Draft:Anna Keyes Knowlton
She was one of the first—successful—independent women (feme sole/woman alone) in Connecticut!
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anna Keyes (September 1, 1743 – May 22, 1808) was a figure of revolutionary-era in Ashford, Connecticut, and the wife of Colonel Thomas Knowlton, commander of the elite Knowlton's Rangers.[1] She is one of the most successful independent women in early Connecticut history, documented for her decades of leadership in managing the 400-acre Knowlton estate.[2][3][4]
Mrs. Anna Keyes | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 1, 1743 |
| Died | May 22, 1808 (aged 64) Ashford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Natural causes Old age |
| Resting place | Snow Cemetery, Ashford, Connecticut |
| Other names | Anna Keyes Knowlton
Anna Keys Anna Key Anna Kay Ana Knotton Annah Keyes Anna Knoulton |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Era | Revolutionary Era |
| Known for | Matriarch of the Knowlton family Spouse of Thomas Knowlton |
| Title | Consort of Col. Knowlton |
| Spouse | Thomas Knowlton (m. 1759-1776) |
| Children | Fredrick Knowlton (1760–1841)
Salley Knowlton (1763–1852) Thomas Knowlton (1765–1858) Polly Knowlton (1767–1845) Abigail Knowlton (1768–1843) Sampson Knowlton (1770–1777) Anna Knowlton (1st) (1771–1772) Anna Knowlton (2nd) (1773–1817) Lucinda Knowlton (1776–1805 ) |
| Parent | Sampson Keyes Abigail Brooks |
| Family | John Keyes (b. 1744) |
| Signature | |
 | |
Comment: This needs to be written in a much more neutral, encyclopedic voice by a human being. The tone here is akin to an advertisement. A lot of detail here is going well into the WP:NOR territory. What is required is a straightforward summary of secondary sources, using primary sources only to back up straightforward facts. There are also two sections of legacy, which is unnecessary. ChrysGalley (talk) 14:59, 28 February 2026 (UTC)
- Comment: Familysearch is not a reliable source, and cannot be used. There are also errors in the references, which have to be fixed (see the red error messages in the references section). bonadea contributions talk 16:44, 7 February 2026 (UTC)
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Early Life
Anna Keyes was born on September 1, 1743, in Ashford, Connecticut, British America, to Sampson Keyes and Abigail Brooks.
She was the first-born of twelve children. She was born into a middle class family in money and land. This is evident by her father's will where she and all her living sibling got $150 and her sister, Olive, got $300 and Mary got $330. Sampson also gave James Keyes $150 and a mare, saddle, and bridle. Sampson Keyes Jr. got "his full potion of lands," and if Abigail, his widow, did not live to "open" what was willed to her, then her share would have been divided between Mary Keyes and Olive. This shows what family she was the first child of the Keyes family.
Several of her siblings were born into the family home, including John Keyes (b. 1744), who would later serve with her future husband.[5]
Marriage during the French and Indian War
On April 5, 1759, fifteen-year-old Anna Keyes married eighteen-year-old Thomas Knowlton in Ashford, Connecticut.[6] Thomas continued to fight in the French and Indian War.
During his first year of service after their marriage, Anna gave birth to their first son, Frederick Knowlton, on December 4, 1760.[7]
Thomas continued to rise through the ranks before his promotion to lieutenant in 1762. His final campaign during this war was the British expedition against Cuba and the Siege of Havana in 1762, from which he returned home by August of that year.[7] These years showed Anna's early role in managing the household independently while her husband was in military campaigns.
Life from 1763–1775
Social and Political Rise
After the French and Indian War, the Knowltons established themselves as a leading family in Ashford. Thomas was elected as a town selectman in 1773 at the unusually young age of 33.[8]
Growth of the Household
During these 12 years, Anna bore seven of her nine children. Following their eldest, Fredrick (b. 1760), the household grew to include:
- Salley (1763–1852)
- Thomas (1765–1858)
- Polly (1767–1845)
- Abigail (1768–1843)
- Sampson (1770–1777)
- Anna (1771–1772)
- Anna (1773–1817)
Marriage during the American Revolution
The "Plow and Musket" Myth
When the news of th Battle of Lexington reached Ashford in April 1775, Thomas was in the field plowing. As soon as he heard, he got on a horse and rode off to war.[8] This story shows what Anna faced: her husband left for the Siege of Boston, leaving her in charge of the 400-acre farm, its lifestock, the crops, and their seven children.
