Creator:	First Church (Charlestown, Boston, Mass.).
Title:	First Church (Charlestown, Boston, Mass.) records
Dates:	1631-1980
Physical Description:	13 boxes, 68 cased volumes (1 extra tall), and 1 oversize box
Call Number:	Ms. N-1248
Repository:	Massachusetts Historical Society 1154 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02215 library@masshist.org

Abstract:

This collection consists of the records of First Church (Charlestown, Boston, Mass.), a Congregational and later Unitarian church, and Winthrop Church (Charlestown, Boston, Mass.), 1631-1980. (The First Church of Charlestown and the Winthrop Church merged in 1913). Records include incorporation records, committee minutes and reports, vital statistics, clerks', deacons', and ministers' records, estate papers, treasurers' records, building records, and records of church-affiliated organizations.

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Historical Timeline

Dates	Events
July 1629	First religious services held in Charlestown by Rev. Francis Bright.
1630	Governor John Winthrop settles in Charlestown along with over one thousand colonists.
30 July 1630	Charlestown settlers form a Church Covenant with Rev. John Wilson as minister. Within 3 months the church relocates to Boston and continues as the First Church of Boston.
1632	Church members still living in Charlestown organize a new church due to distance from Boston.
2 Nov. 1632	First Church of Christ in Charlestown re-affirms the original church covenant.
ca. 1633	First Church begins meeting in a house that was previously intended for Gov. Winthrop.
1636	First Church's second building built.
5 Aug. 1716	First Church's third building dedicated.
17 June 1775	First Church's third building destroyed by fire during the Battle of Bunker Hill.
1783	First Church's fourth building built.
1803	First Church in Charlestown incorporates as First Parish Church in Charlestown.
23 Nov. 1832	Members of the First Parish gather to form the Winthrop Society. Meetings are held in the Town Hall
1833	First Church's fiftly building built.
Nov. 1833	The Winthrop Church's first building is completed on Union Street.
Feb. 1847	Members of the Winthrop Church gather to form Bethesda Church.
31 May 1848	Cornerstone laid for new Winthrop Church building on Green Street.
4 Mar. 1849	Green Street Winthrop Church building dedicated.
22 Mar. 1849	Bethesda Church dissolves.
1874	Charlestown annexed to Boston.
Sept. 1912	First Parish and Winthrop Churches merge.
1913	The merged First Parish and Winthrop Churches are incorporated as "The First Church in Charlestown."
12 Jan. 1957	Church building on Green Street destroyed by fire.

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Sources

Worthley, Harold Field. An Inventory of the Records of the Particular (Congregational) Churches of Massachusetts Gathered 1620-1805. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1970.

First Church (Charlestown, Boston, Mass.) records, Massachusetts Historical Society.

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Collection Description

The records of the First Church in Charlestown span the years 1631 to 1980, and encompass the records of both the First Church in Charlestown and the Winthrop Church, which was gathered by former members of the First Parish in 1832. The two churches merged in 1912. The records of both churches include church records, treasurers' records, building records, Sabbath School records, records of various church affiliated organizations, and printed materials.

First Church and Winthrop Church records both include incorporation records, minutes and reports of the church, standing and prudential committees, vital statistics, clerks' records, deacons' records, ministers' correspondence, invitations to ecclesiastical councils, and requests and recommendations for church membership transfers. In addition, First Church records contain Sarah L. MacDonald estate papers and records of Charles P. Curtis v. The First Church in Charlestown, a dispute over the distribution of the estate of Mary D. Balfour.

The treasurers' records of both churches include church accounts, pew records, records of weekly contributions, treasurers' reports, and correspondence. Winthrop Church treasurers' records also include warrants issued to the treasurer by the church committee authorizing calls for church meetings.

The Building Committee records of First Church relate to the fire that destroyed the church in January 1957, and the subsequent rebuilding. Winthrop Church building records primarily relate to funding for and construction of the Green Street building, 1847-1849.

First Church Sabbath School records include records of the Charlestown Female Sabbath Society, lists of students and teachers, teacher meeting minutes, records of weekly attendance, school secretary's records, and Pilgrim Practical Class Books. The records of the Winthrop Church Sabbath school consist of similar materials, including Sabbath School Committee reports and statistics, lists of students, and teacher reports.

First Church records also include meeting minutes and a song book of the Bunker Hill Temperance Legion. The Winthrop Church records include reports, minutes, by-laws, and accounts of the following organizations: the Winthrop Church Benevolent Association, Choir, Ladies Sewing Circle, and Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor.

