USA > Massachusetts > History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I > Part 98
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" To see whether the town would consent to setting off the new town, so-called, by the bounds following, viz. : beginning on the south side of Manhan River a little above Bartlett's house, and so bommuled easterly upon the county road till it extends southwardly unto the dividing-line between Northampton and West- field, and then bounded westwardly upon land belonging to the province, and bounded northwardly upon the Long or West Division, so-called," and the record of the meeting held states the action thereon as follows: " All which land, and the inhabitants as before described, the town voted should be set off a distinct and separate precinct, that so by the consent of the General Court they might be under a capacity to carry on the worship of God among themselves."
The authority of the General Court was not, however, sought until nearly two years later.
The petition under date of July 8, 1741, states " that your petitioners dwell on a certain tract or parcel of land in the township of Northampton, in the county of Hampshire, intended for a precinct, the centre of which is abont eight miles from Northampton meeting-house ;" that " the town have given their con- sent ;" that " tlfe proprietors are willing that a tax of sixpence per acre should be laid on the whole of their tract (being about 1400 acres) to enable us to defray some necessary public charges that may arise among us."
The petitioners close with this clause :
" We therefore most hunibly move that your Excellency and honours would be pleased to set us off to be a Precinct with the usual privileges, and order the aforesaid tax to, he levied, that we may be enabled to build a meeting-house, settle a minister, and have the worship of God among ourselves; and your petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray."
It will be noticed how clearly the great object was " to settle . a minister and have the worship of God" established among them. All questions of civil polity, all business interests, were subordinate to this. The necessary act was passed July 17, 1711, by the House of Representatives, and was attested by .J. Hobson, speaker. It was, concurred in by the Senate, July 18th, and signed by I. Willard, secretary. It received the executive approval July 23d. This latter date is regarded as the birthday of the town of Southampton, and its hundredth anniversary, July 23, 1841, was celebrated with great enthu- siasm. An address was delivered by Prof. B. B. Edwards, of Andover Seminary, a native of the town. The committee of arrangements consisted of Rev. Morris E. White, Elisha Ed- wards, Asahel Birge, Asahel Chapman, and Stephen Strong.
The 44th Psahn was sung to the tune of MFear. Mrs. L. HI. Sigourney contributed a poem, and Daniel W. Chapman, of Rochester, N. Y., also sent an ode.
At the ample entertainment which followed, every article of food is said to have been the product of the town itself.
Thirty-eight years of a second century have passed away, and some of the children now living in Southampton may very likely share in the second centennial, 1941.
We make the following extracts from the early precinct records :
Precinct Proceedings.
September 21, Anno Domini 1741 .- At the first meeting of the Frechollers and other inhabitants qualified, according to law, to vote in precinct affairs, assembled at the house of Phineas King, in the second Precinet, in Northamp- ton, to choose Precinct officers,
Voted that Ebenezer Kingsley should be the moderator of sail meeting. Voted that Phineas King should be the precinct clerk.
Voted that Waitstill Strong, Ebenezer French, and Aaron Clark shunld be assessors for the present year. Voted that Stephen Sheldon should be collector. for the ensuing year. Voted that Nathaniel Searl, John Wait, and Phineas King should be a committee to appoint meetings for the year ensuing. Voted that John Clark, Ebenezer Kingsley, & Phineas King should be a committee to seek out some meet person to preach the gospel to us.
PHINEAS KING, Precinct Clerk. The above votes have been examined, and are found to be a true record by me. EBENEZER KINGSLEY, Moderator. April 13, 1843 .- Nathaniel Searl, Moderator. Voted to give Mr. Jonathan Jull a call to settle with us, in the second Precinct of Northampton, in the work of the gospel ministry. The settlement and salary elsewhere stated were then voted. Committee to treat with Mr. Judd were Nathaniel Searl, John Wait, Ebenezer Kingsley, John Clark, & Ebenezer French. Votel to make a pulpit in the meeting-honse the year ensuing.
