USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Norton > History of the town of Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, from 1669 to 1859 > Part 25
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Those old schoolrooms were dark and cold When Winter's sun ran low, But darker was the master's frown, A hundred years ago : And high hung up the birchen rod, That all the school might see ; Which taught the boys obedience, As well as " Rule of Three."
Though 'twas but little that they learned A hundred years ago, Yet what they got they ne'er let slip; 'Twas well whipped in, you know. But now the times are greatly changed : The rod has had its day ; The boys are won by gentle words, The girls by love obey.
The schoolhouse now a palace is ; The scholars, kings and queens ; They master Algebra and Greek Before they reach their teens. Where once was crying, Music sweet Her soothing influence sheds ; Ferules are used for beating time, And not for beating heads.
Yes, Learning was a ragged boy, A hundred years ago: With six weeks' schooling in a year, What could the urchin do? But now he is a full-grown man, And boasts attainments rare : He's got his silver slippers on, And running everywhere.
The house was well filled, and the audience seemed much pleased with the exercises. The first school in this house commenced Oct. 25, 1853 ; and was taught by Miss Amelia D. Blanding, of Rehoboth.
From the town-records, it appears that a schoolhouse was standing August, 1799, in the 5th District, near
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COMMON SCHOOLS.
where Mr. Seth Smith now (1858) resides. Most probably, this house was built before the one in No. 2 by Judge Leonard. Rev. I. Braman (already referred to), speaking of the schools in his boyhood, says, " In Norton, there was but one schoolhouse. That was in the east part of the town, a short distance south of Dr. Parker's." Of course, this must be the house in No. 5; for Dr. Parker lived where Benjamin Blandin (lately deceased) resided, - a near neighbor of Seth Smith.
This house in No. 5, says Deacon Stillman Smith, - who went to school in it, - " was a square build- ing, with a four-sided cap roof, with the chimney standing in one corner." He says, "It was moved in 1802 to near where the schoolhouse now stands." It remained there about a year unfinished, and then another house was built for the district by Joseph Hunt.1
It stood a few rods northerly from where the present house is located. Fifteen or twenty years since, it was moved nearly on to the site of the present house; and was there burned on the night of March 14, 1854. The present house was erected the same year, at a cost of six hundred dollars ; and the first school was taught in it by Miss Maria J. Newcomb, commencing Oct. 16, 1854.
It is thought that a schoolhouse was erected in No. 6 in 1799 or 1800. It was moved back from the road, an addition made to it, thoroughly repaired, and modernized to some extent, in 1843. It is still used for school purposes, though much changed for the better, both in its interior and exterior appearance, from what it originally was.
In 1801, a schoolhouse was built in No. 7. The tax of a hundred and thirty-eight dollars and ninety- six cents for building it was made Jan. 12, 1801. It
1 We think the old house was moved in 1801, or earlier; for, Nov. 28, 1801, the district voted to raise a tax of a hundred and sixty dollars, - which was made by the assessors, Oct. 9, 1802, - no doubt to build a new house.
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COMMON SCHOOLS.
stood till December, 1854; when it was torn down, and incorporated into the new house, erected January, 1855, - which stands a few feet farther from the road, directly back of where the old house stood. It cost a little less than six hundred dollars. The first school in it commenced Feb. 26, 1855; and was taught by Edwin Goss, of Sterling.
The old house in No. 8 is believed to have been erected previous to 1800 : I know not the exact year. It stood a few rods westerly, on the opposite side of the road, from where the present house stands. The new house was erected in the summer of 1853. The first school in it was taught by Miss Sarah E. Hitch- cock, who commenced the summer term of the school for that year in the old house, and closed it in the new Sept. 16, - having occupied it about one month.
The division of the school-money among the several districts, so that every child in town shall receive as nearly as possible an equal amount of schooling, is a very important matter.
Various methods of apportioning the money have been adopted by the town from time to time. Whether any of them is the best that could have been devised, is a question for the consideration of the friends of equal school rights and privileges. It is, no doubt, a difficult matter, where some of the districts have a large number of scholars and others but very few, to so divide the money that each scholar shall have the same amount and quality of schooling. No general rule will bear equally upon all.
