USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 115
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 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203 | Part 204 | Part 205 | Part 206 | Part 207 | Part 208 | Part 209 | Part 210 | Part 211 | Part 212
For the first thirteen years of their municipal his- tory the town was not represented in the Provincial Court. They adhered to their vote taken Dec. 3, 1713, "To send none, accounting ourselves not obliged to send any," until 1726, when they chose as their first representative to the General Court Jon- athan Adams.
The names of representatives to the Colonial State Legislature from Medway, in the order of their elec- tion, are as follows :
Jonathan Adams.
Luther Metcalf.
Edward Clark.
Asa Cole.
Samuel Metcalf.
Willard Daniels.
Jeremiah Adams. Joel Hunt.
Jonathan Adams.
Horace Richardson.
Elisha Adams.
Horatio Mason.
Moses Adams.
Clark Partridge.
Elijah Clark.
Alpheus C. Grant.
Joseph Lovell.
Albert Irving.
Moses Richardson.
Tisdale S. White.
Eliakim Adams.
William B. Boyd.
Abner Morse.
William H. Temple.
John Ellis.
William H. Cary.
Jeremiah Daniels.
William Daniels.
William Felt.
Anson Daniels.
Nathaniel Lovell.
Leander S. Daniels.
George Barber, Jr.
George P. Metcalf.
Seneca Barber.
James H. Ellis.
Warren Lovering.
Rev. Alexis W. Ide.
Joseph L. Richardson.
Edward Eaton.
Paul Daniell.
David A. Partridge.
George W. Holbrook.
Elijah B. Daniels.
Nathan Jones.
Eleazer Daniels.
Joseph W. Thompson. Edward I. Clark.
In all forty-eight persons, many of whom were re- elected, and several serving a number of years. War- ren Lovering, Esq., served seven, Jonathan Adams eleven, and Moses Richardson thirteen years. Still others from two to five years.
The names of the town clerks of Medway, from 1713 to 1883, in order of election, are as follows :
John Rockett. Samuel Harding.
Edward Clark. Jeremiah Adams.
Jeremiah Daniell. Samuel Ellis.
Ebenezer Daniell. Elisha Adams.
John Barber. Elijah Clark.
35
546
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Elisha Ellis.
Daniel Wiley.
Timothy Clark.
Anson Daniels.
Henry Ellis.
Luther Bailey.
Simon Fisher.
Daniel C. Fisher.
Theodore Clark.
A. N. B. Fuller.
Joseph Lovell.
George P. Metcalf.
Joseph L. Richardson.
Orion A. Mason.
Luther Metcalf, Jr.
The present town clerk, O. A. Mason, has served twelve; S. N. B. Fuller, served fourteen ; Edward Clark, eighteen; Joseph L. Richardson, nineteen ; Joseph Lovell, twenty; and Elijah Clark, twenty- four years. Still others served from two to ten years. The number of different persons who have filled this office in the one hundred and seventy years is twenty- five.
The names of persons who have served as select- men of the town of Medway, from 1713 to 1883, in the order of their election, are as follows :
John Rockett.
Nathaniel Clark.
Samuel Partridge.
Jonathan Adams.
Jonathan Adams.
Ephraim Partridge.
Jonathan Adams, Jr.
Samuel Fisher.
Edward Clark.
Elisha Adams.
Elijah Partridge.
James P. Clark.
Theophilus Clark.
Malachi Bullard.
Sylvanus Adams.
Simeon Fisher. William Adams.
Ebenezer Thompson.
Henry Daniels.
Jasper Adams.
Alvin Wight.
Nathaniel Wight.
Job Plympton.
Moses Richardson.
A. L. Shaw.
Malachi Bullard.
George Barber.
John Richardson.
Uriah Morse.
Seneca Barber.
William Daniels.
Abraham Harding.
Eleazer Adams.
Calvin Cutler.
George W. Ray.
John Bullard.
Moses Richardson.
Asa Daniels.
James H. Ellis.
John Clark.
Elijah Clark.
Nathaniel Cutler.
Wales Kimball.
Jasper Adams.
Samuel Hayward.
Lewis Wheeler.
William H. Temple.
Henry Guernsey.
Asa Richardson.
Simon H. Mason.
A. N. B. Fuller.
John Partridge.
Joshua Partridge.
Moses Rockwood.
A. S. Harding.
Timothy Clark.
Michael Metcalf.
Amos Turner.
Simeon Partridge.