The printed materials of both churches include newsletters; orders of services; church manuals including covenants, articles of faith, lists of members and pastors, and church histories; sermons; other church publications; clippings; and printed ephemera.

Winthrop Church records also include the records of Bethesda Church, which briefly gathered former Winthrop Church members in 1847 before dissolving in 1849.

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Related Materials

The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) holds the following collections related to the First Church (Charlestown, Boston, Mass.) records:

First Church (Charlestown, Boston, Mass.) photographs, 1896-1957. Photo. Coll. 500.71.

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Acquisition Information

Deposited by the First Church in Charlestown (Charlestown, Mass.) through Victor Ford, 1995, 1997, and Rev. Christine Jaronski, 2001, 2004.

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Organization of the Collection

The collection is organized into the following series:


I. First Church (Charlestown) records, 1631-1980
	A. Church records, 1631-1962
	B. Treasurers' records, 1671-1968
	C. Building Committee records, 1957-1958
	D. Sabbath School records, 1817-1960
	E. Temperance Legion records, 1912-1916
	F. Printed material, 1792-1980
II. Winthrop Church records, 1832-1920
	A. Church records, 1832-1915
	B. Treasurers' records, 1818-1920
	C. Building Committee records, 1833, 1847-1849
	D. Sabbath School records, 1833-1896
	E. Church organization records, 1834-1913
		i. Benevolent Association records, 1834-1869
		ii. Winthrop Choir records, 1842-1863
		iii. Ladies Sewing Circle records, 1835-1913
		iv. Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor records, 1885-1896
	F. Printed materials, 1833-1909
	G. Bethesda Church record book, 1845-1849

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Detailed Description of the Collection


