USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Litchfield > More chronicles of a pioneer school, from 1792 to 1833, being added history on the Litchfield Female Academy kept by Miss Sarah Pierce and her nephew, John Pierce Brace > Part 16
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missed - worked on my map, wrote parsed & did a sum for which I obtained 12 credit marks - Wednesday had my holy-day in the morning did not attend school but spent it with Mrs. Smith of Wethers- field - Thursday received a box of pears and a letter from my dear friend Eliza I cannot tell how much I feel indebted to her for all her numerous kindnesses to me oh! happy thought that when eight weeks have elapsed I shall probably embrace my dear dear Eliza and my other friend who are so dear to my heart - Friday morning as usual did not miss in my usual recitations - In the afternoon Mr. I. Marsh called - then accompanied by Miss C. C. Webb - Nancy Mary & Emmeline Beebe went to LITTLE ISLAND as we were crossing the river on Stones (for the water was quite low) Catharine's foot slipped and she fell into the water but providentially received no injury from her fall, we were very much gratified with the ISLAND which is quite small but the Bantums surrounding it made it look delightfully, some one proposed as it was so retired a place (for we did not then know how much it was visited) that we should wash our feet, and as Miss Webbs frock was wet she took it off & put it on a bush to dry & one of the other Young Ladies did the same, but hardly did it touch the bush before we perceived two gentlemen on the hill about a quarter of a mile distant we immediately put them on again and the gentlemen did not come within some ways from the place where we were - after we saw they were gone we crossed the river with our shoes off (except Nancy & Emmeline who went home alone by themselves) after tea attended a meeting of the society and read aloud at Miss Pierces request a letter written by the minister of this place when the revival was here in the year 1808 - Saturday morning Miss Pierce called to see those Young Ladies who went to Little Island for she had heard our conduct had been improper and universal tremor pervaded my whole frame though I knew I was perfectly innocent of the fault of which I was accused, before Miss Pierce left the house Timothy Brace called & said Mr. Brace wished us to come to his room for he wished to converse with us - Miss P- said she would see him first and tell him what she was very happy to find that we had been unjustly accused. In about ten minutes Mr. Brace sent over the following note directed to Miss Chester etc - "Mr. Brace having been informed by Miss Pierce that the Young Ladies he had sent for had been careless only & not improper is extremely gratified at the termination of the affair that had given him several hours of great uneasiness - The Young Ladies can have no concep- tion how much the intelligence that he received from authority he at that time could not doubt distressed him - It was represented & is now represented by some as a most flagrant breach of propriety & delicacy: of that propriety which he had always supposed these
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young ladies possessed: of that delicacy which is the crowning quality of a woman's character: The young ladies must remember that repu- tation can be distroyed even by carelessness and that a woman's fame may be tarnished even by the breath of unfounded reports; Let them be careful then never to approach the boundary line of pro- priety - let them like Caesar's wife beware of being even suspected. He is extremely happy to say that an attendance at his room this morning may be dispensed with and he hopes that by future care- fulness they will restore themselves to the former very high opinion that he entertained towards them" - August 30th 1816 - all the Young Ladies names who went to Little Island were signed - I felt much happier after reading the billet. I am sure were I to stay in Litchfield 100 years I would never, never walk to Little Island. How little did we think that such a story would be told but I rejoice yes heartily rejoice that we all possess clear consciences - Attended school was examined in Elements, Blair and Geography in the latter did not miss - As Miss Pierce did not keep school on account of a meeting we went in the afternoon, Mr. Brace conversed, he told the school that they had gratified him very much by their attention to their studies, & the instruction which they had received from time to time. But he said there had an event occured the past week which had given him much uneasiness, he said a womans fame was easily tarnished & we all ought to be extremely careful not to approach too near the boundary line between VIRTUE & VICE that our Reputations were of more value than any wordly possessions, you ought like Caesar's wife to beware of even being suspected" Mr. Brace said a great deal to us but he did not mention any names or for what he blamed us - I was surprised at his saying so much after having heard the Story was false - at tea Nancy's text quite amused me it was - "Behold how great matter a little fire kindleth". Adieu to "Little Island". Monday morning I rose with new vigour to pursue my studies with avidity the summer is past it is probably the last I shall spend in this school and as I look back upon the time which has gone I cannot but wish that my exertions for improvement had been greater but as the wish must prove vain let it stimulate me to exertion while I remain - Long after I have left school will memory delight to recur to the happy year which I spent with Miss Pierce and ever shall I remember with affection her numerous kindnesses to me, her advice her repeated instructions - And not to her alone do I feel indebted for my lessons have generally been recited to Mr. Brace for whom I feel that RE- SPECT & GRATITUDE which is due to an instructor who takes so much pains, and feels so much interested in the improvement of those under his care as Mr. Brace. We are not apt to feel aright how much we owe INSTRUCTORS and how impossible it is to repay
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them only by paying that respectful attention to their advice, in- structions & commands which is due to them - The happy the de- lightful reflection that in eight weeks I shall be at HOME causes my heart to throb with JOY and though I shall leave those friends I love yet I shall go to those who are much dearer oh! how true it is that -
"There's no sorrow so great as its absence to mourn No joy that so bright as the hope of return."
