USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Billerica > History of Billerica, Massachusetts, with a Genealogical register > Part 26
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61
8 Massachusetts Archires : Coat Rolls, 178-80, 183; and Vol. XXII, No. 520.
4 Massachusetts Archires.
Vol. XIX. Master Rolls, No. 38. Vol. XXVI, No. 40.
5 Massachusetts Archives : Rolls. Vol. XLI.
6 Massachusetts Archives : Rolls. Vols. XIX, No. 76, and XXVI, 132 and 213.
7 Massachusetts Archives.
Vols. XXI, 185, and XXVII, 100.
8 Massachusetts Archives.
Vols. XXIX, 7, and XXXVII, 17.
Massachusetts Archives : Muster Rolls. Vol. XXIX. No. 60.
10 Massachusetts Archives : Muster Rolls. Vol. XL, No. 13.
247
THE REVOLUTION.
TAX-LIST. - 1726, DECEMBER.
[Residences known to the compiler are added. Some are only approximate. The East Road is the road running from the foot of "rockey hill," east of the village, to the Woburn Road, near the Shawshin; and by the Shawshin Road I designate the road which runs east from this road to the river, and thence north to the Wilmington Road. The Shawshin District is east of the river, between the Woburn and Wilmington roads. The "Corner," here and elsewhere, designates the locality at the foot of the hill, on Long Street, near the Concord River bridge. The two roads between the Woburn and Bedford roads I call " Lexington" and "East Lexington." |
Province Tax.
Abbot. David
5 18 9 8
Abbot. David. jr.
Abbot. Joshua
4 11 62 Sanborn place, west of Long St. 3 16 52 Paul Hill's place. cast of Common.
Abbot. Oliver
Allen, Hannah
1
10
Allen. JJere
1 15 3
Allen. Thos
1 15
Baldwin. Abel
3 :15 4
Baldwin. Benj.
13 S
Baldwin. Benj .. jr.
10
Baldwin. Jere 10
Baldwin, John
2
5
Baldwin, John, jr.
3
4 10
Baldwin, Mary
2
33
Baldwin, Micah
10
Baldwin, Sam1
2 3 11
Baldwin. Thos
2 8 11 2
Baldwin. Thos
10
Baldwin. William
10
Baley. Jonathan
Barrett, Joseph
0 10
Barron. Isaac
11 3
Beard, Abijah
10
Beard, Benja
1 11 10 2
Board, Isaac
2 2 6
Beard. John
10
Bell. John
2 12
Blanchard. John
1 10 11 2
Blanchard. Sam1
3 9 8
Blanchard, Sam', jr.
1 1 3
Blanchard, Simon
2 17 10
Bonner. William
10
Bowers. Benja
10
Bowers. Jonathan
10
Bowers, Josiah
3 14 10
Bowers, Josiah, jr.
1 12 5
Bowers, William
5 6 11
Bowman. Francis
1 17 5
Bridge. Col. Ebenezer, [not on list].
Brown. Josiah
1 S.
Brown, Nath1
1 19 5 2
Brown. Sam!
1 19
Brown, Saml. jr.
| 19
Brown. Thos
1 15
Isaac Brown place.
Caldwell, Adam 2 14
21
Carleton. John
4 16
Carleton. John. jr.
1 12 6
Carleton. Moses
1 7 G
Henry Crosby place. Woburn Road. Old Fletcher house. East Road.
Wilmington Road, Dea. King's pl. Miss Sophia Allen, East Road.
Joel Baldwin's. Shawshin Road.
[Stickney. West of Long Street, north of Wm. Holden place, Shawshin Road.
Stearns pl., north of Howe School.
Near Catholic Church.
Shawshin District. East Road, Asa Holden place.
Burrows place, east of Woburn St. Clough pl., East Lexington Road. Dr. Noyes' pl., Lexington Street.
East Lexington Road. Near Mr. Cowdry's, west side. Hotel w. of Long St .. so. end village. East of Long Street Hotel. near Mr. Kimball place. Andover St. [Proud- [foot's.
Old Danforth place, on West St. Bowman place, on Lexington Road. Head of the lane east of Long St.