Box	Folder	Volume	Contents
			I. First Church (Charlestown) records, 1631-1980
				A. Church records, 1631-1962 First Church (Charlestown) church records consist of bound volumes and loose records. Bound volumes include incorporation records; meeting minutes of the church, standing, and prudential committees; vital statistics including admissions, baptisms, members, marriages, censures, deaths, births, dismissions, and funerals; deacons' records; clerks' records; and business meeting minutes. Loose church records include correspondence and committee reports; Sarah L. MacDonald estate papers; records of Charles P. Curtis v. The First Church in Charlestown, a dispute over the distribution of the estate of Mary D. Balfour; invitations for First Church (Charlestown) to send a pastor and a delegate to ecclesiastical councils; requests and recommendations for church membership transfers; vital statistics including births, deaths, marriages, and membership, as well as summaries of disease, age, and rainfall; and marriage certificates.
					i. Bound church records, 1631-1949 Arranged chronologically.
		Vol. 1				Record book, 1631-1771
							Incorporation records and a list of first members, 1631-1632
							Admissions, 1632-1768
							Baptisms, 1632-1769
							"Renewers of Covenant," 1665-1768
							"The names of such person as have been admitted into the Church, but not unto full Communion," 1677-1697
							Marriages, 1687-1696
							Censures, 1658-1763
							Memorandum, 1771
		Vol. 2				Record book, 1768-1796
							List of members, 1768-1774, 1789-1790
							Minutes, 1768, 1787-1796
							Baptisms, 1774-1790
		Vol. 3				Deacons' records no. 3, 1789-1858
							Deaths, 1789-1830
							Funerals, 1840-1854
							Marriages, 1789-1854
							Baptisms, 1632-1858
							Births, 1789-1819
							Church members, 1789-1854
							Subscribers, 1789-1818
							Dismissions, 1840-1857
		Vol. 4				Deacons' records no. 1-2, 1791-1833 There is one volume for no. 1-2. Includes meeting minutes and "An Address delivered at the opening of the Chapel, Feb. 19th, 1809."
		Vol. 5				Membership list, 1794-1941 Includes signatures of members, 1794-1868; and alphabetical list of baptisms, ca. 1879-1941.
		Vol. 6				Record book, 1833-1865 Includes minutes of church meetings.
		Vol. 7				"Pastor's records," 1854-1879
							Dismissions, 1855-1867
							Baptisms, 1855-1871
							Church members, 1854-1879
							Marriages, 1855-1879
							Funerals, 1854-1879
		Vol. 8				Church Committee records, 1859-1886 Includes minutes of Church Committee meetings.
		Vol. 9				Record book, 1865-1884 Includes minutes of church meetings.
		Vol. 10				Record book, 1887-1927 Includes minutes of church meetings.
		Vol. 11				Record book, 1890-1913 "First Parish Church Records," including Register of Female Communicants, 1836-1908, annual meeting minutes, and church business votes.
		Vol. 12				Membership list, 1892-1949 Started as Winthrop Church records and continued as First Church records.
						Membership list, 1909-1930 Volume removed and returned to First Church in Charlestown, Oct. 2001.
		Vol. 13				Clerk's book, 1916-1919 Includes business and annual meeting minutes, committee reports, and other records of church business. Processing note: Due to mildew damage, the boards were removed from this volume, Nov. 2004.
Box 1	Folder 1					Loose papers removed from Clerk's book, 1916-1919
		Vol. 14				Meeting minutes, 1919-1920 Includes business and annual meeting announcements, correspondence, minutes, and reports.
		Vol. 15				Standing and Prudential Committees records, 1919-1920 Includes minutes and reports.
		Vol. 16				Business meeting minutes, 1919-1921 Includes meeting minutes and other records, mostly typescripts pasted into volume.
Box 1	Folder 2					Loose papers removed from Business meeting minutes, 1919-1921
					ii. Loose church records, 1788-1962 Arranged chronologically by record type.
Box 1	Folder 3-8					Church records, 1788-1962
Box 1	Folder 9					Sarah L. MacDonald estate papers, 1929-1930
Box 1	Folder 10					Charles P. Curtis v. The First Church in Charlestown records, 1933
						Ecclesiastical invitations, 1813-1895
Box 1	Folder 11-15						1813-1845
Box 2	Folder 1-4						1847-1879; 1892
						Transfer requests and recommendations, 1801-1886
Box 2	Folder 5-12						1801-1849
Box 3	Folder 1-6						1850-1894
Box 3	Folder 7-11					Vital statistics, 1797-1894
Box 3	Folder 12-15					Marriage certificates, 1840-1850 Arranged alphabetically, A-W.
OS Box	Folder 2					List of marriages, n.d. Oversize
				B. Treasurers' records, 1671-1968 First Church treasurers' records consist of bound volumes and loose records. Bound volumes include church accounts; pew records; records of weekly contributions; and accounts of various church organizations and funds. Loose treasurers' records include treasurers' reports; church accounts; pew records and accounts; records of charitable donations; lists of church property; and correspondence. See also Building Committee records for financial records relating to the rebuilding of the church after a fire in 1957. See also printed material for broadsides related to the auction of pews and an appeal for contributions.
					i. Bound treasurers' records, 1671-1968 Arranged chronologically.
		Vol. 17 (XT)				Account book, 1671-1814
Box 4	Folder 1					Daybook, 1693-1714
Box 4	Folder 2					Cash book, 1787-1796 Also includes church membership records, 1787-1793
Box 4	Folder 3					Treasurer's account book, 1830-1844 Photocopies Processing note: Due to mildew damage this volume was photocopied and the original discarded, Sept. 2004.
