USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Rindge > History of the town of Rindge, New Hampshire, from the date of the Rowley Canada or Massachusetts charter, to the present time, 1736-1874, with a genealogical register of the Rindge families > Part 19
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unheard in the choirs; the bassoons are hoarse with age, and the sacred use of the trombone and the post-horn is counted with the customs of other days. The innovations of the new years have driven them from their accustomed places in the choirs, but not from the memory of those who were accustomed to hear them lead the voices in sacred song. While any of that generation remain, these ancient instruments and the tunes of their times will never be forgotten. Around them the recollection of the aged is wont to linger until again the praise of song is borne on the wings of such memories to the God of all genera- tions. The following selection from the poem, read by Samuel Burnham, at the centennial celebration of Rindge, pleasantly refers to the music of this period, as well as to the meeting-house at that time : -
" How oft, before improvement came And changed the building all save name, In those far-off and childish days, My wondering eye-balls I did raise, To that red pulpit, and the door, Which swung upon the sacred floor. And how I thought the parson fled, Until I saw his reverent head Up in the dizzy height appear, To send theology far and near. And how I dreaded the long prayer, And stood in restless misery there, Within the high-railed, pound-like pew, Peering between the seats for view Of Deacon Blake and Deacon Brown, And other worthies of the town, Who sat close by with sober face, The wardens of the sacred place. And when, at last, the loud Amen Fell from aloft, how quickly then,
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The seats came down with heavy rattle, Like musketry in fiercest battle. And farther off, and higher yet, The singers and the players sat. Oh, what a deluge of sweet sound ! Northfield came flying swiftly round; The New Jerusalem came down On slippery catgut on the town ; To old St. Martin's air so light,
The shepherds watched their flocks by night, And all our hearts were tuned within To Amos Cutler's violin. How those old tunes call up the past, And memories throng both thick and fast ; Old Majesty in sad complaints, And wailing China for dead saints, And Lenox, Duke Street, and the rest That to the service added zest.
But songs and songsters now are dead ; Those Sabbath days have long since fled ; The strings are broken, mute the tongue, That then God's praises sweetly sung."
In 1850, a small reed organ was procured. In its best days it could a little more than fill with sound the roomy case in which it was enclosed. It was tenderly borne with for several years after its natural powers had much abated. For some time the question of a better instrument was being considered, and about three hundred dollars was raised for that purpose. In 1870, the effort was renewed with much earnestness. An organization, with Josiah Stratton for Pres- ident, and Anson A. Platts for Secretary, was formed, and frequent meetings were held.
This effort was efficiently aided by Rev. Dennis Powers, the acting pastor, who ever took a lively interest in all matters of progress and laudable enterprise. To him and
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to his judicious and untiring efforts the society is much indebted, in the procurement of an elegant organ, and also in the improvements made at this time in the church edifice. Under these favoring auspices a sum of money was soon pledged, which encouraged the members of the organization to contract for a superior pipe organ. The instrument is from the manufactory of Mr. George Stevens, of Cambridge, and was placed in position in the autumn of 1871. It contains fifteen hundred pipes, and is of excellent tone. The cost was about $2,500. For labor in the collections, and for generous subscriptions, both by residents of this town and others from abroad, many are deserving especial commendation. To A. S. Coffin, N. A. Hale, S. J. Hardi- son, Deacon Jeremiah Norcross, James B. Robbins, and Charles E. Stickney, who assumed the pecuniary respon- sibility until the last of the money could be raised, the enterprise is much indebted.
CHAPTER XIII.
SCHOOLS.
Home Instruction. - The First Appropriation for Schools. - Five School Districts. - Early Instructors. - Wages of Teachers. - A New Era. Text Books. - Organization of Districts. - Boundaries Defined. - Prudential Committees. - Supervision. - Private Schools. - Exhi- bitions. - Names of School Committees.
