USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Windham > The history of Windham in New Hampshire (Rockingham country). 1719-1883. A Scotch settlement (commonly called Scotch-Irish), embracing nearly one third of the ancient settlement and historic township of Londonderry, N.H > Part 16
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Rev. Loren Thayer, Jeremiah Morrison, David Armstrong. The latter removed from town and was succeeded by Dr. Ira Weston, 1846.
Rev. Loren Thayer, JJeremiah Morrison, Dr. Ira Weston, 1847, '48, '49. Rev. Loren Thayer, Jeremiah Morrison, Dea. Silas Moore, 1850, '51. Rev. Loren Thayer, Jeremiah Morrison, Dea. Rei Hills, 1852, '53, '54, '55, '56, '57, '58, '59, '60, '61, '62. Jeremiah Morrison died in office. Rev. Loren Thayer, Dea. Rei Hills, Dea. Samuel Campbell, 1863, '64, '65, '66, '67.
Dea. Rei Hills, Dea. Samuel Campbell, 1868.
Rev. Joseph Lanman, Dea. Samuel Campbell, William C. Harris, 1869.
Dea. Samuel Campbell, Joseph P. Crowell, 1870, '71.
Benjamin E. Blanchard, Joseph P. Crowell, William C. Harris, 1872, '73, '74, '75, '76, '77.
William C. Harris, William D. Cochran, Horace Anderson, 1878.
Dea. William C. Harris, Joseph P. Crowell, Dea. William D. Cochran. 1879, '80, '81.
Dea. William C. Ilarris, J. P. Crowell, and Dea. Horace Anderson, 1882.
The number of teachers, 1882, is twenty-one; scholars, one hundred and twenty.
DISSOLUTION OF CHURCH FROM STATE.
The year 1819 was an eventful one in the religious history of the State. A new order of things was established in regard to the support of religions institutions. In the progress of events and advancement of public opinion, and as an expression of pub- lic opinion, the "Toleration Act" was passed by the Legislature of that year, and approved by the governor July 1, 1819. The publie mind had long been in a troubled condition under the compulsory support of the ministry.
The two important provisions of this law are here given : -
"Provided, that no persons shall be compelled to join or sup- port, or be elassed with, or associated to any congregation, church, or religions society, without his consent first had and obtained ;
" Provided, also, if any person shall choose to separate himself from such society or association to which he may belong, and shall leave a written notice thereof with the clerk of such society or association, he shall thereupon be no longer liable for any future expenses which may be incurred by said society or associa- tion."
This act put an end to taxing an unwilling people by the town for the support of the church. It stopped those endless bicker- ings between churches and towns, and the amount contributed for public worship was not diminished. It appears that Wind- ham as a town participated in church affairs till 1827, not taking advantage of the law.
133
THE CHOIR. - NAMES OF ITS MEMBERS.
March 19, 1827, the Presbyterian Religious Society was formed in town, in accordance with the Act of the Legislature passed July, 1819, which enabled any sect or denomination of Christians to associate and establish rules and regulations and a society, and have the corporate powers necessary to assess and raise money upon the polls and ratable estate of its members, and to collect and appropriate the same for religious purposes. This society has continued till the present time.
THE CHOIR.
Music has been a potent power in worship in all ages, and this power has been recognized and made use of by the Christian church. It is not likely that the science of music was generally understood by the Scotch settlers of Windham, but of course a favored few were more or less acquainted with it. In other Scotch settlements, there was a Scotch version of the Psalms, which was used in public worship. It was not poetry, but the Psalins were reduced to metre and rhyme with the smallest possi- ble change from the Bible language. These psalms were printed in most of the old Bibles, and were undoubtedly used in their public worship; they were certainly used in family worship within the memory of some now living. The following is a sample : -
"PSALM XC." (ENGLISH VERSION.)
"Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place in generations all. Before thou ever hadst brought forth the mountains great or small : Ere ever thou hadst formed the earth, and all the worlds abroad, Ev'n thou from everlasting art to everlasting, God."
These psalms were superseded by the version of Dr. Watts, which were sung in the old church at the head of the Range, as they have been sung in our day. There was a choir then, as now, composed of ladies and gentlemen.
