Description

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In 1931, Julian C. Lane published a book on the history of the Key Family titled "Key and Allied Families." Her work has been considered to be the basis for many Key Family Histories since that time. However, she had many inaccurate family connections. One is led to believe that all of the Key families of the early colonial times were related. Such, however, is not true. She also tends to link the Moses Key Family in Pennsylvania and the family of Frances Scott Key as all being related to the Keys of Colonial Virginia. Present day DNA testing of the Male Y - Chromosome has proven that these three families are not even remotely related. Julian C. Lane simply compiled family histories that were sent to her and in some cases she mistakenly linked some together. However, considering that she did not have the present day tools of research and the computer, she did the best that she could do. I was able to find valuable information about my family line through her book. I must say that I would have had a hard time find who my Chesterfield County, South Carolina ancestors were if it had not been for Julian C. Lane. This work, "Reunited --- The Famous Key Family of Colonial Virginia" will deal only with the descendants of John Key who arrived in 1668. There will be another book at a later date that will include the other Key Families. This is a four volume set with the index being in volume four. Eighteen hundred plus pages is simply too many pages for even a two volume set. One needs to obtain all four volumes in order to have the complete genealogy. Let me say also that John Key of 1668 has well more than 250,000 descendants today. It is then impossible to list them all. The value of this work and of any other genealogy is not just being able to find your name listed. As you work your way back in your ancestors however, you will likely find how your Key Family links to the Keys of Virginia. That will be the real value of this genealogy.