THE earliest settlers resided in this town twenty years before there were any public schools; yet the youth who advanced to manhood at the close of this period were not uneducated. The parents were people of intelligence, often of considerable culture, and personally attended to the education of their own children; and there were as many schools in town as there were families. The faithful instruction of parents to their children at the fireside must have been a pleasing feature of their home experience. Their school-books could not have been numerous, and probably their exchanges of readers less frequent than at present. Here in the wilderness these primitive instructors enjoyed an entire freedom from the importunities of book agents, and pupils conned their lessons from well-worn pages, and often from borrowed volumes.
Children, with their love of companionship, may have assembled at the house of some hospitable neighbor, whose ability to instruct would soon be recognized, and command
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remuneration ; and private schools may have sprung from these informal gatherings.
Whatever may have been the system of instruction, the results are unmistakable. None were suffered to grow up in ignorance, and the many evidences of culture, made known in the lives of those whose only schooling was received at this time, are the substance of our knowledge of the education of that period.
William Russell, an infant when his parents removed to Rindge, was twenty years of age when the first public schools were instituted; yet he was among the earliest of grammar-school teachers. Many instances of this character, too numerous and apparent to escape observation, might be cited. The " Association Test" was signed by all the cit- izens of this town that were not in the army. Their names are written in fair characters, in some instances with great elegance. Those who examine the original paper will find but one signature not plainly written; but long before the name of Deliverance Wilson is made out, the practiced eye will discover that the illegibility arose from an unsteady nerve, rather than inexperience in the use of the pen. Among those in the army who did not here present a specimen of their handwriting, I know of but one who could not write his name. Asa Wilkins' middle name began with X, to which some friend would write "his mark." The wife of Joel Russell wrote her name in the same brief manner. Previous to the close of the century, no others have been found who could not write their names.
It is clearly evident that the education of the youth was not neglected through a failure of public support. There is no record of public schools previous to 1771, when eleven pounds was appropriated for this purpose; and the same
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year Nathaniel Russell was paid five pounds and twelve shillings "for keeping his school for the town," which sustains the tradition that he had previously maintained a school without assistance from the public treasury. The school was at his dwelling-house, on the farm now owned by William E. Robbins. This certainly was not a central point; but in those days the advantages enjoyed by the people were not altogether "convenient and handy to the meeting-house," like the entertainment provided for the council when Dr. Payson was ordained. Within a year from this time schools were taught in the southeast part, probably in the house of Oliver Stevens, at the house of Abel Platts, in the northwest part, where Joshua Fletcher now resides, and at Daniel Rand's, in the southwest part of the town. Previous to the Revolution, schools were also assembled at the residence of Francis Towne, Nathaniel Thomas, and in a building belonging to James Carlton, on the farm now owned by Albert Adams, and he received two dollars for rent, which was paid out of the school money. Since the first sum was voted in the year 1771, there has been an annual appropriation for the schools, and one term or more has been enjoyed by each district in the town. At the meeting at which the first appropriation for schools was made, a new town clerk was chosen, who served one year. During the short term of his official career he made an intelligible record, but his style of spelling was simple, frequently ornate, and gave unmistakable proof of great inventive genius. In this particular he labored with great assiduity to demonstrate that the appropriation for schools had not been prematurely made. His efforts were successful. A perusal of the record for the year will suggest the remark of Christopher Sly, "'Tis a very excel- lent piece of work; would 'twere done."
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The first action of the town in behalf of education is recorded in these words: "Voted to Rase eleven Pounds Lawful money for the ues of the School, Also Mr. Nathl. Russell, Mr. Joseph Plats, Mr. Nathl. Page, and Mr. Olover Gould to Bee a Committee to suply the Town with a School the Insuing year and to be Cept in the Severl Parts of the Town as may be for the Advantedge of said Town."
This committee, which continued in office several years, established five schools in the different parts of the town, which was the origin of the first school districts. These soon became known as the Centre, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and Northwest Districts; but their boundaries were not clearly defined, and it was many years before there were any legal school districts.
There was an article in the warrant for a town-meeting in 1772, "To see if the town will build a school house this year." The subject was postponed, and very soon the burdens of the war prevented any further efforts in this direction, and schools continued to be assembled in dwelling- houses at convenient points. It was not many years, how- ever, before several neighborhoods built school-houses for their convenience without assistance from the town, but no record of the building of these first school-houses can be found.
