USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Genealogical history of the town of Reading, Mass., including the present towns of Wakefield, Reading, and North Reading, with chronological and historical sketches, from 1639 to 1874 > Part 26
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GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
fly more rapidly and brightly from the beaten rod of iron (and we speak without irony), than came from the birchen rod in the school-house.
This house was used for schools, and also, for many years, for town and other meetings, until 1834, when it was sold, removed to Mechanic Street, converted into a dwelling-house, and is now (1868) occupied by Dea. Robert C. Wiley. The houses built, this year (1799), for the West and South Districts, were 18 by 15 feet, 72 feet stud ; that in the West District was located on common land, a short distance westerly of Joseph Hartshorn's ; it was subsequently removed to the common land near the house of Messrs. John and William H. Atwell, where it stood until 1822, when it was removed to the side of the pond, nearly opposite the house of the late Capt. Henry Knight, and used for a summer school. It was afterwards sold, and is now a wood-shed in Lafayette Street.
The house in the South District was located on land of Mr. Samuel Evans, near where Mr. Isaac Green now lives, used until 1822, then sold, and is now a part of the Gilman house, in Greenwood.
The house purchased this year for the East District was not quite as large as those built this year, and stood on land of Joseph Burditt, on Lowell Street, near the house of Mr. Bellows.
Mr. Burditt, being present in parish meeting when it was voted to purchase the house, " generously made a donation of said land to the parish," and received a vote of thanks. This house was used for the East school until 1822, when it was removed to Woodville, was located near the Almshouse, and used for a primary school until 1844, when it was sold, and is now a part of James O. Boswell's dwelling-house on Pleasant Street.
In 1791, the town (in compliance with a law of the Legislature, then recently enacted) voted to establish a grammar school, in distinction from the English schools, meaning a school in which the ancient lan- guages and higher branches should be taught ; and in pursuance thereof adopted a report of a committee, which recommended that the " gram- mar school" be kept at the school-house, near the meeting-house in the First Parish (Wakefield) ; at the North Parish (North Reading), three places, viz. : at the school-house at the north part of the parish, at the school-house near Mr. John Swain's, and at or near Ens. Sawyer's old house ; to be kept two months at each house in rotation, as the select- men shall determine ; and at the West Parish (Reading) at two places, viz. at the school-houses now erected, to each part equally ; the Eng- lish schools to be kept at the vacant houses, while the grammar school is keeping as above "
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OF THE TOWN OF READING.
Voted, also, at the same time, not to raise any money to hire school- dames.
It appears, however, that this vote in relation to female teachers was soon after disregarded ; for we find that in 1793, and ever after, school- dames were employed.
In 1792, the town, for the first time, chose regular school committees, and continued so to do ever after.
The following is a list of committee men until 1811, inclusive : -
Doct. John Hart, 1792, '93, '94, '96, 1801. Capt. David Smith, 1792, '94, '95, '96, 98. William Gould, 1792.
Dea. Henry Putnam, 1792, '93, '99.
Doct. Martin Herrick, 1792.
Esq. James Bancroft, 1792, '93, '96, 1801.
Jonathan Poole, Jr., 1792.
L't. Joseph Bancroft, 1792, '94, 1807.
John Brown, 1793.
Capt. and Col. Daniel Flint, 1793, '94, 95, 97, '99, 1800, 'OI, '02, 'II.
Thomas Symonds, 1793.
Capt. Thomas Eaton, 1794, '99.
L't. John Sweetser, 1795.
Daniel Graves, 1795, '96, '97, 1811.
John Nichols, 1795. George Flint, Jr., 1796, 1803, '10.
Col. Amos Boardman, 1797, 1800, 'OI,
'02, '04, '06, '07, '08, '10, 'II.
Capt. James Gould, 1797, '98.
Esq. Timothy Wakefield, 1797, '98, 1801.
Capt. Thomas Emerson, 1799, 1805, '06.
Paul Sweetser, 1799.
John Temple, Jr., 1799.
Dea. Thomas Parker, 1800.
Joshua Damon, 1800, 'OI, '05, '06, '07. Daniel Parker, 1800.
Timothy Bancroft, 1800.
