USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The articles of faith and covenant of the Bowdoin Street Church, Boston. With a list of the members > Part 1
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402 DOZ 6697
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
V
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01105 8648
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/articlesoffaithc00bost 0
THE
ARTICLES OF FAITH
AND
COVENANT
OF THE
BOWDOIN STREET .CHURCH,
BOSTON;
WITH A
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
LIST OF THE MEMBERS.
Boston: PRINTED BY PERKINS & MARVIN. 1833.
1825697
1:
BOSTON. BOWDOIN STREET CHURCH. D 28441 .036
The articles of faith and covenant of the Bowdoin street church, Boston: with a list of the members. 1833, 1843, 1856. Boston, 1843- 56. 3x. in.2.
ONLY CARD
Peca 1833 1943
1055
NL 36-2480
BRIEF HISTORY
OF THE
BOWDOIN STREET CHURCH,
FOR THE USE OF THE MEMBERS.
IN January, 1825, a number of gentlemen, principally members of the Old South, Park street, and Union churches, united together for the purpose of erecting a Meeting House in the northern section of the city, in which a new Church and Congregation might be gathered, under an Evangelical ministry.
A convenient site having been obtained in Hanover Street, and the edifice commenced, the Building Com- mittee, on the 12th of May, addressed a letter to the three churches above named, requesting each of them to appoint a committee of three brethren, to act jointly in determining the best mode of collecting a church, and to take the necessary incipient measures.
This committee so constituted, after consultation, re- commended, that certain brethren and sisters of the churches above mentioned, should be dismissed at their own request, and be embodied into a separate and inde- pendent church. Most of the individuals, thus desig- nated, requested dismission from their several churches for the purpose specified in the recommendation of the committee, and their request was granted.
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On Monday, July 18, 1825, these individuals were organized into a church, by an ecclesiastical council convened in Park street meeting house, and, soon after, took the name of THE HANOVER CHURCH. The churches represented in this council, were the Old South, Park street, Union, Evangelical, and Mariners' churches, in Boston, and the First church in Charlestown.
The corner stone of the meeting house was laid on Monday morning, June 20th, by the Rev. Mr. Wisner. The Rev. Mr. Green delivered an address on the occa- sion, and after the singing of an hymn, the Rev. Dr. Jenks invoked the divine blessing on the enterprize. The house was finished in February, 1826, and, on the first day of March, was dedicated to the worship of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The Rev. Moses Stuart, of the theological seminary in Andover, delivered the dedicatory sermon. The meeting house and land was conveyed to a Board of Trustees by a deed of trust, dated March 15, 1826, for the use of the church.
On the 20th of February, Mr. Daniel Noyes, and Mr. William G. Lambert, were chosen deacons of the church ; and on Lord's Day, April 9th, they were set apart to their office with prayer and imposition of hands by the pastor.
On the 19th of January, 1826, the Rev. Lyman Beecher, D. D. of Litchfield, Con. was unanimously in- vited by the church, to take the pastoral care of them. The answer of Dr. Beecher, accepting the invitatation, was communicated in the following month, and he was installed as pastor of the church on the 22d of March.
The commencement of Dr. Beecher's labors among us was blessed with a revival of religion, in the course of which, many were added to the church ; and, during the whole time of his ministry, there was more or less atten- tion to the subject of religion, which led many, as we
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trust, to seek for peace and pardon through our Lord Jesus Christ.
At the commencement of Dr. Beecher's ministry, the church consisted of
Males .
25
Females
12-37
There have been added to the church, to Jan. 1833,
Males .
195
Females
330-525-562
Of these, there were received from other churches 173
by profession
. . 352-525
There have died up to the present time, (Jan. 1833,) . . 15
been excommunicated .
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66 dismissed to join other churches,
Males
65
Females .
107-172
Leaving for the present number of the church,
Males .
146
.
Females
226-372 -- 562
-.