In the warrant for a town-meeting, March 19, 1764, there was an article -
" To vote (if they see) that the people of the Respective Quarters whare the schools in sd. town have been usually Keept shall draw out of the Treasury of sd. town Their pro- portionable part of the money Raised in sd. town, to be used by them towards keeping a school in sd. Respective Quarters, as they shall think propper."
We do not find any action upon this matter.
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COMMON SCHOOLS.
At the March meeting in 1767, it was "voted that the town will divide the money to Each school Quarter according to the Rates each school Quarter pays ; " and Dr. Gideon Tiffany, Isaac Hodges, John Crane, George Leonard, jun., Nathan Babbit, Benjamin Cope- land, Dr. Jonathan Pratt, Elijah Hodges, and Col. Ephraim Leonard, were chosen a committee to appor- tion the money in accordance with the above vote, and to report at an adjourned meeting. At the ad- journment, the above vote was reconsidered; and it was decreed that each of the quarters " draw the 9th part of the money voted by the town for the school."
In May, 1768, it was voted that each of the quarters " draw the money that they pay towards the support of the school, according to the tax-bill ; " and a commit- tee of three in each quarter was appointed to attend to the matter. Then it was "voted, that, while the money is expending in any quarter of the town, every person hath a Right to send their children to the sd. school."
Oct. 6, 1783, the town " voted that each school ground, after a new Division, shall draw their part of the money raised for schooling, in order to hire a schoolmaster." This vote is somewhat ambiguous. It was probably intended that each district, or quarter, should draw as much money as was assessed on the polls and estates of that district; which, of course, would not be very just, unless the valuation of the several districts was the same, or nearly so. Yet this division was, no doubt, satisfactory to a majority of the town ; for we find no vote in reference to a divi- sion of the school money after this, till May 12, 1806, when it was "voted that each school quarter shall draw money for schooling, according to the number of scholars from 4 years to 18, and the scholars to be confined to their own quarters." This was, no doubt, deemed an innovation, a subversion of justice, and therefore not to be tolerated. Hence, on the first day of the following September, it was "voted to reconsider the vote about schooling, and to have it stand as it was the last year." But we find no vote
=
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COMMON SCHOOLS.
relative to a division of the money in 1805. There is but little doubt that the division " the last year " was in accordance with the vote of October, 1783. Another attempt at change was made May 11, 1807. It was then " voted that the school money shall be divided according to the number of children, from four years old to twenty, in each quarter." Again the conserva- tives rally ; and, July 20 of the same year, it was " voted that our school money should be divided as it was the last year."
Thus, in all probability, the old system of appor- tioning the money prevailed till May 12, 1817, when the town voted " that each school district shall draw money according to the number of scholars it contains, from the age of four years to twenty-one." One man in each district was chosen to number the scholars.
This plan was not long satisfactory, as will be seen by the following action, taken Nov. 2, 1818: " Voted that the money raised for schooling be equally divided among the several school districts." In accordance with this vote, the money was divided till April 5, 1847, when the present method of apportioning the money was adopted; which is to divide one-half of the amount raised by the town for schooling equally. among the districts, and the other half according to the number of scholars in the district. The money received from the State School Fund is divided equally among the several districts. By the law of June 25, 1789, it was made the duty of the ministers of the gospel, and the selectmen of the several towns, or "other persons" who should be "specially chosen " for that purpose, to visit and inspect the schools in their respective towns "once in every six months at least," to inquire into the regulation and discipline thereof, and the proficiency of the school, &c. ; giving reasonable notice of their intended visitation. And it was also made their duty " to use their best endeavors that the youth of their respective towns do regularly attend school."
