An 1889 article in the East Anglian Daily Times recalled the setting up of Suffolk's first Baptist congregations. The article described how in 1763 at the age of 30 John Hitchcock become the spiritual leader of what would become the congregation of the Wattisham Strict Baptist Chapel. As they had no meeting place at forst they met in homes including in a temporary chapel in John Hitchcock's farm house, Chapel Farm in Ringshall, Suffok. John Hitchcock still led the congregation when they constructed their chapel at Wattisham in 1780. John Hitchcock together with four Deacons, William Osborne, Joseph Cooper, John Squirrel and Robert Hoddy and two members, Ephraim Ward and Thomas Stevens of Wattisham Baptist Church decided to keep a register of births. The above named signed the declaration at the Church meeting on 18th May 1781 but the register was then begun as from 1763 when the group was formed.