		Vol. 18				"Treasurer's Records," 1832-1874
		Vol. 19				Financial records, 1834-1861
Box 4	Folder 4					Loose papers removed from Financial records, 1834-1861
		Vol. 20				Pew taxes, 1856
		Vol. 21				Financial records, 1891-1913 Includes accounts of weekly contributions, the choir fund, the Ladies Sewing Circle, the coal fund, the Sunday School, charitable giving, and various missions.
		Vol. 22				"Cashbook," 1913-1919
		Vol. 23				Financial records, 1920-1928 Includes monthly receipts and disbursements, as well as Benevolent, Men's Club, Poor Fund, and other named fund accounts.
		Vol. 24				Financial records, 1920-1928 Includes accounts, treasurers' reports, and summaries of Sunday collections.
		Vol. 25				Financial records, 1925-1928
Box 4	Folder 5					Loose papers removed from Financial records, 1925-1928
		Vol. 26				Treasurer's records, 1942-1946 Includes general cash account records, as well as records of various charitable and named funds.
		Vol. 27				Treasurer's records, 1947-1951 Includes general cash account records, as well as records of various charitable and named funds.
		Vol. 28				Treasurer's records, 1952-1956 Includes general cash account records, as well as records of various charitable and named funds.
		Vol. 29				Treasurer's records, 1957-1961 Includes general cash account records, as well as records of various charitable funds.
		Vol. 30				Treasurer's records, 1962-1963; 1957-1959 Includes general cash account records, and records of various charitable funds, 1962-1963, as well as records of the Fire Recovery Fund, 1957-1959.
		Vol. 31				Treasurer's records, 1964-1968 Includes general cash account records, as well as records of various charitable funds.
					ii. Loose records, 1736-1957 Arranged chronologically.
Box 4	Folder 6-10					Treasurers' records, 1736; 1788-1957
				C. Building Committee records, 1957-1958 Arranged chronologically. First Church (Charlestown) Building Committee records consist of loose financial records and building plans relating to the rebuilding of the church after it was destroyed by fire in January 1957.
Box 4	Folder 11-15				Financial records related to rebuilding church after fire, 1957-1958
OS Box	Folder 7-9				Building plans, 1957
				D. Sabbath School records, 1817-1960 Arranged chronologically. First Church (Charlestown) Sabbath School records contain records of the Charlestown Female Society for the Promotion of Sabbath Schools; lists of students and teachers; teachers' meeting minutes; a pamphlet commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Sabbath School; weekly Sabbath School records of attendance and donations; Sunday School secretary's records; and Pilgrim Practical Class Books. See also treasurers' records for additional Sabbath School accounts. See also printed material for a pamphlet commemorating the semi-centennial of the first Sabbath School in Massachusetts.
Box 5	Folder 1				Charlestown Female Society for the Promotion of Sabbath Schools records, 1817-1832 Includes the "Constitution and Rules of the Charlestown Female Society for the promotion of Sabbath Schools", ca. 1817, and meeting minutes, 1817-1832.
		Vol. 32			Charlestown Female Society for the Promotion of Sabbath Schools records, 1832-1841
		Vol. 33			Sunday School register, ca. 1849 Includes lists of students and teachers, as well as minutes of a committee, "for the purpose of examining and considering plans for remodeling and altering the Meeting House."
		Vol. 34			Sabbath school records, 1864-1889 Includes teachers' meeting minutes, teachers' annual meeting minutes, and weekly Sunday school summaries that record attendance totals, hymns sung, and verses read.
Box 5	Folder 2				Sabbath School records 1878-1879, 1910 Includes teachers meeting minutes, 1878-1879, and a printed invitation to the "Annual Meeting of the Boston District Massachusetts Sunday School Association," 12 May 1910.
		Vol. 35			Sunday School accounts, 1919-1949 Includes receipts and payments that are summarized in attached bimonthly reports.
Box 5	Folder 3				Loose papers removed from Sunday School account book, 1919-1949
		Vol. 36			Sunday School register, 1948-1953 Includes names, addresses, and weekly records, possibly of donations.
		Vol. 37			Sunday School register, 1953-1959 Includes names, addresses, and weekly records, possibly of donations.
		Vol. 38			"Sunday School Record of Missionary Giving," 1953-1959 Includes weekly records, possibly of donations. Does not include names or addresses.
					Sunday School secretary's records, 1949-1959 10 volumes Volumes include weekly class attendance summaries, records of supplies, yearly attendance of officers, yearly attendance of teachers and scholars, including student and teacher names and addresses, and other notes.
Box 5	Folder 4-10					1949-1956
Box 6	Folder 1-3					1956-1959
Box 6	Folder 4-7				Pilgrim Practical Class Books, 1956-1960 Arranged by school year and teacher name. Each class book was kept by a Sunday School teacher and includes a list of students, addresses, and weekly attendance records for the school year.
				E. Temperance Legion records, 1912-1916 Arranged chronologically. First Church Temperance Legion records consist of a volume of meeting records and a song book.
		Vol. 39			Bunker Hill Temperance Legion records, 1912-1916 Includes meeting minutes of the Bunker Hill Temperance Legion. Processing note: Due to mildew damage, the boards were removed from this volume, Nov. 2004.
Box 6	Folder 8				Loyal Temperance Legion song book, ca. 1915 Includes typescripts of Loyal Temperance Legion songs, readings, and mottos.
