USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Glastonbury > Glastenbury for two hundred years: a centennial discourse, May 18th 1853 > Part 10
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Another act done by the society of Eastbury, breathing the same spirit of freedom toward others as was claimed for themselves, is found in the following vote, passed October, 1794:
" Voted, To give the Episcopalians their minister's rate."
This being done when the law of the State would not re- lease them, and the custom of the country did not demand it, and that soon after the appearance of Churchmen in their borders, was indicative of enlarged and liberal views of free- dom.
A RETROSPECT.
In reviewing the course pursued by the people of Glas- tenbury during the war of the Revolution, we cannot but admire the unanimity of feeling, and active cooperation in
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the country's cause, manifested by the great body of the in- habitants. Though enlistments seem to have gone on some- what tardily here, as elsewhere, after the first voice of alarm had died away, it evidently arose from no want of sympathy with the cause of liberty. The dark pall of mourning which rested upon so many families at the close of the French war, could not have been forgotten, while the sudden increase of price, for all the necessaries of life, seemed to require the presence and cooperation of every male member of every family. We see, therefore, in the readiness with which the people taxed themselves, for the support of the soldiers in the army, amounting sometimes to more than two shillings and sixpence per pound a year, a deep-seated and all-pervading love of liberty ; a readiness to sacrifice everything, if need be, in the cause of freedom. And herein they manifested a spirit which we shall do well to cherish and cultivate, as the surest safeguard against every foreign invasion.
SANITARY MEASURES.
The small pox, which had prevailed in the country more or less from its first settlement, became so widely spread, during the Revolution, that preventive means became indis- pensable to the welfare of the country. Among these means, inoculation deservedly holds a high place. This was first permitted in Glastenbury, by vote of the town, March, 1782, to be practiced under the direction of the civil authority and Selectmen. A motion was made at the annual meeting in December, to withdraw this permission, but without effect. It was provided, however, that no persons should inoculate, but Doctor Elizur Hale and Doctor Asaph Coleman, and that they should be put under bonds before doing it. At a special town meeting held in March, 1783, this permission was with- drawn, and at another meeting held in the April following, called, as would seem upon this very subject, the record in- forms us, that " after many debates and altercations, put to vote, whether this meeting allow inoculation for the small pox in this town in future. Negatived." At the annual meeting in December, the same year, it was voted to permit
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inoculation from the first of the next April until the tenth of June following. Things remained in this situation until De- cember, 1790, when inoculation was permitted "under the direction of the Civil Authority and the Selectment."
BIRTH OF A NATION.
The close of the Revolution brought with it a marked change in the policy of the country, which extended its in- fluence from the highest to the lowest and most inconsider- able of legislative bodies. This effect manifested itself in greater liberality of feeling among citizens of every name and denomination, in a greater independence and manliness of political action, and in the annihilation, almost, of that mi- nute, special legislation, which previously abounded in the doings of every legislative body, from the town meeting to the Colonial General Assembly. From being thirteen inde- pendent Colonies, of divers interests and pursuits, often com- ing in conflict with each other, they were now, one nation, bound together by a common interest and common liberty, which had been obtained by a compromise of conflicting interests, and at the expense of toil, and treasure, and blood. The idea of citizenship in this one nation, naturally tended to produce a loftiness of purpose, and expansiveness of thought, feeling and action, which, under GoD, has made this nation what it now is. Hence, whatever tends to root out this feeling of American citizenship, or even to obliterate it from the mind, as directly tends to the overthrow of the nation.
LEGISLATIVE CHANGES.
The circumstances already mentioned will enable us to understand a fact, for which we might not otherwise be able to account, the disappearance from the Records, of many points of incidental and local history. The town Records, therefore, cease to furnish that outline of history, subsequent to the Revolution, which may be easily gathered from them before that time. Another cause cooperating to produce this pau- city of historical matter in the records, is to be found, in that
110
state of quietude, which succeeded to the all-absorbing period of the Revolution. Hence, we find those records which throw light upon the personal history of individuals, much more deficient at this period than in the earlier history of the town. The guiding clue which we have hitherto obtained from the Legislative enactments of the town, leaves us in a great measure, at this point, compelling us to gather up our materials from other sources, arranging, classifying and di- gesting them, as best we may.
Having pursued the civil and ecclesiastical history of Glas- tenbury, until the independence of the nation, we shall revert to some other points, essential to the full understanding of the history.
SCHOOLS.
