Keith of Scotland and Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts
Rev. James Keith [a] b 1642, Aberdeen, Scotland, d 23 Jul 1719, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA. He md Susanna Edson 3 May 1668, Taunton, Plymouth, MA, daughter of Deac. Samuel Edson and Susanna (Orcutt?).
Children of James Keith and Susanna Edson were:
  • James Keith b 5 Dec 1669, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, d 21 Oct 1739, Mendon, Worcester, MA; md Mary Hodges 3 Sep 1695, Mendon, Worcester, MA.
  • Samuel Keith b 20 Dec 1673, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, d 3 Feb 1749/50, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; md Bethia Fobes 20 Jan 1702/03, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA.
  • Joseph Keith b 14 Feb 1674/75.
  • John Keith b 4 Oct 1676, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, d 11 Jun 1761, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; md Hannah Washburn 18 Apr 1711, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA.
  • Josiah Keith b 25 Dec 1678, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; md Mary Lathrop 6 Jan 1702/03, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA.
  • Mary Keith b abt 1680; md Ephraim Howard.
  • Timothy Keith b 1683, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, d 8 Nov 1767; md Hannah Fobes 1 Feb 1709/10, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA.
  • Margaret Keith b 2 Nov 1682; md Joseph Hunt.
  • Susanna Keith b 10 Mar 1686/87; md Jonathan Howard.
Joseph Keith b 14 Feb 1674/75, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, d 27 Sep 1730, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA. He md Elizabeth Fobes abt 1694, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, daughter of Deac. Edward Fobes and Elizabeth Howard.
Children of Joseph Keith and Elizabeth Fobes were:
  • Anna Keith b 19 Apr 1695, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA. d 31 Dec 1776, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; md Capt. Ebenezer Alden 16 Apr 1717, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA.
  • Susannah Keith b 6 Mar 1696/97, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, d bef 1719, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; md Jonathan Cary 11 Dec 1717, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA.
  • Joseph Keith b 1 Jan 1698/99, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, d 27 Jun 1778, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; md Susannah Field 1721, prob Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA.
  • Jemima Keith b 11 Nov 1701, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, d 8 Dec 1765, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; md James Packard 7 Jun 1722, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA.
  • Eleazer Keith b 11 Jan 1702/03, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, d 1794, Easton, Bristol, MA; md Keziah Kingman 9 Jun 1726, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA.
  • Abigail Keith b 20 May 1705, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, d 17 Aug 1779, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; md Robert Howard 28 Apr 1725, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA,
  • Ephraim Keith b 21 Mar 1706/07.
  • Ichabod Keith b 14 Mar 1708/09, prob Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA.
  • Martha Keith b 14 Jun 1711, prob Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; md Constant Southworth 1734.
  • Mary Keith b 12 Oct 1713, prob Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA.
  • Elizabeth Keith b 23 Apr 1715, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, d 2 Nov 1776, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; md Samuel Lathrop 3 Apr 1734, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA.

Ephraim Keith b 21 Mar 1706/07, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, d 25 Feb 1781, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA. He md Sarah Washburn 21 Sep 1732, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, daughter of Israel Washburn and Waitstill Sumner.
Children of Ephraim Keith and Sarah Washburn were:

  • Marsylvia Keith b 7 May 1735, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, d 1822, Monson, Hampshire, MA; md Benjamin Walker 8 Dec 1752, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA.
  • Philibert Keith b 30 Jul 1737, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA.
  • Ephraim Keith b 26 Aug 1739, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA.
  • Ichabod Keith b 3 Jan 1741/42, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA.
  • Timothy Keith b 3 Mar 1743/44, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA.
  • William Keith b 5 Jun 1746, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; md Eunice Leach 11 Feb 1767, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA.
  • Solomon Keith b 26 Mar 1748.
  • Sarah Keith b 18 Jul 1753, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, d 16 Mar 1815, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; md Dr. Eleazer Carver 18 Apr 1776, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA.

Solomon Keith b 26 Mar 1748, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA. He md Lois Cary 6 Mar 1777, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, daughter of Jonathan Cary and Lois Hooper.
Known children of Solomon Keith and Lois Cary were:

  • Clarissa Keith; md Unknown Pratt.
  • Christiana Keith; md George Washburn.
  • Solomon Keith; md Lucinda Keith 26 Apr 1807.
  • Lois C. Keith b 28 Nov 1787.

Lois C. Keith b 28 Nov 1787, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, d 1858, Newport, RI. She md Consider Scott 2 Jan 1824, son of James Scott and Sarah.

NOTES:
a. Born in Scotland in 1643, and educated at Aberdeen, he arrived in Boston, aged 18, in 1662. He was introduced to the church in Bridgewater by Rev. Increase Mather, where he was, early on, described in church records as a "student of divinity having some competent time improved his gifts amongst them, in the work of the ministry and having also due approbation, by the testimony of the Reverend Elders of other churches of Christ to whom he was known". He was the first settled minister of Bridgewater in 1664, when he was granted "a double house lot of 12 acres with a house built thereon, 40 pounds annual salary, 20 pounds in Boston money, and the other half at home". It is said that he preached his first sermon standing on a rock in the "mill pasture" near the river. He was a neighbor of Deacon Samuel Edson, and they were obviously close acquaintances, Rev. Keith marrying a daughter of Samuel Edson, and also standing as a witness to his will. The inscription upon his monument in the Old Graveyard at Bridgewater reads "here lies the body of the Rev. James Keith, died July 23, 1719, aged 76 years...here lies the body of Mrs. Susanna Keith, died Oct 16 1705, aged 65 years...Mr. James Keith, First Minister in Bridgewater, educated in Aberdeen, Scotland, and labored in the ministry in this town 56 years". He and Susanna had nine children who survived to adulthood and married.
SOURCES:
GL: Early New England Settlers, The Colonial Clergy and Churches of New England, p 120; ibid, Guide to the Early Settlers of America, p 299; Sharpe Family Records, by Elizabeth E. Jones, 1940, pp 161-162; SG.
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