History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I, Part 18

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.)
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: N. Y. : W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 966

USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 18
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 18

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

"A mighty tribe of well-instructed youth Tell what they owe to him, and tell with truth. All the eight parts of speech he taught to them, They now employ to trumpet his esteem. Magister pleas'd them well because 'twas he; They say that bonus did with it agree. While they said amo, they the hint improve, Him for to make the object of their love. No concord so inviolate they knew As to pay honor to their master due. With interjections they break off at last, But ah is all they use, oh and alas !'

145

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

" He lived, and to vast age no illness knew; Till Time's scythe, waiting for him, rusty grew. He lived and wrought: his labors were immense; But ne'er declined to præter perfect tense."

He died in Boston in 1708, in the 94th year of his age, having, in all these years, borne the reputation of being one of the most successful teachers of his time.

The town secured the services of other teachers as instructors of its boys, there being at that time but little attention paid to the edu- cation of girls, many of them not being able,even, to write their own names. In 1657 ex-Governor Edward Hopkins died in England, leaving large legacies to executors in the colonies, " for the breeding up of hopeful youths both at the grammar school and college, for the public service of the country in future times."

This fund made it possible to carry out what Mr. Davenport had designed from the beginning: " that a small college should be settled at New Haven." In 1660 a small collegiate school was established by New Haven colony, and four years later this was absorbed into the Hopkins Grammar School, which has almost uninterruptedly been con- tinued sinee that time. It has justly become celebrated, and is one of the oldest schools of this kind in America. It is controlled by a board of trustees, most of whom are connected with Yale University. It is now mainly a preparatory school for that institution, and contains students from all parts of the country. The excellent high schools in various parts of the county have, in a large measure, relieved it of local patronage. After 1716 this school and Vale afforded the young men all the privileges they wanted to acquire a higher education, but schools for the co-education of the sexes, or for young ladies alone, were also early established. Among the schools of that nature, a century and a half ago, were those of Samuel Mix and Moses Mans- field. Abel Moses had a seleet school for young ladies as early as 1783, and was assisted by Jedediah Morse, who subsequently became known as the " father of American geography." The American and Orleans Academies were in existence in 1790; and in 1799 Jared Mans. field, LL. D., was at the head of a select school.

In 1806 the New Haven Union School, for both sexes, was ably maintained and largely patronized. About 1810 the New Township Academy was erected in the eastern part of the city, and was kept up until 1831. Contemporary with this, in the western part of the city, was the school for young ladies, kept by Reverend Claudius Herrick. Other reputable schools were kept by Reverend John M. Garfield and Miss S. Hotchkiss. Dwight's Gymnasium, by Sereno E. and Henry Dwight, brothers, was very popular for a time, but did not long continue.

Of the later private schools, the most important are the West End Institute, for young ladies, established in 1870, by Mrs. Sarah L. Cady;

146

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

the Collegiate and Commercial Institute, for boys, founded by General William H. Russell in 1836, and the Business College, in the Insur- ance Building.

In 1790 an effort was made to elevate the standard of the city schools, but apparently without much success, and several scores of years elapsed before the schools were placed upon an effective basis.

" A Lancasterian School was opened, with 240 scholars, on the 22d of April, 1822, in the basement of the Methodist church on the green. by John E. Lovell, a pupil of Lancaster. in England. Hundreds of pupils were simultaneously taught by a classified system of monitors among the boys; the younger were taught by the older, and they in turn were taught by the head of the school. Beside the ordinary monitors, there were six monitor generals, all bearing badges. The school was highly popular, and some of our strong men received there their only schooling. In 1827 the city built a new school building, near the site of the high school, on Orange street, which Mr. Lovell conducted on the Lancaster plan. Prior to this the town did not own a single school building, excepting a slight structure in Fair Haven, of no special value." *