Near Henry Durant's, west side. Wilmington Road, near the school- [house.
Probably at North Billerica. Road to Winning's Pond.
248
HISTORY OF BILLERICA.
TAX-LIST. - Continued.
Carleton. Nathan Carleton. Solomon
Province Tax. £ 13 1 2 13 9
Cary, Sam1
10
2 13
Cook, Sears
2 13
Crosby, Eph
3 13 11 2
Crosby, Francis
1
1 4
Crosby, Hezekiah
4
8 2
Crosby, James 13 1 2
Crosby, Josiah 3 9 11
Crosby, Josiah, Wid. Ross pl. 6 3
Crosby, Oliver
3 12 9 2
Crosby, Seth
2 13 1 2
Cumings, Rev. Henry, [not taxed]. Currier, Willm 10
Danforth. Benja 1 12 2 2
Danforth. David
10
Danforth, Elijah 2 17
Danforth. do. Jos. Warrenland. 4 4 2
Danforth. Jesse 18
9
Danforth, Josiah 1 15
Danforth. Sam!
4 S
Danforth, Timothy 1 18 1
Davis, Joseph 1
1
Davis, Joshua
5 19
Ditson. Sam1
1 12 10
Ditson, Thos
14 11
Dows, Benja
3 5 4
Dows, Benja, jr. 11 3
Dows. Ebenr
19
6 2
Dows, Ebenr, jr.
19
Dows, Eleazar
18 1 2
Dows. Sam1
10
Dutton. Benj
10
Easte, Benj, [not on list and deceased]. Edes. John 10
Farmer. Edward
2 12 41
Farmer, Edward, jr.
10
[Davis place.
Farmer. John
2 15 2 2 12 6
Farmer, Joseph
Farmer. Oliver
3 9 42
Farmer. Rebekah
16' 10 2
Farrier. Elioner
5 10 2
Fletcher. Samuel
10
Foster. Isaac
4 7
Foster. Joseph
16
3
Foster. Sarah
14 8
Fox. Joseph 11 3
French. Ebenr
3
2 2
French, Eben", jr.
1 18
1 2
[Pond Road.
French. Jacob
3
6 0 2 )
French. John
3
3 1 2 } 6
French. Jona
12
French, Jonas
4 13
G
French. Sarah
18 4 2
Frost. Joshua
11 10 2
Harrington pl., Shawshin District. Crosby place, Shawshin Road. Crosby pl., east of Nutting's Pond. Knowles pl., near S. School-house.
Mason place, near S. School-house. Fisk place, south of Nutting's. Dr. Hubbard's, Bedford Street.
Near Essex place. East Road. Mr. Whitman's. Bedford Street.
Davis place. Long Pond Road. Woburn Road. near line. Woburn Road. Blood's place, west side.
Near Deacon Spaulding's.
Near Corner, just south of road to
Shawshin District.
South of his brother Edward. Lexington Road. Shawshin District.
Between Andover Street and Long
Probably East Road.
East Road, near Andover Street.
Conant. William . Cook. Paul
2 1 10 2
1 2
249
THE REVOLUTION.
TAX-LIST. - Continued.
Province Tax.
Frost, William Gleason. Willm
£1 17 42 2 13 1 2
Shawshin District.
Gray. Timo
10 10
Hall, Lydia
11 1 2
Hans. Charles
10
In Carlisle. In Carlisle.
Hardy, Ebenr
1 5 7
Henry. John
2 12 4 2
Henry, John. jr.
10
In Carlisle. In Carlisle.
Hill, Benj
11.3
Hill. Jere
10
Hill, Job
12 G
Hill, Jonn
6 9 11
Hill, Joseph
8 13: 1 2
Hill, Joseph, jr.
1 10
Hill. Nath1
4 8 32
Hill, Paul
16 3
Hill. Peter
3 6
Hill, Ralph
2 10 6 2
Hill, Solomon
10
Hill. Willm
2 4 82
Hosley, Martha
7
6
Jaquith, Abrm
1 17
Jaquith place.
Jaquith, Abrm, jr.
