USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Historical sketch of the town of Weymouth, Massachusetts, from 1622-1884 > Part 10
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1 Gathered from the records by John W. Bates, Esq.
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house in 1844, and such was the increase, that they were obliged to enlarge the building in 1850. This house was destroyed by fire 13th December, 1851, and with its contents was a total loss. This was a heavy blow, from which, however, it soon rallied, and another house was erected in the following year, dedicated Oct. 12. This becoming too contracted for the grow- ing necessities of the society, was enlarged in 1864. This building was also burned 23d February, 1870. Another and the present house of worship was erected on Broad Street the same year, and dedicated Dec. 23. It has free sittings. The church belongs to the New England Southern Conference. The society has also a fine parsonage, built in 1867. The present member- ship of the church is about two hundred and sixty . It has been from its organization an energetic church, and the centre of good influences. It has also a large and flourishing Sabbath school.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT LOVELL'S CORNER.1- The initial steps towards the formation of this church were taken in the autumn of 1866, in recognition of a long-felt need of that growing and prosperous village, when Rev. D. W. Waldron, pastor of the Congregational Church at East Weymouth, began there on Sabbath afternoons a preaching ser- vice at five o'clock. This was continued as long as he remained pastor of the East Weymouth Church, and for about a year after. During the latter time, the neighboring ministers preached there in turn. After this a regular pulpit supply was obtained, until a Con- gregational Church was formed, on the last Thursday in October, 1872. Rev. Joseph C. Halliday, the first pastor, commenced his work there on the first Sabbath
1 Materials furnished by Bradford Hawes, Esq.
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of the following December, and held the position until July, 1877, nearly five years. From that time until November of the same year there was no regular min- ister. In that month Rev. Henry P. Haylett, a student of Boston University (Methodist Episcopal), was en- gaged. During his pastorate the church changed its denominational connection and united with the New Bedford Methodist Episcopal Conference in April, 1879, and in April, 1882, it was transferred to the New England Southern Conference of the same denomina- tion, where it still remains. Mr. Haylett was suc- ceeded May 1, 1880, by Rev. Charles H. Farnsworth, who in turn gave place, in the following year, to Rev. E. G. Babcock, the present pastor. A Sabbath school was gathered by the efforts of Rev. Mr. Waldron, in the spring of 1867, which has continued an active existence in connection with the work of the church ever since. This church has no meeting-house, but has held its ser- vices in a hall.
THE FIRST UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY OF WEYMOUTH.1 - This society was organized at Weymouth Landing, July 21, 1836, in consequence of a desire on the part of many of the people of that village, then the largest in the town, for a wider privilege in the interpretation of the Bible than the belief of the Union Church would permit. Rev. Matthew Hale Smith was hired to preach once a fortnight in Wales' Hall. A movement was soon made towards the building of a meeting-house with such success that a house was finished at a cost of six thousand four hundred dollars, including land, bell and furniture, and was dedicated Sept. 13, 1839. Mr. Calvin Gardner preached on the next and three follow- ing Sabbaths. Rev. John S. Barry was the pastor
1 Facts supplied by J. W. Armington, Esq.
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from November, 1839, to April, 1841. He was suc- ceeded at once by Rev. John M. Spear, who remained until April, 1845, when he closed his service, and was followed by Rev. Mr. Coffin until November of the same year, when Rev. Mr. Dennis supplied the pulpit. In 1846, Rev. Mr. Barry returned, and remained as minister until Jan. 1, 1850. He was then succceded by Rev. Mr. Hemphill and others, for about two years, when Rev. D. P. Livermore was hired, and remained about two years. After him Rev. Mr. Davenport preached for a year, whose successor was Rev. Charles Mellen, who remained from April, 1855, to April, 1860, when the pulpit was supplied for a year and a half by Rev. D. T. Goddard. Following him there was no reg- ular minister until April, 1864, when Rev. Miss Olympia Brown was engaged, and held the position until Sep- tember, 1869. After an interval of two years, Rev. Benjamin H. Davis became pastor, and continued in that position from October, 1871, to April, 1873, - a year and a half. Rev. L. S. Crosley was the next pas- tor, beginning his service November, 1876, and closing March, 1878. After him came Rev. Anson Titus, Jr., who began his work November, 1878, and ended April, 1883, having charge also for the greater part of the time, first of the church in Old Spain, and then of that in South Weymouth. This society still worships in its original meeting-house, on Washington Street, and its present pastor, recently engaged, is Rev. B. F. Eaton, who has the charge also of the West Scituate Socicty.
