USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Dorchester > History of the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts > Part 28
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* It is supposed that under the term " proprietors," in this connection, was included the principal part of the adult male inhabitants of the town.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
Having made the above arrangement, the next step was to secure a teacher. Rev. Thomas Water- house seems to have been the first one mentioned. He is introduced to us in this manner.
" It is ordered that Mr Waterhouse shall be dispenced wth concerneing that Clause of the order in ye Charge of Twenty pounds yeerly rent to be payd fo Tomson's Iland towards the skoole, where he is bound to teach to write, it shalbe left to his liberty in that poynt of teach- ing to write, only to doe what he can conveniently therein."
The above vote was passed on the 31st October, 1639; at the same time it was
" Ordered that Henery Way, Brey Wilkeins, Richard Leeds shall take their portion in Tomson's Iland, and haue also liberty to buy of any others any greater portion to ye value of 9 akers to Joyne wth their owne at a con- venient place for fishing; Provided that they set forward fishing, and alsoe doe satisfie the yeerly rent-Charge imposed on that Iland towards the mayntanance of a skoole according to the order made to that purpose, and according to ye Number of the akers they shall make imployment of."
Provision was also made in regard to their fenc- ing properly " the lands so taken into propriety."
It was soon found that the rents due from indi- vidual proprietors of the island were collected with much inconvenience. For this and other reasons mentioned in the following document, it was thought proper to make a direct conveyance of the land to the town for the special support and establishment of the free school, that it might be more effectually 46
422
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
and better maintained. The instrument is here given entire.
"-Wheras the Inhabitants of Dorchester haue formerly ordered, Consented and agreed that a Rente of Twentie pound p" ann. shall issue & be payd by the sayd Inhabi- tants & their heires from & out of a Certaine porcon of land in Dorchester called Tomsons Iland for & towards the maintenance of a schoole in Dorchester aforsayd, And that vppon experience it is found to be a matter of great labour & difficultie to collect the sayd rent from soe many severall prsons as ought to pay the same according to their seuerall p'portions the prsons that haue title to land in the sayd Iland & who therfore ought to pay the sayd rent, being noe lesse in number then sixscore or thera- boute, And inasmuch as the sayd rent of Twentie pound, when it is duly Collected & payd, is not of it self suffi- cient maintenance for a schoole without some addicon thervnto. For the augmentinge therfor of the sayd rent & to the intent that the same may hencforth be more readily collected and payd, It is heerby ordered and all the prsent Inhabitants of Dorchester aforsayd Whose names are heervnto subscribed doe for themselues & their heires heerby Covenant, consent and agree thatt from hencforth the sayd Iland and all the benefitt & prfitts ther- of and all there right & Interest in the same shalbe wholy & for euer bequeathed and given away from themselues & their heires vnto the Town of Dorchester aforesayd for & Towards the maintenance of a free schoole in Dorches- ter aforesayd for the instructinge & Teachinge of Child- ren & youth in good literature & Learninge. And to the intent that the better maintenance for a free schoole as is heerby intended may arise from and out of the sayd Iland, It is therfore the mynd of the prsent donoures that the sayd Iland shall from tyme to tyme be lett, assigned & set ouer by the Inhabitants of Dorchester for the time
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
beinge or theire agents for such yearlie rent or rents as shall in Comon Estimation amount to the full value of the sayd Iland.
" And to the intent that the godly intentions of the p sent donoures may not be frustrated or disapoynted nor the free schoole heerby intended suffer any priudice or damage by insufficient tenante or Tenants to the sayd Iland or through none payment of the rent that ought to be payd for the same, It is heerby ordered & the p"sent donoures doe heerby declare that it is there mynd that the sayd Iland shalbe lett, assigned & sett Quer only to such Tenant or Tenants as shall by land or otherwise suffi- tiently secure the payment of the rent therof for the vse & behoofc of the schoole as aforsayd in such manner & forme & at such time & tymes of payment as shalbe agreed vppon by & betweene the inhabitants of Dorches- ter or there agents, one the one prtye & the sayd Tenant or Tenannts one the other p'tye.
" And for avoydinge the Trouble that myght arise in collectinge and gatheringe the same Rent by so great a Multitude of Tenants that ought to pay the same, & to the intent that the rents which shalbe-come due for the sayde Iland may be the better & more redylie Collected and payd, it is heerby ordered and declared that the sayd Iland shall neuer be lett out to soe many tenannts as shal- be aboue tenn in number at once.
"In witness wherof the prsent Inhabitants haue heer- vnto subscribed ther names the Seaventh day of the Twelfth moneth in the yeare 1641.
