USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Princeton > History of the town of Princeton in the county of Worcester and commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1759-1915, Volume I > Part 17
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School house in Parker's on same spot as old, he to give land.
E. Raymore.
John Keyes.
4
213
Education
SCHOOLS
1799 Ordered North to be No. I N. E. to be No. 2
East S. West
3 South 4
5 West 6
N. West
7
Districts
1802
1803
1804
1805
I
H. Prentice.
B. Cheever.
2
P. Gregory.
3
4
5
6
Joseph Baker. O. Davis lived)
7
8
Ich. Fisher.
C. Mirick, Jr. J. Mirick. . Jas. Brown. L. Chittenden. Sam. Cobb. S. Mason. N. Clark. Luke Baker.
B. Harrington Jesse Brown. Jonas Smith. J. P. Davis.
Wm. Dodd. John Powers. A. Whitney.
B. Holden, Jr W. Gibbs.
District 6, 1. Hartwell, 1806
School House in road from Capt. Hastings to Meeting House.
North
A. Perry
N. Perry
E. Brooks
E. Mirick 2d
John Hobbs
Joel Read
Amos Sargent J. Sargent
B. Harrington
Widow Eveleth Wm. Barnes Adon. How
Ab. How
C. Mirick
C. Gregory S. Hastings & Jr.
S. Fay, Jr.
Widow Deb. Meriam
E. Mirick M. Gill Sam. Stevenson
South
T. Gleason E. Gleason Josh. Eveleth Wid. Goodnow Edw. Goodnow
Mary Moore (widow) N. Wilder
Wid. Woods £ B. Cheever Wm. Smith J. Dana Wm. Gibbs R. Parmenter J. Murdock
Wm. Richardson H. Bragg
H. Prentice Mich. Gill D. Brooks J. Watson J. Gill N. Reed
White E. Wilson
Town Books have School Districts. 1810. 1806-7 Singing Schools Aaron Gates teacher $25.
1807 Voted not to try stoves for certain districts 1810 Voted to divide Centre School district and build two houses, one on road from Dr. Wilson's to Murdock's at angle of road, and one on road from Hasting's to Meeting House where it intersects the County road, and one near Centre of No. 8. 18II No. 2 School House was 323 rods from John Mirick's and Committee thought it best to have it at corner of road northerly of Widow Beaman's leading to Mrs. Mildred Rand's.
1812 No. 8 School House built on same spot as old one.
I. Symonds.
I. Thompson.
Art. How
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History of Princeton
1816 Voted Aug. 26th to call Centre School town house.
1823 Voted to buy open stoves for school districts not provided.
1827 School Committee named.
1832 New School districts.
1836 New School House No. I on easterly part of Blake's and Cobb's land, of Brick.
No. 4 Built. No. 5 in 1837 of brick.
Brick School house not far from Brook's Station 1889 is No. 5.
1828 John Brooks fitted up for the "Classical School"* "his old store building and it was moved up just this side of Mr. Howard's."
"Was used three years, then sold to Thomas Gill and made over into a barn, and is now a part of R. Davis' barn."
Schools
1838 Dec. .
District No. I 31 Houses 6 18 Houses 2 16 Houses 7 23 Houses 3 18 Houses 8 21 Houses 4 23 Houses 9 28 Houses
5 29 Houses IO 16 Houses 223 Houses
* "Lancaster Gazette" Ad July 6, 1829
NOTICE
PRINCETON ENGLISH AND CLASSICAL SCHOOL
Will be opened on the first Monday in September next. WARREN GOD- DARD Esq of Boston a graduate of Harvard University formerly Preceptor of Sandwich Academy and who sustains a high reputation as a gentleman, scholar and instructor, will take the charge of the school.
A convenient building is provided for the present, with the expectation that, in a few years, a handsome and permanent one will be erected. The situation is peculiarly pleasant and healthy and being retired, is free from the tempta- tions to vice and irregularity to which youth are exposed in more popular places.
A Stage from Boston to Albany passes through the town three times a week, and from Keene, N. H. to Providence, R. I. once a week. Gentlemen in Boston and other larger Towns will find it an eligible situation for their sons.
