USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Plymouth > History of Plymouth, New Hampshire; vol. I. Narrative--vol. II. Genealogies, Volume I > Part 25
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District No. 11 : Beginning at Hebron line at the northwesterly corner of lot No. 3 in the third range and second division -Thence easterly by the northerly line of said lot to the southeasterly corner of a tract of land owned by the widow Blodgett Thence northerly by the last mentioned tract and on the easterly line of land owned by Henry Wells to the southerly line of the 4th range- Thence easterly on said line to the northeast corner of Willard Rideout's land Thence southerly by said Rideout's land and by the line of lot No. 2 in the 4th range to the south- westerly corner of lot No. 4 in the 5th range - Thence easterly by the southerly line of lot No. 4 and the same course to the northeasterly corner of lot No. 5 in the 5th range - Thence southerly by the easterly line of lots No. 5 and 6 in the 5th range-Thence westerly by the south- erly line of lot No. 6 in the southeasterly corner of lot No. 5 in the 4th range - Thence by said lot No. 5 to Hebron line -Thence on Hebron line to the bound first mentioned.
In 1835 the twelfth district, later known as the fifth district, was established.
The next district to be added to an increasing number of school organizations was the Union District No. 1, in the northwest corner of Plymouth and the southwest corner of Campton. The district was established in 1846 and was incorporated in 1853, including the families and estates of Henry C. Phillips, David H. Avery, Oliver Avery, Anson Merrill, Seth Doton, Kimball C. Corliss, Jacob Morrison, Ezra W. Avery, Daniel Spooner, Abiel C. Flan- ders, John Harriman, Hiram Harriman, and William Harriman. The following year, Abel Nutting, Benjamin Nutting, and Michael Mitchell of the Tenth district and Robert Mitchell of the First were granted leave to join with John Fuller, Jeremiah Cass, Albert F. Mitchell, and Charles J. Mitchell of Bridgewater and establish Union District No. 2. At this time there were fourteen districts.
In 1854 the town voted to redistrict all the territory north of Baker's River. The old District No. 5 was dissolved and the terri- tory was annexed to Union District No. 1 and to District No. 9. At the same time District No. 12 became No. 5.
287
SCHOOLS.
In 1860 a tract of land in the southwest corner of Campton was annexed to Plymouth. By this proceeding nearly all of Union District No. 1 became a part of Plymouth and the union district was dissolved. At the same time the western part of the territory north of Baker's River, including the territory of the union district, was organized and assumed the name of District No. 12.
A few years later District No. 11 was joined to No. 4, and Dis- trict No. 10, with a few families in Bridgewater, became a union district. About the same time District No. 7, adjacent to Hebron, joining with about an equal section of that town, became a part of another union district.
For several years, and until 1885, school money was paid to the union districts, but they were left under the supervision of Bridge- water and Hebron. Upon the adoption of the town system meas- ures were introduced at the June session, 1885, for the dissolution of the two union districts. One of the bills became a law, but the passage of the school act of that year dissolved all the districts without the necessity of special legislation.
In any record of the school districts of Plymouth the second or independent schoolhouse in the third district demands a paragraph. This district, adjacent to Baker's River, was large in area and popu- lous, including many productive farms and prominent families. In 1847 twelve citizens of the district petitioned for a division on the line between the land of William Willoughby and the Cross farm, and the establishment of a new district. The petitioners were Austin George, Amos Webster, David George, Moses George, William Gill, King George, John H. Gill, Noah C. Cummings, Hiram Clark, Thomas Clark, Washington George, and William Willoughby.
The town refused to grant their request, but several of the peti- tioners, including Thomas Clark, Washington George, David George, Hiram Clark, William Webster, Noah C. Cummings, and Austin George, by mutual agreement, built a schoolhouse on land presented by Thomas Clark. For several years private schools were maintained in " the little new school house " at times when
288
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
the public school was not in session. Some of the teachers of the private school were Henry C. Phillips, Irene M. Clark, Susan A. Tyrrill, Ellen M. Burley, Mary Ann Dearborn, Sarah Clark, and Arabella M. Little.
