USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Milton > The history of Milton, Mass., 1640 to 1877 > Part 33
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324
HISTORY OF MILTON.
In 1801 she married George Tucker, and was the mother of the late Ebenezer G. Tucker, for many years one of our most esteemed citizens.
In 1786 Roger Vose, afterwards Judge Vose, kept school on Brush Hill seven weeks for £3 5s. Ebenezer Tucker boarded him for £2 2s., leaving him for his service of seven weeks' teaching 38 shillings, or not quite 5} shillings per week.
Many other Milton citizens, both men and women, were teachers of our schools in the early years of the town.
A.D. 1800.
Such was the condition of education in Milton, and generally throughout Massachusetts, when the nineteenth century opened.
But though our schools were good for the times, and com- pared favorably with the schools of other towns in the Com- monwealth, there seems to have been a general and wide-spread feeling that better means of education should be provided, especially in the higher branches, and for the girls who had not received proper advantages in the public schools. This strong sentiment, prevailing through the Commonwealth, introduced an
ERA OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
In the brief period of twelve years thirty-three academies were incorporated within this Commonwealth and in the dis- trict of Maine, then under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. Among these was Milton Academy.
Madame Cranch's School.
About the same time a Ladies' Boarding School was opened in the " Taylor House," which stood on the site of our Town- Hall. It was taught by an English lady, Madame Cranch, and was styled by her " Milton Abbas," from the old English Milton Abbas, of Dorsetshire. The school was kept up for several years, and was attended by many of the young ladies of the day, all of whom have now passed away. Among those known to have been pupils there were Mrs. Jason Reed, Mrs. Samuel Adams, and Mrs. Preston, of Dorchester.
Peggy How's School.
In the first decade of the century, Peggy How, sister of Mrs. Joseph Vose, lived in the gambrel-roof house near the cemetery,
Jesse Pierce-
325
SCHOOLS.
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325
SCHOOLS.
built by Josiah How about 1743, and lately purchased by Mr. C. L. Copeland, where she long kept a school of high order. Among her pupils were Col. Josiah and Joseph Vose. Dr. John Gorham Palfrey, the distinguished historian, boarded with her when he attended Milton Academy.
Jesse Pierce's School.
In 1819 a private school was opened at Milton village by Col. Jesse Pierce, of Stoughton, the father of the Hon. Henry L. and Edward L. Pierce. Mr. Pierce had already taught the Milton public schools at Brush Hill and Milton Hill for five years. His private school was on the north side of Canton avenue, almost in front of the house of Mrs. Thompson, now occupied by Rev. F. Frothingham. The building was removed to River street, Dorchester, and, now enlarged, is the tailor's shop of Mr. Wiswall. This private school was attended by many of our well-known citizens, among whom were Robert B. and John M. Forbes; William S., Mary, and Josephine Morton; Moses and Seth Whitney ; Juliette, Asaph, and Sarah Church- ill; also, Fletcher Webster, whose father then lived at the Wells place, Dorchester, and Capt. John Codman, son of Rev. Dr. Codman, of Dorchester. The school was continued till 1824, when Mr. Pierce removed to Stoughton ; the Hon. Joseph M. Churchill attended school there. In 1849 he removed from Stoughton to the house in Dorchester village, now the residence of his son, Henry L. Pierce. Col. Pierce was a highly suc- successful teacher, numbering among his pupils many who have occupied prominent positions in public life.
Gideon F. Thayer's School.
A few years later, about 1830, there was a private school on Milton Hill, near the house of J. Malcolm Forbes. This was a first-class school, patronized by our best families. The children of Jonathan Russell - Jonathan, Geraldine, and Ida - were pupils. Other families on Milton Hill and in other sections of the town, as well as in Dorchester, were among its patrons. Gideon F. Thayer, of Chauncy-Hall School, managed it, while, at the same time, carrying on his Boston school. Among his assistants at Milton were two nien who became quite famous, - William Russell, the elocutionist, and Francis J. Gründ, who taught mathematics.
A private school was kept up at this place most of the time for fifty years, and was finally merged into Milton Academy, when that school was reestablished in 1885. Many excellent
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HISTORY OF MILTON.
teachers have been employed. Prof. James B. Thayer taught the school located there in 1850-2. William S. Thayer, brother of Prof. Thayer, afterwards Consul-General in Egypt, was private tutor in the family of Robert B. Forbes for several years, about this time.
Annette Miller's School.