1 4 9
Jaquith, Ebenr
3 5 4
Jaquith. Joseph
2 11 4
3 2 9
Jefts, Henry, jr.
Jefts. Simeon
2 12 17
Jones, Joseph
1 10 ; 2
Kidder, Enoch
2 11
Kidder, Ephm
1 17 12
Kidder, Jonathan, [not on list].
Kidder, Lydia
1 12 7
Kidder, Sam!
5 19 10 2
Kidder, Sam1, jr.
10
Kidder. Thos
1 19 10
Kidder, Will
2 18 9
Kidder. Will. jr.
2 7 6
Kindall, Reuben
4 1 2
Kindall. Reuben. jr. 10
Kittredge. Neh
3 5 1 2
Kneeland. John
6 63
Lampson. Sam1
2 19
3
Laws, Eunice 2 12
Laws. John
2
8 9 1
1
Levistone, David
12
Levistone, Isaac
10
Levistone, John
10
Levistone. Seth
1
1
3
Levistone, Seth, jr. 10
Levistone. Thos
3 17
Levistone. Timo
1 6 825
Lewis, Benj
2 5
Lewis, James
2 15 4.
Lewis, John 13 9
Mr. Perrin's place. The Lyons place. Bedford Street. Mrs. Boyden's place, Bedford St.
Over Concord River. Over Concord River. Mrs. Judkins's place. Bedford St. South of Dr. Hosmer's.
East of Bedford St., south part. Jaquith place. Near iron bridge, west side.
Boston Road.
Parker place, south of West Street. East of road beyond the Corner.
MeElligott's, on Bedford Street.
Probably near Mr. Elliot's, North [Billerica. Wilmington Road. near Shawshin. East Road, Mr. Sanborn's.
Lowell Road, at the turn to North Billerica.
31 One of these cousins lived at the Nason place. Andover, near Salem, Road. Andover, near Salem, Road.
Hale. Josiah
Laws, Willm
12 2
Jefts, Henry
250
HISTORY OF BILLERICA.
TAX-LIST. - Continued.
T'rovince Tax.
Mace. Joseph
10
Manning, Benj
1 10 1 2
Manning, Eliph
15
Manning, Jacob
1 17 6
Manning, Jesse
7 22
Manning, Martha
16 3
Manning. Solomon
10
Manning. Willm
S
Garrison-house. Chelmsford Road. Old Marshall place, East Road.
Marshall. Isaac
Marshall, Isaac. jr.
B
Marshall. Jacob
1 17
6
Monroe, Aaron
Monroe, Joseph
10
In Carlisle. In Carlisle.
Monroe. Joshua
Monroe. Nathan
5 11 2
In Carlisle.
Needham, Benj"
10 22
Near South Cemetery.
Needham, John
2 6 7
Needham. Rebh
19 6
Needham. Will
1 18 10
Nickles, James
9 82
In Carlisle.
Nickles, do. for father's pl. 1
812
Nickles, John
6 10 22
In Carlisle. In Carlisle.
Nickles, John. jr.
1 15 3
Nickles. Joseph
6 10 2 10
In Carlisle.
Parker, JJohn
6 11 7
Parker, Levi
1 17 82
Parker, Nath!
In Carlisle.
Parsons. David
Patten. Asa
15 7 2
Patten. JJohn
2 11
Patten. John. jr.
1 2
Patten. William
2
1
Pollard, Benj.
1
1
Pollard. Edward
3 18 10 1
Pollard. Jona
1
South of JJohn Parker's, on Boston
Spaulding pl., south Howe School.
Richardson; Ebezr
4
6
B
Richardson. Ebez". jr.
1 17
1 3
Richardson. Jacob
1 13 8 2
Richardson, Jon"
22 13 1 2
Richardson. Jon. jr.
13 10 2
Richardson, Joseph
12 2 1
[near Salem to Shawshin Road.
Richardson. Josiah
1
3 15 -)
Richardson, Sam1, jr.
3
= 1
Richardson, Tho>
1
-
Richardson, Will
Robbins. Jonas
G
Rogers. Sam!
3 3
1
Rogers, Thomas
1 18 91
Rogers, Zebadiah
2 11 73 10
Rogers. Zebadiah. jr.
