1710:

Citizens first petitioned to be separated from the First Parish; petition was denied but permission was granted to engage a schoolmaster who was to serve as a preacher for the winter months.

1712:

Samuel Thompson was engaged as schoolmaster and preacher.

1713:

Town granted 15 acres for a meeting house which was built near Bray Street and Thompson Street.

1716:

Citizens again petitioned to be set aside as a separate parish and the General Court incorporated the Second Church of Christ in Gloucester and designated the area west of the Annisquam River within a line running from the head of Little River southwest to Jeffrey’s Creek as the Second Parish.

1830:

At annual meeting, majority of members voted for Universalism and the orthodox section of the membership withdrew.

1833:

New church, West Gloucester Trinitarian Congregational Church, was organized by the orthodox section and a new building was erected on Essex Avenue.

1846:

Membership of the old church dwindled and eventually the building was abandoned and torn down.

Source: The Church in the Wilderness by Carl Veator, 1963.

The original Second Parish records, 1716 – 1803, and a bound copy, 1718 – 1803, were given to the Cape Ann Scientific, Literary and Historical Association (CAHA) by the Reverend Charles Grant Fogg on Nov. 22, 1940 (#936). The original Second Parish “Vital Statistics and Records” 1717 – 1840, were given to CAHA by Mrs. George (Minnie T.) Burnham on Nov. 11, 1941 (#1000). This latter volume disappeared then was regiven to CAHA as the “Original Second Parish Precinct Book, 1719 – 1812,” by F. Chester Roberts on Dec. 29, 2004 (2004.51).

Box 1

Folder 1: Second Parish Records 1718 – 1803.

Folder 2: Second Parish Records 1716 – 1803.

Folder 3: Second Parish Records 1717 – 1840.

Folder 4: Second Parish Precinct Book, 1719 – 1812.

Folder 5: Second Parish Records – History

Box II

Folder 1: Second Parish Records – 1716-1784.

Folder 2: Second Parish Records – 1785-1810

Folder 3: Second Parish Records – 1811-1827

Folder 4: Second Parish Records – 1828 – 1832

Folder 5: Second Parish Records – 1833 – 1843

Folder 6: Second Parish Records – 1844 – 1848

Folder 7: Second Parish Records – Pastors, Baptisms, Members

Folder 8: Second Parish Records – Interview Notes, Letters

Box 1

Folder 1: Second Parish Records 1718 – 1803.

Bound book; copied by Charles Grant Foog, Pastor, on April 11, 1935, and presented to the Cape Ann Scientific, Literary and Historical Association on Nov. 22, 1940 by the Reverend Charles Grant Fogg.

Folder 2: Second Parish Records 1716 – 1803.

Original Records; bound in archival wrap, very fragile. Presented to the Cape Ann Scientific, Literary and Historical Association on Nov. 22, 1940, by the Reverent Charles Grant Fogg.

Folder 3: Second Parish Records 1717 – 1840.

Original Records; bound in archival wrap; very fragile. Presented to the Cape Ann Scientific, Literary and Historical Association on Nov. 11, 1941, by Minnie T. Burnham.

Folder 4: Second Parish Precinct Book, 1719 – 1812.

Original Precinct Book; bound in archival wrap; very fragile. Prestend to the Cape Ann Historical Association on Jan. 16, 2005 by F. Chester Roberts. His letter of conveyance is enclosed with the Precinct Book.

Folder 5: Second Parish Records – History

A – Typed history by Minnie T. Burnham. 9/14/1941. 4 pages.

B – Typed manuscript: The Church in the Wilderness, 1713-1963, by Carl F. Viator. 8/9/1963. 45 pages.

C – Newspaper article: “Mrs. Maria H. Bray, Oldest Member”.

D – Collection of prints.

E – Handwritten pencil notes. 4 pages.

F – Typed draft of history of First Meeting House in the Second Parish, by Robert Viator. 1953.