THE SECOND UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY OF SOUTH WEYMOUTH.1 -The first services in the Universalist faith in South Weymouth were held in Columbian Hall, in 1835, during the trouble in the Second Congrega-
1 Material furnished by H. H. Joy, Esq.
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tional Church, when Rev. Sylvanus Cobb preached for a time. There was then no organization, the movement meeting with bitter opposition, and it was was not until 1848 that an association was formed, known as the " Washington Corporation," out of which grew the Second Universalist Society. Rev. John Parker, the first regularly settled pastor, was installed in 1849, and remained in that service for six years. During his pastorate a chapel was erected, in 1850.
The next pastor, Rev. Elmer E. Hewitt, was installed on Sunday evening, July 8, 1855, and retained his posi- tion for more than fourteen years, when he was suc- ceeded by Rev. Jacob Baker, who was installed in 1869. His term of service extended over a period of nine years, to 1878, since which time there have been several pastors, - Revs. E. A. Perry, Anson Titus, B. F. Bowles, the present pastor, and others.
THE THIRD UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY OF NORTH WEY- MOUTH.1 - This society was organized Nov. 19, 1853, and a Sabbath school gathered on the succeeding Fast Day. The first minister was Rev. R. L. Killam, of Scituate, who commenced April 1, 1855, preaching on alternate Sabbaths in Harmonial Hall. His term of service continued for three years. During the next year only evening services were held, conducted by different clergymen, after which Rev. E. H. Hawes, of Stoughton, supplied the pulpit on alternate Sabbaths for one year, beginning May 1, 1859, and Rev. R. L. Killam for the summer following.
During the ten succeeding years the services were conducted by clergymen of Weymouth and the neigh- boring towns. Rev. G. W. Skinner, of Quincy, was the next preacher his work dating from April 1, 1871,
Furnished by Thomas F. Cleverly, Esq.
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and continuing one year, when he was followed by Rev. G. W. Whitney, of Quincy, who was pastor from April 1, 1872, to July 1, 1878. During his ministry a chapel was erected, which was dedicated Jan. 16, 1873, and a church of twenty-two members was formed June 28, 1874. Mr. Whitney was succeeded by Rev. Anson Titus, Jr., of Weymouth Landing, who preached from September, 1878, to July 1, 1880, when he resigned his position. Rev. E. A. Perry was pastor from the latter date to April 1, 1882; the present pastor, Rev. R. T. Sawyer, of Quincy, commencing his labors on Sept. 3 of the same year.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY IN WEY- MOUTH.1 - The first movement towards a union of the members of the Baptist denomination and those favor- ing its belief, for some kind of associated effort on behalf of their special views, in the village of Wey- mouth Landing, was made in the years 1851-2, in the establishment of a regular weekly prayer-meeting, and, also, of a sewing circle, the proceeds of whose labors were devoted to the renting of Union Hall, where preaching services were held as often as circumstances would permit, by the Baptist ministers of the neighbor_ ing towns. After a little more than a year arrange- ments were made with Messrs. Leander P. Gurney and Noah Fullerton, of the South Abington Church, for regular preaching on the Sabbath; and, on the 13th of March, of the same year, a Sabbath school was com- menced. This state of things soon produced the desire for a church, which was formed on Feb. 7, 1854; but it was not until June 21, 1855, that the society was organ- ized and the congregation became fully equipped for its
1 Compiled mainly from the records of the society and the sermon of Rev. Gideon Cole, pastor, preached Feb. 4, 1866, at the opening of the new house of worship.
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work. Rev. II. C. Coombs, of Middleborough, supplied the pulpit for a few weeks, when it was placed under the care of Rev. Henry Fitz, missionary of the State Convention, and its preachers were mainly from the Newton Theological Seminary. The first pastor was Rev. Andrew Dunn, of Bridgewater, who commenced his labors April 1, 1855; and a chapel was erected, which was dedicated on July 12. Mr. Dunn remained as pastor of the church until Jan. 31, 1858, and was suc- ceeded on May 1 by Rev. Levi A. Abbott, of Milford, who continued with the people for five years, until the end of May, 1863. On Nov. 1, 1863, Rev. Gideon Cole, of Sheldonville, having accepted a call, commenced his work in this place. During his pastorate a new meeting- house was built on Washington and Broad Streets, nearly opposite the chapel, and dedicated Jan. 31, 1866. Mr. Cole was succeeded in the spring of 1871 by Rev. C. H. Rowe, who was followed in the autumn of 1874 by Rev. W. C. Wright. He remained in the pastorate about four years, when he was dismissed, and a call extended to Rev. P. A. Nordell was accepted, who began work in the spring of 1878, which he continued until 1882, when he resigned, and was succeeded by Rev. Seth J. Axtell, the present pastor.
