First Church (Boston, Mass.) Records, 1630-2001 » III. Charitable records, 1696–1926 » A. Volumes, 1696–1894  

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Vols. 44 through 47 are account books that record the incoming contributions collected at church services, payments from special legacies, and donations; and outgoing expenses for the sacraments and distributions to the poor. Sacramental expenses include those of bread, wine, funeral expenses, and cleaning of the sacramental pewter or silver. Accounts of distributions to the poor are occasionally referenced by name. Vol. 47 has been photocopied due to extensive mildew damage. Vol. 48, "Records of charitable assistance for families in Roxbury," lists families by name and address, the number of family members, employment history, financial situation, and other social details. An account for each family lists the date and type of contribution – often wood, coal, groceries, or shoes for specific family members. Although unidentified, these records were most likely part of First Church's Sunday School families program, in which an employee of the church would visit indigent families of the congregation and distribute funds for their use. Additional records from this program can be found in Subseries B. - Loose records, which document visits from 1881 to 1886 and from 1923 to 1926.

DIGITIZED COLLECTIONS