Reverend James Keith Parsonage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Reverend James Keith Parsonage |
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Reverend James Keith Parsonage
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Colonial Saltbox |
| Town or city | 199 River Street West Bridgewater, Massachusetts 02379 |
| Country | United States |
| Construction started | 1662 |
| Completed | 1664 |
| Client | Proprietors of the Town of Bridgewater, MA |
| Management | Old Bridgewater Historical Society |
The Reverend James Keith Parsonage, also known as the Keith House, is a very old house from the 1600s. It was built for a minister and is now owned by the Old Bridgewater Historical Society (OBHS) in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts. You can find it at 199 River Street. Many people believe it is the oldest house built for a minister that is still standing in the United States.
Building a Home for the Minister
The town records from Bridgewater show that on December 28, 1661, the town decided to build a house. This house was meant for a minister. They agreed to give the house and land to the minister who would live and work among them for life.
It's likely that construction on the house started in the spring of 1662. However, the records also show that the house wasn't fully finished until 1664. This was after a young student named James Keith agreed to become the town's minister.
Who Lived in the Keith House?
Over many years, several families owned and lived in the Reverend James Keith Parsonage. Each owner played a part in the house's long history.
Reverend James Keith: The First Resident
James Keith was born in Scotland around 1642 or 1643. He studied at Marischal College in Aberdeen, Scotland. He then moved to Boston, Massachusetts, in late 1661 or early 1662. On June 8, 1664, he became a "freeman" of Plymouth Colony. This meant he had certain rights and responsibilities.
Reverend James Keith left the house to his seven children in his will. This was written on July 13, 1718. He wanted the house to be sold and the money divided among them. His children sold the house on March 18, 1723, to William and Ephraim Fobes, who were brothers. They sold it for 250 pounds. There was one special condition: Reverend Keith's widow, Mary Macy Keith, could stay in the house until she remarried or passed away.
The Fobes Family: A Long Stay
On September 8, 1734, William Fobes sold his share of the house to his brother, Ephraim Fobes, Sr. This made Ephraim the only owner of the property. Five years later, on September 26, 1739, Ephraim sold the house to his son, Ephraim Fobes, Jr. Ephraim Jr. owned the house for almost 58 years! He sold it to Amasa Howard on March 14, 1792.
Amasa Howard and His Young Owners
Amasa Howard owned the house for only about five years before he passed away. In his will, dated June 28, 1797, he left the house to his children. His two-year-old son, Adonis Howard, inherited the land near the river. His daughters, Arabella and Katherine Howard, who were also minors, received the house and the land on the north side of River Street. They were the youngest owners in the home's history.
Later, after some family changes, Arabella Howard became the sole owner. She had married Benjamin Eaton. Arabella passed away in 1833 without a will. The court then gave the house to her son, Benjamin Eaton, Jr. He kept the house for less than a year. He sold it to Thomas Pratt on October 9, 1834.
The Pratt Family: Generations of Care
Thomas Pratt bought the house from Benjamin Eaton, Jr. The house then passed down to his children, Mary and George Pratt. Mary sold her part of the property to her brother, George, on October 10, 1881. In 1906, George passed away. The property then went to his second wife, Eliza Juliet Pratt. She lived in the house until she passed away. In her will, dated March 6, 1930, she left the house to her husband's grandson, Robert H. Redman. Robert Redman owned the house until September 12, 1952. He then sold it to Howard and Jessie Anderson, a married couple.
Howard and Jessie Anderson: A Gift to History
The Andersons owned the house for nine years. On November 29, 1961, they made a wonderful gift. They donated the Reverend James Keith Parsonage to the Old Bridgewater Historical Society.
The Old Bridgewater Historical Society: Preserving the Past
The Old Bridgewater Historical Society (OBHS) is the current owner of this important historic home. In the 1960s, they worked to fix up the house. Their goal was to make it look like it did around 1720. Today, they run the house as a colonial home museum. This allows visitors to step back in time and learn about life in the past.
See Also
- List of the oldest buildings in Massachusetts
