Hampden Association of Congregational Ministers
Collection History
Please note that as of January 2022, the Hampden Association of Congregational Ministers records, 1762-1844, and all future digital collections are now hosted on the library's new digital archive.
The first mention of the Hampden Association — divided into East and West — is in the Massachusetts General Association meeting, June 28, 1814. In 1850, the Hampden Conference of Churches was formed. The associations continued to be listed as the primary components of the General Association through 1864. In 1865, the churches were listed by counties, e.g. Hampden County, rather than by associations. The organization is still in existance today as the Hampden Association, UCC.
The digital collections below include a number of minute books spanning 1762-1844 which record Association meetings, a general record book of 1817-1844, and two volumes of correspondence dating to 1770-1824 and 1837-1839 respectively.
For additional information please see the finding aid for the Massachusetts Conference Collection records.
Digital Materials
Association records, 1817-1844
This volume of the minutes and records of the Hampden Association of Ministers includes meeting minutes and council proceedings, lists of delegates, records of votes, proceedings of ordinations, installations, and dismissions, discussions of religious matters, committee reports and appointments, examinations of ministers, and the association constitution along with the original signers of the document.
Association minutes, 1762-1799
These council minutes and proceedings include ordinations, disciplinary cases, lists of delegates, and the results of council deliberations.
Association minutes, 1803-1820
These council minutes and proceedings include ordinations, installations, dismissions, lists of delegates, and results of council deliberations.
Association minutes, 1830-1834
These council minutes and proceedings include ordinations, installations, dismissions, discussions of religious matters, lists of delegates, and results of council deliberations.
Association minutes, 1835-1839
These council minutes and proceedings include ordinations, disciplinary cases, records of votes, installations, dismissions, discussions of religious matters, lists of delegates, and results of council deliberations.
Association minutes, 1840-1844
These council minutes and proceedings include ordinations, disciplinary cases, records of votes, installations, dismissions, lists of delegates, and results of council deliberations, and a committee report recommending a division of the association.
These documents contain correspondence to and from the Hampden Association regarding religious and ministerial matters.
| 1770 November 28 | from the association convened in Granville | to the pastor of the Church of Christ in Granville | letter regarding "difficulties" and "grievances" that the parish had with the pastor |
| 1803 October 15 | from Isaac Knapp | to "the inhabitants of Westfield" | letter accepting a call to settle with the church |
| 1815 November 18 | from Dudley D. Rosseter | to the "Church and Society in Southwick" | letter about a call to settle with the church, in which Rosseter lays out "Two important points" to consider before a minister can settle, including the issue of pay and the ministerial relationship to the church community |
| 1822 June | result of a committee meeting in regards to the Congregational Church in West Springfield where the committee issued an opinion calling for candidates for settlement in West Springfield | ||
| 1824 January 17 | committee letter regarding a letter written to the Hampden Association about the establishment of a new Leland Parish in West Springfield |
These documents contain correspondence to and from the Hampden Association regarding religious and ministerial matters, testimony, and official church matters.
| 1837 May 22 | from the Hampden Association | to the pastor in Westfield | A disciplinary letter charging the recipient with "consulting in an unchristian manner" among other charges |
| 1837 June 4 | from Harper Boise | to the Hampden Association | A letter providing testimony against the Rev. Roger Harrison of Tolland |
| 1838 April 16 | testimony about a the conditions set forth for arbiters of a settlement of differences between Marion Moore and William Moore of Tolland | ||
| 1838 May 16 | testimony about a settlement reached between Marion Moore and William Moore as heard by a council and the minister of the Church of Christ in Tolland | ||
| 1838 June 6 | from Marion Moore | letter declaring that the defendants have "done all [they] ought to do" in the case with William Moore in Tolland | |
| 1838 June 9 | from Alfred Webber | letter indicating that a meeting between Marion Moore and William Moore was agreed upon | |
| 1838 June 9 | from William Moore | to the Hampden Association | letter regarding a meeting intended to reach a settlement with his brother Marion Moore |
| 1839 September 10 | from the Congregational Church of Christ in Middle Granville | to first Church of Christ in Wesfield | letter requesting delegates to come to a ecclesiastical council being convened in Middle Granville |
| 1839 June 30 | from Henry Eddy | to a committee appointed by the Middle Granville Parish | letter asking for time to consider their proposal |
| 1839 September 5 | from Henry Eddy | to the committee in the Middle Granville Parish | A letter about the potential dismission of the pastor in that church |
| 1839 September 12 | This document appears to contain notes about, or in reply to, the letter of September 10; likely it was written on the same paper but later separated from the original with the letters dating June 30 and September 5 purposefully placed between |
Related Materials
Granville, Mass. First Congregational Church, 1757-1848
Special Thanks
This digital resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this resource do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
