USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Fitzwilliam > The history of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, from 1752-1887 > Part 26
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1
315
RENT OF MINISTERIAL AND SCHOOL LOTS.
specie payments there was evidently some question as to what rent these lessees should pay in specie, and at a proprietors' meeting held June 18th, 1773, it was
Voted to choose a Committee to consolodate by the Scale the princi- pal sums of what the Ministerial and School Land was Leased out for and assertain the annal interest on the same and make Return to the Treasurer and the Clark who is to enter the same on the proprietors Book. the committee chosen for ye above purpose is messrs Josiah IFartwell Joseph Hemingway & Stephen Brigham
The report of this committee is entered in the proprietors' records as follows :
The Report of the Committee chosen to Consolodate by the Scale the sums that ye ministerial and school Land was Leas'd out for and assertane the anual interest, is as folows :
June 30. 1783. To Deacon John Locke Treasurer. We find by the scale of consolodation that the anual interest of the following Lots of Ministerial and School Lands which is Leas'd ont is as folows, viz. To Mr. Samuel Osborn Half School Lot No 11 in 5 principal £42-10, inter- est is 12. 9.
To Mr. Ichabod Smith Half School Lot No 11 in 5. principal £42-10 interest is 12. 9.
To Mr. Ichabod Smith Ministerial Lot No 12 in 5 principal £65. in- terest is 19. 6.
To Ensign Samuel Kendall, Ministerial Lot 16 in 1 principal £83-8. interest is £1-5-1-2.
the above is according to the scale Entred.
Joseph Heminway Josiah Hartwell Committee Stephen Brigham
The interest was scaled down to one for four. " The Scale of Consolidation," as it is here called, may be found in Chap- ter XI. The interest or rent at this redneed rate was paid by these lessees and their successors to the . proprietors' treasmer till 1815, when the proprietors closed up their affairs, transfer- ring all their outstanding business over to the jurisdiction of the town. It is apparent that about all the business done in the name of the proprietors for many years was the collection of the rent of these lands, and paying it over to the town. In 1815, the town having assumed the jurisdiction, by a commit- tee appointed for the purpose, leased the lands to the parties
316
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
holding the titles under the old leases. The leases now given were for the term of nine hundred and ninety-nine years at the nominal rent of three cents a year on each lot, the lessees advancing and paying the rent in full, except this nominal sum of three cents a year, and in some of the leases at least, this sum was payable only when called for. The persons taking the several leases at this time and the amounts paid were as follows :
L. 16, R. 1, Thomas How, of Rindge paid $115.00
L. 12, R. 5, Josiah Osborn, of F. . 66.78
L. 11, R. 5, Richard Gleason, Jr., of F. 66 86.00
It is not practicable to give a complete account of what was done with the other school lot, Lot 3 in Range 1. In 1798 all that part of the lot that is " west of the county road," containing forty acres by estimation, was leased to Isaac Whitte- more for nine hundred years at three cents a year rent. The amount paid on taking the lease is not stated, though as no further reference is made to the land it is evident that it was practically sold and paid for at this time.
In 1816 a committee was appointed to lease that part of the lot situated east of the county road, which is further described as the land formerly leased to Nathaniel Warner, but there is no record of any action taken by the committee. In March, 1823, the selectmen were authorized to dispose of the land which is now described as the land formerly leased to Nathan Pratt and Nathaniel Warner. Under this vote the land was leased, February 26th, 1824, to Daniel Streeter at three cents a year, a condition of the lease being that he should manage the land well. Nothing appears in the records to show when the land was leased to Pratt and Warner, or why they did not continue to hold possession of it.
Whether a school was maintained in Monadnock No. 4 be- fore the incorporation of the town of Fitzwilliam in 1773, we have no means of determining, the proprietors' records being silent respecting the matter ; but as the population at that date was two hundred and fourteen, it is nearly certain that some- thing was done for the education of the children. And, as the
317
EARLY PROVISION FOR SCHOOLS.
records of the town meeting or meetings held in 1773 are iniss- ing, it cannot be stated whether the town raised any money for schooling in that year or not, but at the meeting held March 17th, 1774, an appropriation of seven pounds was made " for the use of a scool for the present year," and a similar amount was raised in 1775 for the same purpose. In both cases, the sum appropriated was for the use of a school, which shows us that to this date but a single school was maintained. In 1776 no new appropriation was made for this purpose, for the reason that " the money raised last year for a school had not been expended."