There is every reason to believe that the leading settlers of Glastenbury, designed and intended to make the town a place, if not a seat of learning, and they did what they could to lay the foundation thereof. The School-master was an officer of the town, to whom great respect and deference were to be paid. In 1701, ROBERT PoOG was employed to teach for three months, and longer if his labors gave satisfaction. For the first quarter he was to have £3 and the keeping of himself and horse, and £2 a quarter afterward. To pay the expense, the town had an appropriation made by a law of the colony, of forty shillings upon every thousand pounds in the Grand List, known in the records as " Country Money." The remainder was to be paid, half by tax upon the proper- ty, and half by assessment upon the children between the ages of six and twelve years, whether they attended school or not. The labors of Mr. Poog do not seem to have been sat- isfactory ; for the next year the " Town's Men," that is, the Selectmen, were directed to procure a sufficient teacher, the same mode of raising funds being continued. A few years later, it was specified that the teachers should be " well qual- ified to teach the children," and that " the Masters should be paid by the society," the tax upon the scholars being remit- ted. Particular attention was also paid to the subject of
111
school-houses, that they should be sufficient in number, and conveniently located.
As soon as the " East Farms" were sufficiently settled to be able to commence a school, they were authorized to hire a woman, their proportion of money not then being sufficient to procure a " well qualified Master." One-half of the school money was always raised by tax on property, and many years the whole of it was so raised. When, however, any tax was laid on the children, it was always with this pro- viso: " Boys from six to twelve years to pay whether they go to school or not."
CLERKS OF SCHOOLS-ELEAZER KIMBERLY.
Of the learning of the early settlers of this town, we have not the means of speaking with much certainty. It seems, however, to have been superior to what it has been since, though perhaps, not so generally diffused. The early town (including the school) records kept by Eleazer Kimberly, from 1692 to 1708, are better specimens of orthography and pen- manship than can often be found at that early day ; while the recods kept by his son
THOMAS KIMBERLY, from 1713 to 1730, exceed any other records of that period that we have ever seen, both for cor- rect spelling and beautiful chirography. The records be- tween these two men, from 1708, to 1713, by
SAMUEL SMITH, partake largely of the peculiarities of the age.
THOMAS WELLES. The records kept by Thomas Welles, from 1730 to 1764, begin with something of the old con- tracted court hand, but pass into a more modern style. The orthography, however, is good.
JONATHAN HALE. The records of the first society, (includ- ing the Glastenbury school records until 1796,) kept by Jon- athan Hale from 1731 to 1744, are in a clear round hand, with few peculiarities, and these mainly by the substitution of oo for ou and u ; as, hoose, yoose, poond, etc., for house, use, pound, and the like, which he may have inherited from his parents, or have acquired from the fashionable pronunciation of educated men a hundred years ago.
112
OTHER CLERKS. His successor as clerk of the society and schools from 1744 to 1761, was Thomas Welles, already spoken of as town clerk. His successors, William Welles, from 1764 to 1778, and Isaac Mosely from 1778 to 1774, were both excellent writers and good clerks. The next, Wait Goodrich, 1784, 1785, and Theodore Woodbridge from 1785 to 1794, were fair penmen. The proper school record end- ing here, we shall not pursue the subject further, only adding that both the matter and the manner of these records are creditable to all parties concerned, and the earliest of them are especially so. The school records of more modern days, would often suffer by a comparison with the earlier.
SECOND SOCIETY-STEPHEN ANDREWS.
The society and school records of Eastbury, are kept with much completeness and accuracy, but exhibit more peculiar- ities of orthography and less beauty of penmanship than those of Glastenbury. The first clerk, Stephen Andrews, from 1731 to 1743, made few deviations from the established order of spelling. We find him, however, sometimes strengthen- ing a word with additional letters, as, Sallerry, Leagually, etc., for salary, legally, and the like.
ELISHA ANDREWS. His successor, Elisha Andrews, from 1743 to 1749, had few peculiarities of spelling, and wrote a very respectable hand.
STEPHEN STRICKLAND, the succeeding clerk from 1749 to 1763, had more peculiarities than his predecessors, and has preserved the ancient usage of many of the colloquial ex- pressions which still prevail among the people. He was the best representative of the present colloquial usage of the town. One of the most obvious of these corruptions is the insertion of an r before ast, as, parst, larst, etc., for past, last, and the like. Other corruptions, some of which can not be expressed in writing, are still common, and show the need of the school-master yet. A peculiar usage, of limited extent, still current in a part of the town is, " Ourus and yourus," for our house and your house.
