Hanover, Mass. First Congregational Church
Collection History
Please note that as of January 2022, the Hanover, Massachusetts. First Congregational Church records, 1728-1818, and all future digital collections are now hosted on the library's new digital archive.
The Congregational Society at Hanover was formed by an act of the Massachusetts General Court in 1727, and met in the homes of members until its first meetinghouse was built the following year. Notable founding members included Joseph Stockbridge and Elijah Cushing. The first minister, Rev. Benjamin Bass, also formed the town's earliest public library.
Over the past three centuries, the church has constructed three further buildings to accommodate the changing needs of its membership. It has sponsored the local Boy Scout troop, contributed funds to both home and foreign missions, and formed a Social Action Committee to increase community outreach. One of the congregation's original silver communion cups was donated to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston in 1911. The First Congregational Church of Hanover is still active today and is a member of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ.
The digital collections below include two volumes of microfilmed early church records, dating from 1728-1756 and 1756-1818 respectively. These mainly include meeting minutes, membership rolls and vital statistics, and other administrative information. There is also a single volume of miscellaneous records dating from 1785-1800 which largely consists of church treasury reports.
For additional information please see the finding aid.
Digital Materials
The records in this first volume include the original covenant, early church meeting minutes, and lists of births, deaths, and marriages.
The records in the second volume include church meeting minutes, membership records, and lists of births, deaths, and marriages.
Miscellaneous records, 1785-1800
This brief volume mostly consists of records of sacramental wine purchased. It also includes a few vital statistics not listed in the church record books.