" Memorand. that before the subscribinge of these prsents the donoures aforsayd did further agree & declare that it was and is there mynd and true intencons that if at any tyme ther shall happen & fall out a vacancie & want of a schoolmaster by meanes of death or otherwise, yet the rents and prfitts ishuinge & arisinge of the sayd
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
Iland shalbe converted and applied only to & for the maintenance & vse of the schoole either by augmentinge the stipend for a schoolemaster or otherwise, but not for any other vse.
Israel Stoughton
John Wiswall
Richard Mather
John Capen
George Minot
Joane Capen Weddow
Henry Withington
William Blake
John Glouer
Nicho: Butler
Natha: Duncan
Thomas Hawkins
Nicholas Vpsall Thomas Swift
Tho. Clarke
Thomas Wiswall
John Holman
Thomas Dickerman
Nathaniell Patten
Richard Baker
Humfrey Atherton
John Maudesley
Roger Clap
George Proctor
Joseph Farnworth
Richard Hawes
Hopestill Foster
Augustine Clement
William Clarke
Michael Wiles
Henrie Waye John Smith
John Pears
David Selleck
Nicholas Clapp
Bray Wilkins
John [ P ] Pope
Geo. Weekes
John Farnham
Jeffrey Turner
Barnabas Fawer
John Pearce
Thomas [ H ] Andrews Edward Breck
Mr. Warham
Richard Collacot
Andrew Pitcher
Jeremy Howchin
William [ X ] Lane his mark.
John Holland
Thomas Jones
Thomas Millit
Jonas Humfrey
Alice, the wife of Rich- ard Joanes
Edmund Muninge his [ M ] mark.
Nathanael Wales
James Bate
John Rigbye
George Dyer
Robert Deeble
Robt. Howard
Edward Clap
John Grenaway
William Sumner
Thomas Makepeace The sign of
Henry Wright
John [ @ ] Hill
.
Christopher Gibson John Phillips
Clement Toplif *
* A lithographed fac-simile of these names was given as a frontis- piece to " Blake's Annals of Dorchester," published in Boston in 1846.
Thomas Tilstone
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
The town entrusted the matter of Thompson's Island to the Elders, Mr. Stoughton and Mr. Glover, that they might set the land at a rent, "for the best Benefitt of ye Schoole." Doubtless this was done to the acceptance of the town, though the records are silent in regard to it. Nor do we learn anything farther in relation to the school until the appoint- ment was made, by the townsmen, of wardens to manage its affairs-which event took place on the 14th of March, 1645.
The following rules and orders concerning the school, then presented to the town, were confirmed by the major part of the inhabitants present at the meeting.
" First. It is ordered that three able and sufficient men of the Plantation shalbe Chosen to bee wardens or ourseers of the Schoole," " who shall haue the Charge, ouer- sight and ordering thereof, and of all things Concerning the same in such manner as is hereafter expressed, and shall Continue in their office and place for Terme of their liues respectively, vnlesse by reason of any of them Re- mouing his habitation out of the Towne, or for any other Weightie reason, the Inhabitants shall see cause to Elect and Chuse others in their Roome, in wch cases and vpon the death of any of the same wardens, the Inhabitants shall make a new Election and choice of others. And Mr. Haward, Deacon Wiswall, Mr. Atherton are elected to bee the first Wardens of ouerseers.
" Secondly. The said Wardens shall haue full power to dispose of the School stock, whether the same bee in land or otherwise, both such as is already in beeing and such as may by any good meanes hereafter be added; and shall Collect and Receive the Rents, Issues and prfits
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
arising & growing of & from the sayd stock. And the sayd rents, Issues and p'fits shall imploy and lay out only for the best behoof and advantadge of the sayd Schoole, and the furtherance of learning thereby, and shall give a faythful and true accompt of their receipts & disburse- ments so often as they shalbe thearvnto be required by the Inhabitants or the maior prte of them.
" Thirdly. The said Wardens shall take care and doe their vtmost and best endeavor that the sayd Schoole may fro tyme to tyme be supplied wth an able and sufficient Schoole master who neurthelesse is not to be admitted into the place of Schoole m' wthout the Generall consent of the Inhabitants or the maior p'te of them.
" Fowerthly. So often as the sayd Schoole shalbe sup- plied wth a Schoole m' so prvided and admitted as afore- sayd, the wardens shall fro tyme to tyme pay or cause to be payd vnto the sayd Schoole mr such wages out of the Rents, Issues & prfitts of the Schoole stocke as shall of right Come due to be payd.
