First Congregational Church Record Inventory
VOLUMES ON DEPOSIT
Parish records
First Parish records, 1735-1759
First Parish records, 1759-1876
First Parish records, 1877-1963
First Parish assessors book, 1745-1794
First Parish assessors book, 1794-1885
First Parish treasurer’s book, 1838-1907
Proprietors of the Meeting House records
Proprietors records, 1837-1939
Proprietors by-laws and organization, 1860
Church records
Church records (Vol. I), 1702-1794
Church records (Vol. I), 1702-1758 (transcribed, 1886)
Church records (Vol. II), 1758-1832
Church records (Vol. III), 1834
Church records (Vol. IV), 1838-1880
Church records (Vol. V), 1881-1898
Church Clerk’s records
Church records (membership, 1702-1898; 1900-1902)
Clerk’s record book, 1898-1912
Clerk’s record book, 1912-1939
Clerk’s record book, 1939-1946
Clerk’s record book, 1946-1959
Clerk’s record book, 1960-1963
Clerk’s record book, 1964-1973
Financial records
Ministerial Fund volumes
Creation and distribution of the Ministerial Fund, 1824-1836, 1914-1964; also includes warrants for parish meetings, 1882-1892; and
memorial funds added to the Ministerial Fund, 1908-1964
Ministerial Fund – orders drawn on the treasurer of the First Parish, 1840-1867; record of bills allowed, 1868-1883
Ministerial Fund – notes and bills receivable, 1892-1916, 1831-1857, 1917-1923, 1911-1961
Ministerial Fund – notes on demand payable to the trustees of the Ministerial Fund, 1836-1844; interest of the Ministerial Fund received,
1844-1851; income collected on the Ministerial Fund, 1852-1902
Ministerial Fund – account of loans of the Fund, 1889-1893; situation of the Fund, 1903-1913
Church funds volumes
Financial records relating to the Caroline E. Peabody Fund, 1869-1896
Accounts of church funds, 1898-1946, including the Mary Ann Peabody Library Fund, 1932 parsonage repair fund, Caroline E. Peabody
Church Fund, and Sarah P. Perley Fund
Accounts of church funds, 1947-1961
Accounts of church funds, 1962-1967
Ministerial Fund records (continuation of records kept by Robert Parkhurst), 1962-1964
Church Treasurer
Records of cash receipts and payments, 1951-1963; including annual reports
Cash book, 1926-1934 (donated to BHDC by Charles Killam, 2013)
Church committee records
Church Council minutes 1946-1955, 1959-1960, 1962 (also loose papers, 1960-1962)
Board of Deacon’s record book, 1964-1966; including church membership
Church historian scrap book, 1959-1976
Guest book – 250th Anniversary, October 5, 1952
Sunday School
Sunday School library records, 1906-1916
Sunday School library records, 1935-1943
Women’s Board of Missions / Boxford Auxiliary (Women’s/Ladies Missionary Society) – (moved to 1st Church organizations box)
Constitution and Records, 1877-1905
Meeting records, 1911-1918; 1923-1929
Meeting records, 1919-1924
Records, 1930-1955
Treasurers accounts, 1919-1939 (includes many loose papers)
Cash book, 1949-1954
Ladies Benevolent Society (Record Books and Ledgers)
Benevolent Society records, 1852-1867
LBS records, 1867-1902
LBS records, 1902-1925
LBS records, 1909-1918
LBS records, 1925-1944
LBS records, 1944-1958
LBS records, 1959-1960
LBS records, 1961-1972
LBS records, 1972-1987
Album and Scrapbook, 1945-1999, 1999-2010
BOXES ON DEPOSIT
Box 1 – Pastors
Hymn of welcome to the pastor (printed)
Atkins, Charles Louis
Baker, Kendall C.
Bradford, Emery Lucius
Briggs, Isaac
Coggin, William Symmes
Comins, Ellsworth Davidson, Jr.
Curtis, Thomas
Eaton, Kenneth Oxner
Gammell, Sereno D.
Hafeman, Scott
Huber, William Richard
Kendall, Robert Roy
Noss, Frederick Boyer
Nutter, Stuart C.
Putnam, Raymond Gentlee
Roys, Edville Adallus
Snell, Laird Wingate
Stuart, Douglas K.
