Wilton Baptist Church Document
Wilton Baptist Church (associated with)
1826 (Earliest/Latest dates)
Paper, Ink
7 3/4" W
12 3/4" L
A document written on May 20, 1826 which notes the financial pledges of ten people towards the construction of a house of worship and burial ground for members of the Wilton Baptist Church. The document states the congregation’s difficulty in finding a place to worship, but that they have found a piece of property on Jesse Ogdin’s (Ogden’s) land. Pledges are from Eleazor Beers, Lewis Hurlbutt, Levy Dikeman, John Scott, Mary Chichester, Matthew Gregory, Ephraham Godfrey, Azor Belden, Mary Whiting, and George & Platt Belden.
Transcript:
Dear Beloved friends and all those that feel friendly towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Whereas the Baptist Church in Wilton have for many years labored under a great degree of difficulty in regard to a suitable place to meet for the purpose of worshiping that God before whome we shall one day appear have agreed to unite and try according to ancient custom to build a suitable house where we an with our neighbors and friends untie and offer up our supplications to God that he would not only own and bless our undertaking but at last so direct us that we may join in one continued song of praise to his name under these considerations we have thought proper to call on our [illegible] and charitable friends and neighbors in hope they will consider our situation and lend in their aid. We have procured a place on Jesse Ogden’s land for a house and burial ground. We therefore the under signers do agree that if the said Baptist Church doth build them a meeting house and leave a suitable place for a burial ground to give them the sums set to our names done by order and in behalf of Wilton Baptist Church.
Eleazor Beers $50
Lewis Hurlbutt $25
Levy Dikeman $10
John Scott $10
Mary Chichester $5
Matthew Gregory $5
Ephraham Godfrey $5
Azor Belden $5
Mary Whiting $3
George & Platt Belden $5
Transcript:
Dear Beloved friends and all those that feel friendly towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Whereas the Baptist Church in Wilton have for many years labored under a great degree of difficulty in regard to a suitable place to meet for the purpose of worshiping that God before whome we shall one day appear have agreed to unite and try according to ancient custom to build a suitable house where we an with our neighbors and friends untie and offer up our supplications to God that he would not only own and bless our undertaking but at last so direct us that we may join in one continued song of praise to his name under these considerations we have thought proper to call on our [illegible] and charitable friends and neighbors in hope they will consider our situation and lend in their aid. We have procured a place on Jesse Ogden’s land for a house and burial ground. We therefore the under signers do agree that if the said Baptist Church doth build them a meeting house and leave a suitable place for a burial ground to give them the sums set to our names done by order and in behalf of Wilton Baptist Church.
Eleazor Beers $50
Lewis Hurlbutt $25
Levy Dikeman $10
John Scott $10
Mary Chichester $5
Matthew Gregory $5
Ephraham Godfrey $5
Azor Belden $5
Mary Whiting $3
George & Platt Belden $5
Gift of Jack Sanders
2022.3.1