Rhode Island Roots
September 2006
Page 151
A Knight Errant: Richard Knight and his Church
William B. Saxbe, M.D.
Although the early records of Rhode Island churches are not known for much personal detail, occasionally we get a glimpse of lively human beings. The South Scituate Six Principle Baptist Church, for example, had quite a problem. Richard Knight, who had previously been elected secretary, was clearly not living up to his office or the church's behavioral expectations. The records of what must have been a spirited meeting show the following resolution:
At a Church meeting held in Situate [sic] on the 4th day of June AD 1785
Present Elder Manchester the Deacons brethren and Sisters.
Resolved that our Brother Richard Knight be suspended from Communing with this Church at present by Reason of having Kept a house of merriment and friendship with the Vain & worldly People allowing them in fiddling and Dancing and Some Kind of Gaming frequently for a Long time and having been absent from the Church and not Making any Records of our proceedings for a long time as by this book will plainly appear and for not Attending Church meetings when Requested by Brethren appointed by the Church.
He did eventually reform. Ten years later Richard Knight was re-accepted into membership, and fifteen years after that he was made and elder.
(Six Principle Baptist Church Records, 1762 - 1825 (South Scituate, R.I.), Mss 145, series 8, Rhode Island Historical Society Library)
