USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > List of members with the general rules and regulations of the First Baptist Church in Providence, Rhode Island > Part 1
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Gc 974.502 P948prf 1847515
M. L.
REYNOLDS WICTORICAL GENEALOCY . TLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01148 5957
D28457 .7
A
LIST OF MEMBERS
·
WITH THE GENERAL
RULES AND REGULATIONS
OF THE
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
IN PROVIDENCE, R. I.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
PROVIDENCE: PRESS OF H. H. BROWN. . 1850.
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1847515
RULES AND REGULATIONS.
A CHURCH of Christ is a society of visible believers, united to- gether for the purpose of promoting their own personal holiness, maintaining the ordinances of the gospel and extending the kingdom of Christ.
Every member of the Church of Christ promises to obey, in all things, the precepts of the New Testament, so far as they shall be made known to him; and the whole church promises obedience to the same law.
As every society must, of necessity, adopt some rules and regula- tions by which it will be governed, and as the New Testament has, in this respect, prescribed no form of government in particular, each church is at liberty to adopt such form as may seem best adapted to promote the purposes of its organization, provided always that nothing is introduced at variance with the positive enactments and fundamental principles laid down by Christ and His Apostles.
Every member who unites with a church, promises obedience to the rules and regulations of the church with which he connects him- self, unless they be at variance with the precepts of the gospel.
The following rules and regulations are hereby adopted for the government of the FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, in Providence.
SECTION I.
OF MEETINGS FOR BUSINESS.
ARTICLE 1. The meetings for business shall be held on the even- ing of the Thursday two weeks before each communion.
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ART. 2. Every male member of the church, not under age, shall be entitled to vote on all questions that may be presented for con- sideration.
ART. 3. The meeting shall be opened by the Pastor, (who is ex officio, the Moderator,) precisely at the time appointed.
ART. 4. The order of business in every stated meeting shall be as follows :
1st, Singing ; 2d, Reading. the Scriptures ; 3d, Prayer ; 4th, Re- ception of Candidates ; 5th, Reading the Minutes of the last meet- ing ; 6th, Unfinished business ; 7th, Report of the Standing Com- mittee ; 8th, Reports of Special Committees ; 9th, Miscellaneous business ; 10th, Prayer.
ART. 5. Any brother wishing to speak upon any question before the church, shall rise and address his remarks to the Moderator ; and any violation of this rule shall be considered out of order.
ART. 6. The ordinary rules of other deliberative assemblies shall be observed in the transaction of business. It is, however, to be always borne in mind, that this being an assembly of Christians, convened under the special notice of the Saviour, all indecorum, personality, levity, or unkindness, must be in a peculiar manner offensive to the Holy Spirit.
SECTION II.
OF THE ADMISSION OF MEMBERS.
ART. 1. It shall be the duty of the Pastor to converse fully and particularly on the subject of personal religion, with every one who desires to make a profession of religion by becoming a member of the church, in order to obtain such knowledge of his or her views of doctrine and practice as shall satisfy him of his or her experimental religion, when he shall invite the candidate to appear before the Standing Committee.
ART. 2. The candidate shall relate his or her religious experience and views of doctrine and practice to the Committee. They shall take all necessary means to satisfy themselves that the candidate's walk and conversation is according to the gospel, and that no valid objection on the part of parents or guardians exists to his or her making a public profession of religion, by uniting with this church.
ART. 3. Having satisfied themselves on these subjects, the Com- mittee shall propose the name of the candidate to the church. Every person so proposed, shall remain a candidate for one month, so that
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every member who chooses may have an opportunity of becoming acquainted with his or her character and religious views and feelings.
ART. 4. At the next stated church meeting, the candidate shall be invited to be present, when his or her religious views shall be related to the church by the candidate, or by the Pastor, and the brethren, if they choose, may, through the Pastor, ask any further questions they may deem necessary. The question of admission shall then be taken.
ART. 5. The letters, or certificates, of all persons who wish to become members of this church by virtue of a dismission and re- commendation from sister churches, shall first be presented to the Standing Committee, and by them submitted to the church, provided they are satisfied of the candidate's religious character and views of Christian doctrine and practice.
