Keith, Rev. James

Other Events:

• Residence: 28 Jul 1702, Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts Colony

Notes:

First Reverend in Bridgewater

For nearly a hundred and sixty years, till 1822, the people went to town-meetings in what is now West Bridgewater, the old centre of the town; and for fifty years they attended Sunday services at the same
place, till 1716, when this southern part of the town was organized as the South Parish for church and school purposes, and a meeting-house was built near the site of the present First Parish, or Unitarian,
church, the Rev. James Keith preaching the dedication sermon, August 14, 17I7 The house was forty-three feet by thirty-eight, without tower or belfry. A low partition up the centre separated the men and women, who sat on very rude benches; and the deacons sat in front of the pulpit, facing the people. August I8, the First Church in this parish, of more than fifty members, was organized• Benjamin Alien was immediately engaged to preach and on July g, 1718, was formally settled. He probably lived in the Edson-Lazell house, now occupied by Miss Clara Washburn, or certainly very near this site. After thirteen years he was released by a council in I730, and was afterward settled in Maine, dying there in 1764 Source::The Bridgewater Book

Property owners:
"To These fity-four were added Samuel Edson, the first miller, who came from Salem, and Rev James Keith, the first minister and Edson's son-in-law, educated at Aberdeen, and installed at
Bridgewater 1664 at the age of 21. "

According to Jarvis Edson: Born in Scotland, educated at Aberdeen and at the age of 18 emigrated to this country, arriving in Boston in 1662, and introduced to the church in Bridgeweater by Dr. Increase Mather.

James married Edson, Susanna on 3 May 1668 in Lincoln, Middlesex, MA. Susanna (daughter of Edson, Deacon Samuel and Bickley, Susanna) was born in 1640 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, USA; died on 16 Oct 1705 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Old Churchyard, Bridgewater, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Keith, Mary was born about 1668 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA; died on 16 Feb 1760 in W Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA.
2. Keith, James was born on 5 Dec 1669 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA.
3. Keith, Susanna was born about 1675 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA; died about 1689 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA.
4. Keith, Josiah was born about 1675 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA.
5. Keith, Margaret was born about 1675 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA.
6. Keith, Samuel was born in 1677 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA; died on 3 Feb 1759 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA.
7. Keith, Joseph was born on 14 Feb 1675.
8. Keith, Timothy was born in 1683 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA; died on 8 Nov 1767 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA.
9. Keith, Ensign John was born in 1688 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA; died on 11 Jun 1761 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA.

James married Williams, Mary in 1709. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Robert married (Keith), Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]