On the morning of the Ist of Feb. 1830, at about one o'clock, the house in which the church assembled for public worship, was discovered to be on fire, and before the fire department were collected, the flames were so far advanced, that all efforts to save it were unavailing. Some of the furniture was preserved, but the remaining Contenis of the house, including a valuable organ, were consumed.
While destitute of a house, the church, and a majority of the congregation, worshipped at the Salem church, the pulpit (at that time vacant) being supplied by our pastor ; and the Friday evening prayer meetings of the church .fr were convened at the vestry of the First Baptist church,.
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£
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the offer of it for this purpose having been, with Christian kindness, tendered to us by our Baptist brethren. Many of our sister churches, likewise, opened their doors to receive us, and manifested much Christian sympathy to- wards us, which is recorded on our hearts, and gratefully acknowledged.
Soon after this bereavement, the church and congre- gation adopted measures to repair the loss, and, after due deliberation, purchased a lot of land in Bowdoin street, for the purpose of building a suitable house for public worship. Under the superintendence of a building com- mittee, the present house was built.
The former organization of the church and congrega- tion, under a trust deed, having become, in the opinion of the stockholders of the new building, unnecessary, and in some respects inconvenient, a new plan of organization was proposed, and, after much solemn deliberation and prayer, adopted. A charter having been procured from the Legislature of the State, uniting the stockholders and pew proprietors in a society, called the " Bowdoin Street Congregational Society," the said society, at a meeting held the eighth of June, A. D. 1831, passed the following votes, viz :-
"Whereas, the stockholders in the Bowdoin street meeting house have been heretofore happily united with the Hanover church, in sustaining and enjoying the priv- ileges of the gospel, and are desirous still to cut que thit union, therefore,
" Voted, That the church lately called Hanover church, be invited to take the name of Bowdoin street church, and to worship with us in the said Bowdoin street meet- ing house, and there maintain and enjoy all the gospel ordinances pertaining to them as a church, and to be-
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come and act as the church connected with us, in ac- cordance with the plan of organization adopted by the society.
Voted, That the clerk communicate a copy of the fore -. going vote to the above named church."
The following is the plan of organization adopted by the above named society, and referred to in the above vote.
" Whenever the Bowdoin street church and society shall be destitute of a settled pastor, and a new one is to be obtained, a joint committee of the church and socie- ty, consisting of nine persons, of whom five shall be chosen by the church, and four by the pew proprietors, shall supply the pulpit, and take all necessary measures to that end ; and also the church shall have the right, in all cases, to select a pastor, or colleague pastor, when it may be deemed expedient by the church and society to have a colleague, to be proposed to the pew proprietors for their concurrence, and if they shall concur with the church in such selection, a call shall be given by the church and pew proprietors jointly, to the person select- ed ; but if the pew proprietors do not so concur in the selection, the church shall select again, and so on from time to time, until the church and pew proprietors shall be agreed in a choice ; and when so agreed, a call shall be given to the person so selected, by the church and pew proprietors, in the manner above stated, that is,. jointly : the amount of salary to be paid to the pastor, shall be fixed by the pew proprietors. Temporary sup- plies of the pulpit, during the absence or sickness of the pastor, shall be provided by the pastor and deacons of the church, and the bills of expenses necessarily incurred for that purpose shall be submitted to the prudential com -.
£
£
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mittee, and when approved by them, shall be paid by the treasurer.
" By the word " church," herein before used, is meant,. male members of the church, of the age of twenty-one years and upwards.
" No alteration shall be made to this plan of organiza- tion, unless the same shall be agreed to by two thirds of the pew proprietors present at a special meeting, regu- larly notified for that purpose."
The church, at a meeting held June 10th, 1831, re- ceived the foregoing communication, approved the plan of organization, and voted to comply with the request and accept the invitation of the Bowdoin street congrega- tional society.
The house in which the church and society meet for public worship, was dedicated June 15, 1830. It is a neat and commodious building, lighted with gas, and fur- nished with a finely toned and powerful organ, built by Mr. Thomas Appleton of this city. A select choir of singers, under the direction of a gentleman of great science and taste in music, contributes much to excite that devotional feeling, which ought ever to characterize the worship of the sanctuary.