I cannot find any choice of " other persons," nor
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COMMON SCHOOLS.
any action of the town relative to the matter, till May 12, 1817, when the town chose "a committee," consisting of Earl P. White, William Verry, and Lu- ther Lincoln, " to inspect the schools with the select- men at the opening and closing of the same." There is no evidence to show that a similar committee was rechosen. March 4, 1826, an Act was passed by the General Court, requiring towns to choose a School Committee, of not less than five persons, to " have the general charge and superintendence of all the public schools in their respective towns." . This committee were required to visit the schools during the first week, and on some day within two weeks of the close ; and one or more of them to visit all the schools in town once a month, without giving notice of their visit. The committee were to make a report, to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, of various matters relating to public instruction, similar to what is now required. This law marks a new era in the develop- ment of our common-school system; and, as might have been expected, met with a strong opposition from a portion of the inhabitants, and from some towns in their corporate capacity. It found opponents in Nor- ton, as will immediately appear.
April 3, 1826, there was a town-meeting for the purpose of choosing " a school committee to make out a return, to the Secretary of this Commonwealth, of the amount of money expended for the support of schools, the number of scholars, the time of keeping the schools," &c.
This meeting was adjourned to May 1. Then met, and " voted to dismiss the above warrant, and to have nothing more to do with it." The end of the matter was not yet ; for, in ten days, John Gilbert and others knock at the door of the selectmen's office with a peti- tion for a town-meeting " to choose a school committee agreeably to a late law of this commonwealth." The meeting was held May 18, and it was " voted to choose a committee consisting of eight persons." Accord- ingly, one was chosen from each school district. Their
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COMMON SCHOOLS.
names may be seen further on, heading the list of the School Committee. Within a week after they were chosen, Elkanah Wood and others petition the select- men for a town-meeting " to see if the town will dis- miss the school committee chosen the present month from any further duties." The town met to act upon the matter, May 31; chose a moderator, and dissolved the meeting.
Thus the attempt to " crush out" the School Com- mittee most signally failed. Yet, from that day to this, they have never been regarded with any special favor by a minority of the legal voters. But, from 1826 to the present time, a School Committee has been annually chosen, with the exception of the year 1829. Whether chosen or not that year, is uncertain. No record of such a choice is made on the town-books. The town-clerk for that year thinks none were chosen. The opposition to them was so strong, that he thinks the election of them was, by general consent, permitted to go by default.
The committee chosen in 1826 made a report to the town, through the chairman, Rev. Pitt Clarke; for, April 2, 1827, the town " voted to accept the report of the school committee." A copy of this report is now on file in the town-clerk's office. The law of 1826, establishing the office of School Committee, did not, however, require them to report to their respective towns, but to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. For more than ten years thereafter, we find no allu- sion on the town-books to a report of the School Com- mittee ; and probably none was made.
By an Act of the Legislature, passed April 13, 1838, School Committees were required annually to "make a detailed report of the condition of the several Public Schools in their respective towns ; " which report was either to "be read in open town-meeting," or to " be printed and distributed for the use of the inhabi- tants," &c. In obedience to this law, the committee chosen in 1838 made a report to the town at the April meeting in 1839. It was written and read by Rev. A.
24
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COMMON SCHOOLS.
M. Bridge. It is believed that a regular report of the committee has been yearly made to the town since that time.
At a town-meeting, March 9, 1846, it was " ordered, that 500 copies of the Report of the School committee be printed and distributed for the use of the town ; " and from that time to the present, with the exception of 1847, it has been annually printed and distributed through the town ; and has thus, no doubt, been pro- ductive of much good.
The following is a list of the School Committee of Norton, from 1826 to 1857 inclusive : -
1826. Rev. Pitt Clarke, William Wetherell, John Hall, 2d, Simeon Blandin, Ephraim Raymond, John Crane, Calvin Lincoln, John Arnold, jun.
1827. Rev. Pitt Clarke, Laban Wheaton, Ephraim Ray- mond.
1828. Rev. Pitt Clarke, E. P. White, Laban Wheaton.
1829. Probably none chosen.
1830.
Rev. Pitt Clarke, Thomas Braman, Eddy Lincoln. Rev. Pitt Clarke, Thomas Braman, jun., John Crane.
1831.
1832.
Rev. Pitt Clarke, John Crane, Thomas Braman, jun.
