Mattapoisett, Mass. First Congregational Church records, 1736-1984.

Collection

Identifier: RG4840

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

These ledgers contain records relating to the administration of the church and the daily lives of its members. Included within the materials are records pertaining to membership, baptisms, marriages, deatch, church meetings and ecclesiastical councils, and the administrative and financial records of the church.

Dates

1736-1984

Creator

First Congregational Church (Mattapoisett, Mass.) (Organization)

Restrictions on Access

Access to this collection is unrestricted and open to the public.

Restrictions on Use

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.

Digital Reproductions are protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use the Digital Reproductions in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the Congregational Library & Archives for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the Congregational Library & Archives. For additional information regarding copyright, please consult the Congregational Library & Archives' Digital Collections Copyright & Use policy.

Historical Note

Mattapoisett was gathered as the Second Precinct of Rochester by an act of the Massachusetts General Court in June 1736, though the village did not become a separate town until 1857. The first meetinghouse was constructed in 1737. The early years were contentious, as congregants disagreed over everything from who to accept as their pastor to the propriety of singing "by rule" (using hymnals that include musical notation) and instrumental accompaniment.

The original building was lost in the "great gale" of 1815. The congregation met at the town's schoolhouse for a time until its new building was constructed. Due to a strong revival movement, they soon outgrew this building, and moved to yet another new structure in 1842. In 1836, the first "Sabbath School" at the church was opened. After the town was incorporated, the church officially became the First Precinct in Mattapoisett in 1860, and later simply Mattapoisett Congregational Church. Additional work and expansions to the church and its facilities were completed in the 1950s and 1970s. In 1974, the church acquired a carillon which plays church hymns every day at noon and 6:00pm.

The Mattapoisett Congregational Church, a member of the United Church of Christ, continues to searve the community today.

Extent

0.68 Cubic Feet (2 boxes, 3 reels)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The church was gathered in July of 1736 as Second Church in Rochester, Massachusetts, and didn't become Mattapoisett Congregational Church until 1860 after the town of Mattapoisett was incorporated. The early years of the church were marked by much contention, most notably regarding pastoral appointments and policies on singing. The collection contains records relating to membership, vital statistics, ecclesiastical councils, meeting minutes, and financial records.

Arrangement

Materials in this collection have been arranged by chronological, by start date, and by topic.

Technical Requirements

A microfilm reader is required in order to access microform materials. One microfilm reader is available to the public upon request.

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 later, Opera 12 and later, Safari 5.x and later, or any version of Google Chrome are recommended.

Acquisition Information

Materials were permanently loaned to the Congregational Library & Archives, September 2007, by the Mattapoisett Congregational Church.

Accruals

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

Bibliography

Leonard, Mary Hall. Mattapoisett and Old Rochester, Massachusetts : being a history of these towns and also in part of Marion and a portion of Wareham. New York: The Grafton press, 1907. T M43.25

Processing Information

Redescribed by Sari Mauro, September 2013, using DACS Second Edition. Additional processing by Zachary Bodnar, August 2018, using DACS Second Edition.