Esq. Joseph Cordis, 1802. Abijah Weston, 1802.
Daniel Pratt, 1802. Doct. John Hay, 1803, '04. John Gould, 1803, '04. Edmund Damon, 1803.
David Pratt, 1803. James Weston, Jr., 1803.
Dea. Oliver Swain, 1804. Ephraim Pratt, 1804,
Ephraim Weston, 1804. Asa Parker, Jr., 1804. Daniel Sweetser, 1805.
Capt. Thomas Sawyer, 1805, '06.
Jonathan Temple, 1805. David Emerson, 1805.
Daniel Chute, 1806. Richard Parker, 1806, '07. Benjamin Emerson, 1807. John Batchelder, 1807, '08. Lilley Eaton, Jr., 1808, 'II. Benjamin Upton, Jr., 1808, '09. Edmund Parker, 1808.
Timothy Hartshorn, 1808. Capt. Noah Smith, 1809, 'IO. Dea. James Hartshorn, 1809. Joseph Batchelder, 1809, 'I0. Edmund Wiley, 1809. Thaddeus B. Pratt, 1809.
Ebenezer Emerson, 1810. Thomas Hartshorn, 1811. Benjamin Parker, 1811.
The reports of school committees, which at the present day are suc important, interesting, and comprehensive documents, were formerly very brief.
The first school report that appears on record was made in 1798, and was as follows : -
" That the Committee have visited the several schools, and have the
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GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
satisfaction to observe that our youth have made proficiency equal to our expectations." 1
The same report was continued yearly until 1803, when it was some what changed and enlarged, as follows: "That the Committee have, at several times, visited the schools, and in their opinion the several persons employed as instructors have discharged their duty, much to their honor and to the improvement of the youth under their care. They further wish to report that the behavior of the youth, while in their visi- tations, was decent, and their improvements are such as does them great credit, and much to the honor of the town.
"JOSEPH CORDIS, Chairman."
The following is a list (nearly complete) of the early teachers of the public schools of Reading, prior to the year 1800 :-
MASTERS.
John Browne, Esq. Nicholas Lynde (of H. Coll. 1690), 1694.
Joseph Upton, 1695.
Capt. Jonathan Poole, 1697.
Capt. John Herbert, 1701.
John Rogers (of H. Coll. 1684), 1706.
(Daniel?) Lewis (of H. Coll. 1707), 1707.
John Webb (H. Coll. 1708), 1708.
(John ?) Quincy (H. Coll. 1708), 1708. (Samuel ?) Thompson (H. Coll. 1710), 1710. Daniel Dodge (H. Coll. 1700), 1712-15. Jonathan Pierpont (H. Coll. 1714), 1716. (Nath'l?) Henchman (H. Coll. 1717), 1718. Thomas Oliver (H. Coll. 1719), 1719-21. Thomas Pierpont (H. Coll. 1721), 1722. Doct. William Hay (educated in Scot.), 1723-28. Isaac Richardson (H. Coll. 1728), 1729-31. Samuel Batchelder (H. Coll. 1731), 1732-34. Joseph Underwood (H. Coll. 1735), 1735-39. Ebenezer Putnam (H. Coll.) 1739), 1740-42. Joseph Emerson (H. Coll. 1743), 1743. Joseph Swain (H. Coll. 1744), 1744-6. Barachias Mason (H. Coll. 1742), 1747. Timothy Minot (H. Coll. 1747), 1747-9. Samuel Brooks (H. Coll. 1749), 1750. William Symmes (H. Coll. 1750), 1751. Jonathan Kidder (H. Coll. 1751), 1752 and '91, '2 '3. Samuel Wigglesworth (H. Coll. 1752), 1753 and '4.
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OF THE TOWN OF READING.
Jonathan Webb, 1754 and '5. (Samuel ?) Dane (or Dana, H. Coll. 1755), 1756. Jacob Emerson (H. Coll. 1756), 1757, '60, '81. Samuel Dix (H. Coll. 1758), 1759.
Henry Cummings (H. Coll. 1760), 1761. William Emerson (H. Coll. 1761), 1762 to '65, Timothy Hilliard (H. Coll. 1764), 1766. Amos Sawyer (H. Coll. 1765), 1767. (Burrill?) Devereaux (H. Coll. 1767), 1768, '9.
