William M. Keele (1781 - 1861)

Born 17 Jan 1781 in Tennessee, Southwest Territory, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Jemima Ann Moreland — married about 1799 in Rutherford, Tennessee, United States

Descendants

Died 17 Feb 1861 at age 80 in Rutherford, Tennessee, United States

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Biography

William Keele, the son of Richard Keele and Lydia Richmond, was born 17 January 1781 and he passed away on 17 February 1861 according to the picture of his tombstone.^[1] In 1781, Tennesse was known as the Western District of North Carolina before statehood in 1796.

As stated in the Minutes of the Garrison Fork Baptist Church, "Received Brother William Keele by letter also Brother Richard Keele by letter, also Sister Roda Keele and Sister Jemmima Keele by letter." The top of the page where the above statements are found bears the date of 26 August 1809.^[2] Note: The church is located in Bedford County, Tennessee which was created in 1807 from Rutherford County, Tennessee.

In the 1850 US Federal Census, the family is shown living in the Second Civil District of Coffee County, Tennessee. Listed are William Keele age 79 a Baptist Clergyman with a $4000.00 value on real estate owned and he is from Tennessee. His wife Anna age 51 from North Carolina and the following children: Rhoda age 25, Jacob age 25, William age 21, Henry age two and Jemima age one month. All the children are shown as being from Tennessee.^[3]

As published in the Memphis Eagle and Enquirer" on 3 August 1856, "AN AGED PREACHER. On the fifth Sabbeth in August, 1806, the Rev. William Keele, a Minister, of the Baptist Church, stood upon a rock below Norman's Mills, in this state, and preached his first sermon. On the last day of August of the present year, the day being the fifth Sunday, this faithful old Minister will stand, so says an exchange, on the same rock, and will preach from the same text that he did fifty years ago. We wonder how many who heard this now venerable man preach his sermon in 1806 will be present to hear him on this occassion?"^[4]

Heading, "Rev. William Keele Sen. departed this life" "Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord) 1861. February the 17th. He was a faithful Christian, and Pious Minister of the Gospel; which he preached for near Sixty years. But after yielding up a life of usefullness to his Country and to the Cause of Christ he left the world in the triumphs of a living faith and he received a Crown of Righteousness in the Kingdom of his Heavenly Father."^[5]

Research Notes

Transcribed from the minutes of the Garrison Fork Baptist Church as I read through them in order to facilitate further research. I do not know which family groups these people belong to, just trying to post them as I find them. The link to the minutes is listed below in the Sources. These minutes do not list births, marriages and deaths. Those named are listed because they were received into membership of the church by recommendation of letter from their previous church, baptism or experience as a Christian, and any disciplinary action taken against any member. I am sure there are many Keele women listed here by their married names but I do not know those names at present. This is just a few of the names I was able to decipher. Please feel free to make any corrections or additions. Jackie Younge

Sister Elizabeth Keele called for a letter of dismission which was granted. May 1860. Image #150 of #441. (Appears members needed 'a letter of dismission' in order to join another church of the same faith and beliefs).

Received Brother Jacob Keele by Letter - Received Margaret Keele xxxxx by Letter (This statement regarding Margaret was marked through). Oct 1860, Image #152of #441.

Saturday before the 4th Lord's Day in December 1858...One against Brother Richard J. Keele for Intemperance (a lack of moderation, especially habitual or excessive drinking of intoxicants, Merriam-Webster Dictionary) found guilty of said charge and upon motion of Brother George D Stevenson, the church excludes him from the church and declares that he is nome (no more?) a member of this church. Image #142 of #441.

Also, in this film, the signature of Rev. William Keele is spelled just like this. I did not find anywhere the use of the intial M. or any other middle name.

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75865726/william-m-keele: accessed 06 December 2022), memorial page for Rev William M Keele (17 Jan 1781–17 Feb 1861), Find A Grave: Memorial #75865726, citing Keele Cemetery, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA; Maintained by Barbra Keele-Barnes Lloyd (contributor 47668971)
2. ↑ Minutes of Meetings and Lists of Members , 1809 - 1933, Garrison Fork Baptist Church, Beachgrove, Tennessee. Publication, Nashville, Tennessee, Historical Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, 1969. FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS5W-1WZR-F
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (FamilySearch Record: MCDH-28F FamilySearch Image: S3HY-6PZZ-VYW : 23 December 2020), William Keele, Coffee, Tennessee, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
4. ↑ News Article, MEMPHIS EAGLE AND ENQUIRER, Sunday, Aug 03, 1856, Memphis, TN, Page: 3. www.genealogybank.com, Copyright 2014 by the American Antiquarian Society and NewsBank, inc. All Rights Reserved. Subscription Required.
5. ↑ Minutes of Meetings and Lists of Members , 1809 - 1933, Garrison Fork Baptist Church, Beachgrove, Tennessee. Publication, Nashville, Tennessee, Historical Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, 1969. FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS5W-1WZ6-9 Image #439 of #441.