				F. Printed material, 1792-1980 Arranged chronologically by format. First Church (Charlestown) printed materials consist of monthly newsletters, which include regular meeting times, messages from the minister, brief committee reports, and other church news; orders of services; pamphlets related to the First Church, including the church covenant and articles of faith, church histories, pamphlets written or edited by Rev. William Byron Forbush, and church manuals containing church histories, officers, governance, and by-laws; broadsides; clippings; laminated clippings related to the Jan. 1957 church fire; and printed ephemera.
Box 7	Folder 1-2				Monthly newsletters and orders of services, 1893-1957
					First Church pamphlets, 1842-1957
Box 7	Folder 3					The Covenant of the Congregational Church in Charlestown, n.d. 2 copies
Box 7	Folder 4					The Articles of Faith and Covenant of the First Church, Charlestown, with lists of the Founders, the Pastors, the Deacons, and the Surviving Members. Boston: Crocker & Brewster, 1842.
Box 7	Folder 5					The Articles of Faith and Covenant of the First Church, Charlestown, with lists of the Founders, the Pastors, the Deacons, and the Surviving Members. Boston: J. Howe, 1856.
Box 7	Folder 6					Semi-Centennial Celebration of the First Sabbath-School Society in Massachusetts, and the First Parish Sabbath School, Charlestown, Held on the Lord's Day, October 14, 1866. Boston: Press of Arthur W. Locke &Co., 1867.
Box 7	Folder 7					Manual of the First Church in Charlestown, with a Brief History of its Organization, Founders, Pastors, and Deacons, Articles of Faith and Covenant, and List of Membership, Commencing 1856. Boston: D. F. Jones & Co., 1876.
Box 7	Folder 8					Balfour, Mary D. First Parish Mementos, n.d.
Box 7	Folder 9					The Commemoration of the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the First Church, Charlestown, Mass. November 12, 1882. Privately printed, 1882. 1 printed copy and one photocopy
Box 7	Folder 10					Leavitt, Rev. George R. The Duties of Christians to the Church. Boston: Congregational Sunday-School and Publishing Society, 1884.
Box 7	Folder 11					Manual of the First Church in Charlestown, Boston, Mass. with a Brief History of its Organization, Founders, Pastors, and Deacons, Articles of Faith and Covenant, and List of Membership, 1896.Cambridge: Harvard Printing Co., 1896. 2 copies
Box 7	Folder 12					Woolsey, Lindsay. Yeast Cakes, a Bunker Hill Almanack.Boston: William Byron Forbush, 1899.
Box 7	Folder 13					Forbush, Rev. William Byron. America and the Far East. [Reprint from Bibliotheca Sacra, Oct. 1899.]
Box 7	Folder 14					Forbush, William Byron, ed. Men of Tomorrow, vol. 35, no. 2, Feb. 1902.
Box 7	Folder 15					Untitled First Church of Charlestown pamphlet, 1912. Contains "Historical Sketch of the First Church," and "Historical Sketch of the Winthrop Church."
Box 7	Folder 16					History of First Church in Charlestown, ca. 1932
Box 7	Folder 17					1957 Church Fair Journal: The First Church in Charlestown (Congregational) Celebrating its 325th Anniversary, 3 Dec. 1957.
					Broadsides, 1792-1834
OS Box	Folder 3					Convention of Congregational Ministers appeal for contributions, 15 July 1792 Broadside
OS Box	Folder 4					Plan and valuation of the pews in the new meeting house of the First Parish in Charlestown, July 1834 Broadside
Box 7	Folder 18				Clippings, 1834-1966
Box 7	Folder 19				Laminated clippings related to church fire, Jan. 1957
Box 7	Folder 20-21				Printed ephemera, 1886-1926; 1980
Box 7	Folder 22				Engraving of Rev. John Wilson, n.d.
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			II. Winthrop Church records, 1832-1920
				A. Church records, 1832-1919 Winthrop Church records include bound volumes and loose records. Bound volumes include church committee minutes and reports; Prudential Committee minutes; Standing Committee minutes; deacons' records; vital statistics including admissions, baptisms, and dismissions; lists of church officers, ministers, and sermons; records relating to the merger of Winthrop Church and First Church; and an index to an unidentified volume. Loose church records consist of records of the incorporation of the Winthrop Church; reports of church committees, including the Prudential Committee and Standing Committee; clerk reports; correspondence with ministers concerning invitations to and resignations from the Winthrop Church pulpit; ecclesiastical council reports; and lists of members; as well as invitations for Winthrop Church to send a pastor and a delegate to ecclesiastical councils, and requests and recommendations for church membership transfers. See also the First Church records for record books started by the Winthrop Church but continued by the First Church after the two churches merged in 1912.
					i. Bound church records, 1832-1919 Arranged chronologically.
		Vol. 40				Record book, 1832-1850
							Church meeting minutes, 1832-1848
							Admissions, 1832-1840
							Baptisms, 1833-1848
							"Systematic Benevolence" committee records, 1834-1850
		Vol. 41				"Records of the Winthrop Society," 1832-1863 Primarily consists of annual meeting and prudential committee meeting minutes. Includes records of the selection of ministers and church by-laws.
		Vol. 42				Deacons' records, 1832-1893 Includes deacons' records and annual meeting minutes.
		Vol. 43				List of members, 1833-1892
		Vol. 44				Church register, 1833-1907 Includes registers of pastors, deacons, treasurers, clerks, Sunday school superintendents, communicants, baptisms, and "non-supporting non-resident members."
