the birth of a premature child. It is also possible information for John is not accurate.1

Related Links and Images:

This structure was built abt 30 years after Rev. Keys death; it was the second building to bear the name Liberty Hall School. It closed about 1981 and has fallen into a sorry state of disrepair. For photos of the earlier building see the Scrapbook-Group Photos page
James and Mary Keys data; author unknown4
Other interments in Rock Spring Cemetery

Family 1

Mary Buchanan Edmondson b. 10 Apr 1823, d. 2 Feb 1851
Children

Family 2

Martha Moore Horne b. abt 1834
Children
Last Edited23 Jul 2011

Citations

  1. [S1288] Letter, George Keys to Bob ____, May 18, 1994.
  2. [S681] Martha Keys, "Andrew Edmondson Keys" family group sheet. Martha provides the middle name.
  3. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 198. Record abstracted as: James Keys, 44y, wid, b. Rutherford Co., TN, resid WCV, teacher, s/o Samuel & Frances Keys AND Martha Horne, 27y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o Henry & Martha Horne; marr 2 Oct. 1861 by Joseph Hasken.
  4. [S2551] James and Mary Keys, undated family data; original document held by Martha Keys (Abingdon, Virginia).
  5. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 198. James Keys, 44, wid, b. Rutherford Co., TN, res WCV, teacher, s/o Samuel & Frances Keys AND Martha Horne, 27, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o Henry & Martha Horne; marr 2 Oct. 1861 by Joseph Hasken.
  6. [S1344] Notification re the estate of Jean Buchanan, dec'd, The Journal Virginian, Oct. 11, 1962.
  7. [S1283] James Keys household, 1850 U.S. cens, Johnson Co., Tennessee, pop. sched., District No. 2, p. 7 (stamped), dwelling 16, family 16, viewed online at Ancestry.com, June 2005, image 3 of 12. Enumeration includes: James Keys, 33, school teacher, owns real estate: $3,000, b. TN; Mary B., 27, b. VA; William H.S., 5; Martha E., 3; Andrew E., 1, all b. VA; Frances Keys (f), 56, b. NC; John Keys, 23, student, b. VA; Andrew Cole, 23, student, b. VA; John W. Cole 20, student, b. VA.
  8. [S1285] James Keys household, 1860 U.S. cens, Johnson Co., Tennessee, pop. sched., Taylorsville, p. 14b (stamped), dwelling 173, family 78, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2005, image 4 of 4. Enumeration includes: James Keys, 43, teacher, real estate: $4,800, pers. prop $800, b. TN; Martha E. 13, b. VA; Andrew E., 11, b. VA; Frances, 66, b. NC; Hardy M. ____, 21, Methodist Clergyman, b. NC.
  9. [S23] "Liberty Hall School" in Families of Washington Co. and Bristol, VA, 42. Source for article cited as Washington County News, 16 April 1981, Big Farewell Party For Famed Old School - Washington Co. News, 10 Nov. 1965.
  10. [S622] Martha Keys, "Questions," e-mail to Diana Powell, 25 Jul 2005.
  11. [S1703] Memoir - Obituary of Mrs. Pattie E. Hughes, undated & unidentified newspaper clipping.
  12. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 12. From the writings of Rachel Smyth Scott.
  13. [S165] James Keys household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Holston District, ED 100, page 245A (stamped), dwelling 75, family 75, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, Jul 2005, image 9 of 54. Enumeration includes: James Keys, 63, farmer, b. TN, father b. VA, mother b. NC; Martha M. [?], 46, b. VA, parents b. VA; David H. 16, son; Robert W., 14, son; James K. 12, son; Bascon H., 10, son; all sons listed as farm laborers; all listed as b. VA, father b. TN, mother b. VA.
  14. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 174. Transcription reads: Thomas White Hughes, 40y, sgl, b. state of Missouri, res. Washington Co., VA, school teacher, s/o James & Nancy Hughes AND Martha E. Keys, 25y, sgl, b. Tennessee, res WCV, d/o James Keys; marr 22 May 1872 by James Keys.
  15. [S1286] Dr. Howard Vance Jones, "John Edmondson's Will," e-mail to D. Powell, July 5, 2005. Dr. Jones cites George Keys, a descendant of Mary Edmondson and James Keys.
  16. [S1288] Letter, George Keys to Bob ____, May 18, 1994. George cites the bible of James Keys as his source.