In the year of our Lord 1790, just about the commencement of the French Revolution, this good brother and a few others came to the conclusion that the time had arrived to organize a Baptist Church in the city of Hartford. Previous to that, they had held meetings in the court-house and in private houses. On the 5th of August, 1789, the first baptism, according to our usage, was administered in this city. On September 7, it was resolved to hold public services on the Sabbath in a more formal way. Accordingly, the first meeting of this kind was held, October 18, in the dwelling-house of John Bolles. These services were continued, and in the ensuing season a number of persons were baptized on a profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. On the 23d of March, 1790, sixteen brothers and sisters were recognized as a church of Christ, by a regularly called council, over which Elder Hastings presided as Moderator. When the Baptists began to hold public services, an over-zealous member of Dr. Strong’s society (the Centre Congregational Society) called upon him and asked him if he knew that John Bolles had “started an opposition meeting.” “No,” said he. “When? Where?” “Why, at the old court-house.” “Oh, yes, I know it,” the doctor carelessly replied; “but it is not an opposition meeting. They are Baptists, to be sure, but they preach the same doctrine that I do; you had better go and hear them.” “Go!” said the man, “I am a Presbyterian!” “So am I,” rejoined Dr. Strong; “but that need not prevent us wishing them well. You had better go.” “No!” said the man, with energy, “I shan’t go near them! Dr. Strong, a’n’t you going to do something about it?” “What?” “Stop it, can’t you?” “My friend,” said the doctor, “John Bolles is a good man, and will surely go to heaven. If you and I get there, we shall meet him, and we had better, therefore, cultivate pleasant acquaintance with him here.” Dr. Bushnell, many years after, paid him a sweet tribute, in his sermon “Living to God in Small Things.” “I often hear mentioned by the Christians of our city (Hartford) the name of a certain godly man, who has been dead many years; and he is always spoken of with so much respectfulness and affection that I, a stranger of another generation, feel his power, and the sound of his name refreshes me. That man was one who lived to God in small things. I know this, not by any description which has thus set forth his character, but from the very respect and homage with which he is named. Virtually, he still lives among us, and the face of his goodness shines upon all our Christian labors.” Dr. Samuel Bowles, founder of the _Springfield Republican_, says in his “Notes of the Bowles Family:” “Deacon John Bolles of Hartford, one of the most godly men that ever lived, a descendant of Thomas Bolles, was a contemporary and neighbor of my father, and used to call him ‘cousin Bowles.’”