In the early part of the year 1832, Dr. Beecher re- ceived a call to take charge of the Lane Theological Seminary in Cincinnati, State of Ohio, and, after due deliberation, concluded that it was his duty to accept it. In this step, the church and society, with great regret at losing a pastor so much beloved, and whose labors had been so abundant, and so greatly blessed among them, cheerfully acquiesced. By a mutual council convened on the 26th of September, 1832, he was accordingly dismissed.
On the same day the Rev. Hubbard Winslow, having been previously invited to assume the pastoral and minis-
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terial charge of the church and society, by the unanimous vote of both bodies, upon the dismissal of Dr. Beecher, and having accepted the invitation, was installed.
In concluding this short history of the church, we desire to note and acknowledge the good hand of our God. No root of bitterness has sprung up to interrupt the har- mony of the church, but peace and concord has univer- sally prevailed. There have been but fifteen instances of death during eight years that the church has existed. Two years from the organization of the church, we con- tributed eighty members for the establishment of Pine street and Salem street churches, and twenty-five for the establishment of the Evangelical Congregational church in Cambridgeport-105 in all. Surely every member of this church has occasion to adopt the words of the Psalmist, " Praise ye the Lord, and forget not all his benefits."
STANDING RULES.
All meetings for business shall be opened with prayer.
The Annual Meeting for the choice of Clerk, Ex- amining Committee and other business, shall be held on or before the third Wednesday of January. The time to be fixed by the deacons, and notice to be given from the pulpit on the Sabbath preceding.
The Clerk shall keep the records of the church, and act as Treasurer.
The Examining Committee, of which the pastor and deacons shall constitute a part, shall examine all
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applicants for admission, and present, in a written re- port, the names of such as they approve.
All Standing Committees, and Officers for the year, shall be chosen by ballot.
No money shall be drawn from the treasury, ex- cept by vote of the church.
Candidates for admission, whether professors or non-professors, shall be propounded to the church at least four weeks previous to admission ; and notice thereof be publicly given on the second Sabbath fol- lowing.
Candidates for admission, having been approved by the church, shall become members, if professors, by signing our articles of faith and covenant-if non- professors, by public profession and signing our arti- cles of faith and covenant.
The expenses of all delegations of the church to ecclesiastical councils, shall be paid by the clerk, from the funds of the church.
A contribution shall be made at the close of every communion service, and the funds thus obtained shall be used for defraying the current expenses of the church, and in assisting its necessitous members.
The Lord's Supper is celebrated once in two months, on the afternoon of the first Sabbaths in Jar- uary, March, May, July, September and A winter.
The church meets on Friday evening for devotional exercises and religious conference, to promote their growth in Christian knowledge and grace. Members of other churches, worshipping with us, may be ad- mitted to this meeting by a special vote of the church.
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FORM OF ADMISSION.
ADDRESS.
Beloved Friends,
You have presented yourselves before God, and his people, and the world, to make a solemn confession of your religious faith, and to take upon you everlast- ing obligations. We trust you have duly considered the nature of the professions you are about to make, and of the engagements into which you are about to enter. They will be heard on high, and will be ex- hibited on your trial at the last day.
Yet be not overwhelmed. If you are sincerely de- sirous to be the Lord's, to believe all his declarations, and to obey all his commands, he will compassionate your weaknesses, will make you wise by his wisdom, and strong by his power, and will conduct you safely to his heavenly kingdom.
Attend then to the
CONFESSION OF FAITH.
You believe there is but one God, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of the Universe; a being self-existent and immutable, infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness, mercy, and. truth ..
You believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New
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Testament were given by inspiration of God, and are a perfect rule of faith and practice.
You believe that God is revealed in the Scriptures as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and that these three are one, and in all divine attributes equal.
