token of their gratitude & to perpetuate the memory of the benefaction. Attest: John Mellen, Pastor.

1790 Lord's Day, July 18th. The Pastor introduced the following vote by observing that when persons are admitted into the Chh. & Kingdom of God out of a wicked world, it is to be supposed that may have been vicious and ungodly, but that they now truly repent & reform & are forgiven of God & therefore ought to be forgiven of men tho' accountable afterwards for their conduct to the Chh. & Society to w'ch they belong. But that upon their first repentance & embracing Christianity it does not appear scriptural or prudent to insist upon particular acknowledgments in some certain cases when it is not done in others-that many persons by this means are kept out of our Chhs & often join other persuasions because it is natural and very common for them to say that if a particular acknowledgment is required for one offence it ought to be for another and for all, but this not being the case they look upon themselves as injured & treated with partiality. If it be your minds therefore, brethren, that when persons are admittted to a public profession of religion & to Chh. Communion, a general penitent confession of past sin agreable to the Covenant, shall be deemed sufficient, please to manifest. Past in the affirmative: full vote.

1806. On the twenty third day of July, was instaled into the Pastoral Office in Hanover the REVD CALVIN CHADDOCK late of Rochester. Seven Chhs. were sent to, five only attended the Revd. Mr. Strong of Randolf made the introductory prayer-the Revd. Mr. Niles of Abington, preached the sermon and made the consecrating prayer-the Revd. Mr. Barker of Middleborough gave the charge-the Revd. Mr. Norton of Waymouth gave the right hand and the Revd. Mr. Richmond of Halifax made the concluding prayer.

The following is a list of the present members of the Chh. in Hanover, both male and female:

1807. June th. 4, 1807. There was a regular Church Meeting, the object of which was to choose a Decon, agree upon a Church Covenant, mode of admitting members, Rules of discipline, &c. There being a thin meeting, voted to adjourn to this day three weeks or to the 25th instant, at 3 o'clock, after

noon.

Hanover, June 25, 1807. The Chh. met according to adjournment.

1. Chose Mr. Turner Stetson a deacon in the room of Timothy Robbins, deceased. Mr. Stetson declined and Mr. Timothy Church was then appointed by a unanimous vote.

2. Voted that any person may write their relation upon being admitted into the Chh.

3. Voted that the Pastor notify Mr. Church of his appointment to the Deaconship. Adjourned to August 1st.

Hanover, Aug. 1st. The Church met according to adjourn

ment.

1. Voted to excuse Mr. Church from serving as a Deacon upon his request.

2.

year.

Voted to postpone the choosing a Deacon until another

3. Voted that the original Chh. Covenant be the Covenant of this Chh. still.

1808. At a regular Church meeting, Jan'y, 31, 1808:

Voted, Deacon Joseph Brooks, agent, to hold a note of hand of one hundred dollars, given to the Church by the Rev. John Mellen.

1809. At a regular Church meeting, Sept. 30, 1809:

I. Voted, the Pastor, Deacon Joseph Brooks & Turner Stetson a Committee to converse with Mrs. Chapman and report next meeting.

2.

Voted, Dea. Benj'n Bass, Elijah Barstow, Turner Stetson, Wm. Whiting and Timothy Church, a Committee to go and converse with certain members on account of neglect of ordinances and report next meeting.

3. Voted, to adjourn till the last Saturday in October, I o'clock, p. m.

Sunday, Oct. 15, 1809. The Church tarried after divine service,

Voted, to excuse Dea'n Bass from serving as one of the above Committee and appointed Dea'n Joseph Brooks in his room.

October 28, 1809.. The Church met according to adjournment and after opening the meeting by prayer the Committee chosen to inquire into the character of Mrs. Chapman reported that from the evidence they could obtain, in their opinion she was not a suitable character at present to be admitted into this church. Voted unanimously to accept the above report.

