History of Chesterfield, Cheshire county, N.H., from the incorporation of "township number one," by Massachusetts, in 1736, to the year 1881; together with family Histories and genealogies, Part 11

Author: Randall, Oran Edmund
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Brattleboro, Vt., D. Leonard
Number of Pages: 602


USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Chesterfield > History of Chesterfield, Cheshire county, N.H., from the incorporation of "township number one," by Massachusetts, in 1736, to the year 1881; together with family Histories and genealogies > Part 11


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43


FARR, RANSOM C. Mustered in Co. F, Ist Reg't Vt. V. Caval- ry, Nov. 19, 1861. Discharged for disability, Dec. 19, 1862. Drafted, and mustered in Troop G, Ist Reg't N. H. V. Cav- alry, July 21, 1864. Promoted to Sergeant. Mustered out July 15, 1865.


FARR, BRADFORD C. ,Mustered in Co. F, 14th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Sept. 23, 1862. Discharged for disability, Feb. 4, 1863.


FARR, WESLEY O. Mustered in Co. F, 14th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Sept. 23, 1862. Promoted to Corporal, Feb. 1, 1864. Discharged for disability, Jan. 20, 1865.


FARR, LARKIN D. Mustered in Co. F, 14th Reg't N. H. V. In- fantry, Dec. 29, 1863. Mustered out July 8, 1865.


FARR, CHANCEY S. Mustered in Co. F, 14th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Dec. 29, 1863. Discharged July 26, 1865.


At the battle of Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 19, 1864, he was taken prisoner, and confined a few days in the Pemberton Tobacco Fac- tory, at Richmond, Va., having been deprived, together with his fellow-prisoners, of the most of his clothing, his blanket, haversack, canteen and money. From the 4th of November following, till Feb. 20, 1865, he was confined in the " prison pen" at Salisbury, N. C. This prison contained an area of about four acres, and was surrounded by a stockade of plank about twelve feet high. At one time about ten thousand prisoners were crowded into this enclosure, in which were a four-story cotton factory building and seven small buildings. The buildings were used as hospitals, while the so- called " well" prisoners lived in tents, and in holes dug in the earth ; while a great many had no shelter at all.


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Mr. Farr says : "Many would lie down to sleep in exposed places, never to awake. I saw one man who died by a fire, whose feet were half burned off. Seven of us united, and commenced to dig a hole on the first day after our arrival. This we made about four feet deep, about eight feet long and six feet wide, with a fire- place in one corner, covering it with three pieces of . shelter tent.' Our rations here were about the same as in Richmond, excepting the quantity of meat, which we received once in a week or ten days instead of every day. But many days they 'forgot' to give us any- thing, and upon others gave us only half the usual allowance. Dur- ing the four months that I remained, the average death rate was about one-thousand a month, ninety-six having died in one day ! There were eight of my regiment here after my arrival, and only two of us lived to return home."


Hundreds of the prisoners were without hats, coats or shoes ; yet many of them were obliged to pass their days and nights in the open air. often exposed to storms of rain or snow. Those who survived the atrocious treatment to which they were subjected, were at length liberated. weak, haggard and emaciated.


FAULKNER, STEPHEN P .* Mustered in Co. C. ISth Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Aug. 31, 1864. Discharged, June -, 1865.


FIELD, JAMES C. Enrolled in Co. C, 17th Reg't U. S. Infantry, Sept. 16, 1861. Discharged for disability, Jan. 20, 1863.


FIELD, FRANCIS A. Enlisted in the 17th Reg't U. S Infantry, Sept. 16, 1861. (Record incomplete.)


FISK, HARRISON F. Mustered in Co. E, 6th Reg't N. H. V. In- fantry, Nov. 28, 1861. Discharged for disability, Aug. 25, 1862.


FRINK, OSCAR T. Mustered in Co. E, 2d Reg't N. H. V. Infant- ry, Sept. 17, 1861. Discharged


GILSON, CALVIN P. Mustered as Musician in Co. F, 14th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Sept. 23, 1862. Mustered out July 8, 1865.


Mustered in Co. C, 18th Reg't N. H. GLAZIER, WALTER W .* V. Infantry, Aug. 31, 1864. Mustered out May 30, 1865.


