USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > History of Newburyport, Mass., 1764-1905, Volume I > Part 23
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In April, 1881, the parochial residence was destroyed by fire, and a new one was built, the following year, to take its place. April 28, 1884, the schoolhouses and the parochial residence were transferred to the Immaculate Conception Ed- ucational Association, incorporated under the laws of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, and on the second day of August following the church and cemetery were incorporated by the name of the Immaculate Conception Society of New- buryport.
In 1886, the house on the corner of Washington and Green streets, built by Hon. Theophilus Parsons in 1789, was pur- chased for the use of the Sisters of Charity who have charge of the children in the parochial schools.
In 1893, Father Teeling was appointed pastor of St. Mary's church in Lynn and Rev. William H. Ryan was placed in charge of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in New- buryport. Under the care of Father Ryan the parish has maintained its high standard of excellence and steadily de- veloped its religious and educational work.
INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
303
ADVENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Two years ago, the interior of the church was painted and decorated by Italian artists and a new marble altar, elaborate- ly carved, was placed in the sanctuary. On the second, third and fourth days of May, 1903, the fiftieth anniversary of the dedication of the church was observed with appropriate relig- ious services. On Sunday, the third day of May, mass was celebrated in the presence of the Most Reverend John J. Wil- liams, archbishop, and the Right Reverend Bishop Brady, auxiliary bishop of the diocese, and a congregation that filled all of the available seats in the church.
Rev. Father Ryan is assisted in his pastoral work, at the present time, by Rev. John J. Flood and Rev. Patrick T. Buckley.
ADVENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
In December, 1848, a church under the pastoral care of Rev. John Pearson, Jr., was organized, and meetings were held, from that date until 1856, in Washington hall on the corner of State and Essex streets.
May 16, 1854, Joseph H. Dockham conveyed all his right, title and interest in a lot of land on Charter street to John Pearson, Henry Lunt and Richard Cutter, a committee of the Second Advent Society of Newburyport.1 On this land a meeting house was erected. It was completed and dedicated Wednesday, April 30, 1856. Subsequently, the title to this property was perfected by a deed dated May 19, 1858, con- veying land purchased of the heirs of Nicholas Brown to Joseph H. Dockam, George W. Hunt and Harris Pearson, " a committee of the Proprietors of the Advent Church," a cor- poration legally organized under the general statutes of the commonwealth of Massachusetts.2
Rev. John Pearson, Jr., was pastor of the church until 1865. He was succeeded by Rev. J. H. Van Derzee in 1866, and by Rev. Cyrus Cunningham in 1869.
1 Essex Deeds, book 494, leaf 236.
2 Essex Deeds, book 534, leaf 201.
304
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
Previous to 1890, the church was called the Second Advent church. It is now known as the Advent Christian church. Rev. David H. Woodward was pastor in 1904. Rev. Willis G. Brown, the present pastor, entered upon the duties of his office Jan. 1, 1905.
WHITEFIELD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
On Friday evening, August 3, 1849, a meeting was held at the residence of William Forbes on Green street to consid- er plans for establishing a new religious society, and securing the services of Rev. John E. Emerson as pastor.' No definite action was taken at that meeting, but six weeks later Market hall was engaged and religious services were held there, Sun- day, September twenty-third, Rev. Mr. Emerson officiating. On the twenty-third day of November, the third congrega- tional society in Newburyport was organized, and subsequent- ly incorporated, under the general laws of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, by the name of the Whitefield Congrega- tional Society. An ecclesiastical council, held January 1, 1850, assisted twenty members of the society in forming the Whitefield Congregational church. On the evening of the same day ser- vices were held in the First Presbyterian meeting house on Fed- eral street, and Rev. Mr. Emerson was ordained pastor of the Whitefield church and society. For nearly twelve months after that date he preached to a large congregation, assembled every Sunday in Market hall. His health, however, was im- paired by an insidious disease, and he found it impossible to continue his work in the ministry. He died March 24, 1851, and was buried in Oak Hill cemetery.
Rev. Samuel J. Spalding was installed pastor of the church and society on the thirtieth day of June following. Two or three months later, land on the corner of State and Prospect streets was purchased and a meeting house, erected during the winter, was dedicated March 2, 1852, with appropriate ser- vices and a sermon by Rev. Lyman Beecher, D. D., from the
1 Newburyport Herald, August 3, 1849.
305
BELLEVILLE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
text : "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near." Isaiah LV., 6.