Joseph Bullard. Willard P. Clark.
Daniel Adams.
Elisha Ellis.
Paul Daniell.
David A. Partridge.
Nathaniel Whiting.
Thomas Adams.
Jeremiah Adams.
Thomas Metcalf.
Moses Felt.
Charles F. Daniels.
Lemuel Clark.
James M. Daniels.
Samuel Metcalf.
Ichabod Hawes.
Peter Balch.
Nathan Whiting.
Thomas Harding.
Henry Bullard.
Eleazer Adams.
James Penniman.
Joseph Adams.
Timothy Clark.
Samuel Daniell.
Asa Daniels.
John Adams.
Josiah Fuller.
Samuel Harding.
Daniel Bullen.
Joseph Barber.
Moses Adams.
Daniel Richardson.
Elisha Cutler.
Benjamin Rockwood.
Joseph Partridge.
John Barber.
Joseph Lovell.
Jonathan Partridge.
Asa Clark.
George Deming.
Nathaniel Partridge.
John Harding.
Henry Ellis.
Hugh Brown.
Simon Fisher.
Samuel Ellis.
Simon Cutler.
Nathaniel Cutler.
Joseph Curtis.
Michael Bullen.
John Harding.
HIenry Morse.
Moses Thompson.
James Morse.
Oliver Adams.
Isaac Bullard.
Moses Richardson.
Cephas Thayer.
Asa P. Richardson.
Eleazer Daniels.
Simeon Clark. Daniel Pond.
James Lovering. William Adams.
Nathaniel Lovell.
Eliakim Adams.
Abner Morse. Joseph Adams.
Thomas Adams.
Orion Mason.
Simeon Richardson.
George Harding.
Abijah Richardson, M.D.
Joel Partridge.
Oliver Adams.
Abner Mason.
Elisha Cutler.
Jabez Shumway.
Horatio Mason.
Theodore Clark.
Milton M. Fisher.
Nathan Jones.
Albert Twing.
Micah Adams.
James Mann.
John Ellis.
Nathan C. Pond.
Amos Turner.
Artemas Brown, M.D.
Luther Metcalf.
Clark Partridge.
Jonathan Adams.
Joseph C. Lovering.
Abner Ellis. Elias Metcalf.
Jeremiah Daniell.
Arnold Smith.
Thaddeus Lovering.
Edward Eaton.
William Felt.
Joel P. Adams.
Jeremiah Daniell.
Jeremiah Daniels.
Aaron Adams.
Joseph L. Richardson. Henry S. Partridge.
Joel Hunt.
Moses C. Adams.
Thomas Harding.
William Everett.
Elisha A. Jones.
Edward Fennessy.
Amos Bullard.
Christopher Slocum.
George B. Thrasher. Elihu S. Fuller.
The whole number who have served in the office of selectman is one hundred and eighty-eight persons. Some have served by re-election from two to twenty years.
There appears in the record of town expenses for 1734-35, the following :
" Paid Mr. Salter, of Borston, for half barrel of pow- der, £10; for one hundred weight of bulits & one hund. flints, £5 15s. To Edward Clark, for bringing ammunition, £5. To Timothy Clark, for bringing | powder and bulits, 3s. 6d." Making a total of £16 3s. 6d. Whereas all other expenditures of the town for
Ebenezer Daniell.
Nathan Daniels.
Daniel Ide.
Ralph Bullard.
Jotham Clark. Sylvanus Adams. Luther Metcalf, Jr.
Daniel Wiley. Asa Cole.
Newell Lovering. Nathan Jones. William H. Cary.
547
MEDWAY.
that year, exclusive of the minister's salary, but in- cluding £2 which was paid for schools and £7 for the building of a pound, were £12 2s. 13d.
In 1730 bears were troublesome in the vicinity of Winthrop Pond. In 1737, Seth Harding was paid one pound for " killing a wild catt." In 1742, nine- teen pounds, eleven shillings, and six pence were or- dered by the town to be paid for killing eight hun- dred and seventeen squirrels and six hundred and eighty-four blackbirds. The last deer killed in the region was in 1747, and the last panther made his appearance in 1790.
" The incorporation of the West Precinct by the General Court, Dec. 29, 1748," prepared the way for the organization of the Second Church of Christ in Medway. The first town-meeting held in the West Precinct was in March, 1753.