SECTION III.
OF DISMISSIONS.
ART. 1. Every member in good standing, shall be entitled to a dismission to any church with which this church is in fellowship, provided he can be within its care and oversight.
ART. 2. Applications for dismission must be made to the Stand- ing Committee, and by them, if there be no objection, reported to the church.
ART. 3. When a member has received a letter of dismission to another church, it shall be his duty, without unnecessary delay, to present it to that church. No letter of dismission, without special reason, shall be considered valid for a longer time than one year.
ART. 4. The names of those members who have been absent one or more years, of whom no satisfactory information is had, shall be read at each annual meeting, that such action thercon may be taken as the facts presented may warrant.
ART. 5. The following form of a letter shall be used, when mem- bers, in good standing, as respects their Christian character, but differing from us, in some minor points of doctrine, wish to withdraw from us in order to unite with evangelical churches, not Baptist :
" This is to certify, that A. B. is a member of the First Baptist Church, in Providence, R. I., and that he sustains a good Christian character ; but entertaining a different opinion from us on Christian doctrine, and having expressed a desire to unite with the - church in -, he is hereby permitted to withdraw from us for that purpose.
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and when we are informed of his union with said church, his con- nexion with this church will be dissolved. This certificate shall be null and void, if not used for the above purpose within three months."
ART. 6. It is expected that every member of this church, who shall remove from the city of Providence, will connect himself, (or herself,) by dismission from us, with some church in our fellowship, within the space of one year. In case any member shall not comply with this regulation, it shall be the duty of the Standing Committee, at the expiration of one year, to remind such person of this regula- tion of the church. If, within a year following, such member neither complies with the rule, nor gives satisfactory reasons for not complying, the case of such person shall be deemed a case of church discipline.
SECTION IV.
OF THE DISCIPLINE OF THE CHURCH.
ART. 1. In all cases of personal grief between brethren, the brother offended shall first endeavor to be reconciled to his brother, according to the rules of the gospel.
ART. 2. If such means are ineffectual, and not till then, he may state liis cause of grief to the Standing Committee.
ART. 3. It shall be the duty of the Committee to give the case a careful and impartial hearing ; and endeavor, if possible, to remove the cause of complaint without bringing it before the church.
ART. 4. If this be impossible, they shall report the matter to the church, stating the action which, in their opinion, should be had, and the reasons for their decision. The church shall act upon this report without further examination of evidence, unless the party censured claim the right of being publicly heard.
ART. 5. When a member of the church is accused of any immo- rality, for which he would be liable to public censure or exclusion, it shall be the duty of the Committee immediately to give notice of such accusation to the person accused, and to enter at once upon the investigation of the case.
ART. 6. If the investigation shall result in favor of the accused, or, if the person offending, remove the cause of grief, and the case do not require public notice, the Committee shall make no report of it to the churchi.
ART. 7. If the case be one in which the person accused would be liable to public censure or exclusion, it shall be the duty of the
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Committee, Ist. To give notice to the accused of the charge. 2d. To assign a time for the hearing, at which the accused person shall be invited to be present, and shall be at liberty to bring with him as many witnesses as he shall think proper. 3d. After hearing all the evidence and all the explanations that may be offered, the Com- mittee, by themselves, shall express an opinion upon the merits of the case. 4th. This expression shall be made known to the church in writing, with the reasons on which it is founded, at the next reg- ular church meeting. 5th. The church shall vote to adopt or reject the report and recommendation of the Committee, without a re- hearing of the case, unless the person accused demand such a hear- ing. Should he demand it, the examination by the church shall be conducted as before the Committee.
SECTION V.
OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CHURCH.
ART. 1. The annual meeting of the church shall be held on the monthly meeting in September.
ART. 2. At this meeting there shall be elected a Standing Com- mittee, Clerk, Treasurer, Assessors of church taxes, Auditing Committee, together with such other standing committees and officers as the church may deem proper.
