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KEITH Major Zephaniah

Male 1730 - 1820  (89 years)Deceased


Personal Information    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name  KEITH Major Zephaniah  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] 
    Prefix  Major 
    Born  8 Mar 1729/30  Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 3, 5, 6, 7] 
    Gender  Male 
    Occupation  1788  Norridgewock, Somerset, Maine, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    selectman and assessor 
    • From History of Norridgewock:

      At the time of the incorporation of this town, there were seventy-nine families within its limits, and the number of inhabitants was estimated to be three hundred and twenty. The first town meeting was holden August 20, 1788. Hon. Daniel Cony, of Hallowell, was chosen Moderator; John Clark, Zephaniah Keith, and Moriah Gould, Selectman and Assessors; Josiah Heald, Treasurer; John Heald, Constable; and Charles Witherell, Collector. At this meeting the town voted, " that the selectmen forward a petition, as quick as may be, ÙCiÙDfor the abatement of the taxes sent to this town for several years past.." [pg 93]

      Z. Keith is also listed as a Selectman and Assessor for the year 1788 on page 126 of the text.
    1800 US Federal Census  1800  Pittsford, Rutland, Vermont, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    • Living in the household:

      1 white male aged between 10 and 15
      1 white male over the age of 45
      1 white male over the age of 45
    1800 US Federal Census for Pitsford, Rutland, VT - Page 177    		 1800 US Federal Census for Pitsford, Rutland, VT - Page 177
    Military  Revolutionary War  [10] 
    • From History of Bristol County, Massachusetts:

      "At a meeting of the commissioned officers of the East division of the militia of Bristol County held in Norton, Nov. 9, 1774, George Godfrey of Taunton was chosen Colonel - George Williams, Lieutenant Colonel - Nathaniel Leonard, 1st major, Zephaniah Keith, 2d major. The Division contained the companies from Taunton, Raynham, and Easton. The captains of the various companies were as follows: Taunton, Capt. Nathaniel Leonard, Capt. Simeon Williams, Capt. John Reed, Capt. Cornelius White, Capt. James Leonard, Capt. Israel Dean, 2d, Capt. Ebenzer Dean."

      "On monday, ye 21st day of Nov. 1774, the East Division of the third Regiment in ye country of Bristol, met at Taunton and drawed up in a Battalion in Capt. Thomas Cobb's shed Lot so called, by ye Adjutant Major Abijah Hodges, in manner hereafter described, vis: Ye field officers came in on the right wing, vis, George Godfrey next to the Battalion and George Williams on ye right, N. Leonard on ye left and Z. Keith on ye right and so marchd round sd Batallion until we came to ye centre - 3 of sd Field officers with their hates under ye arm and G. Godfrey, his hat on and paid his compliments to each camptain."       [pg 844]


      DAR Ancestor No. A064230
    Residence  Norridgewock, Somerset, Maine, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [11, 12] 
    • From History of Norridgewock and Canaan:

      In the year 1769, the Plymouth Company advertised to give away all the land in the bend of the Kennebec river, beginning at Skowhegan falls, and running up to Old Point, on the north side, to any and all persons who would immediately settle the same. The rule adopted by the Company was to give away two lots, and reserve two alternately, with the belief that the lots given away would encourage settlers to flock in, and thus enhance the value of the lots to be sold. This was the general rule adopted down the river. But as Canaan and Norridgewock were regarded as being in the backwoods, the rule was so far departed from, that all the river lots in Norridgewock, and those in that part of Canaan which is now Bloomfield, were given away. (page 177)

      The area did not begin to actually be settled until late 1773.

      About 1774-5, came down several young men named Keith, from Bridgewater, and made a location near Bomazeen rips - Jonathan, Scotland, Unite, Ruel, and Israel. Israel, who was the eldest, merely came on a visit. He was aide-de-camp to General Heath in the Revolution, was Governor Hancock's aide, and was a somewhat distinguished lawyer. He graduated at Harvard University. Major Zephaniah, their father, came down at the close of the Revolution. (pages 189-190)

      Unite Keith and Zephaniah Keith are listed among the first payers of taxes after Norridgewock's incorporation. Major Zephaniah Keith was one of the three Selectman elected to be a member of Norridgewock's first legal officers. He would also serve as one of the town's assessors.

      In the year 1789, the town employed certain men to transact business in Boston. It is recorded on April 6, 1789, it was "voted to draw 25 bushels of Rye out of the Town Treasurer to pay for the Cow that Major Zeph. Keith had for his Son's services at Boston. (page 216).

      From History of Norridgewock:

      In reference to the year 1779:

      About this time, Maj. Zephania Keith settled on part of the Nutting lot. He was considerably advanced in life, a man of intelligence, and much respected. One of his sons had been an officer in the army, and after the war, was an Adjutant General in the Massachusetts militia. He had four other sons, who lived in this place many years, but having been brought up as workmen in the iron works at Easton and Bridgewater, Mass., and unaccustomed to the toils and privations of new settlers, none of the family succeeded so as to become permanent residents. The father, Maj. Keith, was one of the selectman first chosen, but the family all left town soon after. [pg 66]
    Died  29 Jan 1820  Londonderry, Windham, Vermont, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Age  89 years 
    Buried  Old City Cemetery, Sheldon, Franklin, Vermont, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Submit Headstone Photo Submit Headstone Photo 
    • Per a posting by John Howard Keith on findagrave.com dated 06 Feb 2007:

      Zephaniah died and was buried in Pittsford, VT, but the cemetery land was later sold. The bodies were moved to a location closer to town and the names were placed onto one large stone. Because of his influence in Sheldon, VT (where it is noted he was a selectman in 1788), Zephaniah's body was brought to the Old City Cemetery in Sheldon. There is a stone in the cemetery for his wife, Mary Hooper Keith, but the stone on Zephaniah's grave is no longer there (presumably it was removed because it either broke or fell). He is supposedly buried right next to Mary in a plot at the top of the hill near an old house. The graves face NE.

