Hanover, Mass. First Congregational Church records, 1728-1818.
Description
Historical Note
The Congregational Society at Hanover was formed by an act of the Massachusetts General Court in 1727, and met in the homes of members until its first meetinghouse was built the following year. Notable founding members included Joseph Stockbridge and Elijah Cushing. The first minister, Rev. Benjamin Bass, also formed the town's earliest public library.
Over the past three centuries, the church has constructed three further buildings to accommodate the changing needs of its membership. It has sponsored the local Boy Scout troop, contributed funds to both home and foreign missions, and formed a Social Action Committee to increase community outreach. One of the congregation's original silver communion cups was donated to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston in 1911.
Scope of Collection
This collection contains the early records of Frist Congregational Church in Hanover, Massachusetts. Included are records of church meetings, vital statistics, marriages, membership, and the original founding covenant. Also included are records of sacramental wine purchased.
Further Searches
Subject Headings
Church records and registers - Massachusetts - Hanover.
Baptism - Congregational churches.
Covenant (Church polity) - Congregational churches.
Marriage records - Massachusetts
Marriage records - Massachusetts
Related Materials
Hanover, MA : First Congregational Church. 17.11.1 H19.5 FIRCC
History and records of the First Congregational Church, Hanover, Mass., 1727-1865, and inscriptions from the headstones and tombs in the cemetery at Centre Hanover, Mass., 1727-1894. Being volume I of the church and cemetery records of Hanover, Mass. 17.11.1 H19.5 FIRCC HB 1895
History of the town of Hanover, Massachusetts, with family genealogies T H19.5 D
Arrangement
Records are contained in three volumes ordered by date. All three volumes are reproduced both digitally and onto one microfilm reel.
Contents
Date | Location | |
Church records | 1728-1756 | Volume 1 |
Reel 1 of 1 | ||
Online Interface | ||
The records in this first volume include the original covenant, early church meeting minutes, and lists of births, deaths, and marriages. | ||
Church records | 1756-1818 | Volume 2 |
Reel 1 of 1 | ||
Online Interface | ||
The records in the second volume include church meeting minutes, membership records, and lists of births, deaths, and marriages. | ||
Miscellaneious records | 1785-1800 | Volume 3 |
Reel 1 of 1 | ||
Online Interface | ||
This brief volume mostly consists of records of sacramental wine purchased. It also includes a few vital statistics not listed in the church record books. |