USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Hanover > The Church and Cemetery Records of Hanover, Mass. > Part 6
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In the pages which follow there is a great field for study and research, and while I have found material that could be made much of in writings, I have not found the time in which to write it up, but shall leave each student of gencalogy and history to pick out the choice bits here and there. To give the reader some idea of the difficulties under which I have labored while compiling this book, I give below some of the offices I have held during the year 1894, each of which claimed good portions of my time :
President of the Bath Electric Light & Illuminating Co., of New York.
Vice President and Honorary Counsel of the Associated Charities, Ward XVI, Boston.
Member of the Exchange Club, Boston.
Senior Warden of Phoenix Masonic Lodge, Hanover.
Member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Treasurer of the Live Oak Phosphate Co., of Elmwood, Fla.
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ORIGINAL RECORDS.
Director in the New England Hospital for Women and Chil- dren, Boston.
Member of Tufts College Medical School, Boston. Director in Dr. Bowditch's Sanitarium, Sharon, Mass.
Fine Member First Corps Cadets, M. V. M., Boston.
Bank Notary.
Member Massachusetts Consistory 32º.
Treasurer Georgia Pyrites Company, of Temple, Ga.
Commissioner of North Carolina, by appointment received from the Governor of North Carolina. Member Bostonian Society. Member of the Hawaiian Club.
Member New England Historical and Genealogical Society.
There are other positions or duties which I have been des- tined to fill for times varying from a few days to a few months, which have taken much time that I would otherwise have been able to devote to this work. The records are, however, as com- plete as the originals from which they are taken, I having left out only a few words or dates where I have thought it wisest and best so to do. If any mistakes are discovered I hope they will be immediately reported.
December 5, 1728 was observed as a day of Fasting and Prayer, to implore the Divine presence and blessing to attend the ministry of the Pastor-elect vizt., BENJ. BASS, M. A., who had before this accepted the Town's call to the Pas- toral office amongst them: On the said day the Church was gathered, consisting of ten besides the Pastor-elect, who then subscribed the Chh. Covenant vizt :
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Joseph Stockbridge, Isaac Buck, Joseph Stockbridge, Jr. Thomas Josselyn,
Elijah Cushing, James Hatch, John Tailor, Amasa Turner Samuel Staples, Samuel Skiff. .
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THE COVENANT.
THE COVENANT THEY SIGNED RUNS IN THESE WORDS :
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We do give up ourselves and our offspring to that God whose name alone is Jehovah, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as the one only true and living God, and unto our blessed Lord, Jesus Christ, as our only Saviour, Prophet, Priest and King over our Souls and only mediator of the Covenant of Grace promising (by the help and assistance of His spirit and grace) to cleave unto God and our Lord Jesus Christ by faith in a way of Gospel obedience as becometh the Covenant People forever, and we do also give up ourselves one unto another in the Lord, according to the will of God, freely covenanting and promising (the Lord helping of us) to walk together in holy union and communion as members of the same mystical body and as an instituted church of Christ rightly constituted and established in the true faith and order of the Gospel; and further we do oblige our- selves (by the help of Christ ) in brotherly love to watch over one another and over all the children of the covenant growing up with us, and faithfully, according to our ability, to transmit the holy word and worship of God to our posterity ; to cleave unto and uphold the true Gospel ministry as it is established by Christ in his Church, to have it in due honor and esteem, to subject ourselves fully and sincerely unto the government of Christ in his church, and duly to attend to the seals, censures and whatsoever ordinances Christ hath commanded to be ob- served by his People according to the order of the Gospel and withal we do further engage ourselves to walk orderly in a way of fellowship and communion with all our neighbor Churches according to the rules of the Gospel, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be one throughout all the Churches to the glory of God the Father. AMEN.
The Rev. Mr. Eels of Scituate and the Rev. Mr. Lewis of Pembrook, came at the desire of the Christian Inhabitants in Hanover and assisted in the work of ye said day of Fasting and Prayer.
