William Keen
Encyclopedia
William Keen was a sheep merchant in St. John's
who became the first resident judicial officer in the British colony of Newfoundland.
, Province of Massachusetts Bay
; little is known about his life in Boston. In 1704, he moved to St. John's, Newfoundland to act as an agent for New England
merchants operating in the area. He eventually became a trader himself and he became a wealthy and significant property owner in St John’s, Harbour Grace
, and Greenspond
.
From 1699 to 1729, Newfoundland courts consisted solely of "fishing Admirals" who travelled to the island from England during the summers with the fishing fleets. Persons who committed capital offences were required to travel to England for trial, and no judicial officers were present in Newfoundland during the winters. By 1720, this situation had led to a high crime rate in St. John's and the British government appointed Keen as the first "winter" justice of the peace
who would conduct judicial business while the fishing Admirals were away.
In practice, Governor Henry Osborn
allowed Keen and the other justices of the peace who were appointed to hear cases year round. There were many disputes between the justices of the peace and the fishing Admirals, and Keen became the leader of a movement to officially establish a permanent judiciary in Newfoundland. He was a close advisor to many of the governors of Newfoundland, most of whose tenure lasted only a few years. In 1750, the British government decided that justices of the peace in St John’s could sit in judgment as "commissioners" over all cases except treason, although they could only do so if the governor was present in Newfoundland. Keen was the first such commissioner to be appointed.
On 9 September 1754, Keen was attacked in his bed at his summer home when he awoke during a burglary
. He was beaten with a scythe
and the butt of a musket
and died of his injuries in St. John nearly three weeks later. Eight men and one woman, Eleanor Power
, were convicted of his murder before the court that Keen had presided over; four, including Power, were executed for the crime.
Keen's son, William, inherited his property and his position as commissioner. William Keen, Jr. moved to England in 1760, but the Keen family retained property in St. John's and Harbour Grace until 1839.
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
who became the first resident judicial officer in the British colony of Newfoundland.
Biography
Keen was an English resident of BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Province of Massachusetts Bay
Province of Massachusetts Bay
The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a crown colony in North America. It was chartered on October 7, 1691 by William and Mary, the joint monarchs of the kingdoms of England and Scotland...
; little is known about his life in Boston. In 1704, he moved to St. John's, Newfoundland to act as an agent for New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
merchants operating in the area. He eventually became a trader himself and he became a wealthy and significant property owner in St John’s, Harbour Grace
Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador
Harbour Grace is a town in Conception Bay on the Avalon Peninsula in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. With roots dating back to the sixteenth century, it is one of the oldest towns in North America. It is located about 45 km northwest of the provincial capital, St. John's...
, and Greenspond
Greenspond, Newfoundland and Labrador
Greenspond is one of the communities that comprise an area on the northeast coast of the Island of Newfoundland, called Bonavista North. These communities have a shared history in that they were settled by people from England, predominantly from the West Country - Dorset, Devon, Somerset and...
.
From 1699 to 1729, Newfoundland courts consisted solely of "fishing Admirals" who travelled to the island from England during the summers with the fishing fleets. Persons who committed capital offences were required to travel to England for trial, and no judicial officers were present in Newfoundland during the winters. By 1720, this situation had led to a high crime rate in St. John's and the British government appointed Keen as the first "winter" justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
who would conduct judicial business while the fishing Admirals were away.
In practice, Governor Henry Osborn
Henry Osborn (governor)
Admiral Henry Osborn was a British naval officer who served as Commodore Governor of Newfoundland. He was a younger son of Sir John Osborn, 2nd Baronet.-Naval career:...
allowed Keen and the other justices of the peace who were appointed to hear cases year round. There were many disputes between the justices of the peace and the fishing Admirals, and Keen became the leader of a movement to officially establish a permanent judiciary in Newfoundland. He was a close advisor to many of the governors of Newfoundland, most of whose tenure lasted only a few years. In 1750, the British government decided that justices of the peace in St John’s could sit in judgment as "commissioners" over all cases except treason, although they could only do so if the governor was present in Newfoundland. Keen was the first such commissioner to be appointed.
On 9 September 1754, Keen was attacked in his bed at his summer home when he awoke during a burglary
Burglary
Burglary is a crime, the essence of which is illicit entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offense. Usually that offense will be theft, but most jurisdictions specify others which fall within the ambit of burglary...
. He was beaten with a scythe
Scythe
A scythe is an agricultural hand tool for mowing grass, or reaping crops. It was largely replaced by horse-drawn and then tractor machinery, but is still used in some areas of Europe and Asia. The Grim Reaper is often depicted carrying or wielding a scythe...
and the butt of a musket
Musket
A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smooth bore long gun, fired from the shoulder. Muskets were designed for use by infantry. A soldier armed with a musket had the designation musketman or musketeer....
and died of his injuries in St. John nearly three weeks later. Eight men and one woman, Eleanor Power
Eleanor Power
Eleanor Power was the first English woman to be executed in what is today Canada. Power was hanged for the murder of William Keen, a justice of the peace in St. John's, Newfoundland.-The crime:...
, were convicted of his murder before the court that Keen had presided over; four, including Power, were executed for the crime.
Keen's son, William, inherited his property and his position as commissioner. William Keen, Jr. moved to England in 1760, but the Keen family retained property in St. John's and Harbour Grace until 1839.