| New Portage council
finds an elder guilty of oppressing a sister by taking her property by
going to court. |
| Date |
|
November 18, 1835 |
|
Kirtland council |
| Location |
|
New
Portage, Ohio. |
|
|
| Description |
|
A council of High Priests & Elders
of the Church of Latter Day Saints … |
|
|
| Presiding |
|
Ambrose Palmer |
|
|
| Clerk |
|
Joseph B. Bosworth |
|
|
| High priests |
|
Ambrose Palmer
J. B. Bosworth
Thomas Gordon |
|
|
|
| Elders |
|
Salmon Warner
William Fry
Jeremiah
Moley
Anthony Cooper
John McLay
Michael B. Welton
Julius Black |
|
|
| Members |
|
… and some private members. |
|
|
| Purpose |
|
Ambrose Palmer: purpose of council is to try
"a difficulty between brother Joseph [sic] Keeler and sister Clarissa Matthews." |
|
Joseph: Reuben (see below)
Joseph
Keeler (1787–1868), "born
at Ridgefield, Fairfield County, Connecticut. Married Olive Brite, 1811.
Joined the Latter-day Saints, and lived in Kirtland, Ohio for a time,
but evidently left the Church around 1835. Living in Valparaiso, Porter
County, Indiana, in 1850. Died in Marshall County, Iowa." Papers,
561. |
| Charge against Reuben
Keeler |
|
Clarissa Matthews charges Elder Reuben Keeler
with: |
|
Original: Reuban |
| |
|
prosecuting in a court of Law and taking their
property on execution: Notwithstanding that he had received his pay or
the most part of it, and refusing to allow them for what they had paid
to him, also forfeiting his word … that he would not take their property
in such a manner, and also for oppressing her family in an unchristian
like manner. |
|
|
| Reuben denies charges |
|
Reuben Keeler pleads not guilty. |
|
|
| Council action |
|
The council after hearing the testimony and
patiently investigating the case, found him guilty of the first and last
charges, and made their decision as follows. |
|
|
Reuben found guilty
Penalties
|
|
That brother Keeler discharge a judgement and
cost of about fifteen dollars which he obtained against David Matthews,
before John C. Stearns, a justice of the peace at New Portage, and relinquish
the property now under execution and also that he, said Keeler, should
stay the proceedings on another Judgement of about three dollars or so,
for a short space of time, that said Matthews could pay it short of knowing
his property sold on execution. |
|
|
| Reuben appeals to
Kirtland high council |
|
To this decision Brother Keeler refused to
comply, and said that he would appeal it to the high council at Kirtland.
To whom we address these minutes. |
|
|
| |
|
Minutes of November 22, 1835
Minutes of November 12, 1835
Ohio Minutes
|