Box 8	Folder 1					Loose papers removed from church register, 1833-1907
		Vol. 45				Record book, 1849-1875 Contains church records, including minutes, committee reports, and resolutions admitting and dismissing members. Processing note: Due to mildew damage, the boards were removed from this volume, Nov. 2004.
Box 8	Folder 2					Loose papers removed from record book 1849-1875
		Vol. 46				Record book, 1863-1890 Primarily consists of annual meeting and prudential committee meeting minutes, as well as some accounts.
		Vol. 47				Record book, 1875-1890 Contains church records, including minutes, committee reports, and resolutions admitting and dismissing members. Processing note: Due to mildew damage, the boards were removed from this volume, Nov. 2004.
		Vol. 48				Church register, 1884-1903 Includes registers of female and male new resident members, female and male communicants, baptisms, councils, and conferences. Also includes church meeting minutes, 1884-1890, and an index.
		Vol. 49				Church Committee meeting minutes, 1887-1909
		Vol. 50				Meeting minutes, 1890-1905 Includes typescripts of significant church records (charter, notice of first meeting, by-laws); materials regarding the resignation of Rev. Alexander S. Twombly; and meeting minutes.
Box 8	Folder 3					Loose papers removed from church meeting minutes, 1890-1905
		Vol. 51				Standing committee minutes, 1890-1919
Box 8	Folder 4					Ministers and sermons notebook, 1896-1900 The notebook contains the following lists of ministers and sermons.
							"Ministers occupying the pulpit of Winthrop Church during its vacancy from September 27, 1896 - April 3, 1898"
							"Sermons preached in Winthrop Church during the pastorate of Rev. William Byron Forbush from April 3, 1898 - Nov. 25, 1900"
							"Sermons preached in Winthrop Church from January to September 1896 by Charles R. Brown"
							"Sermons preached by Rev. R. A. MacFadden at various times"
		Vol. 52				"Winthop Church records," 1905-1915 Includes clerk's minutes of church meetings. Records relate to the merger of Winthrop Church with First Church Charlestown, 1912-1913; mention church silver.
Box 8	Folder 5					Loose papers removed from "Winthop Church records," 1905-1915
Box 8	Folder 6					Index to an unidentified volume, n.d.
					ii. Loose church records, 1832-1887 Arranged chronologically by record type.
Box 8	Folder 7-17					Church records, 1832-1887; 1909
Box 9	Folder 1-4					Ecclesiastical invitations, 1837-1887
Box 9	Folder 5-18					Transfer requests and recommendations, 1834-1887, 1897
				B. Treasurers' records, 1818-1920 Winthrop Church treasurers' records include both bound and loose records. Bound treasurers' records include charitable accounts, pew deed records, and church account books. Loose treasurers' records consist of annual reports; warrants for the treasurer to call church meetings; accounts, including bills and receipts for goods and services including printing, fuel, water, etc.; and pew records.
					i. Bound treasurers' records, 1818-1912 Arranged chronologically.
		Vol. 53				Charitable accounts, 1818-1853 Includes "contributions to assist the church in educating a pious Youth for the Gospel Ministry," contributions for missionary purposes, and contributions at the monthly concert.
		Vol. 54				Charitable accounts, 1833-1851 Includes contributions for foreign missions, the Education Cause, the Tract Cause, miscellaneous, Thanksgiving, domestic missions, and the Bible Cause.
		Vol. 55				"Record of pews," 1834-1842 Includes pew deeds arranged chronologically by date of purchase.
Box 10	Folder 1					Loose papers removed from "Record of pews," 1834-1842
		Vol. 56				Pew deeds, 1849-1863 Includes pew deeds arranged by pew number.
Box 10	Folder 2					Loose papers removed from pew deeds, 1849-1863
		Vol. 57				Account book, 1872-1880
		Vol. 58				Account book, 1891-1912
					ii. Loose treasurers' records, 1833-1920 Arranged chronologically by record type.
Box 10	Folder 3-7					Treasurers' reports, 1835-1896
Box 10	Folder 8-12					Meeting warrants, 1833-1883
Box 11	Folder 1-9					Accounts, 1834-1920
Box 11	Folder 10					Pew records, 1841-1863
				C. Building Committee records, 1833, 1847-1849 Arranged chronologically. Winthrop Church Building Committee records consist of reports, correspondence, and accounts, most of which relate to the subscription, location, and construction of a new meeting house. The records also include a plan of the pews of the church and the address of Rev. W. J. Budington at the laying of the cornerstone, May 31, 1848.
Box 11	Folder 11				Loose Building Committee records, 1833, 1847-1849
OS Box	Folder 6					Plan of pews in Winthrop Church on Green Street, 1849 Oversize
Box 11	Folder 12				"Report of Building Com.," 1847-1849 A small bound notebook includes Building Committee records related to the construction of the new church building on Green Street.
		Vol. 59			Building subscriptions, 1847-1849
				D. Sabbath School records, 1833-1896 Arranged chronologically. Winthrop Church Sabbath School records consist of bound and loose school accounts; loose school records, including reports and statistics presented by the Sabbath School Committee; a volume listing students; and teachers' reports on individual Sabbath School classes. See also church records for additional Sabbath School records. See also printed material for Rosamond Dayton, a volume with a Winthrop Sunday School bookplate.
		Vol. 60			Sabbath School accounts, 1833-1851
Box 12	Folder 1				Sabbath School accounts, 1846-1860
Box 12	Folder 2-5				Sabbath School records, 1856-1896