GOODRICH, JAMES H., 2D .* Mustered in Troop F, Ist Reg't N.


H. V. Cavalry, March 8, 1865. Mustered out July 15, 1865. GOODRICH, JOHN F. Enlisted in Co. A, 14th Reg't U. S. Infantry, September, 1864. Served three years.


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GOODWIN, JOHN H. Mustered as First Sergeant in Co. F, 14th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Sept. 23, 1862. Promoted to Second Lieutenant, Feb. 17, 1865. Mustered out July S, 1865.


HARVEY, CHARLES L. Mustered in Co. F, 2d Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Sept. 2, 1861. Discharged for disability, Nov. 29, I862.


HASTINGS, FOSTER W. Mustered in Co. F, 14th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Sept. 23, 1862. Promoted to Corporal, Nov. 1, 1864. Mustered out July 8, 1865.


HASTINGS, HERBERT R. Mustered in Co. F, 14th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Sept. 23, 1862. Discharged for disability, Aug. 13, 1863.


HASTINGS, EUGENE. Mustered as Corporal in Co. A, 14th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Sept. 22, 1862. Mustered out July 8, 1865. HENRY, HUBBARD W. Mustered in Co. F, 14th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Sept. 23, 1862. Died of disease, at Alexandria, Va., Feb. 7, 1864.


HERRICK, DWIGHT L .* Mustered in Co. C, ISth Reg't N. H. V. .


Infantry, Aug. 31, 1864. Promoted to Corporal. Mustered out June 10, 1865.


HIGGINS, SIDNEY B. Mustered in Co. E, 6th Reg't N. H. V. In- fantry, November or December, 1861. Discharged for disa- bility, -- - , - -. Re-enlisted, and was mustered as Ser- geant in Co. E, the same Reg't, Dec. 24, 1863. Promoted to First Lieutenant, March 6, 1865. Mustered out July 17, 1865. Wounded Oct. 1, 1864.


IlILDRETH, JOHN W. Mustered in Co. E, 6th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Nov. 28, 1861. Discharged for disability, Sept. 29, IS62.


HILDRETH, GEORGE L. Mustered in Co. E, 6th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Dec. 7, 1861. Discharged for disability, July. 1862. HILL, TAYLOR E. Mustered in Co. F, 14th Reg't N. H. V. In- fantry, Sept. 23, 1862. Mustered out July 8, 1865. HOLT, FRANK J .* Mustered in Co. A, 18th Reg't N. H. V. In- fantry, Sept. 13, 1864. Mustered out June 10. 1865.


HOLT, JOSEPH .* Mustered in Co. F, ISth Reg't N. H. V. In- fantry, Oct. 28, 1864. Mustered out May 18, 1865.


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HOPKINS, GEORGE. Enlisted in various organizations. (Record incomplete.)


HOSLEY, WAYLAND N. Enlisted in the 4th Reg't Vt. V. Infantry, in 1861. Served three years or more.


HOWE, HENRY H. £ Mustered as Sergeant in Co. F, 14th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Sept. 23, 1862. Mustered out July 8, 1865. HOWE, BARTON, JR .* Mustered in Co. C, 18th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Aug. 31, 1864. Mustered out June 10, 1865.


JACKSON, ROBERT. Enlisted in a Mass. Reg't, September, 1864. Served till the war ended. Severely wounded in the mouth. LEWIS, CHARLES B. Enrolled in Co. C, 17th Reg't U. S. Infantry, . Sept. 17, 1861. Discharged for disability, Jan. 21, 1863. Re- enlisted, and was mustered* as Corporal in Co. E, 18th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Sept. 26, 1864. Promoted to Sergeant, June 1, 1865. Mustered out June 10, 1865.


LEWIS, REUBEN A .* Mustered in Co. A, 14th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Sept. 20, 1864. Mustered out July 8, 1865.


LINCOLN, LUCIAN O. Mustered as Corporal in Co. F, 5th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Oct. 23, 1861. Discharged for disability, July 7, 1862. Re-enlisted, and was mustered in Co. F, 14th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Oct. 2, 1862. Mustered out July 8, I865.


LINCOLN, HORACE S. Mustered in Co. F, 11th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, July 28, 1864. Transferred to Co. F, 6th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, June 1, 1865. Mustered out July 17, 1865.