In 1777 ten pounds were raised " for the use of a school," and in 1778 fifteen pounds, while the town voted respecting this latter appropriation that " the school money should be spent in Eith Squarn (each squadron) as they shall think proper." From the tenor of this vote it is plain that there was to be more than one school now, and each squadron was to have the privilege of spending its money in such manner as should be for its own best accommodation.
In 1779, the eurreney in which taxes were paid having greatly depreciated, one hundred and eighty pounds were raised for schools, and the town chose Caleb Winch, John Locke, Samuel Kendall, Levi Brigham, and Joseph Nurse a committee " to provide schools in eisteh Squarn, and also to provide houses for to ceept (keep) the schools in and also to see the money laid out in its proper season." As this com- mittee was composed of five men, located in different parts of the town, the inference is that there were five squadrons or distriets in 1779. As early as anything can be definitely as- certained about it, it is evident that while the School Com- mittee was chosen by the town at the annual town meeting, one member of the committee was chosen from each district, and that each member of the committee had the direction and management of the school in his own district. The School Committee was chosen in this manner till 1823, when the town " Voted that each School District have liberty to choose their own School Agent and lay out their own School Money."
The currency having still further depreciated, four hundred
318
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
pounds were raised for the support of the schools in 1780, and in 1781 this sum was increased to fifteen hundred pounds. In this last-named year, at a meeting held later in the year, the town voted to raise twenty pounds in silver in lieu of the fif- teen hundred pounds in paper currency voted at the earlier meeting.
The divisions of the town for school purposes were not called distriets till early in the present century. In 1802 the word districts first appears upon the records, and these were first designated by numbers in 1803. From the best information obtainable it appears that there were five squadrons in 1779-80, seven in 1781-88, eight in 1789-91, and nine in 1792-96.
In 1803 the number had increased to thirteen, and this con- tinned to be the number of the districts till Troy was incor- porated in 1815. The new town took from Fitzwilliam two whole districts, viz., Nos. 10 and 13, and two half districts, viz., halves of Nos. 6 and 9. About the same time a new distriet was formed in Fitzwilliam from the adjoining parts of Nos. 11 and 12, and this was numbered 10.
The nine squadrons of 1792-96 answered to the distriets ex- isting at the time that Troy was formed about as follows : Squadrons. Districts. Districts.
East .. Nos. 1 & 2
Northeast
6
Centre. 66 4 & 8
North.
9 & 10
North Centre
5
Northwest " 13
South 3 & 7
West. " 12
Squadrons.
Southwest. No. 11
Since 1815 the town has been formally redistricted, and various alterations have been made at other times, yet the boundaries have remained substantially as they were seventy years ago, and there has been no change at all in the number- ing of the districts. For a time No. 4 was classed with No. 8, but for more than fifty years this district has had its sepa- rate school.
In 1885 the Legislature abolished the district system, but the new plan devised to take its place is understood to meet with mueh opposition, and it is deemed altogether too early to de- eide upon its relative value.
319
ERECTION OF THE FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSES.
THE FIRST SCHOOL. HOUSES.
For a number of years after the settlement of the town the schools were kept in private houses, and in localities as nearly central as circumstances would admit. It was with the schools as it was with the religions services on the Sabbath, a room was obtained in some dwelling-house where the largest num- ber could be accommodated. In 1779, as we have seen, the town took measures for the erection of the first school-honses, but as the warrant for a town meeting to be held January 15th, 1781, contained the following article, viz.,
to see if the town will grant money to build School houses and say how many, and where they shall be sott and how much money they will give for building them or act thereon as the town think proper
it would seem that the committee appointed for this purpose nearly two years before had failed to aet, probably for the good reason that no appropriation had been made for this purpose. The houses were, however, built at a later period, but when, where, or how many, the old records do not inform us.
It is learned from other sources that the first one was built for the East Squadron, which comprised all the east part of the town. This was located on Lot 10 in Range 1, and was built in 1779. In 1795 this squadron was divided, the north part retaining the original name and the old school-house. This was removed to the spot now occupied by No. 2 school-house, and in its two locations was used for about sixty years. The south part was named the Southeast Squadron, and for its ac- commodation a new school-house was built between the dwell- ing-houses of Calvin Clark (on Lot 6 in Range 1) and Abijah Warner (on Lot 5 in Range 1). This was a framed house, rough boarded, and with a large stone chimney. The fire- place was so large that logs were rolled into it, and on cold mornings the boys were accustomed to take their books and sit upon the forestick to keep comfortable while they pursued their studies. Six long seats were placed upon each side of the aisle. This school-house was burned not far from the year 1808, and nothing was saved, as most of the people were absent from their homes. After this loss this school was maintained
320
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
for a number of years in dwelling-houses, and it was not till the year 1814 that another school-house was erected. This, which stood about fifteen rods north of the old house, was much better than its predecessor, but would not compare fa- vorably with the neat and convenient house that the important school in District No. 1 now occupies.