The sorrow in the first line I have felt by "sad experience" the joy in the second I now feel - but I must leave the delightful theme relating to home and return to school - Monday at school was ex- amined in Sacred History wrote and drew on my map - I once heard a gentleman remark that he had seen patience advertised for sale and if ever I have the pleasure of seeing him again I will petition him to purchase me a large quantity for I know no person who stands so much in need of it as myself - In the afternoon attended a meeting - In the evening Nancy received some FRUIT and as usual she gave the largest half to me, if it is true that actions speak louder than words I have reason to think Nancy agrees with those persons who think that "Whatever they possess becomes doubly valuable by sharing it with others" - I saw a few lines to day which pleased me and I will copy them -
" Pleasures are like poppies spread You seize the flower its bloom is shed Or like the Borealis racer That flit, e'er you can paint their place Or like the snow falls in the river A moment white, then melt forever Or like the rainbows lovely form, Evanishing amid the storm Burns
Tuesday at school did not miss in my daily recitations Mr. Wood- bridge from Stockbridge drank tea at Miss Edward's, he at an early age by too close attention to his studies had the misfortune to lose the use of his EYES but he preaches frequently and in a manner very solemn and impressive I was surprised to see how easily he ate his meals- Wednesday my Elementary lesson was in SPAIN I could not but reflect how thankful I ought to be to HIM "who has made me to differ" from the poor Spaniards who are entirely under the control of the rich who reside in palaces of marble while the poor labourer whose toils serve only to pamper his masters luxury resides in a mud hut inferior to the Stables in the U. S. Those who had their holy day had not the privilege of taking it as their was no school on
THE CITY OF QUEBEC, PAINTED IN WATER COLORS BY MARY ANN BACON, OF ROXBURY, CONNECTICUT
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Monday afternoon - My time was spent in drawing on my map cyphering & parsing - Tuesday Wednesday & Thursday were spent as usual I am quite tired of drawing on my map I fear a love of nov- elty (one of the most predominant traits of my character will be the means of preventing me to improve in what I undertake for if I work steadily one hour on anything whatever it fatigues me and I wish I had never began it, but as I know it is a fault I hope by a determina- tion to conquer it I shall be enabled to - Friday morning in writing, afternoon was examined in Elements, Geography & Blair in the latter did miss - Mr. Brace once told us that if we began the week with a determination not to miss in our lessons we should not, probably it is true but for two weeks the resolution has been made by me & yet once both weeks I have missed, but I will not dispair for I have been told & by my beloved Mother also that "persevering industry" will effect any thing. A week to day & where was I? ... Saturday morn- ing we defined the word Sensibility mine was - It will be necessary in order to define the word sensibility to consider in the 1st place what true sensibility is, & in the 2nd how we can distinguish it from false, true sensibility is that acuteness of feeling which is natural to those persons who possess the finer perceptions of seeing, hearing & feeling - It may very easily be distinguished from false as the former has effect upon the heart while the latter only effects the nerves. Miss Pierce read and explained the 1 & 2 chapters of Eccl. - Mr. Brace closed with prayer - In the afternoon I attended school and passed my time very pleasantly in sewing, reading but principally in conversing . .
Saturday September 7th 1816.
LIST OF GIRLS-JUNE 1816 FROM CAROLINE CHESTER'S JOURNAL
Ann Bates
Durham
ages 16years
Ruth Benedict
Albany - State of NYork
Maria Blake
West Springfield 14 -
Sarah & Harriet Buel
Litchfield
S-17-H-13
Amelia and Caroline Cleaver
do -
A13-C-8
Mary Beecher
Do 12years -
Mary Elizabeth Cobb -
Albany -
12thyear
Caroline Chester -
Hartford -
15years
Mahala Christian -
Pekskill -
14 -
Mary & Betsey Cornelius ---
Somers-town B-18 M-17
Dalton.