G – Typed memo of history of First Church in the Second Parish, West Gloucester, E. Rogers. 1955.

Box II

Folder 1: Second Parish Records – 1716-1784.

A – Extracts of Minutes – 1716-1718.

B – List of Persons Intending to Marry – 1717-1730.

C – Minutes of Second Parish meeting – 1725.

D – Summaries of Sermons – 1765-1768.

E – Notes of Second Parish meetings – 1765-1770.

F – Treasurer’s Book for West Parish Church – 1766-1802.

G – Confession of Zebulon and Elizabeth Haskell; breach of Seventh Commandment, 1766.

H – List of members’ age at death – (no date).

Folder 2: Second Parish Records – 1785-1810

A – Affadavits:

(a) Nathaniel Haskell, 1785, sworn in as clerk and treasurer of Second Parish;

(b) Jonathan Gilbert, 1786, sworn in as assessor of Second Parish;

(c) Peter Coffin, 1789, sworn to record all votes in any regular meetings of Second Parish.

B – Warrant for Second Parish meeting – 1790.

C – Affadavit: Peter Coffin, 1790, sworn in as clerk.

D – Warrant for Second Parish meeting – 1792.

E – Prayer and Right to Receive Communion – 1796 and 1799.

F – Warrant for Second Parish meeting – 1800.

G – ditto – Feb., 1801.

H – ditto – Oct., 1801.

I – Warrant for Second Parish Meeting – Feb., 1805.

J – ditto – Dec., 1805.

K – ditto – Mar., 1806.

L – ditto – Dec., 1806.

M – Financial Report, Second Parish – 1806.

N – Warrant for Second Parish Meeting – 1807.

O – ditto – 1808. P – ditto – 1809.

Q – ditto – Mar., 1810.

R – ditto – Nov., 1810.

S – ditto – Dec., 1810.

Folder 3: Second Parish Records – 1811-1827

A – Warrant for Second Parish meeting – 1811.

B – ditto – 1813.

C – ditto – 1814.

D – Statement of money due to Treasurer – 1816.

E – Warrant for Second Parish meeting – 1819. F – ditto – 1819.

G – Statement of money due to Treasurer – 1820.

H – Certifications:

(a) Theophilus Herrick as a member of the Universal Independent Society, 1821;

(b) Zebulon Stanwood, 1822, and

(c) Samuel Gilbert, 1825, are both members of the religious society, Second Parish.

I – Warrant for Second Parish meeting – 1823.

J – ditto – 1825.

K – Certifications:

(a) Capt. John Davis, 1826;

(b) Henry Haskell, 1826;

(c) Capt. Daniel Haskell, 1826;

(d) Ebenezar Burnham, 1826; and

(e) George Haskell, 1826, are all members of the First Religious Society in Essex.

L – Certifications:

(a) Thomas Lufkin has joined the Third Parish, 1826;

(b) Simon Burnham has become a member of the Independent Christian Society, 1827.

M – Warrant for Second Parish meeting – 1827.

Folder 4: Second Parish Records – 1828 – 1832

A – Warrant for Second Parish Meeting – 1828.

B – Certifications:

(a) Richard Herrick, 1828;

(b) Tristan Coffin, 1828; and

(c) John G. Burnham are all members of Third Parish;

(d) Robert Freeman, 1829, is a member of the Baptist Society of Gloucester.

C – Warrant for Second Parish meeting – 1830.

D – ditto – 1831.

E – ditto - 1832.

F – Certifications:

(a) Moses Rust, 1832, is a member of Christian Society;

(b) Hannah Brigs, 1832;

(c) Oliver Honnors, 1832;

(d) Bey Gilbert, 1832;

(e) Jonathan Gilbert, Jr., 1832;

(f) John K. Honnors, 1832;

(g) John Gilbert, 1832;

(h) John Goldsmith, 1832;

(i) Sargent Knowlton, 1832; and

(j) Jonathan Knowlton, 1832, are all members of the Second Baptist Society.

