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The First Baptist Church of North Middleboro represents a significant chapter in the development of Baptist life in New England. Rooted in the religious ferment of the eighteenth century, the church emerged during a time when questions of faith, authority, and liberty were reshaping the spiritual landscape of colonial America. The origins of the church can be traced to the Read more...
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Isaac Backus (1724–1806) stands as one of the most influential Baptist leaders in early American history, particularly known for his tireless advocacy of religious liberty. A pastor, historian, and public spokesman, Backus played a crucial role in shaping the relationship between church and state in the formative years of the United States. Backus was born in Norwich, Connecticut, into a Read more...
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The First Baptist Church in America holds a distinguished place in American religious history as the oldest Baptist congregation in the United States. Founded in 1638, its story is closely tied to the life and convictions of Roger Williams, whose commitment to liberty of conscience helped shape the spiritual and political landscape of the nation. Roger Williams established the church Read more...
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The United Baptist Church in Newport stands among the oldest Baptist congregations in the United States, with roots reaching back to the mid-seventeenth century. Its history reflects not only the development of Baptist life in America but also the broader struggle for religious liberty that helped shape the nation’s identity. The church traces its origins to the 1630s and 1640s, Read more...
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Newport Historical Society is one of the oldest historical organizations in the United States, dedicated to preserving and interpreting the rich past of Newport. Founded in 1854, the society has played a central role in safeguarding the city’s heritage, which spans colonial settlement, religious diversity, maritime trade, and the American Revolution. Newport itself was established in 1639 by settlers seeking Read more...
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Ye Olde Yellow Meeting House, located on Yellow Meetinghouse Road, off Route 526, dates to about 1737. Its earliest records, beginning in 1766, are in a 165-page handwritten “Church Book: Giving an Account of ye First Settlement & Progress of the Baptists at Crosswicks, or Upper Freehold.” In 1766, its forty-seven members organized into Crosswicks Baptist Church. In 1773, its Read more...
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Marked by a tall obelisk at 1500 Washington Avenue, is the grave of George Washington’s mother. Near the obelisk, an inscription on Meditation Rock says of her, “Here Mary Ball Washington prayed for the safety of her son and country during the dark days of the Revolution.” Mary’s home is at 1200 Charles Street. Copyrighted and used by permission from David Read more...
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Old Essex County Courthouse, commonly known as the 1728 Essex County Courthouse, is one of the oldest surviving courthouses in the United States and a remarkable example of colonial architecture in Virginia. Located in the historic town of Tappahannock, the building stands as a lasting witness to the legal, political, and social life of early America. Constructed in 1728, the Read more...