R19-A18
Rhoda & Abigail Chamberlin - Lucretia Deming
Litchfield
12 years -
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Mary Elizabeth Denison -
New Haven - 13 -
Eliza Dederer -
Clarks-town -
Caroline Delafield -
New York
15 years -
Theodocia Devaux -
Do -
16years -
Eliza McBurney -
Painted Post -
15 years
Eliza Erwin -
Do -
15 years
Margaret & Adalaid Hopkins -
Philadelphia - M14-A 10
Helen & Catharine Kirby
Litchfield
H-16-C14
Amelia and Louisa Lewis -
Do -
A15-L13-
Ann Eliza Landon -
Do
12years -
Abbey Lord -
Do
11years -
Louisa Seymour -
Do
15years -
Grace Peck -
New Haven -
15years -
Julia Starr -
Do
7-
Catharine Staples -
Do
16-
Lucy Tuthill -
Do
13 years
Catharine Townsend -
Do
13years
Ann C. Goodwin -
15years
Lucy Hedge
Montreal -
Harriot Hale
Sangersfield -
18years
Harriot McNeil -
Paris - New York
State
19-years
Mary W. Verplank -
Verplankspoint
14years
Eliza A. Verplank
Do -
11 years
Catharine L. Webb -
Cooperstown - 16years
Emmeline Beebe -
Do -
13years
Nancy and Laura Farnham -
Do -
N-18L-17
Pamelia & Elanor Ellis -
Saratoga
P12E14
Maria B. Elting
Paramus
Mary Ann Galpin
Litchfield
Laura Gold -
Cornwall
Susan Gregory
Milton, N. Y.
Susan Haynes -
Montgomery 16years
Nancy W Hurlburt
Weathersfield 14years
Rachel Kellogg
Clinton, N. Y. 18years
Eliza Logan
Roxbury - 18years
Abbey Lyman -
Norwich - Mass. 14years
Louisa & Emma Marvin -
Albany - L14E10
Mary W & Helen Peck -
Litchfield
Matilda Robinson -
New York -
Elizabeth Rowland -
Fairfield
Sarah J. and Maria A Sanford
Janes Ville - N Y -
Esther Sanford -
Litchfield -
Abbey M. Smith -
Albany -
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Julian Smith -
Albany -
Amanda Keeler -
Esther M. Sperry
Mary Eliza Stanley - Charlotte Storrs -
New Hartford -
Middlebury - Ver-
mont -
15years old
Elizabeth Van Slyck
New York -
12years -
Mary Ann Wolcott
Litchfield -
14years
Hannah H. Wolcott -
Do
13years
Martha D. Wood -
Onondago
16-years
Phoebe Wood
Montgomery
Fanny Trowbridge -
Roxbury - 19years
Nancy Johns -
Kingston UC
13-years
Juliet Wadsworth -
Montreal LC
13years old
Laura Spencer -
Colebrook
16years
Susan Rockwell -
Do -
14years
Mary Smith -
Berlin - Conn
14years
Harriet Breck -
Goshen -
18years
Harriet Hale -
Sangersfield -
18years
Eliza Brodhead -
Clermont -N. Y.
Cornelia Vanbenthuysen -
Red Hook -N. Y.
Betsey & Mary Cornelius -
Somerstown -
B18M17
Huldah Hyde -
Lee - Mass.
18years
Nancy & Zilpha Wakeman Abigail Smith
Balstown
Washington - D.C. N. Y. 13 -
Caroline Boardman -
New Milford -
Caroline Hunt -
Canaan -
Sophia Dewey -
Sheffield -
Clarissa Ayres -
Clinton N. Y. -
Betsey Griffin -
Do
Sarah Marsh
Dutton
Louisa Hayden -
Saybrook -
Caroline Marwin
N. Milford
Charlotte Beekman
Elizabeth Lee Mary D. Newcomb - Margaret Newcomb - Sarah M. Arden - Maria Storrs -
Salisbury -
Pleasant Valley. Do Rhinebeck
Mansfield
Charlotte Smith -
Cambridge -N. Y.
Margaret Bolles -
Litchfield -
Coemans Albany Co -N. Y. -
Do Oswego -
Eliza Pitkin -
East Hartford
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Harriet Baker
Eliza Judson -
Mary Sherill -
Sally Ann Maria Vanderheyden
Troy 10years Madison - MC-N. Y.
Lucy Cleaveland -
Phoebe Conklin -
Amenia N. Y.
Charlotte Platt
Owego N. Y.
