USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > This is Fairfield, 1639-1940 > Part 29
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Voted and agreed that the Second district for a school in this Society-to begin at the North Cor- ner of this first Society, and to run eastward taking the whole width of said Society, so far as to take in the families of Daniel Wilson dec'd .- the family of Hollingsworth and the family of Edmond Burr, all the Inhabitants contained within said Limits-to be one district for a School in said Society-and to be called by name of Jennings Woods district.
Voted and agreed that the third district for a School in the Society-to begin a little above Squire Parrot's house and to the eastward taking the whole width of two opposite points viz: a little westward of Mary Silliman's house and to the eastward of Isaac Bibbin's house and to run down below William Morehouse's house-all the Inhabitants contained within said limits-to be one district for a School in said Society and to be called by the name of East of the Middle district.
Voted and agreed that the fourth for a School in this Society-to begin Northward of Aaron Turney's house and to extend westward as far as to take in Barlow's plain and eastward as far as to take in Walter Staples' house, and the families of Penfield at the Mills and to run westward taking in the whole width of the two extreme points as far as Redfield's Bridge-all the Inhabitants contained within said limits adding Truby's family to be one district for a School in said Society and to be called by the name of the Middle district.
Voted and agreed that the fifth district for a School in this Society-to begin at Redfield's Bridge, so called, and to run north as far as to take in Gershom Osborn's house and from thence to run to the Mill River a little above Ezekial Hall's house and from thence to run down the River as far as the dividing line between this Society and Greenfield Society, and to run on the dividing line west, so far as to take in the families of the Sherwoods on the Mill Hill and to run eastward down to the Mill Riv- er and to run across the said River a little west of Elnathan Smith's house and to run down the River to Mackenzies point and from thence to run with a straight line to Redfield's Bridge-all the Inhabi- tants contained within said Limits, except Ansel Truby and Jabez Perry's families, to be one district for a school in said Society and to be called by the name of Mill Plain district.
Voted and agreed, that the sixth district for a School in this Society-to begin a little northward of the house where Thomas Elwood now lives and to run west so far as to take Gershom Bulkley's 2nd
147
house at Sasco River and from thence to run down said Sasco River to the mouth of said River, and from thence along the sea shore east up the Mill River to the place first began at, all the Inhabitants contained within said Limits adding Jabez Perry's family to be one district for a School in said So- ciety and to be called by the name of Mill River district.
Voted and agreed that John Wheeler be appointed
a Committee for the School at Black Rock.
Voted and agreed that John Wilson be appointed
a Committee for the School at Jennings Woods.
Voted and agreed that William Morehouse be appointed a Committee for the School eastward of the Middle district.
Voted and agreed that Lewis B. Sturgis Esqr. and David Judson be appointed a committee for the School in the Middle district.
Voted and agreed that Nathan Beers 3rd be ap- pointed a committee for the School at Mill Plain.
Voted and agreed that Miah Perry be appointed a committee for the School at the Mill River.
The annual meetings of the First Located School Society were held in the Court House each year. There were 9 School Visitors chosen annually. In 1799 those chosen for that purpose were: Andrew Elliott, Lewis B. Sturgis, Jesup Wakeman, Samuel Smedley, Ebenezer Dimon, David Allen, Samuel Rowland, David Burr, and David Hill.
At the meeting in 1801 it was suggested that the Middle District be divided into 2 districts in this fashion-"that the road running from William Squire's dwelling house to Ebenezer Burr's dwelling house shall be the dividing line between the two districts. The inhabitants living on the east side of said road shall be considered as belonging to Stone Bridge district and the in- habitants on the west side of said road, as be- longing to the Middle District". That was not accepted by some of the members and the follow- ing year it was voted to reunite the Stone Bridge district with the Middle district. However, dis- sension continued in 1805 the question of di- vision was brought again to the annual meeting and the following decided upon:
Voted-we the subscribers being appointed at a Meeting of the Society School Meeting held at the Court House in Fairfield October 26, 1805. A Com- mittee for the purpose of dividing the middle dis- trict of the School Society in Fairfield have agreed to the following division: The following to compre- hend the west district beginning at the East end of Lewis B. Sturgis dwelling house thence running a south by east course to the Sound and from said East end of said Sturgis House to follow the main road westerly to the east end of John Gold Allen's dwelling house from thence following the road northerly by Moses Jennings dwelling house to the
next district including all buildings, westerly and southerly of said lines and the following to compre- hend the Eastern district beginning at the East end of Lewis B. Sturgis house running a southeast course to the Sound and from said East end Sturgis house running to the southwest corner of James Knapp's dwelling house thence following the road northerly by Isaac Jennings' dwelling house to the next district including all buildings northerly and easterly of said lines.