James Dimon (H. Coll. 1768), 1770. Jacob Burnap (H. Coll. 1770), 1771, '2.
Samuel S. Poole (H. Coll. 1770), 1772, '3.
Martin Herrick (H. Coll. 1772), 1774, '5.
Jedediah Parker (H. Coll. 1757), 1776-9. Brown Emerson (H. Coll. 1778), 1780.
John Boutwell, 1791, '2, '3. Thomas W. Weare, 1792.
Lieut. David Swett, 1792, '3.
John Walton (H. Coll. 1779), 1792, '3.
Charles Hay, 1792.
Jacob Flint (H. Coll. 1794), 1792.
David Everett, 1793, '4, '5.
Abijah Spofford, 1793, '4, '5, '8, '9.
Charles Prentiss (H. Coll. 1795), 1793, '4. James Tappin, 1794.
Thomas Mellen Prentiss, 1794.
- Mead, 1795. .
Ephraim Parker, Jr., 1796, '7.
Joel Rogers, 1796.
Lincoln Ripley, 1796.
Ebenezer Lawrence (H. Coll. 1795), 1796.
Andrew Peabody, 1797.
Jonathan Whitaker (H. Coll. 1797), 1797, '8. Thomas Pratt, 1797.
Benjamin Badger, 1797, '99.
Daniel P. Upton (H. Coll. 1797), 1797.
Josiah Webster, 1797, '99.
James Flint, Jr. (H. Coll. 1802), 1798, '99. Abel Blood, 1798.
Moses Dow (H. Coll. 1769), 1798.
Joshua Lane (H. Coll. 1799), 1798. Asa Hill, 1798, '9.
- Spaulding, 1799.
Joseph Frye, 1799.
Peter Cochrane, 1799. Peter Fogg, 1799. Thomas Swain, 1799.
32
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GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
FEMALE TEACHERS.
Hannah Bragg taught in the North Parish in 1792, and could brag of being the first school-dame employed by the town.
Mehitabel Poole, 1793.
Pamela. Prentiss, 1796, '99.
Dorcas Wakefield, 1793, '4.
Susanna Stimpson, 1796, '97, '98, '99.
Rebecca Stimpson, 1793, '4.
Anna Laighton, 1796.
Martha Underwood, 1793, '4.
Polly Weston, 1796.
Winneford Davis, 1793. .
Sally Flint, 1796, '98.
Mehitabel Pearson, 1793, '4, '5, '6.
Polly Wilson, 1797, '99.
Olive Everett, 1794.
Polly Hart, 1797, '99.
Hannah Foster, 1794.
Pamelia Hay, 1798.
Polly Stone, 1794, '6, '7.
Nabby Stone, 1798.
Hannah Brown, 1795, '6, '7.
Sukey Laighton, 1799.
Polly Killam, 1795.
Fanny Richardson, 1799.
Ruth Fuller, 1795, '7.
Louisa A. Waldo, 1799.
Abigail Wilson, 1795.
Betsey Pratt, 1799.
In 1812, the First or South Parish of Reading was incorporated as a distinct town, by the name of South Reading ; and from this date, the school history of each town will be given separately.
The town of South Reading, upon its incorporation, as aforesaid assumed, without objection, the ownership of the school-houses, which had been built by the parish, when the parish included the entire population ; and thereafter the school-houses were built by the town. The town was divided into districts or wards, for the convenience of distributing the pupils and the choice of prudential committees. But the town ever owned the school-houses, and raised the money for the payment of teachers and incidental expenses, dividing it among the districts as recommended from time to time by committees appointed for the purpose.
The prudential committees, under instructions from the several dis- tricts, selected and contracted with teachers, and were the only school committees until about 1826, when committees of superintendence and examination were provided for, who had power to negative the selec- tion of the district committees.
In 1822, a new school-house was built in the West, and another in the East District, costing about $600 each.