ART. 3. The Clerk and Treasurer shall be elected by ballot.
ART. 4. At this meeting, the Treasurer shall make his annual report of the incomes and expenditures of the church, stating the sources of income and the mode of expenditures. The Assessors of taxes shall present their annual report, and any other annual reports shall be presented which the church may require.
ART. 5. It shall be the duty of the Clerk to keep a fair copy of the records, and when committees are appointed, to furnish the Chairman with a copy of the resolution under which they are ap- pointed, and a list of the names of which they consist. He shall also sign all certificates of membership, or dismission.
ART. 6. The Treasurer shall faithfully receive and keep the funds of the church. He shall not pay them out, unless for the assistance of the poor, except by a vote of the Standing Committee. The funds for the poor shall be paid on the order of any one of the Deacons, which order shall be his proper voucher for his expendi- turc.
The annual report of the Treasurer shall be audited by the Audit- ing Committee before it is presented at the annual meeting.
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SECTION VI.
OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE CHURCH.
ART. 1. The Standing Committee shall consist of the Pastor, Deacons, and seven other brethren, who shall be appointed at the annual meeting.
ART. 2. They shall appoint their own Clerk, who shall keep a lair copy of all their proceedings, which proceedings shall be open to every member of the church.
ART. 3. They shall meet statedly on the Tuesday preceding the monthly meeting of the church, and at such other times as the Pastor shall appoint.
ART. 4. The general care of the order and discipline of the church, in the manner provided in the above regulations, shall re- side in the Committee. It shall be their duty to watch over the purity of the church, to admonish, in brotherly kindness, the erring, to reclaim the wandering, to devise and propose such measures as may tend to build up the church in faith and love, and extend the cause of Christ in the world, and to be, in a special manner, exam- ples to the believers in all things. No application for pecuniary aid for the purposes of benevolence shall come before the church until it has been examined and sanctioned by the Committee.
SECTION VII.
OF LICENSING TO PREACH THE GOSPEL.
1. Candidates for the ministry are in all cases, to be licensed to preach, by the church.
2. The qualifications which give indications of a call to the gos- pel ministry, are consistent and exemplary piety, a knowledge of the plan of salvation, aptness to teach, a love for the work, and a solemn conviction on the part of the candidate, that he is called by the Holy Spirit to exercise it.
3. The mode of proceeding when any member of the church wishes to be licensed, shall be as follows:
He shall communicate his views and feelings to the Pastor. The Pastor, if he sees fit, shall communicate them to the Standing Com- mittee. The Committee shall examine him in all the above named particulars. If they are satisfied, they shall report the case to the church, with their opinion thercon; the person, however, asking to be licensed, shall, in case of the rejection of his application by the
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Pastor or by the Committee, have the privilege of an appeal to the church. He shall then make to the church a full statement of his views of doctrine, and call to the ministry. They shall then, if they see fit, appoint him a text, and request him to preach upon it in their hearing. They may repeat the trial until they are satisfied on the subject. They shall then, if they see fit, grant a license to the candidate. The concurrence of two-thirds of the persons voting, shall be necessary to grant a license. It shall be of force no longer than one year, and shall be renewed annually, unless the church otherwise order, until the candidate be ordained.
SECTION VIII. OF ORDINATION.
When a candidate, a member of the church, desires to be ordained and the church believe such ordination to be expedient, the manner shall be as follows :
1. The church shall invite such churches in its vicinity as it shall choose, not less than five, to send each its pastor and a delegate, to sit in council for the purpose of ordaining the candidate to the gospel ministry.
2. When the council is organized, the previous doings of the church, in the premises, shall be read, and the candidate presented for ordination. He shall then give to the council a full statement of his Christian experience, call to the ministry, views of doctrines and practice, and church order. If the council is satisfied upon these points, they shall proceed to ordain him by prayer and impo- sition of the hands of the presbytery, with such other services as they may deem expedient.