Ross. John
2 13 5
Wilmington Road, near Shawshin. Pattenville.
West of Long Street, near Corner. East of Fordway.
Southeast of Fordway. [Street.
Pollard. Solo
5 15
East Road. near Web's Brook.
Woburn Road, Spaulding place.
East Road, near Pasho place. Disused road. from Andover Street
5
Richardson. Oliver
Richardson. Sam
Corner. near old Cemetery. Near railroad station. Shawshin Dist .. near Wilmington.
Richardson, Stephen
Mrs. Sage's, Bedford Street. Corner. Jones place.
In Carlisle. Near Fordway. Near Alms-house. Holden place, near Winning's.
10 -
In Carlisle.
Osgood, Joseph
South of Common.
In Carlisle.
Miller. John
Cutler place, west side. Jesse Manning's place, Treble-Cove [Road.
251
THE REVOLUTION.
TAX-LIST. - Continued.
Province Tax.
Ruggles. Joseph
4 10 2 3
Ryan, David Sanders. Benj
11
1 16
31
Sanders. David
1
6 3 1
Sanders. Ebenezer
10
Sanders. James
15
Sanders. JJohn
I
4 11
Sanders, Jonas
1
3 43
Sanders. Solo
1 15
Shed, Daniel
2 8 21
Shed, Hannah
5 11
Shed. John
3 15 11
Shed, Joseph
3 6 9
Shed, Joseph, jr.
10
Shed. Reuben
10
Shed. Thos
3 8
Sims, Stephen
1
8 9
Skilton. John
1
5 11
Snow. Richard
17 31
Spaulding, Asa
5 15 11 2
Sprake, Benj
10
Sprake, Nicholas
1
Colson place, North Billerica.
Sprake, Nicholas, jr.
16
2
Sprake. Sam!
1
9
8 2
Near Fordway. North Billerica.
Sprake, Sam1, jr.
1
4 2
Stearns, Isaac
6
3 2
Stearns, Isaac. jr.
10
Stearns, John
1 12
1 2
Stearns. Nath!
10
Stearns. Oliver
10 10 1
Stearns. Sam
3
Merriam place, near Bedford line.
Stearns, Will
10
Stickney. Dan1
2 11 2
Stickney: David
2 10 11 2
Stickney, Jona
2 15 0
Stickney. Will. Esq.
4 3 12
Stickney. Will. jr.
13 1 2
Tarbell. Wm
2 15
S 1
Tarbell, Wm. jr.
19
23
Tompson. Willm
6
Toothaker, Roger
10
Totman, JJohn
16
Woburn Road. near Shawshin.
Trull. Sam1
2 16
5 2
Sheldon place, North Billerica.
Trull, Sam1. jr.
10
Walker. Sam1
10
Waters. JJohn
19 4 2
White. John
2 14
1 1
Whiting. Sam1, [not on list].
Wilson. John
1
1
Wilson. Seth
2 17
6
Winning. Alexr
1 13
5
Winning. John
10
Wright, John
10
Wyman, Amos
1 5 72
Kitchen place, near railroad. south- [east of North Billerica.
Some of these lived on Long Pond Road beyond Davis'; others to- ward North Billerica.
Spaulding pl .. west of Long Street. East of Bedford Street, near Mr. [Cobb's place.
Near iron bridge, west side. Shawshin District, near Burlington. Edmands place. Shawshin Road. West part of town, Simonds place.
Dea. Greenwood's place, near Con- [eord River and Bedford line. Shawshin District.
[village. West of Boston Road, south of the [village. West of Boston Road. south of the Pillsbury place, west of Long St.
Near Irving Fletcher's, Shawshin [Road.
Tuft's place. end of lane. Near canal. North Billerica.
East Lexington Road. near Bedford. Wilson place. on Boston Street. South of Charnstaffe Lane.
Near Winning's Pond.
Putney place. Shawshin Road. Near Bedford and Burlington.
And there are twenty-one names of men who lived in Woburn, Concord, Tewksbury, Bedford, and Chelmsford.
CHAPTER XIV.
EDUCATION.