Ten years later Miss Annette Miller erected a large building on the hill north of Canton avenue, now known as the Degan house, for the purpose of establishing a Female Seminary. Here a school was kept for a time, but was soon relinquished, and for the most part the building has been used as a private residence. A private school was also kept for a short time, by Ariel Work, in Jason Reed's building, and on the premises of Gen. Joseph Vose.
MILTON ACADEMY. [ Chartered 1798.]
The first notice we find of the purpose to establish an Academy in Milton is the following action of the town :-
At a legal Town Meeting held in Milton, May 2, 1797, the 4thi article in the warrant came under consideration : - " To see if the Town approve of and desire the establishment of an Academy therein, for the instruction of children and youth in the various branches of literature." The Town Voted, "That they were willing that an Academy should be erected in the Town." The 5th article of the warrant was as follows: "To see what measures the inhabitants of the Town will adopt for the establishment of an Academy for the purposes above expressed, and to obtain the benefit of an appropriation made by the General Court for the establishment of an Academy in Norfolk County, and to take such measures as may be thought expedient to further the design of two resolves passed at the last session of the General Court relative to that subject." Voted, "That Edward H. Robbins, Esq., Dr. Amos Holbrook, Mr. Isaac Davenport and Mr. J. Smith Boies, be a Committee to procure subscriptions for the purpose of obtain- ing an Academy on the benefit of the appropriation made by the General Court."
The same month of May the aforesaid committee procured by private subscriptions the required amount, and in June of the same year appeared the following
ORDER OF THE GENERAL COURT.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. In Senate, June 22, 1797.
Ordered, that Salem Towne, Richard Devens, and Israel Hutchinson Esqrs. be a committee to repair to the Towns of Braintree, Roxbury, Milton, Quincy and Dorchester, in the County of Norfolk, at any time in the month
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MILTON ACADEMY.
of September or October next, to hear all that may be said by any of the inhabitants of either of said Towns for or against establishing an Academy in either of them, and to report to the next session of the General Court the most proper placc, in their opinion, for said Academy.
And the said committee are to visit any other town in the County for like purpose, being requested thereto by any inhabitant thereof who shall give satisfactory evidence that the fund required by the Legislature for the es- tablishment of an Academy is secured therefor. And the said committee shall give notice of the time of visiting said towns by advertising the same in the Boston Centinel and Chronicle. The expense of said committee to be paid by the town where the Academy is to be established.
Sent down for concurrence.
SAMUEL PHILLIPS,
President.
In House of Representatives, June 22, 1797. Read and concurred.
EDWARD H. ROBBINS, Speaker.
This committee reported that "having visited and viewed eight towns in the County of Norfolk relative to fixing an Academy agreeable to the order of the General Court," they decided in favor of the town of Milton, where the required fund had been secured by individual donors.
The report was accepted, and the expense of the committee, amounting to $180.45, was paid by the town.
At the same session of the General Court an act incorpo- rating Milton Academy was passed, of which the following is a сору: -
ACT OF INCORPORATION. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
In the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight.
AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN ACADEMY IN THE TOWN OF MILTON, BY THE NAME OF MILTON ACADEMY.
Whereas, Edward H. Robbins and others have subscribed three thousand dollars for the purpose of erecting and supporting an Academy in the Town of Milton, in the County of Norfolk, and it appears that said Town is a suitable place for such an institution : therefore
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That there be and hereby is established in the Town of Milton, in the County of Norfolk, an Academy by the name of Milton Academy, for the purposes of promot- ing piety, religion and morality, and for the education of youth in such languages and in such of the liberal arts and sciences, as the Trustees of the said Academy shall direct; and that Fisher Ames, William Aspinwall, Samuel Bass, Esquires, the Rev. Nathaniel Emmons, Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris, Rev. Zachariah Howard, Rev. Joseph Mckean, Rev. George Morey,
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HISTORY OF MILTON.
Rev. Eliphalet Porter, and Rev. Thomas Thacher, the Honorable Stephen Metcalf, John Read, Edward H. Robbins and Ebenezer Thayer, Esquires, be and hereby are incorporated into a body politic, by the name of the Trustees of Milton Academy, and that they and their successors shall be and continue a body politic and corporate by the sanie name forever.