The seats were placed lengthwise of the house, some on each side ; the ladies sat on one side, the gentlemen on the other, and faced each other, and both were immediately front of the pulpit.
On "communion days," one of the deacons would stand in front of the congregation and read two lines of a hymn which would be sung by the congregation, and so continue till the entire hymn was sung. This was the general custom in earliest settle- ment. One of the earliest remembered of these officiating dea- cons was Dea. Robert Dinsmoor ("Rustic Bard "). Deacon Dins- moor was leader of the choir in " ye olden time."
The following named persons conducted at different periods : John Hemphill, William Dinsmoor, William Gregg, Capt. Isaac Cochran, William Davidson. Robert P. Dinsmoor conducted for a long time. On the organization of the present choir, William W. Gage was the first leader. Gilman D. Whittaker and Benja-
·
134
HISTORY OF WINDHAM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
min F. Wilson each conducted for a while. Robert B. Jackson, late of Reading, Mass., a fine bass singer, was an efficient leader for a number of years. He was succeeded by Benjamin E. Blanchard, who has conducted most of the time till the present. The con- ductor and Albert A. Morrison have been members of the choir rising thirty-five years. Others of the "veteran corps" have served from fifteen to thirty-three years.
Several kinds of musical instruments have been in use, but the most prominent and longest continued have been the melodeon, double-bass viol, and organ. The melodeon was played by Evarts Cutler, son of a former pastor; the double-bass by Benjamin F. Wilson; and the melodeon and organ have been played by the present organist, Edwin O. Dinsmoor, for more than twenty-eight years. He has been a member of the choir for thirty years, and his period of service as organist dates from October, 1854.
An organ was purchased about 1855. Edwin O. Dinsmoor and Samuel Campbell were chosen a committee and purchased the present organ in 1872, at an expense of $415. Another for the use of the Sabbath school was obtained in 1880.
During these many years the choir has been greatly devoted to its work, and its members are entitled to much credit for their faithfulness. The choir contains the following persons, 1882: -
Sopranos. - Ellen Cochran, Mrs. Eva M. Robinson, Mary E. Park, Lottie E. Harris, Nettie F. Milner, Mary Ella Harris, Nellie R. Cochran, Emma M. Cochran, and Carrie B. Dinsmoor.
Altos. - Lottie A. Reynolds, Katie A. Dinsmoor.
Tenors. - B. E. Blanchard, Albert. A. Morrison, William D. Cochran, James Cochran, and John W. M. Worledge.
Basses. - Horace Anderson, H. S. Reynolds, J. P. Crowell, and A. F. Campbell.
Organist. - Edwin O. Dinsmoor.
After the death of Rev. Charles Packard, the parish candidated till Oct. 3, 1881, when the church and society gave a call to Rev. Joseph Smith Cogswell, of West Auburn, Me., at a yearly salary of $700 and the parsonage. He accepted the call Oct. 13, 1881, and was installed Dec, 21, 1881.
The Presbytery of Boston held a meeting in the forenoon, pre- sided over by Rev. Ira C. Tyson, of Londonderry, who opened the meeting by prayer. Rev. Messrs. Augustus Berry, of Pelham, and George A. Perkins, of Salem, Congregational ministers, being present, were invited to sit with the Presbytery as corresponding members. The attendance in the afternoon was quite large. An anthem by the choir was finely rendered, followed by the invoca- tion by Rev. Augustns Hager, pastor of the German Presbyterian Church in Lawrence, Mass., and by reading of the Scriptures by Rev. Silas M. Blanchard, of Hudson, a native of this town; the introductory prayer by Rev. Mr. Berry. An excellent sermon was delivered by Rev. Charles E. Harrington, pastor of the South Congregational Church in Concord. After the sermon another
13.
NAMES OF MEMBERS OF THE CHURCHI.
anthem was sung, and the prescribed questions were asked to the pastor eleet and the church by Rev. Mr. Tyson. Rev. G. A. Perkins offered the installing prayer, the charge to the pastor was given by Rev. Robert Court, of Lowell, Mass,, and the charge 10 the people by Rev. Mr. Tyson. The exercises closed with the Doxology, and benediction by the pastor.