February 21, 1855, the meeting house, with the land under and adjoining the same, was conveyed by Philip Johnson to the Whitefield Church corporation,' and subsequently trans- ferred by a deed dated May 9, 1877, to the Whitefield Con- gregational Church and the Whitefield Congregational Society, " corporations organized under the laws established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,"2
The following-named persons have been installed pastors of the church :-
Rev. John E. Emerson, January 1, 1850 ; died March 24, 1851.
Rev. Samuel J. Spalding, June 30, 1851 ; resigned and dismissed by council January 6, 1884.
Rev. Samuel A. Harlow, November 13, 1888 ; resigned, and dismissed by council May 17, 1892.
Rev. Frank G. Alger, April 25, 1899 ; resigned, and dismissed by coun- cil June 15, 1905.3
BELLEVILLE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
The events that preceded and led to the organization of the Fourth Parish church in Newbury in 1807, afterwards known the Second Parish church in Newbury, have been described in a recent history of that town and need not be repeated here.4
In 1851, when that part of Newbury, extending from North, now Oakland, street to Artichoke river, was annexed to New- buryport, the meeting house then standing on High street, near the corner of Woodland street was included within the limits of the last-named town ; and May 4, 1853, the corporate
1 Essex Deeds, book 530, leaf 85.
2 Essex Deeds, book 976, leaf 278.
3 Rev. Henry E. Mott was acting pastor of the church from December, 1884,
to January, 1888, and Rev. John H. Reid from July, 1892, to April, 1898.
4 History of Newbury (Currier), pp. 384-387.
30.6
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
name of the Fourth Religious society in Newbury was changed to " Belleville Congregational Society in Newbury- port."'
The first meeting house of this society was erected in 1808. It was struck by lightning April 1, 1816, and completely destroyed. A new one was built during the following summer, and dedicated November 7, 1816. It was a commodious struc-
FOURTH PARISH MEETING HOUSE IN NEWBURY, 1816.
ture, attractive in outward appearance as shown in the above half-tone print.
The meeting house erected in 1816 was destroyed by an incendiary fire January 8, 1867. The third house of worship, standing on the same site, was completed and dedicated Decem- ber 24, 1867. The half-tone print on the next page gives a view of it as it now appears with the vestry adjoining.
1 Acts and Resolves, 1853, ch. 291.
CHURCH OF ST. ALOYSIUS DE GONZAGA
307
The following-named persons have been installed pastors of this church and society : -
Rev. James Miltimore, from 1808 to 1836. Rev. John C. March, from 1836 to 1846.1
Rev. Daniel T. Fiske, from 1847 to 1903.2 Rev. Richard Wright, from 1903.
MEETING HOUSE OF THE BELLEVILLE CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY, 1905.
CHURCH OF ST. ALOYSIUS DE GONZAGA.
March 1, 1902, a few persons of French parentage, residing in Newburyport, organized the church of St. Aloysius de Gon- zaga. Rev. J. L. M. Levesque was appointed pastor by Arch-
1 Rev. Mr. March was associate-pastor from 1832 until the death of Rev. Mr. Miltimore, in 1836.
2 Rev. Willis A. Hadley was associate-pastor, with Rev. Mr. Fiske, from 1887 to 1891, Rev. Albert W. Hitchcock, from 1891 to 1900, and Rev. Richard Wright, from 1901 to 1903. Rev. Mr. Fiske died January 15, 1903.
308
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
bishop Williams, and services were held in Washington hall on the corner of State and Essex streets for nearly three years. In November, 1903, land on Beck street, extending to Federal street, was purchased, and in July, 1904, the corner-stone of the church building was laid with appropriate ceremonies. The first service in the new building was held February 26, 1905, but it was not fully completed and formally dedicated until the thirtieth day of May, when mass was celebrated in the pres- ence of Right Reverend Bishop Brady of Boston, attended by Rev. William H. Ryan, of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Newburyport, Rev. Fr. Belanger, of St. Louis Church, Montreal, and a large number of clergymen from neighboring cities and towns.
1
CHURCH OF ST. ALOYSIUS DE GONZAGA.
CHAPTER VII.
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLMASTERS.
" AN act for erecting part of the town of Newbury into a new town by the name of Newburyport " was approved, Feb- ruary 4, 1764, by Francis Bernard, governor of the province of Massachusetts Bay.
At the first meeting of the inhabitants, held February eighth, a committee, consisting of Mr Nathaniel Carter, Capt. Robert Roberts, Capt. Cutting Moody, Benjamin Greenleaf, Esq., and Mr. Ralph Cross, was chosen to determine how many new schoolhouses should be erected and where they should be located.
