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- The History of Warwick, RI, its Settlement in 1642 to the Present Time; including accounts of the early settlement and development of its several villages
by Oliver Payson Fuller, B. A.
Providence: Angell, Burlingame & Co., Printers, 1875
About the year 1850, the meeting-house was removed to Pontiac upon land given by David Arnold. The land according to the terms of the deed, was to revert to the original owner or his heirs, assigns, &c., when no longer used for church purposes. In March, 1851, the church was re-organized under the name of The First Free-Will Baptist Church of Warwick. The following persons composed the new organization: Joseph B. Baker, Edmund L. Budlong, Moses Budlong, Wm. Tibbitts, Burden Baker, John Vickery, Stephen Luther, Freelove Wood, Hannah Searles, Susan Bennett and Susan Baker. Uriah Eddy, who united a few weeks later was appointed a deacon, and Edmund L. Budlong, clerk. Elder Reuben Allen, who appears to have been the first preacher under the old organization, was the first pastor under the new order of things. On March 13, 1852, the church voted to change their name to the 'Warwick Church'. In 1852, Uriah Eddy became the church clerk. On April 19, 1856, passed a 'vote of thanks' to Elder Reuben Allen for his services during the past year, and appointed Joseph B. Baker a committee to supply the pulpit. From this time up to April, 1859, the pulpit was supplied by different preachers. At the latter date, it was voted 'that Elder Reuben Allen be our pastor for the ensuing year.' On April 28, 1861, George T. Hill was licensed to preach the gospel, and on September 6 following, he was ordained as pastor of the church, by Elders George T. Day and Reuben Allen. On October following, Horace Thompson was licensed to preach the gospel. On April 27, 1862, George Budlong was appointed a deacon. On July following, Elder Reuben Allen was again chosen pastor for the ensuing year. On April 26, 1863, Franklin Potter was licensed 'to improve his gift'. On June 4, 1864, the church voted that 'David Culver be the pastor for the coming year, and that an effort be made to raise $200 for his support.'
From March 30, 1866, Abraham Lockwood was the clerk, and Bro. A. Warner, of Providence, became the preacher. R. E. Fisher was the clerk in 1869. The last pastor was Elder James Tobey, who preached about two years. Elder Tobey continued to preach until April, 1869, when failing health induced him to resign, and from this time until they disbanded, the church was pastorless.
On November 5, 1871, the church met in covenant meeting, and expressed its deep sorrow at the recent death of Deacon Uriah Eddy.
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1801 - 1871 (70 years)