MARTIN, JAMES M. Mustered in Co. D, 2d Reg't N. H. V. In- fantry, Sept. 17, 1861. Died of disease, at Harrison's Land- ing, Va., Aug. 11, 1862.


McCLENNING, HENRY J. Mustered in Co. F, 14th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Sept. 23, 1862. Died of disease, at Washington, D. C., Aug. 7, 1863.


RICHARDSON, J. MILO. Enlisted in the 14th Reg't N. H. V. In- fantry, but did not leave the State. Was soon discharged for disability. 16


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ROBBINS, DANIEL E. Mustered in Co. F. 6th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Nov. 28, 1861. Re-enlisted as a veteran, and was mustered in the same Co., Jan. 4, 1864. Mustered out July 17, 1865. Wounded severely in the head at the battle of Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864.


SAFFORD, OTIS. Mustered in Co. K, 2d Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Sept. 2, 1861. Mustered out July, 1864. Re-enlisted, and was mustered* in Troop F, Ist Reg't N. H. V. Cavalry, Feb. 28, 1865. Mustered out July 15: 1865. Wounded in the right leg, just above the ankle, at the second battle of Bull Run, Va. SAFFORD, NORMAN D. Mustered in Co. E, 5th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Nov. 28, 1861. Discharged for disability, Oct. 6, 1862. Re-enlisted, and was mustered* as Sergeant in Co. E, ISth Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Sept. 24, 1864. Promoted to First Sergeant, April, 1865. Mustered out June 10, 1865. SAFFORD, LEAVITT W .* Mustered in Troop F, Ist Reg't N. H. V. Cavalry, March 16, 1865. Mustered out July 15, 1865.


SCOTT, OTIS H. Mustered in Co. F, 5th Reg't N. H. V. Infant- ry, Oct. 23, 1861. Discharged for disability, Dec. 22, 1862. SCOTT, GEORGE D. Mustered in Co. F, 14th Reg't N. H. V. In- fantry, Sept. 23, 1862. Mustered out July 8, 1865.


SNOW. HENRY HERBERT. Mustered in Co. F, 14th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Sept. 23, 1862. Discharged for disability, May 25, 1863.


STODDARD, JAMES S. Mustered in Co. F, 14th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Sept. 23, 1862. Promoted to Corporal, Sept. 26, 1863. Promoted to Sergeant, Feb. 12, 1864. Mustered out July 8, 1865. At the battle of Winchester, Va., he was hit five or six times in different parts of his person or clothing, one bullet entering his mouth and knocking out several teeth.


STREETER, EDWIN H. Mustered in Co. I, 9th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Aug. 15, 1862. Promoted to Corporal, March I, 1865. Mustered out June 10, 1865.


STREETER, ALBERT W. Mustered in Co. I, 9th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Aug. 15, 1862. Died of disease at Falmouth, Va., Feb. 6, 1863.


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STREETER, HERBERT N. (Brother of Albert W.) Mustered in Co. I, 9th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Aug. 23, 1862. Died of disease, at Aquia Creek, Va., Feb. 7, 1863.


STREETER, MARSHALL S. Mustered in Co. F, 14th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, Sept. 23, 1862. At the battle of Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864, he was wounded in the left leg, just above the knee, and died from the effects of the wound the 9th day of the following October, at Baltimore Hospital.


TITUS, HERBERT B. Commissioned Second Lieutenant of Co. A, 2d Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, June 4, 1861 ; and First Lieu- tenant of the same Co., June, IS62. Promoted the 14th of the same month to Major of the 9th Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, and to Lieut. Colonel Commissioned Colonel of the same regiment, Nov. 22, 1862. Discharged Sept. 27, 1864. Re-instated by Special Orders No. 377, par. 18, War Depart- ment, Nov. 1, 1864. Mustered out June 10. 1865.


At the battle of Antietam Creek, Md., Sept. 17, 1862, he was severely wounded in the right shoulder. March 15, 1865, he was appointed Brigadier General by brevet, " for gallant and meritorious services during the war."


TYRREL, DAVID B. Mustered in Co. A, 2d Reg't N. H. V. In- fantry, Aug. 24, 1861. Mustered out Aug. 24, 1864.


TYRREL. EVERETT C. Mustered in Co. D, 2d Reg't N. H. V. Infantry, September, 1861. Discharged for disability, May, 1863.