The first school-house in District No. 5, or the North Centre Squadron, as it was called at the commencement of the pres- ent century, was built of logs and was located on the Common near where the soldiers' monument now stands.
EARLY SCHOOL-TEACHERS.
We have but little information concerning the school-teach- ers of Fitzwilliam before the year 1800. Referring to the districts by their numbers, as afterward designated, it is stated that Dr. Grosvenor taught in 1786 in No. S and later in No. 3. Mrs. Simeon Perry also taught in No. 3 at an early date. The first school-house in No. 11 was built in 17SS. The first female teacher who taught in this school-house was Alice Graves, and the first male teacher was Israel Whitney. Jonas Gary taught in this district before the school-house was built. In the earlier years of the present century Arunah Allen and Ezekiel Rand tanght in several districts in town. Mr. Allen was afterward a Baptist minister. Mr. Rand was a native of Rindge, and married a daughter of Abner Stone, of Fitzwilliam. Hannah Brigham, afterward Mrs. William F. Perry, and her sister Anna, afterward Mrs. Timothy Kendall, were both pop- ular teachers. Anna taught in No. S in 1801 and 1803, in No. 13 in 1802 and 1803 and in No. 2 in 1803. Mary Chap- lin, afterward Mrs. Artemas Beard, taught in No. 5 in the summer of 1803. Phinehas Reed was school agent in that year. Sally Kendall, of Templeton, taught in No. 5 in the summers of 1804 and 1805. Other popular teachers, mostly of a little later date, were Amos Jones, Benjamin Eddy, John Fletcher, John J. Allen, Phinehas Howe, Lucy Whitney, Lucy Stone, Betsey Wright, Betsey Bowker, Olive Hancock, and Sarah Knight. Some further information about many of these teachers may be found in the Genealogical Records in this book.
321
SCHOOL DISCIPLINE AND INSTRUCTION.
EARLY SCHOOL DISCIPLINE.
This was often somewhat sterner than generally prevails at the present day, though not a few of the school-teachers one hundred years ago governed largely by kindness and love rather than by the rod.
Benjamin Eddy had some rognish boys among his pupils, for one day John Miles appeared in " Old Hivers's" # ragged clothes, and Eli Prescott was dressed in garments that had been worn by some one while picking geese. Master Eddy ordered them out of the house, but, as the school was completely de- moralized by the Indicrous appearance of the culprits, they seem to have remained, and " John walked with the teacher to dinner, with his fox-skin muff for a hat." One girl received a severe punishment for shaking her clenched fist in the face of another teacher, and he seems to have been one of the best schoolmasters of the time. She must have been exceptionally passionate and impudent. As a general thing good order was. maintained in the early schools.
BRANCHES TAUGHT IN THE EARLY SCHOOLS.
The instruction was plainly confined to what we denominate the rudiments of a school education. Considerable attention was paid to reading, spelling, and penmanship. Spelling- matches are not a modern invention, for " Lucy Bigelow and Tamar Grant spelt for the scissors, and both missing, lost them." The word upon which the trial terminated is given, but cannot be deciphered. Not much was attempted in the way of geography, and still less in grammar. Arithmetie was a popular study one hundred years ago, especially with the older boys, but in this branch much less proficiency was gen- erally made than is common now under our improved systems of teaching. No geography or maps adapted to common school instruction were to be found eighty years ago in this country or in Europe. No instruction was given in algebra, geometry, philosophy, physiology, drawing, or musie, even to
* This was in District No. 11. George Hivers, Ilivus, or Hibrus, a colored man, died December 21st, 1807, aged 78 years.
21
322
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
the most advanced classes in the schools. Nevertheless, those schools were practically sufficient to enable the pupils to trans- act all the common business of life correctly and to maintain honorable and useful positions in society.
SUPERVISION OF THE EARLY SCHOOLS.
For many years after the incorporation of the town, there was no official board legally charged with the duty of exam- ining school-teachers in regard to their qualifications, or of taking cognizance of the condition and progress of the schools. Year by year the town raised and appropriated such sums of money for the support of schools as was considered necessary, and chose a school committee to expend the money in a proper manner. This committee evidently consisted of one person from each squadron or district, and each committeeman seems to have taken the entire charge of the schools in his own dis- trict. Very early public sentiment required that the clergy- men of the several towns should, as far as possible, visit each school at its closing examination, remark upon the behavior and progress of the scholars and offer prayer.
