Halifax, MASS Church Records:
(excerpts)
July . 23d 1738. Baptized Jno Tomson Senr, and also Recd him to full Communion.
Received Samll Waterman & his wife Mary also to full Communion, who both made a
Confession of the Sin of Fornication.
A Copy of a Letter . To Mr Jno Cotton &c . Revd Sir . These are to inform You, that
the Confession of Austin Bearse & Hannah his wife for their having been Guilty of the
Sin of Fornication, was read to the Church of Pembroke October . 9th 1737. And accepted by
Said Church, And upon it their Child was baptized . Att: D: Lewis Pastor Pemb: March .
28th, 1739. Read to the Church of Hallifax april . 22d 1739.
1741 "7th The Church voted their willingness that there Should be a public
Contribution for the help & relief of Mr James Sturtevant & Mr Jno Bearse, who
have lately had Some of their Buildings destroyed by Fire.
"February . 14 . 1741. Received to full Comunion Samuel Fuller, Ebenezer Fuller Junr,
Ebenezer Standish Junr, Thomas Tomson 4th, Josiah Sturtevant Junr, Moses Inglee, Lydia
Sturtevant .—Standish made a Confession of his excessive Drinking.
"November . 29 . 1741"And this Day David Curtis, & Caleb Sturtevant Children
of the Church, acknowleged the Sin of unchastity before Marriage with those who are now
their wives, and Isaac Sturtevant confess'd the Sin of excesive Drinking, and of profane
Speaking or taking God's name in vain, and they were thereupon restor'd to ye Charity of
ye Church.
October . 31 . 1742. Received Sarah Bryant & Sarah Cushman to full Communion. And Mary
Justice the wife of Jno Justice made a Confession of her Sin in giving too great a loose
to her passions in a controversy her Husband & She had with atwood, & particularly
in threatning to beat his Brains out, & in Striking of him-and was upon it restored to
the Charity of the Church.
"april . 26 . 1741 . Patience Bosworth the wife of Deacon David Bosworth Being
convict by her own Confession of falling frequently into the Sin of Drunkenness, this Day
made a humble Penitent Confession of her fault before the whole Congregation, and was upon
it restor'd to the Communion & Charity of the Church.
"May . 27 . 1742. Read the Confession of Jno Fuller to the Church, wherein He
acknowleges" that he actually took the Stick which Jno Drew Junr accused him of
Stealing, That it was done ignorantly & unwittingly in a great Measure (Tho' he had
Some Suspitions from the Beginning that it might be Drew's), That he could not Satisfy
himself about it till Drew more particularly than ever described the Stick to him the last
winter;
That He had done wrong in objecting this
Particular against Drew wn He was propounded to ye Church &c. and begged
Forgiveness of Drew & the Church and of God." upon this Confession, the Church
voted to restore Said Fuller to their Communion & Charity: and also to dismiss the 1st
Charge that sd Fuller Exhibited against Drew . p. 22 . and to free him from Censure in
this respect.
"March . 20 . 1742. Baptiz'd Desire the Daughter of Edward Sears.
"And Jno Justice ackno'leged his fault in being in a great passion at atwood upon
Some controversy between them, and that he vented himself in Some wicked expressions,
&c. and Struck him with a Stone on ye head. upon Wch he was restored to ye Churches
Charity.
"April . 25 . 1742.
"Mrs Bozworth the wife of Deacon David Bosworth & Israel May made a Confession
this Day of Intemperate Drinking, and were thereupon restored to ye Charity of ye Church .
with respect to Mrs Bozworth the Church came to a Resolution that if She falls into this
Sin again (this being ye 2d time of Conviction) they will not immediately receive her upon
a Confession, But will Suspend her for Some time to See whether her Conversation be
answerable: and so also with Respect to other Relapsers.
(Editor's note: These are excerpts, extensions of which appear in
Mayflower Descendant MD 27, 1925 No. 1 & volumes, various)