Since the organization of the church there have been nine pas- tors. It is believed that the first six of our ministers have cach owned a small farm, and used the income of it besides his salary. Five of the eight died in town, and four of them are buried with us. The parent church in Derry has, in accordance with what it considers the progressive spirit of the age, adopted the Congre- gationalist form of church government. The church in Windham still retains the Presbyterian form, adopted by its founders.
Rev. Loren Thayer said, in an article several years before his death, " The religious character of this people has generally rep- resented the plain, honest, rough, and uncompromising spirit of John Knox, the reformer of their countrymen. They are highly conservative, and experience but little injury from the presence or influence of fanatieism."
NAMES OF MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH.
The following is a list of the members of the Presbyterian Church of Windham who were living in 1851, with the names of those who have since united with the church, as taken from the church records. When a person is known to be deceased, a * will be placed against the name; when dismissed to another church, dis. with the name of town when known will indicate the fact. The present location of some whose names are here is unknown. For fuller information of any one, consult the history of the person's family. A name marked with a t indicates that the person is not now a resident member of the church.
*Jesse Anderson.
*Samuel Anderson.
*Joseph Clyde, d. 1853.
*Barnet Hughes, d. 1858.
*Mrs. Jesse Anderson, d. 1859.
*John Carr.
*Mrs. Sally Gregg, d. 1854.
*Mrs. Margaret Hills, d. 1854.
*John Hemphill, d. 1848.
Sarah Gregg, dis. Bellows Falls, Vt.
*Mrs. Barnet Hughes, d. 1859. Miss S. Harris, dis. Auburn, N. H.
*Mrs. John Simpson, d. 1854.
*Mrs. Mary Wilson, d. 1855.
*Mrs. John Cochran.
*Mrs. William Dinsmoor.
*Mrs. - - Cottle.
*Mrs. James Anderson.
*James Anderson.
*Mrs. Rebecca Park.
*Mrs. James Noyes.
*Mrs. Isaac Cochran.
*Miss Margaret Montgomery.
*Mrs. David Webster, d. 1854. Mrs. David Sargent, dis. Derry.
*Jacob E. Evans, d. 1857.
* Mrs. Mary Lewis. *David A. Davidson.
*Mrs. Mary Cottle, d. 1858.
*Jacob Harris, d. 1860.
*Mrs. Sophia Harris.
*Mrs. R. L. Cutler, d. Aug. 15, 1852.
*Stephen Fessenden.
*Mrs. Caroline Fessenden.
*Mrs. Anna D. Hills, d. 1853.
*Mrs. Alexander Anderson, d. 1853.
*Mrs. Phobe Clyde, d. 1855.
*Silas Moore, dis. 1854, Chester.
136
HISTORY OF WINDHAM IN NEW HAMPSIHRE.
*James Armstrong, d. Dec. 3, 1851.
*John Hughes, d. March 13, 1851.
*Joseph Armstrong. Jacob B. Barker.
*Jacob M. Nesmith, d. 1863.
*John Hills.
*John Carr, d. 1860.
*Jacob Harris, 2d, d. 1861.
*James Park, d. 1882.
*Ira Dinsmoor.
*Benjamin Blanchard.
*Theodore Dinsmoor.
*Sammel Armstrong.
*David Armstrong.
+Benjamin F. Wilson.
*Robert P. Dinsmoor, d. 1861.
*Solomon Marden, d. Oct. 21, 1852. Rei Hills, dis. Pelham.
*Robert Morrison, d. 1860.
*John Nesmith, dis. Dover.
*Mrs. Daniel Davidson, d. 1881. Mrs. Silas Moore, dis. Chicago, Ill.
*Mrs. Joseph Armstrong. Mrs. Jacob B. Barker.
*Mrs. Jacob M. Nesmith, d. 1858.
*Mrs. Isaac Cochran.
*Mrs. John Armstrong, d. 1859.
*Mrs. Robert P. Dinsmoor, d. 1877.
*Mrs. William Dinsmoor. Mrs. Theodore Dinsmoor.
*Mrs. Joseph Smith, d. 1860.
*Mrs. David Alexander.
*Mrs. Daniel W. Clyde.
*Miss Margaret Clark. Mrs. Hannah Simpson.
*Daniel W. Clyde.
John Armstrong, excl. 1854. James D. Hills, dis. Hollis.
