USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Springfield > Articles of faith and covenant adopted by the First Church of Christ in Springfield > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01105 4159
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/articlesoffaithc00unse 12
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Articles
of Faith and Covenant adopted by the First Church
in Springfield Masa :
1853285
ARTICLES
OF FAITH AND COVENANT ADOPTED CY TIL FIRST CHURCH IN SPRINGFIELD.
I. WE believe that there is but one GOD, the Creator, Preserver and moral Governor of the Universe ; a being of infinite power, knowledge. wisdom, justice, goodness and truth ; the self-ex- istent, independent and immutable fountain of good.
Deut. vi. 4. Is. xlv, 22. I. John v, 7. Heb. iii, 4. Neh. ix, 6. Heb. i, 3. Prov. xvi, 33. Job. vii, 20. Ps. xxxvi, 6. Dan. v, 23. Is. ix. 6. Eph. i, 11. Gen. xlv, 5, 7. II. Chron. xx, 6. Ps. ciii, 19. Prov. xvi, 9. Matt. vi, 26. Phil. ii, 13. Jam, i, 17. I. Pet. iii, 22. Gen. vii, 1. Ps. cxlvii, 5. and cxxxix, 1-12. Rom. xi, 33. Acts xv, 18. Col. ii, 3. Deut. xxxii, 4. Exod. xxxiv, 6, 7. Ps. xc, 2. Mal. iii, 6. John iii. 27. Jam. i, 17.
II. WE believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by inspiration of God; that they are profitable for doctrine, for correction, for reproof, and for instruction in righteousness, and that they are our only rule of doctrinal belief and religious practice.
II. Tim. iii, 16. I. Pet. i, 11. II. Pet. i, 21. Heb. i, 1. Is. viii, 20. Acts xvii, 11. Ps. xix, 7, 8, and cxix, 129, 130. Jer. viii, 9. Matt. xxii, 29. Mark vii, 7, 8, 13. Rom. i, 22. Gal. i, 8, 9. Rev. xxii, 18, 19.
IH. WE believe that the mode of divine ex- istence is such as lays a foundation for a distinc- tion into three persons,-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and that these three aru one in essence and equal in power and glory.
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I. John v, 7. Matt. xxviii, 19. II. Cor. xiii, 14. Eph. ii, 18. Gen. i, 26, and iii, 22, and xi, 17. Is. vi, 3, 8. Rev. iv, 8. Matt. vii, 21, and xi, 27, and xv, 13, and xvi. 17, and xviii, 10, and xxv, 34. John v, 17, and viii, 19, 54. and xiv, 33, and xxvi, 63, and xvii. 43. John i, 34, and v, 17-23, and viii, 19, 54, and x, 15, 33, 36 -- 38. Is. vii, 14. Matt. i, 23. Is. ix, 6. Heb. i, 3, 8. I. John v, 20. I. Tim. iii, 16. John xx, 2S. Phil. ii, 6, 10. 11. Heb. xiii, S. Rev. i, S, and ii, S. Eph. iv, 10. Matt. xviii, 20, and xxviii, 20. John iii, 13. Rev. ii, 23. John ii, 24, 25, and xxi, 17. Matt. viii, 2, and ix, 18, and xv, 25, and xxviii, 9. John ix, SS. Luk. xxiv, 52. Acts vii, 59. Heb. i, 6. Gen. i, 2. Job. xxvi, 13, and xxxiii, 4. Ps. civ, 30. Matt. iii, 16. Luk. i, 35. John iii, 5, and xiv, 16, 17, 26, and xv, 26. Acts ii, 4, and v, 3, 4, and xv, 28, and xvi, 6, 7. Rom. viii, 15, 16, 28, 29. I. Cor. ii, 10, 11, and xii. 3-13. II. Cor. iii, 17. Gal. v, 22, 23. II. Thess. 2, 13. Heb. iii, 7-9. Ex. xvii, 7. Heb. ix, 14.
IV. WE believe that God has made all things for himself ; that known unto him are all his works from the beginning ; and that he governs all things according to the counsel of his own will.
