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 in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts. It was built in the 1600s. Today, the Old Bridgewater Historical Society (OBHS) owns and takes care of it. You can find it at 199 River Street. Many people believe it is the oldest house built for a minister (a parsonage) still standing in the United States!
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How Was the Keith House Built?
The people who first owned the land in Bridgewater decided to build a house for their minister. This decision was made on December 28, 1661. They wanted to give the house and land to the minister who would live and work among them for life.
Building the house probably started in the spring of 1662. However, it wasn't 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?
Reverend James Keith, the First Owner
James Keith was born in Scotland around 1642 or 1643. He studied at Marischal College in Aberdeen, Scotland. He came 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, like being able to vote.
People say that James Keith gave his first sermon (a religious speech) in 1663. He stood on a large rock called Pulpit Rock in War Memorial Park in West Bridgewater. There is a special plaque there today to remember this event.
Reverend James Keith lived in the house until he passed away. In his will, he said his seven children should sell the house and share the money. They sold it on March 18, 1723, to two brothers, William and Ephraim Fobes, Sr. They paid 250 pounds for it. The sale had a special rule: James Keith's wife, Mary Macy Keith, could live in the house until she remarried or passed away.
Other Early Families Who Lived Here
Over many years, the house was owned by different families. The Fobes family owned it for a long time. Ephraim Fobes, Sr. eventually became the only owner. Then, he sold it to his son, Ephraim Fobes, Jr.
Later, in 1792, Amasa Howard bought the house. He owned it for about five years before he passed away. His children, including his young son Adonis and his daughters Arabella and Katherine, inherited parts of the property. Arabella Howard, who later married Benjamin Eaton, eventually owned the entire house.
After Arabella passed away, her son, Benjamin Eaton, Jr., owned the house briefly. He sold it to Thomas Pratt in 1834.
The Pratt Family and Later Owners
The Pratt family owned the house for many years. Thomas Pratt passed it down to his children, Mary and George Pratt. George eventually became the sole owner. When George passed away in 1906, his wife, Eliza Juliet Pratt, inherited the house. She lived there until she passed away.
Eliza Juliet Pratt left the house to her husband's grandson, Robert H. Redman. Robert Redman owned the house until 1952. Then, he sold it to Howard and Jessie Anderson.
The Andersons Donate the House
Howard and Jessie Anderson owned the Keith House for nine years. They did something very special: on November 29, 1961, they donated the house to the Old Bridgewater Historical Society. This made sure the historic house would be preserved for everyone to enjoy.
The Old Bridgewater Historical Society Today
The Old Bridgewater Historical Society (OBHS) is the current owner of this amazing historic home. In the 1960s, they worked hard to fix up the house. They wanted it to look like it did around the year 1720. Today, the OBHS runs the Keith House as a colonial home museum. Visitors can learn what life was like in the early days of America.
See also
- List of the oldest buildings in Massachusetts