The Committee appointed to converse with certain members for neglect of duty report as follows, viz.: Dea. Brooks reports that he saw Calvin Curtis, who declined giving any reasons for neglecting Church ordinances but gave encouragement that he would attend the next Church meeting: he did not attend. Snow, Bashua, his wife, and Lydia Curtis, pled conscience and sent a writen request to be dismissed from the Church, but as their request contained no desire to be recommended to any other Church, therefore voted unanimously that their request cannot be granted. Elijah Barstow reported that Caleb Rogers requested time for further consideration. Josiah Cham

berlain said he did not consider himself a member of the Church. Jonathan Pratt said he wished a dismission from the Church, but made no mention of a recommendation to any other Church. Wm. Whiting reported that Joel Sylvester and wife said they did not consider themselves members of the Church because they had joined themselves to a different denomination. Elijah Sylvester's wife said the want of health was the reason she did not attend divine ordinances: her husband said fear of unworthyness kept him away but wished to remain a member of the Church. Mr. Stetson reported that Josiah Smith and wife said they did not consider themselves members of the Church. Albert Smith's wife said in some respects she was a member of the Church and in some she was not, but on the whole she did not consider herself a member at present.

Voted, to choose a committee of two to converse further with Snow, Bashua and Lydia Curtis. Voted that Dea'n Brooks & Dea'n Bass be this committee. Voted that the reasons offered by Elijah Sylvester & wife for neglecting divine ordinances are satisfactory. Voted that the Pastor lay the subject respecting delinquent members before the association at their next meeting and request their advice. Voted to adjourn till the second Saturday in Novr next at 1 o'clock P.M.

Second Saturday in Nov'r 11, 1809. The Church met according to adjournment. There being but a few present voted to adjourn without day.

November 12. After divine service the church were desired by the Pastor to tarry. The Pastor then laid before the church the opinion of the Association respecting delinquent members which was that the same committee which was first appointed to go and converse with these persons be reappointed to go and converse with them a second time and make their report the next meeting. Voted Dea'n Joseph Brooks, Capt. Elijah Barstow, William Whitting & Turner Stetson be said. committee. Adjourned.

August 13, 1810. Agreeably to notification the church met and after the opening of the meeting by prayer the church attended to the following things.

Ist. They attended to the report of a committee chosen to converse with delinquent members, who reported that said members denied that the church had any jurisdiction over them and sent in a written communication, stating some reasons why they neglected their duty which not being satisfactory to the church the church proceded as follows:

Voted unanimously that Capt. Calvin Curtis, Lydia Curtis, Jonathan Pratt, Anne Lenth'l Smith, Nabby Smith, Caleb Rogers, Joel Sylvester, Snow Curtis, Bashua Curtis, Josiah Chamberlain, Josiah Smith and Sarah Sylvester be suspended from all fellowship and communion with this church for the space of two months. Voted that an answer to their communication be drawn and sent to the delinquent members and a notification of their suspension. Voted that the Pastor and Dea'n Joseph Brooks be a committee for the above purposes. Voted to choose a committee to converse with Olive Whitting who is about joining the Baptist. Voted that the Pastor, William Whitting and Constant Clapp be this committee. Voted to disolve this meeting.

1811. Hanover, May 24. At a regular Chh. meeting.

Voted that Calvin Curtis, Jonathan Pratt, Caleb Rogers, Josiah Chamberlain, Anna L. Smith, Lydia Curtis, Josiah Smith and Nabby his wife, Joel Sylvester and Sarah his wife, Snow Curtis and Bashua his wife be excommunicated for persevering neglect of divine ordinances.

2d. Voted that the Pastor and Dea'n Joseph Brooks be a committee to notify the above named persons of their excommunication. After hearing the report of the committee relative to Olive Whitting

3rd. Voted the subject be suspended for the present.

4th. Voted that Elijah Barstow be a deacon of this Chh.

5th. Voted to give said Barstow time to consider of the subject till the next meeting.

6th. Voted to disolve the meeting.

1817. Hanover, Augt 19, 1817. In consequence of previous notice the chh. in this place met at the meeting house for the purpose of seeing whether the said Church would agree