" Fiuethly. The sayd wardens shall from tyme to tyme see that the Schoole howse bee kept in good and sufficient repayre, the charges of which reparacon shall be defrayed and payd out of such rents, Issues and p'fits of yt Schoole stocke yf there be sufficient, or else of such rents as shall arise and grow in the tyme of the vacancy of the Schoole mr yf there be any such-and in defect of such vacancy the wardens shall repayre to the 7 men of the Towne for the tyme being, who shall have power to Taxe the Towne wth such some or sommes as shalbe requested for for the repayring of the Schoole howse as aforesayd.
" Sixthly. The sayd Wardens shall take Care that euty yeere at or before the end of the 9th moneth there bee brought to the Schoole howse 12 sufficient Cart or wayne loads of wood for fewell, to be for the vse of the Schoolemaster and the Schollers in winter, the Cost and
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
charge of wch sayd wood to bee borne by the schollers for the tyme beeing who shalbe taxed for the purpose at the discretion of the sayd Wardens.
" Lastly. The sayd Wardens shall take care that the Schoolm' for the tyme beeing doe faythfully prforme his dutye in his place, as schoolemr ought to doe, as well in other things as in these whch are hereafter expressed, viz.
"First. That the Schoolem" shall diligently attend his Schoole, and doe his vtmost indeavor for Benefitting his Scholle's according to his best discretion, without vnneces- saryly absenting himself to the priudice of his schollers and hindering there learning.
" 2ly. That from the beginning of the first moneth vntill the end of the 7th, hee shall eury day beginn to teach at seaven of the Clock in the morning and dismisse his schollers at fyue in the afternoone. And for the other fyue months, that is, from the beginn" of the 8th moneth vntill the end of the 12th month he shall eury day beginn at 8 of the Clock in the morning, & [end] at 4 in the afternoon.
" 3ly. Eury day in the yeere the vsuall tyme of dis- missing at noone shalbe at 11, and to beginn agayne at one, except that
" 4ly. Eury second day in the weeke he shall call his scholle's togeither betweene 12 & one of the Clock to ex- amin them what they haue learned on the saboath day předing, at wch tyme also he shall take notice of any mis- demeanor or outrage that any of his Schollers shall haue Committed on the saboath, to the end that at somme con- venient tyme due Admonition and Correction may bee administered by him according as the nature and qualitie of the offence shall require, at wch sayd examination any of the Elders or other Inhabitants that please may bee pre- sent, to behold his religious care herein, and to giue there Countenance and apprbation of the same.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
" 5thly. Hee shall equally and impartially receiue and instruct such as shalbe sent and Committed to him for that end, whither there parents bee poore or rich, not refusing any who have Right & Interest in the Schoole.
" 6ly. Such as shall be Committed to him he shall dili- gently instruct, as they shalbe able to learne, both in humane learning and good litterature, & likewyse in poynt of good manners and dutifull bhauiour towards all, speci- ally there supiors as they shall haue occasion to bee in there prsence, whither by meeting them in the streete or otherwyse.
" 7ly. Euery 6 day of the weeke at 2 of the Clock in the afternoone, hee shall Catechise his Schollers in the principles of Christian religion, either in some Cate- chisme wch the Wardens shall prvide and prsent, or in de- fect thereof in some other.
" 8thly. And because all man's indeavors wthout the blessing of God must needs bee fruitlesse and vnsuccess- full, theirfore It is to be a chief prte of the Schoolemrs religious care to commend his scholle's and his Labours amongst them vnto God by prayer morning and evening, taking Care that his scholler's doe reurendly attend dur- ing the same.
" 9ly. And because the Rodd of Correction is an or- dinance of God necessary sometymes to bee dispensed vnto Children, but such as may easily be abused by ouer- much seuritie and rigour on the one hand, or by oue much indulgence and lenitye on the other, It is therefore ordered and agreed that the schoolemaster for the tyme beeing shall haue full power to minister Correction to all or any of his schollers wthout respect of prsons, according to the nature and qualitie of the offence shall require; whereto all his schollers must bee duely subiect; and no parent or other of the Inhabitants shall hinder or go about to hinder the master therein : neurtheless yf any parent or
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
other shall thinke there is just cause of Complaynt agaynst the master for to much seueritye such shall haue liberty freindly and louingly to expostulate wth the master about the same; and yf they shall not attayne to satisfaction, the matter is then to bee referred to the wardens, who shall imprtially Judge betwixt the master and such Com- playnants. And yf yt shall appeere to them that any pa- rent shall make causelesse Complaynt against the m' in this behalfe, and shall prsist in and Continue so doeing, in such case the wardens shall have power to discharge the mr of the care and charge of the Children of such parents. But yf the thing Complayned of be true, and that the mr haue indeed bene guiltie of ministering excessiue Correc- tion, and shall appeere to them to continue therein, not- wthstanding that they haue advised him otherwise, in such case, as also in the case of to much lenitye or any other great neglect of dutye in his place prsisted in, It shalbe in the power of the Wardens to call the . Inhabitants to- geither to Consider whither it were not meet to discharge the mr of his place, that so somme other more desirable may be provided. And because It is difficult, yf not Im- possible, to give prticular rules yt shall reach all cases wch may fall out, therefore, for a Conclusion, It is ordered and agreed in generall, that, where prticular rules are wanting, there it shalbe a prte of the office and dutye of the Wardens to order and dispose of all things that Con- cerne the schoole, in such sort as in there wisedome and discretion they shall Judge most Conducible for the glory of God & the trayning vp of the Children of the Towne in religion, learning, and Civilitie :- And these orders to . bee Continued till the maior prte of the Towne shall see cause to alter any prte thereof."