The history of the schools of a town in New Hampshire is divided into three epochs. During the first, or the voluntary period, which ended in 1827, the schools were established and maintained and schoolhouses were erected by the town. There were very few and imperfect statutes. The proceedings of the several towns were so constant and uniform that a system was established without the regulation and compulsory influence of law. It was pre-eminently a town system. By the statute of 1827 and amendments, school districts became corporations with authority to choose prudential committees, to own school lots, to build schoolhouses, and to have a general control of the school. The towns were instructed to raise money for school purposes and to choose a committee of supervision. The second epoch extended from 1827 to the abolishment of school districts.
In the progress of years the number of pupils in the village schools was largely increased, while the number of families and, in a greater ratio, the number of pupils in the outside districts was constantly decreasing. The inequality of the schools de- manded a more elastic system. The people were attached to the district organization. They had experienced the benefit of district rivalry and of local control. The passage from the second to the third epoch was made after prolonged discussion and the sur- render of certain approved methods. The abolishment of the district system, if a radical, was not a sudden movement. In 1853 Rev. William R. Jewett, in the annual school report, de- clared, " We need fewer districts and larger schools." Herman L. Sargent, in the report of 1872, follows with the recommenda- tion, "I believe we ought to follow the example of some of the younger and growing States. Let the township form a single district. Abolish the office of prudential committee and super- intending committee and elect a board of three directors and
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SCHOOLS.
give them full power respecting school interests." Charles A. Jewell, in the report submitted in March, 1878, conscious of the merits of the district and the town system, presented the question fairly in these words: " A complete revolution in the condition of our school districts has taken place within the last quarter of a century. Many of the farms upon our hillsides have been abandoned and the old homesteads deserted, so that the farming communities have become more or less depopulated, and in some of the districts where once the old schoolhouses were well filled with eager boys and girls, hardly a dozen children are now found to take their places. The welfare of our schools imperatively demands a change and readjustment of district lines. The adop- tion of the town system is naturally suggested as a remedy for present evils. While I firmly believe in the town system, and am fully convinced that better results would follow should we adopt it and place the entire management and control of our schools in a town board of education, I am aware that our people are not yet agreed as to this much needed reform, and I do not, therefore, consider its adoption feasible at the present time. But I trust that the time is not far distant when we shall all recognize it as the only rational and economical school system." The debate was soon terminated. The town system was adopted in March, 1885. The third epoch has been eventful and progressive.
For many years the inequality of the districts in many towns had invited the discussion of corrective measures. An early and, as it proved, the prevailing plan of meeting the difficulty was the abolishment of all the districts and the substitution of a town district containing several schools. The advocates of the change manifested more eagerness in securing early results than wisdom in the form of the statute. The law of 1870 which permitted, and the law of 1885 which created, a town system were crude, and failed in a clear definition of the duties and rights of the town and the town district. For this reason the board of edu- cation and the selectmen for a few years labored under many embarrassments, and meanwhile the opponents of the new system
VOL. I .- 19
290
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
were re-enforced by a few who liberally construed an elastic statute.
The town system was adopted by Plymouth under the permis- sive act, and a few months before the passage of the mandatory act of 1885. The first board of education was appointed by the selectmen, and the members were Charles A. Jewell, Alvin Bur- leigh, Robert Burns, James A. Penniman, Daniel H. Currier, and Henry P. Peck.
An account of the schools of Plymouth during the third epoch and under the town district system is the continued record of progress and a material improvement of the results secured. At the outset the new system was severely tested. The statute was imperfect and many fears and misunderstandings were expressed. In the reorganization of the schools, and in an adjustment of the property interests of the former districts, the board of education and the selectmen found unusual opportunities for the exercise of wisdom and patience. The board of education established seven schools, which are known as the Village, Lower Intervale, Ward Hill, Baker's River, Sargent, Turnpike, and Livermore schools, and provision has been made annually for the transportation of scholars living remote from any of the seven permanent schools.