Mr Goddard will board, instruct and superintend the private studies and the moral conduct of scholars for $33 per quarter. Board in respectable families from $1.33 to $2 per week. Tuition, Common English, $4 per quarter, the higher branches of Mathematicks Natural Philosophy and the Classics $5 per quarter.
For a knowledge of the Character and Qualifications of Mr Goddard apply to Rev S Barrett or Theophilus Parsons Esq. Boston Rev Mr Goodwin, Sand- wich or the Trustees.
Alhponso Brooks
Samuel Clarke
Chandler Smith
Charles Russell John Brooks
Trustees.
Charles Mirick
Caleb Dana
215
Education
Brick House to be built at fork of road below Houghton Osgood's, and No. 2 Cor. of Sewall Mirrick's orchard, north of Gregory road.
According to a memoranda left by the late Albert C. Howe, Schoolhouse No. I stood near farmhouse of H. C. Delano. It was moved by John Stratton in 1834 to its present site, and is now occupied as a residence by Mrs. Ellen West. People around town went with their oxen to help move it. It was brought over Meeting house Hill (so called) to the Common, and to its present location. It took two days."
The house now owned by Michael Kivlon was No. 9. The first school houses were of wood. From 1836 to 1838 or 1840, all the houses except in No. 2 and No. 7 were rebuilt of brick. In the winter of 1872, No. 4 house was burned and rebuilt of wood, in the summer of 1873, on the site of the brick one, near the brook. The old wooden one stood on the height of land, just beyond Warren Kendall's. In 1904 the house was removed to it's present location. No. 9 schoolhouse was sold to John Griffin in 1883 or 1884, for a carriage house. He later sold to John Fay who used it as a paint shop. No. I was sold the same year to John Brooks, Jr. and made into a dwelling house, afterwards occupied by Thomas Kivlon, but owned by the Brooks heirs. These two schools were given up when the Goodnow school rooms in the Library Building were occupied. These two school houses were both built of wood. All the school houses have been remodeled inside, and newly furnished with modern seats. No. 3 school house (wood) was removed to the land now owned by Mrs. Mary (Brown) Bartlett Walton and made into a house now occupied by her. In or about 1843, the present hall and school building were built of wood. No. 10 Everettville school was given up, and soon after Mr. Isaac F. Thompson bought the house and it was torn down. It was a brick house.
No. 7 School house was moved back and remodeled in 1874 or 1875, No. 6 of brick, and No. 5 of brick both remodeled and furnished with new seats. No. 8 was moved back and rebuilt in 1856.
Amounts granted certain years
1784 £45. (Centre £16.14)
1787 £50
1786 £50
1788 £50
Every male person of age of twenty-one years in each plot shall be considered a voter and shall have notice of the time and place of the Squadron meeting, and no money shall be expended without the consent of the majority part of the votes present.
1789 £60
1791 £60
1790 £60
1792 £70
I793 70
1812 475
I794 70 $233.33
1813 540
I795 70
1814 540
1796 70
1815 630
1797 120 A Committee from each
district to provide tea- cher 1816 720
216
History of Princeton
1798 127.10
1820 720
1799 140. $466.67 1821 720
1800 140
1824 585
1801 140
1825 585
1802 $466.67 Committee appointed districts not named 1828 585
1803 $466.67 Committee appointed districts named
1829 615
1804 $466.67
1830 615
1805 $466.67
1840 900
1806 475
The schools of the town have shared in the general progress of education in our land.
The simple course of study of former days, reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic and grammar has gradually given place to a larger curriculum including geography, history, physiology, nature study, drawing, vocal music and sewing, while the High School adds algebra, geometry, rhetoric, civil government, literature, physics, Latin, French, agriculture and cooking.
Many of the schools of the town have been consoli- dated at the Centre, the pupils being conveyed from different parts of the town, at the town's expense. This method has resulted in securing a far larger school, and more efficient instruction.
The beginning of a High School was made in 1891. It has grown in numbers and in extent of curriculum though as yet it provides only a three years course. For some years the consolidated schools and the High School occu- pied rooms in the Town Hall building and the Library building. But the erection of the building on Boylston Avenue has given far better accommodations.
