A Whole Lotta Family - Person Sheet
A Whole Lotta Family - Person Sheet
Spouses
Birth1640, Salem, Essex Co, Massachusetts Bay Colony, BCA1
Death16 Oct 1705, Bridgewater, Plymouth Co, Province of Massachusetts Bay, BCA1 Age: 65
BurialOld Graveyard, Bridgewater, Plymouth Co, Massachusetts
FatherDeacon Samuel Edson I (1613-1692)
MotherSuesanah Bickley (1619-1699)
Notes for Rev James Keith
was the first settler in North Parish
Ordained as Pastor of the first church in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Mass.
1
Through the good offices of the Rev. Increase Mather in 1662, the town was informed of the availability as pastor of the Rev. James Keith, age 18, a student of Divinity, who had been educated at Aber deen, Scotland, and had recently arrived in Boston. Accordingly, a call was extended to him and he accepted. He was duly installed as pastor of the church on Feb. 18, 1664, and was given the parsonage and the lots on which it was built, and an annual salary of 40 pounds, half to be paid in Boston in money, and half in the town. In 1667, thirty cords of wood were voted as an increase in his salary. And, as previously voted, he was also given one share as a Proprietor of the town. With this share given to the Rev. James Keith, together with the one given, perhaps at about the same time, to Deacon Samuel Edson, it made 56 shares in all for the several Proprietors of the town.55
After several years of increasing discontent on the part of the Indians, it became evident in 1675 that war likely was imminent, and on Feb. 28, 1675, the Colonial Council of War, meeting at Marshfield, appointed William Brett, Samuel Edson and John Willis, Sr., as the Council of War for the Town of Bridgewater. The house of the Rev. James Keith was one of those made into a "garrison house" for defense against pos sible Indian attack. Many towns were destroyed or greatly dam aged. In various skirmishes or forays a number of houses in Bridgewater were burned. All three of Deacon Samuel Edson's sons — Samuel, Josiah and Joseph -- participated in the fighting. King Philip was killed on Aug. 12, 1676, and the fight ing soon stopped. His wife and son were captured. At the urging of the Rev. Keith, the boy's life was spared, and he and his mother were sent to the Bahamas.55
Rev. James Keith was the first minister In Bridgewater; ws educated at Aberdeen in Scotland ; came over to Boston In 1682 at about eighteen years of age and was ordained February, 1664, when he was about twenty-one years of age. His marriage with Susannah Edson took place probably soon after the ordination at which tiime she was about twenty-six years old, five or sIx years older than her husband. She died October 16, 1703, aged sixty-five years. His death occurred (by the record upon his grave stone) July 23d, 1719, aged seventy-six years , and it is stated upon the same stone that he “labored in the ministry in this town 56 years.” He outlived her nearly sixteen years.
His first sermon In Bridgewater it is said was delivered from ______ in Mill pasture, so called, near the river. This must have been in the year 1663, so that the settlement must have been nearly or quite thirteen years without a minister.658
Ordained as Pastor of the first church in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Mass.
1
Through the good offices of the Rev. Increase Mather in 1662, the town was informed of the availability as pastor of the Rev. James Keith, age 18, a student of Divinity, who had been educated at Aber deen, Scotland, and had recently arrived in Boston. Accordingly, a call was extended to him and he accepted. He was duly installed as pastor of the church on Feb. 18, 1664, and was given the parsonage and the lots on which it was built, and an annual salary of 40 pounds, half to be paid in Boston in money, and half in the town. In 1667, thirty cords of wood were voted as an increase in his salary. And, as previously voted, he was also given one share as a Proprietor of the town. With this share given to the Rev. James Keith, together with the one given, perhaps at about the same time, to Deacon Samuel Edson, it made 56 shares in all for the several Proprietors of the town.55
After several years of increasing discontent on the part of the Indians, it became evident in 1675 that war likely was imminent, and on Feb. 28, 1675, the Colonial Council of War, meeting at Marshfield, appointed William Brett, Samuel Edson and John Willis, Sr., as the Council of War for the Town of Bridgewater. The house of the Rev. James Keith was one of those made into a "garrison house" for defense against pos sible Indian attack. Many towns were destroyed or greatly dam aged. In various skirmishes or forays a number of houses in Bridgewater were burned. All three of Deacon Samuel Edson's sons — Samuel, Josiah and Joseph -- participated in the fighting. King Philip was killed on Aug. 12, 1676, and the fight ing soon stopped. His wife and son were captured. At the urging of the Rev. Keith, the boy's life was spared, and he and his mother were sent to the Bahamas.55
Rev. James Keith was the first minister In Bridgewater; ws educated at Aberdeen in Scotland ; came over to Boston In 1682 at about eighteen years of age and was ordained February, 1664, when he was about twenty-one years of age. His marriage with Susannah Edson took place probably soon after the ordination at which tiime she was about twenty-six years old, five or sIx years older than her husband. She died October 16, 1703, aged sixty-five years. His death occurred (by the record upon his grave stone) July 23d, 1719, aged seventy-six years , and it is stated upon the same stone that he “labored in the ministry in this town 56 years.” He outlived her nearly sixteen years.