WALTON, DAVID S., JR. Enlisted Sept. 11, 1861, in Co. I, Ist Reg't Berdan's U. S. Sharpshooters. Discharged for disability, Dec. 10, 1862.


WARREN, LYMAN H. Enlisted in the 17th Reg't U. S. Infantry, Sept. 16, 1861. Appointed Second Lieutenant in the same regiment, Oct. 13, 1862. Brevetted Captain, July 2, 1863. Appointed Captain, Oct. 25. 1865. Slightly wounded in one of his feet at the battle of Chancellorsville, Va. He died at Houston, Texas, Sept. 18, 1867.


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WHEELER, ALONZO W .* Mustered in Troop F, Ist Reg't N. H.


V. Cavalry, March 8, 1865. Mustered out July 15, 1865.


Of the 74 men whose names have been given above :


None were killed in battle.


One died from the effects of a wound received in battle.


Ten were wounded and survived.


Six died of disease.


The amount of the bounties paid by the town during the war was $24,600.


Twelve persons were drafted and paid a commutation of $300 each, and 27 furnished substitutes at an expense of from $100 to $400 each.


CHAPTER VII.


The District Schools and the Academy.


THE DISTRICT SCHOOLS.


The schools are mentioned for the first time, in the records of the town, in the warrant for the first town-meeting of which there is any record, held the second Tuesday in June, 1767. The second article of the warrant was, "To see whether the town will raise money to defray town charges and hire schooling." At that time the town had not been divided into wards, or districts, and what few schools there were, were taught in private houses. The sum of money raised for schooling in 1767 (if any was raised), was not recorded ; but at the annual town-meeting held in March, 1771, it was voted to raise 15 pounds for that purpose. From 1771 to '79, the amount raised annually seems at no time to have exceeded 50


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pounds. During the next five years, the town was in a more or less disturbed condition, and little or no money appears to have been raised for the support of schools.


At a town-meeting held May 29, 1771, a committee was chosen to divide the town into school-wards ; but the wards, as laid out by the committee, were not accepted by the town. In 1774, another attempt was made to establish school-wards, but apparently without success. In 1776, several wards were laid out by a committee chosen for the purpose, and accepted by the town ; but the number was not recorded. It was also voted to allow each ward to employ their own instructor.


Dec. 15, 1785, it was voted to re-divide the town into school- wards, and a committee was chosen for that purpose. Nineteen wards were laid out, which were accepted by the town, March 29, 1787. Frequent changes were made in the lines of the wards pre- vious to 1815, about which year the term " school-district" was adopted in place of " school-ward." In 1792, a new ward was formed in the eastern part of the town, in which were Reuben Lewis, Josiah Torrey and nine others. In IS07, ward No. 17 (in the north-west corner of the town) and a part of No. 18 were all- nexed to ward No. 1. The other part of ward No. 18 seems to have been annexed, at the same time, to No. 11. In ISI0, wards 2, 3 and 16 were united, probably under the name of ward No. 2. In 1817, districts No. 19 and No. 11 were united ; and all that part of No. I that lay south of Catsbane brook, was united with a part of No. 2, to form a new district (now No. 3).


Although many alterations have been made in the lines of the school-wards since 1787, a few of the present districts are, in great part, the same as at that date. District No. I has always included the West Village ; No. 5, the greater part of the Centre Village. Factory Village, which is, at present, included in district No. 13, seems originally to have been in "ward" No. 14.


When, or where, the first school-house was built in Chesterfield, has not been discovered. It is doubtful if one was built before 1785, and probably only a few had been erected by the year 1800. The oldest school-houses now standing, appear to have been built between 1800 and '12. The one in district No. 7 is known to have


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been built about 1810. The school-house in district No. I origin- ally stood on what is now the north-eastern part of the cemetery, near the West Village ; but it was removed to the site of the pres- ent one early in this century. The present house, which is, at least, the third one the district has had, was built in 1865.


The little square school-house, with " hip-roof," which stood for- merly near the old graveyard, at the Centre Village, is probably one of the oldest school buildings in the town. Into it were crowded, for many years, the youth of that village, and forced " to yield obe- dience to the rod." It has been disused for school purposes, how- ever, for many years ; but in spite of its dilapidated condition, and the slight regard which the youth of the present day have for it, it enjoys the proud distinction of having sent forth into the world many of the ablest men that the town has produced.


