USA > New York > Ulster County > History of Ulster County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Vol. I > Part 55
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" On the 25th day of September, 1798,
"' The committee appointed on the 12th day of June Let, for visiting the Aculeny monthly med to inspect the improvement of the students, and to whom an appeal lavl been made by Mr. Samuel Freer, on a question, whether
his son, Anthony $. Freer, should be permitted to speak an oration he bad made choice of In preference to one corrected and proposed for him by the principal Tutor, reported that having deliberately considered the question, they are unanimously of opinion that upon the present and similar cases the princijul Tutor ought to be the sole judge of what is most proper und con- decive to the elification of his pupils; and unless the confidence is proposed in him, Ins authority as Tutor would be diminished, and the promotion of know I- edge thereby endangered.'
" This report was unanimously sustained by the board.
"On the 12th day of February, 1799, a special meeting of the trus_ tees of the academy was held for the special purpose of inquiring into the state of the funds of the academy. Upon examination, it appeared that the income of the academy had not diminished since the last fall vacation. Mr. Vanderlyn moved that the salary thereto- fore allowed to the principal tutor of the academy be continued agreeably to the last contract. Mr. Conrad E. Elnendorph moved as an amendment that the salary of the principal tutor be such sum as should be received for tuition of the students, be the same more or less. The amendment was negatived, and the original motion carried by a large majority.
" The trustees were then not yet prepared, by making the salary of the principal entirely dependent on the number of his pupils, to throw out to their principal an indneement to court popularity rather than the eriueational interests and advancement of the pupils.
" At the meeting of the trustees on the 2d day of May, 1800, the death of John Addison, the then late senior trustee, was announced. The seuiority then fell upon the Rev. George J. L. Doll.
" Mr. Smith having resigned his position as principal on the first day of Angust, 1801, the Rev. David Warden was appointed princi- pal tutor, at an annual salary of $430 : 'and in ense the income aris- ing from the students should exceed that sum, the trustees will allow such excess to Mr. Warden uutit his salary sball amount to $500, the excess over $500 to be at the disposal of the trustees.' On the 20th day of April, 1802, the salary of Mr. Warden was perionneutly fixed at $500.
" On the 28th day of June, 1802. is recorded an addition to the library of 30 volumes, purchased with the avails of a subscription auounting to $61.75.
" At a meeting of the trustees, held on the first day of October, 1Su2, pursuant to a law of the State, entitled, ' An Act relative to Academies, passed March 8, 1802.' the Rev. George J. L. Doll, the then senior, was unanimously elected president of the board. He was thus the first president elected by the board. Previous to that the senior trustee performed the duties of presiding officer, under the title of : Mr. Senior.'
" At the satue meeting the following preamble and resolutions were adopte.1 :
". Whereas, The Trustees having received information (after the examination of this day) of several students absenting themselves, and thereby avoiding an examination, as directed by the orders and regulations of this Academy, ibere- fore :
*** Resolved, That in case any student shall hereafter be guilty of absenting himself from any public examination without a reasonable excuse to be made to, and approval of by the principal Tater and at least two of the Board of Trustees, he shall suffer the punishment of a public reprimand ; and for a sorun! offence te expelled the Academy, and unt again admitted as a student within the same.'
"On the third day of January, 1803, at a special meeting of the board of trustees, it was
"+ R. solred, That if at any time hereafter any student belonging to the Acade ny shall be found guilty of playing cards, or to gamble, or to play at any other game in a tavern, public-house, or any gambling-house whatever, and the same shall be proven to the satisfaction of the trustees, he or they so offend- ing shall be liable to be expelled from the Academy, and the names of the offenders, together with the reasons of their expulsion, be printed in the public papers at the option of the Trusters.'
" The following additional entries appear upon the minutes of the same meeting :
"" Mr. President and the said Tru-ters, taking into consideration the present flourishing state of the Academy, and the propriety of addressing the lonoti. ble the hegents of the University upon the occasion at their next antun! mert. ing, in this present mouth of January, appointed Mr. Bancker to prepare aut report an address accordingly at this present meeting. Wherengon Mr. Brother, agreeably to appointment, reported the draft of an address to the Honorable the Regents of the University, which he read in his place, and the same bring again read and considered by paragraphs, was approved of ty the Trustees, uml ordered to be engrossed, signed by the President, and attested by the Secretary unelet the seal of the Corporation, ty be delivered or transmitted to His LAcel-
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HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
tency the Chancellor of the University. The same is in the words following, viz. :
".HIS EXCELLENCY GEORGE CLINTON, Chancellor, AND THE HONORABLE THE REAGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SENTE DE NEW YORK.
