“Reverend and dearly beloved in the Lord,
“We thought it our bounden duty to acquaint you with the names of such persons as have had the great censure passed upon them in this our church, with the reasons thereof, beseeching you in the Lord, not only to read their names in public to yours, but also to give us the like notice of any dealt with in like manner by you, that so we may walk towards them accordingly; for some of us, here, have had communion ignorantly with some of other churches. 2 Thess. iii. 14. We can do no less than have such noted as disobey the truth.
“Roger Williams and his wife, John Throgmorton and his wife, Thomas Olney and his wife, Stukely Westcott and his wife, Mary Holliman, Widow Reeves.
“These wholly refused to hear the church, denying it, and all the churches in the Bay, to be true churches, and (except two) are all re-baptized.
“John Elford, for obstinacy, after divers sins he stood guilty of, and proved by witness. William James, for pride, and divers other evils, in which he remained obstinate. John Tabby, for much pride, and unnaturalness to his wife, who was lately executed for murdering her child. William Walcot, for refusing to bring his children to the ordinance, neglecting willingly family duties, &c.
“Thus, wishing the continued enjoyment of both the staves, beauty and bands, and that your souls may flourish as watered gardens, rest,
“Yours in the Lord Jesus,
“HUGH PETERS,
“By the Church’s order, and in their name.
“For the Church of Christ in Dorchester.”