First Congregational Church, Hopkinton, New Hampshire, was formed through the following covenant, dated November 23, 1757. The covenants were used to outline the duties and obligations of those who joined the church as members. As people joined the church, they signed the covenant, seen at the bottom of the photograph.
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This is one reason that church records are valuable for genealogical research: the records provide concrete dates and locations for persons. Two hundred and fifty year old records are important because they allow us to perceive eighteenth century America. Current church records can have enduring value for much the same reason. For more information on preserving your church records, please view the Congregational Library's Records Management resources.
For more information about church records, search "Church records and registers" in the library catalog.
--Abraham
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