". Most Respected Sira,-The Trusters of Kingston Academy, in the County of Ulster, take the liberty of addressing your honorable body upon the present dourishing situation of the Seminary committed to their particular care, and trust that an anxious solicitude tor its further prosperity will apologize for any impropriety in this communication.
** Since the first establishment of this Academy by the Trustees of the Cor- poration of Kingston in the year 1774, they have been very fortunate in pro- viding able teachers therein, and without any other fund than the bare tuition money. They have had a number of pupils committed to their care, from among whom can now be selectel characters who have since been preferred by their fellow-citizens to the important offices of a Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate, a Speaker of the Assembly, a justice of the Supreme Court, A Mayor of one populous city, and both Mayor and Recorder of another, several members of the National and State Legislatures, besides a number of characters eminent in their several professions of Divinity, Law, and I'bysic.
"* From this pleasing review of the just, the Trustees bope not to be thought vaist or assmining in considering; Kingston Academy equal in usefultices to any other of The establishment within this State ; and as such, meriting the fostering care and attention of the Honoralde Regency, as its common parent.
*** Since our Deed of Incorporation of the third day of February, 195, there having been but our visitation to the Academy, the Trustres log leave to men- tion, that having received two hundred dollars forn the Public treasury, the same, together with a further sum of about sixty dollars, collected by voluntary contribution, has been carefully expended in the purchase of a neat set of Globes and Maps, with some Mathematical Apparatus, and about one hundred and thirty-two volumes of choice links for the Beachiny Library. The state are placel under the inunedinte control of the present Principal Tutor, the Rev. Mr. David B. Warden, a gentleman o iginally from the University of Glas- gow, in Scotland, but last trom Kinderhook, where he stood as a teacher till called to this Academy about seventeen months since. He, with only one Usher to assist him, has now the charge of fity-three students,-a number ex- ceeding any heretofore kuown at one and the same thing, and for whom the Trusters are desirous of providing another Usher, but find the means inade- quate; that students arranged in classes are taught the Latin and Greek lan- guages, Elementary and Practical Geometry, Mathentities, Logic, Moral and Natural Philosophy, Ancient History, Geography, the History and Government of the United states, and the French language. Two of the present students are from two neighboring states, viz. : one from Maryland, and the other from Petiyisanit, Twenty others are from ajv neighboring Countries, viz. : 0no from New York, one from Westchester, seven from Dutchess, five from Col- uttabii, one IveDi Albany, and five fran Greetis, and the remaining thirty-one belong to this County ; thins this nursery for science whit, with the blessing of a kind Provi leuce, spread her fruits fir and wide.
** In order to render the Artdeury more extensively useful, the Trustees have for several years past dosig tted a large convenient room on the hist floor for the me of an English school, which generally consists of twenty-five to thirty scholars, why are taught reading, writing, and arithmetic.
"* The Trust .es beg leave to wohl that none of the English scholar- have lu en enumerated with the Latin students reported to the Honorable Regents, and which they have nuderstood to have been the case frota sumie neighboring seni- inaries, in order, they presume, thereby, to receive it larget share of the bounty of the State. Be that as it may, the Trustees of Kingston Academy have, with pleasure, observed the means adopted by the Honorable legislature for the encouragement of Literature, and rest satisfied that their own exertions in this Indadde nwiertaking, will not fail to meet with every assistance in the power of a generous I genes to attor! d'un. Io testimony winner of, we have caused our comum nevel to be thereinto a fixed. Witness the R.v. G. rge J. L. Dall, our President of our Academy, thi- Erd day of Jannary, 1993. ". GEORGE J. L. DOLL, President.
"Attrofed. Any. B. BANTEFE, Partitury.'
" From au entry in the minutes of a meeting held by the board, on the 30th day of September, 1803, it appears that upon the preceding application, the Regents donated to the aculemy the sum of one hun- dred pounds, which was received into the treasury and appropriated to the discbaige of a balance due Mr. Smith, their fortner principal, to the purchase of a new bell for the academy, and the residue paid to Mr. Warden, on account of his salary. The bell purchased at that time is probably the same bell which is now in the cupola of the present academy.
"The following preatnble and resolutions were passed by the trus- tees at a meeting held by them on the 31st day of January, 1804:
". The Trustees taking into consideration the present Pourishing situation of the Academy, and the great encouragement afforded them, as welt by private subs riptiony us by a gebetouts donation from the Trustees of the Corporation of Kingston, of real property, as a tand towards the establishment of a College witlau this town, thereupon,
". Isolerad, That Mr. President, Mr. Conrad E. Elmendiaf, and Mr. Bancker le a Committee to prepare two memorials to the Honorable the legends of the Culverstty, wul the Honorable the Legislailere of the State, in their present version, solicitlug the sanction of the former iu founding a College within the
town of Kingstos ; and also the nid of the latter towards building and endow- ing the said College.