In March, 1770, the town voted that the inhabit- ants " will forbear the purchasing of tea and wholly restrain themselves from the use of it, upon which there is a duty laid by the Parliament of Great Brit- ain, and also that they will forbear the purchasing of any goods knowingly, directly or indirectly of any im- porter . . . until the revenue acts shall be repealed." And a committee was chosen, who recommended to the town " to frown upon all who may endeavor to frustrate the good designs of the above vote, and to deem all who may at any time counteract it no better than enemies to our constitution and banes to the Commonwealth." This recommendation was ""unanimously" adopted.
In December of 1773 the selectmen were instructed to withhold their approbation from " inn-holders and re- tailers of strong liquors in this town from all such per- sons that shall buy, use, and consume any tea in their homes while subject to duties." In 1774 there were added to the town stock of ammunition " 100 pounds of powder, 200 pounds of bullets, and 200 flints." In September of 1774 the town voted to purchase "two iron field-pieces, for better security and defence." Medway was thoroughly patriotic, as seen in various votes adopted at this period.
In the warrant for March meeting in 1776 " His Majesty's name" was omitted for the first time.
The town warrant calling a meeting May, 1776, was issued " in the name of the government of the | People of Massachusetts."
Elijah Clark was representative to the General Court of 1776, and instructed as follows: "If the Honorable Continental Congress shall for the safety of the colo- nies declare them independent of Great Britain, then we will support them in the measure with our lives and fortunes."
In 1780 the expenditures of the town were £92,909 10s. 3d. in the currency of that period, and in 1781 the town voted to pay those " who marched and served in the late alarm in Rhode Island" the sum of twenty- five pounds per day for service.
The tax-list of 1783 fills fourteen manuscript pages on paper eight inches square, contains two hundred and sixteen residents and ninety-eight non-residents ; poll-tax, 2s. 6d. The largest real estate tax-payers were Asa P. Richardson, £1 2s. 9d .; Capt. Joseph Lovell, £1 3s. 8d .; and Nathaniel Lovell, £1 8d.
The warrant for 1794 defines the qualifications for voting for State officers to be, a residence within the State one year, age twenty-one years, and an estate of sixty pounds, or an estate yielding an annual in- come of three pounds ; and for town officers the pay- ment of a tax, besides a poll-tax, equal to two-thirds of the poll-tax.
In 1795 Federal money came into use, and the town expenditures recorded in dollars, cents, and mills for the first time. This year the town ordered guide-posts to be set up. The Hartford Turnpike was built and opened for public travel in 1807, but became a public way June 4, 1838, after a corporate existence of thirty years. In 1805, Ezekiel Plymp- ton petitioned the town to grant liberty to owners of land to set out and cultivate various kinds of trees along the highways against their premises, which petition the town voted to dismiss. Mr. Plympton was a hundred years ahead of his generation.
In 1814 the town voted not to send a representa- tive to the Legislature " by reason of the town being at great expense for building Meeting-houses, and also an additional number of poor thrown upon the town."
In 1815 two additional tithingmen were chosen, making the number four for that year, and the follow- ing vote was passed :
" Whereas, The profanation of the Lord's Day-by many inconsiderate persons has become notorious, and is incompatible with a due regard to the Christian Sabbath, . . . it being the ardent wish of this town that the tithingmen should use their vigilant exertions in order to put a stop to all unnecessary traveling on the Sabbath, and in all things cause the laws for the due observance of the Lord's Day to be duly executed according to the tenor and intent of their solemn oath."
Tithingmen ceased to be chosen in 1845, Samuel Force and Anson F. White being the last incumbents of that office. In 1818 voted to hold town-meetings two out of every three years in East Parish, and one 1 year in West Parish. In 1823 voted to alternate
548
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
town-meetings between East and West Parishes. In S. W. Segur, 1873-75 ; Rev. James M. Bell, 1876, 1843 voted to hold town-meetings every third year | the present pastor. in the Village, which plan is still followed. In 1831 the day of State election was changed to November. In 1867 the town gave names to its public streets.
The First Baptist Church was' constituted Nov. 15, 1832, in West Parish or New Grant. The pastors have been Rev. William Bowen, 1833-35 ; Rev. Aaron Haynes, 1836-40 ; Rev. David Curtis, 1843- 45; Rev. Abner Mason, 1845-47 ; Rev. E. C. Mes- senger, 1849-66; Rev. Samuel Brooks, 1866-69; Rev. S. J. Axtell, 1870-78; Rev. John E. Burr, 1878-83; Rev. Benjamin R. Dow, 1884, the present pastor.