Probably Nathaniel Russell was the first public school- teacher; within a year from the first mention of him as a teacher, Isaac Russell, from Littleton, was also employed, and taught several terms in as many districts. William Russell, son of Joel and cousin of Nathaniel Russell, was soon added to the faculty, and was employed for several terms in the Centre and Northwest Districts. In 1774, Jacob Fitch taught nine weeks. He was the crippled son of John Fitch, to whom reference was made in another
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chapter. Dr. John Townsend, a resident physician, was employed for one term, at least, in 1773, and during the next succeeding years his professional rival, Dr. William Swan, taught very many terms. He seemed to have a preference, or the people for him, in the Southeast, where he resided, and in the Southwest Districts. Edward Jewett was very often employed, and taught in all the districts, but mainly in the Centre and Northeast Districts. He resided in the latter district. In 1774, female teachers were paid, and perhaps, in some instances, for schools taught the previous year. First upon this list are the names of Mrs. Jonathan Stanley, Martha Hovey, Eunice Thomas, and Mrs. John Demary. Mrs. Demary brought to the school-room more than a usual experience in the training of youth, having ten children of her own, and two grandchildren. She enjoyed no vacation between terms. Mrs. James Carlton and Mrs. Ephraim Hunt were employed previous to the close of 1774; and the next year, in addition to some of the names already mentioned, a daughter of Jonathan Sawtell taught two terms in the Southeast District. The money was paid to Mr. Sawtell, as the wages of his daughter for keeping school. It was probably Mary, afterwards the wife of Abijah Page. Her son, Joseph Page, nearly ninety years of age, resides in Rindge. A few years later, Meriah, a younger sister of Mary, and subsequently the wife of Thomas Wetherbee, Jr., was employed many terms. Mrs. Sarah Chaplin, Mrs. Gray, probably the widow of John Gray, Mrs. Sarah Wood, the wife of James Wood, of Boxford, and subsequently of Rindge, are also found upon the list of early instructors.
The wages paid at this time was about ten shillings per week for male, and two to three shillings for female teachers. The usual price paid for board, in addition to these sums,
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HISTORY OF RINDGE.
was four shillings for the former, and two shillings per week for the latter. The schools taught by the male teachers were styled the grammar school, and about one- half of the school money was appropriated for its use. Frequently a male teacher was employed for several months, and sent from place to place, until each district had received its proportion of this class of instruction. The amount of money raised for the support of schools was increased from year to year with the growth of the town; and, in acknowledgment of their importance and success, in 1775 twenty pounds, in 1783 eighty pounds, in 1795 one hundred pounds were raised for this purpose.
As yet there had been but five districts; when and in what manner the number was increased does not appear upon the records. Whenever any portion of the town asked leave to join other districts, or to expend their pro- portion of the school money in their own neighborhood, the request was always granted. In 1789, it was voted to choose as many for school committee as there were districts. At this time eight were chosen, and two years later there was a committee of ten, which is all the information that can be gained of the number of schools at this date. It is plain that the town took little action concerning the boundaries of districts, and assumed no arbitrary control in these affairs, but permitted the several neighborhoods to arrange themselves into districts or societies, as inclina- tion and convenience prompted. Each district had the benefit of their own school-tax. The division was based upon the wealth, and not the number, of scholars in each district, and for many years the committee collected the school-tax in their respective districts. It was not until near the close of the century that the present system of collection was adopted. When the first school-houses were
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built is quite uncertain. In 1794, the town voted to build them where they were needed, and to excuse those districts from the tax for this purpose that had already built school- houses. At this date, it would be expected that some had been built; but this is the first record of the fact, and is important so far as it represents that the first school-houses were built by the communities, and not by the town. The amount of school money to be raised was determined by the town, but these votes were only the united voice of the districts. The tax was assessed by the selectmen, who could proportion more accurately and justly the amount each individual should pay. Beyond this slender assistance, the schools were not the growth of public support, nor the creation of public legislation, but were spontaneous in the several communities, to meet the demands of each. They clearly sprang from the people, and in advance of those statutes, which, with wise forethought, required each town to make certain provision for schools. These requirements have almost invariably been exceeded. The districts or societies built the houses, and secured the teachers, and cheerfully paid their proportion of the expense, that their children might enjoy advantages which had been denied to themselves. While the agent for each district was chosen by the town, his official duty was confined to the district in which he resided, and no town record of the proceedings was had. During one year no committee was chosen, and occasionally a member of the committe would resign. In these cases, by vote of the town, the duty was performed by the selectmen. The transactions then became a matter of record, and the names of several teachers are preserved with the receipts ; but the names of very many of the early teachers are lost beyond recovery. Some of those who taught between 1780 and 1800 are Susannah Rand, wife of
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HISTORY OF RINDGE.