The town of Fitzwilliam seems to have taken measures for some general supervision of the schools before any State laws were passed making snch supervision obligatory.
In 1795 the town voted that Rev. Benjamin Brigham, Lieutenant Caleb Winch, and Nahum Parker, Esq., be a com- mittee to inspect the schools in town the year ensning.
In 1797 Rev. Mr. Brigham and the selectmen were ap- pointed for the same purpose.
In 1808 the town chose Rev. John Sabin, Thomas Stratton, and Charles Bowker a committee to inspect schools, while in 1809 and 1810 Mr. Sabin and the selectmen discharged this duty. In 1811 a committee of eleven was raised for this pur- pose, and it was requested that " Rev. John Sabin should at- tend as often as convenient."
In 1812 and 1813 the town " chose a committee of twelve to inspect the schools," but no reference is made in the vote to Rev. Mr. Sabin.
In 1814 Rev. Mr. Sabin and the several district committees
323
SCHOOL COMMITTEES-1815-1841.
inspected the schools, and in 1815 there were associated with the pastor the selectmen, Elder Arunah Allen, and Luther Chapman, Esq.
In 1816 the town " chose Rev. Jolm Sabin to visit the schools in this town with each Committee man, " and the same vote was passed in 1817.
From 1818 to 1820 inclusive no action of the town upon this subject is recorded : in 1821 and 1822, the committee to inspect schools consisted of Rev. John Sabin, Levi Chamberlain, and Jared Perkins, but in 1823 Alvah Godding took the place of Mr. Sabin. At this date the town voted that each district shall choose its own committee, and this vote was repeated in 1824. This officer doubtless answered to the Prudential Com- mittee of recent days. and even since 1823 he has been chosen by the districts respectively and not by the town, as was the former custom.
In 1825 the town chose Rev. John Sabin, J. S. Adams. and John J. Allen to inspect the schools, but authorized Mr. Sabin to name six other persons in addition to serve with these, and he nominated Rufus Foster, Newell Bent, Silas Cummings. John Perkins, Dexter Whittemore, and Lysander Tower.
In 1826 a committee of ten was chosen to visit schools and recommend books, viz., Luther Chapman, Levi Chamberlain. John J. Allen, Dexter Whittemore, Lysander Tower, Danvers Whittemore, Luke B. Richardson, John Perkins, J. S. Adams, and Curtis Coolidge.
In 1827 Rev. John Sabin, Levi Chamberlain, John J. Allen, J. S. Adams, Newell Bent, and Silas Cummings con- stituted the committee.
From 1828 to 1832 inclusive there is no record of the ap- pointment of any Superintending School Committee by the town, but such a committee may have been appointed by the selectmen.
That such a committee served during those years seems nearly certain from the fact that in 1833 the town
voted to dispense with the services of the Superintending School Com- mittee so far as relates to the inspection or examination of Schools.
From this date to 1841 the records are very meagre on this
324
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
point, though in some of the later years it is shown that a re- port was made and accepted.
In an historical lecture delivered in the town in 1836, Mr. Sabin took an advanced position relative to school matters ; and among the errors which he labored to correct were these :
1. The schools were too short because the appropriations were too small.
2. The standard of education having been raised, the prog- ress of the schools had not kept pace with it.
3. Some of the children had been crowded forward too early and rapidly in their studies, and had been injured thereby.
" Parents and even teachers are in haste everywhere to have their children become men. How sad a mistake !" This Mr. Sabin quotes approvingly from The Moral Reformer.
4. Some of the popular amusements of the time and town were interfering greatly with the substantial education of the children and youth, and the statement of this evil was followed with the suggestion that if they had met just as often to study Colburn's arithmetic or Enelid, they would have received greater and more lasting benefit, with less expense and less ex- posure of life and health. A man of Mr. Sabin's age and ex- perience, and with views like these, must have done much for the intellectual as well as moral education of the young.
Not long after this period the town increased its appropria- tions for school purposes and provided for a more efficient supervision of its schools. In 1840 Rev. John Sabin, Amos A. Parker, Daniel Spaulding, Dexter Whittemore, and Cal- vin J. Parker were chosen by the town as a School Commit- tee, and they did the work assigned them so well that a year later the town passed a vote of thanks for their service, and seems to have continned them in office another year by general consent. A list of the committees for the succeeding years is here given. The date prefixed is the year of appointment. The report of each committee will, of course, be dated the follow- ing year. The committees of 1842 and 1843 were appointed by the selectmen, and that of 1844 was chosen by the town. Since 1844 the committees have been perhaps more usually
325
SUPERINTENDING SCHOOL COMMITTEES.
chosen by the town, though very frequently the appointment has been referred to the selectmen.