Deacon John Wiswall, Humphrey Atherton, and Robert Howard, as will be seen, were chosen the first wardens of the school.
47
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
The house was probably located near the corner of Pleasant and Cottage streets. It was, doubtless, a frail structure, and continued for some years in an unfinished state.
In the year 1657, " Thomas Wiswall desired, in behalf of the scoole, that a flower [floor] be laid over head in ye scoole house, and a studdy made in it for the vse of the scoolemaster," his son Ichabod. Mr. W. was promised by the town five shillings in money, towards the undertaking, and " timber in his lott for Juice." Quite a different method from that pursued by our modern building committees. The contrast, also, between that rude school-house and our sumptuous edificcs, is as great, almost, it would seem, as between the savage and the civilized states of life.
History does not inform us whether Mr. Wiswall had his wishes gratified in relation to the " studdy."
It was customary, in those times, for the teacher to receive a part of his pay in the produce of the earth. Mr. W., therefore, at the same time, " desired 14 bushels of Indian corne in part of pay for his son's teaching scoole, wch Mr. Jones ordered him to take at Dedham, Mr. Jones to have 4 bushels of Mr. Patten, 2 of ensigne Foster, again, and peas of bro- ther Brecke for the rest, and allowed them in their rates againe."
The amount of salary given the teacher at this time is not specified, nor the proportionate quantity of cash; not unlikely it was about one half in pro- duce. The whole salary may have been some £20 or £25 per annum. In 1692, Mr. Mills was paid by
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
the constable, " towards his salary for keeping school, in silver £5, in grain £10."
Gov. Stoughton, who died in 1701, left, in his will, a legacy of £150 to the schools of Dorchester, on condition that, within the space of ten years fol- lowing the date of said will, the salary of the school- master should be fixed at £40 a year ; otherwise, the whole income, till such a provision and settle- ment were made, would be forfeited to the town. Accordingly, in 1711, the town voted to carry out this provision, and in the following spring "it was voted, agreed, concluded, and absolutely confirmed, that forty pounds a year of the towns proper gift, should be a settled, standing salary for the school- master, according to Mr. Stoughton's will."
But to return to the grant. The town of Dor- chester did not long remain in quiet possession of Thompson's Island, for, in 1648, John Thompson, son and heir of David, coming of age, laid claim to the island as his property. Samuel Maverick, of Noddle's Island (afterwards noted as one of the king's commissioners), testified to the Court in his behalf; stating that, in the year 1626, the applicant's father took possession of that island " as a vacuum domicilium." Trevour, Blackstone, Standish, and the Sagamore of Agawam, gave in their evidence, also, to show that David Thompson had a grant and patent of the island, and that he actually took pos- session of the land. The General Court, therefore, nullifying their grant to Dorchester, conceded it to the legal owner. A petition was then sent to the Court, by the inhabitants of the town, briefly review-
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
ing the matter, and closing with a request that the Court would grant some other island as a help to them " towards the maintenance of a free schoole," in the room of that which was taken away. (See a copy of the petition on page 163 of this work.)
There was still another applicant for the island, namely, Winnuequassum, who sent in his petition to the Court, " craving Thompson's Island to be re- stored to him as his inheritance." It is unknown to what tribe of the aboriginals he belonged, as also the particular merits of his claim. The reply was (1 Nov. 1654), " Altho' the Court cannot see cause at present to heare the case, nor wthout hearing to restore the peticoner the land, yett judge meete to give him libertie of tryall, in any Court fit for cog- nizance of it, notwthstanding any former acts of this Court therein."
We learn nothing more respecting Winnuequas- sum or his suit.