The present school-house at Factory Village, which is, at least, the second one that has been built in district No. 13, was erected in 1848. The one in district No. 10 was built in 1860; that in No. 9, in 1828 ; the new one in No. 3, in ISSo.


Before school-houses were built, the schools, as stated above, were taught in private houses. At one time, near the beginning of the present century, the school in district No. 7 (the “ Hardscrabble district,") was kept in Gibson Willard's barn. Many of the schools at that time were larger than at present. In the winter of 1816 and '17, the little school-house in the district last mentioned is said to have been occupied by at least So scholars ! Other schools are said to have had (from 1800 to 1830) nearly 100 scholars each. The largest number of scholars in one school is, at present, about 60.


The average number of scholars attending school each year pre- vious to 1847, has not been ascertained ; but it is evident that, at times, it must have been about double what it is now. Since 1847, the number for each fifth year has been as follows: 1847, 438 ; 52,342( ?) ; '57, 436 ; '62, 355 ; '67, 300 ; '72, 265 ; '77, 225. The greatest number attending school in ISSo, was 245.


The amount of money raised yearly by taxation for the support of the district schools was, from 1785 to '98, usually £1oo ; from '98 to 1805, $400. From 1805 to '47, the amount raised annually appears to have varied from $440 to $800 ; from '47 to the present


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time, it has varied from $Soo to $1500. Since 1829, each district has received annually a portion of the " literary fund," this town's share of which has averaged, for a number of years, not far from $100.


The greatest number of districts in which schools have been main- tained since IS17, has been, apparently, sixteen. At present the number is fourteen.


The largest district at present, in respect to the number of schol- ars, is No. 13, which includes Factory Village. The school in this district is divided, in the winter, into two departments-primary and senior. District No. I ranks second in number of scholars ; No. 5, third.


For many years it was the practice to have a school committee consisting of, at least, three persons. The first committee of this kind, mentioned in the town records, was chosen at the March meeting in 1811, when Rev. Abraham Wood, Phineas Handerson and Levi Jackson were selected by the town " to inspect the schools" the ensuing year. The practice of appointing a superin- tendent of schools, instead of a committee, was adopted about IS52, since which time the following persons have served as superinten- dents :


1852, John Q. A. Marsh ; '53, John B. Fisk ; '54, James H. Goodrich ; '55, '56, Barton Skinner ; '57, Otis Amidon ; '58, '59, Rev. Jeffries Hall : '60, Rev. Nelson Green : '61, Rev. Jeffries Hall ; '62, Rev. Thomas L. Fowler ; '63, Timothy N. Robertson ; '64, Rev. Thomas L. Fowler ; '65-'67, Rev. Jeffries Hall ; '68, Hermon C. Harvey ; '69, Rev. Oliver G. Woodbury ; '70, Fred- eric B. Pierce ; '71-'75, Rev. Jeffries Hall ; '76, Rev. Edward P. F. Dearborn ; '77-'79, Rev. Jeffries Hall ; 'So, (school-committee) Rev. Wm. W. LeSeur, Rev. Jeffries Hall, Rev. Hiram B. Mor- gan ; 'Sı, Rev. Hiram B. Morgan.


CHESTERFIELD ACADEMY.


On the 12th day of January, 1790, the Legislature of New Hamp- shire passed an act entitled "An Act to incorporate an Academy in the Town of Chesterfield, by the name of the Chesterfield Acad- emy." In the preamble of the act, it is stated that " the education of youth has ever been considered by the wise and good as an ob- ject of the highest consequence to the safety and happiness of a


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People ;" also, that "Peter Stone of Chesterfield, gentleman, and sundry other persons, have voluntarily contributed certain sums of money for the purpose of establishing and supporting a public school, or academy, in said Chesterfield."


The first section of the act sets forth the object of the Academy- " the promoting piety and virtue, and the instruction of youth in such branches of useful Literature as the trustees hereby appointed shall think proper to direct." The same section also empowered Rev. Abraham Wood, Solomon Harvey, physician, Moses Smith, Esq., Silas Richardson, Zur Evans, Simon Willard and Abner Johnson, gentlemen, all of Chesterfield, to act as trustees.