May 20, 1743 .- John Wait, moderator. Voted Mr. Jonathan Judd's wood t.) him, in addition to the settlement and salary already voted, Voted that June S, 1743, as the day for the ordination of Mr. Judd as " Pastor and Teacher." Voted to invite to the council Mr. Hopkins, of West Springfield, Jolin Woodbridge, of South Hadley, Mr. Parsons, of East Hadley, and Mr. Woodbridge, of Hatfield, and Mr. Williams, of Hadley, and Mr. Ballantine, of Westfield, Voted June 2d be appointed as a day of solemn fasting and prayer. Mr. Nathaniel Searl was appointed to provide for the ministers and messengers who may come to the ordination.
Mr. Judd's answer concludes, " I do now, as I hope under some suitable appre- hension of my own nothingness, and also my insufficiency to engage in such a great work, accept of their call, begging their prayer for me, that I may be enabled to be faithful and successful in the work of the ministry unto them, and save my own soul and theirs.
Jan. 12, 1749 .- Voted to accept of the offer of the town of Northampton to give us five hundred acres of land as an equivalent for our right in the land lying in the great meadow, or common field, that was sequestered for the use of the ministry, provided they will permit us to sell the whole land, and put the money at interest for the use of the ministry charges of said precinct.
March 20, 1749,-A committee to dispose of the above land was appointed,- Ebenezer Kingsley, Waitstill Strong, Samuel Burt, Eleazer Hanmmm.
March 16, 1752 .- Waitstill Strong, Moderator; Ebenezer Kingsley, Precinct, Clerk (and he appears to have served from the first, except Mr. Phineas King the one year 1741) ; Samuel Bart, Precinct Treasurer; Amos Loomis, Collector; Aaron Clark, Esq., Stephen Sheldon, and Elins Lyman, Assessors.
Voted, a committee on furnishing the meeting-house,-Stephen Sheldon, Eleazer Ilannum, and Samnel Buurt. Thomas Porter was Voted fifty shillings, old tenur, for sweeping the meeting-house.
Voted, Jonathan Clark, Nathan Lyman, and Ebenezer French to examine the vutes that are in loose papers, and determine what part of them should be eu- tered in the records.
March 4, 1752 .- Voted, a committee see that every man has liberty to do his part in labor toward Mr. Judd's salary,-Sclah Clark, lebabod Strong, Elias Lyman, Timothy Clark, Nathaniel Searl, Jonathan Clark, and Samuel Pomeroy.
Jan. 18, 1753 .- Voted, as to the price of materials to be allowed upon the min- ister's salary,-money counted as "old tenor," viz .: good pine boards, eleven pounds; a thousand slit-work, twenty-four shillings a hundred, Voted to give eight shillings a load for carting from Loomis' mill to the meeting-house.
Voted, to give Stephen Sheldon, for his slit-work for the galleries, twenty shil-' lings; Jonathan Bascom, for setting some squares of glass and stacking up two stacks of boards, twelve shillings
Voted, to give Stephen Sheldon for some nails, and bringing them up from Westfield, three pounds, old tenor.
Voted, Ebenezer French for thick timber, twenty-ix shillings per hundred.
Voted, Ebenezer Kingsley and Nathan Lyman for cutting a load of boards from Clark's mill to the meeting-house, twelve shillings.
Voted, that Stephen Sheldon and company should have liberty to " set up a horse-house in some convenient place near the meeting-house."
Committee to seat the meeting-house,-Elias Lyman, Aaron Clark, Stephen Wright.
One year in age shall be estremed as good as one ponnd in the valuation. To " dignify" the srats a separate committee was voted,-Samnel Burt, Jonathan Clark, Stephen Sheldon.
During the separate precinct organization the territory was really under the jurisdiction of Northampton.