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December 11, 1728 Benj. Bass, A. M. was by prayer & fasting with imposition of the hands of the Presby- tery ordained a Pastor of the Church. The Rev. Mr. Eels of Scituate, Mr. Lewis of Pembrook, Mr. Hobart and Gay of Hing- ham and Mr. Checkley of Boston laid on hands. Mr. Gay began with prayer, Mr. Checkley preached, Mr. Eels gave the charge & Mr. Lewis the right hand of fellowship.
January 10, 1728-9 there was a Church meeting at which Dea- con Joseph Stockbridge & Mr. Elijah Cushing were chosen Deacons and 'twas agreed to raise money by contribution to provide utensils for the Lord's Table &c.
The contribution was made on January 19th being ye Lord's Day and between that time and January 30th. were bought ( with the money that was contributed) and brought to town three Pewter Tankards marked "C. T." of ten shillings price each; Six Pewter Bakers costing three shillings & six pence each; marked " C. B .; " Two Pewter Platters marked "C. P .; " a pew- ter Bason for baptisms, marked *** , price ***. Price of each .... A cloth for the Communion Table marked "C. H. " and this Book of Records.
July 31, 1733. The Brethren of the Church met and chose Mr. James Hatch and Mr. Isaac Buck, Dea- cons, who manifested their acceptance of the office.
April 1, 1739. The church voted a dismission of Joseph Stock- bridge, Jr., to the Church of Christ in Pembroke.
November 25. The church brou't in their votes for a Deacon and Mr. Thomas Josselyn was chosen. The voters were 16 & given for him.
January 6, 1739-40. A letter was read from the First Chh. in Hingham ; in it they upon his desire, dismissed Thomas Wilks from his particular relation, to ye Chh. in Hanover, and it being put to vote, this Chh. of Hanover voted his reception to full and stated communion with them.
November 29, 1741. Thomas Toby was by a vote of the Chb. dismissed and recommended, according
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ORIGINAL RECORDS.
to his request, to the Chh. in Sandwich under the pastoral care of the Revd Mr. Fessenden.
March 7, 1742. The vote was called if the Society would sing what is commonly call'd the new way, and it pass'd in the affirmative nemine contradicente; then being desired to bring in their votes for a Tuner, Ezekiel Turner was chosen by a considerable majority.
November 4, 1744. Susannah Rose, an Indian, being recom- mended by the Indian Chh. at Mashpy in Sandwich to ye holy care & communion of ye chh. in Han- over ye sd. chh. of Hanover upon hearing ye Letter, voted to receive her to full & stated communion with them.
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April 18, 1745. Mr. Thomas Rose was chosen by the Chh. into the office of a Deacon and in voting for another Deacon, the votes were so scattered that after several tryals without any ones having a majority of ye votes the affair was adjourned to Thursday ye 25th of April, 1745.
April 25. The Church met by adjournment to bring in their votes for a Deacon, and having brought them in, upon sorting them Samuel Barstow was found to be chosen by a majority of the votes that were brought in.
May 14 The Chh. chose the following brethren to inspect the manners of the children of the Chh. as well as such as are in full communion and endeavor when they walk disorder- ly to bring them to repentance & reformation : Joseph Stock- bridge, Elijah Cushing, Benjamin Mann, Thomas Rose, Samuel Barstow, Joseph Ramsdale & James Torrey, Junior.
July 7. The Chh. at the desire of Jemima Bates, wife of Amos Bates, voted her a dismission and recommendation unto the Chh. in Rochester, under the pastoral care of the Revd Mr. Timothy Ruggles.
December 7, 1746. The Chh. voted to receive as a member in full communion, Mary Torrey, the wife of James Torrey, Junior, she having at her desire been dis- missed and recommended to them by the Second Chh. in Scituate.
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January 18. 1746 The Chh. voted a dismission and recommendation of their brother, Elisha Tobey to the Chh. of Christ in Falmouth, of which the Revd Mr. Palmer is Pastor.