" Renaleed, ThatMr. President, Mr. Conrad E. Elmendorf, and Mr. D-zung be a Committee to proceed to the city of Albany and present the said memorials and use their best emleavors towards obtaining the objects contemplated.'
" The result of the application appears in the following extract from the minutes of the trustees of that date: .
"* At a meeting of the Trustees, held on the 17th day of March, 1814, the President from the Committee appointed to wait ou the Regents of the Univer- sity to solicit their sanction in founding a College within the town of Kingston produced a report from a Committee of the said Board of Regents which was read in the words following. viz .:
"' The Committee to whom was referred the Petition of the Trustees and in- habitants of Kingston, in the county of Ulster, praying for the establishment of a College in that village, respectfully report,
"' That your Committee have maturely reflected on the prayer of the peti- tioners and are highly pleased with the literary zeal which they manifest by their liberal subscriptions and laudable exertions to procure the establishment of a College in their village. But while the Committee pay the petitioners this tribute of comtitentation it is their duty to estimate und decide impartially upon the merits of their application ; that in making such estimate and deci- sion the Committee cannot lose sight of the important trust committed to the Regents of the University, which imposes on them to have a due regard to the general interests of literature throughout this State ; that the Committee have seen with concern the ditheulties which the present collegiate institutions within this state lave enconnlered and continue to struggle with, from whence they cannot but anticipate that the multiplication of such institutions would be inexpedient at the present day, inasmuch as it would increase those difficulties by dividing the meaus bircessary for their support ; that the Com- mittee also perceive from the subscriptions of the petitioners that they involve a condition that the Regents have it not in their power to fulfill, to wit, the as- surance of legislative aid to facilitate the accomplishment of the de-irat-le and praiseworthy views of the petitioners ; that without such assurance the Com- mittee regard the subscriptions as altogether conditional, and therefore not forming a proper and secure basis on which to predicate the important and expensive establishment of a College ; that, independent of the objection above stated, the Committee also beg leave to remark, that a large proportion of the subscriptions on which the said application is founded, consists of Ulster and Delaware Turnpike Stuck, the value of which is unascertained and extremely pirearion. Your Connuittee are, therefore, of opinion that it would be int- proper to grant the prayer of the petitioners. All which is respectfully sub- utitted. Senate Chamber, Monday, 15 Febinary, 1804. The above report was received and read atl agreed to by the Regents. Thereupon, Resolved, that a copy of the Report of the Committee be presented to the applicants. Byorder of the Board of Regents.
". FR. BLOODGOOD, Sreret iry.'
" The establishment of a college being thus denied, upon reasons which commend themselves to the judgment and approval of all, the then trustees of the corporation of Kingston, consisting of Jubn Tremper, Abraham Hoffman. Peter Marins Groen, William Swart, Tobias Van Buren, Christopher Tappen, John Van Vliet, Jacobus Terpeuning, Henry Schoonmaker, and Abraham Houghtaling, con- veyed the whole of the real property, which had been designed for a college fund, to the trustees of Kingston Academy us a fund for that institution. This deed is dated March 15, 1804, and conveyed over 800 acres of land, including the triangular lot in the village of Kingston, upon which the present neademy building is situated.
" In Detuber, laut, the price of tuition was raised to $18 a year. Mr. Wardeu baving resigned as principal, the Rev. Thomas Adams, of Hartford, Conu., was selected to fill the vacancy, at a salary of $700 a year.
"Iu May, 1805, a committee, consisting of Peter Marius Groen, Conrad E. Elmendorf, and John Tremper, were appointed to report upon the propriety of selling the academy building, a plan and site for the crection of a new building, to solicit subscriptions for the purpose, and with authority to make such alterations and repairs as might be indispensably necessary for the existing building and the convenience of the school ..
" At the same meeting the trustees fixed the compensation of all their committees at $2 per day, they bearing their own expenses. And the land committee were authorized to sell the real properly, citber at private or public sale, in such quantities as they might drem advantageous, with authority to receive one-third part of the consideration in the Ulster and Delaware Turnpike stock ; and all former sales were confirmed.
" At the semi-annual meeting in October, 1805. some of the negli- gent members of the board were aroused to their duty by the passage of the following resulution :
". Resolved, That a letter be written to each absrating trustee of this board stating to hitu the necessity of his attendance at our semi-annual meetingy as
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CITY AND TOWN OF KINGSTON.
a member, and such as cannot in future give their attendance more punctmully than heretofoto to requested to resign the appointment, in order that others may be appointed who will attend to the business of the institution.'