That in the West District stood by the side of the road, a short dis- tance easterly of where their present house stands; and that in the East, on the site of the old one, on Lowell Street, and was subsequently removed to the site of the present house. They both occupied their respective positions until 1847, when that in the West District was removed to the westerly part of the district and became the dwelling-
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OF THE TOWN OF READING.
house of Mr. Joseph W. Bancroft ; and that in the East District, was removed and became the dwelling-house now owned by Mr. William Burditt. In 1824, an additional apartment was added to the Centre School-house, that cost about $350, and the Centre School was graded into two schools, called Senior and Junior. This additional room was occupied by the Senior school until 1834, when the said addition was sold to the Parish for a chapel and located near the Parsonage. After- wards removed, and is now a part of the bake-house near the Univer- salist church edifice.
In 1828, a new school-house was built in the South District, on or near the site of its predecessor, which cost $220, which stood there until 1847, when it was sold, removed to Water Street, and converted into a dwelling-house.
In 1829, the South Reading Academy was incorporated, and the building now known as the old high school-house, was erected. It was established under the auspices of the Baptist denomination, and was intended as an Introductory School to the Theological Seminary at Newton, although open to all others.
The land and buildings were obtained by the private subscriptions of the people of South Reading.
It was first taught by John Stevens and Wm. Heath as Associate Principals.
They were succeeded by Harvey Ball, John Pratt, Samuel Randall, Paschal Carter, and Wm. W. Wakefield.
The school for several years was quite flourishing, and maintained a high stand for instruction in English and Classical learning.
But at length the theological students were withheld, and the cor- poration being without funds, it was judged best to discontinue the school.
The land and building reverted to the original proprietors, and by them was sold to Messrs. Yale & Heath, who subsequently sold to the town in 1847.
The academy, during its continuance, exerted a very valuable influ- ence upon the people of South Reading. It created in the minds of many of our youth a desire for higher attainments in knowledge, and furnished them with the means of obtaining them, thus fitting them for high stations of usefulness and honor in society, to which many of them succeeded ; it awakened a new interest among the inhabitants in the cause of education and in the importance of furnishing the rising youth with the best means of securing it; and thus promoted great improvements in our primary schools and hastened the establishment of a Town High School.
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GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
The names of the early Board of Trustees of the Academy were : -
Rev. Lucius Bolles, D. D., President.
" Rufus Babcock.
" George Leonard.
Cyrus P. Grosvenor.
James D. Knowles.
Howard Malcom.
Henry Jackson.
Bela Jacobs.
John E. Weston.
Chas. O. Kimball.
Arthur Drinkwater.
Gustavus F. Davis.
Rev. Enoch W. Freeman.
" Wm. Leverett.
" Avery Briggs.
" Benj. C. Wade.
Joseph A. Warne.
Burrage Yale, Esq.
Lemuel Sweetser, Esq.
Dr. Nathan Richardson.
Benj. B. Wiley, Esq., Treasurer.
Lilley Eaton, Esq., Secretary.
Dea. Samuel Beal.
Michael Webb, Esq.
In 1834, the (old) Town House was erected and two school-rooms set apart therein for the use of the two centre schools, and were occu- pied by them until 1853. In 1840, the North school district was established, and a new school-house, similar to those built in 1822 for the East and West Districts, was erected on Cordis Street ; was occu- pied by this school until 1847, when it was sold, removed to Eaton Street, and is now a part of Mr. David Wiley's late dwelling-house.
In 1844, a new school-house was erected in Woodville, which has since been enlarged ; and Woodville, from this date, has been regarded as a distinct district. Until this date, one portion of its inhabitants belonged to the Centre and the other portion to the South districts.
In 1845, the high school was established.
It is a source of high credit to the town of South Reading that it was disposed to establish this school so early in its municipal course, while the number of its families was but about 300, and these gener- ally of moderate means and incomes. This credit is enhanced by the fact that this result was accomplished with so great unanimity. A few persons, living on the borders of the town, made some feeble opposi- tion, but the great bulk of the people, including the best informed, the most intelligent, and those who paid the largest taxes, were in favor of the movement.
The town was fortunate in the first teacher of this school. He was not only well learned, but was also wise, prudent, and conciliatory ; and a most skilful and popular teacher. Under his successful administra- tion, opponents were changed to friends, and the school became fixed upon a firm foundation.
