A BRIEF HISTORY
by
Sister Angela Keefe
August, 1980

I really feel honored to have been chosen to give a brief history of the Keefe Clan. I guess I was chosen because I am the oldest living member. I cannot lie about my age since Sister Marion published it in the family calendar.

In 1767 certain favorites of the Crown of England were given tracts of land in the newly conquered country of Canada. Lot 27 was given to a Colonel Searle and Mr. Spence. It was not until 1835 that the first settlers came to Lot 27 from the South of Ireland. Among these were my great grandfather John Keefe (1806-1888) and his wife Margaret Dawson (1817-1873).

The land was divided into 100 acre farms. The terms of these farms were for the first two years free then for the next twenty years six pence per acre per year and after 999 years a shilling an acre. The first settlers would have the preference over all newcomers to buy the land.

There was an old Loyalist settlement in Bedeque and the Irish could easily obtain employment and be paid for their work in young cattle, pigs, grain seed and the like.

Joseph Pope who was the agent for the Englishmen suggested that the Irish be given land to build a church. His proposal was met with scorn but he prevailed saying that if they had a church it would make them more God fearing people, better citizens and also teach them to pay their rent more conscientiously. They got the land to build the church and the timber to build it. That was in 1847. Before that Mass was celebrated in Breenan's house then Somers and as the congregation grew in Keefe's barn.

In 1872 under the Land Purchase Act the estates were bought by the Government of P.E.I. and resold to the early tenants.

John Keefe and Margaret Dawson had at least five children.

My grandparents, Patrick and Ellen had four children: Margaret, Albina, Adelaide and John.