Forward:
The original of these Blandford Church records are in the possession of the Russell Community Church. I was more than delighted when, on October 7, 1984, the minister said he would lend them to me to copy.
I had been aware that some Blandford residents were Baptists, but thought they belonged to churches outside of Blandford. This was probably true before 1825.
The early Blandford Church records (Presbyterian, turned Congregational in 1805) are familiar to me. It had always seemed strange that many Blandford names did not occur in those records. There were also Methodists and Protestant Episcopalians fairly early in Blandford's history, but still they did not account for many families of the town.
On reading the Blandford Baptist Church records, I discovered many members with a Rhode Island background. Of course Rhode Island was a Baptist stronghold, so this was not surprising.
This Baptist group must have met locally, but where is uncertain. Perhaps in private homes or barns. Or it may be that their meetings were in schoolhouses. I have some reason to think an early center schoolhouse on the lower common was so used by Episcopalians before they built their church. The Baptists may also have done so.
On October 27, 1832, the Baptist Church voted to remove the Baptist meeting to the Episcopal meetinghouse in Blandford. At the same meeting, the church voted "to choose a committee of three for the purpose of purchase of one- half of the Episcopal meeting house, provided said house can be purchased to the satisfaction of said Committee". Nothing further regarding this transaction is found in the Baptist records.
In the Episcopal records, on Jan. 2, 1832, this occurs: "Voted that all persons having property in P.E. Church in Blandford, of whatever denomination shall have privileges in said house according to property owned, or shall hereafter be owned, and such preaching of other denominations as they deem proper." The Baptists, as such, are not named but it sounds as if some talk had gone on previous to Oct. 27, 1832. The Protestant Episcopal meetinghouse stood on North Street, in Blandford, opposite the end of the Huntington Road. It was called St. Mark's, and was erected in 1830.
From "Report on the Public Records of Parishes, Towns and Counties in Mass.", published in 1885, I find on page 140, under Extinct Churches, a Baptist Church listed in Blandford. No dates whatever are given, but a footnote says they united with the Russell Baptist Church. This accounts for the records being in Russell.
The last of these records is dated Oct. 19, 1856.
Public Organization of the Blandford Baptist Church AD 1825
Records of the proceedings of the covenanted brethren united in faith and practice on the associated Baptist platform and regulated according to their practice.
Located in Blandford, Massachusetts.
May the 6th The brethren convened and
Resolved 1st That Brother Adam Miner be the clerk to keep a correct record of all the proceedings done by said brethren.
2nd Resolved that we send letters to Russel Church, Southwick do., E. Granville do., Westfield do. all of the Baptist order, requesting them to appoint their Elders and brethren according to their disgression (discretion) to meet at the house of Adam Miner in Blandford the eleventh of July at 10 O’clock A.M. to consider the propriety of organizing sd brethren into a Church on the above mentioned platform; Also, if deemed proper, to set apart Brother Charles A. Turner to the work of the ministry, to preach to, and watch over us in the name of the Lord.
3rd Resolved that we feel it duty to attend on the ordinances of our Savior; and appoint brothers Enos Boise and Adam Miner to officiate as deacons.
Agreeable to letters missive from the Baptist Brethren in Blandford, Mass. an ecclesiastical council convened at the house of Adam Miner in Blandford on Monday July 11th 1825 to consult on the expediency of giving sd brethren fellowship as a church of Christ; and ordaining among them brother Charles A. Turner as their Elder.
Said council was composed of the following messengers, viz from the church in Granville, Elder Silas Root, Dea. Elijah Spelman and Brother Joseph H. Cross, Russel, Elder Benjamin Willard, Brother Enos Boise, and brother Marcus Bradley-Westfield, Elder David Wright, Deacon Stephen Herrick, and Dea. David Clarke, Southwick, Elder John D. Hart and brother Lewis D. Fowler.
Committee of the brethren in Blandford brother Enos Boise and George Nye.