Gen. i, 3. Prov. xvi, 4. Is. xliii, 7. Rom. xi, 36. Col. i, 16. Rev. iv, 1, and xxi, 6, and xxii, 13. Acts xv, 18. Job xxxi, 4, and xxxvii, 16. Ps. exxxix, 1-4, and cxlvii, 5. Prov. v, 21, and xv, 3. Jer. xvii, 10. Col. ii, 3. Eph. i, 11. Num. xxiii, 19. Dan. iv, 35. Ps. xxxiii, 11. Prov. xix, 21. Matt. xviii, 7. Luk. xxii, 22. Acts ii, 23, and iv, 27, 28. Phil. ii, 13. Rev. xvii, 17. Is. xiv, 24, 27. Gen. xlv, 5, 7. and 1, 20. Acts xvii, 26.
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V. WE believe that the divine law and the principles and administration of the divine gov- ernment, are perfectly holy, just and good ; and that all rational beings are bound to approve of them as such.
Deut. iv, 8, and x, 12, 13. Neli. ix, 13, P :. cxix, 39, 86, 127, 128, 140, 172. I. Tim. i, 8. Gen. xviii, 25. Matt. xxii, 37-40. Deut. xxxii, 4. Job. viii, 3. Ps. Ixxxix, 14, and cxlv. 17. Rev. xix, 2.
VI. We believe that God, at first created man in his own image, in a state of rectitude and holiness, and that he fell from that state by transgressing the divine command in the article of forbidden fruit.
Gen. i, 26, 27, 31. Col. iii, 10. Eccl. vii, 29. Gen. ii, 17, and iii, 3, 6.
VII. We believe that in consequence of the apostacy, the heart of man, in his natural state, is destitute of holiness, and in a state of positive disaffection with the law, character and govern- ment of God ; and that all men previous to re- generation are dead in tresspasses and sins.
Rom. v, 12, 15-18. I. Cor. xv, 21, 22. Gen. vi, 5, 11, and viii, 21. Job xiv, 4, and xv, 14, and xxv, 5, 6. Ps. xiv, 1-3, and Ixxiii, 8, 9, and li, 5, and liii, 3, and Iviii, 3, 4. Prov. i, 22, and xxvii, 22. Is. i, 5, 6, and liii, 6, and lix, 6, 7. Jer. ii, 13, and iii, 5, and xvi, 12, and xvii, 9, and xviii, 12. Matt. iii, 7, and xii, 34. Mark vii, 21, 22. John iii, 6-19. Rom. viii, 5-8. Gal. v, 19-21. Rom. i, 20, 33, and ili, 9, 19, and vii, 18. Matt. viii, 22. II. Cor. v, 14. Eph. ii, 1-3. Col. i, 13. Tit. i, 16, and iii, 3. I. Pet. iv, 3.
VIII. We believe that Christ the Son of God, has by his obedience, sufferings and death made atonement for sin ; that he. is the only Redeemer of sinners ; and that all who
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are saved, will be altogether indebted to the grace and mercy of God, for their salvation.
Is. liii, 4-7. Dan. ix, 26. Matt. xx, 23, and xxvi, 28. John x, 11, 15, 17. Acts xx, 28. Rom. v, 6, 8-10, and vi, 10, and viii, 20. I. Cor. vi, 20, and vii, 23, and xv, 3. II. Cor. v, 14, 15, and viii, 9. Gal. i, 3, 4, and ii, 20, and iii, 13, and iv, 4,5. Eph. i, 7, and v, 2, 25. I. Tim. i, 15, and ii, 6. Tit. ii, 14. Heb. i, 3, and ii, 9, and ix, 12, 14, 22, and x, 12, 14, 19, 20, and xiii, 12. I. Pet. iii, 18. I. John i, 7. Rev. i, 5, and v, 9, and vii, 14. Rom. iii, 24. I. Cor. ii, 2, and iii, 11. Acts iv, 12. Eph. i:, 5, 8. Tit. ii, 11. Rom. v, 20, 21, and xi, 6. I. Pet. v, 12. II. Cor. i, 12. Zech. iv, 7. John i, 16. Rom. viii, 32. Gal. i, 15. II. Thes. ii, 16. II. Tim. i, 9. Tit. iii, 7. I. Pet. v, 10.