# These were the miners of two hundred years ago.
39
306
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
March 2, 1752, the town of Northampton by vote declared their willingness that the Second Precinct should be erected into a separate distriet if the General Court should see fit. During the following year the necessary act of the Legislature was obtained, and the new district commenced its independent existence in 1753. The first district-meeting was held March 19, 1753. The name Southampton was first used officially about this time, though it had probably been coming into use gradually for some years. As the territory was the southwest part of the original llampton tract, together with the additional grant, lying still farther south, it is evident that the name was an appropriate one. The following list of officers was chosen at the first meeting.
The first and legal meeting of the inhabitants of the District of Southampton, met at their meeting-house on Monday, March 19, 1753, chose Deacon Waitstill Strong, Moderator ; Ebenezer Kingsley, District Clerk ; Waitstill Strong, Stephen Shelden, Ebenezer Kingsley, Selectmen and Assessors; Samuel Burt, Treasurer ; Timothy Clark, Constable ; Ebenezer French, Nathan Lyman, Stephen Shelden, Tythingmen; Samuel Danks, Ebenezer Pomeroy, John Wait, Fence-Viewers ; Ebenezer Pomeroy, Roger Clapp, Amos Loomis, John Wait, Jr., Samuel Clapp, Lemuel Burt, Phinchas King, Stephen Wright, Jr., Highway Surveyors; Wait- still Strong, Clerk of the Market.
The notes we have given already cover the first twelve years of civil history, though the town was not independent of Northampton until the district organization took place. Fur- ther extracts from the valuable records occur under the differ- ent heads of this sketch.
On Jan. 3, 1774, the town voted in the negative upon a proposition to allow certain inhabitants to unite with some of Northampton to form a new district or town. (This was the Easthampton project.)
At the meeting in March a committee was appointed to draw up and present the objections of the town, viz., Jonathan Judd, Aaron Clark, and Elias Lyman.
Place of Town-Meetings .- The first precinct-meeting was " at the house of Phineas King." The records do not show where the others were held until the one called for March 16, 1752, which was held "at the meeting-house," and there they continued to be held until March 16, 1840, a period of eighty- eight years. They were then changed to " the upper room in the centre school-house," or a different expression for the same place was "at the town room in the eentre sehool-house." This was only for a year. The first meeting in "the new town-house was held Nov. 8, 1841." This was built by Seth Bartlett, contractor.
The old school-house stood in the centre of the public square, -streets all around it. This venerable building, with all its educational memories, is still standing, the residence of Charles II. Frary having been removed to that place about 1805.
It was succeeded about that time by the two-story school- building, the upper room of which belonged to the town. This stood on the present school-house lot near the street, and was taken down and the present brick school-house built about 1863 or 1864.
The following is a list of the selectmen from the organiza- tion of the town :
1753 .- Waitstill Strong, Stephen Shellou, Ebenezer Kingsley.
1754 .- Samuel Burt, Ebenezer Kingsley, Aaron Clark.
1755 .- Samuel Edwards, Samuel Burt, Jonathan Clark.
1756 .- Ebenezer Kingsley, Samuel Edwards, Samuel Clapp. 1757 .- Aaron Clark, Sammel Burt, Ebenezer Pomeroy. 1758 .- Samuel Edwards, Aaron Clark, Samuel Burt. 1739 .- Samuel Edwards, Jonathan Clark, Stephen Shellon. 1760,-Aaron Clark, Samuel Edwards, Elias Lyman. 1761 .- Samuel Burt, Samuel Edwards, Aaron Clark. 1702 .- John Lyman, Roger Clapp, Aaron Clark. 1763 .- Nathaniel Searl, Elias Lyman, Stephen Wright. 1764 .- Waitstill Strong, Nathaniel Scarl, Jr., Samuel Burt. 1765,-Waitstill Strong, Aaron Clark, Nathaniel Scarl, Jr. 1766 .- Samnel Burt, Roger Clapp, Samuel Edwards.
1767 .- Aaron Clark, Elias Lyman, Nathaniel Scarl, Jr.
1768,-Elias Lyman, Aaron Clark, Sanmel Burt.
