Keeter, James (1788)

James Keeter served in the American Revolution and was mentioned in a December 31, 1830, affidavit by Isaac Wickham and Nathan Pocknet. The affidavit was in support of the heirs of Mashpee veterans, Job Tobias, Jabez Jolly, Jacob Keeter, Isaac Swift, Simon Popmonet, and James Keeter in their efforts to obtain some pension or bounty funds from the United States government. All except James Keeter had died prior to the establishment of the Revolutionary War Pension Records and Bounty Land Warrants Act in 1818.

After his return from the war, James Keeter was a signatory, along with 31 others, on July 30, 1788 Mashpee petition highlighting the deficiencies in the recently passed Act limiting their autonomy.  He was also involved in the more concerted efforts to remove Gideon Hawley from his religious and governmental positions at Mashpee. This is evidenced by his signature on petitions to that effect in 1792 and 1795. 

Revolutionary War Pensions, Massachusetts, Isaac Wickham, Fold3; Petition of the Mashpee Indians to the Massachusetts General Court, 1788.07.30.00; Petition of Elijah Pocknet and Other Mashpee Indians to the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; 1792.01.14.00; Petition of Sarah Mye and Other Mashpee Indians to the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1792.05.28.00; Petition and Remonstrance of Ebenezer Queppish and Other Mashpee Indians to the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1795.05.20.00.