HEZEKIAH WICKHAM, ETC. The records of the next socie- ty clerk, Deacon Hezekiah Wickham, from 1763 to 1779, are
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no improvement upon those of his predecessor, though he oc- casionally filled the post of school-master in his own society. We find also here, a phonographic representation of words still in use; as, in " meeten," " keepen," " settelen," etc., for meeting, keeping, settling, etc., with some occasional peculi- arities, as, " Pasneg," for parsonage, etc. The successor of Mr. W. was Charles Andrews, who held the office from 1779 to 1794, whose record presents no striking peculiarity.
So far as any judgment can be formed from the character and contents of the records, both of school and society, it leads unavoidably to the conclusion that there has been a relaxation of effort in the cause of education since the first settlers passed off the stage. The high standard which our fathers created has been overlooked; the common interest of every citizen in the education of the community has been forgotten, and the obligation resting upon all to contribute of their means for this purpose, has been denied. As a natu- ral, if not a necessary consequence of this state of things, public education has been neglected, public schools have been undervalued, and the public interest mistaken. Occasional efforts have been made to remedy this evil, sometimes, by establishing schools of a higher grade, with a higher stand- ard of attainment, and sometimes by lowering the standard of the lowest ; but as yet without any permanent success.
Glastenbury has, therefore, in this respect, a mission yet unperformed, upon which it is her duty and her interest to enter immediately. The light that gleams from her very name, the halo of glory that encircles her early English history, and the self-denying efforts of our fathers, all conspire to exhort us to spare no pains and shrink at no efforts, necessary to enable us to realize the vision of our forefathers, making Glasten- bury conspicuous as a religious and an educated people.
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114
SCHOOLS.
DOINGS OF GLASTENBURY SCHOOL SOCIETY ; FROM THE TOWN RECORDS.
| Months of School.
| At " Center."
| At "Nayaug."
| At "Eastfarms."
Year.
1700,
The town " voted to build a school-house, eighteen feet square besides the chimney."
" A sufficient schoolmaster to be procured,-to be paid the 40s. on the £1000, country rate, and the remainder, one-halfby rate on the town, and the other half by those who have child- ren of suitable age to attend, whether they go to school or not."
1701,
Selectmen hired Robert Poog to be Scholmaster, £3 for the 1st quarter, £2 for the 2d, etc., himself and horse to be kept. Vote of last year re-enacted.
1702,
1703,
" Schoolmaster to be paid according to agreement made by Selectmen."
1704,
" Capt. Welles, Lt. S. Hale, Segt. J. Hubbard, School Com." Com. to hire "a man well qualified to teach the children."
1707, 6 3
" Com. to hire Schoolmaster" At another meeting-
1708, 6
8
4
" The 1st 2 mo. and last 2 mo. at Nayaug."
1710,12
S
4
" The 1st 4 mo. at Naiag."
1711,
No mention of school.
1712, 12 8
4
" The 1st 4 mo. at Naioge. Boys between 6 and 12 to pay whether they go or not."
1713, 6
4' 2
1714, 6
4
2
People at Eastfarms allowed to hire "a woman to keep school among them 2 months."
1715, 10 6 2
2
" Two months at the farms in the woods."
1716,12
1717,11 6
3
2
1718, 11 6 3
2 tain distance, to pay whether they go to school or not, and 1 load of wood to be carried for a scholar or 3s. to be paid. 2 " Boys to pay whether they go or not."
1721, 11 5
3
3
1722,
"To be in the several places in proportion to their payments. All south of Sam. Hale's to be reckoned part of Nayaug, and all east of Jos. House, Tho. Morley's, and John Love- land's, of East Farms."
" Wood to be furnished by Com. and paid for by Scholars."
1724, 11
"11 mo. at center-Neighug and East Farms to have theirshare of the country money-Com's appointed in each placc."
1725, 12 6 3
3
1726
sa me.
to 1728,
1729, 11 51 21 21
" Same Proportion as last year, what is required over 40s. in £1000, to be paid out of the Town Treasury."
1730, 1731,
" Boys to pay whether they go or not."
1720,11
5
3
3
1723,
" In the several places in the same proportion as last year." All boys between 6 and 11, except those living beyond cer-
1719,
1719,11 6 3
3
"The last 3 mo. at Nayaug."
1709, 12
1706,12 9 3
1707, 12 8 4
" Selectmen to be Committee."
" Two months at Nayang."
"Three Committees apd."
When Eastbury was made an Ecclesiastical Society.
1701,
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In 1731, each Ecclesiastical Society became a distinct and independent School Society, and the records of the school will be found in the records of the parish until 1796, when School Societies were separated from the Ecclesi- astical.
GLASTENBURY SCHOOL SOCIETY; FROM THE RECORDS OF THE FIRST ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETY.
] Months of School
| At " Center."
At "Nayaug."
" Up-Town."
Year.