The Third Congregational Church was organized Dec. 7, 1836. The pastor was Rev. Luther Bailey, who, after several years of ministration, retired, and the organization became at length entirely extinct.
The Evangelical Congregational Church, of Medway Village, was organized Sept. 7, 1838. The pastors have been Rev. David Sanford, 1838-71; Rev. R. K. Harlow, 1872, the present pastor.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church was or- ganized July 19, 1857, in West Parish, or New Grant. The pastors have been Rev. William Jackson, 1857- 58; Rev. M. Tilton, 1859; Rev. Joseph Higgins, 1860-61; Rev. George Whitaker, 1861-63; Rev. T. C. Potter, 1863-65; Rev. C. W. Wilder, 1866 ; Rev. M. Thayer, 1866 ; Rev. W. A. Nottage, 1867- 68; Rev. W. P. Ray, 1868-71 ; Rev. William Mer- rill, 1871-73; Rev. J. R. Cushing, 1873-74; Rev. L. Crowell, 1874-77 ; Rev. D. N. Richardson, 1877- 79; Rev. J. C. Smith, 1879-82; Rev. W. M. Hub- bard, 1882, the present pastor.
St. Clair's Roman Catholic Church was organized in 1864 at Medway Village. Rev. J. P. Quinlan, pastor.
The Saint Clement's Church was established June, 1865, in the East Parish. The rectors have been Rev. Benjamin F. Cooley, 1865-69 ; Rev. Charles Kelly, 1870-71. Their church building was burned Feb. 5, 1871, and was not rebuilt. A new Medway Village, called Christ's Church. It was by Rev. John S. Beers, Missionary-at-large in the Diocese of Massachusetts. Jan. 8, 1882, Rev. Sam- uel Edwards became officiating missionary under the Diocesan Board of Missions, which position he still filled in 1884.
Rockville Chapel was erected in 1876. For many years the First Church of Medway had main- tained a Sabbath-school in the village of Rockville, and in 1876 a convenient chapel was erected at the expense of sixteen hundred dollars. In this chapel
The Second Church of Christ was organized in the West Precinct or New Grant Oct. 4, 1750. The pastors have been Rev. David Thurston, 1752-69; Rev. David Sanford, 1773-1810; Rev. Jacob Ide, D.D., 1814-65; Rev. Stephen Knowlton, 1865-72; Rev. | a Sunday-school meets weekly, and public worship is
Ecclesiastical .- The early inhabitants of the ter- ritory within the present town of Medway were fur- nished religious as well as municipal privileges in Medfield of which they were a part. For a period of fifty years their ecclesiastical connections were with the old First Church of Christ in Medfield, of which Rev. John Wilson, Jr., was pastor from 1651 to 1691. As the population increased on the west side of the river Charles, in consideration of the long distance to public worship, there was awakened a strong and general desire to have a meeting-house, and Christian privileges among themselves. This found frequent expression, and the refusal of the town of Medfield to subject themselves to the expense of building a second meeting-house, and of the support of the Gospel on the west side of the Charles River led the inhabitants of that part of the town to determine on and ask the General Court for the establishment of a new town. It was, as they expressed it, "that they and their posterity might more conveniently enjoy Gospel privileges" that the new town of Medway was incorporated, Oct. 25, 1713. For a period of the first forty years much of the business transacted in town- meetings had to do with the matters of the church and the ministry.
The First Church of Christ in Medway was organ- ized Oct. 7, 1714, by the establishment of public worship on the west side of the river Charles. This first service was held " at the house of peter Adams." The first meeting-house was erected on Bare Hill, and probably dedicated Nov. 20, 1715, the day that Rev. David Deming was ordained the first pastor.
The First Church of Christ .- For the larger part of the period of one hundred and seventy years this has It now occupies its fourth meeting-house, and has its ninth pastor. Deming, 1715-22 ; Nathan Bucknam, 1724-95 ; Rev. Benjamin Green (colleague), 1788-93; Rev. Luther Wright, 1798-1815 ; Rev. Luther Bailey, 1816-35 ; Rev. Sewall Harding, 1837-51 ; Rev. John O. Means, D.D., 1851-55 ; Rev. Jacob Roberts, 1856-71 ; Rev. E. O. Jameson, 1871, the present pastor.
been the only church in the East Parish of the town. | church edifice of stone was erected in 1874-80 in
Its pastors have been Rev. David | opened for divine service on Christmas evening, 1881,
549
MEDWAY.
held regularly by the pastor of the First Church once a month, and occasionally by other clergymen.
