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1830-1840
Fort Crawford, W.T.
William R. Keepers, Alabama
Note: The remains of Fort Crawford, Western Territory, sit on the bank of the Mississippi River adjacent to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.
William Keepers first enlisted in the army on October 20, 1830. He stated his age as 20, with hazle eyes, black hair, a dark complexion and stood 5 ft. 8½ in. tall. He enlisted in New York, 4th Infantry with the remark that he was a labourer from Alabama. He was discharged Oct. 20, 1835 (Expiration of service), at Baton Rouge, LA. William re-enlisted in 1835 and was discharged in 1842 due to a disability. The last notation on his record is “P. O. June 29, 1852.” William was born about 1810 in Alabama.[1]
It seems clear that the last notation on his service record means: “pensioned off, June 29, 1852.” A list of U.S. Pensioners, 1843-1856 shows that William received his pension in Missouri.[2]
The following is from the December 28, 1840 court martial of William R. Keepers: Fort Crawford, Dec. 28, 1840
The Court met pursuant to the foregoing order present: Capt. Hove, 5th Inf., Lieut. Steen, 1st Dragoons, Lt. Ruggles, Lt. Fowler, Lt. Brooke, [all] 5th Inf., Lt. Dias (sp?), Spec’l Judge Advocate.
The Court having been sworn in presence of the prisoner, who was previously asked if he objected to any of the numbers named in the order, and replying in the negative, proceeded to the trial of private W. R. Keepers, of B Co., 5th Infy, who was arraigned on the following charges and specifications proffered against him by Capt. A. S. Hove, 5th Inf.
Charge 1st: Absent without leave.
Spec.: In this that W. R. Keepers, a private of B Co. 5th Infy was absent without permission on or about the 24th of Nov. 1840, he being a member of the guard; this at Fort Crawford, W. T.
Charge 2nd: Disobedience of orders.
Spec.: In this that private W. R. Keepers of B Co. 5th Infy did have in his possession, spirituous liquor, in violation of garrison orders. This at Fort Crawford, W. T.
To which Charges and Specifications the prisoner pleaded Guilty.
Sergt. Schopper (sp?), a witness for the prosecution, being duly sworn says - The prisoner was a member of the guard at the time specd , and in the evening was absent from the Guard House about 15 or 20 minutes. I sent the Corporal of the Guard for him, who brought him in; I found in his possession a flask filled with what I supposed to be whiskey. I sent it to the officer of the day without opening it.
Capt. Hove, a witness for the prosecution being duly sworn says – The Corporal of the guard brought me a flask at the time specd containing whiskey, said to have been taken from the prisoner Keepers. I was officer of the day at the time.
The evidence on the part of the prosecution here closed, and the prisoner having no witness to bring and no defense to make, the Court proceeded to award its Finding and Sentence.
The Court, after mature deliberation on the testimony addressed, confirmed the plea of the prisoner W. R. Keepers and do sentence him to hard labour for the span of three months with a ball and chain attached to his leg, and to a stoppage of his pay for the same length of time.
signed: Gro. Dins (sp?) 2nd Lt. & Spec’l. Judge Advocate Also signed by: A. J. Hove, Capt. 5th Infy, President
Recommendations
In consequences of the past services of the prisoner, and the length of his present confinement, the Court respectfully recommends a remission of that part of the previous sentence, which confines him at hard labour.[3]
Signed: A. J. Hove, E. Steen, D. Ruggles, I. S.(?) Fowler, and Robt. L. Brooke – each gave their rank and company.
[Transcriber’s note: I understand that the “remission” involves only the ball and chain, and that Private Keepers served three months at hard labor.]
Genealogical Connection
Birth records have not verified the Alabama connection to this genealogy, but some sort of connection is supported by two separate facts:
1. There is a considerable gap in information concerning Group 17, The Carolinas. This family does not appear in the 1810 census in any state, when searched using HeritageQuestOnline. William and Catherine (Sifford) Keepers were married in 1800 in North Carolina and migrated to Missouri, arriving before 1820. Perhaps the family spent some time in Alabama while traveling west.
2. The 1870 census, Bastrop, Bastrop County, Texas, lists a black woman, Julia Keepers with five children, John, age 10, the eldest. Julia states that she was born in Alabama.[4] All the children are born in Texas. The Keepers surname is strong evidence that she probably had been a slave of some Keepers who lived in Alabama.
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