Church and Family History Research Assistance
for Primitive Baptist Churches in the State of Massachusetts
Massachusetts was one of the original thirteen states of the Union. Churches were established here long before the American Revolution.
We have not researched the historical accuracy of all of these churches, nor can we vouch for their soundness in the principles of the Baptist faith, nor can we confirm the order of their constitutions, the validity of their baptisms, etc.
CHURCH (COUNTY)(YEAR ORGANIZED):
FIRST SWANSEA (1663)
In 1665 Elder John Miles arrived in Massachusetts with part of his Baptist congregation of Swansea, Wales. He had founded a Baptist church in Swansea, in his native country, in 1649, and was one of about two thousand ministers who were ejected from their places by the cruel Act of Uniformity in 1662. He brought to this country the records of the Swansea church in Wales, from which large extracts were made from them by Mr. Backus, and sent over to Mr. Tommas of Leominster, England, the historian of the Welsh Baptists. Some of Elder Miles company in Wales came over with him, and at the house of John Butterworth in Rehoboth, they, to the number of seven, united in a solemn covenant together. Their names were Elder John Miles, James Brown, Nicholas Tanner, Joseph Carpenter, John Butterworth, Eldad Kingsley, and Benjamin Alby.
FIRST BOSTON (1665)
The First Baptist Church of Boston was organized June 7, 1665, by two women and seven men. It was the third church of any kind in Boston, and the fifth Baptist church in America.
SECOND SWANSEA (1694)
INDIAN TOWN (1730)
REHOBOTH (1732)
SOUTH BRIMFIELD (1736)
LEICESTER (1738)
SECOND BOSTON (1743)
STURBRIDGE (1749)
BELLINGHAM (1750)
Elder John Leland was a member and pastor of the church at this place, and was baptized by Elder Noah Alden.
CHESHIRE
Elder John Leland was later a member and pastor of the church at this place.
WESTFIELD
WOBURN (MIDDLESEX)(1838)
The Woburn Old School Baptist Church was organized in 1838, by about forty-five members, who left the New School party at Woburn on account of their adherences to false practices. The Woburn Church became a part of the Maine Predestinarian Baptist Conference, in connection with the North Berwick Church. Its meetinghouse was located at 452 Main, Woburn, Massachusetts, a western suburb of Boston. The following account gives some insight to the establishment of this church, viz., "As soon as I returned from Whitefield (Maine), I had to come into the State of Massachusetts. I am now at Woburn, Mass., within 10 miles of the City of Boston. The Lord has been at work here, bringing out his people. Forty-five membershave left the New School Church in this place, and banded themselves together, to maintain the worship of God, and the order of his house; they are on Old School ground, they left a new and elegant Meeting-house, built some few years ago, for the accommodation of the Baptist Church; everything about the house looked noble; but that was not sufficient to feed the souls of the established part of the church: it appeared to them that almost everything but pure gospel was preached; the doctrines of societies of men were contended for, but the office work of the Holy Spirit but little thought of. When they found that things were growing worse, instead of better, the yokes were increasing, and growing heavier, instead of lighter, they thought it duty, to come out from among them, and be separate, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to have the praises of men for a season. They are destitute of a minister to preach to them the gospel statedly, and feel anxious to obtain one that will preach Christ, and him crucified. I am supplying them a few Sundays, but do not expect to be able to stop long with them. May the Lord send them one to go in and out before them. Yours in the bonds of the gospel, PHILANDER HARTWELL, Woburn, Mass., September 28, 1838."
BRIGHTON
A church was organized at Brighton, Massachusetts, probably in the 1830's also.
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