Financial Records of the First Baptist Church of Groton

Archive

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Groton Public Library

Name/Title

Financial Records of the First Baptist Church of Groton

Entry/Object ID

2026.001.001

Scope and Content

Collection of financial records of the First Baptist Church of Groton, including account books, receipts, fundraising materials and reports of financial officers including the treasurer, agent and collector, 1862-1997. Folder 1 - Two account books: accounts of the First Baptist Church of Groton, 1873-1902 and list of ships rents, 1882-1905 Folder 2 - Account book of the First Baptist Church of Groton, 1903 - 1911 Folder 3 - loose papers tucked into front cover of account book 2 (1903-1911) Folder 4 - Account book, collections for church repairs, 1894 Folder 5 - Treasurer's Records (account book), 1873-1879 Folder 6 - Treasurer's Records, 1901-1938 Folder 7 - Report of the Collector, 1901-1938 Folder 8 - Report of the Agent, 1901-1937 Folder 9 - Charity Fund Accounts, 1909-1912 Folder 10 - Misc. Accounts, 1912-1932 and 1970 Folder 11 - Bequests, 1899-1962 Folder 12 - Lists of Subscriptions, 1841-1867 Folder 13 - Pledging, 1867-1918 Folder 14 - Fundraising, 1892-1997 Folder 15 - Joy Offerings, 1973 Folder 16 - Auditor's Report, 1965 Folders 17-19 - Receipts, 1866 - 1926

Collection

First Baptist Church of Groton Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2026.001

Source or Donor

First Baptist Church of Groton

Acquisition Method

Gift

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Report

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Administrative Records

Nomenclature Class

Documentary Objects

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Search Terms

First Baptist Church of Groton, Old Mystic Baptist Church

Archive Details

Creator

Old Mystic Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Groton

Date(s) of Creation

1862 - 1997

Archive Size/Extent

2 boxes

Archive Notes

Date(s) Created: 1862-1997

Provenance

Notes

Admin or Biographical History: The First Baptist Church of Groton was the first Baptist church to be established in the State of Connecticut. On October 5, 1704, twelve residents of Groton (then a part of New London) petitioned the General Assembly for the right to separate from the Congregational Church and establish a meeting house for the Baptist faith. These twelve dissenters were Sergeant William Stark, John Culver, Isaac Lamb, Ephraim Culver, William Chubb, John Hammett, Mercy Culver, Elizabeth Lamb, Elizabeth Stark, Mary Hadgell, Margaret Chubb and Sarah Culver. Although this petition was ignored, the dissenters established the church in 1705 and invited Rev. Valentine Wightman to serve as their pastor. Three generations of Wightmans would serve as pastors for the church for a cumulative 125 years: Valentine Wightman (1705-1747), Timothy Wightman (1754-1796) and John Gano Wightman (1800-1841). The first church building was constructed in 1718 on the lands of William Stark, near the present intersection of Cold Spring and Yetter Roads in Mystic. This building stood until 1790, when it was demolished and a new church building about twice the size was erected on the same site. In 1844 the congregation moved to a new church building on Route 27 in Old Mystic. In 1867 a new building was erected at this site to accommodate the church's growing congregation. In 1972, the congregation (then using the name Old Mystic Baptist Church) moved again to a newly constructed church at 151 Shewville Road. The church closed permanently in 2018.