After about thirty years, in which Mr. Lovell diligently devoted himself to teaching, he retired from the schoolroom, but lived at New Haven until he was more than 90 years old, and was universally respected. The Lancasterian system gave place to graded schools, which were established in the city in 1854. Two years thereafter the city board of education was organized, and that body has since con- trolled and managed the schools, the city district at present embrac- ing all of the town of New Haven, except the Westville section. which forms a separate district. The city district has a number of sub-districts, each of which has its own buildings and, in a certain sense, its own management, conforming to the general plan, and being under the direction of a city superintendent. There are twelve grades in the course of instruction, and the standard of graduation is very high. It ends in the completion of the course in the Hillhouse High School, which was established in 1859. The present elegant building on Orange street was erected in 1872, at a cost of $125,000. It has a seating capacity for 400 students. The buildings of the town accommodate more than 15,000 pupils, and more than a dozen of the thirty-odd structures seat 600 each. The schools are maintained at a yearly outlay of nearly $400,000, and are reputed among the best in New England.

The following account of Yale University was prepared for this work by Reverend Frank Countryman.

Sixty-five years after the colonization of Connecticut was begun, and sixty-three after that of New Haven, a serious attempt was made toward the founding of what is now Yale University. Harvard Col-

* Henry Howe.

147

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

lege, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, was already in existence, having been founded in 1636, by graduates of English universities. The col- lege of William and Mary, in Virginia, had been chartered in 1693. The two institutions supplied means for the higher education of the infant colonies. But the people of Connecticut and New Haven, friendly toward learning, desired a collegiate institution in their own midst. So, in 1701; we begin to find traces of a movement to estab- lish a college. Foremost among the promoters of the new enterprise was the Reverend James Pierpont, pastor of the New Haven church, and a graduate of Harvard, in the year 1681. Equally interested was the Reverend Abraham Pierson, a graduate of Harvard, in the year 1668, of Killingworth, now Clinton. These two clergymen met together, with their brother ministers, to consult as to the expediency of founding a college. They sought the advice of leading laymen and ministers in Boston and Cambridge and elsewhere, and finally, if tradition be correct, a few of the Connecticut pastors met together in Branford, about the last of September, 1701. They then gave, it is stated, a collection of books as a foundation for a college in the colony. It is evident that nothing more than a general line of policy had been adopted at this meeting in Branford, to be developed later. No details as to the government of the proposed college had as yet been worked out.

In the meanwhile, Pierpont and others had sent on to Boston a paper of suggestions for a draft of a charter to be procured from the legislature, which was to meet in New Haven October 9th. Such a charter was framed, probably on October 16th, as follows:

" An act for Liberty to erect a Collegiate School: Whereas several well disposed, and Publick spirited Persons of their sincere Regard to & Zeal for upholding & Propagating of the Christian Protestant Religion by a succession of Learned & Orthodox men have expressed by Petition their earnest desires that full Liberty & Priveledge be granted unto certain Undertakers for the founding, suitably endow- ing & ordering a Collegiate School within his Majties Colony of Con- necticot wherein Youth may be instructed in the Arts & Sciences who thorough the blessing of Almighty God may be fitted for Publick employment both in Church & Civil State. To the intent therefore that all due incouragement be Given to such Pious Resolutions and that so necessary & Religious an undertakeing may be sett forward, supported & well managed :-

"Be it Enacted by the Govern' & Company of the sd Colony of Connecticot, in General Court now Assembled, And it is enacted & ordained by the Authority of the same that there be & hereby is full Liberty, Right and Priveledge Granted unto the Reverend Mr James Noyes of Stonnington, Mr Israel Chauncey of Stratford, Mr Thomas Buckingham of Saybrook, Mr Abraham Pierson of Kennelworth, Mr Samuel Mather of Windsor, Mr Samuel Andrew of Millford,

148

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

Mr Timothy Woodbridge of Hartford, Mr James Pierpont of New Haven, Mr Noadiah Russell of Middletown, Mr Joseph Webb of Fair- field, being Revd ministers of the Gospel, & inhabitants within ye sª Colony, proposed to stand as Trustees, Partners, or Undertakers for the sd School, to them & their successors, To Erect, form, direct, order, establish, improve and att all times in all suitable wayes for the future to encourage the sd School in such convenient place or Places, & in such form & manner, & under such order & Rules as to them shall seem meet & most conducive to the aforesd end thereof, so as such Rules or Orders be not Repugnant to the Laws of the Civil Governmt, as also to imploy the moneys or any other estate which shall be Granted by this Court or otherwise Contributed to that use according to their discretion for the benefit of the sd Collegiate School from time to time & att all times henceforward.