1833. Rev. Pitt Clarke, Thomas Braman, Thomas Copeland. 1834. Rev. Pitt Clarke, Thomas Braman, Thomas Copeland.
1835. Dr. Richard F. Sweet, Eddy Lincoln, Cromwell Leo- nard.
1836. Rev. A. M. Bridge, Rev. C. W. Allen, R. F. Sweet. Rev. Asarelah M. Bridge, Rev. Cyrus W. Allen, R. F. Sweet.
1837.
1838. Rev. A. M. Bridge, Rev. C. W. Allen, R. F. Sweet. 1839. Eddy Lincoln, George B. Crane, Zebulon P. White. 1840. Rev. A. M. Bridge, Rev. C. W. Allen, Rev. Nathan Chapman.
1841. Rev. C. W. Allen, Rev. William P Tilden, Almond Tucker.
1842. Rev. William P. Tilden, Almond Tucker, Rodolphus H. Williams.
1843. Rev. William P. Tilden, Almond Tucker, R. H. Wil- liams.
1844. Rev. William P. Tilden, R. H. Williams, Rev. Samuel J. Carr.
1845. R. H. Williams, J. Calvin Crane, Almond Tucker.
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MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL HISTORY.
1846. R. H. Williams, J. C. Crane, A. Tucker.
1847. R. H. Williams, A. Tucker, Rev. Amory Gale.
1848. Rev. William Barrows, J. C. Crane, Augustus Lane.
1849. Rev. Frederic Hinckley, Charles W. Hodges, Augus- tus Lane.
1850. Rev. F. Hinckley, A. Lane, C. W. Hodges.
1851. Rev. William Read, Rev. S. P. Snow, J. C. Crane.
1852. James B. Lincoln, Dr. Benjamin M. Round, Benjamin E. Sweet.
1853. Rev. George F. Clark, Rev. Franklin Holmes, Dr. Benjamin M. Round.
1855.
1854. Rev. G. F. Clark, Rev. F. Holmes, R. H. Williams. Christopher Comstock, A. A. Lincoln, jun., Thomas T. Rockwood.
1856. Rev. George F. Clark, Rev. John A. Gibson, Benja- min E. Sweet.
1857. Eddy Lincoln, Benjamin E. Sweet, R. Henry Hall.
CHAPTER XX.
MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL HISTORY.
"Are you good men and true? " - SHAKSPEARE.
Ir is believed that most of the town-meetings, from the organization of the town till the Town House was built in 1843, were held in the "Publick Meeting-house," either in the South or North Precinct, but principally at the former place.
The first warrant for a town-meeting, that we find recorded on the town-books, is dated " February ye 20 day, Annoque Domini 1718-19;" and. the meeting- house was the place where the voters were to as- semble.
Occasionally, the meetings were adjourned to a private dwelling-house, probably on account of the inclemency of the weather, - the meeting-house hav- ing no means of warming it.
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MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL HISTORY.
By the loss of the records from 1711 to 1715, we are unable to give the names of all the prominent town- officers for those years. From various papers and sources, we have learned the names of a few of the officers before the commencement of the records now extant; and, in cases where there is some doubt, we insert a question-mark (?).
The names of the town-clerks for 1711 and 1712, I find attached to marriage certificates; the treasurer's name for 1711, in a constable's warrant; those of the selectmen for 1711, on the town-records, in connection with a return of a highway; those of two of the se- lectmen in 1712, on a deed, given to them by George Leonard, of some land on which the meeting-house stood ; those of 1713, on the North-Purchase Records, pp. 38 and 39; those of 1714, on the town-records at- tached to a return of highway.
The annual meetings for the choice of town-officers, from 1712 to 1858, have been held in March. The meetings for the choice of Governor, from the adop- tion of the Constitution in 1780, were held in April, till the year 1831, when the Constitution was amended so that the election should take place in November. The meetings to choose representative to General Court were usually held in May, till the year 1831. Since then, they have been held on the day of the Governor's election.
We now lay before our readers the names of the moderators of the annual March meetings, the town- clerks, treasurers, representatives, selectmen, assessors, tithing-men, and wardens, for each year from 1711 to 1857. We give the titles attached to the names as we find them on the records; and it will be understood that a portion of these officers, previous to 1770, be- longed to the North Precinct, now Mansfield.
