March 6, 1680: The doors of First Baptist Church of Boston were nailed shut by court order; the Bay Colony was not tolerant of anyone who advocated for believers’ baptism. Men and women were banished from the colony and others were put to death. The Baptists in Boston continued to meet outside in the freezing church yard for several weeks until one Sunday they found the doors unlocked so went in to worship with no repercussions. ABHS has some of the original church records of First Baptist Church of Boston from 1771-1960.