IX. We believe that although the invitations of the gospel are such, that whosoever will may come and take of the waters of life freely, yet the depravity of the human heart is such, that no man will come to Christ, except the Father, by the special and efficacious influences of his spirit draw him.
Is. lv, 1-3. Rev. xxii, 17. Luke xiv, 17 Matt. xi, 23, 29. John iv, 10, 14, and vi, 35, and vii, 37. Rev. xxi, 6. II. Cor. v, 14. Heb. ii, 3, 9. John iii, 19, and v, 40, and vi, 44, 65. Matt. xxii, 3, 5, 6, Luke xiv, 18-20, and xix, 14. Jer. iii. 7. Ezek. xxxiii, 11. Ps. cx, 3. John i, 13, and iii, 3, 5, 6. I. John iv, 7. Tit. iii, 5. Jam. i, 18. Rom. viii, 30. HI. Cor. v, 17. Gal. vi, 15. Eph. i, 19, 20, and ii, 1. Col. ii, 12, 13. I. Pet. i, 93. T. John ifi, 9, and v, 4, 18. I. Cor. i, 26, and vi, 11. II. Tim. i, 9. II. Pet. i, 10. Ezek. xi, 19. X. We believe that those who embrace the gospel, were chosen in Christ before the foun-
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dation of the world, that they should be holy and without blame before him in love ; and that they are saved, not by works of righteous . ness which they have done, but according to the distinguishing mercy of God, through sanc- tification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth.
Eph. i, 4, 5, 11. Jer. xxxi, 3. Acts xiii, 48. Rom. viii, 28-30, 33, and ix, 11, and xi. 5, 7, 28. Matt. xxiv, 22, 24, 31, and xxv, 34. Mark x, 40, and xiii, 20, 22, 27. Luke xviii, 7. Col. iii, 12. I. Thes. i, 4. II. Thes. ii, 13. II. Tim. i, 9. Tit. i, 1. I. Pet. i, 2. II. Pet. i, 10. Rev. xiii, S. Rom. iii, 20, 23. Gal. ii, 16, 19, and iii, 10, 11, and v, 4. Rom. iv, 13, and ix, 23, 31, 32. Acts xiii, 39. Tit. iii, 5, 7.
XI. We believe that those who cordially em- brace Christ, although they may be left to fall into sin, never will be left finally to fall away and perish ; but will be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
Rom. viii, 1, 29, 30, 38, 39. John iv, 14, and vi, 37, and x, 27-29, and xvii, 11, 12, 15. I. Pet. i, 5. I. Sam. i, 9, Ps. xxxvii, 23, 24, 27, and cili, 17, 18, and cxxv, 1, 2. Prov. ii, 8. Is. liv, 17. Jer. xxxii, 40. Jude xxiv. Prov. iv, 18, and x, 25. I. Thes. v, 9, 10, 24. II. Thes. iii, 3. Phil. i, 6. I. Cor. i, 8, 9, and x, 13. Job xvii, 9. Matt. vii, 24, 25. John vi, 27, 35, 39, 40, 54-58. Col. iii, 3. Heb. x, 39.
XII. We believe that watchfulness over the life, holy meditation, a conscientious attention upon public, family and secret worship, together with the steady practice of righteousness, truth, sincerity and charity towards man, and of sobri- ety, chastity and temperance towards ourselves, are the indispensible duties of every christian.
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Prov. xvi, 32, and xxv, 28. Eph. iv, 31, 32. I. Cor. xvi, 13. Phil. vi, 5. Jam. iii, 17. Gen. xxiv, 63. Josh. i, S. Ps. i, 2, and lxxvii, 12, and civ, 34, and cxix, 15, and cxxxix, 17, 18. Heb. x, 25. Matt. xviii, 20. John xx, 19-29. Acts i, 13, 14, and ii, 1, 42, and xx, 7. I. Cor. v, 4, and xiv, 23. Jude xix. Josh. xxiv, 15, Gen. xviii, 19. Matt. vi, 6. Mic. vi, 8. Luk. vi, 31. Rom. xii, 17. Phil. iv, 8. Jam. v, 4. Ps. xxxi, 13, and cix, 29. Prov. vi, 17, and xii, 19. Rev. xxi, 8. 11. Cor. i, 12. Matt. xxii, 39. Luke x, 27. I. Cor. xiii. Matt. v, 44. Luke vi, 27. Eph. v, 18. Prov. xxiii, 21. Luke xxi, 34. I. Cor. vi, 10. Matt. v, 28. Gal. v, 19.