ROMAN CATHOLIC.1 - The Parish of St. Francis Xavier was the first parish of this denomination, and embraced territorially the whole town. The first priests of the parish were Rev. Fathers Roddan and Lynch, who came to the town in 1851, and the first services were held in East Weymouth that same year, in private houses. After a few months the place of worship was changed, and services were held in Tirrell's Hall, at Weymouth Landing. In 1854, Rev. Father Roach took
1 The facts relative to the Roman Catholic Church in Weymouth were gathered from various sources and carefully verified.
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charge of the parish, but it was not until 1859 that the first church was erected, which was located upon Middle Street, not far below the Town Hall. Father Roach was succeeded, in 1866, by Rev. Father Hennigan, who re- mained until 1869, and in the fall of that year the church was burned. Rev. Father Smyth followed Father Hen- nigan in 1869, and soon after, the church on Pleasant Street was erected, in 1870. In 1873, the Parish of the Sacred Heart was constituted at the Landing, the tavern property purchased, and services held in the hall of the building. In 1876, a church of brick and stone was begun, which, when completed, will be the costliest church edifice in the vicinity. The basement was soon finished and occupied, and the audience-room of the church itself has been in use for a year or two.
The Parish of the Immaculate Conception, at East Weymouth, was formed, and a church built in 1879, dedicated Nov. 23. In 1881, a parish was consti- tuted in Old Spain, called the Parish of Saint Jerome, and a church erected. Rev. Father Smyth had charge of all these parishes (with one or more assistants) until 1882, when Rev. Father Millerick was placed over the parishes of the Immaculate Conception and Saint Jerome, Father Smyth retaining the other two until 1883, when he was succeeded by Rev. Father Murphy, the present incumbent.
EPISCOPALIAN - THE TRINITY CHURCH AT WEY- MOUTH LANDING.1-This parish was organized Nov. 11, 1867, at the time and in consequence of the trouble in the Union Congregational Church, in connection with the Rev. L. Dickerman. Services had been held in Williams' Hall, as early as July 7 of that year. On Sept. 10, the homestead of the late Atherton W.
1 Furnished by Samuel W. Reed, Esq.
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Tilden, on Front Street, was purchased, and the house reconstructed into a church. These changes were com- pleted, and the first service held therc Dec. 8, 1867, but the church was not consecrated until May 21, 1874. From March 4 to July 1 of that ycar, 1867, Rev. S. R. Slack, of South Boston, was the officiating clergy- man, when Rev. Mr. Burroughs was called to the rector- ship, which he resigned Oct. 1, 1868, and was succeeded in December by Rev. T. W. Street, who in turn gave way to Rev. F. O. Barstow, December, 1869. He was followed in June, 1870, by Rev. W. F. Lhoyd, who resigned in 1873, and was succeeded by Rev. William C. Winslow, who remained but one year. The next rector was Rev. Samucl R. Slack, in June, 1874, who retained that position until April 12, 1877, when he re- signed, and was followed by Rev. John A. Jcrome, who occupied the position until March, 1883. In November, of this year, Rev. Charles L. Wells became officiating clergyman, who has since resigned.
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CHAPTER VII.
Educational Institutions - Public Schools - Weymouth and Braintrce Academy - Newspapers - Weymouth Historical Society - Social Libraries - Mutual Library Associations - Tufts Library.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.1- Next in importance to the ec- clesiastical interests come those of cducation, of which the public schools form the prominent feature, and for these the town has always taken special care. In the early days of its history the records are exceedingly brief, and only slight and incidental mention is made of many things upon which now there is great need of fuller information. The first notice of matters connected with schools occurs on March 10, 1651, when the town voted to pay Capt. Perkins ten pounds for six months' school- ing. Capt. William Perkins was a prominent man in town in thosedays, being "townsman," and probably held other important offices. In subsequent history it was found that it was to men of this character that the town intrusted the education of its children.
