By Elias Jones 

Early English history, the origin of the name with variant spellings, reference to some distinguished Keene families in England, noted royal ancestors, and the early American history.  Richard Keene, Lord of St. Richard's Manor, was an early settler in Colonial Maryland. He came to America in the company of  his two brothers, Henry and Edward in 1653. They had great personal wealth. He held no public office as his brothers did, though he was a person of high influence. He became a close personal friend of the Governor of Maryland, Charles Calvert. He became a large landowner, his grants from Lord Baltimore amounting to over 10,000 acres, variously located. A resident of Calvert County he owned estates on both side of the Patuxent river. We see his will and inventory of estate.  

(343p., Illus, Index, 1923)