Membership Records of the First Baptist Church of Groton

Archive

-

Groton Public Library

Name/Title

Membership Records of the First Baptist Church of Groton

Entry/Object ID

2026.001.002

Scope and Content

Collection of membership records from the First Baptist Church of Groton, including membership lists, vital records (births, deaths and baptisms) and letters of transfer and dismissal from the church, 1810-2003. *Bound volume - "Records of the Old Mystic Baptist Church," records for membership, church officers, deacons and Sunday School students, 1967-2003. This account also includes dates for baptisms and deaths of members back to 1831. *Ledger, "List of Members of the First Baptist Church of Groton, Revised January 1, 1900." Includes list of members and record of their baptisms and deaths, lists of pastors and deacons with their terms of service (through 1997), and records/accounts of the church from January 1, 1900 - May 12, 1953 *Folder 1 - Statistical Report of the Clerk, 1893-1979 *Folder 2 - Lists of Members, 1705-1909 *Folder 3 - Member Records, c. 1950-1970 *Folder 4 - Member Records, c. 1950-1970 *Folder 5 - Inactive Member Records, c. 1950-1970 *Folder 6 - Member Contact Lists, 1972-1990 *Folder 7 - Member News Clippings and Obituaries *Folder 8 - Membership Transfer Letters, 1810-1829 *Folder 9 - Membership Transfer Letters, 1830-1839 *Folder 10 - Membership Transfer Letters, 1840-1844 *Folder 11 - Membership Transfer Letters, 1845-1860 *Folder 12 - Membership Transfer Letters, 1861-1899 *Folder 13 - Membership Transfer Letters, 1900-1919 *Folder 14 - Membership Transfer Letters, 1920-1938 *Folder 15 - Membership Transfer Letters, 1950-1969 *Folder 16 - Membership Transfer Letters, 1970-2018 *Folder 17 - Marriage Certificate of John Whiting and Lucy Thompson, 1868.

Collection

First Baptist Church of Groton Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2026.001

Source or Donor

First Baptist Church of Groton

Acquisition Method

Gift

Lexicon

Search Terms

First Baptist Church of Groton, Old Mystic Baptist Church, Noank Baptist Church, Union Baptist Church, Groton Bank Baptist Church

Legacy Lexicon

Object Name

Record

Archive Details

Creator

Old Mystic Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Groton

Date(s) of Creation

1810 - 2003

Archive Size/Extent

2.5 boxes

Archive Notes

Date(s) Created: 1810-2003

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.