"And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesd that the before named Trustees, Partners or Undertakers together with such others as they shall associate to themselves (not exceeding the num- ber of Eleven, or att any time being less than Seven, Provided also that Persons nominated or associated from time to time to fill up sd number be ministers of the gospel inhabiting within this Colony & above the Age of forty years) or the major Part of them, the sd Mr James Noyes [etc] undertakers, & of such Persons so chosen & associated as abovesd att any time hereafter, Have and shall have henceforward the oversight, full & compleat Right, Liberty, power, & Priveledge to furnish, direct, manage, order, improve & encourage from time to time & in all times hereafter the sd Collegiate School so Erected & formed by them in such ways, orders & manner, & by such Persons, Rector or master and officers appointed by them, as shall according to their best discretion be most conducible to attaine the aforesd mentioned end thereof.

"And Moreover it is Enacted & ordered by the Governor, Council & Representatives of ye Colony aforesd met in General Assembly-

" That the sd Mr James Noyes [etc] Undertakers, Trustees or Part- ners, & ye sd Persons taken from time to time into Partnership, or associated as aforesd with themselves shall Have & receive & it is hereby Given and Granted unto them, the full & just sum of one hundred & twenty pounds in Country Pay to be paid Annually & att all times hereafter until this court order otherwise, to them & to such Person or Persons only as they shall appoint & impower to Receiv the same, to be faithfully disposed of by ye sd Trustees, Partners or Undertakers for the end aforesd according to their dis- cretion, which sd sum shall be raised & Paid in such ways & man- ners & att such a value as ye Country Rates of sd Colony are & have been usually raised & Paid.

"It is also further Enacted by the Authority aforesd that the sd Undertakers and Partners & their successors be & hereby are

149

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

further impowered to have, accept, acquire, purchase, or otherwise lawfully enter upon Any Lands, Tenements & Hereditamts to the use of the sd School, not exceeding the value of five hundred Pounds pr Ann, & any Goods, Chattels, Sum or Sums of money whatsoever as have heretofore already been Granted, bestowed, bequeathed, devised or settled by any Person or Persons whatsoever upon & to & for the use of ye sd School towards the founding, erect- ing or endowing the same, & to sue for, Recover & receiv all such Gifts, Legacies, bequests, annuities, Rents, issues & profits arising therefrom & to imploy the same accordingly, & out of ye estate, Revenues, Rents, profits, incoms, accrueing & belonging to sd School to support & pay as the sd Undertakers shall agree & see cause, the sd Rector or Master, Tutors, Ushers or other officers their Respective annual Salaries or Allowances. As also for the encouragemt of the Students to grant degrees or Licences as they or those deputed by them shall see cause to order & appoint."

Under this charter an organization of the "Collegiate School " was effected in November, 1701, in Saybrook, at the mouth of the Con- necticut river. The seven trustees present at the organization voted to fix the school at Saybrook, and chose the Reverend Mr. Pierson as rector. Saybrook seems to have been chosen as the site for the school because it was a convenient spot, where two streams of population met. The line of towns on the Connecticut river met there the line of coast towns. But the inconveniences arising from the small popu- lation of the place, together with other embarrassments, which naturally pressed upon a new institution in a small and poor colony, nearly crushed the school in its infancy. The first rector, Mr. Pierson, never lived there, because the funds available would not permit the erection of a building suitable for his accommodation. For this reason the students were kept at Killingworth until Mr. Pierson's death, in 1707. However, the school was organized and started with a course of theological instruction outlined by the trustees for Mr. Pierson's guidance. As to other matters in the curriculum and the general administration of the school, the rules of Harvard College were to be followed.

