“Petition for the Incorporation of a Baptist Society: addressed to the General Court, June 4, 18oo.

Humbly Shew Your Petitioners, Inhabitants of the Towns of Westmoreland, Walpole, Surry and Keene, Professors of Religion by the Denomination of Baptists—That for many years last past they have assembled together for public Worship as a Baptist Society ; and, for the more orderly and regular management of the same—pray that they, with such others as may hereafter be admitted as members, may be incorporated into a religious Society to be called and known by the name of the First Baptist Society in Westmoreland with sufficient power and authority to support and Settle a minister—to build and repair meeting Houses and to raise and Collect taxes for those purposes—To warn and hold meetings and to choose all proper officers for transacting and managing the Concerns of said Society and to make by Laws for regulating the same, provided the same are not contrary to the Constitution and Laws of the State—and for Liberty to bring in a Bill accordingly—Or, that the Honourable Court would make such Order on the premises as to them shall seem meet—and as in duty bound pray.

…Levi Ware”

Reference Data:

Town Papers: Documents Relating to Towns in NH, Vol. 14, by Issac Weare Hammond and NH (Colony) Porbate Court, 1884, page 675n