You believe that God made all things for himself ; that known unto him are all his works from the be- ginning ; that he governs all things according to the counsel of his own will ; and that the principles and administration of his government are perfectly holy, just, and good.
You believe that man was originally holy, and that he fell from this happy state by sinning against God ; that, in consequence of the fall, mankind are by nature sinners, and destitute of holiness, and continue alienated from God until renewed and reconciled by the Holy Spirit.
You believe that God, as an act of mere mercy, gave his Son to die for the sins of the world, and that Jesus Christ, by his sufferings and death, has made an atonement sufficient for the redemption of all man- kind ; so that God can be just and the justifier of him that believeth, and that, upon condition of repentance and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, pardon eternal life are sincerely offered to all.
You believe that mankind do, of their own accord, refuse to comply with these conditions, to the aggra- vation of their guilt and condemnation ; but that (ud notwithstanding he perceived how mankind w add treat the gospel of his Son, did always purpose ..
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save from deserved ruin, great multitudes of the human race, through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.
You believe that without a change of heart by the special agency of the Holy Spirit, no one becomes an heir of eternal life.
You believe in the necessity of such repentance for sin as arises from supreme love to God ; and of such faith in Jesus Christ, as includes an affectionate sub- mission to him, and reliance upon him for pardon and eternal life.
You believe that all men, previous to regeneration, are voluntarily opposed to their duty ; that the influ- ence of the Holy Spirit is bestowed, not as the reward of antecedent merit, or well-doing on the part of him who receives it, but as the free gift of God; and is ordinarily so connected with the use of means by the sinner, as creates entire obligation and ample encour- agement to attend upon them, and renders all hopes of conversion in the neglect of them eminently presump- tuous.
You believe that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust ; that all must stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and receive a sentence of retribution, according to the deeds done in the body ; and that the wicked will go into punish- ment, and the righteous into life, both of which will be without end.
Moreover, you believe that in this world the Lord Jesus Christ has a visible Church, the terms of admis- sion to which are a public profession of faith in Christ, sustained by credible evidence ; that Baptism
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and the Lord's Supper are ordinances to be observed in the church to the end of the world ; that none but members of the visible church, in regular standing, have a right to partake of the Lord's Supper ; and that only they and their households are proper subjects for the ordinance of Baptism.
All these things you truly profess, and cordially believe.
You will now enter into covenant with God, and with this church.
THE COVENANT.
In the presence of God and this assembly, you do now solemnly avouch the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to be your God, the supreme object of your affection, and your portion forever. You cor- dially acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ to be your Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit to be your Sanctifier, Comforter and Guide. You cheerfully devote your- selves to God, in the everlasting covenant of his grace, consecrating all your powers and faculties to his ser- vice and glory ; and you promise that, through the assistance of his Spirit, you will cleave to him as your chief good ; that you will give dilig aneudance to his word and ordinances ; that you will seek the nonor and interest of his kingdom ; and that henceforth, denying all ungodliness and every worldly lust, you will live soberly, righteously, and godly in the world.
You do also now cordially join yourselves to this church, and engage to submit to the rules of govern-
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ment and discipline which it has adopted ;* to strive earnestly for its peace, edification and purity, and to walk with its members in charity, faithfulness, circum- spection, meekness and sobriety.
This you profess and engage.
[Here the members of the church will rise.]
In consequence of these professions and promises, WE, (the members of this church,) affectionately re- ceive you to our communion, and in the name of Christ, declare you entitled to all its visible privileges. We welcome you to this fellowship with us in the bles- sings of the gospel, and on our part engage to watch over you, and seek your edification, as long as you continue among us. Should you have occasion to change your place of residence, it will be your duty to seek, and ours to grant, a recommendation to anoth- er church ; for hereafter you can never withdraw from the watch and communion of the saints, without a breach of covenant ..
And now, beloved in the Lord, let it never be for- gotten, that you have come under solemn obligations, from which you cannot escape. Wherever you go, these vows will be upon you. They will follow you to the bar of God, and will abide upon you forever. The Lord guide and preserve you till death, and at last receive you and us to that blessed world where our love and joy shall be forever perfect. AMEN.
