Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/162

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THE HISTORY OF BARRINGTON.

infant church, viz.: John Myles, pastor, James Brown, Nicholas Tanner, Joseph Carpenter, John Butterworth, Eldad Kingsley, and Benjamin Alby. The principles to which their assent was given were the same as those held by the Welsh Baptists, as expounded by Mr. Myles, The original record book of the church contains a list of the members of Mr. Myles's Church in Swansea, Wales, from 1640 till 1660, with letters, decrees, ordinances, etc., of the several churches of the denomination in England and Wales. This book, now in the possession of the First Baptist Church, in Swansea, Mass., is probably a copy of the original Welsh records, made by or for Mr. Myles's church in Massachusetts, and the sentiments of which controlled their actions here.

Of the seven constituent members, only one was a member of Myles's Church in Wales, Nicholas Tanner, The others were probably residents of Rehoboth at the time of their arrival. James Brown was a son of John Brown, both of whom held high offices in the Plymouth Colony. Mr. Newman and his church were again aroused at the revival of this dangerous sect, and they again united with the other orthodox churches of the colony in soliciting the Court to interpose its influence against them, when the following order was adopted:

"At the Court holden at Plymouth, the 2d of July, 1663, before Thomas Prince, Governor, John Alden, Josiah Winslow, Thomas Southworth, William Bradford, Thomas Hinckley, Nathaniel Bacon, and John Freeman, assistants. Mr. Myles and Mr. Brown for their breach of order in setting up a public meeting without the knowledge and approbation of the Court of the disturbance of the peace of the place are fined each of them £5, and Mr. Tanner the sum of £1, and we judge that their continuance at Rehoboth, being very prejudicial to the peace of that Church and town, may not be allowed; and do therefore order all persons concerned therein to desist from the said meetings in that place or township within this month. Yet in case they shall remove their meeting to some other place where they may not