*Miss B. Clyde, dis. Chester, d. '82. * Miss S. A. Cochran, d. July, 1854.
*Giles Merrill.
*Mrs. Giles Merrill.
*Mrs. James Park, d. 1857.
*Robert Bartley.
* Miss Eunice Harris. Silas M. Blanchard, dis. Miss Naomi Morrison.
*Miss Louisa Anderson.
*,Jeremiah Morrison, d. Nov. 24, '62. *Mrs. E. R. Morrison, d. Aug. 5, '66.
*Joseph Park, d. 1875.
*Jolm Hardy.
*Mrs. John Hardy.
*Mrs. Samuel Harris, d. Sept. 5, '48. * Mrs. Simon P. Lane, d. 1859.
*Christopher Morrison, d. Jan. 17,'59. *John Kelley.
t Daniel Kelley.
*Mrs. Mary Kelley, d. 1861.
*Mrs. Susan Parker, d. 1857. Mrs. C. Scully, dis. Londonderry. John Campbell.
Samuel Campbell.
+Silas Anderson.
*James Anderson, 2d, d. 1855.
*Silas M. Cochran, dis. Baltimore, Md., 1857.
*Mrs. Annis Craig, d. 1856, aged 87.
*Mrs. Incinda Evans, d. 1882. Mrs. Eliza T. Armstrong, excl. 54.
+Mrs. Eliza Pillsbury.
*Mrs. Solomon Marden.
*William Gregg, dis. Londonderry.
*Aaron P. Hughes, dis. Nashua.
*Mrs. Robert Morrison.
*Mrs. Benjamin Blanchard.
*Robt. B. Jackson, dis. Reading, Ms.
*Mrs. Robert M. Campbell, d. 1854.
*Mrs. James Hills, d. 1855, aged 80. *Mrs. Robt. Bartley, d. 1862. aged 46. *Mrs. Jason Packard, d. 1859.
*Mrs. E. R. Kimball, d. 1862, aged 89. J. L. Hardy, dis. Waltham, Ms., '51. Mrs. Samuel Campbell. Miss Harriet Dinsmoor.
*Mrs. R. Hills, d. June 16,'54, aged 32. Miss Charlotte L. Kimball, dis. En- field, Conn., 1852.
*Mrs. Margaret Marshall.
Silas Milton Moore, dis. Chester. Mrs. Isaac P. Cochran.
*Ira Weston, d. Oct. 12, '63, aged 67.
*Mrs. Ira Weston, d. 1855, aged 61. James P. Hughes. Mrs. James P. IInghes.
Chas. Cutler, dis. Francestown, '58.
+Mrs. Jane Kimball.
Mrs. James Towns. Benjamin E. Blanchard. Orren E. Moore, dis. Chester.
*John Calvin Hills, d. 1863. Mrs. Mchitable Goodwin, dis.
*Mrs. Loren Thayer, d. JJuly 19, 1852, aged 27.
Enoch Johnson, dis. Manchester.
*Mrs. Jeremiah Hills.
*Mrs. Benjamin F. Wilson.
*Mrs. Joseph Park, d. 1882. Mrs. Sarah Armstrong. Mrs. B. H. Hughes.
*Mrs. Samuel Anderson. Mrs. Isabel Campbell, dis. Pelham.
*Jeremiah Hills, d. 1860.
Miss Sally Anderson, dis. Salem.
*Mrs. John Cochran. George Marshall, dis. Boston. Miss Mary Noyes, dis. Meredith.
*Miss Imieinda Blanchard. Mrs. Persis HI. Campbell.
Miss Caroline E. Fessenden, dis.
137
NAMES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH.
Miss Martha Ilills.
Miss Betsey J. Armstrong.
*Miss Mary E. Campbell, d. 1854. Miss Sarah A. Armstrong.
Miss Zoe A. Hills.
*Mrs. Benjamin F. Senter, d. 1857.
*Miss Sophia F. Senter, d. 1853. Mrs. Bartley Johnson, dis. Auburn. Horace Anderson.
*Miss Jane Hemphill.
Miss Achsah Hemphill.
Mrs. S. H. Mordough, dis. Nashua. Mrs. C. L. Hills, dis. Pelham.
*Mrs. E. S. Hills.