* The Platform of Church Discipline agreed upon by the Elders and Messengers of the churches assembled in the synod at Cam- bridge, (N. E.) A. D. 1648. Adopted by this church, Aug. 12, 1825.
MEMBERS OF BOWDOIN STREET CHURCH.
N. B. Those marked with a star (*) are deceased ; those with an obelisk (t) are dismissed to other churches ; e, excommunicated.
*Elias Maynard, Old South. (Sept. 1828.) Joanna Maynard, Old South. Josiah Coburn, Park Street. Sarah Coburn, Park Street. Elizabeth B. Coburn, Park Street.
+Joseph Thayer, Union. +Susan Thayer, Union.
+Sarah Cannon, Union. +Eliphalet Kimball, Old South.
+Lydia Kimball, Old South.
+Lemuel P. Grosvenor, Park Street. +Ezra Palmer, Park Street. Peter Meston, Park Street .. +Isabel Meston, Park Street. Newton Willey, Park Street. Lucretia Willey, Park Street. Jacob Bancroft, Park Street. Martha H. Bancroft, Park Street. Daniel Noyes, Union. Eleanor Noyes, Union. Thomas A. Davis, Park Street. Dexter Gilbert, Park Street. Rufus Anderson, Park Street.
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William G. Lambert, Park Street. Sarah Lambert, Park Street. Amos H. Haskell, Park Street. Alvah Kittredge, Old South. +Charles Willey, Park Street. Julius A. Palmer, Park Street. * Aaron Woodman, Union. (July, 1826.)
+William R. Lovejoy, Park Street. +Robert O. Dwight, Old South.
+Josiah B. Lovejoy, Old South. John Bennett, Park Street.
Isaac H. Parker, Park Street.
Bradford Sumner, Old South.
Amelia Sumner, Old South.
March 22, 1826.
TLyman Beecher, PASTOR.
April, 1826.
Sarah J. Davis, Newton.
Beulah Wilder, Park Street.
fHannah B. Trench, Park Street.
+Mariann E. Horton, Sutton.
+Elizabeth Leach.
+Sarah Trench.
+Elizabeth Woodman.
+Margaret Low.
+Eleanor B. Mushett.
June, 1826. Elizabeth Reed, 1st Church, Charlestown. 2*
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Ann Catharine Reed, 1st Chh. Charlestown. Mary Bennett, Tabernacle Church, Salem. Margaret Gardner, Walpole.
+Nancy Pilsbury, New York. +Henry Payson, Jaffrey, N. H. +Sarah Payson, Jaffrey, N. H. Catharine Clark. [Mrs. Eames.] +Rebecca Cazneau.
August, 1826.
+Heman Holmes, Park Street. +Mary B. Holmes, Park Street. +Rebecca B. Watts, Park Street. +Eliza Edes, Park Street. +Mary Perley, Park Street. Sarah Norton, Park Street. Eliza Pray, Newport, R. I. . Abby Whitney, Wiscasset, Maine. Nancy Morrison, Hallowell, Maine. +Richard P. Buck, Newburyport. +Nathaniel Budd. James Butler. +Hodges Reed.
+Clarissa Reed. +Nancy Lewis.
+Elizabeth Bell.
*Mary Marston.
October, 1826. Loiza Loomis, Thetford, Vermont. Martha Gray, New North.
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+Sarah Hayden, Chelmsford.
Beriah Loomis, Thetford, Vermont.
Susan Haskell. Susan Gardner.
+Mary Baxter. +Betsey Willis. +Susan Palmer.
+ Martha Capen.
January, 1827.
+John Punchard, Haverhill, N. H. +Sarah Punchard, Haverhill, N. H. +Richard Swain, Salisbury, N. H. +Lucinda W. Badger, New Ipswich, N. H. +Henry K. Stockton, Ithaca, N. Y.
