Thomas Gould (Baptist)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Gould was the first pastor
(lay preacher) of the First Baptist Church of Boston in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Gould was born in Great Britain
. After moving to Massachusetts, Gould became a successful farmer
and wagon
maker. Due to disagreements with Massachusetts' state Congregationalist (Puritan) church, Gould absented himself from Sabbath meetings. In 1655 he refused to allow his child to be baptized by the Congregationalist church in Charlestown, Massachusetts
where he was living and starting meeting with Henry Dunster
, another anti-pedobaptist who was the first president of Harvard College
. Another disagreement took place in the Cambridge church, and anti-pedobaptists began meeting in Gould's home. In 1665 Gould drew up a statement of faith for a Baptist congregation, which began meeting in secret on Noddle's Island
in Boston harbor. The congregation was mainly Calvinist in theology and borrowed heavily from earlier Baptist confessions of faith. Gould was eventually imprisoned by Massachusetts authorities. After his release, the congregation was allowed to meet in Boston.
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
(lay preacher) of the First Baptist Church of Boston in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Gould was born in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. After moving to Massachusetts, Gould became a successful farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
and wagon
Wagon
A wagon is a heavy four-wheeled vehicle pulled by draught animals; it was formerly often called a wain, and if low and sideless may be called a dray, trolley or float....
maker. Due to disagreements with Massachusetts' state Congregationalist (Puritan) church, Gould absented himself from Sabbath meetings. In 1655 he refused to allow his child to be baptized by the Congregationalist church in Charlestown, Massachusetts
Charlestown, Massachusetts
Charlestown is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and is located on a peninsula north of downtown Boston. Charlestown was originally a separate town and the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; it became a city in 1847 and was annexed by Boston on January 5, 1874...
where he was living and starting meeting with Henry Dunster
Henry Dunster
Henry Dunster was an Anglo-American Puritan clergyman and the first president of Harvard College...
, another anti-pedobaptist who was the first president of Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
. Another disagreement took place in the Cambridge church, and anti-pedobaptists began meeting in Gould's home. In 1665 Gould drew up a statement of faith for a Baptist congregation, which began meeting in secret on Noddle's Island
Noddle's Island
Noddle's Island is one of Boston Harbor Islands off East Boston, Massachusetts. In the 1940s the strait separating Noddle's Island from East Boston was filled, thereby connecting the island to Logan International Airport on the mainland.-History:...
in Boston harbor. The congregation was mainly Calvinist in theology and borrowed heavily from earlier Baptist confessions of faith. Gould was eventually imprisoned by Massachusetts authorities. After his release, the congregation was allowed to meet in Boston.