Miss Louisa Hills.
Mrs. R. M. Harris.
Mrs. P. II. Harris.
Mrs. A. P. Smith.
*Mrs. R. Weston, dis. Newburyport.
*. John Farley.
*Mrs. John Farley.
*Mrs. E. C. Thayer.
*C. M. Morrison, d. Dec. 22, 1857. +Rufus A. Morrison.
*Miss Margaret L. Cochran.
*Mrs. Louisa Jackson.
Nath'l W. Titus, dis. No. Salem. Mrs. Ann Titus, dis. No. Salem. Isaac P. Cochran.
+Silas II. Wilson.
+Lewis Ripley.
J. L. Hardy, dis. Storm Lake, Ia. *James C. Evans.
*Edw. P. Morrison, d. Aug. 5, 1858. * Miss C. Dinsmoor, d. Ang. 13, 1878.
*James Burnham.
+Milon Anderson.
Mrs. Naney B. Simpson.
+Mrs. Mary Campbell.
*Mrs. Abby Palmer. Mrs. Mary Parker, dis. Nashua.
+Mrs. Allura W. Evans. Mrs. Lucy Burnham.
+Miss Eliza F. Park.
Miss M. Elizabeth Morrison, dis. Belfast, Me. tMiss Maria Bartley.
+Mrs. Luey M. Anderson.
+Mrs. Mary Weston.
Mrs. Jane C. Campbell.
tMiss Mary Crowell.
*Miss Angeline Crowell.
+Mrs. Eveline M. Bartley.
Mrs. Joanna B. Clark.
Miss Hannah E. Dinsmoor.
Mrs. Rebecca K. Hardy, dis. Storm Lake, Ia.
*Miss M. E. Noyes, d. 1861, aged 22. +Mrs. Mary J. Bartley. Miss Elizabetli A. Senter.
*James Noyes.
+Thomas Leach.
Sarah S. Noyes.
Angusta Peabody, dis.
Miss Susan A. Campbell, dis. Haver- hill, Mass.
Miss A. Hills, dis. Enfeld, Com.
*Miss Jane Sanborn.
tMiss Emma J. Blanchard.
James Emerson.
Naney S. Emerson.
William C. Harris.
+Mieajah B. Kimball.
+Giles S. Merrill. David A. Campbell, dis. Miss Elizabeth C. Jackson, dis.
*Miss Isadore Burnham.
*Miss Elizabeth O. Campbell.
+Mrs. Giles S. Merrill.
+G. Edward Anderson.
*Mrs. Sarah A. Anderson. Miss Cornelia J. Burnham.
*Miss Emily Burnham. Joseph C. Armstrong.
Cassius S. Campbell, dis.
Alphonso F. Campbell. Albert W. Campbell.
tJohn S. Brown. +Charles Bartley. Joseph P. Crowell.
tAlbro A. Osgood. Mrs. Susan Crowell.
+Miss Lucinda J. Noyes.
*Miss Lonisa A. Dinsmoor, d. Nov. 23, 1876.
Miss Mary E. Park.
*Miss Laura A. F. Marden. Miss Emily Marden, dis. Nashua.
+Mrs. Ellen Hildreth. Miss Mary E. Crowell.
+Miss Ella F. IInghes.
+Catherine E. Hughes.
*Oliver A. Holmes. Mrs. William Campbell.
Mrs. Oliver A. Holmes.
Miss Amelia J. Kelley.
*Miss Martha A. Dinsmoor. Miss Aurelia J. Dinsmoor.
Miss Clarissa Hills.
R. P. Morrison, dis. Lawrence, Ms.
John E. Tenney, dis. Antrim.
Miss E. A. Kelley, dis. Lawrence, Ms.
Mrs. R. P. Morrison, dis. do.
Mrs. M. J. Locke, dis. do.
Miss Ellen Cochran.
Miss Sarah F. Emerson.
+Miss Caroline Bartley.
+Caroline E. Tobey. Althea R. Wilbur, dis. . Miss C. Bartley, dis. Salem, N. II.
10
138
HISTORY OF WINDHAM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
*Charlotte M. Barker.
+William P. Hills.
Miss E. Bartley, dis. Brockton, Ms. Miss Josephine Bartley, dis.