Fairfield Oct. 30, 1805.
Jesup Wakeman Miah Perry John Hull
Voted-that the Eastern division of the Middle District be called and forever hereafter known by the name of the Bridge Hill District.
That decision was by no means final for in 1806 it was voted to join the Bridge Hill dis- trict and the Middle district as one and that the combined district would be known "henceforth as the Middle District".
Two years later it was voted first to divide the district and this vote changed later on in the same meeting to keep it as one district as before.
In 1810 the question of division came up once again.
The next year they voted that if there was one or more who wished a change in district, they were to give notice to the Committee so that it could be brought up at the meeting. In 1814 there was a large group that wanted to be set off from the Bridge Hill district and united with the Middle district. The next year the Middle dis- trict lines were changed once again. In 1816 it was changed once more and in 1818 the two sections again became known as the Middle dis- trict.
In 1824 the School Districts of this Society were shown to be as follows:
Stone Bridge district was non-existent.
Districts established October 20, 1824
(1) Mill River district:
To commence at the northwest corner of this par- ish and to follow the parish line southerly to the Sound at the mouth of Sasco Creek so called-from thence on the shore to the mouth of Mill River har- bour-thence northerly on the westerly side of the Mill River to the Great Hill so called-thence a dis- trict line to the northwest corner of this parish at the place of beginning.
(2) Mill Plain district:
To commence at the mouth of Mill River on the easterly side thereof-pursuing the shore easterly to the Sasco Neck road so called-thence northerly on the easterly side of said Sasco Neck road until it intersects the turnpike thence easterly on the north- erly side of the turnpike to the corner of Gershom Beers' house so called-crossing the road to the
148
Great Elm tree-thence a direct line from Great tree to the house of Mr. Gershom Osborn stand on the east side of the Round Hill so called-thence west- erly in a direct line to Hull's Bridge so called and from thence southerly and westerly to the line of Mill River district already described.
(3) Middle District:
To commence at the mouth of the west side of Ash Creek so called thence pursuing the westerly side of said Creek to Squires or the Black Rock Bridge so called-thence a straight line to westerly side of Jeffrey Wakeman's homestead-thence a straight line to the house of Gershom Osborn on the easterly side of Round Hill. Thence taking the line of the Mill Plain district to Sasco Neck Road so called-bounded on the southerly line of said dis- trict by the Sound.
(4) Black Rock district:
To contain all the territory in this parish lying easterly of Ashhouse Creek.
(5) Holland Hill district:
To commence at Amos Burr's Mill following northerly the parish line to Walter Morehouse's house including T. Morehouse's house thence in a direct line to the old Chestnut Stump so called- from - to the house of Moses Gould including the same-from thence in a direct line to the house of Gershom Osborn on the easterly side of Round Hill before alluded to-including said house from this district from thence following the northerly and easterly line of the Middle district to Black Rock bridge so called-thence following Ash Creek to Amos Burr's Mill, the place began at.
(6) Jennings Woods district:
To include all the territory north and east of the foregoing described limits or district in the parish of Fairfield.
The foregoing is a true Copy and Record of the doings of Town Meeting held on the 20th day of October 1824.
Samuel Beers, Clerk.
While the First Located School Society was carrying on its necessary business, the rest of the Town too was caring for its youngsters as the law of 1796 required. The Greenfield Parish established its several districts as well. The rec- ords show:
At a meeting of the inhabitants of the parish of Greenfield, legally warned, we, the subscribers were appointed a committee for the purpose of dividing and limiting the several school districts in said par- ish; having met according to our said appointment, we apportioned and set off the inhabitants of said parish to the respective districts and bounded them in the following manner, viz:
Hull's Farms District
Bounded 20 rods north of Daniel Hull's; south on Sherwood Brook, including the road by Strat- ton's, running through thereon to 20 rods north of Jacob White's and 20 rods north of James Redfield's.
Center District
Bounded south to about 20 rods north of Jacob White's and James Redfield's and taking country road to a brook south of Elijah Banks' and 10 rods north of Hosea Hulbutt's; east including Daniel Meeker and 10 rods north of John Mills' house and 20 rods south of Elisha Bradley's.