XIII. We believe that there will be a general resurrection of the bodies both of the just and of the unjust.
Job xix, 26. Is xxvi, 19. Hos. xiii. 14. Matt. xxii, 29-33. John xi, 23-25. Matt. xvi, 21, and xxvii, 52, 53. I. Cor. xv, 20-22. John v, 28, 29. Acts iv, 2. Rev. xx, 12.
XIV. We believe that all mankind must one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ, to receive a just and final sentence of retribution according to the deeds done in the body ; and that at the day of judgment, the state of all will be unalterably fixed ; and that the punishment of the wicked, and the happiness of the righteous will be endless.
Ps. 1, 6, and lxxv, 7, and xcvi, 13. Eccl. xi, 9, and xii, 14. Acts xvii, 31, and xxiv, 25. Matt. xii, 36, and xiii, 49, and xvi, 27, and xxiv, 30, 31, and xxv, 31-46. Luke xii, 2. John v, 22, 27. Acts x, 42. Rom. ii, 5-11, and xiv, 10-12. Jude vi, 14, 15. Il. Cor. v, 10. II. Pet. iii, 7. Rev. xx, 12, 13, and xxii, 12. Matt. xxv, 46. Job xxxi, 3. Ps. xi, 6, and xxxvii, 20, and cxlv, 20. Prov. x, 24, 29, and
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xi, 21. Is. ili, 11, and 1, 11, and Ixvi, 24. Matt. iii, 7, 10, 12. Luke iii, 7, 9, 17. John xvii, 12. Luke xiii, 23-28. Matt. xiii, 24-30, 40-42, 47-50, and xxv, 11, 12, 30-46. John viii, 21-24. Luke xii, 10, and xiii, 3, and xix, 27. Acts i, 25. I. Pet. iv, 18. II. Cor. ii, 15, 16, and v, 10, 11. II. Thes. i, 6- 10. Rev. xxii, 11, 12, 19. Ps. xvi, 11, and Ixxiii, 24. Prov. iv, 18. Dan. xii, 2, 3. Matt. v, 12, and xiii, 43, and xix, 29. Luke xviii, 29, 30. John iii, 14-16. Rom. vi, 23, and viii, 30. I. Cor. ii, 9, and xiii, 12. II. Tim, iv, S. Rev. ii, 10, 17, 26-28, and xxi, 4, and xxii, 11.
XV. We believe that Christ has a visible church in the world into which none in the sight of God, but real believers, and none in the sight of man but visible believers, have right of admis- sion.
Matt. xvi, 18, and xviii, 17. Acts ii, 47. II. Cor. vi, 14-18. I. Cor. i, 2. II. Cor. i, 1. I. Thes. i, 1-3. Ps. 1, 16.
XVI. We believe that the sacraments of the New Testament are baptism and the Lord's supper ; that believers in regular church stand- ing only can consistently partake of the Lord's supper, and that visible believers and their households only, can consistently be admitted to the ordinance of baptism.
Matt. xxviii, 19, and xxvi, 26-30. Gen. xvii, 10. Rom. iv, 11, and xi, 17-24. Acts xv, 1, 24-29. Gal. v, 1, 2, and iii, 27-29. I. Pet. iii, 21. Luke xviii, 15, 16. Acts ii, 39, and xvi, 15, 33. I. Cor. i, 16. Heb. ix, 10.
FORM OF COVENANT.