Col. Daniel Rand; Sarah Rand, wife of Capt. Solomon Rand; Sarah Towne, daughter of Dea. Francis Towne, afterwards the wife of Simeon Whitcomb; Esther Ames ; Esther Cutter, afterwards Mrs. John Carlton ; Persis Hardy, afterwards the wife of Rev. Reuben Brown; Sarah Payson, afterwards the wife of William Barker, and mother of Hon. George P. Barker; Rebecca Buswell, daughter of John Buswell, and afterwards the wife of Asa Platts; Mrs. Tabitha Hunt, wife of Ephraim Hunt; Mrs. Phebe Peirce, wife of Abraham Peirce; Meriah Sawtell; Phebe Gray ; Esther Adams, daughter of Israel Adams; Levi Rugg; Enoch Wood; Col. Josiah Wilder; William Sherwin ; Nathaniel Ingalls; Dea. Edward Jewett; Lieut. Benjamin Foster; Ensign Richard Kimball; Eliphalet Wood; Oliver Adams ; Dr. Elijah Norcross; and Gardner Kellogg.
The commencement of the present century is the begin- ning of a new era in the cause of popular education. The efforts of the past had taken root for a more vigorous growth, and many happy changes occurred within a few years. In most cases, to learn to read, write, and spell, with some knowledge of the rules of arithmetic, was all that had been attempted. The text-books in use previous to 1800 were not numerous, and of a most primitive char- acter. Dilworth's and Perry's Spelling-Book, and Pike's Arithmetic would cut a sorry figure in the school-room, at ' the present time. Late in the past century, Webster's Reader found its way into the school-room, as well as a small abridgement of Morse's Geography, which gave the briefest description of the earth's surface, and contained many startling facts. Alexander's Grammar was in the hands of only the most advanced and ambitious pupils. In any mention of the books of the period, the New England Primer must not be omitted. This volume of
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SCHOOLS.
diminutive size, filled with wholesome truths, was found at every fireside, and was received in the school-room as a reading-book and safe counsellor. Every Saturday, and sometimes more frequently, the entire school was required to "say the catechism," as found in this little volume. These exercises, and the truths inculcated, are not forgotten by the aged among us, but are shining brightly in their waning years. To them education, in an intellectual sense, was simply the measure of mental force, furnishing facili- ties to action, while these moral instructions were seized upon to direct and be the guiding principle of their lives. Until the present century the boundaries of the districts had not been defined. The former arrangement was tem- porary, and subject to all the changes incident to sudden likes and dislikes of the people, who were at liberty to sever existing connections, and join other districts, whenever and as often as any caprice or supposed interest prompted. In 1804, the first steps were taken to give the districts a permanent character. Individuals were the first to move in this direction, by asking the town for authority to become permanently associated in organized districts. The consent of the town was immediately granted, and with a very wise provision, which required these voluntary societies to pre- sent the town clerk with a description of each district, which was to be recorded. While they were at full liberty to arrange the boundaries of each district without restraint, all subsequent change was subject to the action of the town. The inhabitants immediately consented to this proposition, and the town was soon districted.