It is a singular fact, and one which shows that the interest of the town in education was not confined to its own borders, that the second mention should be that of a subscription of ten pounds sixteen shillings and sixpence by Weymouth to Cambridge College, in 1652. After Capt. Perkins, the next schoolmaster named is William Chard, who was also town clerk,
1 The portion of this sketch relating to the public schools of Weymouth has been carefully compiled from the town, parish and other records, and is believed to contain as full an abstract as could be desired for a work of this character.
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and attended to the drawing up of such legal instru- ments as the necessities of the people demanded. He is first mentioned in that capacity April 10, 1667, when the town voted him three pounds and ten shil- lings, the rent of the flats, in addition to his other pay. On the 25th of August, thirty shillings was also added. On Nov. 29, 1669, he was engaged at ten pounds per year, probably employed only a portion of the time. He was also sexton, and the pay of both offices was sometimes ineluded in one vote. On Sept. 18, 1678, his pay had advanced to twenty-four pounds, and the town was to furnish a school-room. The selectmen with the elders were also "to rate each pay-scholar for his benefit." The next year a house and orehard were rented for him at forty-five shillings, and in 1680, the house of James Stewart was bought for forty pounds for the use of the schoolmaster; this was to be paid for by subscription, which failed, and a tax was laid for it. In the following year, 1681, a school-house was built on a part of the land bought of Capt. John Holbrook, the other part of which was afterwards occupied by the new meeting-house, erected in 1682. The house with the furnishing cost thirty-six pounds. In 1684, Mr. Chard's salary was advanced to thirty- three pounds and fourteen shillings. His duties were " to keep a free-school and teaeh all children and ser- vants sent him to read, write, and cast accounts."
On Nov. 28, 1687, for some reason the town voted " not to continue Mr. Chard in the work of a public schoolmaster at the publie charge, but he is at liberty to use the dwelling and school-house until next March meeting, for which he is to ring the bell and sweep the meeting-house." Probably this was for want of funds, as he was in office during the year 1689, and continued a town schoolmaster until 1696, when he removed to Abington. Mr. John Copp was appointed to succeed
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him, at thirty pounds per year, and he was also chosen town clerk the same year. Mr. Copp docs not appear to have remained in his position quite two years. At the March mecting, 1697, the town voted that "parents shall pay three shillings for each child sent to school between the ages of eight and fourteen years." This was to pay in part the schoolmaster's salary, the re- mainder to be made up by a tax upon all who lived within two miles of the school-house. By this time the increase of scholars was so large that the town found it necessary to employ more teachers, and Joseph Dyer was employed to teach in the school-house, with John King as assistant, and Edward Bate was to teach in his own house. To follow the precedent, now well established, Edward Bate was elected town clerk. The pay of schoolmaster was to be not over thirty pounds, one third of which was to be paid by those who sent their children to school, and the remainder by tax. The next year the whole was raised by tax, and John Torrey was employed, probably in the place of John King, as Edward Bate still retained his position the following year, 1699, and later Torrey appears as Bate's assistant.
During the summer of 1700, five women were en- gaged to teach school for six months, at twenty-five shillings each, besides the usual rate paid by those who sent children. On the 21st of October of that year Samuel Hunt, son of Col. Hunt, was hired as schoolmaster at fifteen pounds ten shillings in money for six months, or twenty-three pounds, "as the rates run." In January, 1705, Ebenezer White, of Dor- chester, was appointed schoolmaster for half a year at fifteen pounds; and on March 3, 1707, Thomas Thorn- ton was engaged at twenty-five pounds, of fifteen pen- nyweights each (silver). To him, in 1709, succeeded John Torrey, at fifty shillings per month. In 1717,
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school was kept in cach school-house four months, and it seemed that now there was a school-house in the south part of the town. John Galt was teacher for a part of this year. In September, 1719, Ebenezer Rolie was hired for a year at forty-two pounds ten shillings, and Mr. Calder in 1723, at the same price. And this year, 1723, a new school-house was built at a cost of forty-two pounds seven shillings eleven pence, between Joseph Lovell's and John Shaw's. Mr. Calder taught two months here, and two months in the North school-house. In 1729 it was voted that the South Precinct should have a school one third of the year, and be at the charge of having a school-house, and the North, two thirds of the year. In May, 1730, Joseph Torrey was hired as schoolmaster at fifty pounds.