Symmes, Thomas
White, Arthur F.
Williams, Walter Byron
Wolfe, Rolland Emerson
Box 2 – First Parish, Proprietors of the Meeting House, First Church
First Parish – committee to determine expense of building meeting house;
Committee to build a new meeting house
First Parish – appraisal of pews in old meeting house
First Parish – financial records – subscriptions
First Parish – parish meeting records
First Parish – parish meeting warrants
First Parish – treasurer’s records
First Parish – treasurer’s records – warrants
First Parish – deeds
First Parish – pew deeds
First Parish – pew assessments
Proprietors of the meeting house – 1837 subscription
Proprietors of the meeting house – deeds
Proprietors of the meeting house – financial records
Proprietors of the meeting house – insurance policies
Proprietors of the meeting house – records
First Church – annual meeting minutes
First Church – deeds
First Church – insurance policies
First Church – discharge of mortgage, 1987
Meeting House/Church – “stove and funnel,” 1824
Meeting House/Church – organ, 1885 and 1991
Meeting House/Church – parish committee to paint meeting house and chapel, 1907
Meeting House/Church – piano fund, 1907-1908
Meeting House/Church – committee for painting, 1922 and 1933
Meeting House/Church – committee on heating, 1937
Meeting House/Church – refurnishing church, 1950
First Church – Christian Education wing, 1964-1966
First Church – Our Father’s House, 2002-2003
First Church – Our Father’s House, 2004-2006
First Church – Music
First Church – Musical programs
Box 3 – Denominations, by-laws, membership
Denominational changes
Congregational Christian Churches
United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ – Mass. conference
United Church of Christ –Essex South Association
Communion and use of wine
Merger of church and parish; incorporation of church
First Church by-laws, 1963
First Church by-laws, working papers, 1963
First Church by-laws, 1965, 1966
First Church by-laws, 1973
First Church by-laws, as amended through 1977
First Church by-laws, as amended through 1979
First Church by-laws, working papers, 1979-1981
First Church manuals, 1868, 1900
First Church – general information on the church
First Church – information on baptism
First Church – information on death
First Church – information on memorial gifts
First Church – information on weddings
First Church – membership
First Church – membership lists
First Church – calendars
First Church – newsletter “Good News for Boxford”
First Church – people – Florence Betts
First Church – people – Thomas Perley Killam
First Church – people – Bryan Moore
First Church – people – Ed and Aileen Neihaus
First Church – people – Stephanie and Matthew Nutter
First Church – people –Terry and Dale O’Leary
First Church – people – Alice Freeman Palmer
First Church – people – John W. Parkhurst
First Church – people – Marion H. Parkhurst
First Church – people – Winnifrid C. Parkhurst
First Church – people – Andrea Sutton
Box 4 – Church committees
Church staff – job descriptions
Committee assignments
Church Council meetings, 1970
Church Council meetings, 1971
Church Council meetings, 1972
Church Council meetings, 1973
Church Council meetings, 1981
Church Council meetings, 1982
Church Council meetings, 1983
Board of Deacons – meetings
Board of Deacons – correspondence
Board of Deacons – Body Life committee
Board of Deacons – Christian Education committee – meetings
Board of Deacons – Christian Education committee- Faith Lifting series
Board of Deacons – Christian Education committee – Sunday School
Board of Deacons – Christian Education committee – Sunday School lessons
Board of Deacons – Christian Education committee – Sunday School library
Board of Deacons – Christian Education committee – Vacation Bible school
Board of Deacons – Christian Education committee – Youth programs
Board of Deacons – Fellowship and Evangelism committee – meetings
Board of Deacons – Fellowship and Evangelism committee – events
Board of Deacons – Music and Worship committee