1769 .- Nathaniel Searl, Jr., Waitstill Strong, Aaron Clark.
1770 .- Waitstill Strong, John Lyman, Nathaniel Searl, Jr.
1771 .- Aaron Clark, Waitstill Strong, Jonathan Judd, Jr.
1772 .- Jonathan Judd, Jr., Samuel Edwards, Nathaniel Scarl.
1773 .- Aaron Clark, Elias Lyman, John Lyman. 1774-75 .- Elias Lyman, John Lyman, Aaron Clark. 1776 .- Timothy Clark, Elias Lyman, Aaron Clark. 1777 .- John Lyman, Timothy Clark, Douglass King. 1778 .- John Lyman, Lemuel Pomeroy, Dr. Sylvester Woodbridge. 1779 .- Donglass King, Timothy Clark, Sylvester Woodbridge. 1780 .- Jonathan Judd, Jr., Benjamin Lyman, Ponglass King. 1781 .- John Lyman, Sylvester Woodbridge, Almer Pomeroy. 1782,-Julin Lyman, Sylvester Woodbridge, Lemuel Pomeroy. 1783 .- Donglass King, Sylvester Woodbridge, Lemuel Pomeroy. 1784 .- John Lyman, Timothy Pomeroy, Silas Sheldon. 1785-86 .- John byman, Timothy Pomeroy, Lemuel Pomerny. 1787 .- Moses Clark, John Lyman, Timothy Pomeroy. 1788-89 .- John Lyman, Lenmel Pomeroy, Moses Clark. 1790,-Ebenezer Pomeroy, Moses Clark, Peres Clapp. 1791 .- Lemuel Pomeroy, John Lyman, Isaac Parsons, 1792 .-. Ebenezer Pomeroy, Peres Clapp, John Lynn. 1793 .- Lemmel Pomeroy, Peres Clapp, Ebenezer Pomeroy. 1794 .- Lomnel Pomeroy, Ebenezer Pomeroy, Samuel Burt. 1795 .- Lemuel Pomeroy, Samuel Bart, Peres Clapp. 1796 .- Samuel Coleman, Peres Clapp, Saunuel Burt. 1797 .- Isaac Parsons, Samuel Coleman, John Lyman. 1798 .- John byman, Isaac Parsons, Samuel Coleman. 1799-1801 .- l'eres Clapp, Roswell Strong, Timothy Clapp. 1802-4 .- Silas Sheldon, Luther Edwards, Roswell Strong. 1805 .- Luther Edwards, John Lyman, Jr., Silas Sheldon. 180G,-Luther Edwards, John Lyman, Jr., Frederick Judd. 1807 .- Frederick Indd, John Lyman, Jr., Simnel Coleman. 1808,-Noah ('lark, Asahel Chapman, Roswell Strong. 1809-11 .- Roswell Strong, Noah Clark, Asahel Chapman. 1812-13 .- John Lyman, Roswell Strong, Luther Edwards. 1814-15 .- John Lyman, Abner Sheldon, Jr., Asabel Chapman. 1816-18,-Abner Shellon, Jr., Gains Lyman, Stephen Strong. 1819 .- Almer Sheldon, Jr., John Lyman, Stephen Strong. 1820,-Asahel Chapman, Stephen Strong, AAbner Sheldon, Ir. 1821 .- Stephen Strong, John Lyman, Thaddeus Clark. 1822-23 .- John Lyman, Asahel Birge, Thaddeus Clark. 1824 .- Asahel Birge, Thaddeus Clark, Timothy Clark. 1825 .- Timothy Clark, Joseph Ranger, Wm. S. Rogers. 1826 .- Joseph Ranger, Timothy Clark, Wm. S. Rogers. 1827 .- Asahel Birge, Joseph Ranger, Wm. S. Rogers. 1828 .