The FIRST DISTRICT comprised the central village, and extended from the Common a mile or more, in all directions. On the Jaffrey road was included, as at present, the farms
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HISTORY OF RINDGE.
now owned by Deacon Norcross and C. E. Stickney ; on the north it included the Mulliken place, near the residence of M. W. Hale, and the bounds in this direction remain unchanged to the present time; towards the east were included all the residences at the Corner, the farms of David and John Barker, now owned by Deacon Bancroft and Stephen Hale, and extended on the old turnpike to near the present Corner school-house; on the south it included the farms now of Martin L. Goddard, of Henry E. Burritt, and of Thomas and Charles G. Buswell; and on the west the Moors farm, the Stratton farm, and considerable territory at present in the district. The present school-house was built, at this time, on land borrowed of the town for that purpose for the term of nine hundred and ninety-nine years, and bids fair to survive the lease. The first school-house in this district was also on the Common, and was situated west of the meeting-house, not far from the residence of A. S. Coffin, Esq. When the present house was built it was sold, and still forms a part of the dwelling-house of Lovell Whitney.
The SECOND DISTRICT was in the southwest part of the town, and, in addition to the area of District Number Ten as now constituted, it included the farms of John Lovejoy, unoccupied at present, of Ezekiel Demary, now of James Damon, and of Abiel Holt, now of Charles H. Danforth. The first school-house was situated a few rods north of the present house. The second house was built in 1829. In 1859 it was thoroughly remodelled, and moved a few rods south of its former location.
The THIRD DISTRICT included lots three to twelve in the first range, three to eleven in the second, four to eleven in the third, four to eight in the fourth, and seven in the fifth. This was a large district. With the exception of a
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few farms on New Ipswich line, which then, as now, were a distinct organization, it comprised the southeast part of the town, or the district now known as Number Eight, Converseville, Hubbard Hill, and the farms of Gilman P. Wellington and George Wilson. The school-house was situated about one-fourth mile south from the residence of Lyman Bennett, near Monomonock Lake.
The FOURTH DISTRICT was situated south and west of Pool Pond, and was a portion of the present Blakeville district, with several farms now included in the Tarbell district. The school-house was situated north of the resi- dence of Joshua Fletcher, near the Munroe farm. This and the Ninth District, whose school-houses were in close proximity, seldom maintained schools at the same time ; and each school, when in session, freely received pupils from the other district.
The FIFTH DISTRICT comprised lot nine in the seventh range, seven to eleven in the eighth range, and six to eleven in the ninth and tenth ranges. This district, now known as Number Two, also includes lots twelve in the eighth, ninth, and tenth ranges, and lots eight and ten in the seventh range, beside a more recent addition from Number One. The first school-house in this district was occupied until it was burned, with little loss, in May, 1842. An- other was burned in December, 1859. The present house was then built, and, unless destroyed by fire, will conven- iently accommodate the district for several years. The location of the first school-house was about twenty rods west from the site of the second and of the present building.
The SIXTH DISTRICT was substantially the same as the present Number Seven. Lots one to three in the fourth
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range have been taken from it, and added to the East Rindge district, but it has been compensated by the addi- tion of the south half of lots three to six in the seventh range. This territory being pasture and wood land, the changes did not affect the population of the district. A portion of Number One was more recently added. The first school-house, built about 1795, was situated a short distance west from the residence of Wm. M. Huntee. The present house was built in 1833, and has been well pre- served.
THE SEVENTH DISTRICT comprised lots three to seven in the seventh range, one to six in the eighth range, and one to five in the ninth and tenth ranges. Its southwest limit was the farm of Dea. Jewett, now of Ivers H. Brooks, and was more recently known as Number One. A few years since this district, like Poland, was partitioned, and divided among the surrounding kingdoms. The records, tradition, and the numerous sites of former dwellings, all testify that this was once a populous district. The only school-house built in this part of the town still remains, but since the dissolution of the district has not been used.
The EIGHTH DISTRICT was in the northwest corner of the town, and included lots nineteen to twenty-two in the eighth and ninth ranges, and eighteen to twenty-two in the tenth range. At this time it contained fifteen farms, and as many families. The school-house was near the site of the old Methodist meeting-house.
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