After the division of the town into two precincts, a large part of the school business was transacted at the precinct meeting, the town appropriating money and dividing it between them according to the amount paid by each. The appropriations commencing in 1733, at seventy-five pounds, had risen, in 1800, to five hundred dollars. A new school-house was built by the North Precinct in 1730, where the old one stood, near the meeting-house, and Ezra Whitmarsh was the schoolmaster. He was a graduate of Harvard, also town clerk and selectman, one of the fathers of the town. He continued his position as schoolmaster until 1760, teaching sometimes in one precinct and sometimes in the other, according to the various votes of the town. During this time the precincts maintained their separate woman's schools. In 1760 the name of David Wyre appears upon the record as schoolmaster, and in 1769 and 1770, Mr. Lemuel Cushing taught for about a year. Mr. James Blake, A. B., also taught a few months about this time. The necessities of the
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times during the Revolutionary War rendercd the rais- ing of money very difficult, and probably the school interest, among others, suffered in consequence. There is no other teacher mentioned by name until Dec. 11, 1780, when Samuel Reed was engaged to teach in the North Precinct, " at his offer," six shillings per week in money, "or its equivalent in necessaries at prices before the war."
Jan. 24, 1785, Nathaniel Bayley, Esq., was appointed to answer to the General Court on behalf of the town for neglecting to keep a grammar school; thus it ap- pears that the town had become a delinquent in this matter, but the lesson was a good one, and did not need to be repeated.
After the close of the war, prosperity began to dawn upon the town; the schools soon felt the impetus, and new houses were built and new schools established in various parts. Samuel Reed and James Humphrey (3d) were employed at two pounds per week, and the latter to have three shillings per week extra, "he hav- ing been at the expense of fitting himself for a gram- mar-school teacher." Both of these were men of mark in town, as well as schoolmasters, having been town clerks, selectmen, and also village notaries. Both held long terms of service as school-teachers, with excellent reputation.
In 1796, the school system, which had been sufficient for the needs of the town in its earlier days, was found to be greatly wanting, and a committee was chosen to take the whole subject into consideration and report a new plan. This was done, and in 1799 the town was divided into eight school districts, substantially as it remained for seventy years. Each district was to furnish its school-house and teacher, paying its ex- penses from its proportion of the school money raised by the town. The business was to be in the charge of
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a prudential committee-man selected by the district, but chosen by the town. The school money was divided, sometimes according to the number of families, some- times according to the number of scholars, and some- times according to the amount of tax paid, but more generally, a part equally, and a part according to the number of scholars.
In 1810, the employment of " Latin and Greek " mas- ters was authorized, and also "English masters who shall teach equivalent to twelve months in the year." In 1814 each district was ordered to report in detail to the town. In 1816, the "alewive money " was appro- priated for school purposes. In 1821, a census reported four hundred and thirty-four families and eight hundred and nincty-five scholars. In 1827 the town chose a com- mittee of seven under a new State law, to have the over- sight of the schools, or the general charge and superin- tendency of them. This was called the High Committee. They examined and approved the teachers, and kept a close watch upon the schools to see that they were prop- erly taught.
This system was retained until the abolition of the district system, in 1869, when this committee became the school committee, combining its former powers with those of the prudential committee. The High Committee reported to the town at its annual March meeting, and in 1839 these reports began their pub- lication. In 1842, a second enumeration of. the chil- dren of school age showed ten hundred and ninety- nine, an increase of two hundred and four in twenty- one years. In 1845, the Fourth District was divided, and the Ninth set off from it. In 1847, the Tenth District was set off from the Second, and several years later the Eleventh was taken from the Eighth. Various minor changes were made in process of time, but this arrangement was that substantially kept until 1869.
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Attempts were made at varions times looking to the establishment of a high school, but without success, until about 1852, when the Town Hall was built, in which a room was fitted up for that purpose, but it was not until the next year that the town directed the school committee to go forward, appropriating one thou- sand dollars for the purpose. For several years it was a matter of some doubt whether or not the school would succeed on account of the exceeding inconvenience of its location, being far away from nearly all of the scholars. Experiments were made, trying one school at the town house for a time, and then changing to two schools, one at the North and one at the South; and it was not until 1865 that the present arrangement was permanently adopted, that of having one school in each of the two sections.
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