Eliza Camp -
Do -
Emily Butler -
Tompkins -
Eliza Ogden -
Frances Whittlesey
Washington -
Clarissa Ely
Albany Lansingburgh Richmond
Seabrook -
JULIA ANNA SHEPARD
Extracts from a Sketch of the life of Julia Anna Shepard who married George A. Perkins. Contained in a book written by her Early Times on the Susquehanna. Published in 1906 by The Herald Company of Binghamton Second Edition.
The book contains a copy of Miss Pierce's Rules and a list of the pupils of 1818, both written in Miss Shepard's fine handwriting. The list of the girls is given earlier in this volume.
FROM "A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. GEORGE A. PERKINS." (Julia Anna Shepard.)
It has been well said that the lives of those only should be written who have contributed to the well-being of mankind; who have by precept and example endeavored to elevate, and influence for good, any coming within their reach. Surely those who have led lives of devotion to others are well worthy of commemoration. Few, if any, have lived in as small a degree for personal glory, or for self adulation, as did she whose memory it is now our happiness to recall.
Anna Shepard, daughter of John Shepard, was born in Athens township, November 11, 1799. Her father, who had removed from Plainfield, Connecticut, in 1784, had at this period attained to cir- cumstances of prosperity and comfort; and her infancy was bright and joyous, until she was five years of age, when the greatest calamity that can befall a young family suddenly overwhelmed them.
The mother of this unsuspecting circle was thrown from a carriage and the following day breathed her last. This melancholy event doubtless left a deep and lasting impression upon the child whose course we trace to-day. She was represented as unusually considerate and thoughtful. Very early her affections were placed upon the treasures of heaven, where her most precious earthly friend had gone,
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and with the steadfastness of purpose which distinguished her through her career, she early consecrated her life to the service of God. She gave to Him the first fruits, and He granted her an abundant harvest.
Mr. Shepard was extremely anxious for the education of his family, and in their early years established a school near his residence where they were carefully trained and instructed. In 1814, however, an exceptionally fine teacher was engaged in the person of Mr. Sylvanus Guernsey, "a liberally educated young man from Harrisburg," and the first school was opened in the Athens Academy. Mr. Shepard was one of the patrons, and his daughter Anna, who was then four- teen years of age, was among the first of those who availed themselves of the superior advantages of this historical institution of learning. An old school friend, an aged clergyman, remarked not many years since that she was always acknowledged among her companions even at an early age to be intellectual and a conscientious student. After two or three years of diligent work, and hearing of Miss Pierce's cele- brated school at Litchfield, Connecticut, the leading institution of that date for young ladies, she became exceedingly anxious to avail herself of that opportunity to obtain a broader and more thorough education; consequently in a letter of November 26, 1817, to Miss Pierce, her father makes application for her, and speaks of the desire his daughter has for an education, and adds, "I have thought proper to place her under your tuition, deeming it all important to give my children such advantages." She evidently prepared for the long journey hastily, for a letter from a friend of her father's, Mr. Jesse Gilbert of New Haven, written the January following, says, "Julia Anna and I arrived at Litchfield yesterday afternoon in good health and found all things agreeable. Left her in fine spirits. She boards with a Mrs Bull, where Mrs Beecher, mother of Dr. Lyman Beecher, and Esther Beecher, his sister, and my particular friend, live; who have agreed to send me a line if she should be sick, in which case I shall write you, and pay every attention as if she were my own daugh- ter." This must have been very comforting indeed to a father whose child was as far distant in point of time, compared with now, as if beyond the seas.
She was left in good hands. The various members of this celebrated family, who were most attentive and kind during her stay in Litch- field, were always by her borne in grateful and pleasant remembrance. Dr. Lyman Beecher, the leading clergyman of the town, was then at the zenith of his popularity & power, and the members of his family who subsequently became so distinguished were interesting young people, her congenial companions.
The school was all that it was represented to be, yet with these many advantages we may readily imagine a touch of homesickness
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when we read in a letter from the young school girl so far from home to a dear friend, "Were I not as pleasantly situated as heart can wish, with the best of friends and associates, and my mind engaged and interested with my literary pursuits, I should be inclined to think I was forgotten. I will hasten to tell you something of Litchfield. It only wants the Tioga and Susquehanna rivers to make it the most delightful place I have ever seen. The society far exceeds the local situation with all its beauty, and there are schools where every science may be studied, charitable institutions for the dissemination of knowl- edge are established, and every one appears to be engaged in the instruction of the indigent. We have this summer a very interesting school; there are about one hundred pupils."
