Owning the Covenant in Killingworth

What did it mean to "own the covenant" within the congregational community? One of the responses of the reformation movement was that salvation had to be earned, that it was not a free gift, it could not be granted or sold by the church. The social register of life in New England was the list of those who "owned the covenant". I am not sure what form the sacrament of granting the covenant took. What is sure is that gaining the status of owning the covent required strict obedience to the bylaws that were written and agreed on with the formation of each new congregation. For example it was expected that church be attended on a weekly basis with each missed Sunday being duly noted. In a world where beer was a part of every day life alcohol was to be absolutely avoided. The hallmark however was an active and public profession of faith. The recording of those owning the covenant is a major part of all Congregational Records. In the Killingworth 2nd Society we find Samuel and each of his three wives listed among those owning the covenant. History notes that the first meeting of those seeking to organize a Congregational Congregation in Essex, Vermont took place in the home of Samuel Griffin.