CHURCH ORGANIZED 1810.
On May 23rd, 1810, the Church was organized by Rev. Henry Hale, and called the First Baptist Church of St. John. The membership consisted of twelve persons—seven brothers and five sisters, who had been brought to a knowledge of the truth through the labors of Revs. Edward Manning, Joseph Crandall, James Innes, Theodore Harding, James Manning, Joseph Dimmock, Thomas Ansley, and other evangelists. The names of the original members so far as we are able to obtain them are as follows: (1) Jeremiah Drake, grandfather of Brunswick and the Misses Drake; (2) Thomas Pettingill, father of the late James Pettingill; (3) Nathan Garrison, father of the late Deacon George A. Garrison; (4) George Harding, son of the late Captain William Harding; (5) John M. Wilmot; (6) William Stenning, an uncle of the late Deacon J. H. Harding. (1) Mrs. Thomas Harding, mother of the late Deacon John H. Harding; (2) Mrs. Uriah Hatfield; (3) Mrs. Lovett, wife of Captain Lovett. It is probable that the other three members were from among the following persons: Mrs. Harper, Mr. A. Magee, Amy Nixon, Captain William Harding and his wife, all of whom had shown much interest previous to the formation of the Church.
First Officers.
Nathan Garrison was the first Church Clerk. Thomas Pettingill was chosen Deacon of the little Church on account of his deep-toned piety and sincere devotion to the cause of God. He was soon joined in office by Jeremiah Drake, and “these two, like Jachin and Boaz, the pillars of Solomon’s temple, did, as these names signify, Establish in Strength the truth as it is in Jesus, both by precept and example. In the absence of a settled minister, they regularly maintained and led the religious exercises of the Church, so that when they were called up higher they had seen the cause of Christ greatly advanced through their instrumentality, and departing bequeathed to the church a precious legacy,
‘The stainless memory of the just,
The wealth beyond the grave.’”
Mr. Asa Blakslee was the first person baptized after the organization of the Church.
Mrs. Thomas Harding, who died in her ninetieth year in August, 1875, was the last of the twelve that formed the little band in 1810. She saw the small vine send out boughs to the sea and branches to the river, and many dwell under its goodly shadow.
In 1812 the Church numbered twenty-seven members. They applied for admission and were received into the Association at Upper Granville, N. S., this year.
For the first three years the Church was not in a position to call a pastor, but was supplied from time to time by visiting ministers.