The care and maintenance of the schools was temporarily provided for by the selectmen, as follows :-
[February 9, 1764] agreed to continue Mr. [ ] Porter the Grammar School master in the school until ye annual meeting in March next, on the same Terms that he kept before the Division of the town.I
[February 13, 1764] agreed that Mr Eleazar Hudson be continued as master of the writing school until the annual meeting in March next on the same terms that he kept it before the Division of the Town.I
At the town meeting held on the fifteenth day of March, the committee, chosen February eighth, reported as follows :-
They think it needful that at least three large schools should be pro- vided and maintained in sd Town, viz : one Grammar school not far from the Revd Mr Lowel's meeting house, and two reading, writing & arith- metick schools, one of them adjoining to Queen street, Ordua Lane, or Bartlet's Lane, preferring the latter, and the other adjoining or near Cross street or Elbow Lane2.
On the twenty-third day of March, the town authorized the selectmen to hire a schoolhouse "for the latin school some
1 Newburyport (Selectmen's) Records.
2 Newburyport Town Records, vol. I., p. 15.
(309)
310
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
where in the middle of the Town " and purchase a lot of land and erect a building, in the vicinity of Queen street, for the accommodation of the North school.
A vote, passed at the same meeting, to set the lower, or South schoolhouse on King street " near the Engine House hard by Mr. Joseph Swasey's Land " was subsequently recon- sidered, and land was purchased of Stephen Cross and the schoolhouse erected on a two-rod way now known as School street.1 May 13, 1764, John Harbut, blockmaker, sold to the selectmen of Newburyport a lot of land on Bartlet's lane, now Winter street, and the North schoolhouse was built there during the summer and placed in charge of John Vinal at a salary of eighty pounds per annum.2
October 29, 1764, the selectmen met Mr. Vinal and Ste- phen Sewall, master of the South school, at the house of Mr. Benjamin Choate and agreed to notify the inhabitants of the town that the new schoolhouses would be open for the ad- mission of pupils on Monday, November the fifth. "Boys that can read in a Psalter will be received and carefully taught Reading, Writing & Arithmetick." School hours were from eight o'clock in the morning until twelve o'clock, noon, and from one o'clock until four o'clock in the afternoon. "It is expected that each of the children bring to the schoolmaster two pistareens, at their entry, for their year's firing."3
The selectmen were present at the opening of the North school on the fifth day of November. Rev. John Lowell offered prayer and in a brief address urged the pupils to obey and reverence their master. The selectmen then visited the South school, where Rev. Jonathan Parsons offered pray- er and made some remarks upon the duty of studying dili- gently and behaving with propriety during school hours.
March 18, 1766, the selectmen were authorized to furnish firewood for the public schools at the expense of the town ; and three days later they were instructed to visit the schools
1 Newburyport Town Records, vol. I., pp. 19, 20; and Newburyport (Select- men's) Records.
2 " Ould Newbury," p. 613, note.
3 Newburyport (Selectmen's) Records, November I, 1764.
3II
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLMASTERS
quarterly "with a number of Gentlemen of said Town with them."I The teachers at that date were John Vinal, Stephen Sewall and Samuel Parker. In 1767, Moses Holt was appoint- ed teacher of the grammar school in place of Samuel Parker, resigned. Mr. Holt served until 1771, when Jeremiah Fogg was appointed, at a salary of sixty pounds per annum. In 1773, the selectmen agreed with Nicolas Pike to keep the school for eighty pounds per year, to begin August sixteenth, " He being approved on by the minister of the town."2 In 1774, Mr. Pike opened an evening school in the town house on Fish, now State, street, to which pupils were admitted on the payment of a small fee.3 March 22, 1775, the following advertisement was published in the Essex Journal and Merri- mack Packet :-
On the 3rd of April will be opened, at the Town House, as usual, a private school for the benefit of young Ladies, from II to I o'clock and as the time from 5 to 7 o'clock P. M. is more agreeable to some, should a sufficient number appear, attendance will also then be given by their humble servant. NICOLAS PIKE.4
Other advertisements relating to private schools in New- buryport were published early in the year 1775, as follows :-
A school Mistress, whose abilities and good character are well attested is engaged to take care of a school in this Town for the Education of Misses. She will teach English and French, and all sorts of Needle Work. As particular attention to every scholar is intended, the School will not