. November 22, 1747. The Chh. voted a dismission of their brother, James Torrey, Junior, and his wife, with a recommendation to the Chh. of Christ in Tolland, under the pastoral care of the Revd Mr. Steel.
1748. At a Church meeting on April 8 the Church reckoned :
with the Deacons Rose and Barstow and found due from Deacon Rose to the Chh. in old Tenor 00-06-03 and from Deacon Barstow in ye same tepor 1-1-5.
At the same meeting Mr. John Bailey, Junior, a brother of the Chh. gave the Chh. satisfaction which they to a man voted the acceptance of for an offence he had given for sinning with his tongue, which brother had had the character of a man that was in no way given to evil speaking, and it was well known that he was extreamly provoked when he in his passion uttered the words which gave the offense he made satisfaction for.
April 18. I, Benja. Bass, received at Deacon Rose's as he and Deacon Barstow reckoned it, good and bad together, Four- teen pounds fifteen shillings and nine pence, old tenor, it be- ing a collection made by ye flock under my care to buy good books with to lend to such of the society as stand in need of em & would be glad to read them. With the above mentioned money I bought in less than a week after the collection, a parcel of books, whose titles, authors and price in old tenor may be met with in a book which is an exposition of ye Epistle to the Colossians by Mr. Nicolaus Byfield, vizt : on a leaf I found vacant immediately before the title page of said book : any one that borrows these books must use em well and return em in two months. That these books may be known I intend to put in the title page these letters : C. B. C. S. H. which stand for "Charity Book of the Congregational Society in Hanover."
August 28. The Chh. voted a dismission of Elijah Cushing,
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esq., & his wife (they desiring it) from their special relation to them in order to their becoming members of a Chh. designed speedily to be gathered in the neighborhood.
July 23, 1749. The Chh. voted Brother Amasa Turner, at his request, a dismission & recommendation to the First Church in Lancaster.
September 30, 1753. The Chh. at his desire voted Brother Timothy Bailey a dismission to qualify bim to be in a regular manner a member of a new Chh. going to be formed at the 2nd Precinct in North Yarmouth.
April 9, 1756. The Church met upon notice given the Lord's day next preceding and unanimously agreed in the following vote : Inasmuch as our brother, David Jenkins, was publickly charged by a certain person with being guilty of com- mitting the sin of and the Church being this day met to consider what is proper to be done in such a case, and having notified said Jenkins of the time & place of meeting but he did not appear to give the Church any Christian satisfac- tion, therefore voted that it is the mind of this Church that our brother Jenkins refusing to meet the Church and endeavour to give them Christian satisfaction is wrong and unjustifiable & that he be suspended at present from the Communion at the Lord's Table until he shall desire the church to meet again in order further to consider his case, and that some two of the brethren be desired to deliver a copy of this vote to our brother Jenkins as soon as may be. Benjamin Man & William Curtis undertook to carry a copy of this vote to our brother Jenkins.
At the Tuesday meeting mentioned in the last page the fol- lowing satisfaction for an offence given was offered to the Church and met with their unanimous acceptance . . .
I, the subscriber, having in an hour of temptation when I should have earnestly cried unto God for help and vigorously resisted the devil, grossly violated the commandment in committing the sin commonly called , do hereby, and I hope for the glory of God, declare that I may remove the offence which I
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have given the Church of which I am a member that the Divine com- mand which I have broken is holy, just & good, and I hope I shall walk very humbly with God for breaking it ; fly to the blood of Christ which cleaneth from all sin for the pardon of that & all my sins, and as Christ has commanded, watch & pray that I enter not into temptation & that I desire the Church's forgiveness & that their prayers may be joined with mine to the Father of Mercies with whom is forgiveness and that he may be feared, for all interest in his pardon- ing mercy and for grace that as I name the name of Christ I may depart from iniquity and live so as to adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things & at length receive eternal life from God in the way of a free gift though Jesus Christ our Lord.
JOSEPH RAMSDEL.