THE founders of New England were careful and prompt to pro- vide for the education of all the children. As early as 1642 a law was enacted, enjoining the selectmen to "have a vigilant eye over their brethren and neighbors, to see first that none of them shall suffer so much barbarism in any of their families as not to endeavor to teach, by themselves or others; their children and apprentices so much learning as may enable them perfectly to read the English tongue." The penalty was twenty shillings for each neglect. The same act required that parents "give religious instruction to their children and apprentices, and bring them up in some honest, lawful calling, labor, or employment, either in husbandry or some other trade profitable for themselves and the commonwealth, if they will not or can not train them up in learning to fit them for higher employments." In 1647 a free school was made compulsory. If there were fifty householders, the town must appoint a teacher, and towns of one hundred householders must have a grammar school of such grade that youth "may be fitted for the university."
Billerica could not at once meet this requirement. But, "1, 5, 61. The Townsmen doe agree yt Lieftenent Will ffrench and Ralph Hill, senior, doe take care and [examine] the seurll famelies in or Towne, whethr there children and servants are Taught in the precepts of relidione, in reding and Lerninge there Catechism." How this duty was discharged is suggested in the record by the selectmen : "10, 91, 68. they apoint ye next seconday to go ye rounds to examine ye teaching of children & youth, acording to law." If we could accompany these selectmen on that annual examination, we should learn something of education under difficulties : and might gain respect for the fathers, with appreciation of the fact of progress in two centuries.
253
EDUCATION.
Mr. Whiting's name first appears in this record, "19 March, '74-5. In reference to the catechising of ye youth of ye towne and examining them concerning their reading, a duty imposed on ye select™ by ye Honrd Court, to take care that children and youth be instructed in both. The selectmen doe order, that all children and youth, single psons from eight years old upward, their parence and masters shall send such their children and servants to ye Reverend Mr. Samuel Whiting, at such times as shalbee afterward appointed by him, to be examined of both, as hoping this might be a good expedient for ye encouragement of all superiours and youth."
We may well believe that such an examination, by the pastor, would be no small incentive to study on the part of the "youth" who must appear before him. But many of the parents could give but little instruction, and another step in advance greatly needed was taken when, "19, 11m, 79, Ens. Tompson was chosen school- master, to teach such to read and to write as shall come to him to learn." Joseph Tompson, Billerica's first school-master, was the son of a minister, and, with the possible exception of Danforth, was the best educated man in town. He continued to be the school-master for more than thirty years. Of the studies pursued we are not informed, nor of the "times and seasons"; but the culture of the town owes much, we may be sure, to Ensign Tompson's school, and we may remember with interest the place to which the children of two hundred years ago wended their way for the instruction he had to give them. His house was in the southeast part of the village, at the end of the lane where now Mr. Tufts lives. Whether the services of Mr. Tompson were gratuitous or he had a tuition fee does not appear ; but no item is found among the town charges until 1710, when he received one pound as school-master, and another the next year.
About the same time the question of a new school-master was raised. We may hope that the reason was not because Captain Tompson found occasion in his age to charge something for his services. Perhaps after thirty years his methods had become too old-fashioned, and a younger man was called for. In the autumn of 1709, one object of a town meeting was "to incoridg a schoole- master for Reading and Writing"; and, judging from the records of Mr. Needham, the new town clerk, there was need of a new school-master. But four years later a master was still needed, and, November 16, 1713, "it was voted, that the selectmen shaill mak
254
HISTORY OF BILLERICA.
yous of their best descrastion in providing a scoull-master for a quarter of a yeare" ; and, January 18, the selectmen were instructed "to se out for a schoolmaster against March Court, and to provide a house." Towns were frequently complained of for neglect to provide good schools, and the last record implies that Billerica had been thus charged, as it had been at least once before, in 1692, "for want of a schole." Probably Mr. Tompson's labors were occasionally sus- pended and resumed. The same presentment was made in 1718, and answered by Captain Whiting, at Charlestown.
