The First Baptist Church of North Kingstown was established in the village of Allenton in 1782. Elder William Northup (1760-1839) was named Pastor of the church at age 20 and would go on to lead the church until his death in 1839. Northup served as a soldier during the American Revolution and had a profound conversion experience while repairing a sail on a ship's yardarm during an intense storm. Having dedicated his life to preaching the word of God, the church community selected him as their leader.
The church built their first meetinghouse in 1787. A church was built in Allenton in 1848, the church's third house of worship. This building was raised and rebuilt in 1911 in order to construct a basement vestry. The church still meets in this building at 1135 Tower Hill Road as of 2026.
This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the North Kingstown Free Library.
Copyright has not been assigned to North Kingstown Free Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be obtained by the researcher from the copyright holder.
[item title], First Baptist Church of North Kingstown records, 2026.2, North Kingstown Free Library. North Kingstown, Rhode Island.
This collection consists of three record books of the First Baptist Church of North Kingstown. The first book, which is unbound, names Elder William Northup as the church's Pastor and contains a list of the founding members. All three volumes detail activities of the church through a record of meeting minutes. Many of the entries discuss moral disputes involving church members. The second book contains plans for establishing the church's first meeting house. Each of the books contains lists of births, deaths and baptisms of the church.
The collection is arranged chronologically by volume.
Gift of the First Baptist Church of North Kingstown, February 2026.
The records were maintained by the First Baptist Church of North Kingstown prior to their donation to the North Kingstown Free Library in 2026.
The collection was processed by Tom Frawley in March 2026; finding aid by Tom Frawley, March 2026.
Additional volumes of the church records are expected to be donated.