In 1776, the hard work of Anna sixteen-year-old Fredrick joined the Continental Army to serve with his father.[8] In 1775 and 1776, Thomas was noticed by George Washington and became the commander of Knowlton's Rangers. By 1776, she was pregnant with her ninth child, Lucinda.
Death of Knowlton
The Knowlton family’s life changed on September 16, 1776, when Thomas Knowlton was killed at the Battle of Harlem Heights.[10] At the time of her husband's death, Anna was many months pregnant with their ninth child, while their oldest son, sixteen-year-old Fredrick, was sent home by George Washington.[7][11]
The death of Thomas, Anna was left as the head of the 400-acre Ashford estate and the primary caretaker for their eight children the Revolutionary War.
Widowhood
As a widow, Anna immediately got full legal and financial responsibility for her husband’s estate. She appeared before the Pomfret District Probate Court on November 5th, 1776 to enter her administratrix bond. This was 5 days before she gave birth to her youngest child, Lucinda Knowlton.[12][13]
She also got all of his possessions which included two cows and a small shoat. There is no mention of there being slaves in the inventory so this feeds into the belief of Thomas and Anna being against slavery. Also, there is no documents or papers that prove she got slaves even after her death which means she used paid labor or took care of the farm by herself and with her children.
From 1776 through 1778, Anna is documented repeatedly settling debts, rates, and book accounts. Surviving receipts show her paying balances due to people like William Tiffany and Mary Bender.[14][15]
She also handled his lost items, including giving Isaac Perkins money for a gun taken at the Lexington Alarm and used at Cambridge, which had never been returned.[16]
Her youngest son, Sampson Knowlton, died in 1777, a fact recorded in the Ashford vital records.[17]
On January 9th 1779, Anna fought for guardianship over her daughters Anna and Lucinda Knowlton.
On August 21 1801, her mother, Abigail Brooks, passed.
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On February 16th, 1805, Lucinda Knowlton passed. She was not married and had no children at the time of ther death.
On March 14th, 1805, Sampson Keyes, her father, passed.
Death
Anna Keyes died silently on her farm in Ashford, Connecticut, on May 22, 1808, at the age of 64 or 65.[18] Her death is recorded in the Ashford vital registers and it suggests that she died of natural causes typical for her age.[19][20]
(The paper says: "Anna Knowlton wife of Col Thomas Knowlton decd Departed this life May 2d 1808 --- ( 32 ) Thos Knowlton & Ann Keyes Joined in As written first and scratched out this city scratched out")
Importance and Legacy
Anna Keyes is historically significant as a documented example of female economic agency in the early American Republic. Following her husband's death in 1776, she went from a legal status of coverture to that of a feme sole ("woman alone"), granting her full legal and property rights under Connecticut law.[21]
Her legacy is defined by her stewardship of the Knowlton family property and possessions during the Revolutionary War. By personally settling debts of her husband, she made sure that the Colonel's legacy was not affected debt.[22]
Some people say that Anna may have been one of the first women to vote because as a feme solo, it was legal at the time.
Anna's final resting place in Snow Cemetery (Westford Hill) in Ashford and it serves as a local landmark. Her headstone, which describes her as the "Amiable consort of Col. Thomas Knowlton," says:
"This monument is erected in memory of Col. Thomas Knowlton & his wife. The Brave Col. in Defence of his country fell in Battle Sept. 16th 1776 at Harlem Heights Island of new York. AE 36 years.
Mrs Anna, the Amiable consort of Col. Knowlton died May 22nd 1808, AE 64, and is buried beneath this monument.
Remember friends God did us part,
Receive it with a thankful heart." [23]
It is unknown if she requested to have this on her headstone or not.
Notes/References
Further reading
- The History and Genealogy of the Knowltons of England and America at the Internet Archive
- Memoir of Col. Thomas Knowlton: of Ashford, Conn. (PDF) via the Babcock Library
All External links
- Anna Keyes Knowlton at Find a Grave
- The History and Genealogy of the Knowltons of England and America at the Internet Archive
- Memoir of Col. Thomas Knowlton: of Ashford, Conn. (PDF) via the Babcock Library