The town of Medway is abundantly provided with churches and religious institutions, which are well supported and prosperous.
Educational .- In 1678 George Fairbanks, Jr., gave one shilling and one bushel of Indian corn and Joseph Daniell gave two shillings sixpence and two bushels of corn as a contribution towards the " new college in Cambridge." This was the first expression of interest in " higher education" made in the town of Medway.
The first appropriation of money on record for edu- cating the children within the territory of the present town of Medway was that made when the town of Medfield voted Oct. 28, 1697, " fifty shillings for schooling children on the west side of Charles River."
The first school-teacher contracted with appears in | the following entry upon the record of Medfield, May 4, 1699 : " The selectmen agreed with Sergt. Joseph Daniell to take care for the schooling children on the west side of Charles River."
The first school-room was ordered Sept. 13, 1704, when the town of Medfield voted, " The inhabitants of the west side to provide a convenient room for a school this year for such time as shall be needfull."
The first payments made to teachers as recorded were: Feb. 21, 1700, "payd unto peter adams for his wive's Keeping school on that side of the River, it being the full of his Du, 2-9-11." Mrs. Adams was at this time the mother of seven children. March 19, 1700, " payd to Sergt. Joseph Daniel for Keep- ing a school the year 99 he Dischargin the Town 3 want. 6d." March 29, 1710, " Paid to John Part- ridge, Sen., for Keeping School on the west side of Charles River one month 1-12-0."
Upon the records of Medway under date of May 13, 1717, it is found that the town " granted four pounds of money to be raised as and put into the minister's rate for to build a pound and keep a scool." The next year two pounds were voted, thirty shillings for a writing school, and ten shillings for a school at " ye bent of ye river." Ruth Harding received nine shillings and eight pence, and widow Partridge six shillings and four pence for teaching. In 1726 the town appropriated ten pounds to be divided for the support of the schools in different parts of the town.
In March, 1737, the town of Medway voted to build three school-houses, one in East Parish, one at the Bent, and one in the New Grant.
In 1745 the town granted forty-five pounds to be distributed in different sums to support six schools.
The wages of teachers at this period may be inferred from the record that Samuel Harding was paid three pounds for keeping school seven weeks. In 1760 five schools were maintained, viz., East Parish, Bent, Neck, New Grant, North New Grant : and in 1769 a school on the county line, No. 6, was added.
Until 1805 the selectmen had the supervision of the schools, but that year the limits of the different dis- tricts were fixed, and the first school committee chosen, who were Abijah Richardson, M.D., John Ellis, Ezekiel Plympton, Philo Sanford, and Calvin Cutler.
The names of persons who have served on the school committee in order of their election, from 1805 to 1884, are as follows :
Abijah Richardson, M.D.
James Lovering.
John Ellis.
Jasper Daniels.
Ezekiel Plympton.
Nathan Grant.
Philo Sanford.
Joel Partridge.
Calvin Cutler.
Silas Richardson.
Nathan Jones.
Moses Harding.
Amos Turner.
John Bullard.
Aaron Adams.
Amos Bullard.
Rev. David Sanford.
Ralph Mann.
William Green.
Aaron W. Wright.
Eliakim Adams.
Lowell Bullen.
Joseph Lovell.
Warren Lovering, Esq.
Lemuel Daniels.
Royal Southwick.
Abner Morse.
A. L. B. Monroe, M.D.
Theodore Clark.
Abijah R. Wheeler.
Timothy Whiting.
Charles S. Cheever.
Jeremiah Daniels.
Artemas Brown, M.D.
Seneca Barber.
Timothy Walker.
Asa Daniels.
Rev. A. Haynes.
Lyman Tiffany.
A. G. Cheever.
Thaddeus Lovering.
Wales Kimball.
Sylvanus Adams.
Rev. Sewall Harding.
Luther Metcalf.
Daniel Wiley.
Aaron Rockwood.
Rev. David Sanford.
Joseph L. Richardson.
Anson Daniels.
Elihu Partridge.
Milton M. Fisher.
John Harding.
Rev. John O. Means.
Rev. Jacob Ide.
Rev. C. C. Messenger.
Ralph Bullard.
George L. Cary.
Timothy Hammond. Andrew Washburn.
Reuben Hill.
Rev. Alexis W. Ide.
Joel Hunt.
Asa Hixon.
Rev. Luther Bailey.
Willard P. Clark.