1732, 12
S
4
1733, 12
5
4
1734,12
5
4
1735, 12
5
4
The " Colony money" being dedneted, the remainder to be paid, half by the Society and half by the children.
The School Master to be paid by the Society.
1737, 12
8
4
The Master to be paid by the Society. Paid Mr. Nathaniel Collins £32, Joseph Smith £5, Dorothy Treat £5 10s. for keeping school this year.
1738, 12 8
The Master to be paid by the Society.
1739, 12
8
4
1740, 12
61
4
Paid to Mr. Enoch Lyman £15 5s., to Mr. Collins £10. Mr. Jos. Smith £9, Serg. Joseph Hollister for boarding the Mas- ter £4 10s., and Benj. Hollister for the use of his house 15s. 2 mo. " above the brook between Mr. Rich. Smith's house ;" to be paid by the Society. Paid Mr. Pelatiah Kilborn £20 13s., Mr. Jo. Smith £10, Mr. David Goodrich £12 13s. Mr. Jo. Hollister for boarding school master £6. Mr. B. Hollister " for the yoose of his hoose to keep school in Naigg the year past £1."
Expense £67 12s. 6d.
1742, 12
4
Paid Mr. Manoah Smith for 3 mo. keeping school £18, Jacob Mygatt £9 12s. Mr. Charles Treat for 2 mo. £12.
1743, 12
4
4
4
"Interest on Town bonds £26 12s. 11d. The country money [40s. on £1000. State Tax] £14 7s .- Paid N. School £9. Middle, £24. South, £23 15s."
1744, 12
4
4
4
School to be kept as last year; £15 15s. 1d. appropriated, half to be paid by Society, and half by tax on the children. Voted to build three school houses.
1745, 1746, 12 4
Same time to 1749, expense not specified.
1749,
"The boys' heads to pay £40 15s. 10d. ; the Society, £40 15s. 10d."
1750, 4 4 4
" Wood to be brought by parents," &c.
4 The same next year.
" Wood levied on children's heads."
1757,
1758,
6
5
5
" Wood to be paid for as last year." " Voted, to pay Ser. Oliver Noble of Hebron £6 5s. for keeping school 3 mo."
1759, 4
4
4 Schools to be kept for a short time near Charles Eddy's and Thomas Matson's.
1760, 6 6
"And 2 mo. at the South end, and 2 mo. at the South East corner of the Town."
1756,
6
4 5
4
5
" Master of Middle South 4 mo. £84. Nayaug 4 mo. £80 ;-- Interest on Town bonds, £81 12s., country mo- ney £50 Ss."
1751, 12 1753, 12 4
4
4
4
A load of wood to be brought for each scholar. Society voted £16 3s. for schools this year.
1736, 12
S
4
4
.
1741,12 8 4
4 4
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Year 1761. " Schools as last year. Voted to build a school house in the South East part of the Town."
1762. Schools as last year ; to be paid for by Society.
1763. Schools as last year, the two lower schools to have } as much money as the others ;-- " wood to be laid on children's heads or polls."
1764.
Voted to build a school house at the south end of the Town. Voted to Middle School £21 12s. ; to the Upper School £21 12s. ; to " Neigh- ogg" £21 12s. ; to Matson [hill] £7 4s .; and to South School £7 4s."
1765. Schools as last year. Board of Teachers not to be over five shillings a week.
1766. Schools as last year. " Wood to be laid on children's polls" and " teachers to be paid in grain." Voted to build a school house in the North District.
1767. Schools and wood as last year. Proper proportion of money for each district to be determined by judges chosen for the purpose.
1768. Schools as last year ; teachers not to have more than £3 a month, -- Voted to build a school house in the middle district.
1771. Schools as last year,-old center school house to be sold.
1772. Schools as last year.
One month to be added to North and " Neiogg" schools.
1773.
Schools to be kept as usual, before last year ; one month being added
1774. to the South and South East schools ; " wood to be laid on the heads 1775. of the children in each district."
1776. Schools, as last year, -- "wood to be laid on the children's heads." -- North, Middle and Nayaug to have £18 for schools. Matson's and Lower end District to have £9 each.
1777. Schools and School money same as last year.
1778. Schools to be paid according to the time they are kept. Paid Teach- · ers, Capt. Wait Goodrich, £18,-Joseph Moseley, £18,-Jonathan Hollister, £18, Stephen Goodrich, £9.
1779. Schools to be " kept the usual time at the usual places, at the Society's expense."
1780.
Vote of last year repassed.