MODERATOR.
TOWN-CLERK.
John Briggs.
George Leonard. George Leonard ( ? ). George Leonard (? ). George Leonard. George Leonard.1
Samuel Hodges. John Wetherell, sen. Jonathan Lincoln. Jonathan Lincoln. John Briggs, sen.
George Leonard, Esq. Voted not to send.
John Hodges.
John Hodges, sen.
John Hodges, sen. Nicholas White.
1719. 1720. 1721. 1722.
John Briggs. Benjamin Williams. Benjamin Williams.
George Leonard.
Josiah Pratt. Josiah Pratt.
Capt. Samuel Brintnell.
1723. Lieut. Nicholas White.
George Leonard.
Daniel Braman.
John Hodges.3 Samuel Hodges.
1725. Nicholas White.
George Leonard.
Simeon Wetherell.
William Stone.
1726. John Briggs, 2d.
George Leonard.
William Stone.
George Leonard.
Lieut. Nicholas White.
George Leonard.
William Stone.
George Leonard.4
1727. 1728. Capt. Samuel Brintnell.
George Leonard.
William Stone.
Capt. Samuel Brintnell.
1729. John Briggs, 2d.
George Leonard.
William Stone.
Capt. Samuel Brintnell.
1 Sept. 18, John Hodges was chosen town-clerk in place of George Leonard, deceased.
2 At a meeting for the choice of representative, May 13, 1720, " Cap. Brintinal had 28 Eight vots, being the megoletry of the vots. then the Selectmen ajurned the sd. meeating for the Space of two ours, & Sent one of the Selectmen, & another man with Him, to cap. Brintinal's for his answer; & Cap. Brintinal's wife Told the Inbasidars her husband was Gon to Coneticut (nameley, to Ash- ford), & she did not Expect him home tell the next tuesday ; & If he went farther, as he did Expect when he went from home, not So soon. Sd. brintinal left a note Signeyfeying sumthing: but, the selectmen not understanding what it ment, Then said meeating was called a Gain; &, by the megoletry of the voters then present, Samuel Hodges was chosen, & warned In by the Con- staben; & sd. Hodges Excepted."
3 At a meeting for the purpose of choosing a representative, May 18, Samuel Brintnell, Nicholas White, and John Newland, sen., were severally chosen representative, but " Refused to Sarve." Then "they called for a vote for another; and thare was not one vote brought in for any other person." So the town was unrepresented.
4 He probably resigned; for, Nov. 13, 1727, Capt. Samuel Brintnell was chosen representative.
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MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL HISTORY.
24*
1711. 1712. 1713. 1714. 1715. John Hodges. John Hodges. 1716. 1717. 1718. John Hodges, sen.
John Hodges.
John Hodges.
John Briggs, sen.
John Hodges.
Eleazer Eddy.
Samuel Hodges.2
1724. John Briggs, sen.
George Leonard.
Simeon Wetherell.
George Leonard.
TREASURER. Nicholas White.
REPRESENTATIVE.
MODERATOR.
TOWN-CLERK.
TREASURER.
1730. John Briggs, 2d.
George Leonard.
William Stone.
1731. John Briggs, 2d.
John Hodges.
William Stone.
1732. George Leonard.
John Hodges.
William Stone.
1733. George Leonard.
John Hodges, the elder.
William Stone.
1734. 1735. 1736.
George Leonard, Esq. George Leonard, Esq.
John Hodges, 1st.
William Stone.
William Stone.
1737.
George Leonard, Esq. George Leonard, Esq.
John Hodges, 1st. John Hodges, 1st.
William Stone.
Capt. Joseph Hodges.
1738. George Leonard, Esq.
John Hodges, 1st.
Benjamin Cobb.
Ephraim Leonard, Esq.
1739. George Leonard, Esq.
John Hodges, 1st.
Benjamin Cobb.
Lieut. Benjamin Williams.
1740. George Leonard, Esq.
John Hodges, 1st.
Benjamin Cobb.
George Leonard, Esq.