3. A council is not necessary to the recognition of a Pastor : the call of the church to an ordained minister, and his acceptance of it, being all that is necessary to create the pastoral relations. Never- theless, as it is proper and edifying that the churches in the vicinity of one settling as pastor, should become acquainted with the char- acter and views of him whom they are expected to receive as brother, it is desirable, unless circumstances forbid, that a council be called for this purpose ; and that the settlement of a pastor be attended with such services as the solemnity of the occasion may require.
4. No member of this church is allowed to officiate as a preacher, unless he has been either ordained or licensed.
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SECTION IX.
OF COUNCILS.
When any matter of difference arises in a church which cannot be adjusted in the ordinary way of church discipline, it is expedient for the parties at variance to unite in calling an ecclesiastical council for the benefit of their consultation and advice.
When a council of this kind is called, the letters of invitation shall, if possible, state the nature of the difficulty, and the names of the churches invited. The Pastor and one delegate shall be sent from each church, unless otherwise requested.
As such council may always be supposed candid and unprejudiced, it is to be expected that the churches will follow their advice, unless there be evident reason to believe that they have acted from par- tiality.
It is not expedient for a church to accept an invitation to attend an ex parte council, unless the party requesting such council have first offered to the other party to unite in a mutual council, and such offer has been rejected.
The delegates to the council shall report their doings to the church in writing, which report shall be entered on the records.
SECTION X. OF ASSOCIATIONS.
The object of associations is to form a bond of union, and a chan- nel for Christian intercourse, between churches in the same vicinity. The business for which they assemble, is to collect annual statistics, animate the spirit of piety, and encourage each other in all well doing.
Associations have no power to govern, or to legislate for the churches of which they are composed ; nor have the delegates any power to bind the churches which they represent, unless they have been specially so directed.
SECTION XI.
OF THE COLLECTION OF FUNDS.
ART. 1. It shall be the duty of the Chairman of each committee appointed for the collection of monies for any object whatever, to
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make to the church a written report of the amount they have col- lected, so soon as the collection shall have been completed.
ART. 2. The Treasurer of each society, whether male or female, formed of members of this church and congregation, and the collect- ing committees of general societies, who may be appointed to receive contributions from members of this church and congregation, are requested to present to the Treasurer of the church, a written statement once in a year, of the monies thus collected, which shall be entered in a memorandum of the Treasurer.
ART. 3. It shall be the duty of the Pastor, or some one whom he shall appoint, to ascertain from every authorized agent who may visit this church for the purpose of securing funds, the amount he may have received, which amount shall also be entered on the mem- orandum of the Treasurer.
ART. 4. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer, to present, in con- nexion with his annual report, a full statement, from the materials thus obtained, of all the monies contributed by this church, for philanthropic purposes, during the year, which, with the report, shall be entered on the records of the church.
SECTION XII.
OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
ART. 1. At the annual meeting of each year, the church shall elect, by ballot, a Superintendent of the Sunday School.
ART. 2. The church shall, at the same time, appoint three persons with whom the Superintendent may consult on matters pertaining to the interests of the School, and who shall advise the Superintend- ent in the discharge of the duties of his office.
ART. 3. The Superintendent shall, by and with the advice and consent of the advisory committee, appoint all other officers, and teachers that may be necessary for the promotion of the objects of the School, and the Superintendent and the Committee may remove any officers or teachers for sufficient cause.
ART. 4. The Superintendent, with the Committee, shall have the control of the library, shall purchase new books, and none shall be permitted to be placed therein, without their consent. They shall make and enforce such rules for the government of the School, as its discipline and efficiency may require.
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ART. 5. The Superintendent shall semi-annually, or oftener, re- port to the church, the number and condition of the School, and shall make such other communications pertaining to its interests as he may deem proper.
ART. 6. In case the office of Superintendent become vacant from any cause, other than the expiration of the term for which he shall have been elected, the Committee shall appoint a Superintendent who shall perform the duties of the office until the time of the annual election by the church.
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Officers.
PASTOR. JAMES N. GRANGER, installed Dec. 21, 1842. DEACONS.
NATHANIEL BUMP,
VARNUM J. BATES, S ordained January 24, 1833.