Until within a period of a little more than twenty years the supervision of the schools was entrusted solely to the school committee.
But, now, in accordance with state law a superinten- dent has been chosen, at first for one year, but now for a term of three years, this town being classed for the pur- pose with Westminster and Sterling.
The superintendents have been as follows:
(CLOSET)
-
HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
HIGH SCHOOL ASSISTANT
VENT
SHORE FLUE- BBC -Sowe Five
.......
DOWN
DOWN-
HALL
ONIONYT
LAVATORY
COMMITTEE
ROOM
ALCOVE
SECOND FLOOR OF HIGH SCHOOL
EFFE
CHUMME
HEARTH
PLALE
NORTHERLY DISTRICT SCHOOL HOUSE, 1797-8
PRINCETON HIGH SCHOOL, 1906
/CLOSET)
PRIMARY
INTERMEDIATE
CLOSER
VENT-
SHOME FAL6 . " SHOFF FLUE
WC VENT.
DOWN
ONIONVY
HALL
ONIONVÝ
TEACHER'S
VESTIBULE
ROOM.
POACH
PORCH
FIRST FLOOR OF HIGH SCHOOL
FRESH AIR ROOM
FUEL ROOM
Boy's PLAY ROOM.
GIRL'S PLAY ROOM.
BOILER
BOILER
NO 2
Naf
SMOKE
ARCH
ARCH
ARCH
JINA
SINH
LAVATORY
Boy'sL
LAVATORY
GIRLS
ROST PUBI LIBRA
BASEMENT OF HIGH SCHOOL
CLOSET
217
Education
Flora E. Kendall, 2 yrs. Geo. R. Pinkham, 2 yrs.
Geo. H. Knowlton, 4 yrs. Albert L. Barbour, I yr. George Rugg, 7 yrs.
Edgar H. Grout, 4 yrs. Marshall A. Edson, 3 yrs. the present incumbent, H. C. Waldron, 3 yrs. The school committee at present are;
Wm. M. Roper, Jr., Arthur E. Hutchinson, Ethel R. Mirick. Miss Mirick has the distinction of being the first woman chosen on the School Board in this town.
CHAPTER X
MILITARY HISTORY
French and Indian War. - During the French and Indian War of 1755, the town of Rutland furnished many men for service among whom were quite a number who were living in the East Wing, or soon after became residents.
A roll of a company under command of Capt. Peter Davis of Rutland which marched for relief of Fort William Henry, August 1757, bears the following names, all of whom were more or less identified with the history of Princeton : 1
Joseph Eveleth
Boaz Moore
Eliphalet How
Isaac Wheeler
Oliver Davis
Ephraim Allen
Robert Cowdin Timothy Keyes
Samuel Woods
Sadey Mason
Joseph Gibbs
Joshua Nurse
Robert Forbes
Seth Savage
Robert Woods, Jr
Lieut. Benj. Holden
then of Dedham was in the service in 1760.
Revolutionary War. - Although one of the towns iso- lated from the centre of excitement in the approaching difficulties with the mother country, Princeton was not unaffected nor indifferent to the troubles which bore more directly upon the larger and more accessible places. The earliest record of the action of the town, in relation to revolutionary measures was entered March 7th, 1768, 1 Mass. Archives, Vol. 95, page 531.
218
219
Military History
when the voters at their annual Town Meeting, denounced the Act of Parliament, imposing duties on paper, glass, painters' colors and tea imported into the colonies. At a public meeting held in January 1773, the inhabitants dis- cussed the grievances of the colonists. The subject was referred to a committee, who were instructed to draw up an expression of their views, and the following resolutions were presented and unanimously adopted by the town.
Resolved: I. That the connection between the mother country and these colonies is of great consequence to both, if mutually kept up; but when digressions are made from established compacts, that connection begins to lessen, and, of course, creates an alienation, the effects of which must be attended with bad consequences. For the resolute man, in a just cause, while in a state of freedom, never will consent to any abridgments or deprivations of his just rights and disdains threats or any measures of com- pulsion to submission thereto - not like the dog, the more he is beaten the more he fawns - but, on the contrary, with a noble mind, defends to the last and every stripe stimulates his efforts and endeavors in defence of his own or his country's cause.
