Dancing On an Autumn Day in 1824

Dancing and socializing on an autumn day with friends sounds pleasant. Not quite for Great Grandmother Mary. Here’s the story.

My 3^rd Great Grandmother Mary A. (Case) Peck was born Jan. 23, 1800 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut. Mary was the fourth child of Asahel Case and Rosanna Sloan.

It’s likely the Case family attended the First Baptist Church in Norwich since two daughters were baptized into the congregation. Great Grandmother Mary was baptized when she was 17 years old on Nov. 12, 1817. Eleanor Case, Mary’s older sister, was baptized the same year. Baptists generally didn’t believe in Sunday school or baptizing infants. They felt it was the parents’ responsibility to teach their children the Christian faith. On her baptism day, Mary was immersed in water according to First Baptist traditions.

Church meetings began with singing and prayer. I can’t say if this was the case with Great Grandmother’s church but some Baptist churches wouldn’t allow musical instruments at their services.

Apparently, the Baptists frowned on dancing. At an unknown locale in the fall of 1824 Mary enjoyed a little dancing with the young people. You know how word gets around; someone told the Church Elders. At the Oct. 5, 1824 church meeting, the fifth order of business directed Elder Palmer to call on Mary Case.

Three days later, Friday, Oct. 8, 1824, Sister Mary Case appeared at the meeting house and admitted “she has done wrong” and appeared contrite.  Afterward she was warmly accepted by the church community.

Image from Connecticut State Library Microfilm Collection

                               Friday, Octr. 8^th 1824

                                                    Met pursuant to

                               adjornment opened the Meeting by Singing

                               & prayer and proceeded to business - - - - -

                               1^st Sister Mary Case being present manifested

                               She had done wrong in joining with the youts

                               in dancing manifested repentanes of past  Gave

                               Satisfaction to the Chh. & was cordially received

You can read more about Mary Case’s married life at blog post Bester B. Peck, Husband and Father, 1798-1863.

Sources:

   Vital Records of Norwich 1659-1848, pub. Hartford; Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut; 1913, Part II, Page 628

   First Baptist Church Records, Norwich, Connecticut, 1800-1889, Microfilm Reel #64, 65, LDS #0005066 housed at the Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Connecticut

My Ancestry

3^rd Great Grandmother Mary A. Case and husband Bester B. Peck

2^nd Great Grandmother Mary M. Peck and husband Walter S. Wilson

Great Grandfather Jerome W. Wilson and wife Grace Lee Clark

Grandmother Viola L. Wilson and husband Frank Leroy Doty

My Mother

Myself

Anton Romako's Watercolor, 1889

Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

MARY'S DANCE

Great-great-great grandmother Mary A. Case was born January 23, 1800 in Norwich, Connecticut to Asahal Case and Rosanna Sloan.[1] She married Bester B. Peck who is the subject of two previous blog posts  Bester B. Peck, Husband and Father, 1798-1863 and Hunting for Bester's Parents.

When 3^rd great grandmother Mary Case was a young woman, she tried a little dancing. Her church found her out and the following was recorded in the First Baptist Church, Norwich, Connecticut records.[2]

Image from Connecticut State Library Microfilm Collection

Transcript:

Friday, Octr. 8^th 1824

Met pursuant to appointment Opened the meeting by Singing & prayer and proceeded to business     _  _  _  _

1^st Sister Mary Case being present manifested she has done wrong in joining with the youts in dancing manifested repentanes of past  Gave satisfaction to the Chh. & was cordially received

It seems like she was forgiven in a loving fashion. Her offense was first noted at the Tuesday evening, October 5^th 1824 meeting when it was voted that Elder William Palmer (pastor) visit Sister Mary Case.

Mary had joined the First Baptist Church as a 17 year old and was baptized November 12, 1817.[3] First Baptists don't baptize infants or children preferring their members to acquire a maturity to understand its significance. When Mary was baptized, she would have been immersed in water following the traditions of her church. The membership lists indicate Mary transferred to another church but doesn’t state a date or church.

A few years later Elder William Palmer married Bester B. Peck and Mary at her father’s home on December 9, 1827.[4] Bester and Mary remained in Norwich where they raised their children. Bester passed May 1863 with Mary joining him March 10, 1865.

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[1] Vital Records of Norwich 1659-1848, pub. Hartford; Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut; 1913, Part II, Page 628.

[2] First Baptist Church Records, Norwich, Connecticut, 1800-1189, Microfilm Reel #64, 65, LDS #0005066 housed at the Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Connecticut

[3] Ibid

[4] Vital Records of Norwich 1659-1848, pub. Hartford; Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut; 1913, Part 5, page 701