- Wm. S. Ragers, Silas Sheklon (2d), Joseph Ranger. 1829 .- Win. S. Rogers, Thaddeus Clark, Asahel Birge. 1830-31 .- Wm. S. Rogers, Thaddeus Clark, Timothy Clark. 1832 .- Thuldeus Clark, Luther Edwards, Jr., W'm. S. Rogers. 1833-34 .- Elisha Edwards, Theodore Strong, Strong Clark. 1835-36 .- Elisha Elwards, Theodore Strong, Wm. S. Rogers. 1837 .- Stephen Strong, Wm. S. Rogers, Theodore Strong. 1838-39,-Wm. S. Rogers, Stephen Strong, Linus Bates. 1840,-Wm. S. Rogers, Stephen Strong, Orange Strong. 1×41-42 .- Orange Strong, Asahel Pomeroy, Jr., Elisha Edwards. 1843 .- Elisha Edwards, Chauncey Clapp, Asahel Chapman, Jr. 1844-45 .- Asahel Chapman, Jr., Chauncey Clapp, Samuel Lyman. 1846 .- Asahel Chapman, Thaddens Clark, Chauncey Clapp. 1847 .- Elisha Elwards, Orange Strong, Samuel C. Pomeroy. 1848 .- Elisha Edwards, Strong Clark, Samuel C. Pomeroy. 1849-50 .- Elisha Edwards, Timothy P. Bates, Zeno E. Coleman.
1851 .- Wm. S. Rogers, Elisha A. Edwards, Timothy P. Bates.
1852 .- Wm. S. Rogers, Elisha A. Edwards, Isaac Parsons.
1853 .- Wm. S. Rogers, Oliver N. Clark, Isaac Parsons. 1854 .- Joseph Ranger, Thaddeus Clark, Joseph S. Clark. 1855 .- Wm. 8. Rogers, Joseph Ranger, Joseph S. Clark. 1856 .- Isaac Parsons, Joseph S. Clark, Edson Hannum. 1857-58,-Isaac Parsons, Edson Hannum, Orrin R. Moore. 1859 .- Isaac Parsons, Elisha A. Edwards, Harris Nimocks. 1860 .- Isaac Parsons, Harris Nimocks, Jonathan X. Judd. 1861 .- Isaac Parsons, Jonathan N. Judd, Artemas Barnes. 1862 .- Isaac Parsons, Elson Hannum, Artemas Barnes. 1863-65 .- Zeno E. Coleman, Henry S. Sheldon, Lyman C. Tiffany. 1866 .- Zeno E. Coleman, Timothy P. Bates, Jairus E. Clark. 1867-GS .- Timothy P. Bates, Jairus E. Clark, Lewis Hannum. "1869 .- Isaac Parsons, Henry S. Sheldon, Albert S. Atkins. 1870-71 .- Timothy P. Bates, Henry S. Sheldon, Albert S. Atkins. 1872-74 .- Henry S. Sheldon, Edson Hannum, George W. Edwards. 1×75 .- Henry S. Sheldon, George W. Edwards, Lyman C. Tiffany. 1876-78 .- Henry S. Sheldon, Lyman C. Tiffany, George D. Hannum.
TOWN CLERKS.
Ebenezer Kingsley, 1753-56; Timothy Clark, 1757-61; Ebenezer Kingsley, 1762-76; Jonathan Judd, Jr., 1777-86; Perez Clapp, 1787-1801 ; Asahel Birge, Jr., 1802-27; Wm. S. Rogers, 1828-29; Asahel Birge, 1830-31; Timothy Clark, 1832-35; Elisha Edwards, 1836-43; Jonathan N. Judd, 1844-48; Elisha A. Ed- wards, 1849-50; Jonathan N. Judd, 1851-61; Elisha A. Edwards, 1862; Lyman C. Tiffany, 1863-36; Elisha .A. Edwards, 1867-76; F. E. Judd, 1877-79.
