Key Facts

Snapshot:	lived in colonial Virginia; outlived three husbands
Parents:	unknown
Born:	unknown
Died:	between 2 January and 10 February 1662/3 Northumberland County, Virginia
Buried:	unknown

3907Mary ___'s early life is unknown. Her maiden name might have been Thorley, as explained below, although sadly the evidence is not at all conclusive.

Problem: Unresolved Who was 3907Mary's father? Ruth Ritchie's and Sudie Rucker Wood's book Garner-Keene Families of Northern Neck Virginia explains on page 191 (emphasis mine): Thomas Keene married Mary ___, possibly Thorley. The will (Md. Cal. Wills, Vol. I, p. 212) of Edward Thorley of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, dated December 1678, probated February 10, 1678/9, provided: "To my three sons, Edward, John and Samuel, Pascall's Chance in Talbot County to be equally divided . . . should my sons die, the estate to be equally divided among all of my children. To my daughters, personalty. To my Cousin Thomas Keene, personalty." The executor was his wife, Mary, and witnesses were Thomas Kington, Thomas Sheppard and Thomas Williams. Talbot County lies just south of Kent Island and Anne Arundel across Chesapeake Bay from it on the west. Thomas Keene probably married his wife in Maryland as their first son was born on Kent Island in 1642. She may have been a sister of Edward Thorley and her son, Thomas, the cousin he mentioned. Nieces and nephews were called cousins at that time.

Although her origins are unknown, 3907Mary lived in Northumberland County, Virginia for many years; all known records of her come from Northumberland County.

3907Mary married 3906Thomas Keene (We know so because his will mentions her and also mentions his four children—Thomas, 1953Susanna, William, and Matthew1—all of whom 3907Mary subsequently mentions in her own will.2), probably in the early 1640's (since 3906Thomas died in 1652/31, and since they had had four children together).

3907Mary mentioned in her first husband 3907Thomas' will. Full page.1

After 3906Thomas' death, 3907Mary married Henry Raynor, but he soon died, too.3

"Mary Raynor the wi[fe and re]lict of H[en]ry Raynor"
This document proves that 3907Mary married Henry Raynor. Full page.3

On 22 March 1658, 3907Mary signed a document stating that she intended to marry her third husband Thomas Broughton.4 She outlived him, too, and was the administrator of his estate from 6 June 16615 to 21 July 1662.6

"Mary Rayner widow, being of a mind to match my selfe to Mr. Thomas Broughton in the honble Estate of marryage [...]." Full page.4

A patent dated 21 September 1663 notes that she owned 1700 acres that formerly had belonged to (her deceased husbands) Henry Raynor and Thomas Broughton.7

3907Mary's will is dated 2 January 1662/3 and was proved 10 February 1662/3. The record copy is badly damaged, and much of the text is lost. However, one can still read the names of some heirs, including daughter 1953Susanna; and descriptions of 3907Mary's property, including a kettle, two petticoats, various farm animals, "a Chest that stands in the Shed at the end of my Lodgeinge roome," and 870 acres of land "at Yeacomoco." A damaged portion of the will mentions "when I was sick." Elsewhere she makes provision for her sons Thomas and Matthew to be "educated in learning." You can see the will or a transcription.2

Sources Cited:

1: Northumberland County, Virginia. Records book for the years 1652-1658, pages 15b and 16a. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99P6-YH8K?i=18&cat=363009>, accessed 28 July 2021.

2: Northumberland County, Virginia. Records book for the years 1658-1666, page 93A and 93B. You can read a transcription here.

3: ibid., page 19B (the right page of the two shown). FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99P6-YHS5?i=172&cat=363009>, accessed 8 August 2021. You can read a transcription here. Notice the mention of 1953Susanna "Cane" (Keene), which helps to confirm that this record pertains to our Mary.

4: ibid., page 20A (the left page of the two shown). You can read a transcription here.

5: Northumberland County, Virginia. Orders book 1 (1652-1655), page 278 (using the numbers at the bottom of the page). FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4X-4SXX-H?i=147&cat=401620>, accessed 8 August 2021.

6: ibid., page 314. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4X-4S6L-5?i=165&cat=401620>, accessed 9 August 2021.

7: Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Northern Neck Grants and Surveys, Patents book 5 (1661-1666), page 542, entry for Mrs. Mary Broughton. Library of Virginia, <https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01LVA_INST/altrmk/alma990007283440205756>, accessed 8 August 2021.