At the establishment of the New Hampshire Normal School, that institution assumed the responsibility of the instruction of the scholars of the village district formerly known as District No. 2. The relations between the district and the normal school have been of mutual advantage. The school has been a graded school, and a high school was early established. The sum annu- ally paid by the district to the normal school was gradually in- creased from eight hundred dollars, in 1873, to thirty-three hundred dollars, in 1903, when a new contract was made. Since 1903, the high school having been established without connection with the normal school, the annual payment is one thousand dollars.
The Plymouth High School was established in 1883, and for twenty years it was a department of the normal school, under the joint supervision of the principal of the normal school and
11
PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL, 1905
291
SCHOOLS.
the board of education. The school was accommodated in the normal building until 1891, and subsequently in Kidder Block until the completion of the high-school building. The school was severed from the normal school and passed into the sole supervision of the town authorities in 1903.
After an intelligent discussion of the subject and a comparison of the several plans suggested for the future accommodation of the high school, a convenient lot of land was purchased and a substantial and commodious building was erected in 1904. The building committee were George H. Adams, Charles J. Ayer, Charles J. Gould, Davis B. Keniston, and William M. Peppard. The contractor was Augustine N. Gilbert of Berlin.
The cost of the new high-school building, including land, grading, and furnishing, will not fall short of fifty thousand dollars. The building in all its appointments is a pleasing ex- pression of the enterprise and public spirit of the people of Plymouth.
Newton Dexter Clark, the present principal, has completed four years of successful administration.
SUPERVISION OF THE SCHOOLS.
From 1809 to 1884 inclusive the town elected or the selectmen appointed annually a committee of supervision. The committee was styled inspectors of schools until 1827, when the name of superintending school committee was conferred by the statute of that year. In 1872 the name of the school officials was changed to school committee. Since 1885 the committee of three members with enlarged power has been styled the board of education and has been elected, each for the term of three years, by the town dis- trict. The record of an election is not found for every year. So far as known, the school committees of Plymouth have been as follows :-
1809 Drury Fairbank, John Rogers, Jotham Cummings, Jr.
1810 Drury Fairbank, John Rogers, William Webster.
1811 Drury Fairbank, Jonathan Robbins, William Webster.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
1812 Drury Fairbank. 1814 Drury Fairbank.
1813 Drury Fairbank. 1815 Drury Fairbank.
1816 Drury Fairbank, Samuel C. Webster, Phineas Walker.
1817 Drury Fairbank, Moses Hadley, Samuel Rogers.
1818 Benjamin Bayley, Rufus Danforth, Jonathan Dearborn, Jona- than Robbins, Samuel Rogers.
1819 Samuel C. Webster, Phineas Walker, Jonathan Ward.
1820 Jonathan Ward, Jonathan Dearborn, Nathaniel P. Rogers.
1821 Jonathan Ward, Samuel C. Webster.
1822 Jonathan Ward, Asa Robbins, Stephen Goodhue, Jr., Christo- pher Morrison, Benjamin Bayley, Joseph Kimball, Samuel C. Webster, Edward Senter, Eaton George, John Ward, Jonathan Cummings.
1823 Jonathan Ward, Asa Robbins, James Miller, Samuel C. Webster, Jonathan Hull, James Morrison, Ebenezer Blodgett, Benjamin Bayley, Jonathan Cummings, Edward Senter, John Ward.
1824 Jonathan Ward, Asa Robbins, James Miller, Moses Ward, Moses George, William Goold, John Ward, Gideon Powers, John Adams, Jr., Jonas Willoughby, Edward Senter, Jr., Willard Rideout.
1825 Jonathan Ward, Nathaniel Draper, Benjamin Bayley.
1826 Jonathan Ward. 1827 Jonathan Ward.
1828-1831 The selectmen appointed the committee. No record.
1832 George Punchard, Samuel C. Webster, Jonathan Bliss.
1833 George Punchard, Samuel C. Webster, William C. Thompson. 1834-1845 No record.
1846 William R. Jewett, Anson Merrill, William Leverett.
1847 William R. Jewett, Samuel Long, Joseph C. Fifield.
1848 William R. Jewett, William C. Thompson, Samuel Long. 1849 William R. Jewett, Samuel Long, James G. Smith. 1850 William R. Jewett, Samuel Long, James G. Smith.
