Original Organization of the church and earliest church record

TRANSCRIPTION OF THE OLDEST RECORD

The First Congregational Church of Middleboro, Massachusetts


Copy of the record of the 1st Church in Middleborough or rather the most ancient past thereof

Looking over the records of the first Church in Middleborough, made out and printed for the information of its members into the history of said Church; I noticed that there no account of the formation of s’d Church, nor the names of the first members of it, And having the writing of my Great Grand Father Ebenezer Fuller a copy of the record of the first formation of said Church & the Covenant they entered into and the articles of Faith xe. And thinking if that record was lost, it would be grattifying to the present Pastor and Church to have a ancient copy of said record transcribed March 8th 1734 by one (with his own hand) who was a member of said Church in Middleboro-, with confidence that it is an authentic copy of the original record. As my Great Grand Father Ebenezer Fuller who copyed and preserved it, doubtlefs , for his own use, was the Grand Son of the Rev Samuel Fuller the first Pastor of said church.
Noah Bosworth
Halifax Sept.r 5th 1826


______________________________________________________________________________

Middleborough . March 8, 1734
A copy of the records of the first Church of Christ in Middleborough, which was written by Mr Samuel fuller the first pastur of that Church.
______________________________________________________________________________

(1) Thou shalt remember all the way the Lord hath lead thee this forty years Dutre: 8.2 ----------------------
December 26:1694 --------------------- A Church of Christ was gathered at Middleborough formerly called by the Heathens Namaffacut a fifhing place as fome say ------------------ The persons & there names that Entered in to Church fellowfhip fome of them members of Plymouth Church before; being Dismiffed from Plymouth for that intent ; fome of them members of oather Churches Dwelling here then and fome of that were never in Church fellowfhip before that time whofe names are as followeth --------------------
(2) Samuel fuller & his wife
John Bennet and his wife
Jonathan Morfe & his wife
Abiall Wood & his wife
Samuel Eaton . Samuel Cutbart
Jacob Tomson and his wife
John Cob juner
Hefter Tinkham
the widow Deborah Bardon
Weibrah Bumpus
Ebenezer Tinkham his wife not being prefent by reafon of sickness in there family yet after owning the covenant of the rest being in the esteem of the reft itt is as well as if she were there prefent at that assembly
______________________________________________________________________________

Ebenezer Tinkham Isaac Billington Jacob Tomfon these then Baptifed foone affter were Baptifed the Children of John Cob in there infancy ; John, Martha, patience, Allso Lidia bumpus, the Daughter of Weibru Bumpus
______________________________________________________________________________

(3) In:order to the gathering of A Church it pleafed God who hath the hartes of all men in his hands to move upon the hartes of Sundry of thefe to defire a church might be gathered in thif place to defire it and seeke it of God; and devine providence made way for it – Letters was fent for minifters and Bretheren to affist in the work, namly, to Plymouth, Sandwige,& Barnftable, and the Elders fent mr John Cotton , mr Rouland Cotton, mr Jonathan Ruffel, and Brethren to affist them - - -
______________________________________________________________________________

mr Samuel fuller then ordained to be Teacher to that Church who had Lived there and preached the word amongst them whofe preaching god had made beneficial to Divers of them
______________________________________________________________________________

and made Choyse of by mutual confent. God can & oft doth out of the mouth of babes and fucklings ordain praise.
______________________________________________________________________________

John Bennet Sene our Brother, ordained Deacon – Deacon in the Church of Middleborough March :10 being the fecund fabbath in that month, and chofen by a full confent to that office some confiderable time before, Who formerly dwelt att Beverly whome god sent to in the way of his providence sent to dwel in Middleborough to be fervicable there in Church and Town
______________________________________________________________________________

A Copy of the Church Covenant that was read & Consented to at the Church gathering
______________________________________________________________________________

for as much as it hath pleafed god who hath commanded us to pray daly that his k kindome may come & be advanced and hath given Derection in his holy word and many fould Encurregments to his poor fenvent fervents to seek him & sett forward his – worship & the Concerment of his Glory ……….

Account of Ministers

Dates Name

1694 – 1695 Samuel Fuller

1702 – 1708 Thomas Palmer

1709 – 1744 Peter Thatcher, Jr.

1745 – 1777 Sylvanus Conant

1745 – 1749 Thomas Weld *

1753 – 1754 Elijah Packard *

1777 - 1781 (destitute of a pastor)?

1781 – 1815 Joseph Barker

1816 – 1822 Emerson Paine

1824 – 1834 William Eaton

1835 – 1865 Israel W. Putnam

1866 – 1869 Rufus M. Sawyer

1869 – 1874 Ephraim N. Hidden

1875 – 1878 Theophilus P. Sawin

1878 – 1885 Nathan T. Dyer

1885 – 1888 Howard A. Hannaford

1889 – 1891 Josiah W. Kingsbury

1891 – 1905 George W. Stearns

1905 – 1954 Arthur G. Cummings

1954 – 1957 James R. Williams

1957 – 1958 Warren C. Campbell (Interim?)

1958 – 1968 Albert D. C. McIlroy

1968 – 1969 Frank H. Oxenford (Interim)

1969 – 1977 Manfred W. Kohl

1977 – 1984 Robert T. Pardon

1984 Robert Olson (Interim)

1984 – 1991 Bruce R. Brown

1991 – 1993 Charles McCrillis (Interim)

1993 – 1997 James R. Henry

1997 – 1999 David White (Interim)

1999 - Peter W. Murdy


* Ministers during the split into the "Old Lights" and the "New Lights."