2. That this town, as a part of this province, whensoever their rights, liberties and properties are infringed upon, by what authority soever, that they, in honor to their forefathers, by whose solitude and industry, under God, they have enjoyed the fruits of their labors - for the regard they bear to posterity - as friends to their country, have good right to complain and manifest their uneasiness at such proceedings.
3. That the repeated attempts to make the people of this province submit to unjust taxation and absolute dependency upon the crown, to- gether, appear subversive of, and inconsistent with, the constitution of a free people.
4. That such measures are unconstitutional and demand the attention of all well disposed people and a mutual connection and joint adherence in proper means for redress, that thereby the rights and liberties, civil and religious, which have been transmitted to us from our illustrious ancestors, might be kept inviolate by us their posterity.
5. That they shall be always ready to concur in all just and proper means that this province and the neighboring colonies may come into for the common good and in conjunction with the friends of liberty, shall bear testimony to all invasions upon our rights and liberties.
6. That this report (these resolutions) be put upon the town record, that posterity may know they had a sense of their invaluable rights and liberties and were not willing to part with them, but by their own consent, and that they are determined to vindicate and support them as times and occasions may call for.
Committee { - Ephraim Woolson, Chairman. Boaz Moore. Ebenezer Jones. Charles Brooks.
At the annual town meeting in March, 1774, it was voted "to choose a committee of correspondence to com-
220
History of Princeton
municate with committees of correspondence in other towns in this province, to give the earliest intelligence to the inhabitants of this town of any designs that they shall discover at any subsequent period against our natural and constitutional rights." This committee consisted of Benja- min Holden, Joseph Eveleth, Samuel Woods, William Thompson, John Jones, Adonijah Howe and Sadey Mason, four of whom were to constitute a quorum.
It is related that later on when word reached Princeton that a band of the King's troops had made an excursion up the Mystic River and carried off a quantity of gun- powder from the Charlestown Arsenal, it thoroughly aroused the inhabitants, and they spent the night in mould- ing pewter plates into musket bullets, and other prepara- tions for immediate service.
As soon as arrangements were completed, several of the inhabitants started and had proceeded as far as Lancaster when they were met by messengers from Boston, who assured them their further advance was unnecessary.
Princeton was by no means backward in the part it took in the Revolutionary War.
In March, 1775, a company of minute men was formed, armed, and equipped, and ordered to "train once a week" and to "put themselves in a proper position for defense." The officers of this company were Capt. Ebenezer Jones, Lieut. Joseph Sargent, and Ensign Samuel Hastings.
At the same time the town voted to "procure seventy- two dollars for their use, besides the necessary accoutre- ments;" the selectmen being instructed to pay said money "when they marched."
On the memorable 19th of April, 1775, the arrival of a messenger shouting, "to arms! to arms! the war has begun !" and the ringing of the church bell summoned the people together. In a short time the minute-men were paraded on the common and took up their line of march towards Lexington and Concord.
During the whole revolutionary struggle the people of Princeton cheerfully met the demands of the State and
George to Itag fill ye vast 1776 Jakphereleth Ethrou Surfe for Command Thomann Graves John Stuart Calvin witder Asa Roper Nathan Heavy® Jacob norge Bartholomew Chever Alet Harington. Sofialy miricle-
John Brigham William Dot .
Solomon Norge Jut ROS~
PUL LIBRARY
22I
Military History
Congress. In January, 1775, as recommended by Con- gress, a contribution of money and provisions was raised for the towns of Boston and Charlestown, and when, on the first of May, an order by the Continental Congress provided for the removal of indigent inhabitants of Boston and distribution among the inland towns, Princeton voted to receive its proportion of twenty-four.