Board of Deacons – Music and Worship committee – Lenten devotional booklets
Board of Deacons – Music and Worship committee – World Day of Prayer
Board of Deacons – Outreach committee
Board of Deacons – Outreach committee – missionaries
Board of Deacons – Outreach committee – missionaries – Dr. K. Clement
Board of Deacons – Outreach committee – missionaries – Elaine Gould
Board of Deacons – Outreach committee – missionaries – Ginia Kucsun/Mike Cahill
Board of Deacons – Outreach committee – missionaries – Margaret Lane
Box 5 – Church committees
Board of Trustees – meetings, 1973-1974
Board of Trustees – meetings, 1975
Board of Trustees – meetings, 1976
Board of Trustees – meetings, 1977
Board of Trustees – meetings, 1978
Board of Trustees – meetings, 1983
Board of Trustees – meetings, 1993
Board of Trustees – meetings, 1999
Board of Trustees – meetings, 2000
Board of Trustees – meetings, 2001
Board of Trustees – meetings, 2002
Board of Trustees – meetings, 2003
Board of Trustees – Christian Enlistment committee
Board of Trustees – Christian Enlistment committee – annual appeals letters
Board of Trustees – Christian Enlistment committee – clean-up days
Board of Trustees – Facilities committee
Board of Trustees – Grounds committee
Board of Trustees – Parsonage committee
Board of Trustees – Property committee
Board of Trustees – Property committee – use of church facility
Nominating committee
Pastoral search committee, 1971
Task Force on church growth, 1983
Box 6 – Financial records
Annual budgets
Trustees of the Ministerial Funds
Special church funds
Special church funds – annual reports
Restricted funds – investment information
Gifts and memorials
Mortgages – Grabe mortgage
Endowment Secretary reports, 1980-2003
Financial Secretary reports, 1999-2002
Treasurer’s reports, 1999-2002
Box 7 – Anniversaries and historical records
Historian’s records
First Church history – “Sheep Case”
First Church history – 200th anniversary (1903)
First Church history – 100th anniversary of meeting house (1938)
First Church history – 250th anniversary (1952)
First Church history – 275th anniversary (1977)
First Church history – Old Home Days
First Church history – “The History of Boxford, 1685-1960”
Published copy “History of the First Congregational Church, Boxford MA, 1952-1977”
Manuscript copy “History of the First Congregational Church, Boxford MA, 1952-1977”
Margaret Lane’s notes for “History” – Draft # 1
Margaret Lane’s notes for “History” – Draft # 2
Margaret Lane’s notes for “History” – Draft # 3
Margaret Lane’s notes for “History” – Charles L. Atkins
Margaret Lane’s notes for “History” – Elsworth D. Comins
Margaret Lane’s notes for “History” – Walter R. Greenwood
Margaret Lane’s notes for “History” – Arthur F. White
Margaret Lane’s notes for “History” – Kendall C. Baker
Margaret Lane’s notes for “History” – William R. Huber
Margaret Lane’s notes for “History” – Ministerial Fund
Margaret Lane’s notes for “History” – Missions
Margaret Lane’s notes for “History” – Ladies Benevolent Society, Carrie L. Bradford Guild, Couples Club
Margaret Lane’s notes for “History” – Organ
Margaret Lane’s notes for “History” – Sunday School, Pilgrim Fellowship
Box 8 – Historian’s scrapbook (Winnifrid Parkhurst)
Pages 1-32 (1959-1962)
Pages 33-54 (1963-1964)
Pages 55-88 (1965)
Pages 89-113 (1966-1968)
Pages 114-131 (1969-1971)
Pages 132-165 (1972-1976; also Deacons)
Pages 166-192
Pages 193-222
Box 9 – Church organizations; other churches
First Church – Carrie L. Bradford Guild
First Church – Ladies Benevolent Society
First Church – Boxford Academy
First Church – Village School
Other organizations – Christian Singles Foundation
Other organizations – Congregational Christian Historical Society
Other organizations – Evangelicals for Social Action (ESA)
Other organizations – Women’s Aglow Fellowship
Other churches – manual and programs
Miscellaneous printed items
Morning Prayer, poem by Ella Syfers Schenck
The Easter Mystery – a Miracle Play composed by Rev. C.M. Field