1 Newburyport Town Records, vol. I., p. 74.
2 Newburyport (Selectmen's) Records.
3 Essex Journal and Merrimack Packet, September 28, 1774.
Nicolas Pike published an arithmetic, in 1786, which was highly commended by Washington, in a letter to the author, which closes as follows :-
" I hope and trust that the work will ultimately prove not less profitable than reputable to yourself. It seems to have been conceded on all hands that such a system was much wanted. Its merits being established by the approbation of competent judges, I flatter myself that the idea of its being an American pro- duction and the first of the kind which has appeared, will induce every patriotic and liberal character to give it all the countenance and patronage in his power. In all events you may rest assured that as no person takes more interest in the en- couragement of American genius, so no one will be more highly gratified with the success of your ingenious, arduous and useful undertaking than he who has the pleasure to subscribe himself, with esteem and regard,
Sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,
G. WASHINGTON."
4 Nicolas Pike died in Newburyport December 9, 1819, aged seventy-six.
312
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
be large,-near half the number are already engaged. Those who incline to send their Daughters, are desired to apply to John Lowell or Tristram Dalton.I
JOSEPH EMERSON
Takes this opportunity to advise the public that on Monday the 29th Instant he intends to open the school formerly improved by Mr. Samuel Emerson for the instruction of Children in Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, or Grammar. All persons who desire to commit the instruction of their children to his care in all, or any, of the above mentioned branches of Literature may depend upon his constant attendance for that purpose and the greatest fidelity in the discharge of the important trust reposed in him.2
March 9, 1780, a committee, consisting of Mark Fitz, Ralph Cross, Tristram Dalton, Edmund Bartlet, Jonathan Jackson, Capt. William Coombs and Dr. Micajah Sawyer, was chosen by the inhabitants of Newburyport to examine the public schools and adjust the salaries of the teachers. This commit- tee reported the following rules and regulations, which were accepted and adopted at a town meeting held April third :-
Ist That by reason of Mr. Sewall's advanced age and infirmities it is recommended that an Usher should be appointed to the South school and that Mr. Sewall relinquish half his salary for that purpose.
2nd That two whole weeks in the year be allowed to the schools as vacation and that no publick days shall be allowed as vacant time more than to the amount of a third week.
3d That the Schools shall be steadily kept, in their proper hours, not exchanging one time for another.
4th That the town choose a Committee to visit the Schools as often as once a quarter, and report whenever the Town requires it.
5th That the standard by which the schoolmasters' salaries shall be regulated shall be at the same advance from the sums they originally agreed at, as day laborers', joiners' and ship carpenters' wages, when averaged, shall exceed what they were in the year 1774.3
Voted that Mr Mark Fitz, Mr Edmund Bartlet, Capt William Coombs, Doctr Micajah Sawyer, Tristram Dalton, Esq., Stephen Hooper, Esq., and Mr Nathaniel Tracy be a committee to put the foregoing report into effect and to look out for and agree with an Usher for the South wrighting school.
I Essex Journal and Merrimack Packet, February 8, 1775 (Boston Athenæum).
2 Essex Journal and Merrimack Packet, May 26, 1775 (Boston Athenæum).
3 Newburyport Town Records, vol. I., pp. 325, 326.
313
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLMASTERS
September 17, 1781, a committee, previously appointed, recommended that Mr. Norton have sole charge of that school, " he to have full salary with the other masters ;" that Mr. Sewall be placed in charge of the North school until a writing mas- ter can be obtained and qualified for that service ; and that an agreement be made with master Sewall to keep a school in his own house for small children " unable to read words of two syllables without spelling." The report of the committee closed with the following recommendations .:-
That the several masters and their scholars be allowed Saturday after- noons for their amusement and Diversion & that the Masters be further exempted from their services twenty-four days in each year, including the times of election, commencement, September Court week &c and no more. That no persons be admitted in any of the Town Schools from whom the masters shall receive any pay or allowance exclusive of their salaries.I
The selectmen, assisted by some of the prominent citizens of the town, were expected to visit the public schools and ex- amine the pupils at least once a year. In 1784, the following- named persons attended to that duty :--- 2
E. Wigglesworth Hon. Benjamin Greenleaf
David Coats Theophilus Parsons, Esq.
Dr. Micajah Sawyer Rufus King, Esq.
William Coombs Stephen Hooper Esq. John Tracy, Esq.
Michael Hodge Theophilus Bradbury, Esq. Mr Daniel Kilham
William Bartlet
Dr. John B. Swett Maj. Enoch Titcomb
Mr Samuel Tufts
For two or three years in succession the same persons were annually re-elected. At a later date, Rev. John Murray, Rev. Thomas Cary, Rev. Samuel Spring and Rev. Edward Bass were members of the committee.