On the 14th of June, a motion was made to see if the town would support independence, if it should be de- clared; and it was voted unanimously to concur. On the 14th of July news of the Declaration of Independence was received. The messenger bearing the Declaration from Philadelphia to Boston was intercepted in Worcester and a copy obtained which was read to the people from the porch of the Old South Church by Isaiah Thomas, the patriot printer. The good news quickly spread to the ad- joining towns reaching Princeton that same day.
On Sept. 10th one-fifth part of the militia of the state were called out to march to the defense of New York, and one-fourth part that remained were required to be armed and equipped and ready to march at a moment's notice, if their services were needed.
Calls were sent out at frequent intervals for soldiers for the defense of Boston and other exposed places. In 1777, a requisition was made for every seventh of the male in- habitants over 16 years of age to complete the quota of the State.
At the town meeting in March, Princeton voted to give twenty pounds to each man enlisting in the Continental army for three years or during the war. They also voted to procure and deliver shirts, stockings, and other clothing, for the Massachusetts soldiers in the Continental army in the proportion of one set to every seven males over 16 years of age of its population.
On August 9th, 1777, fourteen men were drafted to join the Northern army three weeks under General Lincoln. Under the resolve of June 12, 1778, for raising 180 men for an expedition to Rhode Island, several were drafted from
222
History of Princeton
Princeton, and on the 23rd of June, two Princeton citizens were required as guards to the captured troops of General Burgoyne, and a bounty of £72 was voted to soldiers en- listing and for the support of their families. The town also voted to obtain on a loan the money necessary for the payment of bounties.
On Oct. 19, 1778, the town voted "to sell the steel which was voted to this town by the General Court, which is now in the hands of Mr. Will" Thompson," also "to dispose of the gun locks in D" How's hands." These articles sold for £19-18-6ª.
On Oct. 9, 1779, nine soldiers were enlisted to join Gen- eral Washington at Claverick on the Hudson; and were supported by the town at an average cost of £50 each.
In June 1780, twelve men were enlisted for the Conti- nental army at Claverick and provisions were furnished for the army; £8460 for the purchase of beef and £1600 at another time. The town secured by loan to meet its obligations and to raise additional men for the army £37,305-168-7ª.
As the war progressed the supplying of soldiers became more difficult and they were procured only by the offer of exorbitant bounties and additional gratuities. At a meet- ing Jan. 17, 1781, it was "voted that each soldier that shall enlist in the Continental service for three years, or during the war, receive one hundred hard dollars in the following manner; viz .: Twenty hard dollars, and twenty more at the exchange, viz .: Seventy-five for one to be paid before he marches; thirty dollars to be paid six months after marching; to be delivered to the soldier in camp if re- quired, and, at the end of three years, each soldier shall receive twelve three-year-old cattle of a middling size, or current money equivalent to purchase said cattle, and each soldier shall receive the aforesaid encouragement only in proportion to the time he shall be in the service.
In March a levy of £2025, old currency, was made to defray army expenses and in May the selectmen report having "paid to the war committee at sundry times
223
Military History
£19,273-138-6ª, and later in the year £9000 for beef and £784-108 in money for soldiers.
The rapid depreciation of paper currency rendered the normal amount of taxation excessive, the true value of appropriations is difficult to determine, but an approximate idea can be gained from the average depreciation each month, viz .: In 1781 from Feb. 27 to May I, one dollar of specie was equal to 187 cents in Continental money; 225 to May 25; 300 to June 15; 400 to Oct. I; and after that date Continental money was practically worthless.
The leading authority on the difference between training bands and the alarm list is the fifth volume of the Province Laws, pages 445 and 451. The training band meant the militia, limited to men from sixteen to fifty years of age, while the alarm list included men up to sixty-five, and is popularly known as minutemen. Minutemen were or- ganized as early as 1774, and were a contrivance for getting round the authority of the crown and the loyalists over the militia. It is not generally known that the present system of European armies was copied from Massachusetts. And we forget that up to about 1783 Massachusetts was a military community, and Boston was a military town. The king and his officers lost the Revolutionary War be- cause they expected to fight farmers and mechanics, and met a military people whom Prussia was glad to take for a model.