Section 2. Be it further enacted, That all money, lands, or other prop- erty or things, already given, or which shall be hereafter given, granted, devised or bequeathed, transferred or assigned to the said Trustees, for the purpose aforesaid, shall be confirmed to the said Trustees and their succes- sors in that trust forever. And that said Trustees may have and hold, in fee simple, by gift, grant, devise, bequest, or otherwise, any lands, tene- ments, hereditaments, or other estate real or personal, provided the annual income thereof shall not exceed the sum of five thousand dollars, and may sell and dispose of the same, and apply the rents and profits thereof, in such manner as that the end and design of said institution may be pro- moted.
Section 3. Be it further enacted, That the said Trustees shall have power, from time to time, to elect such officers of the said Academy as they shall judge necessary, and to fix the tenures of the said offices ; to remove any Trustee from the corporation, when in their opinion he shall be incapa- ble by reason of age, or otherwise, of discharging the duties of his office ; to fill all vacancies in the said corporation by electing such persons for Trustees as they shall think suitable ; to determine the times and places of the meetings, the manner of notifying the Trustees ; to prescribe the power and duties of their several officers, to elect preceptors and teachers of the said Academy, and to determine their power and duties, and to fix the ten- ures of their offices ; and to make and ordain reasonable rules, orders, and by-laws, not repugnant to the laws of the Commonwealth, with reasonable penalties for the good government of the said Academy.
Section 4. Be it further enacted, That the said Trustees may have one common Seal which they may at pleasure break, alter, or renew; and that all deeds signed and sealed with their seal, delivered and acknowledged by the Treasurer or Secretary of said corporation, by order of the said Trustecs, shall be good and valid in law ; and that the said Trustees may sue and be sued in all actions, real, personal and mixed, and prosecute or defend the same to final judgment and execution, by the name of the Trustees of Mil- ton Academy.
Section 5. Be it further enacted, That the number of the said Trustees shall not at one time be more than fifteen, nor less than nine ; five of whom shall constitute a quorum to do business ; and that a majority of said Trus- tees shall consist of men who are not inhabitants of the said Town of Milton.
Section 6. Be it further enacted, That there be, and hereby is granted to the said Trustees and their successors forever, for the use of said Academy, one-half a township of six square miles of the unappropriated lands belong- ing to this Commonwealth in the District of Maine, except the ten town- ships on Penobscot River, to be laid out and assigned by the committee for the sale of eastern lands under the restrictions and reservations in similar grants.
Section 7. And be it further enacted, That the Honorable Seth Bullard Esquire be and hereby. is authorized to fix the time and place for holding the first meeting of said Trustees, and to notify them thereof.
In the House of Representatives, March, 1798. This bill, having had three several readings, passed to be enacted.
EDWARD H. ROBBINS, Speaker.
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MILTON ACADEMY.
In Senate, March, 1798. This bill, having had two readings, passed to be enacted.
SAMUEL PHILLIPS, President.
March, 1798. By the Governor approved.
INCREASE SUMNER.
A true copy. Attest, JOHN AVERY, Secretary.
CALLING OF FIRST MEETING.
TO THE HONORABLE SETH BULLARD, ESQ.
DEDHAM, August 21, 1798. Sir : -
The Subscribers, Trustees of the Milton Academy, request that your Honor would (in pursuance of an act of the General Court) call a meeting of the Trustees of the said Milton Academy in the County of Nor- folk, and Commonwealth of Mass., to be held at the house of Mr. Ebenezer Vose, innholder in Milton, on the 17th day of December next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, for the purpose of choosing such officers as they may judge necessary ; to adopt measures to receive the money subscribed, and to obtain the land granted as a fund for the said Academy ; and to do and transact any other business relative to the said Academy.
FISHER AMES, WILLIAM ASPINWALL, EDW. H. ROBBINS,
Trustees.
Norfolk, ss. To the Hon. Fisher Ames, Esq., one of the Trustees of the Milton Academy - Greeting :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, agreeably to the foregoing request, you are hereby required to warn or notify all the Trustees of said Academy to meet at the time and place, and for the purposes therein mentioned.
Given under my hand and seal at Walpole the thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight.
SETH BULLARD, Justice of the Peace.
In pursuance of the foregoing Warrant to me directed, I do hereby notify and warn, Fisher Ames, William Aspinwall, Samuel Bass, Esqrs. ; the Reverend Nathaniel Emmons, Thaddeus Mason Harris, Zachariah Howard, Joseph Mckean, George Morey, Eliphalet Porter, and Thomas Thacher; the Hon. Stephen Metcalf, John Read, Edward H. Robbins, and Ebenezer Thayer, Esquires, the Trustees of the Milton Academy, to meet at the time and place, and for the purposes before mentioned.