1851 William R. Jewett, Samuel Long, James G. Smith.
1852 William R. Jewett, Samuel Long, James G. Smith.
1853 William R. Jewett, Samuel Long, James G. Smith. 1854 William R. Jewett.
1855 William R. Jewett.
1856 Joseph Clark, Jr.
1862 Andrew J. Huntoon.
1863 Charles M. Fellows.
1864 Eli Mellen Wight.
1857 Joseph Clark, Jr.
1865 Henry A. Hazen.
1858 William R. Jewett.
1866 Hiram L. Kelsey.
1859 William R. Jewett.
1867 Joseph Burrows.
1860 James G. Smith. 1868 Jospeh W. Preston.
1861 Andrew J. Huntoon. 1869 Joseph W. Preston.
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SCHOOLS.
1870 Herman L. Sargent.
1878 Charles A. Jewell.
1871 Herman L. Sargent.
1879 Charles A. Jewell.
1872 Joseph W. Preston.
1880 George H. Scott.
1873 Joseph W. Preston.
1881 George H. Scott.
1874 Silas W. Davis.
1882 Arthur S. Hazelton.
1875 Silas W. Davis.
1883 Quillen H. Shinn.
1876 Silas W. Davis.
1877 Charles A. Jewell.
1884 Henry P. Peck.
1885 Charles A. Jewell, Alvin Burleigh, Robert Burns, James A. Penniman, Daniel H. Currier, Henry P. Peck.
1886 Alvin Burleigh, Charles A. Jewell, Henry P. Peck, Daniel H. Currier, James A. Penniman, Robert Burns.
1887 Alvin Burleigh, Thomas Tyrie, Daniel H. Currier, Henry P. Peck, James A. Penniman, Robert Burns.
1888 Alvin Burleigh, Robert Burns, Thomas Tyrie.
1889 Alvin Burleigh, Robert Burns, James A. Penniman.
1890 Alvin Burleigh, James A. Penniman, John Keniston.
1891 Alvin Burleigh, James A. Penniman, John Keniston. 1892 Alvin Burleigh, James A. Penniman, John Keniston. 1893 Alvin Burleigh, James A. Penniman, John Keniston. 1894 John Keniston, James A. Penniman, Henry C. Currier. 1895 Jolin Keniston, Henry C. Currier, Alvin F. Wentworth. 1896 John Keniston, Henry C. Currier, Alvin F. Wentworth. 1897 John Keniston, Alvin F. Wentworth, Haven Palmer. 1898 John Keniston, Alvin F. Wentworth, Haven Palmer. 1899 John Keniston, Alvin F. Wentworth, Haven Palmer. 1900 John Keniston, Alvin F. Wentworth, Haven Palmer. 1901 John Keniston, Alvin F. Wentworth, Haven Palmer. 1902 John Keniston, Alvin F. Wentworth, Haven Palmer. 1903 John Keniston, Alvin F. Wentworth, Haven Palmer. 1904 John Keniston, Haven Palmer, Alvin Burleigh.
1905 John Keniston, Haven Palmer, Alvin Burleigh.
294
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
XX. THE HOLMES PLYMOUTH ACADEMY.
"THEREFORE be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened, that there be and hereby is established at Plymouth in the county of Grafton in this state, an Academy by the name of Holmes Plymouth Academy, and that the design is and shall be, to promote religion, virtue and literature, and more especially for teaching and instructing youth in the English, Latin and Greek languages, in writing, music and the art of speaking, in geography, logic, mathematics, history and agriculture and such other branches of science as opportunity may permit and the trustees hereinafter mentioned shall order and direct."
The act incorporating the Holmes Plymouth Academy, contain- ing the legal phrases and the grants and limitations peculiar to this class of legislation, is unusually long. The act is found in Volume XVIII, page 85, of the manuscript laws in the State archives. The extract given expresses the object and aim of the incorporators.