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HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL COURT .*
Joseph Hawley, 1754-55; Gideon Lyman, 1756-57 ; Timothy Dwight, 1758-61 ; Timothy Dwight, 1762-63; Joseph Hawley, 1764; Timothy Dwight, 1765; Joseph Hawley, 1766-73 ; Elias Lyman, 1774 ; Sammel Burt, 1775; Timothy Clark, 1779; Lemmel Pomeroy, 1781; Jona. Clark, 1784; Lemuel Pomeroy, 1785; Lemuel Pomeroy, 1787-89; Lemuel Pomeroy, 1796; Isaac Parsons, 1798; Lemuel Pomo- roy, 1800-1; Sammel Pomeroy, 1802; Lemuel Pomeroy, 1803-6; Frederick Judd, 1807; Lemuel Pomeroy, 1808-9; Frederick Judd, 1810; Luther Edwards, 1811-13; Asahel Birge, 1814; Asahel Birge, Jr., 1815; Asahel Birge, 1816-18; Asahel Chapman, 1819; Asahel Chapman ; 1822; John Lyman, 1825-26; Luther Edwards, Jr., 1827; Timothy Clark, 1>2; Elisha Edwards, Jr., 1829; Timothy Clark, 1831 ; Elisha Edwards, Jr., 1832; Timothy Clark, 1833; Elisha Edwards, 1834; Wm. S. Rogers, 1835-36; Elisha Edwards, 1837-3x; Wm. S. Rogers, 1×39; Elisha Edwards, 1841; Strong Clark, 1846-47; Noah L. Strong, 1848 ; Samuel f. Pomeroy, 1852; Stephen Lyman, 1855; Lysander B. Bates, 1856; Almon B. Clapp, 1857; Orrin R. Moore, 1858; Lyman C. Tiffany, 1961 ; Edson Haunum, 1864 ; Samuel B. Quigley, 1871-72; Henry Sheldon, 1879.
VILLAGES. SOUTHAMPTON CENTRE
was the first point of settlement by the colony of thirty ; Thomas Porter and Judah Hutchinson being the first to erect houses, according to the account already given. If Ebenezer Kingsley was earlier, his house was north of the present vil- lage.
The village is pleasantly situated in the midst of a fine farming country. It includes the Congregational church, the Methodist church, Sheldon Academy, a handsome brick school-house, a town-hall, two stores, post-office, and several shops. Here is located also the whip manufactory of Mr. Quigley, who removed to this town for business purposes and for a pleasant home, after an active engagement of many years upon the New York Independent and the New York Tri- bune. There are quite a number of new, elegant, private dwellings, as well as many others of a substantial and per- manent character,-the homes of the "solid" men of olden times, around which cluster many family traditions. The railroad station is a short distance east, and with several trains a day, both north and south, there are afforded excellent facilities for business or travel. On the whole, it is one of those charming New England villages in which the virtues of the earlier times are united to the progress and the culture of the present.
RUSSELLVILLE, in the southwest part of the town, is fre- quently spoken of as " the village." It is a small hamlet which has grown up in modern times around the business of the Russells,-father and sons,-and from them derives its name.
Like other towns, Southampton has some odd local names, as " Foggintown" and " Bedlam," and divides, perhaps, with Easthampton the traditions of " Pogue's HIole" (Glendale).
The postmasters of Southampton have been James K. Shel- don, Gad C. Lyman, O. N. Cowles, E. A. Edwards, Harvey Dada; J. N. Judd, twenty-one years, 1840 to 1861; A. G. Judd, from 1861 to the present time.
SCHOOLS.
While the new precinct was still a part of Northampton, that town made some provision for schools. In 1748, North- ampton voted to have schools in the " distant parts of the town to instruet in reading and writing, viz., on the plain, over Mill River, Pascommuek, Bartlett's Mills, and new preeinet." In 1750 the selectmen were instructed to provide a school- master for the second precinet.
In 1751, Northampton appointed Eleazer Hannum, Wait- still Strong, Jr., and Stephen Sheldon a committee to have the oversight of building a school-house in the second pre- cinet.
