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Reverand James Keith
His home The site of his first sermon His church His burial site
All photos taken by Terry Keith, October 1999
The Rev. James Keith house is situated in
the heart of Old Bridgewater, the first Interior settlement in the Old
Colony. The town itself was purchased from the Indian Sachem Ousamequin,
later known as Massassoit, in 1649 by Capt. Miles Standish,
Samuel
Nash and Constant Southworth. The cost of the area, which is 14 miles wide
by 14 miles long, was 7 coats, 9 hatchets, 8 hoes, 20 knives, 4 moose skins and
10 1/2 yards of cotton. The first settlers were very religious and almost
immediately enlisted the services of Increase Mather to find a suitable resident
minister. He arranged for a young man named James Keith of Aberdeen
Scotland, then 18 years old, to come to Bridgewater for the post. The settlers
built this house for him in 1662 and when he was ordained on Feb. 28, 1664 it
was waiting for James to take full title and possession of it. The
original house was a half salt box which was enlarged in 1678, making it a
double fronted two story house. It was remodeled in 1837 but then reverted
to its original layout by the Old Bridgewater Historical Society in 1961.
At the time of King Philip's War of 1675-1678 the settlement was attacked
several times by the Indians and the parsonage was also used as a garrison house
by a town vote in 1675. At the close of the war Rev. Keith took King
Philip's wife, Woolonekamuske and son into his home for protection until such
time as they departed to Bermuda. After the death of Rev. James the house
remained in Keith hands until 1723. After changing owners about five
times, it was graciously donated to the Old Bridgewater Historical Society in
1961 by Howard and Jessie Anderson. The following possessions were noted
to be in the house at the time of Rev. James death:
Apparel.........................................................27
pounds 13s.
In the new chamber, 1 feather
bed, case
of drawers, chairs, tables and looking glass....28 pounds 16s.
To things in new lower room, 1
feather bed
with its furniture, 2 tables, table-cloth,
napkins, chairs and wheels............................17 pounds 5s. 6d.
To the west room, 1 bed, bedding
with
chairs and chest............................................13 pounds 15s.
To the old chamber, to
lumber......................3 pounds 7s. 6d.
To
the things in the kitchen, of pewter, iron
and brass vessels, with tables and chairs.......12 pounds 19s.
To quick stock.............................................21 pounds
To hay, six loads..........................................10 pounds
To library books..........................................30 pounds
To money......................................................2 pounds 15s.
Total..........................................................167 pounds 11s.
Majority of information obtained from the Old Bridgewater Historical Society.
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