The study of this early period in the establishment of the Bay State Colony displays the fact that the gradual de- velopment of our military organizations had their rise for the greater part in the defence of distant and sparsely popu- lated settlements, and owed their inspiration to the united action of town and church. The Minute Men were of a later organization, not earlier than 1773. The alarm list had for special purpose the defence of town and church against attacks by the Indians. The town provided the powder and ball; each man owned his rifle or shotgun, but was responsible to the town for the use of the ammunition, none of which was to be used for private purposes, such, for
224
History of Princeton
instance, as hunting game, or shooting-matches. Each Sunday the men of the alarm list brought their guns, pow- der and ball to the church. After morning service they were inspected by one of the deacons, and any deficiency in ammunition was to be paid for by the man found to be deficient. In some towns, perhaps in all, a small building was set apart, usually in the cemetery, where the town's arms, powder and ball were kept. The Minute Men of 1773 were originally composed of about one-third of the members of the train band or company. They were to be ready to respond at a minute's notice to proceed to any threatened point of attack or danger without waiting for the gathering of the company. The organization was first established by what was called the "Liberty Men" of each town against British attacks, and later the town company as a whole took the name of Minute Men, as was the case at Lexington and Concord.
Records of the Military Company in Princeton*
Commission Officers Eben" Jones Captain
Received their Commissions
Caleb Mirick Ist Lieut.
Under Collo John Murray
Josh Sargent 2nd Lieut.
at Rutland Apr 7th 1774 -
Eph™ Hartwell Ensign
John Jones Clerk, appointed by the Captain, & Sworn ApT. 1774.
Sergeants
Charles Brooks Sam1 Hastings Enoch Brooks
Drummrs Wm Whitteker Jacob Norcross
Norman Clark Silas Houghton
Fifers [ John Chandler
Corporals
Peabody How
l Jos Sargent JnT.
Abijah Harrington
N.B. Elisha Gale Senior was ye 3rd Sergeant & on his Deceased was suceeded by E Bro [ ].
Tilly Littlejohn
Isaac Parker
Abner How
Jona" Geary
Elisha Wilder
Jonas Keyes
Joseph Phelps JT Sam Thomson Sam1 Woods J'
On inside of cover of original is the following:
Capt. Jones Entertained Ist Training June 218t 1774
Lieut. Mirick 2d Aug. 30
Lieut. Sargent 3d Sept. 28
Ensign Hartwell 4 th Nov. 29
225
Military History
Timº Goodenough Ichabd Standley
Asa Hoit
Sylva8 Oaks
Elijah Hardey Jacob Savage Asa Copland
John Barker
Moses Herringtn
Nathel Cutter
John Trask
Oliver Davis Jr Dan1 Park Jun" Sam1 Robins Jr
Elisha Hobbs
Jos. Whitney
Eph™ Mirick
Josiah Mirick
George Davidson
Benj" Treadway
Jabez Stratton
Jabez Gerould
Wm Parkhurst
Phing Gregory
Jesse Gleason
Barthow Cheever
Isaac Thomson
Nathan Jones
Eli Stearns
Jos. Haynes
Thos Hapgood
Elijah Farrin"
Uriah Newton
David Hows
Manassh Roper
Elisha Gale Jr
Dan' Gibbs
Obadh Allen Aaron Ball
Daniel Sumner
Ephr Roper
Luther Parm
Stephen Herrington
Silas Fay
Sam1 Whitney
Phing Beaman
Jos. Gibbs
Abel Herrington
Isaac Norcross
Benj" Smith
David Nutting
David Everett
Levy Wyman
Ephraim Smith Francis Dean Abel Mosman
Jacob Morse
Sam1 Mirick
Eleazer Pechard
Elipht Rogers
Wm Richardson Jr
Oliver Mosman
Belcher Richards
Eph™ Jones
Philen Robins
John Gleason
Stephen Hastings
Andrew Barber
Thos. Gleason
Sam Kendal
Jonathan Phillips
Joshua Mosm"
Moses Stickney
Nathan Bernard
Sam1 Mosman
David Bennett
Moses Ball
Wm Dodds
Eleazer Rider
Isaac Kendall
Nathan Smith Andrew Paterson
David Woolley
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