1756 Anno Domini, 1756. A continuation of the Church Records in the Town of Hanover :
Book 2d, containing admissions to full Communion. Dismissions from the Church : Those that have owned the Covenant and not admit. ted to full Communion : Baptisms, Deaths, Marriages and the Admin- istration and votes of the Church on special occasions.
Beginning with December 1st, 1756.
1756 December 1. Samuel Baldwin, A. M., was by Prayer with the imposition of the hands of the Presbytery or- dained Pastor of the Church of Christ in Hanover. The Rev'd Messieurs Gay of Hingham, Cook of Sudbury, Storer of Water- town, Smith of Pembroke, Swift of Acton, laid on hands. Mr. Smith began with prayer, Mr. Cook preached, Mr. Gay gave the charge, Mr. Storer gave the right hand of fellowship, Mr. Swift made the last prayer.
The several pastors of the particular churches sent to assist in the ordination were the Revd Messieurs Gay of Hingham, Cook of Sudbury, Storer of Watertown, Smith of Pembroke, Swift of Acton, Wales of Marshfield, Hitchcock of Pembroke, Wood- ward of Weston, Dodge of Abington, Barns of Scituate.
ADMINISTRATION & VOTES OF THE CHURCH ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS.
October 30, 1768. Lord's Day. The Church in Hanover was presented with Four Silver Cups on
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the Communion Table by order and at the expence of Deacon Stockbridge. The cost of each Cup 25£ O. S. and each bearing this inscription, "THE GIFT OF DEACON JOSEPH STOCKBRIDGE TO THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN HANOVER, 1768."
Ist. It was moved to the Church by the Pastor whether they would vote their thanks to the Donor : the vote being called it passed unanimously in the affirmative.
2ly. On a motion made by the Pastor a vote was called whether an account of the above donation should be entered among the Church Records to be transmitted in gratefull mem- ory of the donor and it passed in the affirmative.
3ly. Voted that the Pastor wait upon Deacon Jos'h Stock- bridge, the donor, and give him the thanks of the Church, sig- nifying these several votes, which was done accordingly.
pr. Samuel Baldwin, Pastor.
November 28, 1779. On the 28th Novr, 1779, I preached a farewell sermon to the people of Han-
over for want of support, and on the eighth of March following I ask'd a dismission for want of support, which they granted, and it was confirmed by a vote of the Town.
February 11, 1784. On the 11th day of February, 1734, was instal'd to the Pastoral office in Hanover the REVD JOHN MELLEN, late of Lancaster, 2d Parish, now Sterling. Six Chhs. were sent to but Cambridge failed by reason of the Revd. & aged Dr. Appleton's death on the same week. Revd. Mr. Hitchcock of Pembroke gave the charge. Revd. Mr. Barns of Scituate gave right hand. His son, the Rev. Mr. Mellen of Barnstable, preached the sermon. Revd. Mr. Pren- tice of Reading, began with prayer & the Revd. Mr. Niles of Abington, concluded. Anthems sung by the Choir at the en- tering & leaving the meeting-house.
NAMES OF PROFESSORS AT LARGE.
June 27, 1784. David STOCKBRIDGE, Junr. & wife. Sepr. 5, 1784. Joshua MAN & wife
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NOVr 28,
Job TILDEN & wife, also Snow CURTIS & wife.
Augt 7. 1785.
Benjam'n WHITE & wife.
May 28, 1786.
Morgan BREWSTER & wife.
Octr 22, 1786. Ezra BRIGGS, Junr. & wife, after making their peace.
July 22, 1787.
James WOODWORTH & wife, after &c.
Novr 4, 18,
Caleb WHITING & wife. Josiah CHAMBERLAIN & wife after making their peace.
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Wife of Josh. JOSLYN.
Ezekiel Turner HATCH & wife.
Nathl. BARSTOW & wife, also
Homer WHITING & wife.
Octr 12.
Robert SALMON & wife.
1789. Joel SYLVESTER & wife, Oct. 11th.
1790. John BARSTOW, July 25.
Ezra BEALES & wife, May zoth & child baptized. Bela MAN & wife.