		Vol. 61			Sabbath school student list, 1850-1864 Includes chronological lists of students enrolled in Sabbath school. Entries include student name, age, parents, introduction, residence, class, and remarks.
Box 12	Folder 6				Sabbath School teacher reports, 1873
				E. Church organization records, 1834-1913 This subseries consists of records relating to the Winthrop Church Benevolent Association, Winthrop Choir, Ladies Sewing Circle, and Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor.
Box 12	Folder 7-8				i. Benevolent Association records, 1834-1869 Arranged chronologically. Winthrop Church Benevolent Association records consist of reports and accounts of charitable contributions and expenditures.
		Vol. 62			ii. Winthrop Choir records, 1842-1863 One volume of Winthrop Choir records includes the choir by-laws, meeting minutes, and lists of choir members.
					iii. Ladies Sewing Circle records, 1835-1913 Arranged chronologically. The Winthrop Church Ladies Sewing Circle was organized in 1834. Records consist of meeting minutes, lists of officers, accounts, and annual reports.
		Vol. 63				Winthrop Sewing Circle records, 1835-1867 Includes the "Constitution of the Winthrop Sewing Circle," a list of members, regular and annual meeting minutes, and lists of officers.
		Vol. 64				Winthrop Sewing Circle accounts, 1883-1888 Includes assessments and expenses, as well as some lists of committee members.
		Vol. 65				Winthrop Sewing Circle accounts, 1883-1894 Includes assessments and expenses, as well as some lists of committee members.
Box 12	Folder 9					Annual reports, 1893-1913
					iv. Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor records, 1885-1896 Arranged chronologically. This subseries includes one volume of records of the Winthrop Church Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, which contains a list of active members, 1885, 1886, and meeting minutes, 1885-1889; and loose reports.
		Vol. 66				Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor records, 1885-1889 "Property of the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavour of Winthrop Church."
Box 12	Folder 10					Loose papers removed from Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor records, 1885-1889
Box 12	Folder 11					Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor reports, 1896 Includes two reports, from the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor and the Junior Christian Endeavor Society.
				F. Printed materials, 1833-1909 Arranged chronologically. This subseries consists of weekly calendars and orders of services; issues of Winthrop's Journal, a monthly Winthrop Church publication with reports on church news and groups, clerk reports and vital statistics, sermon notes, book reviews, and advertisements; clippings; loose scrapbook pages; Winthrop Church pamphlets, including printed sermons, lists of members, and church manuals containing church histories, past officers, church governance, by-laws, and policies; and Rosamond Dayton, a volume with a Winthrop Sunday School bookplate.
Box 12	Folder 12				Weekly calendars and orders of services, 1883-1909
Box 12	Folder 13				Winthrop's Journal, 1895-ca. 1903
Box 12	Folder 14				Clippings, 1896
Box 12	Folder 15				Loose scrapbook pages, 1898-1901
Box 12	Folder 16				Photomechanical image of Winthrop Church, n.d.
					Pamphlets, 1833-1900
Box 13	Folder 1					Crosby, Rev. Daniel. Good Men Love the Sanctuary: A Sermon Delivered Dec. 25, 1833, at the Ordination of Rev. Henry Adams, as Pastor of the Congregational Church, Worthington, Mass. Boston: Crocker & Brewster, 1834. Includes the following inscription: "This sermon with some alterations was preached at the dedication of Winthrop Church on Union St."
Box 13	Folder 2					Kittridge, Rev. E. A. "And Enoch Walked with God:" A Sermon, Preached in the Winthrop Church, Charlestown, December 23, 1860, by the Pastor of the Church. Boston: E.L. Balch, 1861.
Box 13	Folder 3					Rankin, Rev. Jeremiah Eames. The Duty of Commemorating the Deeds of our Fathers: A Sermon Preached in the Winthrop Church, Charlestown, June 18, 1865. Boston: Moses H. Sargent, 1865.
Box 13	Folder 4					Manual of the Winthrop Church, Charlestown, Mass. Boston: Rockwell & Rollins, 1868.
Box 13	Folder 5					Twombly, Rev. Alexander S. Sermon on John Adams, Preached November 28, 1880, in Winthrop Church, Charlestown, Mass. Boston: Franklin Press: Rand, Avery, & Company, 1880.
Box 13	Folder 6					Catalogue of Present Members of Winthrop Church, Green Street, Charlestown, 1881. Boston: McIndoe Bros., 1881. 4 copies
Box 13	Folder 7-8					Semi-Centennial Manual. Winthrop Church, (Charlestown), Boston, Mass. Boston: Alfred Mudge & Son, Printers, 1883. 2 copies Bound pamphlet
Box 13	Folder 9-10					Semi-Centennial Manual. Withrop Church, (Charlestown), Boston, Mass. Boston: Alfred Mudge & Son, Printers, 1883. 2 copies Paperback pamphlet
Box 13	Folder 11-12					Supplement to Manual. Winthrop Church, (Charlestown), Boston, Mass. Boston: Alfred Mudge & Son, Printers, 1891. 2 copies
Box 13	Folder 13					The Manual of the Winthrop Church, (Charlestown District), Boston. Charlestown: W.E. & B.W. Pearson, Printers, May 1900. 2 copies
		Vol. 67			Gardner, Mrs. H. C. Rosamond Dayton. Boston: Lee and Shepard, 1869. Includes Winthrop Sunday School bookplate.
		Vol. 68		G. Bethesda Church record book, 1845-1849 One volume contains the records of Bethesda Church, Charlestown. Includes records of the founding and dissolution of the church, as well as lists of members and baptisms, 1847-1849. The Bethesda Church split off from the Winthrop Church in Feb. 1847 and dissolved 22 Mar. 1849.