The third section provided that "Abraham Wood and other trus- tees, as aforesaid, and the longest livers and survivors of them, and their successors, be the true and sole visitors, trustees and governors of the said Academy, in perpetuel succession forever."


The fourth section fixed the number of trustees at not less than seven, nor more than eleven ; and provided that the major part of them should be " laymen and respectable freeholders."


In the sixth section, provisions were made for the holding, by the trustees, of real and personal estate, provided the annual income of the real estate should not exceed 500 pounds, and the annual income of the personal estate should not exceed 2000 pounds ; "both sums to be valued in silver at the rate of six shillings and eight pence by the ounce."


It was enacted by the eighth and last section, that all estate, per- sonal and real, held within this State for the use of the Academy, should be exempt from taxation ; and that students of the Academy should also be exempt from paying a poll-tax.


The first meeting of the trustees was held Feb. 26, 1790. Abner Johnson was chosen secretary, and Alpheus Moore a trustee.


At the second meeting, held the Ist day of the following April, it was voted to petition the General Court "for the grant of 2000 pounds by lottery." Alpheus Moore, Zur Evans and Moses Smith were appointed managers of the lottery.


The following is the record of a meeting held the 13th of the next December (1790) :


" According to adjournment, the Corporation of the Chesterfield Academy met at Capt. Willard's, and agreed with Capt. Simon


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Willard and Capt. Zur Evans, to confer with the president of Har- vard College respecting a preceptor, and desire him to apply to some gentleman and ascertain the terms on which a preceptor would en- gage for one year ; and if an opportunity presented, to inform the chairman of the corporation respecting the matter."


It has usually been stated that the Academy was not opened till August 14, 1794. The Academy building may not have been used till that date, although it is impossible to ascertain the date of its commencement or completion.


May 6, 1790, the town voted to allow the trustees of the Academy to put a building on the common, for the use of the school ; but the records of the institution do not show when the building was be- gun or finished. There are, however, reasons for believing that the school may have been opened before the date given above. The records of the Academy show that, August 31, 1791, the trus- tees voted to hire Sheldon Logan* " to instruct in the Academy for the term of one year," and to give him So pounds for his services. July 4, 1792, they voted that the afternoon of every Wednesday, for the rest of the year, should be "a vacation." Why did they vote to have a " vacation," or half-holiday, if there was no school?


The Academy having been opened, it continued for many years to be one of the most useful and popular institutions in Cheshire County. It was a common practice, in the earlier years of the Academy, for the trustees to grant the use of the Academy building, and sometimes other property, to certain persons, on condition that they should actually employ an instructor and keep the school in operation. Persons to whom the Academy was thus intrusted, were styled "adventurers." Thus, Sept. 5, 1800, the trustees voted " to give the privilege of the Academy house, for the term of one year, beginning on the Sth day of instant September, to Abraham Wood, Zenas Fairbanks and others, as adventurers in hiring a pre- ceptor to keep a school in said house for the term of one year ; also, the use of the glebe-land for the term of one year, on condition that said adventurers do actually provide a preceptor to keep said school, and likewise that they keep the house in as good repair as it now is-natural decays excepted."


*It is certain that Mr. Logan was taxed in Chesterfield in 1793 and '94 (and no other year), which seems to indicate that he was here for some purpose be- fore August, 1794. 17


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At the June session of the Legislature in ISOS, an act was passed granting a lottery to the trustees, for the benefit of the Academy. Elijah Dunbar, Esq., Benj. Cook, John Putnam and Phineas Handerson were chosen managers of this lottery; but there is no record of the amount of money that was obtained for the benefit of the school. It seems that the estate held by the trustees for the use of the Academy, never produced an income sufficient to support the school ; and sometimes even the income and tuition fees together amounted to less than the expenses. The expenses for the year ending April 20, 1809, amounted to $433.25, and the receipts to $316.75. The "adventurers" were thus obliged to make up a de- ficiency of $116.50.


Sometimes the trustees would agree to pay the instructor a certain sum, and allow him to have all the tuition fees he could collect. On these terms, they engaged the late Hon. Asa Keyes, of Brattle- boro, as preceptor for one year, commencing April 16, 1810.




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