Monday December 8th 1856

In open Court, upon motion of F.J. Wheaton Esq
the Court took a recess for the purpose of holding
a meeting of the members of the bar to pay the last
tribute of respect to the memory of Joseph B. Coker
Esq one of our their number, who deceased since the
last term of this Court
  His Honor Judge Forward presiding, was called
to the Chair and George A. Dewson Esqr requested to
act as Secretary:  The Honorable Chairman in a
few eloquent and touching remarks announced
the object of the Meeting, Whereupon on motion of
F.J. Wheaton Esq a Committee of three was appoint-
ted to draft and present resolutions expressive of the
feelings of the members of the Eastern Bar upon the
deceased of their Brother Coker, the Honorable Chairman
announced the names of F.J. Wheaton, C.A.M. Mitchell
& S. St. George Rogers Esquires as that Committee.
  These gentlemen retired and prepared
the following Report, which was presented to the
meeting by the Chairman, prefaced with a
few eloquent remarks upon the life and character
of the deceased
  Whereas the Bar of East Florida, since
our last meeting upon the Circuit has been visited by
the King of terrors, who with his unrelenting grasp
has seized and taken from our midst one who was
highly respected by his brethren for his Courtesy
and affability, thereby verifying the language of
the Poet that
    "Death loves a shining mark"
And Whereas, it becomes us at all times to pay the
tribute of respect to the worthy dead -
  Therefore be it resolved, that in the loss
of Joseph B. Coker a worthy member of our Bar
we have lost a friend, a Brother and a member
who bid fair to attain to eminence in his pro=
fession
  Resolved that we tender to his widow our Sym=
pathies for his loss and extend the hope that
"He who tempereth the wind to the Shorn lamb"
may support her during the days of her mourn-
ing, and eventually reunite her to her lost com-
panion, in a land that Knows no Sorrows, Knows
no woe,