1st Appointed brother Root, moderator, and brother Wright, Clerk.
2 Prayer by the moderator.
3 Heard the statements of the Committee relative to the circumstances and prospects of those who desire followshp as a church and examined and approved of their articles of faith and covenant.
4 Resolved that it is expedient to give the covenanted Brothers and Sisters in Blandford the hand of fellowship as a church of Christ.
Viz: Adam Miner and Betsey Miner, his wife, from the 2nd Church in North Stonington, Connecticut, William Burdick and Sally Burdick, his wife, from the first Church in South Kingston, Rhode Island, and by Baptism, Elisha Miner, George H. Nye, Orrin Judd, Joseph F. Miner, William C. Nye, James N. Nye, William Clark, John Burdick, George Burdick, Sally Miner, Priscilla Miner, Mary E. Miner, Judith Nye, Polly Nye, Lucy Nye, Mary Ann Burdick, Truly Hills, Sally Clark, Betsey Bowers, Polina Herrick, Eliza Parrett (or Tarrett).
5 Adjourned to hear brother Turner preach. Resolving to resume our business immediately after worship.
6 Reassembled pursuant to adjourment.
7 Heard brother Turner's religious experience, call to the ministry, and view of divine truth.
8 Resolved that this council have evidence of brother Turner's piety and are favorably impressed in relation to his call to preach, but are not fully satisfied that the time is arrived for his public ordination to the work of the ministry by imposition of the hands of the presbytery.
9 Appointed Brother Hart to preach at the organization of the Church. Brother Root to offer the prayer, Brother Willard to address the church and present the hand of fellowship, br. Wright to offer the concluding prayer.
10 Adjourned till tomorrow morning at 10 Oclock for public worship. Brother Wright prayed.
Tuesday July 12th Met for public worship when the above mentioned ser- vice was performed in due order and the above mentioned brethren and sisters were publicly organized as a church of Christ.
In behalf of the council
David Wright, Clerk
The original of these Blandford Church records are in the possession of the Russell Community Church. I was more than delighted when, on October 7, 1984, the minister said he would lend them to me to copy.
I had been aware that some Blandford residents were Baptists, but thought they belonged to churches outside of Blandford. This was probably true before 1825.
The early Blandford Church records (Presbyterian, turned Congregational in 1805) are familiar to me. It had always seemed strange that many Blandford names did not occur in those records. There were also Methodists and Protestant Episcopalians fairly early in Blandford's history, but still they did not account for many families of the town.
On reading the Blandford Baptist Church records, I discovered many members with a Rhode Island background. Of course Rhode Island was a Baptist stronghold, so this was not surprising.
This Baptist group must have met locally, but where is uncertain. Perhaps in private homes or barns. Or it may be that their meetings were in schoolhouses. I have some reason to think an early center schoolhouse on the lower common was so used by Episcopalians before they built their church. The Baptists may also have done so.
On October 27, 1832, the Baptist Church voted to remove the Baptist meeting to the Episcopal meetinghouse in Blandford. At the same meeting, the church voted "to choose a committee of three for the purpose of purchase of one- half of the Episcopal meeting house, provided said house can be purchased to the satisfaction of said Committee". Nothing further regarding this transaction is found in the Baptist records.
In the Episcopal records, on Jan. 2, 1832, this occurs: "Voted that all persons having property in P.E. Church in Blandford, of whatever denomination shall have privileges in said house according to property owned, or shall hereafter be owned, and such preaching of other denominations as they deem proper." The Baptists, as such, are not named but it sounds as if some talk had gone on previous to Oct. 27, 1832. The Protestant Episcopal meetinghouse stood on North Street, in Blandford, opposite the end of the Huntington Road. It was called St. Mark's, and was erected in 1830.
From "Report on the Public Records of Parishes, Towns and Counties in Mass.", published in 1885, I find on page 140, under Extinct Churches, a Baptist Church listed in Blandford. No dates whatever are given, but a footnote says they united with the Russell Baptist Church. This accounts for the records being in Russell.
