Crew

Paymaster William Frederick Keeler

William Frederick Keeler was a successful merchant from Illinois who served as paymaster on the USS Monitor. It was his first assignment as a naval paymaster and he remained there throughout the ship’s short life. After the Monitor sank, he tried to settle all of the accounts. The captain was so impressed with his faithfulness that he

William Keeler. Photo Credit: Courtesy of The Mariners’ Museum

requested Keeler to come with him as his paymaster on his next command of the USS Florida.

While on the Monitor, Keeler wrote regular letters to his wife Anna during the war in which he detailed all aspects of his life aboard the Monitor and recorded his personal views and insights into daily life on the ship. He wrote in great detail both before and immediately after the historic battle of Hampton Roads. These letters helped to give invaluable insights into what it was like being on ironclad ships during that period, and are considered an excellent primary source of information on the Monitor.