Deacon Samuel Edwards, who moved to Southampton in 1753, was a teacher for a long time. He is said to have been engaged for forty winters.
* Northampton and Southampton were united in sending representatives from 1751 to 1773, inclusive.
A few extracts from the town records are of educational interest :
April 2, 1753 .- Voted to have a school set up at the school-house the beginning of October next, and that the selectmen provide a schoolmaster.
February 1, 1754 .- Voted Waitstill Strong and Ebenezer Kingsley ten shillings a day for two days' work upon the school-house.
Occasionally the town-meeting was adjourned from the meeting-house to the school-house. The latter could be warmed, while the former could not.
Nov. 10, 1766 .- Samuel Edwards, Aaron Clark, Elias Lyman, Samuel Clapp, Jonathan Clark were appointed a committee for the business of the school. This was probably the first school committee, the selectmen having had charge of any business of that kind before. That year fifteen pounds were voted for the sup- port of the schools, the extreme parts of the town to have their equal part of the school. From which it may be inferred that some other school-houses were by this time erected besides the one at the Centre, though the other schools may have been heldl in private houses.
Nov. 3, 1767 .- Voted to raise fifteen pounds for the use of the school.
March 20, 1769 .- Voted that the present selectmen shall keep the school as long as they think proper this spring, and to set it up again when they think best. Dec. 4, 1763 .- Voted fifteen pounds for schooling.
" Ebenezer Kingsley was an early teacher. After the Revo- lution four elasses were formed in different parts of the town and small houses built. Mrs. Deacon Elisha Edwards was the first female teacher in town (Miss Anna Bates), in the summer of 1785.77
In 1791, voted, a third part of £50 for support of a woman's school. This was after considerable opposition.
The school-house was used for warming, on Sunday, as ap- pears from the appointment of a committee to inspeet the school-house on the Sabbath, and to keep order, " and if they cannot keep order to lock up the school-house." Voted, that Obadiah Frary and Stephen Wright shall have charge of the school-house.
School Statistics at intervals of about Ten Years.
January, 1837 .- Seven schools; attending in the summer, 258; average, 225; winter, 324; average, 284; in town, between 4 and 16, 357 ; summer schools, 29 months, 15 days; winter, 22 months; summer teachers, 8 females ; winter, 4 males, 4 females; average wages of male teachers per month, $20.25; female teachers, $11.43.
January, 1847 .- Eight schools; attending in summer, 204; average, 156; winter, 278; average, 173; in town between 4 and 16, 200; summer schools, 34 months; winter, 25 months and 21 days; total, 59 months, 21 days; summer teachers, 8 females ; winter, 4 males, 4 females ; average wages male teachers per month, $21.25 ; females, $11.05.
January, 1857 .- Eight schools; attending in summer, 185; average, 138; winter, 242; average, 186; attending under 5, 20; over 15, 26; in town between 5 and 13, 239; summer teachers, " females; winter, 2 males, 6 females ; summer schools, 23 months, 18 days; winter, 24 months, 18 days; total, 48 months, 16 days; average wages of male teachers per month, $24; female, $14.41.
January, 1867 .- Seven schools; attending in the summer, 200; average, 150; winter, 217; average, 173; attending under 5, 10; over 15, 26 ; in town between 5 and 15, 266; summer teachers, 7 females; winter, 1 male, 6 females; summer schools, 24 months; winter schools, 21 months ; average wages of female teachers per month, 823.08.
January, 1878 .- Eight schools; 203 attending during the year; average, 133 ; 4 under 5; 18 over 15; whole number in town between 5 and 15, 190; teachers, 12 females; from normal school, 2; school kept 59 months, 3 days; average wages of female teachers, $28.04; taxation, $1450; expense of superintendence, $43; printing, $10; vestel funds, $1860; income from local funds, $129.60; other in- come and dog tax, $68.48; 1 high school, 1 teacher, 26 scholars; by taxation, 5 months, 15 days; principal's salary, $225 ; town share of school fund, $227.49.
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