The following is from the Court Records (Vol. IV. part 1, p. 29), date, 18th Oct. 1650.
" In the triall of the case between Mr. Thomas Jones and Mr. John Wisewall, on the behalfe of the school of Dorchester, and Mr. John Thompson, respecting the title of the island called Thompsons Island, the Courte, on the hearinge of the case, and examining the evidences brought by both parties, judged the right to belong to John Thomp- son, and gave him his bill of costs, which was three pounds, seven shillings and sixe pence, against the towne of Dorchester."
Notwithstanding what had been said and done in relation to Thompson's Isle, the people of Dorchester
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
were dissatisfied with the result. At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town, held on the 8th of March, 1659, it was voted, that they " would have a triall at the Charge of the towne for to gett Tom- son's yland for the town of Dorchester, as they sup- posed yt it is theirs by right. And it was alsoe vot- ed, the same day, that the selectmen are desired and impowered to execute the triall in the best way and maner, as they shall thinke best and most conveni- ent for the obtaining of it." Lieut. Roger Clap and Ensign Hopestill Foster were appointed to manage the business. They accordingly presented to the Court the following petition.
" To the Honrd Generall Court Now assembled at Boston, the petition of the inhabitants of Dorchester
Humbly sheweth,
" That wheras there was many years since granted by this court, as appears by record, a sertaine Iland called Thomsons Iland wch we the said Inhabitants possest diuers years and hopefull to haue euer enjoyd the same for the benefit of or selues and posterity (the same being giuen to and for the maintenance of a free scoole In Dor- chester) but the sd Iland hath bin taken from vs and set- led on others to the almost if not totall ouerthrow of or free scoole wch was soe hopefull for posterity, both our owne and neihbors also who had or might haue reaped benifit thereby.
" Our Humble Request to this honrd Court is, that you would be pleased to reneiue yor former grant of the said Iland, and confirme the same vnto vs, we conceiuing we had Just title ther vnto, or Elc, that you would bee pleas- ed to grant vnto vs one thousand ackors of land In some convenient place or places (for the end aforsd, namly, the maintenance of or dijng scoole) where we shall find it,
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
and in the courts power to grant the same, and yor peti- tion's shall pray, &c.
Dor : 18: 8. [October,] ROGER CLAP, In the
1659 : HOPESTILL FOSTER.
name and by order from ye towne.
Action was taken on the above petition by the Court, as follows :
" The deputies thinke meete to graunt this petition, vizt. a thousand acres of land for the end mentioned in this petition, where they can find it according to law- with reference to the consent of or Honrd magistrates hereto.
WM. TORRY, Clerk.
Consented to by the magists. EDWD. RAWSON, Secty."
On the 14th of November, the selectmen of Dor- chester " impowered William Clarke and Henry Woodward to serch and stake out a Farme of a 1000 acres of land granted vnto the town of Dor- chester for the vse of a scoole by the generall Court held at Boston the 18th of October, 1659."
The business of laying out the land, however, seems to have been delayed. Nearly a quarter of a century after the first vote was passed concerning it, viz. in 1683, "the Worshipful Mr. Stoughton, Enoch Wiswall and John Breck," were chosen to " look after and take care for the laying it out."
On the 29th of October, 1716, Samuel Paul, Capt. Oliver Wiswall, and Capt. Thomas Tilestone, were chosen as a Committee " to look for the thousand acres of land granted to Dorchester school, to see where they could find the same." They were " also empowered to get a surveyor to lay out the said land
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
forthwith, and to make a return of their doings " to the town, at the December meeting.
On the 11th of September, 1717, Mr. Samuel Ca- pen, Sen., and Joseph Hall were appointed to " look after " the said lands, "with all speed, wisdom and discretion for the good of the town."
Finally, after the lapse of about sixty years from the time of the grant, the land was selected and laid out. The tract was located in what was afterwards called Lunenburg, in Worcester Co. (See p. 295.) From the financial accounts of the town, made up for the year 1718, we learn there was "paid at sun- dry times to the committee for laying out 1000 acres of land, £8 13s."
In 1727, Joseph Hall and Edward Foster peti- tioned for the purchase of the school land " beyond Lancaster ;" but the town voted not to sell. Six years after, however, it was decided that the land should be " sold to ye highest bidder, in case there be as much offered and gaue as ye Committe Judge to be ye value thereof." The reason given for this readiness to dispose of the town's property was, that the land " is at present a Charge to ye Town, and not likely to be a Profit in ye Place where it lyes." So it was sold the same year (4th of March, 1733-4) to Benjamin Bird, of Dorchester, for the sum of £400.
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