John A. Park.
*Dana Richardson.
Mrs. Margaret J. Smith. Warren Q. Kelley, dis. Lynn, Mass.
*Calvin Clark.
*D. Salmond, dis. Ballardvale, Mass. Mrs. D. Sahnond, dis. do.
tJohn Martin.
Mrs. Mary J. Reynolds. Miss Mary Eva Reynolds. +Mrs. William P. Hills.
tMiss Ellen L. Hills.
J. Herbert Barker.
United with church May 7, 1876 : Miss Lonise Park.
Miss Lorana O. Armstrong.
Miss Mary E. Armstrong. Miss Emma J. Armstrong.
*Mrs. Cordelia B. Dinsmoor. Miss Clara B. Dinsmoor. Miss Katie A. Dinsmoor.
+Mrs. Mary C. Varnum. Miss Charlotte E. Harris. Miss Mary E. Thayer. Mrs. Sarah A. Cochran.
Miss Emma M. Cochran.
Miss Ellen R. Cochran. Miss Marietta Clark.
Miss A. C. Packard, dis. Farm- ington, Me. *Rev. Chas. Packard, d. Feb.20,'81. Jan. 4, 1880 : Mrs. Sarah M. Richardson. Miss Ella A. Barker.
Miss Annie J. Blanchard.
Feb. 29, 1880 : *Miss Hannah E. Wilson.
May 7, 1882 : Rev. Joseph S. Cogswell.
Mrs. Ellen V. Cogswell.
Miss Sarah E. Bray.
Miss Mary H. Cogswell.
Miss Mary E. Harris.
Sept. 1, 1876 : Mrs. Margaret M. P. Dinsmoor.
Mrs. Marilla R. Fifield.
Miss Stella F. Hardy, dis. Storm Lake, Ia. Mrs. Elizabeth Call.
Pierce S. Call.
May 4, 1877 : Miss Sarah R. Burnham.
Jan. 6, 1878 : Mrs. L. P. Davidson.
May 5, 1878 : Mrs. Nancy R. Clark.
Miss Lneva S. Emerson.
Miss Nettie F. Milner.
Miss Charlotte A. Reynolds.
Miss C. F. Howard, dis. E. Bos- ton, Mass. Caleb B. Clark. Sept. 22, 1878 :
Mrs. II. F. Packard, dis. Farm- ington, Me.
*Miss Lydia A. Noyes. Mrs. Clara E. Noyes. William D. Cochran. George F. Armstrong. William P. Simpson.
+Frederick A. Varnnm. Benjamin Harvey Hughes. James Cochran. Harlan E. Campbell.
William S. Harris.
Jomm F. Thayer. John E. Cochran.
NOTE. - Since 1851, when this record commences, what changes have taken place! A generation has passed away, and against abnost every name of that early date the star (*) is affixed. To many minds the read- ing of these names will awaken a train of long-buried memories, - of him who ministered in holy things from the sacred desk; of the aged deacons, with stooping forms and silvered hair; of the heads of families, who with their many members occupied the familiar pew Sabbath after Sabbath, till the sanctuary became so associated with their presence, that it seemed unreal and strange when they were no longer there. Some voices, now hushed, of surpassing sweetness, we again hear, some faces of radiant beauty we see once more ; and the singers sitting back of the round pillars in the high gallery we behold as in the years long gone. The words that were spoken by him who ministered, the venerable forms of the aged, the faces of rare loveliness and beauty, and the singers, all linger in memory ! The songs that were sung " shall yet be sung in the sweet remmion of song that shall take place by and by, in a hall whose columns are beams of morning light, whose ceiling is pearl, whose doors are gold, and where hearts never grow old."
139
FIRST SCHOOLS IN NEW ENGLAND.
CHAPTER XII.