Twelve Excellent Rules for promoting harmony among church members
Old papers from Mary Herrick’s collection
Account of Nathan Andrew, May 1818 (not church related)
Master plan for the town of Boxford, 1961
Box 10 – Annual reports
Annual reports, 1957-1958
Annual reports, 1959-1960
Annual reports, 1961-1962
Annual reports, 1963
Annual reports, 1964
Annual reports, 1965-1966
Annual reports, 1967
Annual reports, 1968
Box 11 – Annual reports
Annual reports, 1969-1970
Annual reports, 1971-1972
Annual reports, 1973-1974
Annual reports, 1975-1976
Annual reports, 1977-1978
Annual reports, 1979-1981
Annual reports, 1982-1983
Annual reports, 1984-1986
Annual reports, 1987-1989
Annual reports, 1990-1991
Box 12 – Annual reports
Annual reports, 1992-1993
Annual reports, 1994-1995
Annual reports, 1996-1997
Annual reports, 1998-1999
Annual reports, 2000-2001
Annual reports, 2002-2003
Annual reports, 2004-2005
Annual reports, 2006
Annual reports, 2007
Box 13 – Annual reports
Annual reports, 2008
Annual reports, 2009
Annual reports, 2010
Annual reports, 2011
Box 14 – Bulletins and Church Windows
Bulletins, 1935-1969
Bulletins, 1983-1984
Bulletins, 1985-1989
Bulletins, 1990-1991
Bulletins, 1992-1994
Church Windows, 1960-1985
Church Windows, 1988-1994
Box 15 (oversized) Historian’s Scrapbook
Photographs and memorabilia collected by Margaret Lane
PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM
Rev. Isaac Briggs
Daniel Gould
Lydia (Batchelder) Gould
Sarah B. (Gould) Gerst
Mary A.B. Gould
Mrs. William B. Howe (Martha Jane Gould Howe)
Mrs. Dr. Stevens (Lydia H. Gould Stevens)
Unidentified man in military uniform (Daniel Gerst?)
Dr. Jeremiah Sanborn
Mrs. J. Sanborn
Capt. George W. Batchelder; killed at Antietam
Ardelia Batchelder; George's sister
Lucy Lee Batchelder Corcoran – “Only one living”
Mary Batchelder – “oldest”
Cousin Alice Robbins Roe – “New York” (August 17, 1889)
Cousin Mary Jane Perley
2 unidentified ladies
Daniel Gould – “my grandfather”
John Perley
Edward Batchelder – “my great uncle”
Unidentified lady
Amos Blanchard and his wife cousin Lucretia – “for many years treasurer of the Boston & Maine RR
M. Jennie Gould (Mrs. William B. Howe) – “my aunt Jennie”
Mary A.B. Gould – “my aunt Mary”
Sadie Helen Gerst (baby)
Daniel Gould Gerst (baby)
M.J. Gould
Daniel Gould
Unidentified lady
Lieutenant Worden
Daniel Gerst
Mrs. Jacob Gerst; Mrs W.B. Howe’s sister
Unidentified lady
Rev. Mr. Ladd (Salem minister)
Sadie H. Gerst (baby)
2 unidentified men in military uniforms
Isaac Day, West Boxford
? Day, West Boxford
Unidentified lady
Rev. and Mrs. Coggin in their study
LOOSE PHOTOGRAPHS
Postcard – Parson Briggs/Margaret Lane house
Postcard – Rev. Coggin/Peterson house
Rev. Rolland E. Wolfe and Mrs. Jennie Howe at her 80th anniversary as a church member
Rev. Robert Roy Kendall
Rev. William P. Alcott
Rev. William S. Coggin
Mrs. William S. Coggin
Matted facsimile of a page in the Bible carried to the stake by Rev. John Rogers, the ancestor of Boxford’s Rev. John Rogers, with accompanying letter from Henry G. Carter
First Church in the snow
Post card of First Church looking from the front, identified as being from Gertrude French’s album of Boxford Houses
Post card of First Church showing chapel, identified as being from Gertrude French’s album of Boxford Houses
Photo (from History) – “Third Meeting House (1838); Photo by W.P. Haynes”
Photo (from History) with tape damage – “Present Meeting House (1838) before Chapel annexed 1895; Photo by William R. Conant”
Photo (from History) ripped, with tape damage – “Third (present) meeting House built 1848. Shows pipe organ installed 1885”
Photo (from History) ripped, with tape damage – Interior Third (present) Meeting House before Chapel annexed 1859”
Original photograph (see above) - Interior of First Church looking towards pulpit, 1859
Original photograph (see above) – Interior of First Church looking towards balcony, 1885
First Church with group of people in front including the Groveland Band (1885?)