+Cynthia Stockton, Ithaca, N. Y. +Nancy Roundy, Beverly.
+Mary T. Dickinson, Park Street.
+James P. Chaplin, Cambridgeport.
+Hannah Chaplin, Cambridgeport. ¡Joanna Newcomb, Cambridgeport. +Martha Gardner, Keene, N. Il.
*Anna Jones, Walpole, N. H. (Jan. 7, 1828.) Harriet Beecher, Litchfield, Con. +Almira C. Willard, Bradford, Vt. Amasa Walker, Brookfield. Frances Newell, Dedham. +Lucinda A. Newell, Dedham. [Mrs. Tilton.] Hannah Hunt, Gorham, Me. Glorianna E. Haskell, Park Street. John S. Fuller.
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Ann Maria Dutch.
Rebecca Hill. [Mrs. Broaders.] Aaron Sweet. George William Gordon. € +Pulaski Woodman.
+Thomas P. Woodman.
+Margaret B. Knowlton. .
+Mary Elizabeth Knowlton.
+Lucy L. Knowlton.
+Martha Knowlton. Rebecca I. Parker.
Mehitable W. Newell.
+Hannah Parker.
Ann T. Jones. [Mrs. Bullard.]
+Alvan Roundy.
+Mary Jane Sargent.
+Sarah Caznean.
+James M. Whiton.
+Theodore Dickinson.
+Samuel Conant.
+Mary Conant.
Isaac W. Smith.
William P. Johnson.
+Charles H. Coffin.
+Julius A. Willard.
+Alvin McMaster. Ashur C. Palmer. +Eliza O. Chaplin. +Caroline B. Pool. +Lucy Prescott. [Mrs. Reynolds.] fDexter Fairbanks.
£
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+Lucretia Fairbanks. +Charlotte O. Grosvenor. Abigail Barnes. +Belinda Ferrin. [Mrs. Ashmead.]
Elizabeth D. Jackson.
+Adeline O. Gray.
Ephraim H. Severance.
Lucy Peabody. John Leverett. Susan Peirce.
+Harriet Elizabeth Gardner.
Catharine Greenleaf. Samuel Hurd Walley, Jr.
John Charles Phillips.
Hannah Lang.
· Sarah Edes.
+Harriet B. Wood. Cynthia Loomis. [ Mrs. Prouty.] Alfred Richardson. Rebecca Richardson.
May, 1827.
Jotham Haven, Framingham. Martha Haven, Framingham. +Israel Morrill, Plainfield, N. H. +Aaron Russell, Windsor, N. Y. +Esther Russell, Salem, Con. Eliza H. Anderson, Park Street. +Alexander H. Twombly, St. Paul's. Phebe N. Emerson, Boscawen, N. II. +Clarissa Grosvenor, First Church.
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Lyman Prentiss, Weathersfield, Vt. +Wm. T. Cutter, Weathersfield, Ct. Hezekiah Eldredge, Troy, N. Y. Mary Eldredge, Troy, N. Y. +Abigail Bordman, Woburn. +Samuel Tenney, Newburyport.
+Mary Ann Tenney, Newburyport. Electar Spring, Westford.
+William Ennick.
+Susan Ennick. +Jacob Haskell, Jr.
+Fanny H. Simpson. Benjamin R. Harwood.
+Mary Ann Lovejoy. William R. Frost. Catharine Frost. Fanny Coburn ..
+James White. +Stephen Densmore. Susan Ann Sargent.
+Sally Lovejoy.
+John H. Tenney. George Street. fEphraim Blanchard, Jr. Jason B. Loomis. +Hannah Adams. Eunice Pitcher. +Ann Lewis. +Mary Ann Rice. [Mrs. Gilbert.] Eunice W. Pilsbury. Robert E. Little,
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Luke 1. Robbins. +Edward S. Keep. Samuel Edgerly. +Amos Gilbert. +John M. Kuhn.
+George Barrett. Emma Hutchinson.
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