The first student who offered himself was Jacob Hemingway of New Haven. He presented himself in March, 1702, and on Septem- ber 16th the first commencement was held at the house of the Rever- end Thomas Buckingham, at Saybrook Point, in the present town of Old Saybrook. At this commencement the degree of master of arts was conferred on four young Harvard bachelors, and also on Nathaniel Chauncey, of Stratford. He had been privately educated by his uncle. His name thus stands as the first on the roll of the academical graduates of Yale University. In the same month of September more students entered, and a tutor was appointed to assist in instruc- tion. The institution depended for support on the tuition fees of the

150

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

few students and the annual grant of £120 in " country pay " from the colony legislature. as promised in the charter. The revenues were thus not very great, the £120 " country pay " being equal in itself to only £80 in money. Through the generosity of Mr. Nathaniel Lynde a small house and lot of land, on Saybrook Point, were offered in 1702 for the use of the school. The annual commencements were always attended in the same locality.

The rector, Mr. Pierson, died after a short illness March 5th, 1707, at the age of 61. He has left behind him a reputation for good scholarship and practical wisdom as an administrator. A manuscript text book on natural philosophy, drawn up by him, was in use by the students for a quarter of a century; and an old oak arm chair, said to have been in his possession, stands in the library of the university. On the college grounds stands, in a conspicuous position, an idealized statue representing him in classic pose.

After his death the Reverend Samuel Andrew, of Milford, one of the original trustees, was put in nominal charge as rector. It was not expected, however, that he should remove to Saybrook. The instruc- tion there was carried on by two young tutors. This arrangement was decidedly unsatisfactory, for the institution languished for six or seven years. In 1713 efforts were begun for gifts to the school, espe- cially by Jeremiah Dummer, the agent for Connecticut at London. As a result, nearly 1,000 volumes of great value were sent from England in 1714 15. Many of these, it is said, can still be identified. Among them were gifts from such men as Sir Isaac Newton, Richard Steele, Richard Bentley, Edmund Halley, Matthew Henry, Sir Edmund Andros, Elihu Vale and others. It was at this time, apparently, that Governor Vale's attention was first turned toward the school.

Encouraged by these gifts, the trustees addressed petitions to the colony legislature for means to build a house to shelter the school. In the year 1715 a grant of 500 pounds for this object was made. The school seemed now about to enter upon a permanent career. But opposition to the location at Saybrook was soon manifest. Hartford and New Haven, more prominent and populous places, entered into competition not only with Saybrook, but also with each other. Finally, however, a majority of the trustees voted for New Haven, where a popular subscription for the college reached a higher figure than either Saybrook or Hartford could produce. The decisive vote was passed in October, 1716, and committees were raised to proceed with the erection of a rector's house and a college at New Haven in the following spring. But this action did not give complete satisfac- tion. Hartford was not pleased, nor was Saybrook. Of the two tutors appointed along with the vote to build at New Haven one immedi- ately established himself there with a dozen students. The other, under the influence of Hartford, established himself at Wethersfield with as many, if not more, students. Thus a rival school was estab-

151

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

lished, with which Mr. Elisha Williams, a Harvard graduate and of high repute as an instructor, was connected. At Saybrook three or four students, under the care of the village pastor, a former tutor. still remained. The school thus was split up into sections. The work of locating at New Haven, however, still went on. On September 11th, 1717. commencement was celebrated for the first time in New Haven. Two weeks later the trustees bought one and one quarter acres at the southeast corner of what is now the College Square. On this lot of land the building was raised October 8th, 1717, and occupied one year from that day. It was of wood, and architecturally an ambitious structure .* The plan was drawn by Governor Saltonstall. It was about 170 feet long, 22 feet deep, three stories high, with an attic. There were in it a dining hall, used also as a chapel, a library, 22 sets of rooms for students, each of which would accommodate three persons. Up to this time, in all probability, as many as thirty persons had never been in attendance at the school at any one time. Plans were thus laid for a great future enlargement.