The act further provided that Rev. Drury Fairbank, Rev. Noah Worcester, Rev. Robert Fowle, Rev. William Rolfe, Hon. Arthur Livermore, John Rogers, Esq., and Col. Samuel Holmes should constitute the board of trustees, with power to fill vacancies in the board from time to time, not exceeding seven in number.
The act was approved Dec. 7, 1808. In order of age it was the thirteenth academy incorporated in this State. The original petition is on file in the office of the Secretary of State.
To the Honble Senate & House of Representatives, of the State of New Hampshire, in General Court convened -
Humbly shew the Subscribers, Inhabitants of Plymouth, in said State,
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THE HOLMES PLYMOUTH ACADEMY.
& the towns adjacent - that they conceive it to be highly necessary and proper that a public School be founded in said Town, for the benefit of the rising generation, - as there is no institution of the Kind, in any direction from sd Plymouth, for upwards of thirty miles - that pupils can be accommodated with board not far from the house, already erected; which has been occupied of late, for several years, as a public School - and that a young Gentleman, of good abilities, is now employed therein as a teacher :
Wherefore, your Petitioners, for themselves & the public, earnestly pray your Honors to take the subject into consideration, and grant that an Academy be instituted in said Plymouth forever, with the privileges & immunities usually allowed, by the Legislature, to such corporations. - and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c. Nov. 15th. 1808.
Peter McQuesten
James Little
Edmund Durgin
Eben: Little
Enoch Ward
Moses Baker
Moor Russell
Benj. Baker
David Hazeltine
Samuel Holmes
Phinehas Walker
James M. Greenleaf
Moses Hadley
Edmund Marsh
John Rogers
John Southmayd
James Miller
Daniel Pearcival
Jos. F. Cumings
Sam1 Noyes
Wm Webster
Sam1 Wells
Daniel Eaton
Jotham Cumings Jr
Leonard Cummings
Jona. Robbins Jr
State of New Hampshire
In the House of Representatives Nov. 25th 1808.
Upon Reading and Considering the foregoing petition and the Report of a Committee thereon - Voted that the prayer be granted and that the petitioners have leave to bring in a Bill accordingly
Sent up for Concurrence CHARLES CUTTS Speaker
In Senate Nov: 26, 1808 Read and concurred -
HENRY B. CHIASE Ast Clerk
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
By the terms of the act of incorporation Rev. Drury Fair- bank and John Rogers, Esq., or either of them, were authorized to call and preside in the first meeting of the trustees. There is preserved on a half-sheet of paper a record of this meeting.
At a meeting of the trustees of the Holmes Plymouth Academy holden at the Court House on the twenty seventh day of February A. D. 1809, agreeably to an act of the Legislature of New Hampshire passed Dec. 7, 1808, the Rev. Drury Fairbank in pursuance of said act presided.
Voted that John Rogers, Esq be secretary of said Corporation.
Voted that Hon. Arthur Livermore, John Rogers, Esq. Rev. Drury Fairbank and Rev. Robert Fowle be a committee to draft and report a code of orders and by-laws for the government of said corporation.
Voted that Samuel Holmes Esq be treasurer of the Institution.
Voted that Hon. Arthur Livermore, Rev. Noah Worcester, Col. Samuel Holmes and Rev. Drury Fairbank be a committee to procure an instructor for said academy as soon as may be.
Voted that Hon. Arthur Livermore, Rev. Robert Fowle, John Rogers Esq. and Rev. Drury Fairbank be a committee for the purpose of notify- ing the subscribers of the last year, as also any others who may be inclined to subscribe in future, for the benefit of said Institution, to meet at Col. William Webster's tavern on Monday the twentieth day of March next at one oclock P. M. then and there to confer and act for the benefit aforesaid
Voted that the committee last above mentioned be empowered and directed to appoint and warn the next general meeting of the trustees.
Whereupon the meeting was dissolved
JOHN ROGERS, Sec'y.
During the ensuing few years the records of the trustees, like a volcano at rest, are silent, and the traditions of Plymouth are con- servative and generally noncommittal. If there were terms of school under the general direction of the trustees of the Holmes Plymouth Academy before 1826, it remains to be proven.