DEDHAM, Dec. 3, 1798.
FISHER AMES.
FIRST MEETING.
The Trustees held their first meeting at the public house of Mr. Ebenezer Vose, in Milton, Dec. 17, 1798, according to the
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HISTORY OF MILTON.
above notification, which was inserted in the "Minerva," printed in Dedham.
Ten members of the Board were present. The meeting was organized by the choice of Hon. John Read as Moderator. It was voted to choose a President, a Treasurer, and a Secretary, for the year ensuing, and until a new choice be made. The Hon. Edward H. Robbins was unanimously chosen President, Samuel Bass, Esq., was chosen Treasurer, and Rev. Joseph Mc- Kean, Secretary. Committees were appointed to take charge of the half township of Eastern land, and to inquire into the state of the subscriptions; but the great interest of the meeting centred in the
LOCATION OF THE ACADEMY BUILDING.
Prior to the first meeting it was generally understood among the Trustees that the Academy would be erected at the " Village," on a lot offered as a donation for this purpose by the Hon. Edward H. Robbins. The whole of the Gov. Hutch- inson estate on Milton Hill was confiscated. The lot in question was purchased from this confiscated property by General James Warren, who sold the same to Mr. Robbins. It is the lot on which the Morton mansion, built by Mr. Robbins, now stands.
Gen. Stephen Badlam offered, for this purpose, half an acre of land owned by John Swift, near the house of Joseph Bad- cock, Esq., now the residence of Mrs. William Davis.
At the first meeting the town of Milton appeared, by its committee, with the statement that a "majority of the citizens are desirous that the Academy be situated near the centre of the town and not at the village." A proffer was made of any suitable portion of the "ministerial land;" and the Trustees were solicited to "defer their decision until the town have opportunity to meet and make definite propositions." Where- upon it was voted to comply with this request.
At a meeting of the Trustees held at Mr. Revere's tavern, Aug. 6, 1799, a committee of the town of Milton, chosen at the annual meeting, May, 1799, presented a communication to the Board of Trustees, signed by Seth Sumner, Esq., their chair- man, to this effect : " That the town had voted to raise the sum of $3,000, and to liberate the subscribers from their engage- ments, provided the Academy be built near the centre of the town."
Gen. Joseph Vose at the same time pledged himself to the Trustees, that if they could not procure any more suitable position he would give and convey half an acre of land, situated
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MILTON ACADEMY.
" on the great road to Taunton, and White's lane, so called." The Trustees then voted unanimously to comply with the prop- ositions of the town of Milton, and to locate the Academy on the lot so freely and generously offered for the purpose by Gen. Joseph Vose.
This decision was reversed at a subsequent meeting, when the committee on location reported, as a more eligible situation, a tract of forty acres, with the dwelling-house thereon, adjoining the meeting-house lot, which could be obtained for $2,200.
Here again appears the magnanimity of the Hon. Edward H. Robbins, who may be called the father of this institution. The record presents him as "generously offering to make a donation of such a portion of the above-mentioned land as would be sufficient for the location of the Academy, if the Trustees should not think it expedient to purchase the whole tract."
In the early part of the year 1801 the whole tract of forty acres was purchased. In addition to this purchase the Presi- dent of the Board was instructed, at a meeting, Jan. 7, 1806, " to complete the purchase, and to secure a good and sufficient title to the land intended for the position of the Academy ; to include so much as to make a straight line to the south-east corner of the estate now owned by the Trustees." This tract of land, about an acre and a half, was a portion of the " Taylor Estate," on which the Academy stands ; the possession of which was neces- sary, in order to place the building in the best position, and to open the forty-acre tract to the " old Taunton road."
Thus, in 1806, the Trustees were in full possession of forty-one and a half acres of land, with a dwelling-house for the Pre- ceptor, and all things were ready for the
ERECTION OF THE BUILDING.
A committee had already been instructed to procure plans, purchase lumber, and also to ascertain on what terms an archi- tect could be engaged to undertake and superintend the erection of the building. After much consideration Hon. E. H. Robbins, Mr. J. S. Boise, and Mr. Isaac Davenport were instructed to " make a contract with Mr. Wm. B. Crehore, of Milton, to pro- vide materials, and erect the building for an Academy not to exceed 53 by 35 ft. ; to be two stories high, with a porch at the end, together with the necessary out-buildings and fences." Said committee were intrusted with discretionary powers, as to style, material, and position of the building.
The work was prosecuted without apparent hindrance or
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HISTORY OF MILTON.
delay, and the building was completed early in September, 1807, at a cost of $4,927.88.
According to notification in the public papers, the Academy was opened for instruction on the 9th of September. Religious services were held in the meeting-house, consisting of singing, prayer by the Rev. Dr. Porter, and a discourse by the Rev. Thomas Thacher, which was printed and a copy "sent to each of the clergymen."
The Rev. Warren Pierce had been employed as Preceptor at a salary of $800 per year, and the use of the house and farm.
Thus eighty years ago Milton Academy started on its career of usefulness.
The Academy commenced its life with a very small amount of funds, but with a very strong Committee of Ways and Means.
THE AVAILABLE FUNDS.
The funds with which the enterprise was started consisted of the half township of Eastern land donated by the Common- wealth, from which was realized the sum of $4,500; and the subscription of $3,000, afterwards assumed by the town of Milton. Besides these the sum of $100 was subscribed by six of the citizens of Milton, for procuring a bell for the Academy, which cost $158, and a second subscription of $75 was secured for improving the Academy grounds; making a sum total of $7,675.
There is no evidence that any other money has been used in the establishment or maintenance of this institution except what has flowed legitimately from the tuition, or from the income of the real estate.
The necessary disbursements in preparation for the school were the cost of the land and dwelling-house, $2,200; repairs on the house, $99.13; and the cost of the Academy building, $4,927.88, amounting in all to the sum of $7,227.01, and leaving a margin of $447.99 for future work.
COURSE OF STUDIES.
Milton Academy was designed for a school of a high order. The original purpose was to prepare young men for college. This purpose has always been prominent in its instruction, although females were early admitted among its scholars; and special attention has at all times been given to the higher branches of the English studies, for the benefit of those not looking to a college education.
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MILTON ACADEMY.
The following course of studies, prepared by the Revs. Thomas Thacher, Dr. Porter, and Dr. Harris, was adopted at the open- ing of the school : -
Section 1. It is expected that the regular course of studies at the Academy be completed in four years; but the pupils may be continued during the will of the parent, or till such time as he shall be qualified for admission into Harvard University, or such other College as the parent may choose.
Sect. 2. The lower class shall learn English Grammar; Adams's Latin Grammar; Mair's Introduction to making Latin ; Erasmus; and begin the Gloucester Greek Grammar. Particular times shall be assigned for writing and arithmetic.
Sect. 3. The second class shall learn Virgil, the Collectanea Minora, and the Greek Testament; they shall make Latin, and continue their proficiency in the construction of the English language; they shall also be taught to read the best English authors in prose and poetry, in such portions of their time as shall least interfere with their other studies.
Sect. 4. The third class shall continue Virgil, and the Greek Testa- ment. They shall learn Tully's Orations, and Sallust; translate English into Latin, and improve further in their English exercises, namely, Grammar and Arithmetic. These shall be varied at the pleasure of the Preceptor.
Sect. 5. The senior class shall review those books in which they are to be examined at the University. If time permit, or their progress allow, they may learn Cæsar's Commentaries, Terence, and some part of Col- lectanea Majora ; prosecute their studies in the Belles-lettres; learn from some of the best authors the elements of Rhetoric, Geography, Astronomy, Surveying and Navigation. Also, if they choose to remain still longer, Logie, Locke's Essays on the Understanding, the Principles of Natural Philosophy and Natural Law.
Sect. 6. If any parent or guardian, or the pupil, if of age himself, shall request to be instructed merely in the branches of English education he may be excused from learning the Latin and Greek languages.
Sect. 7. Provisions shall be made for instruction in the French language, as soon as the funds of the Academy shall permit.
This course of studies has been modified, from time to time, in subsequent years, to meet the demands of the school and the changes of the time.
SCHOLARS.
The Academy opened in 1807, with twenty-three scholars, increasing to twenty-eight for the second term. No record of the annual number of scholars has been preserved, except during the teaching of Preceptor Edwin Clapp, commencing in 1856, and continuing for six years. By a careful examination of the returns made by instructors who received stipulated annual salaries, and kept on file as vouchers of the Treasurers, it has been possible to ascertain the annual number of pupils, from the opening of the school up to the year 1823. This appears as follows : -
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