YOU do now in the presence of God and man, avouch the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, to be your GOD, the supreme object of your affection, and your chosen por-
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tion forever. You cordially acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ in all his mediatorial offices, Prophet, Priest and King, as your only Saviour and final judge ; and the Holy Spirit as your Sanctifier, Comforter and Guide. You humbly and cheerfully devote yourself to God, in the everlasting covenant of grace. You consecrate all your powers and faculties to his service and glory ; and you promise to take the scriptures as the rule of your life and conversation ; and that through the assistance of his spirit and grace, you will cleave to him as your chief good ; that you will give diligent attention to his word and ordinances, to family and secret prayer, and to the observance of his sabbath ; that you will seek the honor of his name and the interest of his kingdom ; and that hence- forth denying all ungodliness and every worldly lust, you will live soberly, righteously and god- ly in the world.
You do now cordially join yourself to this as a church of Christ, engaging to submit to its discipline, so far as conformable to the rules of the gospel, and solemnly covenanting to strive, as much as in you lies, for its gospel peace, ed- ification and purity ; and to walk with its mem- bers in christian love, faithfulness, circumspec- tion, meekness and sobriety ; and abandoning the sinful pleasares and amusements of the world, to prove what is that good and accepta- ble and perfect will of God .- Thus you cove- nant, promise and engage.
We do now receive you into our communion, and promise to watch over you with chris- tian affection and tenderness, ever treating you in love as a member of the body of Christ, who is head over all things to the church .- This we do, imploring of the great Shepherd of Israel, our Lord and Redeemer, that both you
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and we may have wisdom and grace to be faithful in his covenant, and to glorify him with the holi- ness which becomes his house forever. AMEN.
The following is a list of the members of the First Church in Springfield, April, 1821.
Mercy Colton Orpha Winslow
Elizabeth Stebbins
Huldah Hitchcock
Samuel Morgan
Eunice Marble
John Pynchon Ruth Stebbins
Mercy Colton 2d
Ruth Hitchcock
Judah Chapin
Oliver Collins
Lois Chapin Elizabeth Bliss
Ebenezer Bliss
Abigail Butler
George Brewer
Darius Wright
Mary Brewer
Polly Wright
Chauncy Brewer
Nancy Bliss
Anna Brewer Sabra Smith
Luther Hitchcock
Thankful Colton
Amy Hitchcock
Elizabeth Murphey
Zebina Stebbins
Merriam Burt
Mary Stebbins
Azubah Sykes
Alexander Bliss
Chloe Burt
John Hooker
John Stebbins
Sarah Hooker
Hannah Stebbins
Zenas Bliss
Martin White
Mary Bliss
Lucy White
Bathsheba Warner
Jacob Bliss
Lucy Bliss
Mary Bliss
Lois Stebbins
Hannah Hopkins
George Bliss
Abigail Ely
Nancy Nichols
Moses Bart, Jr.
Betsey Stebbins
Mary Burt
Lucy Hitchcock
Nancy Bates
Justin Ashley
Mary Miller
Love Ashley
Heber Hitchcock
Lois Hitchcock
Abigail Bonnor Abigail Gardner Betsey Stevenson
Pelatiah Bliss
Polly Bliss
BERRY RY . 1
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Ithamar Stebbins
Henry Brewer
Deborah Stebbins Henry Chapin
Lucy Brewer
Eunice Stebbins
Huldah Cadwell Olive Rider
Nancy Bates
Temperance Bliss -