SUPERINTENDING SCHOOL COMMITTEES.
1842. Jonathan S. Adams, Daniel Spaulding, Silas Cummings. 1843. Daniel Spaulding, Silas Cummings, Calvin J. Parker.
1844. Calvin J. Parker, Dexter Whittemore, John J. Allen, Jr.
This was the first committee that qualified by taking the official oath.
1845. Calvin J. Parker, Dexter Whittemore, Samuel Kendall. 1846. Silas Cummings, Daniel Spaulding, Jonathan S. Adams. 1847. John S. Brown, Charles M. Willard.
1848. Charles M. Willard, John S. Brown, William D. Locke. 1849. John S. Brown. Charles M. Willard, Abraham Jen- kins, Jr.
1850. Abraham Jenkins, Jr., John S. Brown.
1851. Silas Cummings, John J. Allen, Jr., Thomas W. Whittemore.
1852. Silas Cummings, Jolin J. Allen, Jr., Daniel Spaulding. 1853. John J. Allen, Jr., Augustus W. Goodnow, Milton Chaplin, Silas Cummings.
1854. John Woods, Samuel Kendall.
1855. John Woods.
1856. John Woods.
1857. Silas Cummings.
1858. John J. Allen, Jr.
1859. Joel Whittemore.
1860. Samuel Kendall, William L. Gaylord, C. R. Crowell.
1861. James N. Chase, William L. Gaylord, Curtis R. Cro- well.
1862. William L. Gaylord.
1863. John J. Allen, Jr.
1864. Amos J. Blake.
1865. William L. Gaylord, George W. Cutting, Eugene de Normandie.
1866. William L. Gaylord, George W. Cutting, Ira Bailey.
326
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
1867. William L. Gaylord, George W. Cutting, Ira Bailey. Mr. Gaylord removed from town before the close of the year, and the report was made by Messrs. Cutting and Bailey.
1868 to 1872 inelusive, Dr. A. R. Gleason.
1873. A. R. Gleason, Amos J. Blake, H. W. Day.
1874. Amos J. Blake.
1875. Amos J. Blake, John Colby.
1876. Amos J. Blake, John Colby, A. R. Gleason.
1877. John Colby, A. R. Gleason.
1878. John Colby, A. R. Gleason, Amos J. Blake.
1879. Silas Cummings, Samuel Kendall, Calvin B. Perry.
1880. A. R. Gleason, Amos J. Blake, Samuel Kendall. 1881. Amos J. Blake, Samuel Kendall, A. R. Gleason. 1882. Samuel Kendall, A. R. Gleason, Amos J. Blake.
1883. A. R. Gleason, Amos J. Blake, Elliot K. Wheelock.
1884. Amos J. Blake, Elliot K. Wheelock, John M. Parker.
1885. Elliot K. Wheelock, John M. Parker, Harriet W. Stearns.
1886. A. R. Gleason, Jonas Damon, Harriet W. Stearns. 1887. Jonas Damon, Harriet W. Stearns, Samuel Kendall.
In 1880 the town adopted the plan of electing a single mem- ber of the School Committee each year, to hold office for three years, a system which has many advantages, as it keeps upon the committee constantly two members who have become well acquainted with the qualifications of the teachers and the con- dition of the schools.
The town commenced the printing of the School Reports in 1844. The report made in 1845 covers thirty-one pages, and is very elaborate, as it sets forth the examination of the teach- ers and of the schools, the condition of the latter in detail, with the matter of the classification of the pupils, and considers at length the subjects of reading, writing, qualifications of teachers, vocal music, physical education, and visits of parents and others.
Since 1850 the reports of the selectmen and other town officers have generally been printed with the School Reports. No reports were printed in 1854, 1855, and 1856.
327
SCHOOL STATISTICS, 1843-1876.
In the following tables, Table I. gives the number of schol- ars attending school, and the aggregate length of the schools ; Table II. gives a more extended report for four representative years :
TABLE I.
Summer Schools.
Winter Schools.
Total Number
of Sebolars. |
i Boys.
Girls.
Total Number
of Scholars.
Boys.
Girls.
Total
Number of Weeks'
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