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| Elder Isaac Case |
Below is an excerpt from Isaac Case, a Brief Biography by Dale Potter-Clark, 2013
Elder Isaac Case was born February 25, 1762 in Rehoboth, Mass, son of William and Abigail Bell Case. He was a Revolutionary War Veteran and an early Baptist missionary in Maine. In 1784 he preached at Thomaston, Maine and the history of that town relates that "a great sensation was produced by the arrival of the Rev. Isaac Case, a young Baptist minister from Harpswell...this was a day long to be remembered by those present...among the number who were deeply affected on that occasion was Mr. Elisha Snow...before the end of April, fifty-four had been baptized, among them were Mr. Snow, his wife and four of his children." Elisha Snow was a prominent member of the Thomaston community. Joanna, Elisha Snow's eighteen year old daughter, and the Rev Isaac Case were married on June 26 1785. He was pastor at Thomaston, Maine 1784 - 1792 and arrived in Readfield June 17, 1792, organized a Readfield Church in a barn, and continued as its first pastor for several years. According to The Story of Maine Baptists by Walter Cook, Case "formed the Maine Baptist Missionary Society in 1804 in Readfield, which was the first statewide missionary group of Baptists in Maine."
Elder Isaac Case was born February 25, 1762 in Rehoboth, Mass, son of William and Abigail Bell Case. He was a Revolutionary War Veteran and an early Baptist missionary in Maine. In 1784 he preached at Thomaston, Maine and the history of that town relates that "a great sensation was produced by the arrival of the Rev. Isaac Case, a young Baptist minister from Harpswell...this was a day long to be remembered by those present...among the number who were deeply affected on that occasion was Mr. Elisha Snow...before the end of April, fifty-four had been baptized, among them were Mr. Snow, his wife and four of his children." Elisha Snow was a prominent member of the Thomaston community. Joanna, Elisha Snow's eighteen year old daughter, and the Rev Isaac Case were married on June 26 1785. He was pastor at Thomaston, Maine 1784 - 1792 and arrived in Readfield June 17, 1792, organized a Readfield Church in a barn, and continued as its first pastor for several years. According to The Story of Maine Baptists by Walter Cook, Case "formed the Maine Baptist Missionary Society in 1804 in Readfield, which was the first statewide missionary group of Baptists in Maine."
North Manchester Meeting House as it appears today.
In 1793 Elder Case built a meeting house in East Readfield. About 1839 the church was moved from Readfield to North Manchester - at that time North Manchester was still part of Readfield. Since more parishioners were from that part of town they wanted the convenience of having their place of worship closer to their homes so they voted and the majority ruled. According to oral tradition this was said to create a rift in the congregation. Rev. Case meetinghouse is still in use in 2012 and currently called the North Manchester Meeting House. It is located on Scribner Hill Road.
Rev Isaac and Joanna Case are buried in
Case Cemetery, located on route 17 East Readfield.
Elder Rev. Isaac Case died at 92years on November 3, 1852 and is buried in Case~Barber Cemetery East Readfield. His tomb marks the spot where his pulpit once stood. Entering Case Cemetery, to the right, there are two large flat stones with a marble slab on top, enclosed by granite pillars, which are connected by iron rods. These are the graves of Elder Rev, Isaac Case and his wife Joanna Snow Case, who died 8/3/1847 age 80yrs. The story of their lives may be read there. The graves also mark the spot where Elder Case pulpit stood before his Baptist church was moved from this location to North Manchester, ME.
Bibliography:
History of Thomaston, Rockland, and South Thomaston, Maine by Cyrus Easton
Readfield Cemetery records and vital records
History of Winthrop, Maine by Everett Stackpole
The Story of Maine Baptists by Walter Cook
Soldiers, Sailors and Patriots of Revolutionary War Maine by Fisher
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