The last of these records is dated Oct. 19, 1856.
Public Organization of the Blandford Baptist Church AD 1825
Records of the proceedings of the covenanted brethren united in faith and practice on the associated Baptist platform and regulated according to their practice.
Located in Blandford, Massachusetts.
May the 6th The brethren convened and
Resolved 1st That Brother Adam Miner be the clerk to keep a correct record of all the proceedings done by said brethren.
2nd Resolved that we send letters to Russel Church, Southwick do., E. Granville do., Westfield do. all of the Baptist order, requesting them to appoint their Elders and brethren according to their disgression (discretion) to meet at the house of Adam Miner in Blandford the eleventh of July at 10 O’clock A.M. to consider the propriety of organizing sd brethren into a Church on the above mentioned platform; Also, if deemed proper, to set apart Brother Charles A. Turner to the work of the ministry, to preach to, and watch over us in the name of the Lord.
3rd Resolved that we feel it duty to attend on the ordinances of our Savior; and appoint brothers Enos Boise and Adam Miner to officiate as deacons.
Agreeable to letters missive from the Baptist Brethren in Blandford, Mass. an ecclesiastical council convened at the house of Adam Miner in Blandford on Monday July 11th 1825 to consult on the expediency of giving sd brethren fellowship as a church of Christ; and ordaining among them brother Charles A. Turner as their Elder.
Said council was composed of the following messengers, viz from the church in Granville, Elder Silas Root, Dea. Elijah Spelman and Brother Joseph H. Cross, Russel, Elder Benjamin Willard, Brother Enos Boise, and brother Marcus Bradley-Westfield, Elder David Wright, Deacon Stephen Herrick, and Dea. David Clarke, Southwick, Elder John D. Hart and brother Lewis D. Fowler.
Committee of the brethren in Blandford brother Enos Boise and George Nye.
1st Appointed brother Root, moderator, and brother Wright, Clerk.
2 Prayer by the moderator.
3 Heard the statements of the Committee relative to the circumstances and prospects of those who desire followshp as a church and examined and approved of their articles of faith and covenant.
4 Resolved that it is expedient to give the covenanted Brothers and Sisters in Blandford the hand of fellowship as a church of Christ.
Viz: Adam Miner and Betsey Miner, his wife, from the 2nd Church in North Stonington, Connecticut, William Burdick and Sally Burdick, his wife, from the first Church in South Kingston, Rhode Island, and by Baptism, Elisha Miner, George H. Nye, Orrin Judd, Joseph F. Miner, William C. Nye, James N. Nye, William Clark, John Burdick, George Burdick, Sally Miner, Priscilla Miner, Mary E. Miner, Judith Nye, Polly Nye, Lucy Nye, Mary Ann Burdick, Truly Hills, Sally Clark, Betsey Bowers, Polina Herrick, Eliza Parrett (or Tarrett).
5 Adjourned to hear brother Turner preach. Resolving to resume our business immediately after worship.
6 Reassembled pursuant to adjourment.
7 Heard brother Turner's religious experience, call to the ministry, and view of divine truth.
8 Resolved that this council have evidence of brother Turner's piety and are favorably impressed in relation to his call to preach, but are not fully satisfied that the time is arrived for his public ordination to the work of the ministry by imposition of the hands of the presbytery.
9 Appointed Brother Hart to preach at the organization of the Church. Brother Root to offer the prayer, Brother Willard to address the church and present the hand of fellowship, br. Wright to offer the concluding prayer.
10 Adjourned till tomorrow morning at 10 Oclock for public worship. Brother Wright prayed.
Tuesday July 12th Met for public worship when the above mentioned ser- vice was performed in due order and the above mentioned brethren and sisters were publicly organized as a church of Christ.
In behalf of the council
David Wright, Clerk