Bulkley's District
Bounded to said 20 rods south of Elisha Brad- ley's; south to Fairfield line and 10 rods north of Eli Wakeman's, including the road to Joseph Gor- am's and 20 rods north of Isaac Webb's; and a line due east to Burr's River north of Thomas Wheeler's.
Burr's District
Bounded south to a bound 20 rods north of Isaac Webb's; 10 rods north of Dr. Hulbutt's to Great Brook north of Zalmon Price's and Seth Lyon's; east to Cricket Brook and 20 rods north of Eben Burr's running east to said Cricket Brook including Stephen Hull dec'd and Walter Hull.
Banks' District
Bounded south to a brook below Elijah Banks' and 20 rods north of Daniel Hull's, running east to country road and south of Joseph Lyon's 20 rods including Jesse Lyon; 20 rods south of Abijah Mer- win's; north to a brook north of Gershom Banks.
Sherwood's District
Bounded to a bound 20 rods south of Daniel Banks'; 40 rods south of Joseph Lyon's; east to Great Brook and Capt. Bradley's house; 20 rods north of John Bradley's and taking the country road to Weston and run to Sturges Highway and Eben Smith's.
Deerfield District
Bounded south 30 rods north of Eben Burr's; west to the country road and 30 rods north of John Bradley's and 10 rods east of Robert Scudder's.
Hoyt's Hill District. (Hoyden's Hill)
Bounded south on Cricket Brook and north- westerly to a bound 10 rods east of Robert Scud- der's.
Dated March 13, 1797.
Eben Hill
Lewis Goodsell
John Albert David Hubbell
Jonathan Banks Abel Wakeman
Hull Bradley a committee to lay out these districts.
Those districts remained the same for nearly a hundred years. Where the bounds are not men- tioned on one or more sides of a district we assume, that the district extends to the adjoining parish or town. The 1867 map included in this work shows these districts extremely well.
These records are available at the Pequot Library. The School Bill for the Winter 1812 and 1813- Hulls Farms School -
The following are the expenses during the six months for repairs, wood, and tuition.
149
Tuition six months at $16 per month $ 90.00
Repairs at School House for Plants, lime, etc. .... 7.05
Wood at $3 for 1/2 cord amounts to 40 dollars and 3/100-$7 worth left 40.32
143.37
Whole amount of School money
32.29
Remained
$110.98
Green Field School money $ 15.51
Green's Farms School money
16.88
Total
$ 32.39
School commenced the 10th Nov. 1812 and con-
tinued until April 26th 1813.
Due
Cr.
Names
No. Days Ded. Credit
Due Cr. not Ded.
John Alvord
96 $
2.40
00 $ 2.40
N. Banks .... 128
3.20
5.50
0.00 Due N. Banks $2.30/100
E. Banks ....
108
2.70
2.53
0.17
J. Banks ....
95
2.37
0.00
2.37
J. Banks
...
63
1.57
0.00
1.57
David Craft
94
2.35
0,00
2.35 Due the
Sam. Craft ..
21
0.52
0.00
.52
S. Davis
0.28
0.00
0.28
Corn. Hull ..
207
5.17
0.00
5.17
W. B. Hull
117
2.92
0.00
2.92
Lyman Hull
180
4.50
4.10
0.40
Patty Hull ..
.173
4.32
1.00
3.32 Patty Hull
paid on
S. Meeker ..
329
8.22
2.75
5.47
this bill $3
B. Midlebrk
38
0.95
0.00
0.95
W. Sherw'd
408
11.70
13.47
0.00
Due
W. Sherwood $1.77
Rec'd-$4.07
S. Sherwo'd
54
3.85
0.00
3.85
D. Sherwo'd
15
0.37
0.00
.37
S. Sherwo'd
75
1.88
0.00
1.88
$37.36
J. Redfield ..
92
2.30
0.00
2.30
4.07
Whole No.
of days .... 2507
$62.64 $29.35 $37.36 $33.29
No. on the
other side 1943
Cents
Days Cent Mills
Total
... 4450 $110.98
1 Av.
2.5=$37.36 Cr/Ded. 29.35 Cr.
Two cents and a half per Day ....
W. A. Sherwood
A true account with
has paid me up
errors excepted.
Jesup Alvord
(For full names see bottom of page 177)
Hull Sherwood recorded this on October 29, 1812-"In the evening there was a School Meet- ing at Mill Plain. Hezekiah Brick being put in as teacher for $15 per month".
