Nigel Hargreaves
                                                                                                                                                                    34A Haymarket
                                                                                                                                                                    Kensington
                                                                                                                                                                    84A3W2

Dear Dr. Keys,

When we first spoke about researching your genealogy, little did I anticipate the success that I would have during the course of this project.  The initial work conducted by your grandfather, Everel Keys, was of tremendous value.  His work on the genealogy of Samuel Keys made this work much easier from the outset.  Tracing ones roots across the Atlantic to Europe is a  tremendous challenge which is most often unsuccessful.  In this case, I have been tremendously lucky - if it was luck.

Your grandfather found that Samuel Keys was a blacksmith living in Philadelphia in 1791.  He found that George, his father, was also a blacksmith but the information trail on George was vague.  You took the right step to continue the search from the European side.  As I said previously, I have been fortunate in my research on this project.

My first step forward, or backward in time, occurred when I found that there was a record of a passenger named, George Keys, on a ship called the Fairwinds that had departed from Liverpool, England and had arrived in Philadelphia in August 1769.  The boarding records for the Fairwinds in Liverpool indicated that George was a resident of the city of Kent in England and that he was a blacksmith.  I am convinced that this is the same George Keys that your grandfather located.  So, needless to say, I went to Kent to continue my search.  Interestingly enough, I confirmed that George was indeed a blacksmith and that he was a blacksmith in the service of the royal family in Kent - even working and living in the castle of Kent.  This linkage to the royal family was extremely important since detailed records were kept for everyone in the service of the royal family.  Often these records can be traced back for decades- even centuries.  In this case, I could directly trace your lineage back to 1387.

As you may know, a family name usually originates from one of three sources; such as, from a specific location (like "Bridges" or "York"), from an occupation (like "Miller" or "Baker") or a linkage to the father (like "Jack-son").  Your family name seems to originates from a occupation.  Let me explain.  In the middle ages (and before), the security of the city gates and other strategic buildings were critical - just like today.  However, in those days, they did not have all the electronic security devices that we have today.  The actual "keys" to the city gates and the strategic buildings had to be kept by a highly trusted individual.  There seems to be a connection of your family to the City of Kent's Keeper of the "Keys."  Since this role was so critical to the security and operation of the city, the documents I found on your family are very thorough and credible.  I have a high degree of confidence that I traced your family within the the city of Kent and in this role as "Keeper of the Keys" back to the time of the Romans - to the year 980 AD!

By researching records in Kent and also in Rome, apparently there was a Martin of Como, a Commander in the Roman Legion in the region around Kent, that resigned his commission around 980 AD (exact dates are very hard to verify).  It was documented that Martin left the Roman Legion for love - he married a local woman - this was not allowed as a Roman officer.  According to very early records in the city of Kent, he was apparently respected enough by the local people to begin this tradition, and occupation bearing the family name, as the very first Keep of the Keys.  He certainly would have been disciplined and tough enough for the job.  Hence, the foundations of the Keys family name can be traced to a Roman Commander, Martin of Como.

It was tradition in those days for sons to follow their fathers in leadership roles in the Roman Legion.  This tradition, coupled with Rome's records on their Commanders, allowed me to make further progress on your family history.  Martin's father was a Commander in the Roman Legion as well but in France.  Your family was rooted in France for many generations with each of your ancestors holding prominent roles in the Roman army - even in positions of weapons development in an area around Lyon, France.

The family was first mentioned as being in France when a General was transferred to France from Jerusalem in the year 58 AD.  This General named. Arsenius, was responsible for the Rules and Ordinance Command (at least this is the best translation I can make of it).  He was apparently a young man at the time of his transfer - somewhere between 25 and 30 years old.  His father was named Theodius and Theodius was the Commander of the Rules and Ordinance Command in Jerusalem.  Theodius was a brutal and ruthless man that was feared by his superiors.  It is important for you to note that Theodius hold this position in Jerusalem from 25 to 57 AD.

To provide a little clarification, the Rules and Ordinance Command was responsible for the policing of cities and for generally enforcing the laws.  This Command was composed of highly trained soldiers - like our special forces today.  They were also responsible for carrying out the orders of the courts and the rulers.  Please note that your ancestor, Theodius, as Commander of the Rules and Ordinance Command, was in the direct service of Pontius Pilot.  As the Commander of the Rules and Ordinance Command, your ancestor most likely carried out the order to crucify Jesus.  He gave the order to have him whipped.  He made him carry the cross through the streets of Jerusalem.  And, he had him nailed to the cross.  Given the political tensions of the day, it is very likely that Theodius was present during all of these events and he was probably present as Jesus hung on the cross and died.

I apologize but I am going to deviate from the genealogical report.  I was raised in a Christian home but I drifted away from God and any faith in my teenage and adult years.  It's not that I didn't believe in a God but I never seemed to have the time (or so I said) to have God and church as a part of my life.  Besides, it was so boring.  I don't see it as boring anymore.  I thank you for involving me in the search.  This search has made me think and it has shaken me - all in a positive way.  I have changed my image of Jesus away from a figure in stained glass windows to a vision of him as a real person.  He was surrounded by real people - like your family

I don't know if you are a believer or if this study will have any impact on your life but it become absolutely clear to me that God uses common people to accomplish his will - just like your ancestors.  We know that Jesus was taken down from the cross and buried.  It stirs my heart more than anything I have told you thus far to think that your ancestor, Theodius, was most likely present when Jesus arose from the grave on that glorious third day.  I wonder what Theodius thought.  I wonder if this changed his life in any way.  I wonder if there is any connection of the transfer of his son, Arsenius, to France shortly after these events.  Of course, there is no way to answer any of these questions unfortunately.

I cannot thank you enough for involving me in this project.  I am determined to be a person that God uses - just like God has used your family.


Your Friend in Christ,

Nigel Hargreaves