1741. George Leonard, Esq. 1742. George Leonard, Esq.
John Hodges, 1st.
Benjamin Cobb.
1743. George Leonard, Esq.
George Leonard.
Benjamin Pratt. Jonathan Lawrence.
George Leonard. George Leonard.2 Ephraim Leonard. Capt. Josiah Pratt.
1744. Ephraim Leonard, Esq.
George Leonard, Esq.
1745. Capt. Simeon Wetherell.
George Leonard, Esq.
Capt. Samuel Caswell.
1746. Ephraim Leonard, Esq.
George Leonard.
Capt. Samuel Caswell.
1747.
William Stone. William Stone.
George Leonard.
John Andrews. John Andrews. Lieut. Benjamin Cobb. Benjamin Cobb. Benjamin Cobb.
Ephraim Leonard, Esq.
1748.
1749. Capt. Simeon Wetherell.
George Leonard, Esq.
Benjamin Cobb.
Mr. Benjamin Cobb. Mr. Josiah White. Mr. Josiah White.
1750. Ephraim Leonard, Esq.
George Leonard, Esq. George Leonard, jun.
William Stone, jun.
Ephraim Leonard, Esq.
1752. Hon. George Leonard, Esq.
David Williams.
William Stone, jun.
Ephraim Leonard, Esq.
1753.
Hon. George Leonard, Esq.
David Williams.
No record of any choice.
Voted not to send.3
1754. Ephraim Leonard, Esq.
David Williams.
William Stone, jun.
Ephraim Leonard, Esq.
1 He was chosen Jan. 29, 1730-1, for " the remaining part of the year."
2 .He probably resigned; for, on the 1st of June, Ephraim Leonard was chosen representative.
3 May 14, 1753, the selectmen were chosen agents to memorialize the General Court that the town might not be fined for neg- lecting to send a representative, on account of the great expense the South Precinct had incurred in building a meeting-house and settling a minister. For petition, see State Papers, vol. Ixxxvii. p. 322. The town was, however, fined £20; which was remitted by the General Court, May 31, 1754.
MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL HISTORY.
REPRESENTATIVE.
282
Mr. Samuel Clapp. George Leonard. Capt. Ephraim Leonard. Ephraim Leonard.
John Hodges, 1st.
William Stone.
Samuel Brintnell.1 Samuel Brintnell. George Leonard.
1751. John Fisher.
George Leonard.
Benjamin Cobb.
John Hodges, 1st.
MODERATOR.
1755. Ephraim Leonard, Esq.
David Williams. David Williams.
1756. Ephraim Leonard, Esq. 1757. Lieut. Benjamin Cobb.
David Williams.
David Williams.
William Cobb. William Cobb.
William Cobb.
Major Thomas Morey.
Thomas Morey, Esq.
1761. 1762.
George Leonard, jun., Esq.
David Williams.
Thomas Morey, Esq.
Thomas Morey, Esq.
George Leonard, jun., Esq.
David Williams.
David Williams.
George Leonard, jun., Esq.
George Leonard, jun., Esq.
1766. George Leonard, jun., Esq. 1767. George Leonard, jun., Esq. 1768. George Leonard, jun., Esq. Dr. George Wheaton. .Thomas Morey, Esq. Hon. George Leonard, jr., Esq. Lieut. William Cobb.
David Williams. David Williams.
Mr. John Crane.
David Williams.
Mr. John Crane.
Dr. George Wheaton. Dr. George Wheaton. George Leonard, jun., Esq.
1769. 1770. 1771. 1772. 1773. Thomas Morey, Esq.
David Williams. David Williams.
George Makepeace.
George Makepeace.
Dr. George Wheaton.
David Williams. John King.1
Israel Trow.
1774. Thomas Morey, Esq.
John King.
Israel Trow.
1775.
Lieut. William Cobb.
John King.
Israel Trow.
1776. William Homes, Esq.
John King.
Noah Wiswall.
1777. William Homes, Esq.
John King.
Mr. Noah Wiswall.
1778. Lieut. William Cobb.
John King.
1779.
William Homes, Esq.
Capt. Silas Cobb.
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