Danvers, Massachusetts. First Church records, 1672-1845.

Collection Information

Title:

Danvers, Mass. First Church records, 1672-1845.

Creator(s):

First Church (Danvers, Mass.)

Dates:

1672-1845

Extent:

1 reel 35mm microfilm: service copy (0.02 cubic feet)

613 unique images: archival TIFF, derivative JPEG & PDF

Collection ID #:

RG1309

Conditions Governing Access:

Both microfilm and digital files are open and available for researcher access. Digital files may be accessed online. In some places, images may be difficult to read due to ink spread, bleed-through, and staining.

Physical Access:

Digital surrogate is the preferred user's copy. Please consult with the archivist or librarian to access original microfilm copy.

Technical Access:

A microfilm reader is required to access microfilm copy of records. To access digital user's copies via online-interface a java-enabled web browser is required. Internet Explorer 8.x and later, Firefox 5.x and alter, Opera 12 and later, Safari 5.x and later, or any version of Google Chrome are recommended.

Items in this collection are subject to U.S. Copyright Law. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine the copyright status of collection items and to secure any permissions necessary for their reproduction and publication.

Requests for permission to publish material must be discussed with the archivist or librarian.

Preferred Citation:

[Identification of item], in the Danvers, Mass. First Church records, RG1309. The Congregational Library & Archives, Boston, MA.

Additional Resources:

Item-level metadata is available for digital duplicates. Please contact the library for more information.

Language:

English

Processing information:

Collection re-described by Sari Mauro in September 2013 in accordance with DACS 2013. Portions of description written by Robin Duckworth.

Revision History:

Updated for ArchivesSpace by Zachary Bodnar, November 2017.

Abstract:

First Church of Danvers was founded in 1672 when a group of farmers who lived quite a distance from the Salem meetinghouse of which they were members petitioned for permission to erect one of their own. This collection contains the early records of the Danvers church, including records pertaining to membership, vital statistics, and church meetings. Of particular note are records pertaining to the confession and trial of Martha Corey (alternatively spelled Kory and Cory) in regards to the witchcraft controversy in Salem.

Acquisition Information:

No acquisition records are available for this collection. Microfilm was created in 1962. Records documenting the Congregational Library & Archives' holding of this microfilm date back to circa 1962.

Digital reproductions were created from the microfilm.

Accruals:

Additional accruals are expected for this collection in the form of full-text transcription. There is no anticipated date for this accrual.

Existence and Location of Originals:

Original ledgers are held by Disciples, United Church of Christ, in Danvers, Massachusetts.

Existence and Location of Copies:

Materials in this collection were digitized as part of the New England's Hidden Histories project. Digital reproductions are available to view online.

Historical Note

First Church of Danvers was founded in 1672 when a group of farmers who lived quite a distance from the Salem meetinghouse of which they were members petitioned for permission to erect one of their own. After initially being denied, the Massachusetts Court granted permission for a meetinghouse to be established in what was then known as Salem Village, and for the gathered body to call a minister.

This collection contains records from the years 1672-1845. During that time, First Church became the epicenter of the Salem witchcraft hysteria, built four meetinghouses, was instrumental in the establishment and building of the village's first school, saw Danvers incorporated as its own town, and survived the Revolutionary War while at the same time contributing numerous officers and soldiers to the cause.

Scope of Collection

Types of records in this collection include meeting minutes, confessions, covenants, notes on salaries, correspondence, and membership records. Also found in this collection are records of births, deaths, marriages, and baptisms. Of particular note are records pertaining to the witchcraft hysteria, including records of Martha Kory's [sic] excommunication from the church for witchcraft, and the confession and apology of witchcraft accuser Anne Putnam, made 10 years after the controversy.

This collection is part of New England's Hidden Histories. Digital historical representations of this collection can be viewed online.