At this time the friends of Hartford seem to have abandoned all hopes of defeating the New Haven project, through the interference of the legislature, and, in June, 1719, the school in Wethersfield was finally adjourned to New Haven. The chief agents in securing this result were Governor Saltonstall and the Reverend John Davenport, of Stamford. There yet remained Saybrook, which was still fiercely opposed to the removal of the college to New Haven. Although the colony legislature tried to soothe the feelings of the disappointed town by voting a gratuity of 50 pounds to the public school of that place, it was unconvinced. When steps were taken, at the request of the legislature, to remove to New Haven the college property still in Saybrook, much opposition was shown. The angry gentleman in whose hands had been left the library of perhaps 1,300 volumes, and the records of the trustees, persisted in ignoring the claims of " Vale College "+ to the assets of the Collegiate School. His neighbors sup- ported him in this attitude, and it was not till the sheriff's aid was called in that the requisition of the legislature was perforce honored. Even then, a disgraceful series of outrages took place, by which one- fifth of the library was lost, together with the records of the trustees for the Saybrook period of their history. Vale College now began to have a local habitation and a name. Hitherto she had been the Col- legiate School at Saybrook, with no buildings worthy the name, and with her pupils scattered. She was now to enter upon a career worthy of her character. The outlook was favorable, and the hopes of her friends grew stronger.

* The building was painted a lead or blue color, and hence was long known as the " Blue College."

+ At this time the name Yale applied properly to the building only, but. naturally, was also given to the school.

152

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

Vale College was first known by that name in 1718. The influence of Cotton Mather had led Governor Vale to send a cargo of gifts to the new institution. Besides a large box of books and a portrait of the king, which is still in existence, there were sent East India goods inventoried at £200, from which was realized, in the Boston market, £562. 12 shillings, sterling. These gifts were sent for the benefit of the new Collegiate School at New Haven. The commencement of 1718 was a joyful one, and, in gratitude to the donor, the name Yale College was applied to the institution in its new home.

The man thus commemorated was of New Haven stock. His father. David Yale, as a youth, had taken part in the founding of the new town, but had soon migrated to Boston, where Elihu Vale is sup- posed to have been born, in 1648. From there the family returned to England. The son, in 1670, went to India to seek his fortune. He found employment there, rose rapidly to the position of governor or president of the settlement at Madras, and in 1699 came back to Eng- land enormously rich, but without a son to inherit his wealth. He died in 1721.

The college now being on a good foundation, the next thing to be done was to find a resident rector, in whom all could put confidence. The person chosen was Reverend Timothy Cutler, a son-in-law of Rector Andrew. He was a graduate of Harvard, and had, for nine years, been settled over the Congregational church in Stratford, Con- necticut. He had made a favorable impression as to ability, and at once accepted the position of rector. He entered upon his duties in the year 1719. A house for his occupation was built in 1722, near the site of the present College Street church. It was used by successive presidents to the close of the century. Funds for its erection were given by Governor Vale, by private subscription, and by the churches in the colony, which took necessary collections. The balance needed was furnished by the assembly from the proceeds of a tax upon rum.

In 1722 the new rector's career came to a sudden end. At the commencement of that year it was made known that the rector, the tutor and five neighboring clergymen had under consideration the question of declaring for Episcopacy. At that date the Church of England had few avowed members in Connecticut, and not one gath- ered congregation. The minds of men were filled with apprehension and alarm. A formal deposition of the rector took place, the resigna- tion of the tutor was accepted, and an act passed imposing a test of theological soundness, by which the faith and church theories of the Puritans should be maintained. To this test all officers of instruction were asked to subscribe. This provision was retained until 1823. Two new tutors, on this new basis, were immediately chosen and inducted into office. It was not, however, till after a wide search that a new rector was chosen. He was the Reverend Elisha Williams, the same who had been connected with the school at Wethersfield. He

153

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

came into office in 1725. He was a man well known for his success in teaching, his wide acquaintance among civilians and clergy, and by the prominence of his family. For fourteen years he gave himself up to the work of teaching in the college, with fidelity and success. Under his wise administration there was a steady enlargement of resources. An additional tutor was appointed in 1728. The trustees appointed a standing committee, out of which has grown the pru- dential committee, the working body of the corporation for the last ninety years.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I, Part 18

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.) Publication date: 1892 Publisher: N. Y. : W. W. Preston Number of Pages: 966

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.)
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: N. Y. : W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 966