James F. Blackinton, the first principal of this school, son of Dea. Fisher Blackinton and Fanny (Richards) Blackinton, was born in
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OF THE TOWN OF READING.
Attleborough, Mass., Sept. 5, 1819. He was prepared for college at Attleborough Academy, and entered Brown University in 1843, receiv- ing the degree of A. M. from that institution in 1867.
He was appointed principal of the South Reading High School in 1845, where he remained till 1848. He was married to Miss Mary D. Warren, of Ashby, Mass., in 1846. In 1848, he received the appoint ment of usher in the Lyman School, Boston, and was soon after pro- moted to the sub-mastership of that school ; and, in 1865, was elected master of the Prescott Grammar School, Boston.
Henry Bartlett Maglathlin, Harvard College, 1843, and Asa G. Wolcott, were successive teachers of this school, in 1848.
Franklin Crosby, Esq., of Lowell, was its principal, in 1849, and again in 1851 and 2.
Messrs. Sylvanus C. Kendall, of Andover, Amherst College, 1849, James P. Kimball, of Oakham, Amherst College, 1849, and James A. Hervey, of Medford, Harvard College, 1849, were teachers succes- sively, in 1850.
Frederick Adolphus Sawyer, of Bolton, Harvard College, 1844, was appointed principal in 1852.
Mr. Sawyer was born at Bolton, Worcester County, Mass., Dec. 12, 1822. He was the son of Joseph Sawyer, who was the son of Joseph Sawyer. Joseph Sawyer, the father of F. A. Sawyer, was a merchant and farmer, in Bolton, respected by all who knew him. He represented his town in the Legislature for two or three years, and held other responsible local positions.
His mother was Abigail Bender, the daughter of Peter Bender, a German, who moved, somewhat over a century since, to Marlborough, Mass., where he settled and married Abigail Brigham.
Another of Peter Bender's daughters was the mother of Horatio and Richard Greenough, the sculptors. The subject of this sketch attended the public schools in his native town, when they were in session, and at ' intervals was a pupil in an excellent private school kept in Bolton by a Quaker named Thomas Fry, a most worthy man and skilful teacher. He also attended school at Westminster and Marlborough, Mass. His preceptor in the latter place was the late Hon. O. W. Albee, a man who served his State in the Legislature with great credit. In 1840, he entered Harvard College, and was graduated in 1844, among the high scholars of his class. During the winters of 1839, '40, '41, '42, and '43, he taught public schools in Marlborough, Lancaster, Harvard, and Westminster, Mass., and in August, 1844, went to Gardiner, Me., where he was engaged as a teacher till March, 1847. He then removed
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GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
to Wiscasset, Me., and continued his profession in that town till June, 1851. He removed thence to Lowell, Mass., where he was temporarily employed, in the absence of the principal in the Franklin School. Upon the return of the principal, Mr. Sawyer took the position of principal of "The Nashua Academy," at Nashua, N. H., but having an offer of the place of principal of the South Reading High School, he assumed the duties of that position about the close of 1852, and remained there till his appointment as sub-master of the Brimmer School, in Boston, in September, 1855. He held the latter position till April, 1859, when he accepted an appointment as principal of a State Normal School, at Charleston, S. C. This position he held until September, 1864, though he made an effort to be released from his engagement there in January, 1861. Being pressed to postpone his resignation, he did so, and the result was a compulsory residence in a rebellious State till he obtained for himself and family a passport per- mitting them to pass through the rebel lines to Port Royal, S. C., then in possession of the Union forces.
He was one of the few men who, in the State of South Carolina, preserved their character for loyalty without taint in the trying times of the late rebellion, and he suffered much annoyance on account of his political sympathies. His profession, however, exempted him from military duty, till some time in 1863, when he was arrested by a military guard and enrolled in a regiment for home defence. In this he was made to serve for some weeks, though the regiment saw no active service.
After his escape from the South, in 1864, he engaged as actively in the canvass then going on for the re-election of Mr. Lincoln, as was consistent with an oath he had been compelled to take as a condition of obtaining his passport. On the 22d of February, 1865, he again entered the city of Charleston, just four days after its occupation by Federal troops. On the 30th May, 1865, he was appointed Collector of Internal Revenue for the Second District of South Carolina, and held that office till his assumption of the position of United States Senator from South Carolina, for the term ending March 3, 1873. He was elected Senator on the 16th, and took his seat on the 22d July, 1868.
