The John Bridge Monument stands on the Cambridge Common

The John Bridge Monument, also known as The Puritan, stands in the northeast corner of the Cambridge Common in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was given by Samuel James Bridge in honor of his ancestor John Bridge (1578–1665). Sculpted by Thomas R. Gould, the statue weighs 1800 pounds and stands about nine feet tall on a pedestal of the same height.

The front of the statue's plinth reads: John Bridge • 1578–1665 • left Braintree, Essex County, England 1631 • as a member of Rev. Mr. Hooker's company • settled here 1632 • and stayed when that company removed to Connecticut • he had supervision of the first public school established in Cambridge 1635 • was selectman 1635–1652 • deacon of the church 1636–1658 • representative to the great and general court 1637–1641 • and was appointed by that body to lay out lands in this town and beyond.

The other three faces read: This Puritan • helped to establish here church school • and representative government • and thus to plant a Christian commonwealth. Erected and given to the city September 20, 1882 by Samuel James Bridge of the sixth generation from John Bridge. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength."

John Bridge came to Cambridge in the 1630s in conjunction with the Braintree Company. He reportedly helped to convince Thomas Shepard to come to Massachusetts. When some colonists led by Thomas Hooker left Cambridge for Connecticut, Bridge remained. He served as a selectman for multiple terms and helped to supervise the local school. He died in 1665 and was buried in Harvard Square.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons