USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Woburn > The history of Woburn, Middlesex County, Mass. from the grant of its territory to Charlestown, in 1640, to the year 1680 > Part 23
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" Friday the 3d of November 1710. The Selectmen of Woobourn met to consider how they might obtain a suitable person to keep a grammar schoole in said town, but found it very difficult to do [so] by reason that they heard that there was none to be had at Colledge : whereupon they appointed Ensign John Peirce to goe to Boston, and try if Dr Oaks his son, 14 or Mr. Kallender's son 15 might be obtained for that end " etc.16 "December the 8th, 1710. The Selectmen of Wooburn being met together, Ensign John Peirce 'made the following Return : that according to the Selectmen's orders and appointment, he had been at Boston to speak with Dr Oaks his son, and Mr Callender's son, and found that they were already improved, and so could not be obtained : and that he had made inquiry after some other suitable person to keep a grammar schoole in Woobourn, but could not hear of any to be had. Soon after, the Selectmen were informed, that it was probable, that Sir Wigglesworth 17 might be obtained to keep a grammar schoole for our town. Whereupon the said Selectmen appointed Lient. Jolin Carter to goe to Cambridge, and treat with him about that matter.
14 Mr. Josiah Oakes, Harvard College, 1708, son of Dr. Thomas Oakes, of Boston.
15 Mr. Elisha Callender, Harvard College, 1710, a son of Rev. Ellis Callender, minister of the Baptist Church in Boston.
16 Town Records, Vol. V., p. 165.
17 Edward Wigglesworth, Harvard College, 1710, and afterwards first IIollis Professor of Divinity there.
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Accordingly, soon after, Lieut. Carter made return to the Select- men, that he had been at Cambridge, and had had a discourse with Sir Wigglesworth with reference to keeping a grammar schoole in Woobourn ; and that he the said Sir Wigglesworth did give some encouragement in the matter, but could not give a full answer until the beginning of the following week, and then appointed him to come again for an answer. Accordingly the Selectmen ordered Lieut. Carter to attend the time that Sir Wigglesworth had appoin- ted to give his answer, and to wait upon him for it. But when the said Lieut. John Carter came to Cambridge at the time before appointed, he was informed that Sir Wigglesworth was engaged or gone to Casco Bay Fort to keep a schoole there ; and there was no further hope of obtaining of him "
" After this, Mr John Turft [Tufts] 18 informed that Mr Recom- pence Wadsworth 19 had left the Schoole at Barnstable ; and was in hopes we might obtain him to keep a Grammar Schoole in Woo- bourn. Whereupon the Selectmen appointed Lieut. John Carter and Mr Josiah Johnson to go to Boston. and discourse with said Mr Wadsworth on Monday the 11th. of December currant, with reference to his keeping a Grammar Schoole in Woobourn. Accord- ingly on the 12th. currant, agreement was made with the said Mr Recompence Wadsworth to keep a Grammar Schoole in Woobourn for the space of six months, and to begin the Schoole on the 18th. eurrant, and so six months from that time, for the sum of twelve pounds, and his board found him free by the Town of Woobourn. Accordingly the said Mr Wadsworth came to Woobourn on Satur- day the sixteenth day of the same month, and the Selectmen ordered James Fowle to board him upon the Town's accompt. But in case the said Mr Wadsworth should be called off from keeping said schoole by any other business within the said six months, Che is] to give the Town seasonable warning." 20
Here was an instance in which the Selectmen, who were the School Committee for 1710, were obliged to despatch three of their number in succession upon four several journeys, two to Boston, and two to Cambridge, in order to obtain a person
1ª Of Harvard College, 1708; subsequently minister of Newbury.
19 Bon of Timothy Wadsworth, of Bonton, and grandson of Capt. Samuel Wadsworth, of Milton ; born 1699; Ilarvard College, 1708; died 1713.
" Town Records, Vol. V., p. 170.
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suitable to keep the grammar school; and were repeatedly baf- fled in their expectations, and kept six weeks in suspense before they could secure a teacher to their mind, and get him on the ground. School-masters, or those who sought the employment were not then to be met at every corner ; nor was there a choice of them to be selected from applicants twofold, or even fourfold more numerous than the schools to be kept, as is often the case at the present day. Then, if a committee would obtain a well qualified master, they must, generally speaking, diligently search him out, go from town to town, far and near, and be will- ing to bear repeated disappointments, and still to persevere in their efforts, before they lighted upon a man who would serve their purpose. But so much difficulty as this, in obtaining a competent teacher, must needs have rendered the office of School Committee a burdensome one, and doubtless often operated as a hinderance or discouragement from duly attempting to fulfil it.
But the principal cause, it is apprehended, why towns were backward at the period mentioned, to sustain schools, or to pro- vide for them competent instructors, was the scarcity of money. the burden of taxes, and the consequent general poverty of the people. Notwithstanding the issues of the mint in Massachu- setts, which coined the famous New England shillings and pine tree money for about thirty-six years, from 1652, specie had become so scarce at the close of the 17th century, that many towns found it very difficult, if not impossible. to pay their taxes to the country, except in the produce of their soil, or in articles of their own home manufacture. Thus, Hingham was allowed the privilege, in 1687, of paying their taxes to govern- meat in pails ; 21 and Woburn paid in part its County tax, for 1693, in shoes.21 In 1685, the towns of Springfield and Suffield petitioned the Government, setting forth " the difficulty of their paying money taxes, which were assessed, beside those' payable in grain." The former town desired Government "to receive their rates as formerly, in corne ; and noe more require any money of your moneyless petitioners." And the inhabitants
21 Felt's History of Massachusetts Currency, p. 47. Town Records, Vol. III., p. 52.
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of the latter town, say in their petition, "Doe not for Charitie's sake enjoyne us to pay one penny more in money. Let it be adjudged abundantly enough for us to pay henceforward our country's dues in Corne, when we can raise it, and are not forced to go to other towns to work for corne for our familyes." But not only was money scarce, but the public taxes were exces- sively burdensome. Notice was taken in a former chapter of the heavy taxes during Philip's war, in 1675-1676, and the dis- tress occasioned thereby to the community. In 1690, to defray the public debt, contracted in the unfortunate expedition of that year to Canada, the government issued the first paper currency in this country.22 And the next year, to discharge Woburn's proportion of this debt, a tax was assessed, in which every man's single rate was increased twenty-three fold ;23 and which amounted to the enormous sum, for that day, of £532 and upward.23
Other instances of very heavy taxes, imposed while the wars against the Indians and French in the reigns of King William III. and Queen Anne were going on, might be produced from the Records. No wonder then, that the people, ground down to
22 Felt's History of Massachusetts Currency, pp. 40, 50.
23 Town Records, Vol. III., p. 150. " August the 27. 1691. The Select- men met to make the Country Rate for the year ensuing [present ?]; the Commissioner [of the rate] and Constables also joining with them . . . . August the 31. 1691. The Selectmen met at the house of Israel Reed with the Commissioner and Constables, and finished the Country Rate which they had before begun : they then also writ ont a List of the said Rate, and delivered it to the Commissioner, to carry to the Commissioners of the County, according to law.
"October the 5. 1691. The Selectmen met and perfected the Rate made for the raising of the 24 thousand pounds; and for the raising of the town's proportion In the said sum, every man's single rate were [was] 23 times doubled. October the 6. 1691. Delivered for Constable John Peirce at his house a List of his part of the 23 rates, containing the sum of £272 :18:08. with n warrant under the hands of the Selectmen to gather the same. The same day abovesald delivered for Constable John Teed at his house a list of his part of the nforesald 23 rates, containing the sum of £259:05:06, with a warrant under the hands of the Selectmen to gather the same." The country rate assessed Sept. 30, 1689, was but little over £32. - Turn Records, Vol. III., pp. 132-135.
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the earth, as it were, by the public burdens, should feel unable, and at times disinclined to give due support to institutions, confessedly of the first necessity and importance. In 1704, a considerable number of the inhabitants of Woburn, it has been seen, remonstrated against granting at that time to Rev. Mr. Fox a fixed salary, for the express reason of the pressure of the war then carried on, and the weight of the taxes assessed to sustain it.24 Much more likely then would they be, under such circumstances, to object to the expense of schooling, and at times be tempted to evade, if possible, the requirements of the law respecting it. In the condition they were then in, they were averse to bestowing the encouragement that was desirable, both upon the preaching of the gospel, and upon their public schools, not because they deemed those institutions of inferior moment, or grudged their expense, but because they were reduced to such straits, as that they could scarcely pay their taxes for their country's defence, and provide bread for themselves and families. And, accordingly, within a few years after, when they had be- come more numerous and able, and their taxes lighter, they immediately made more liberal grants for schools; and not only punctually paid their minister's stipulated salary, but year after year made voluntary additions to it, especially in seasons when provisions were unusually scarce and dear.25
The town being without a school-master the greater part of the year 1706, was presented for that deficiency, in September, at Cambridge Court; and the Selectmen were summoned to answer
24 Town Records, Vol. IV., p. 269.
25 At a general town meeting, March 5, 1715-16, it was voted to add twenty pounds to Rev. Mr Fox's salary for that year. The original con- tract was for £80 per annum. At March meeting, 1716-17, it was voted " that the Reverend Mr John Fox should have 20 pounds added to his Fourscore this year, provided that he keep a Lecture once in six weeks if he be able." At the same meeting, provision was made for the supply of his pulpit, when he was " sick and unable to preach." In March 1724-5, by voluntary vote of the town £30 was added to his original salary of £80, without any condition, (Town Records, Vol. VI., p. 213,) and in March 1725-6, and again in March 1726-7, his salary was raised to £120 for each of those years. - Town Records, Vol. VI., pp. 265, 296.
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the presentment.26 In this exigency, they authorized Capt. Josiah Convers, one of their number, to appear on their behalf, who informed the Court, that the Selectmen had not been negli- gent to inquire for a suitable school teacher; and that, though they had hitherto been unsuccessful, yet their efforts to procure one were still continued.26 This assurance seems to have satis- fied the Court for the present. A teacher for the grammar school in Woburn 26 was soon after engaged for six months, from November 9, for £15; and, at the expiration of that term, in 1707, his engagement was prolonged.26 The year following, the town having learned by experience, that grand jurors would do their duty in this case, according to their oaths, took season- able care to prevent another presentment. At a general meet- ing, March 1, 1707-8, they chose the Selectmen as a committee to look out for and agree with some suitable person to keep a grammar school in Woburn; and "to provide one against the next Court, which is the 9th. currant, if possible." 27 Agrecably to the above appointment, the Selectmen employed Capt. Josiah Convers, one of their number, to attend to this business: who reported to the Selectmen, March 12, that he had agreed with Mr. John Tufts to keep a grammar school in Woburn for the space of one year, beginning with March 8: " And to improve and pay him for eight months of the said time; he to stay in Town one month from the said eighth day of March; and then to come again when the town sends for him. And he to receive out of the Town Treasury after the rate of thirty pounds per annum for the time he stays in town as our school master."28 This arrangement is evidently another instance of contrivance to give the town's money and credit at the same time.
To prevent a presentment of the town, Mr. Tufts, the school- master elect, must be at their call for a whole twelve-month. Hle must commence his school the day before the Court sat ; and after keeping it a month, he might go about his own private occasions, if he pleased, but must come again when the town sent for him, that so they might have him among them, keeping
26 Town Records, Vol. V., pp. 35, 48.
27 Town Records, Vol. V., p. 76.
28 Town Records, Vol. V., p. 82.
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school, whenever the Court sat during that period, and especially in March Term the next year. But at the same time, the Com- mittee gave him to understand, that he would be actually employed and paid only eight months of the twelve; apprehend- ing, perhaps, that unless he should prove a popular teacher, the town's money for a longer time than that would be no better than thrown away. But, contrary to the Committee-men's fears perhaps in this respect, Mr. Tufts' labors proved so very acceptable, that at the next March meeting, 1708-9, the town as a body voted him an invitation to continue them here the whole of the next year, and authorized the Seleetmen to hire him for this end " upon as reasonable terms as may be." 23 And, accordingly, the Selectmen, at a meeting of theirs, March 21st, engaged Mr. Tufts to be the grammar school-master of Woburn for the year ensuing; and, for this service, promised not only to pay him in money, at the same rate as the year preceding, viz : £30 per annum, but also that when he went into the different quarters of the town to keep school, the inhabitants of each quarter " should find him a horse to ride to meeting on "; a privilege which at that day was highly set by, and which was afterwards indulged other masters in like circumstances, as contributing much to their general respectability, and especially as increasing their influence over their pupils.23 And now, from this time, 1709, till 1775, the year of the Revolutionary war began, Woburn appears to have been uniformly supplied with a grammar school-master, for a longer or shorter portion of every year save one. Influenced not only by desire to escape the penalty of the law, all attempts to elude which they had found to be vain or injurious to themselves, but also, it is to be hoped, by a due regard for their own reputation, and for the best inter- ests of their posterity, they henceforth constantly manifested a disposition to maintain and encourage their grammar school ; and so vigilant were they to see it duly provided with a teacher, that they never allowed themselves, as late as 1775, to be again
20 Town Records, Vol. V., pp. 109, 111.
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presented for the want of one but once, viz : during the unfortu- nate circumstances of the town, in 1732.33
Their School Committees were careful every year to make seasonable inquiry for a master; they were concerned to find one competent for the work; and seemed willing to pay him an equitable compensation. And the result of this wise policy was an inestimable benefit to the rising generation, and the giving of an impulse to the cause of education that has continued to the present day. The masters whom they employed during this period were commonly young gentlemen of liberal education from abroad, and especially students in theology, resident at Cambridge and in the vicinity ; and some of them afterwards distinguished themselves in the Christian ministry or in civil life : as Hon. Nathaniel Saltonstall of Haverhill; Hon. Jonathan Sewall, Esq., the noted Attorney General at the commencement of the Revolution; Rev. John Hancock of Braintree, now Quincy, father of Governor Hancock; Rev. Habijah Weld of Attleborough ; and that profound theologian and eminent minis- ter of the Gospel, Rev. Peter Clark of Danvers. But a con- siderable proportion of their grammar school-masters were Woburn's own sons, who were born and instructed in the first rudiments of learning within her own precinets, and then com- pleted their education at the College in Cambridge. Of these, some were honored in civil life : as Col. Jabez Fox of Portland, son of Rev. John Fox of Woburn. Some eventually preached, and became respected ministers of the gospel: as Rev. John Gardner of Stow, Rev. Timothy Walker of Pennicook, now Con- cord, N. H. ; Rev. Ebenezer Flegg of Chester, N. H., and Rev. Ebenezer Wyman of Union, Ct. And others still of them were either school-masters by profession, or at least, excellently quali- fied for the employment, judging by the frequency with which
30 In an account of the disposal of money ralsed by the town, March 1732-3, for the payment of the town's debts and expenses, is the following Item : " Paid to Mr Joslah Johnson, due last year, £1.0.0. and for . . . money he pald at the Court for the Town's being presented for want of a Schoole master, and about the Highway £11 :14 :10." - Town Records, Vol. VII., p. 168.
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they were engaged in it, in their native town. Such were Mr. Isaac Richardson, Mr. Adam Richardson, Mr. Jabez Richardson, Mr. Ebenezer Thompson, Mr. James Fowle, and more par- ticularly, Mr. John Fowle; a gentleman for many years distin- guished by way of eminence in Woburn, by the title of Master Fowle; one whose stern manners, strict discipline and aptness to teach, rendered him the terror of all idlers and rogues in his school, but recommended him to the esteem of the diligent and ingenuous, and whom such eminently scientific men as Col. Loammi Baldwin and Benjamin Thompson, Count Rum- ford, were not ashamed, in their younger days, to attend upon his instructions, and to call their master.
This noted teacher was a son of Maj. John Fowle, and of Mrs. Mary (Convers) Fowle, his wife; was born in Woburn, February 1, 1726, [1726-7] graduated at Harvard College, 1747; commenced keeping school in Woburn, 1758, and from that year till 1770, was constantly employed there in that work. He died of a nervous fever, October 15, 1786. The following anecdote, illustrative of his management and discipline in school, was told me by Mrs. Mary, widow of Mr. James Bennett, and daughter of Capt. Joshua Walker, of Woburn Precinct, who in her childhood, attended Master Fowle's school, when it was keeping in the Precinct, and who died, 1857, in the 94th year of her age. He had a class of young men, studying Latin, who, presuming upon their advanced age and standing, ventured to take unwarrantable liberties in school hours. Master Fowle saw and watched them for some time without making complaint. But he at length broke out, and addressed them in such words as these :
" Ho, you Latiners, up there : you seem by your actions to think, that because you sit in a higher seat, and are more forward in your studies than the rest of the school, you may do here as you like. But I'll quick let you know that you shan't. I have had my eyes upon you for some time, though you did not know it. And now I tell you what, boys. You, every one of you, deserve for what I've seen in you a sound thrashing ; and a sound thrashing every one of you shall have, unless you instantly come forward, and upon your
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knees on the floor ask pardon of me and of the whole school for your misbehaviours. Come on then, I say ; come at once, and no waiting ; or I'll be at you."
This command was dreadfully humiliating to the young rogues. But, knowing that their master in his threats always meant as he said, and that with him, it was but a word and a blow, they at once reluctantly came forward, and ashamed and mortified, did as they were bid. And we may be sure that Master Fowle had never afterwards occasion to speak to them for the like offenee.
Schools in Woburn seem to have been kept originally in the dwelling-houses of their instructors, or of other persons inter- ested in the promotion of learning, who severally fitted up a room in their homes for this use at their own cost. The first distinct notice on record of a place provided by the town to keep school in was in 1700. After the town, at a general meet- ing, December 4th, of that year, had agreed with Mr. John Fox to keep the grammar school a twelve-month, the Selectmen hired for his accommodation the house of George Reed, Jr., nigh the meeting-house, at twenty shillings rent per annum.31 This house was accordingly fitted up as a school-house, at the town's expense, and continued to be used for this purpose several years afterwards.32 In 1707, when the grammar school began to be moved occasionally into different quarters of the town, other private houses were hired by the town for the time they were needed to keep it in. At a general town meeting. March 2, 1712-13, liberty was granted to any persons, who should he disposed, to erect at their own cost a convenient school-house for
31 Town Records, Vol. IV., p. 167.
32 The Town Dr. Oct. 1, 1700, for " Boards and Nayls for a table and bench for ye Scoolhous two shillings and flue pence."- Town Records, Vol. IV., p. 166.
The Town Cr. 1705. "By Cash paid to Sergt Geo. Reed for his house rent last year, 8 shillings."
The Town Cr. 1705. By cash paid " to Constable Thos. Peirce for work about repairing the forms & tables of the Schoole House," etc. - Town Records, Vol. V., p. 21.
The Town Dr. 1705. " To Sergt George Read for the rent of his house for the Schoole this present year 0 :2:0." - Town Records, Vol. V., p. 22.
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the town's use upon the town's land, "at any convenient place between. the meeting house & Lieut. John Coggin's "; the par- ticular spot to be stated by the Selectmen. 33 Accordingly, a subscription paper for this purpose was put in circulation, which obtained eighty subscribers. Rev. Mr. Fox headed the list with £1. Among other principal subscribers, Mr. Jacob Wyman put down £1 15s .; Capt. Josiah Convers, £1 5s .; Col. Jona- than Tyng, £1 5s .; Mr. William Symmes, 16s. 6d. The whole amount of the subscription was £41 15s. 6d. With this encouragement, the undertakers proceeded to build a school- house, which, when completely finished, cost £43 18s. 4d., a trifle over the sum subscribed for this end at the first. This school-house, by direction of the Selectmen, was erected, say the Records, " on the East side of the highway [to Wilmington ?], over against Thomas Leppingwells." 34 In compliance with the request of sundry petitioners, liberty was given them at March meeting, 1735-6, to remove it from its original location " down near the meeting house," on condition of their being at the cost of removing it, and fitting it up again " in good order to keep schoole in." 35 But this, it seems, was not its final resting place. For, at March meeting, 1744, it was voted, that the stated place for the grammar school in the Old Parish, for that year, should be as near the meeting-house as a spot to set a school-house on could be procured.36
Accordingly, in 1748, and other subsequent years, reference is repeatedly made in the Records to the School-house in the First Parish, as standing near the Meeting-house. And as this school-house was the first one erected in the town, so, as late as 1760, it appears to have been the only one, unless that in the Precinct, the date of whose erection is not known, be an excep- tion. In 1736, it was furnished not only with benches, a table etc., as is usual, but also with a " Great Chair ", designed, no doubt, to add dignity to the master, in presiding over the miniature kingdom under his rule.37 This chair was probably a
33 Town Recorda, Vol. V., p. 254. 34 Town Records, Vol. V., p. 279.
35 Town Records, Vol. VII., pp. 217, 224.
36 Town Records, Vol. VII., p. 440.
37 1736, Sept. 13. The Town Dr. "To Ebenezer Johnson for a great Chear for the Schoole House £0:10:0." - Town Records, Vol. VII., p. 247.
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large flag bottomed one, with a high back, and with legs and arms all curiously wrought and carved, like other chairs manu- factured in those days, that are yet occasionally to be seen. And such a favorite was this important article of school-house furni- ture with the master, and so constantly used by him, that, within eleven years, it had come to need seating anew. For at a meeting of the Selectmen, September 25, 1747, an order was granted on the Treasurer to pay Mr. Isaac Richardson £27 10s. Old Tenor for keeping school that year; and 10 shillings Old Tenor more that he paid to Mr. Samuel Kendall for " Bottoming the School House Cheer." 38
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