**NOTE** There is also a cenotaph for Rev. Keith located at Scotland Cemetery in West Bridgewater. PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST TO MERGE THESE MEMORIALS. When there are two different stones in two different cemeteries, there should be two separate memorials. Thank you.
Rev. Keith was educated at Marischal College in Aberdeen, Scotland at the age of 15 in 1657. He immigrated from Scotland in 1661 or 1662 and was introduced to the town of Bridgewater (now known as West Bridgewater) in 1664 by his friend, Rev. Increase Mather. He became the town's first permanent minister, and stayed there in the ministry until his death in 1719, when he was 76. Despite many claims of his lineage by modern researchers, there is no known existing proof of his parentage, and there are no known images of him.
He married Susanna Edson, daughter of Deacon Samuel Edson and his wife, Susanna, on 03 May 1668. She died 16 Oct 1705. He married the widow, Mary (Macy) Williams in 1706. She outlived him; her date of death and burial location are unknown.
The Rev. and his wife, Susanna, were the parents of at least 9 children: James Jr., Susanna, Mary E., Joseph, Samuel, Josiah, Margaret, Timothy, and John. Susanna married Maj. Jonathan Howard, Mary married Lt. Ephraim Howard, and Margaret married Joseph Hunt.
The tomb's inscription is engraved onto two different pieces of slate, one stacked atop the the other at the head of the tomb. Both pieces are approximately 22"x15" in size. The monument is topped with a slab of granite that is approximately 3'8"x6'3" and 5" thick. The entire tomb is approximately 2'6" tall and is close to the road. It is said to have been originally erected by a mason named William Hudson and was rebuilt using granite from Quincy by the Reverend's great-grandson, Simeon Keith, in 1827. The original tomb was constructed of broken field stone in the same manner as the neighboring Edson tomb.
James' home still stands on its original location in the town now known as West Bridgewater. It is owned by the Old Bridgewater Historical Society and operated as a colonial home museum. It is open to the public Spring through Fall for tours.
Rev. Keith was educated at Marischal College in Aberdeen, Scotland at the age of 15 in 1657. He immigrated from Scotland in 1661 or 1662 and was introduced to the town of Bridgewater (now known as West Bridgewater) in 1664 by his friend, Rev. Increase Mather. He became the town's first permanent minister, and stayed there in the ministry until his death in 1719, when he was 76. Despite many claims of his lineage by modern researchers, there is no known existing proof of his parentage, and there are no known images of him.
He married Susanna Edson, daughter of Deacon Samuel Edson and his wife, Susanna, on 03 May 1668. She died 16 Oct 1705. He married the widow, Mary (Macy) Williams in 1706. She outlived him; her date of death and burial location are unknown.
The Rev. and his wife, Susanna, were the parents of at least 9 children: James Jr., Susanna, Mary E., Joseph, Samuel, Josiah, Margaret, Timothy, and John. Susanna married Maj. Jonathan Howard, Mary married Lt. Ephraim Howard, and Margaret married Joseph Hunt.
The tomb's inscription is engraved onto two different pieces of slate, one stacked atop the the other at the head of the tomb. Both pieces are approximately 22"x15" in size. The monument is topped with a slab of granite that is approximately 3'8"x6'3" and 5" thick. The entire tomb is approximately 2'6" tall and is close to the road. It is said to have been originally erected by a mason named William Hudson and was rebuilt using granite from Quincy by the Reverend's great-grandson, Simeon Keith, in 1827. The original tomb was constructed of broken field stone in the same manner as the neighboring Edson tomb.
James' home still stands on its original location in the town now known as West Bridgewater. It is owned by the Old Bridgewater Historical Society and operated as a colonial home museum. It is open to the public Spring through Fall for tours.
**NOTE** There is also a cenotaph for Rev. Keith located at Scotland Cemetery in West Bridgewater. PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST TO MERGE THESE MEMORIALS. When there are two different stones in two different cemeteries, there should be two separate memorials. Thank you.
Rev. Keith was educated at Marischal College in Aberdeen, Scotland at the age of 15 in 1657. He immigrated from Scotland in 1661 or 1662 and was introduced to the town of Bridgewater (now known as West Bridgewater) in 1664 by his friend, Rev. Increase Mather. He became the town's first permanent minister, and stayed there in the ministry until his death in 1719, when he was 76. Despite many claims of his lineage by modern researchers, there is no known existing proof of his parentage, and there are no known images of him.
He married Susanna Edson, daughter of Deacon Samuel Edson and his wife, Susanna, on 03 May 1668. She died 16 Oct 1705. He married the widow, Mary (Macy) Williams in 1706. She outlived him; her date of death and burial location are unknown.
The Rev. and his wife, Susanna, were the parents of at least 9 children: James Jr., Susanna, Mary E., Joseph, Samuel, Josiah, Margaret, Timothy, and John. Susanna married Maj. Jonathan Howard, Mary married Lt. Ephraim Howard, and Margaret married Joseph Hunt.
The tomb's inscription is engraved onto two different pieces of slate, one stacked atop the the other at the head of the tomb. Both pieces are approximately 22"x15" in size. The monument is topped with a slab of granite that is approximately 3'8"x6'3" and 5" thick. The entire tomb is approximately 2'6" tall and is close to the road. It is said to have been originally erected by a mason named William Hudson and was rebuilt using granite from Quincy by the Reverend's great-grandson, Simeon Keith, in 1827. The original tomb was constructed of broken field stone in the same manner as the neighboring Edson tomb.
James' home still stands on its original location in the town now known as West Bridgewater. It is owned by the Old Bridgewater Historical Society and operated as a colonial home museum. It is open to the public Spring through Fall for tours.
Rev. Keith was educated at Marischal College in Aberdeen, Scotland at the age of 15 in 1657. He immigrated from Scotland in 1661 or 1662 and was introduced to the town of Bridgewater (now known as West Bridgewater) in 1664 by his friend, Rev. Increase Mather. He became the town's first permanent minister, and stayed there in the ministry until his death in 1719, when he was 76. Despite many claims of his lineage by modern researchers, there is no known existing proof of his parentage, and there are no known images of him.
He married Susanna Edson, daughter of Deacon Samuel Edson and his wife, Susanna, on 03 May 1668. She died 16 Oct 1705. He married the widow, Mary (Macy) Williams in 1706. She outlived him; her date of death and burial location are unknown.
The Rev. and his wife, Susanna, were the parents of at least 9 children: James Jr., Susanna, Mary E., Joseph, Samuel, Josiah, Margaret, Timothy, and John. Susanna married Maj. Jonathan Howard, Mary married Lt. Ephraim Howard, and Margaret married Joseph Hunt.
The tomb's inscription is engraved onto two different pieces of slate, one stacked atop the the other at the head of the tomb. Both pieces are approximately 22"x15" in size. The monument is topped with a slab of granite that is approximately 3'8"x6'3" and 5" thick. The entire tomb is approximately 2'6" tall and is close to the road. It is said to have been originally erected by a mason named William Hudson and was rebuilt using granite from Quincy by the Reverend's great-grandson, Simeon Keith, in 1827. The original tomb was constructed of broken field stone in the same manner as the neighboring Edson tomb.
James' home still stands on its original location in the town now known as West Bridgewater. It is owned by the Old Bridgewater Historical Society and operated as a colonial home museum. It is open to the public Spring through Fall for tours.
Inscription
Here lies the
Body of the Rev.
Mr. James Keith
Died July 23, 1719.
Aged 76 yrs.
Mr. JAMES KEITH
First minister in Bridgewater, born
and educated in Aberdeen, Scotland,
and labored in the Ministry in this
town 56 years.