      At this time, I have no way of verifying this information.
    Person ID  I1293  One Big Family Tree
    Last Modified  25 Mar 2012 

    Father  KEITH John,   b. Abt 4 Oct 1687, Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Jun 1761, Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  Age: ~ 73 years 
    Mother  WASHBURN Hannah,   b. 1690,   d. 4 Mar 1766, Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  Age: 76 years 
    Married  18 Apr 1711  Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID  F467  Group Sheet

    Family  HOOPER Mary,   b. 17 May 1731, Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 30 Oct 1822  Age: 91 years 
    Married  23 May 1750  Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [4, 5, 13, 14] 
    Children 
     1. KEITH Israel,   b. 25 Aug 1750, Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1819  Age: 68 years
     2. KEITH Scotland,   b. 16 Nov 1752, Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. KEITH Cyrus, Esquire,   b. 13 Jan 1755, Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     4. KEITH Ruel,   b. 13 Jan 1756, Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Oct 1837  Age: 81 years
     5. KEITH Jonathan,   b. 6 Jan 1758, Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     6. KEITH Unite,   b. 17 Mar 1760,   d. 28 May 1836, Sheldon, Franklin, Vermont, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  Age: 76 years
     7. KEITH Howe,   b. 10 Apr 1762, Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     8. KEITH Rowena,   b. 23 Dec 1765, Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     9. KEITH Alfred,   b. 25 Nov 1767,   d. 1 Apr 1840  Age: 72 years
     10. KEITH Minerva,   b. 12 Jan 1770,   d. Yes, date unknown
     11. KEITH Melinda,   b. 21 Feb 1771,   d. Yes, date unknown
     12. KEITH Daphne,   b. 12 Aug 1773,   d. Yes, date unknown
     13. KEITH Sarah,   b. 24 May 1775, Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 5 Aug 1843, Highgate Center, Franklin, Vermont, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  Age: 68 years
    Last Modified  20 Nov 2011 
    Family ID  F466  Group Sheet

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 8 Mar 1729/30 - Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 23 May 1750 - Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - selectman and assessor - 1788 - Norridgewock, Somerset, Maine, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google Maps1800 US Federal Census - 1800 - Pittsford, Rutland, Vermont, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - - Norridgewock, Somerset, Maine, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 29 Jan 1820 - Londonderry, Windham, Vermont, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - < - - Old City Cemetery, Sheldon, Franklin, Vermont, United States Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Maps 
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Sources 
    1. [S22] Historic Homes & Institutions of Worcester Co, MA, Ellery Bicknell Crane, (New York, NY: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1907.), Vol. 3: p. 207. (Reliability: 3), 26 Jun 2010.

    2. [S51] History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater, Nahum Mitchell, (Boston, MA: Kidder & Wright, 1840.), p. 195, 215. (Reliability: 3), 21 Apr 2011.

    3. [S49] Vital Records of Bridgewater, MA to 1850, New England Historic Genealogical Society, (Boston, MA: n.p., 1916.), Vol. 1: p. 193. (Reliability: 3), 10 May 2011.

    4. [S49] Vital Records of Bridgewater, MA to 1850, New England Historic Genealogical Society, (Boston, MA: n.p., 1916.), Vol. 2: p. 219. (Reliability: 3), 12 Jun 2011.

    5. [S50] Hooper Genealogy, Charles Henry Pope and Thomas Hooper, (Boston, MA: Charles H. Pope, 1908.), p. 17. (Reliability: 3), 20 Nov 2011.

    6. [S150] Mayflower Descendant, George Ernest Bowman, (Boston, MA: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1900.), Vol. 15: p. 45. (Reliability: 3), 13 May 2010.

    7. [S51] History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater, Nahum Mitchell, (Boston, MA: Kidder & Wright, 1840.), p. 215. (Reliability: 3), 21 Apr 2011.

    8. [S223] The History of Norridgewock, William Allen, (Norridgewock, ME: Edward J. Peet, 1849.), p. 93, 126. (Reliability: 3), 13 May 2010.

    9. [S299] 1800 US Federal Census for Rutland Co., VT, VT, Rutland County, (www.ancestry.com: National Archives and Records Administration, 2009), M32, roll 52, Pitsford, p. 177, line 7, Zephaniah Keith, accessed 10 Feb 2010 (Reliability: 3), 10 Feb 2010.

    10. [S301] History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, D. Hamilton Hurd, (Philadelphia, PA: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1883.), Vol. 2: p. 844. (Reliability: 3).

    11. [S302] History of Norridgewock and Canaan, J.W. Hanson, (Boston, MA: J.W. Hanson, 1849.).

    12. [S223] The History of Norridgewock, William Allen, (Norridgewock, ME: Edward J. Peet, 1849.), p. 66. (Reliability: 3), 13 May 2010.

    13. [S49] Vital Records of Bridgewater, MA to 1850, New England Historic Genealogical Society, (Boston, MA: n.p., 1916.), Vol. 2: p. 219. (Reliability: 3), 28 Feb 2009.

    14. [S51] History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater, Nahum Mitchell, (Boston, MA: Kidder & Wright, 1840.), p. 195, 217. (Reliability: 3), 21 Apr 2011.



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