The first appearance of a successor to Mr. Tompson is in 1715, when Mr. Shattuck is paid £8, 13s., and the town voted, that he "shall keep the school another half-year." In 1716, Mr. Isaac Branch was employed, receiving £10 for two quarters and £22 for the year 1717. The germ of the system of school districts then appears : "The Town Impowered the selectmen to order & appoint in what parts of the town the school shall be kept & how long at a place." In November, 1718, the town votes "to hire our present schoolmaster for another quarter, Provided he move to the several Quarters of the town"; also, "to give but four shillings p. week for the schoolmaster's board for the future." This master was John Graham, and he boarded with Mr. Ruggles. December 29, 1718, it was voted, that "for about five months the school should be moved to accommodate the outscirts of the Town, and the Rest of the year to be kept in the middle of the town"; and a committee of five was to order the places where it should be kept. It was also voted "to give Mr. Grimes, our present schoolmaster, forty pounds for one year, Provided that he board himself and keep a moving school." .In March, the selectmen gave leave to John Hartwell's wife "to keep a school to Instruct children to Read." Mr. Joseph Houston was master for three or four years from 1719, and was succeeded by Benjamin Ruggles, the pastor's brother. Then for a short time the master was Jonathan Fry, of Andover, the ill-fated young chaplain of Lovewell's expedition. The next year the town paid Mr. William Smith for services, and also Nicholas Bowes, the future pastor of Bedford. Then comes Mr. Isaac Abbott, who was master for six years, who was also employed to copy the early volume of records of "Births; Marriages, and Deaths," in a new book. Benjamin Bowers follows, 1736-39 ; Jonathan Stedman, 1739; Joseph Man- ning, 1740; Robert Cutler, 1741-45, who found his wife here, and became pastor in Epping, New Hampshire ; and John Chandler, in
255
EDUCATION.
1746, who was thus introduced to his future pastorate here. Joseph Bean succeeded, and then came Jonathan Kidder, in 1753, who served the town for a generation, and whose fame lingers still among the traditions of our older people.
A record, May, 1722, tells us something of the early methods : "It was agreed that Mr. Houston shall make up three months in the scenter of the town, and then shall go one month among the Hunts." And, in June, "it was agreed that Mr. Houston shall have liberty for a month or two, if he Pleas, after his month is out at Mr. Hunt's : and then at his Return shall go one month to the west side of Concord River; and then next one month to John Stearns; the next one month to Jonathan Bacon's ; then at Mr. Walker's three weeks ; then next at the Kittridge's one month ; then three weeks at Dr. Tooth- aker's ; then to be three months in the scenter of the Town, which will compleat his year."
The sections of the town where schools were kept were at first and long called squadrons ; and a division of the school money to the squadrons began to be made about 1760, with attending questions and jealousy as to the division. A school-house is mentioned in 1766, but had perhaps been built earlier ; as the town in 1725 voted grants of land to the squadrons for school-houses, to be located by the selectmen. In 1742 a committee reported. that the school be kept six months in the centre of the town, two in the east squadron, (one of which should be east of the river, ) two on the west side. and one in the south squadron. In 1782 another report is found. The centre squadron was to extend a mile and a half, and a gram- mar school was to be supported there, the out squadrons drawing an equal amount, to be expended "in keeping good writing schools." The houses which were to form the line of the centre squadron, on the various roads, are designated : "on Wilmington road, Jonas French's new house ; on the Frenchs' road, the house of Jacob French; on Boston road, the house of Oliver Crosby; on Bedford road, the house of Peter Hill ; on the road to Fitch's mill, the house of John Blanchard ; on the road over middle bridge, John Carleton, Jr. ; on Chelmsford road, the house of W". Laws; on the road to Carleton's mills, Josiah Danforth's ; on the road to Tewksbury, by French's dam, Benj. Davis." There were to be two squadrons on the west side, to be divided as the inhabitants there pleased. The east squadron was to include all north of JJohn Patten, Jun.'s, and William Tarbell's, and east of the Long Pond Road; the Shawshin
256
HISTORY OF BILLERICA.
squadron "to begin at Samuel Danforth's and take in Thomas Rich- ardson, widow Hosley, Joseph Jones, & Ebenezer Richardson, Jr., on the Boston road, and Ebenezer Richardson & Josiah Richardson on the east road," with all on the east on Shawshin River except John Skelton and Amos Wyman ; the southeast squadron included "all south of the widow Farmer's and Hezekiah Crosby's, that live between Boston road & Bedford road," except Timothy Jaquith and Isaac Manning, who, "a little off' from Bedford road," were in the south squadron.
