August 19, 1770. Reverend Hezekiah Smith of Haverhill, MA, founded the Baptist Church in Stratham, NH. Smith was a chaplain in Washington’s army during the Revolutionary War, and he traveled extensively in New England on evangelistic tours. ABHS has some of the Stratham’s original church records, and several books that contain biographical information about Smith. One reference books notes that he baptized 35 people in one month in the area around Stratham.
