James Keith and Susanna Edson of West Bridgewater, Ma, I
decided to celebrate by finally tracking down the location of
their tomb. Imagine how chagrined I was to find I'd visited the
Old Burying Ground in West Bridgewater the previous year and hadn't
found it there back then! So I was bound and determined to
locate iton this visit.
When I arrived at the cemetery on South St there was some
roadwork being done and I had to drive past it, then turn
around and drive back to find a safe parking spot on that side
of the street. Then I walked back to where there was an entrance
through the stone wall. From pictures I'd seen online I thought
the grave would be a large vault which is probably why I
missed it on my first visit.(That, and the fact that there is no
sign with the name "Old Burial Ground" there which on my
first visit made me think I had gone to the wrong location. Duh!)
Since then I've seen many family tombs which are under small
mounds so I knew better what to look for this time around.
And there it was, at the front of the cemetery behind the stone
wall, right next to the street. I'd have seen it earlier if the
view hadn't been blocked by the construction truck.
Here lies the Here lies the
body of the Rev. body of Mrs
Mr. James Keith Susanna Keith
Died July 23, 1719 Died Oct. 16 1705
Aged 76 years Aged 65 years
Mr. James Keith
First Minister in Bridgewater
Educated in Aberdeen Scotland
and laboured in the Ministry in this
town 56 years
Just to the left of the Keiths' tomb is the one belonging to Susanna's
parents(and my 9xgreat grandparents) Samuel Edson and Susannah
Orcutt(?).
So, mission accomplished!
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