HENRY P. YÉOMANS,
March 3, 1836.
JAMES H. READ,
PARDON MILLER,
ordained January 1, 1844.
Elected September 25, 1850.
Standing Committee. The Pastor and the Deacons, with
HENRY MARCHANT,
NATHAN F. MATHEWSON,
H. H. BROWN,
SANFORD DURFEE,
CHARLES SHAW,
CHARLES ROBBINS.
REUBEN A. GUILD,
Clerk. LEMUEL II. ELLIOTT.
Treasurer. VARNUM J. BATES.
Assistant Treasurer. JAMES H. READ.
Superintendent of the Sunday School. WILLIAM GAMMELL.
Sunday School Committee.
ALEXIS CASWELL, NATHAN BISHOP.
GEORGE I. CHASE,
Assessors.
G. B. JASTRAM, Chairman, H. H. BROWN,
VARNUM J. BATES, ASA NEWELL,
ELISHA C. WELLS, LORENZO D. ANTHONY.
GEORGE HAIL,
CHARLES ROBBINS, THOS. W. FOLEY,
NATHANIEL BUMP,
Collectors.
BENJ. D. BAILEY.
Auditors.
PARDON MILLER.
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NAMES.
WHEN ADMITTED.
RESIDENCE.
BY BAPTISM. | BY LETTER.
NO. STREET, &C.
Angell Mrs. Nancy
May 23, 1805
172 Cranston street
Amsbury Jesse
July 30, “
144 North Main
Arnold Mrs. Mary (W)
June, 1812
71 Iligh
Angell Mrs. Polly
Aug. 2, "
North Providence
Arnold Mrs. Sally (W)
Nov. 2, 1815
52 Benefit
Albro Mrs. Elizabeth
May 2, 1819
South Foster
*Atwood William II.
Mar. 21, 1820
Vicksburg, Miss.
Arnold Mrs. Frances R. (W)
June 2, 1831
14 John
Andrews William
" 1832
26 Benevolent
Andrews Mrs. Delilah
Annable Mrs. Mary
Jan. 30, 1834
25 Hoyle
Aylesworth John
July 3, 1834
17 President
Aylesworth Mrs. Iluldah
Mar. 3, 1816
66
Aylesworth Mary Ann
May 4, 1837
Allen Mary
Mar. 31, 1836
81 Benefit
Angell Mrs. Ruhama
July 30, 1835 Olney ville
Anthony Lorenzo D.
Mar. 16, 1838
46 North Main
Anthony Mrs. Mary S.
April 3, 1834
North Providence
Adams Mrs. Persis C. (W) April 28, 1842
5 Claverick
Angell George M.
Dec. 25, "
155 North Main
*Allin Charles M.
Aug. 31, 1843
New-York
Allin Mrs. Amey (W)
May 23, 1844 261 High
Boyd Ann Elizabeth
June 30, 1812
174 Broad
*Bogman Mrs. Nancy (W)
Boston
*Brown Mrs. Betsey (W)
July 5, 1812
New- York
Burgess Mrs. Jemima
Mar. 3, 1816
415 North Main
Blake Mrs. Mary
Aug. 1, «
12 Cady's lane
Blake David B.
May 4, 1832
147 North Main
Blake Mary M.
June 24, 1838
12 Cady's lane
*Brayton Mrs. Nancy
Nov. 29, 1816
Jolinston
Barstow Abby
Mar. 21, 1820
172 Eddy
Brown Hugh H.
April 1, 1820
40 Benevolent
Brown Mrs. Eunice E.
Brown Ann Frances
May 12, 1844 ..
66
Barber Mrs. Pamela
Bump Nathaniel
Aug. 7, 1825
Budlong Rebecca A.
June 4, 1829
Budlong Jaines E.
Budlong Mrs. Rebecca S.
Feb. 1, 1844
66
Brown Mrs. Sally
June 30, 1830
12 Washington
Bates Varnum J.
June 30, 1830
29 Benevolent
Bates Mrs. Joanna
Budlong Iluldah
May 4, 1832
182 Broad
*Budlong Tabitha G.