Abigail Bartlett
Betsey Brewer
Merriam Ferre Joseph Ferre
Sophia Hall
Mehitable Ferre
Catherine Stebbins
Margaret Rumrill
Charlotte Williams
Electa Janes
Sophia Brewer
Lydia Sargent
Elisha Bliss
Henry Frost
Almira Bliss
Calvin Wright
John Gains
Lois Wright
Patty Gains
Phebe Stebbins
Rebekah Rogers
Jerusha Lloyd
Jane Peters
Rachel White
Assenath Caswell
Mary Ann Follet
David Ames
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Assenath Ferre
Rebekah Ames
Abigail White
Benjamin Corey
Hubbard Bliss
Anna Ball
Emily Bliss
Eunice Sheldon
Pamela Searle
Ann Sage
Polly Edson
Mary S. Osgood
Solomon Warriner
Abigail Bliss
Frances Warner
Mary Warriner Naomi Kneeland Sally Dickinan
Mary Cadwell
Phila Bates
Henry Kirkham
Lyman Wood
Sophia Wood
Elizabeth Parsons Elizabeth Bliss
Alfred Warriner
Elizabeth Clark Huldah Ball Elizabeth Show
Elizabeth Collins Seth Bliss
Rhoda Ferre
Mary Sampson Elizabeth Colton Mary Burt Elizabeth Stockbridge Rachel Collins Uriah Ferre
Azariah Vanhorn
Nancy Gridley
Merriam Taylor
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Mary Collins Daniel Bontecou
Mary Richardson Roger Adams
Harriet Bontecou Persis Burnham
Flavia Burt
Charlotte Ames
Moses Burt
Hannah Hatch
Sophia Toby
Henry Bliss
Caroline Morris
Hannah Bliss
Alfred Burt
Harvey Blake
Bathsheba Bliss
Lucinda Blake
Wid. Eliz. Stevenson
Mary Miller
Richard Walkley Abigail Cooley
Sally Stebbins
Nancy Chapin
Cornelia Lombard
Martha Stebbins
Mary Chaffee
Susan Leanard
Catherine Lombard
John Wood 2d
Sarah Chapin
Nancy Ferre
Mary Ames
Parmenas King
Erastus C. Baker
Francis Bliss
Rex Burt
Horace Richardson
Solomon Ferre
Mary More
Esther Pynchon
Harvey Sanderson
Lucy Walkley
Dolly Lombard
George Colton
Rebekah Newbury
Lucretia Colton
Hannah Rogers
Joseph Ashley
Emily Rogers Benjamin Bisby Lydia Clark
James Russell
Huldah Ball 2d
Acsah Simons
Fanny Holbrook
John Ingersoll
Laura Carew
Elizabeth Ingersoll
Moses, Bliss
Susan Childs
Mary Bliss
Sarah Hooker
Sally Wood
Mehitable Taylor
Phebe Lee
Aurelia Drake
Lucretia Bliss
Lovina Stebbins
Emily Stebbins Harriet R:will
Thomas Sargent Joseph Lombard Jacob Perkins Sally Perkins Samuel Chandler
Nancy Russell Sarah Orcutt
Francis Burt
Hannah Wilner
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Sally Chandler
Clarissa Foot
Volorus R. Paine
Phila Walker
Theodore Warriner
Ruth Stebbins
Rachel Warriner
Fanny Crocker
Mary Bliss
Stephen Collar
Jonas Coolidge
Rachel Parsons
Lois Coolidge
Resign Murphy Ziba Stevens
Elizabeth B. Whitney
Nancy Stevens
Oliver B. Morris
Charles Wood
Lucy Crocker
John B. Kirkham
John Wood
Betsey Kirkham
Sally Wood
Samuel Kilbourn
Emily Billings
Lucinda Woodman
John Wright
Lucy Jones
Deborah Belcher
Oliver Baker
Sarah Stedman
Laura Baker
Sally Bliss
Emily Childs
Rebekah Cooley
Electa Ingersoll
Sarah Eliot
Lura Sampson
Betsey Foot
Abigail Dale
Pamela Hitchcock
Sally Bliss
Margaret Ferre
Abigail Lombard
Cyrus Newel
Hannah Cooley
Allen Look
Eunice Brewer
Joshua Crosby
Emma Osborn
Rebekah Crosby
Harriet Osborn
Clarissa Sparhawk
Hezekiah Loomis
Sally Belcher
Ruth Loomis
Assenath Hamlet
Sally Burnet Eli Stevenson
Henry Comstock
Diedamia Griswold
Lucy Comstock
Clarissa Griswold
Jonas Butterfield Ann Butterfield
Cynthia Cooley Jacob Yance
Daniel Field
Sally Field
Erastus Hitchcock
Laura Lee
Polly Hitchcock
Alvah Whitmarsh Lydia Whitmarsh
Pliny Dickinson
Esther Potter
Harriet MeQuivy Zebina Walker
Jocl Miller
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