But the squadron school-houses were still wanting, and, 1791, September 12, a committee on the location of such houses made report. It recommended, that in the centre ward the house be set "in Stephen Parker's corner, at the west end of the meeting house," 22×22, at a cost of £50; the north ward house to be set in William Rogers' corner by John Rogers, 16×16, to cost £20; the east ward house, location left blank, 18×18. to cost £22 : the Shawshin ward house to be set at the corner of' Lieut. John Farmer's and Ebenezer Richardson, Jr.'s, land, 16×16, to cost £20; the southerly ward house to be set in Simon and Joseph Blanchard's land, "half way between the roads, on an allowance for school travel," 14×14, to cost £18; the south ward house to be set at the head of Job Hill's lane, 16×16, to cost £20; the south ward, over Concord River, to be set at the end of Shed's lane, so called, 16×16, to cost £20; the north ward, over Concord River, to be set, not agreed where, cost £20. Wards which chose not to build might draw the interest of the sum allowed to said ward to hire places to keep their school ; but the latter privilege was not to extend beyond two years ; and the committee was to settle disputes as to locations not yet decided on. Most of these sites are nearly the same with those still in use. The house at the centre was also used later as an academy ; then became a store and post office ; was burned in 1873 ; and rebuilt by Mr. Morey for the same use. When the district system of schools displaced the earlier squadrons is not clear ; but for two generations districts had charge of their own schools, locating and supporting as they pleased. But within a few years the town has reassumed the entire charge, seeking more harmonious and efficient management.
The employment of school "dames" is mentioned as early as 1680, and in March, 1718, John Hartwell's wife had leave "to keep a school to Instruct children to Read"; but it is not clear to what extent females were thus employed. and it is only within a few years
HOWE SCHOOL.
257
EDUCATION.
that most of the schools have passed into their hands. Before the Revolution, only English text-books were to be had, which were sometimes reprinted, but always costly and ill-adapted to use in this country. After that, improvement, sure if not rapid, was made, and has contributed much to the usefulness of the schools.
It was a notable day in the history of Billerica, when Mr. Pem- berton, who had been for eight years the first principal of Phillips Academy, at Andover, came from that position to Billerica, and established a school here, which is properly known as the Pemberton Academy. He was one of the notable teachers of his time, and counted such men as James Madison and Aaron Burr among his pupils. His school here was on the west side of Long Street, at the place where the late Dr. Pillsbury lived, and is described as a one- story building, which received additions as more room was needed, until "its length became a marked feature." Here he conducted a school for fourteen years, which was highly successful, numbering at times sixty pupils, many of whom graduated at Harvard College and became eminent. Atfirst a training-school for boys, its scope was enlarged and girls were received ; and Deacon Samuel Whiting assisted in the instruction. It would be interesting if we had a catalogue, and knew more of this early academy.
After an interval of some years, a private school was established by Mr. Bernard Whitman and his sister Bathsheba, their brother being the colleague pastor of the church. It was kept in a hall of the old hotel. But, in 1820, the Billerica Academy was established. and Mr. and Miss Whitman assumed the charge of it. The Trustees of this academy were Josiah Crosby, Esq .. Samnel Whiting. Esq., Joseph Locke, Esq., Rev. Nathaniel Whitman, Francis Faulkner. Esq., Col. J. B. Richardson, Dr. Zadok Howe, Rev. Samuel Stearns, Rev. Jacob Coggin, Edward St. L. Livermore, Rev. Samuel Sewall, George Bruce, Cyrus Baldwin, William Bland, Jr., Esq., Dr. A. R. Thompson. Others afterward chosen were Hon. Timothy Walker, John Baldwin, Esq., Marshall Preston, Esq., Capt. Francis Richard- son, Rev. Bernard Whitman. Rev. Hezekiah Packard. Rev. William Barry, Dr. Thaddeus Brown.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.