He was elected a delegate from the city of Charleston to the conven- tion called to frame a new Constitution under what are called the " Reconstruction Acts of Congress," but subsequent events prevented his participation in the work of that body, except in the way of advice. In 1854, he married Delia E. Gay, the daughter of the late Ira Gay,
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OF THE TOWN OF READING.
Esq., of Nashua, N. H., for a considerable time the agent of the Nashua Manufacturing Co. He has two daughters and one son.
In 1855, Henry F. Munroe, A. B., from Somerville, was appointed principal, and continued until 1858. Mr. Munroe was a fine classical scholar, and a faithful and successful teacher.
In 1859, Thatcher N. Snow, of Orleans, was the teacher.
In 1860, Elam Porter, of Hartford, Vt., Tufts Coll. 1860, who had then recently been appointed teacher of the Grammar School, was pro- moted from that school to the office of principal of the High School.
In 1863, Mr. Porter resigned the office, for the purpose of entering upon the study of law.
J. W. Hammond, also a graduate of Tufts College, was appointed to the vacancy, who continued during the balance of the school year.
In 1864, Mr. Porter accepted an invitation to return to the vacant position, and remained until 1865, when he resigned for the purpose of entering upon the practice of his profession. Mr. Porter was an excel- lent scholar, an eloquent public speaker, and a most successful teacher, possessing the happy talent of so interesting his pupils as to make them love their school, their studies, and their teacher.
After leaving this school he took up his residence in Cincinnati, Ohio, and commenced practice as a counsellor at law, with a successful and brilliant prospect opening before him. But, alas, a sad catastrophe was in store for him. Returning to Massachusetts in the autumn of 1867, for the purpose of entering into the marriage relation with a young lady of Stoughton, Mass., to whom he had been some time engaged, he was one of the victims of that terribly fatal railroad disaster at Angola, O., by which not only was his life taken, but his body was totally consumed by the fiery element, and not a fragment of him or his personal appur- tenances remained to tell the sad tale, except a small article of jewelry, which was found in the ashes with his initials thereon.
In 1860, a course of study, arranged for a three years' course, was adopted, and the school divided into three classes.
In 1863, the following persons, constituting the First Class, had the honor of being the first to complete the prescribed course of study, and received each a significant and beautiful diploma, the engraving for which was provided by the generous liberality of Cyrus Wakefield, Esq., namely : -
Loriette Avery. Harriet Elizabeth Brown. Kosina Baldwin Crane. Susan Maria Deane. Laura Louisa Eaton. Mary Jeanette George.
Mary Elizabeth Mansfield. Susan Adelaide Stowell. Eunice Adelia Wiley. Edwin Chapin Sweetser.
Edwin Augustine Townsend. Morris Plumer Wheeler.
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GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
These diplomas were presented to the graduating class, in the Town Hall, in the presence of a numerous assembly, and the occasion was a very interesting one.
Hon. P. H. Sweetser, chairman of the school committee, made an able and impressive address, and, in a very felicitous manner, presented the diplomas.
Mr. Porter followed in an eloquent and pathetic speech.
Prof. B. F. Tweed and others made remarks.
Mr. Eaton, the senior member of the committee, spoke as follows : -
This consummation I have most devoutly wish'd ;
This joyous sight I've long desired to see ;
To-day it greets my eyes, and I am glad.
I am no prophet's son - no blood of ancient Or of modern seers along my arteries runs ; -
No eye clairvoyant have I, the darkness
Of the future to explore - no mind,
With prescience keen, to pierce
The thick veil'd mysteries of coming years, And thus unfold to present gaze
Their unreveal'd and unken'd wonders.
But I have hope, and faith, and expectation ;
To me this truth is ever patent, clear and fix'd :
" The march of knowledge, ideas, wisdom,
Is ever onward, wide-ward, upward ; And 'neath their flowing banners, as I trust,
Our race, progressive, will ever tend
To excellence, perfection, and immortal victory."
This grand result, therefore, this day
And here beheld, so pleasant and auspicious,
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