In 1786, the opening of a new evening school for men and boys led to the publication of the following notice :- 3
' Newburyport Town Records, vol. I., pp. 362, 363.
2 Newburyport Town Records, vol. I., p. 418.
3 In 1786, Nicolas Pike was teacher of the grammar school, and Bishop Norton of the South writing school. John Mycall was employed to teach the North writing school until April 10, 1786, and John Hills, from that date until January 10, 1787.
314
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
Wednesday, December 6, 1786.
Whereas we the Subscribers have, for a number of years, endeavoured diligently and faithfully to serve this town in the instruction of their youth, as well with a view to their interest, as to gain a subsistence for themselves. And in as much as, for several years past, so many Even- ing Schools have been kept, that the Scholars, when divided, have not been sufficient to compensate us for our trouble. We, the two first sub- scribers, thank the public for their past favors, and take this opportunity to inform them that we are obliged to discontinue our Evening Schools, for the present season, for the reasons already given and in consequence of a stranger who has, in violation of agreement, ungenerously, and with a view to engross all the scholars to himself, opened a school for nine shillings per Quarter. We, the two last subscribers, have opened our schools, at six shillings per Quarter, and are determined to make further sacrifices, if necessary.
NICOLAS PIKE BISHOP NORTON ROBERT LONG JOHN RAYNES.I
In the month of January, 1787, Robert Long was appointed master of the North school to take the place of John Hills, who had resigned on account of ill health. In the month of September following, Thomas Thompson, Jr., was engaged by the selectmen to take the place made vacant by the resigna- tion of Robert Long.2
[March 24, 1789] Voted that the Selectmen together with Capt : Wm Coombs, Mr William Bartlet and Mr Samuel Greenleaf be a committee to treat with Mr John Herbert respecting the sale of the North school house & the lot it stands upon to him & to enquire if some other lot may be purchased for the purpose of building another school house upon.3
The vote to sell the North schoolhouse was subsequently reconsidered, and March 9, 1790, the selectmen were author- ized " to build a new school house, for the North school to be kept in, . . . somewhere near the Hay scale on the Town land." The building was probably erected during the following summer.4 Scholars residing above State street attended the
1 Essex Journal and Merrimack Packet (American Antiquarian Society, Wor- cester, Mass.).
2 Newburyport (Selectmen's) Records.
3 Newburyport Town Records, vol. I., p. 535.
4 " Ould Newbury," p. 614.
315
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLMASTERS
North school, and those residing below State street attended the South school.
On the eighteenth day of March, 1790, a petition, signed by Timothy Palmer and others, " respecting a free school for the Education of Female Children," was referred to a com- mittee, consisting of Jonathan Jackson, Stephen Hooper, Jon- athan Greenleaf, Capt. Jacob Boardman, Capt. William Coombs, and the ministers of the several religious societies in the town. This committee reported, March 22, 1791, in favor of estab- lishing three or four schools for young girls, with female teach- ers, to begin on the first day of April and continue until the first day of October. Pupils between five and nine years of age were to be admitted and taught to read any chapter in the Bible and, if required, "plain or common needle work and knitting."" The recommendations were adopted, and the schools established. Two or three years later, there were six public schools in the town for young girls and several private schools for girls of more mature age, at which embroidery on silk or satin and needlework of every sort were taught .?
September 9, 1791, the selectmen and school committee were authorized and instructed to divide the town into school districts and establish the bounds and limits of each district. May 10, 1792, rules were adopted for the more convenient classification of the public schools, as follows :-
I. Voted that none be admitted into any of the masters' schools until they can without hesitation read words of two syllables without spelling, and are capable of keeping their places when classed.
2. Voted that Arithmetic be not taught in the schools at the two ex- tremes of the town but in the Centre Grammar School only.
3. Voted that the Grammar School Master teach no writing.
4. Voted that in all the Schools English Grammar be taught and reading with propriety, according to the rules laid down in the art of Speaking, to such scholars as can read in the Bible.
5. Voted that in addition to the Bible and other books already used in the schools, the Lady's Accidence, for the purpose of teaching English
1 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., pp. 2, 9 and 30.
2 Mrs. Woodberry announced in the Impartial Herald, March 5, 1794, that she would open a boarding school for young ladies at her house on Market street, where instruction would be given in the French and English languages, draw- ing, embroidery, etc.
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