Sabin Daniels.
Rev. Jacob Roberts.
Aaron Adams.
Charles H. Deans, Esq.
Dr. Oliver Dean.
Rev. Samuel Brooks.
Christopher Slocum.
H. D. Brown, M.D.
Moses Felt.
John S. Walker.
Eleazer Daniels.
O. A. Mason.
Elisha A. Jones.
Elias T. Fisher.
Calvin Cutler.
Lyman Adams, Jr.
William Felt.
William A. Jenkes.
Isaac Kibbe.
Elbridge Smith.
Sewall Sanford.
Rev. Seth J. Axtell.
Ezra Richardson.
Marcellus A. Woodward.
Luther Metcalf, Jr.
Henry W. Daniels.
Lemuel Clark.
Rev. E. O. Jameson.
Rev. Luther Wright.
Amos Cutler.
550
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Aaron Brigham.
Elijah B. Daniels.
J. Warren Clark.
Charles A. Bemis, M.D.
Waldo B. Hixon.
George B. Towle, A.M.
Charles F. Daniels.
Dr. John S. Falsom.
-
Charles A. Bigelow.
George E. Pond.
-
Edmund A. Clark.
Charles C. Lawrence.
E. A. Daniels, M.D.
George W. Follansbee.
Rev. E. N. Hidden.
Charles S. Philbrick.
Frederic Swarman.
Henry S. Partridge.
George E. Sanderson.
The whole number being one hundred and six- teen persons. Among these who have served a long series of years were Rev. David Sanford, twenty-two years ; Rev. Luther Bailey, twenty-four years ; Deacon Anson Daniels, twenty-eight years (and still in office) ; Rev. Jacob Ide, D.D., thirty years.
The earliest record of a district-school meeting is that of No. 1 District, Feb. 11, 1801. The appropri- ation of money by the town for schools that year was four hundred dollars. At this district-school meeting it was voted " to have one month's man school" and " to have four months' woman school."
The text-books used in school at the beginning of the century were Pike's Arithmetic, Morse's Geogra- phy (with maps), and the American Preceptor. Pen- manship received much attention, and the art of making and mending a quill pen was a great accom- plishment and a necessary qualification for teaching. In 1816 the village District, No. 7, was formed and a school-house built. In 1873 school-house No. 9 was erected.
In 1830 the first High School was set up in Med- way. It was taught at the village first by Abijah R. Baker, from Franklin, Mass., a graduate of that year from Amherst College.
This school was successful and popular for several terms, but was superseded by select and private schools taught at intervals and in different parts of the town. Among the teachers were George P. Smith, after- wards a clergyman in Worcester, and Samuel J. Spaulding, afterwards Rev. Dr. Spaulding, of New- buryport, Mass. In 1831-32, Mr. Daniel Forbes, of Dedham, taught a similar school in the West Parish, and Mr. Daniel J. Poor in 1838. The higher academic studies were pursued in these schools.
In 1851 the town conformed to the law of the State and established a high school, which has been maintained ever since at the expense of the town. In 1869 the district system was abolished and the high school, from 1851 to 1855, was rotary : one term yearly at each of the three villages; then from 1855 to 1879 it was distributed into three high and grammar schools, one in each village, but
in 1879 the Medway High School became per- manently located in Medway Village, pupils being transported at the expense of the town. This school for two years has been under the charge of George H. Rockwood, A.M., as principal, with a lady assistant, Miss Sarah E. Haskell. There is a large attendance, and the school takes high rank for the facilities it affords for pursuing Higher English and Classical studies. In 1883 a class of thirteen graduated, some of whom entered the best New England colleges without condition.
St. Clement's school was established, in 1868, in connection with the St. Clement's Church in the East Parish. This school was for the education of boys. It had a history of a few terms of marked prosperity, but in 1870, the buildings being burned, it was dis- continued.
The town of Medway has advanced in its appropri- ations for schools from four pounds, " for building a pound and teaching a scool," or two pounds for schooling the children in 1717, to some nine thousand dollars for schools and school incidentals in 1883. Instead of one school and one teacher, there are eighteen schools, with twenty teachers, including a High School not surpassed in this region, and graded schools of a high order. The town provides liberally : books, supplies, and everything to equip and run her public schools with success. In 1883 the town adopted the plan of providing school-books free of expense to all the pupils except those in the High School. The school board consists of nine members, the superintendence, employment of teachers, and gen- eral management of the schools being in charge of a sub-committee.
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.