Table of Contents

Preferred Citation

First Church (Charlestown, Boston, Mass.) records, Massachusetts Historical Society.

Table of Contents

Access Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.


	Organizations:
		Bethesda Church (Charlestown, Boston, Mass.).
		Bunker Hill Temperance Legion.
		Charlestown Female Sabbath Society.
		Winthrop Church (Charlestown, Boston, Mass.).
		Winthrop Ladies Sewing Circle.
		Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor.


	Subjects:
		Account books,--1671-1968.
		Charlestown (Boston, Mass.)--Church history.
		Charlestown (Boston, Mass.)--Statistics, Vital.
		Church buildings--Massachusetts--Charlestown.
		Church charities--Massachusetts--Charlestown.
		Church music.
		Clubs--Massachusetts--Charlestown.
		Congregational churches--Massachusetts--Charlestown.
		Decedents estates--Massachusetts--Charlestown.
		Pews and pew rights.
		Sunday schools--Massachusetts--Charlestown.
		Temperance--Massachusetts--Charlestown--Societies, etc.
		Unitarian churches--Massachusetts--Charlestown.
		Women--Societies and clubs.

Table of Contents

Photographs Removed from the Collection

Photographs have been removed from this collection to the First Church (Charlestown, Boston, Mass.) photographs, 1896-1957. Photo. Coll. 500.71.

Table of Contents

http://www.masshist.org/findingaids/doc.cfm?fa=fa0030
Send reference questions to library@masshist.org.

Collection processed by Michael Rush, Sept. 2004.
Revised 21 July 2005
Encoded by Michael Rush, Sept. 2004

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