First Church (Boston, Mass.) Records,
1630-2001 » III. Charitable records, 1696–1926 » A. Volumes, 1696–1894 [read more]
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.
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
Crowdsourced Transcription Project
Box 9, Folder 4, Loose pages removed from Vol. 46
Vol. 45, OS Box 1, Sacramental and Poor Fund ...
Vol. 46, Box 9, Folder 3, Sacramental and Poor Fund records, 1779-1812