Aug. 5th. Novr 18th. Oliver WINSLOW & wife, she baptized.
1793. July 14.
Charles MAN & wife, & wife of Joseph NEAL.
1794. May 18.
John PERRY & wife.
Novr 9. Huldah WING, wife of William Wing.
Octr 30. William WHITING & wife.
1804. April 29. Cloe JOSLYN, wife of Almoner Joslyn.
1804. Sepr 2d. Benj. Healy CLARKE & wife. Also Jabez STUDLEY, Junr. & wife. . Also Joseph EELLES & wife.
30th. Stephen BAILY, Junr. & wife. Also Amos BATES & wife.
RECORD OF CHH. VOTES PR. JOHN MELLEN.
August 13, 1784. The Chh. met and chose Brother Joseph Brooks, Deacon.
January 8, 1786. Received two Silver Cups for the Communion table, a legacy of the late Dea. Thomas Joss- lyn : Cost £7.40. The church voted they had received them & that they would have it recorded in the Chh. Book, as a
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1792. July 29th.
Job YOUNG.
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token of their gratitude & to perpetuate the memory of the benefaction. Attest : John Mellen, Pastor.
1790 Lord's Day, July 18th. The Pastor introduced the following vote by observing that when persons are admitted into the Chh. & Kingdom of God out of a wicked world, it is to be supposed that may have been vicious and un- godly, but that they now truly repent & reform & are forgiven of God & therefore ought to be forgiven of men tho' account- able afterwards for their conduct to the Chh. & Society to w'ch they belong. But that upon their first repentance & embracing Christianity it does not appear scriptural or prudent to insist upon particular acknowledgments in some certain cases when it is not done in others-that many persons by this means are kept out of our Chhs & often join other persuasions because it is natural and very common for them to say that if a particular acknowledgment is required for one offence it ought to be for another and for all, but this not being the case they look upon themselves as injured & treated with partiality. If it be your minds therefore, brethren, that when persons are admittted to a public profession of religion & to Chh. Communion, a general penitent confession of past sin agreable to the Covenant, shall be deemed sufficient, please to manifest. Past in the affirmative : full vote.
1806. On the twenty third day of July, was instaled into the Pastoral Office in Hanover the REVD CALVIN CHAD- DOCK late of Rochester. Seven Chhs. were sent to, five only attended : the Revd. Mr. Strong of Randolf made the introductory prayer-the Revd. Mr. Niles of Abington, preached the sermon and made the consecrating prayer-the Revd. Mr. Barker of Middleborough gave the charge-the Revd. Mr. Norton of Waymouth gave the right hand and the Revd. Mr. Richmond of Halifax made the concluding prayer.
The following is a list of the present members of the Chh. in Hanover, both male and female :
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Saml. Barstow, Gideon Studley,
Lem'l Curtis, Jonathan Pratt, Joseph Brooks, Seth Bates, Timothy Robbins, John Hatch,
Josiah Smith, Stockbridge Josslyn, Joseph Bates, Benj. Bates,
Samuel Stetson,
Ezekiel Turner, Snow Curtis, Melzar Hatch, John Stetson, Calvin Curtis, Wm. Whiting, Constant Clap, Benj. Tolman, Nathl Jacobs,
Records.
Josiah Chamberlain, Elijah Sylvester,
Seth Rose, Elijah Barstow,
Wm. Torrey,
Elisha Bass.
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1807. June th. 4, 1807. There was a regular Church Meeting, the object of which was to choose a Decon, agree upon a Church Covenant, mode of admitting members, Rules of dis- cipline, &c. There being a thin meeting, voted to adjourn to this day three weeks or to the 25th instant, at 3 o'clock, after- noon.
Hanover, June 25, 1807. The Chh. met according to ad- journment.
1. Chose Mr. Turner Stetson a deacon in the room of Timothy Robbins, deceased. Mr. Stetson declined and Mr. Timothy Church was then appointed by a unanimous vote.
