Ancestry of Joel Kinney
Born 1768 Hartford

Somewhere around the year 1900, a great-grandson of Joel Kinney hired a professional genealogist to learn more of his Kinney roots. This "professional" spoke of a Kinney ancestor who was a lady-in-waiting in the English court and of the first "Kinneys" to America, Joel and Timothy Kinney who came to Hartford in 1660 after fighting bravely alongside Oliver Cromwell. Then are described many generations of Joel Kinneys of Hartford, CT.
One problem: After many years of searching, not one record or hint of a record of any of these individuals described in the early generations can be found. Not one will, land record, call to military service, birth, baptism, marriage, death, burial, etc. can be found. For all records of this man people living in 17th Century New England to vanish is unbelievable. My theory is that the genealogist returned a fradulent report

The family bible of Joel Kinney's grandson, circa 1870 has a "Family Record" section where in a very old hand on the first line describes Joel Kinney born 1768 the shoemaker. The information likely came from his father Sylvanus Kinney, who lived until 1897. It lists his brothers and sisters with some information about them. Eventually, searching original records led me the the family of Richard Keeney, who had a son Joel Keeney of Hartford, CT. The family of our Joel Kinney and this Joel "Keeney" are so similar in so many aspects that it is overwhelming evidence that this Joel Kinney and Joel Keeney are most likely one in the same. See below chart for comparison. Sister Huldah

Joel KEENEY	Joel KINNEY	Notes
Baptized Feb 17, 1768 Outside Hartford Town in "Five Mile" Tract	Born 1768 Near Hartford
Brother Richard born July 22,1765/67	Brother Richard born 1766
Brother David	Brother David
Brother Stephen	Brother Stephen
Brother Russell	Brother Russell
Not mentioned	Huldah died young; when Sylvanus Kinney was only one year old. Huldah is mentioned in her father's will written 1809, being left $250
His brother Richard fought in the Revolutionary War as a child	His Brother Richard fought in the Rev. War as a child
Brother Richard had the following children: -Richard, Jr. -Delana -Anson -John W. -Delight -Porter -Peggy	Brother Richard had the following children: -Richard, Jr. -Delina -Anson -Wesley -Delight	This family was methodist, and "John Wesley" would have been a likely name in this family. The omission of Porter and Peggy from the "Joel Kinney" records perhaps strengthen the case. They were the two children who died young, both before Sylvanus Kinney was born.

The family bible goes on to list Joel's other siblings of which no record of them has survived; they probably died young, as no children are known or listed in family sources: Chloe, Delight (2), Timothy, Amos. Another brother of Joel, George is listed as having two daughters Ruth and Delight, but there are no records showing a George as a brother of Joel Keeney.