G – Certifications:

(a) Benjamin Adams, 1832; and

(b) James Knowlton, 1832, are both members of the Second Baptist Socity;

(c) Elizabeth Davis, 1832; and

(d) John F. Davis, 1832, are both members of the Evangelical Society.

Folder 5: Second Parish Records – 1833 – 1843

A – Certifications:

(a) Adoniram Haskell, 1833;

(b) Samuel Haskell, 1833;

(c) John Bray, 1833;

(d) Alexander P. Davis, 1833;

(e) Frederick Haskell, 1833; and

(h) Daniel Bray, Jr., 1833, are all members of the Trinitarian Congregational Society.

B – Certifications:

(a) Benjamin Currier, 1833, is a member of the Christian Society;

(b) Daniel Bray, 1833; and

(c) James Haskell, 1833, are both members of the Trinitarian Congregational Society.

C – Certifications

(a) Jacob Pulcifer, 1833,

(b) Abraham Babson, 1833;

(c) Lavinia Dennen, 1833;

(d) Epes W. Rolenti [? Roberts?], 1833; and

(e) Joseph Wallis, 1833, are all members of the Trinitarian Congregational Society.

D – Warrant for Second Parish meeting – 1833.

E – Certifications:

(a) John Poland, 1833, is a member of Trinitarian Congregational Society, West Parish;

(b) Sarah E. Presson, 1833, is a member of the First Parish;

(c) Epes P. Pulcifer, Jr., 1834; and

(d) Edward K. Goldsmith, 1834, have both withdrawn as members of Second Parish.

F – Warrant for Second Parish meeting – 1834.

G – ditto – 1835.

H – Financial Report, Second Parish – March 9, 1835.

I – Parish Report – April 6, 1835.

J – Warrant for Second Parish meeting – 1836.

K – Certifications:

(a) Aaron Haskell, 1836;

(b) S. Gilbert, 1836;

(c) William Currier, 1836;

(d) Eli Haskell, 1836;

(e) Thomas Haskell, 1837; and

(f) Augustus Burnham, 1837, have all withdrawn as members of Second Parish.

L – Warrant for Second Parish meeting – 1837.

M – ditto – 1839.

N – ditto – 1841.

O – ditto – 1843.

P – Minutes of Second Parish meeting – 1843.

Folder 6: Second Parish Records – 1844 – 1848

A – Warrant for Second Parish Meeting – 1844.

B – ditto – 1845.

C – ditto – April 1846. D – ditto – May 1846.

E – ditto – Feb. 1847.

F – Request for membership in Second Parish by Isaac Osgood – 1847.

G – Request to withdraw membership, Mar. 27, 1847, and letter of explanations, Mar. 29, 1847, by Samuel Gilbert.

H – Warrant for Second Parish meeting – April, 1847.

I – Minutes of Second Parish meeting – April 1847.

J – ditto – (no date).

K – Certifications:

(a) William Butler, 1847;

(b) William Proctor, 1847, (2 copies);

(c) William H. Haskell, 1847; and

(d) Samuel R. Bray, 1848, have all withdrawn as members of Second Parish.

Folder 7: Second Parish Records – Pastors, Baptisms, Members

A – List of Pastors who served the Second Parish, prepared by the Reverend Charles Grant Fogg (includes his letter of resignation dated Dec. 30, 1930). 1716-1924.

B – List of Baptisms, partial copy of Second Parish records presented to the CASL& H Association by Minnie T. Burnham (see Box I Folder 3) 1717-1766.

C – List of members of Second Parish Church 1801.

Folder 8: Second Parish Records – Interview Notes, Letters

A – Notes taken by the Reverend Charles Grant Fogg of an interview with George Proctor on June 4, 1929, and June 8, 1929.

B – Letters from the Reverend Charles Grant Fogg to Alfred Mansfield Brooks concerning donation of old records of Second Parish, 1940.