2. Voted that any person may write their relation upon being admitted into the Chh.
3. Voted that the Pastor notify Mr. Church of his appoint- ment to the Deaconship. Adjourned to August Ist.
Hanover, Aug. Ist. The Church met according to adjourn- ment.
1. Voted to excuse Mr. Church from serving as a Deacon upon his request.
2. Voted to postpone the choosing a Deacon until another year.
3. Voted that the original Chh. Covenant be the Covenant of this Chh. still.
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In Pegell ce Origian!
Benj. Bass,
Caleb Rogers,
Timothy Church, Benj'n Bass, Junr. Turner Stetson, Oliver Winslow, Joel Sylvester, Joshua Dwelley,
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1808. At a regular Church meeting, Jan'y, 31, 1808 :
Voted, Deacon Joseph Brooks, agent, to hold a note of hand of one hundred dollars, given to the Church by the Rev. John Mellen.
1809. At a regular Church meeting, Sept. 30, 1809:
I. Voted, the Pastor, Deacon Joseph Brooks & Turner Stet- son a Committee to converse with Mrs. Chapman and report next meeting.
2. Voted, Dea. Benj'n Bass, Elijah Barstow, Turner Stet- son, Wm. Whiting and Timothy Church, a Committee to go and converse with certain members on account of neglect of ordinances and report next meeting.
3. Voted, to adjourn till the last Saturday in October, I o'clock, p. m.
Sunday, Oct. 15, 1809. The Church tarried after divine service.
Voted, to excuse Dea'n Bass from serving as one of the above Committee and appointed Dea'n Joseph Brooks in his room.
October 28, 1809 .. The Church met according to adjourn- ment and after opening the meeting by prayer the Committee chosen to inquire into the character of Mrs. Chapman reported that from the evidence they could obtain, in their opinion she was not a suitable character at present to be admitted into this church. Voted unanimously to accept the above report.
The Committee appointed to converse with certain members for neglect of duty report as follows, viz .: Dea. Brooks reports that he saw Calvin Curtis, who declined giving any reasons for neglecting Church ordinances but gave encouragement that he would attend the next Church meeting : he did not attend. Snow, Bashua, his wife, and Lydia Curtis, pled conscience and sent a writen request to be dismissed from the Church, but as their request contained no desire to be recommended to any other Church, therefore voted unanimously that their request cannot be granted. Elijah Barstow reported that Caleb Rogers requested time for further consideration. Josiah Cham-
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berlain said he did not consider himself a member of the Church. Jonathan Pratt said he wished a dismission from the Church, but made no mention of a recommendation to any other Church. Wm. Whiting reported that Joel Sylvester and wife said they did not consider themselves members of the Church because they had joined themselves to a different de- nomination. Elijah Sylvester's wife said the want of health was the reason she did not attend divine ordinances : her husband said fear of unworthyness kept him away but wished to remain a member of the Church. Mr. Stetson reported that Josiah Smith and wife said they did not consider themselves members of the Church. Albert Smith's wife said in some respects she was a member of the Church and in some she was not, but on the whole she did not consider herself a member at present.
Voted, to choose a committee of two to converse further with Snow, Bashua and Lydia Curtis. Voted that Dea'n Brooks & Dea'n Bass be this committee. Voted that the reasons offered by Elijah Sylvester & wife for neglecting divine ordinances are satisfactory. Voted that the Pastor lay the subject respecting delinquent members before the association at their next meeting and request their advice. Voted to adjourn till the second Saturday in Novr next at 1 o'clock P.M.
Second Saturday in Nov'r 11, 1809. The Church met accord- ing to adjournment. There being but a few present voted to adjourn without day.
November 12. After divine service the church were desired by the Pastor to tarry. The Pastor then laid before the church the opinion of the Association respecting delinquent members which was that the same committee which was first appointed to go and converse with these persons be reappointed to go and converse with them a second time and make their report the next meeting. Voted Dea'n Joseph Brooks, Capt. Elijah Barstow, William Whitting & Turner Stetson be said committee. Adjourned.
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