During that period the School Visitors number was reduced first to 5 and then to 4. They re- ceived $1 per day remuneration and "their din- ing expenses" while they were on school business in the First Located Society and 50¢ per visit in the Greenfield district. For example, David Hill for his autumn visiting of three schools received $1.50 in 1804 and Lewis Goodsell received $1.00 for his autumn visiting of two schools.
The Clerk of the Greenfield School Society re- ceived $1.00 a year for his services. For 1802, 1803, 1804 his "salary" was $3.00 for keeping the records.
The Visitors not only "visited" the schools to see that the children learned their lessons, but were also required to "inspect" or "examine" the teacher as well. They also received 50¢ for each experience of that kind. A teaching license was necessary and one of these is included in the picture section.
Money for financing the schools, was secured in several ways. Again in the Greenfield Society records, one reads where $6.89 was received from D. Hubbell for 101/3 bushels of rye which he grew on the School lot and cash from "Mr. Bronson for use of the School lot in the year 1805-$12". This helped to swell the treasury.
The first Located School Society in 1830 took on another responsibility when they had charge of the cemetery. Receipts were to go to the schools.
Voted that a committee consisting of 6 people be appointed, one from each school district, to devise for the publick good and convenience of said So- ciety a suitable place for a burying ground (a grave yard). The Committee members were: David Wil- son, Elijah Bibbins, Gershom Sturges, Abel Beers, Walter Perry, Charles Mills.
One and only one place was to be purchased for the burying ground.
They also "voted to buy the place owned by Mrs. Sarah Taylor near the center of Town pro- vided it can be bought for $600. To Lay out same in lots and number for the better conveni- ence of families". and later on the
Committee was also ordered to secure a burying ground in the south westerly part of this society.
Lots were carefully laid out in the two ceme- teries, a special place set aside for the clergymen and their families, another area for "strangers" and it was decided "to let out grounds to be mowed as meadows". Three dollars was set as a minimum price for any lot and on January 15, 1831 at 2 p.m. at the Schoolhouse, lots were offered at auction.
The greater part of the meeting records from then (1831) deal with affairs of the cemeteries. J. D. Wilson and Sturges Thorp were appointed "a committee to superintend the burying grounds and to let the same-for mowing and pasturing -sheep and calves only". In 1833 Charles Ben- nett was selected as superintendent of the East Burying Ground and Samuel P. Beers the su- perintendent of the West Burying Ground.
150
66.71 Amt. 4.07
$62.64
on the other side
teachers on this Bills $33.29
The parson was allowed to use either of the Burying Grounds "for pasture for any horse, cow, sheep or other creature whatsoever" and the elders growing there were to be bruised or beaten down each season. The wild parsnips had to be dug up too. In 1856, the Town Records show that a vote was passed stating "that the Committee appointed by the School Society for the purpose of enlarging the West Burying Ground be continued".
Each year the committees were appointed to look after the schools but other than their names the record gives little clue as to the way these responsibilities were carried forth. Each district committee, we believe, carried out the actual details involved in their own district and this group served as general overseer.
On November 7, 1831 a committee was ap- pointed to locate and select a suitable place for the erection of a schoolhouse in Black Rock- containing nine rods of ground in all. Forty dol- lars was set aside for the land and three hundred dollars for the Schoolhouse.
Of course there was also the Greens Farms School Society and the Stratfield School Society but unfortunately these records have been lost over the years and are not available for record- ing here.
The annual report of the Board of School Visitors of about 1840 covers the activities of this group quite thoroughly and is included here.
About 1840
The Board of Visitors of the First School Society of Fairfield herewith present to the Society their Annual Report as the Law directs. All the Schools during the year have been kept by teachers approved after due examination as the law directs and with one or two exceptions, the period of schooling in the various schools extended from nine to eleven months. The male teachers at Fairfield and Southport have been employed both summer and winter and at Southport the same gentleman has been employed for several years. The visitors strongly recommend that teachers who have proved on trial to be com- petent and successful should be continued in the same school as long as possible. Great evils result from a constant change of Teachers which are too obvious to need enumerating here. We have visited the various schools at the opening and close of each session as the Law directs. We have not as yet how- ever made our final visitation of the Summer Schools. So far as we have been able to judge the condition of the schools as to order, diligence and proficiency is respectable and quite in advance of what it has been in some former periods. Yet we are of opinion that there is a large margin for improve- ment. Some of our schools need teachers of a high-
er order than they have yet enjoyed. Some of our Schoolhouses are destitute of those out buildings which are so essential to the decency, health, good manners and good morals of the pupils. Nearly all have their desks so arranged, that the scholars have their backs turned away from the Teachers which is a serious hindrance to the government of the schools. They are so constructed that the use of them by females is awkward and indelicate. In some of the schoolhouses likewise they have been hewed and haggled till they are utterly unfit for use, and ought immediately to be renovated. Your committee will add that with scarcely an exception the schoolhouses are badly ventilated in the winter season, and that the teachers and pupils suffer in mind and body from constant respiration of bad air, greater evils than is generally suspected. This evil would be remedied by having them warmed by the introduc- tion of fresh heated air from without, and by a flue properly constructed for drawing off the bad air without the building.