Stereograph – First Church, taken in Edwin N. Peabody (before 1895)
Large photo of First Church taken by Warren Patterson, 1990
2 copies of photograph of First Church, circa 1950
Digital enlargement of photo showing group on church steps
Small image of First Church drawn by Rosamond Lord, circa 1952
5 copies of black and white drawing of First Church by Richard Wyman, 1976
2 copies of black and white drawing of Boxford Town Library by Richard Wyman, 1976
Drawing for heading of newsletter “Good News for Boxford”
Stationery from Stuart Nutter, with sketch of church
Copies of scanned images – interior looking towards balcony (7)
Interior looking towards pulpit (4)
Group on church steps with horse sheds (4)
Church prior to addition of chapel (4)
Winthrop Haynes’ depiction of first meeting house (5)
Winthrop Haynes’ depiction of second meeting house (5)
Old photo plates (probably used for printing W.C. Parkhurst’s History)
Group on steps, with horse sheds
View of interior looking towards pulpit
View of interior looking towards balcony
Image of church before addition of chapel
Winthrop Haynes’ depiction of first meeting house
Winthrop Haynes’ depiction of second meeting house
ADDITIONAL RECORDS IN DOCUMENT CENTER RELATING TO FIRST CHURCH
Boxford Historical Society collection
BHS Box 7
Coggin, William S.
Female Benevolent Society/Missionary Society
First Church Congregational
BHS Box 14
Holyoke family
BHS Box 27
Woman’s Missionary Society
BHS Box 29 – Frank Manny
Folder 88 – Celebrations, Lectures, and Entertainments
Folder 92 – First Church Congregational of Boxford
BHS Box 33 – Julia A. Cummings: Her Book
scattered records
BHS Box 34 – Frank Manny: A Book of the Old Boxford Church, compiled July 1938
History of First Church, William P. Alcott, June 17, 1903 (manuscript)
Proprietors of the Boxford Meeting House, John Sawyer, Treasurer, 1860-1874
Discourse delivered at Boxford, Mass. by Rev. William S. Coggin, May 10, 1863 (print)
Farewell sermon delivered by Rev. Sereno Dwight Gammell, Sun. Aug. 1, 1880 (print)
Manual of the Evangelical Church in the First Parish, Boxford, Mass., 1868 (print)
Emery Lucius Bradford: A Sketch, by George Herbert Palmer, 1925 (print)
Miscellaneous material relating to First Church pastors, pews, the proprietors, and services
The Friendly Call, Feb. 1931 (church newsletter)
Essex South meeting notices
Records of John Sawyer, Treasurer, 1857-1874
Confession of Faith and the Covenant of the Evangelical Church in the First Parish, 1839 (print)
Manual of the Evangelical Church in the First Parish, Boxford, Mass., 1868 (print)
BHS Boxes 36-37 – Coggin family papers
BHS Box 51
First Church – drawings of meeting houses by Winthrop Haynes
First Church – sermons by Thomas Curtis
First Church – programs
BHS Box 56
Coggin, William
BHS Box 59
First Church – Anniversaries
First Church – Bulletins
Includes “The Friendly Call,” Feb., April, and July 15, 1931and “Through Church Windows,” April 1965
First Church – Essex South
First Church – Church History
“A Short History of the First Congregational Church in Boxford” by Rev. K. O. Eaton
History of the pulpit, Winnifrid Parkhurst
First Church – Ladies Benevolent Society
First Church – Meetings and warrants
Includes report from the proprietors on painting and renovation
First Church – Membership
First Church – Ministers – Installations
First Church – Ministers – Rev. Sereno Gamell’s Farewell Sermon
First Church – Ministers – Rev. William S. Coggin, Memorial Sermon
First Church – Minsters – Rev. Rolland E. Wolfe, “The Bible in College”
First Church – Miscellaneous
First Church – Old Home Sunday
Includes addresses by Winthrop P. Haynes, 1942 and James D. Phillips, 1943
First Church – “Story of the Stolen Sheep”
First Church – Sunday School
BHS Box 67 – Ruth Bradbury Canterbury scrapbooks
Volume 1 - Christian Endeavor Society, Sunday evening services, Sunday School (1890’s)
Volume 2 – General Church activities (clubs, plays, lectures, Sunday School, Finance Committee appeals), 1913-1924
BHS Case 1 Oversize
Sunday School Honor Roll, 1900-1910
BHS Case 10 Oversize
Statistics of the East Parish, Boxford, Emery L. Bradford, 1914-1939