*Budlong Isabel L. Brown Alice Almira
Nov. 1, 1832
Warwick 66 263 Iligh Warren
*Burden Mrs. Celia A. (W) *Bowen Mrs. Abigail Bailey Benjamin 1). Beckwith Abby G. Baker Allen
June 28, 1838
April 3, 1834 Attleboro', Mass. 332 Benefit Cor. Benefit & College 186 North Main
Baker Mrs. Julia
Aug. 2, “ April 17, “
Bullock Mrs. Mary (W)
* Brayton Durlin L.
Nov. 29, 1838 34 Benefit Oct. 3, 1839 Tavoy mission
*Non-residents. (W) widows.
May 30, 1833
Eddy 7 Meeting 64 Congdon . .
Angell Eliza
" 28, 1839
66
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NAMES.
WHEN ADMITTED.
RESIDENCE.
BY BAPTISM
BY LETTER.
NO. STREET, &C.
Bolles Mrs. Sarah .( W) Butfam James
Mar. 29, 1838/274 Benefit Cranston
Buffum Mrs Elizabeth
›
Babson John T.
138 North Main
Bibson Mrs Sophia E.
May 25, 1848 .. April 2, 1840 10 Howland " ..
Barrus Mrs Lucy A. Bishop Nathan
Dec 30, 1841 137 Benefit
Beli James E.
Feb. 6. 1842
Brown Mrs. Sarah (W')
Feb. G. 1842
53 Benefit
Buffington George W.
68 Smith
Buffington Mrs. Sarah G. * Brownell Mas I lizab'th It Brown Mrs Virtue ( W) Bowen Mrs Caroline F. Bowen, Lydia M.
Mar. 31, 1850
14 Mulberry
Boise James R.
Boise Mrs Sarah G.
Bates Samuel P.
Jan. 30, 1848
Bosworth Sylvanus
Bort Mrs Mary
Bancroft Laura A.
Bowers Anna E.
Oct. 29, 1848
10 Arnold 377 Broad
Burrows Mrs. Rhoda
April 4, 1822
Oct. 24, 1850 131 South Main
Bullock Mrs. Anna M.
66
¥
Chace Mary
April 23,1801
14 John
Clarke Mrs. Caroline S.
Mar. 16, 1835
46 Waterman
Calder John
July, 1812
41 Charles Field
Church Mrs. Mary (W)
June, 1815
50 Transit
Chace Mrs. Harriet
Feb. 28, 1817
24 Fulton
April 1, 1820
92 Benevolent
Clapp Mrs. Sarah
July 1, 1820
10 Angell
Caswell Sarah S.
Nov. 5, 1848
Clark Mrs. Lydia (W)
Oct. 5, 1822
14 Cady
Clark Amey
July 19, 1832
July 1, 1824
199 South Main
Aug. 2, 1838
Aug. 1, 1833
Coventry
June 12, 1834 Barrington
July 31, 1834
46 William
Chace Mrs. Abby W.
May 12, 1835
April 14, 1836
14 Olney
Carr Mrs. Mary T. (W) *Cooke Mrs. Anne (W) *Cooke Mrs. Abby E. (W) Chace Otis
June 28, 1838 April 23, 1$40
Mendon, 34 Meeting
Chace Mrs. Elizabeth B.
June 2, 1831
Coggeshall Maria E. Church Mrs. Sarah A. Crooker Josiah F.
Feb. 6, 1842 July 16, 1843
April 23, 1840 115 Clifford 53 Benefit 72 66
Crooker Mrs. Mary
Cooley Abby M.
Mar. 3, 1842
Jersey City, N. J.
Aug. 31, 1843 Kenyon 63 Broad
Dec. 29, 1844
Feb. 20, 184C ermany .. .. .. Westfield, Mass. Brown University
Aug. 27, 1846 April 28, 1548 23 Planet July 26, 184948 Benefit 49 Sabin
Bucklin Harriet L.
Bullock Israel J.
4 Sexton
Carpenter Mrs. Mary (W) Clapp Russell
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