All which is respectfully submitted,
Lyman H. Atwater by order of the School Visitors
Each of the several School Societies had been carrying on in their own way, giving the children in their district a form of learning.
The Town Meeting minutes show no records of school activities from 1786 until 1837 when it was recorded that the town was to receive some money from the United States Congress. This is the first activity shown.
Town Meeting - February 3, 1837
Resolved-That this town will receive its propor- tion of the money which is or may be deposited with this State by the United States in persuance of the Act of Congress untitled "An act to regulate the deposits of the public money" and on the terms and conditions specified in the Act of this State en- titled "An Act accepting the deposits of a portion of the surplus fund belonging to the United States providing for the safe keeping thereof and appro- priating the interest accruing herefrom for the pro- motion of education and other purposes and that the said town will in all respects comply with the stipu- lations contained in said Act.
In March 1837 it was voted -
That there be an agent appointed to receive from the several School Society Committees a certified list of the number of scholars of each School Society in this Town by the first Monday of November in each year. It apportioning the money among and for said Societies, and draw an order in favor of the Several School Societies treasuries on the Treasures of the Town Deposit for the inspectors' portions of said School Societies due them out of said town deposit fund. Jeremiah Sturges Esq. to be the agent for the above.
The financial report of these funds was:
151
On February 17, 1837-
Rec'd from the U. S. Surplus Revenue $2920.68 On April 14, 1837 -
Rec'd from the U. S. Surplus Revenue 2921.81 On July 11, 1837 -
Rec'd from the U. S. Surplus Revenue 2920.68
$8763.17
The interest on these monies was to be divided in half. The first half going to the School So- cieties and the other half to the Town Treasury.
Interest on Fund-Oct. 1, 1837 $192.27 Disposition of this interest follows: Paid by order of Jeremiah Sturges to the Treasurer of the first located School Society in Fairfield $ 49.40
-to the Greens Farms School Society 14.72
-to the Stratfield School Society ...... 16.01
-to the Greenfield School Society 16.01
-to the Town Treasury 96.13
$192.27
This Fund in the Town Treasury was called the Town Deposit Fund and was loaned out to the Townspeople at a special interest rate.
In 1848, the State of Connecticut allowed $1.44 to the school district for every child enumerated between the age of 4 and 14 years of age.
In 1853 it was voted that the various School Societies would get money from this Fund ac- cording to the enumeration of children between the age of 4 and 16 on the first day of January 1855.
In 1847 there were just three School Visitors in the First Located Society.
In 1853 a request was made to the Town Meeting to have the upper room of the Court House as a School Room and in 1855 at a special meeting it was voted to grant this permission- the room to be used as a "Female Seminary".
The actual vote at the Town Meeting on Sep- tember 15, 1855 was:
Resolved-That the use of the upper part of the Town House be given to John Gould, James B. Thompson, I. Jillett, Henry J. Beers and Charles K. Crocker, trustees for the Fairfield Female Seminary to be used for Educational purposes during the pleasure of the Town provided that the said trustees shall keep the building insured for the benefit of the Town to the amount of one thousand dollars the Policy to be made in the name of the Treasurer of the Town of Fairfield and that said Trustees keep the building in good condition. Voted in the af- firmative.
That vote was rescinded at a Town Meeting on November 17, 1869.
Resolution-Offered and passed rescinding a vote
passed September 15, 1855 giving to John Gould, James B. Thompson, Henry J. Beers and others, Trustees for the Fairfield Female Seminary, the upper part of the Town House for Educational purposes.
One wonders if there was any connection be- tween this Seminary and the one which Miss Allen superintended in 1825. This brochure hangs in the Fairfield Historical Society.
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