Four of the trustees were named at the first to call the next meeting. Dr. John Rogers died March 8, 1814, and Rev. Drury Fairbank removed to Littleton, 1820. The two remaining members of the committee, after a deliberation of over thirteen years, warned a meeting as follows: -
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THE HOLMES PLYMOUTH ACADEMY.
Aug. 24, 1822. The Trustees of the Holmes Plymouth Academy are hereby warned that a general meeting of the board will be holden this day at two oclock, PM. at Col. Webster's tavern in Plymouth for the purposes following :
1. To elect members in lieu of John Rogers Esq deceased and Rev. William Rolfe, resigned.
2. To choose a president of the board.
3. To choose a secretary and transact other necessary business of the corporation.
ARTHUR LIVERMORE ROBERT FOWLE for the Committee
At this meeting which assembled at the inn of Col. William Webster, Aug. 24, 1822, the entire proceedings are not recorded. The secretary recorded only the business transacted after his election. Dr. Samuel Robbins and Stephen Grant, Esq., were chosen trustees, to succeed Dr. John Rogers, deceased, and Rev. William Rolfe, resigned. Nathaniel Peabody Rogers, Esq., was elected secretary of the board. At the same meeting Arthur Liver- more, Stephen Grant, and Samuel Rogers were " appointed to con- tract in behalf of the corporation for the erection of a house for the Academy."
During the life of the Holmes Plymouth Academy, the affairs were administered by a board of seven trustees. In the days of prosperity they were faithful, and in times of depression they per- sonally contributed to the funds and gallantly struggled to save the institution. The whole number of trustees from 1808 to 1841 was twenty-four, and there were two elections which were declined. The term of service of each follows: -
Rev. Drury Fairbank, Dec. 7, 1808; resigned Sept. 2, 1822. Rev. Noah Worcester, Dec. 7, 1808 ; Aug. 21, 1822.
Rev. Robert Fowle, Dec. 7, 1808 ; March 10, 1828.
Rev. William Rolfe, Dec. 7, 1808 ; Aug. 24, 1822. Arthur Livermore, Dec. 7, 1808; July 10, 1826.
Dr. John Rogers, Dec. 7, 1808 ; died March 8, 1814.
Samuel Holmes, Dec. 7, 1808 ; Jan. 4, 1823.
Dr. Samuel Rogers, Aug. 24, 1822 ; resigned Jan. 27, 1829. Stephen Grant, Aug. 24, 1822 ; March 10, 1828.
1
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
Rev. Jonathan Ward, Jan. 9, 1823 ; resigned Jan. 27, 1834.
Josiah Quiney, Jan. 9, 1823 ; 66 July 10, 1826.
Nathaniel Peabody Rogers,1 Jan. 9, 1823 ; resigned Feb. 8, 1839. William Webster, July 10, 1826 ;
Jan. 12, 1837.
Jonathan C. Everett, July 10, 1826 ;
Jan. 27, 1829.
William Green, March 10, 1828 ; " May 20, 1836.
David Moor Russell, March 10, 1828 ;
Jan. 27, 1834.
John Rogers,1 Jan. 27, 1829.
William C. Thompson, Jan. 27, 1829 ; declined.
Stevens Merrill, April 2, 1829 ; declined.
Rev. George Punchard,1 Jan. 27, 1834.
William Wallace Russell,1 Jan. 27, 1834.
Alvah McQuesten, Jan. 27, 1834; resigned Feb. 26, 1836.
William C. Thompson,1 Feb. 26, 1836.
Rev. Benjamin P. Stone, May 20, 1836 ; resigned July 17, 1838.
Rufus G. Lewis,1 Jan. 12, 1837.
Rev. Increase S. Davis,1 July 17, 1838.
-
Of the twenty-four active members of the board of trustees, fifteen at the time of service were residents of Plymouth, and three on account of connection with Plymouth families are also named in the family registers (Vol. II). A special mention in this connec- tion is not demanded. Of the remaining trustees six in number, none were strangers, at the time of service, to the people of Plymouth.
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