His first sermon In Bridgewater it is said was delivered from ______ in Mill pasture, so called, near the river. This must have been in the year 1663, so that the settlement must have been nearly or quite thirteen years without a minister.658
Notes for Rev James Keith
Born in Keith, Scotland in 1643, James completed divinity studies at Marshall College, Aberdeen University (founded by the Keiths of Scotland in 1593). A visitor to the University library today can see the record, maintained in Latin, for the enrollment of Jacobus Keith. His parentage, has never been determined. James came to Boston in 1662 as a young divinity student of nineteen years. He met Increase Mather, who recommended him to the people of the young town of Bridgewater, one of the Plymouth group of towns. Bridgewater was founded June 3, 1656. Although ground had been set aside for the church, there was no building and no church had been organized. Rev. Keith preached his first sermon on the text “Behold I cannot speak for I am a child." (Jerrmiah 1:16) Pulpit Rock, from which he preached before the church was built, is protected in the park in Bridgewater. (Photo at https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth-oai:qr46r2893) He was accepted as their first permanent pastor, ordained in 1664, and served until his death in 1719, at the age of 76.
"Temperance became a favorite subject for his sermons, and he was a strong disciplinarian. His daughter was once charged with giving a drink of cider to an Indian and she was brought before the congregation and her father charged her with having 'debauched an Indian.' Later Mary eloped with Ephriam Howard, who was not acceptable as a son-in-law to Rev. Keith, so the text of his next sermon was 'Ephriam is joined to his idols. Let him alone' (Hosea 4:17). After a reconciliation with the Howards, Rev. Keith's text was 'Is Ephriam my dear son? Is he a pleasant child? For since I spoke against him I do earnestly remember him still.' (Jeremiah 31:20)
Source for this paragraph: http://www.ponderroses.com/SteveJohnsonFamily/ps01/ps01_099.htm
Rev. Keith could be merciful and just and was liberal in his treatment of Indians. By population, the Massachusetts Indian war was one of the bloodiest and most costly in American history, more than half of New England's ninety towns being assaulted by Native American warriors. Remarkably, Bridgewater was spared. After the death of King Phillip, the chief leading the war, Rev. Keith stood in opposition to the other ministers and colonists who wanted the chief's wife and child put to death. He wrote that children should not be put to death for the sins of their fathers, or fathers for the sins of their children. Although most thought that they were sold into slavery in the West Indies, it is believed that Rev. Keith hid them on Martha's Vineyard and sent them incognito to Canada.
He married Susanna Edson, daughter of one of the elders, in 1668. They had nine children. After she died in 1705, James remarried two years later to Mary, widow of Thomas Williams of Taunton, and may have had three children from this marriage.
He died after a lengthy illness in the home. The is interesting information about his burial tomb on the YouTube video (attached in sources), beginning at 21:08. The James Keith Parsonage home is now a state historical site.
See Mitchell's history of the early settlement of Bridgewater for many anecdotes of Reverend James Keith.
Additional information in Notes labeled "History" at bottom of page. 659
"Temperance became a favorite subject for his sermons, and he was a strong disciplinarian. His daughter was once charged with giving a drink of cider to an Indian and she was brought before the congregation and her father charged her with having 'debauched an Indian.' Later Mary eloped with Ephriam Howard, who was not acceptable as a son-in-law to Rev. Keith, so the text of his next sermon was 'Ephriam is joined to his idols. Let him alone' (Hosea 4:17). After a reconciliation with the Howards, Rev. Keith's text was 'Is Ephriam my dear son? Is he a pleasant child? For since I spoke against him I do earnestly remember him still.' (Jeremiah 31:20)
Source for this paragraph: http://www.ponderroses.com/SteveJohnsonFamily/ps01/ps01_099.htm
Rev. Keith could be merciful and just and was liberal in his treatment of Indians. By population, the Massachusetts Indian war was one of the bloodiest and most costly in American history, more than half of New England's ninety towns being assaulted by Native American warriors. Remarkably, Bridgewater was spared. After the death of King Phillip, the chief leading the war, Rev. Keith stood in opposition to the other ministers and colonists who wanted the chief's wife and child put to death. He wrote that children should not be put to death for the sins of their fathers, or fathers for the sins of their children. Although most thought that they were sold into slavery in the West Indies, it is believed that Rev. Keith hid them on Martha's Vineyard and sent them incognito to Canada.
He married Susanna Edson, daughter of one of the elders, in 1668. They had nine children. After she died in 1705, James remarried two years later to Mary, widow of Thomas Williams of Taunton, and may have had three children from this marriage.
He died after a lengthy illness in the home. The is interesting information about his burial tomb on the YouTube video (attached in sources), beginning at 21:08. The James Keith Parsonage home is now a state historical site.
See Mitchell's history of the early settlement of Bridgewater for many anecdotes of Reverend James Keith.
Additional information in Notes labeled "History" at bottom of page. 659