1781. " £18 voted to North, Middle, and Nayaug Schools, £9 to each of the others, in lawful money, or an equivalent in continental bills." At a meeting held a few months after,-" Voted the whole of said meet- ing void as not being a full meeting." "Voted to the three districts mentioned above, 12 bushels of wheat, or its equivalent in bills, and to the other districts in the same proportion."
This year this school Society established six school Districts, one at the South end of the Town,-one at the South East corner of the Socie- ty,-one including what is now the central part of South Glasten- bury, and three others on the main street South of Hartford line, and directed that a school should be kept at least four months in each year, in each district.
1782-3 and 4. £12 allowed to each district, if they keep school 4 months. A new school house was built in the S. District this year, cost £81, 5s. 3d.
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1785. Districts to keep school 5 mo. and receive £15. 1786-7 to 90. Schools to be kept 5 mo., salaries not exceed £3 per mo.
1791. Same as last year. New district established, and £12 appropriated to the two Northern, and £13 10s. to the other five, being nearly in the proportion of scholars from 4 to 14. A new school house to be built and scholars between 4 and 14 to be enumerated, and the list given to Soc. Com.
1792-3 to 5. £91, 10s. voted for schools.
GLASTENBURY SCHOOL SOCIETY FROM THE SCHOOL SOCIETY RECORDS.
From the first settlement of the country until 1795, all the business of the Public Schools was transacted at the Society meetings of those Ecclesiastical bodies which had been es- tablished by law. By an Act passed that year, the School and the Society were separated, and their respective duties have since been discharged,-(so far as duties to the school have been discharged)-by different bodies. From this period, too, dates the establishment of Districts, as distinct bodies ; for though these had been previously established, it was only as a matter of convenience, and being without specific local limits, did not require the residents of the sev- eral Districts to send to the school in the District where they resided. This was the practice of the first Society, and was declared by vote, to be the intention of the people of the sec- ond Society.
1796, There is no record of a meeting of the School Society of Glastenbury, in 1795, but in 1796, a committee appointed at a previous meeting reported the following appraised value of the several School Houses in the Society.
(1) That by Mr. Alger's, £7, 15s. (Hopewell.)
(2) 66 " Taylor's, £38,5s. 6d. (South Part.)
(3) " Woodbridge's, £8, 7s. 2d. (South Village.)
(4) Mr. Gideon Hale's, £21, 0s. 10d.
(Centre.)
(5) Griswold's, £10, 4s. (Green.)
(6) Welles, £33,8s. 4d. (North Glastonbury.)
(7) 66 Smith's, £13,11s. 5d. (Pratt's Ferry.)
1797, £91, 10s. raised by tax for schools.
1797, £76, 13s. 13d. voted for school houses.
1800, A tax levied, which, with the public money shall amount to £108, to be divided according to the attendance.
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1801-2. £108 expended for schools,-what the public money did not supply, being raised by tax on all the inhabitants.
1803, No record of rate made.
1805, Teachers to be examined by three or more of the Board of Overseers.
1808, Voted to apply the " Loan money" to schools,-the interest this year being applied to buy a hearse," &c.
Nayaug District established this year, and Manoah Smith apppointed the first District Committee.
1817, Voted $20 to schools, in addition to the Public money derived either from Town or State.
1820, The following vote appearing in the Society Records, though not the doings of the Society, as such, is an important item in our school history. At a full meeting of the Board of Visitors, it was,-
Voted unanimously ; That the several instructors of the District Schools in this Society, be directed to instruct the children in their respective schools, in the rudiments o literature, religion, morals, and manners ; particularly in a knowledge of spelling, reading, and writing, and they are directed not to instruct the children in Arithmetic, Grammar and Geography during regu- lar school hours."
The object of this measure was, to raise the standard of education, by com- pelling children to attend the High School or Academy. The practical operation, however, seems to have been different from what was intended, and to have tended downward, rather than upward, as similar efforts always will.
1823, Burying ground at Church established, half an acre having been pur- chased at $50.
1828, High School at North Glastenbury established.
1837, Bounds of Districts reestablished.
1844, Regulations of the Burying Ground at the Green, and by-laws passed ; confirmed by the Legislature in 1845.
1845, This School Society divided, and called Glastenbury and South Glas- tenbury.
EASTBURY SCHOOL SOCIETY ; FROM THE SOC. RECORDS.
Year.
Time.
Places.
1732,
61 3
1733, 6
4
Expense £7, 16s. " half on children's heads." Board, £3, 18s. Teachers, Gideon Hollister, Dan'l Wright, and Edw'd Boardman. Mr. Easton £5, 2s. 2d. ; John Waddams £2, 9s. 6d. ; Mr. Strick- land, for boarding Teachers, £5, 19s. " Voted the Society pay the school-master, and not the heads."
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