A letter to her parents dated July 25, 1818, shows what unusual attainments she had made in her spiritual and intellectual life for a girl of her years. She wrote, "I am now in my dear little chamber, where I spend the most of my time in studying and knitting. It is indeed a pleasant place, a little out of the bustle of the village, where we have a beautiful prospect, and a fine society of little girls. I am pe- culiarly privileged, I acknowledge, but I feel the want of a warm heart to whom to express my gratitude to the bountiful 'Giver of every good and perfect gift.'
"My faithful monitor, Miss Perry, has left, and I have no one in the family upon whom I can depend to reprove me when I err."
"I must hasten to tell you that a few days since I saw a Christian die. It was Mrs Beecher, mother of the minister. She met death as a welcome guest, like the calm summer sun her spirit. gently retired to shine in another world.
Another affecting and interesting death was that of Mr Holmes, a young man about the age of twenty-two. He was preparing for the ministry, studying at Andover. He was taken ill there and obliged to return to his home at Litchfield. I never saw a more affecting scene than was exhibited on the Sabbath when he was buried. Mr Beecher's text was, 'FOR me to live is Christ, but to die is gain.' He showed why it is better to die than to live. 'First, because there is rest after death if we reach Heaven; secondly, there is no sin in Heaven; thirdly the society is better, being made up of angels and spirits of the just.' He spoke in the most energetic and interesting manner to the young people. The congregation was generally melted to tears. Mr Holmes was greatly beloved and lamented by all. The procession was very solemn. Four young men of his particular friends, dressed in mourn- ing, and eight young ladies, dressed in white, followed the bier, and as nearly as could be estimated six hundred were in the procession." "Our school is very interesting, all united like sisters. To-day we have received religious instruction from Miss Pierce. With how
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much tenderness and affection did she address us. I can never extol her too highly; many will undoubtedly arise up and call her blessed. When shall we all be a flame of love, of love to our Father? How strange it is that we should so grovel in the dust You cannot think how much I should like to see you, but I enjoy my studies too much to leave them if it is possible for me to stay.
"One question (in class) Mr Brace could not answer was, What is the physical cause of blushing? Our subject for composition this week is, What is the disposition, is it innate or acquired? This exceeds my faculties for reasoning. It is more than I can answer."
A few years previous to this there had been a great uprising in New England in regard to the subject of missions. The saintly Samuel J. Mills had prepared for college at the Litchfield Academy, and had gone to Williams, where he and his few friends had made memorable the locality of the hay-stack, and their influence had extended over the land, and later was destined to be felt over the known world. Judson, Hall, Noyy, Newell and Rice had, February 12, 1812, under the auspices of the American Board, sailed for Calcutta to carry the gospel tidings. This example was followed by five others who sailed for Ceylon the following October; two embarked for Bombay in the fall of 1817, and four sailed for Ceylon soon after. The destitute and ignorant of our own country were not neglected; the mission among the Cherokees of Georgia and Alabama was instituted by the Board about 1816. It received the patronage of our Government, was per- sonally visited by President Monroe, who made appropriations for its assistance and expressed an enthusiastic interest in the enterprise. A number of the natives were brought North to be educated, and were placed in the Foreign Mission School at Cornwall, Connecticut, a very short distance from Litchfield.
Anna Shepard's superior privileges for an education are frequently alluded to with happiness and gratitude. The scientific branches, such as Chemistry, Philosophy and Astronomy, were her especial delight. Her standing as a scholar was of such a character that when she had been there about six months, and was only eighteen years of age, Miss Pierce offered her a situation to teach in the school. Miss Catherine Beecher had been the assistant, but Miss Pierce remarked, "Miss Shepard, as Miss Beecher is about to leave, I would like you to take her place." This she did with great credit. Later an oppor- tunity presented for her to go to Georgia as a teacher, "where ample funds were provided," but this was like going out of the world, and we may easily believe that her friends objected to one of her youth being so far separated from home. However, not long after that a situation was offered her as preceptress in the Academy of Ithaca, New York, and this position was accepted. The duties were in accordance with
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her tastes. Here she endeavored to arouse an interest in the subject of missions, which had become very dear to her heart during her residence in New England.
The social atmosphere at Ithaca at that time must have been charm- ing, and there it was her happy lot to meet the one who was to be " A dearer one still, and a nearer one yet than all others." There were those who had sought her hand, and sung her praises, but in George A. Perkins, a young man of good birth and education, who had re- cently come from New England, were all the desires of her heart realized. He had made a specialty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, and learning of a desirable situation at Athens, and that within a radius of fifteen miles there was no one answering to his profession, he was readily induced to locate in this place, which was in those days a town of considerable importance. Hence in March, 1823, he removed to Athens and established himself in business.
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