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. - FIRST SCHOOLS IN NEW ENGLAND. - SCHOOL LAW OF 1789 .- SCHOOLS IN WINDHAM. - EARLY SCHOOLS AND EARLY SCHOOL-TEACHERS. - FAMILY SCHOOLS AND EARLY TEACHERS. - THE LAMENTED TEACHER, MARGARET HAMILTON. - DISTRICT NO. 3. - DISTRICT NO. 4. - DISTRICT NO. 5. - DISTRICT NO. 6. - DISTRICT NO. 7. - SCHOOL-BOOKS IN EARLY DAYS. - WILLIAMS'S ACADEMY, 1768 TILL 1790. - FORMATION AND HISTORY OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO 1882. - FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSES. - DISTRICT NO. 1. - DISTRICT NO. 2. - DIS- TRICT NO. 3. - DISTRICT NO. 4. - DISTRICT NO. 5. - DISTRICT NO. 6. - DISTRICT NO. 7. - SCHOOL FUNDS. - HIGHI SCHOOLS. - SCHOOL TAXES. - MANAGEMENT OF SCHOOLS. - COMMITTEE FOR INSPECTING THE SCHOOLS FROM 1809 TO 1828. - SUPERINTENDING SCHOOL COM- MITTEES. - MONEY EXPENDED FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM 1828 TO 1882. - SUPERINTENDING SCHOOL COMMITTEE, FROM 1828 TO 1882. - THE STATE LITERARY SCHOOL FUND. - MILITARY SCHOOL.
"IN ancient times the principle of education was recognized by free or democratic states. Sparta based her safety and prosperity upon the proper education of every child in the community, and Athens had public schools for all classes of her citizens. It was, however, reserved for modern times, and for the Free States of the American Union, to carry out this principle to its fullest extent, -providing gratuitous education of every grade for all classes, where the poor and rich might meet together in common and share alike in the blessings and advantages of education." - Kiddle & Schem's Cyclopedia of Education, p. 715.
FIRST SCHOOLS IN NEW ENGLAND.
In 1635, Boston, Mass., made provision for education, and requested " Brother Philemon Purmont " to be school-master. This was perhaps the earliest provision for a public school in New England. The first legislative enactment of Massachusetts on the subject was in 1642. First school established by public vote in New England is claimed to be at Newport, R. I., in 1640. Schools existed in New Haven, Conn., in 1639; in Vermont, before 1763.
New Hampshire being united with Massachusetts in 1641, became subject to the Massachusetts enactment of 1642; and when it became again a separate Province, copied in the main some of the Massachusetts laws. The first law of New Hamp- shire, after it became a separate Province in 1671, in regard to schools, was in 1693, and it copied substantially many of the Mas- sachusetts laws. By this law the selectmen of a town were obliged
140
HISTORY OF WINDHAM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
to levy a tax upon the inhabitants and ".build school-houses, min- isters' houses, and meeting-houses." They were also obliged " to provide a school-master." And again, -
By a Colonial law of this State, passed in 1719, and which con- tinned in force with only slight modifications till 1789, it was enacted that each town in the Province "of fifty householders shall be constantly provided of a school-master to teach children to read and write." When a town had one hundred families, there should be a " Grammar School set up and kept." In the latter, the "tongues " or dead languages were to be taught. These schools were sustained by an annual tax voted at the yearly March meeting, and were under the sole charge of the selectmen. A town was liable to a fine of £20 for disregarding the law. This law remained in force without material change till 1789.
Judge Samuel T. Worcester, in writing of this law, says: "It was wholly silent as to school-houses, school districts, and school committees. It contemplated the employment of male teachers only, ' school-masters.' It required, in its terms, both the school for teaching reading and writing, and also that for teaching the ' tongues,' to be kept ' constantly.' "
SCHOOL LAW OF 1789.
Again he says: "An act of the General Court, passed in 1789, for the maintaining and regulating the New Hampshire public schools, repealed the school laws till that time in force, and made it the duty of the selectmen yearly to assess upon the inhabitants of each town £45 upon each twenty shillings of the town's pro- portion of the public taxes for teaching the children and youth of the town 'reading, writing, and arithmetic.' It may be seen that by the law of 1789 that ' arithmetic' was required to be taught in the public schools in addition to 'reading and writing.' Shire towns and half-shire towns by the same law were required to maintain a grammar school for teaching ' Latin and Greek.' This Act of 1789 is supposed to have continued in force till 1805. . . I find no statute school law in New Hampshire passed previous to 1805 requiring or seeming in its terms to contemplate the division of towns for school purposes into school districts."
That year a law was passed giving towns authority to organize school districts. This act was amended a few years later, making it obligatory upon towns so to do.
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