"At a meeting held on the 4th of November, 1805, Mr. Peter Marius Groen, one of the committre oppointed to report in reference to the academy building, reported :
". That any repair to the present academy building would be useless, inas- much as it never can be repaired or ultered -o os to nuswer the purje -- es of the institution. That your committee advice an immediate sale thereof, with delay of rendering persession until a temporary building for the academy, etc., may be erectril, which your committee recommend. And also that they adopt Immediate measures to begin and lay the foundation of a new building in the eastern of western extremity of the village. And that the interest of your funds, the amount of the sale-money, and such stus as a committee for that purpose to be appointed can solicit and obtain from the goodness and generosity of our fellow-citizens, be applied to this purpose. 24th of June, ING.'
" It was then, after a considerable debate, and by a vote of 10 to 6,
" . Resolved, To appropriate Sa ont of the land-sales, and such additional sum as uright be procured from sale of the old academy. to build a new academy npon such site as might be agreed upon.'
"" And by nnother resolution the triangular lot where the present building is situated was fixed upon as the site.
"On the 10th of December, 1805, the buibling committee reported the plan and probable expense of a new building, which was approved. A motion to rescind the resolution fixing upon the triangle as the site for the new building was defeated by a vote of 12 to 3. A eourmittee was appointed to solicit subscriptions, and to apply to the trustees of Kingston ' for a further extension of their generosity to aid in the new proposed academy building.' And a builling committee was also appointedl.
" At the same meeting it was declared to be the duty of the prin- cipal, or in his absence his assistant, to open the school every morning with the reading of a chapter out of the Bible and prayer. That it was the duty of the principal to attend during all school hours, and that the students do punctnally attend prayer under the penalty not to exceed three cents For every omission. And resolutions were passed prohibiting the publie exhibition of any tragedy, comedy, or faree by the students after the semi-annual examinations; that no student should be admitted into the academy without a receipt that a half year's tuition had been paid in advance; that no meeting of the bonrd should be hell before dinner, except on exatuination days, unless by special order or necessity ; and authorizing the principal to fine every student six cents neglecting to attend divine worship every Sunday twice, without a sufficient excuse.
"The stintents in the academy had a partienlar place assigned to them in the gallery of the Dutch church, the only church then exist- ing in the village, and were require I to occupy that place in a body, as well residents as non-residents; the enforcement of the whove order thus became easy, and it eviners the close watebfulness of the board over the habits and morals of the students. In addition to this no student was permitted to be in the streets after eight o'clock in the evening.
" At a meeting of the trustecs, hell on the 7th day of March, 1806, the resignation of John Tremper as one of the committee to super- intend the building of the new academy war read and accepted, and a committee appointed to put the old academy in repair. With these proceedings the project for a new building was put to rest and aban- doned for many years.
"On the 25th of October, 1806, a committee was appointed to en- gage Mr. James Vanderpoel to superintend the academy till Mr. Adams' health should permit him to resume his duties, and in ease of his death, until a new principal could be secured. Mr. Adams snb-equently ilied, und Gardiner B. Perry was, on the 9th of Decem- ber, 1506, appointed as principal at a salary of $700.
"On the 7th July, Ison, the committee for the sale of lands were discharged, and from the proceedings at some of the subsequent meetings during that and the succeeding year, it would appear that there was some dissatisfaction in reference to their accounts, and somne difficulty in procuring the surrender of the papers and a reu- alition of their accounts.
"On the 16th May, 1807, another committee for the sale of the vacant lands was appointed, and they were directed to sell the same.
" At the semi annual meeting in October, ISU7, a committee was
appointedl to regulate the studies to be pursued in the academy, and inquire into the state of the neadetny and the use made of some of the rooms.
" At the semi-annual meeting in May, 1809, it was
"' Resolved, That in future all scholars in the academy under the care of the principal toucher be charged $15 per yeur, except the young ladies learning reading, writing, etc., that they be charged Sto, and those scholars in the English school be also charged :10.'
" At the semi-annual meeting in September, 1810, a sale of the triangular lot was authorized, and a committee appointed for that purpose. At the same meeting an unfortunate state of the finances is shadowed forth by the passage of a resolution direeting the treas- urer to have five hundred printed letters struck off, and that he send pne lo every defaulter on the books of the trustees.
" At a special meeting on the 21st day of January. ISII, a com- mittee was appointed to solicit pecuniary aid for the academy from the Regents of the University, the Legislature, and the citizens of Ulster County. At the same meeting the authority to sell the trian- gular lot was reseinded.
" In the year 1512 the Rev. John Gosman was elected president of. the board, and in the same year the Rev. Jabez Munsell was ap- pointed principal of the aendemy, and the price of tuition raised to $20 per aunum.
" At a meeting of the trustees on the 29th day of April, IS14, it was
" Resolved, That Mr. Munsell be requested to see that all the Students of the Academy are at their lodgings in summer by nine o'clock, and seven in winter.'
" Ilow happy it would be if such rule could be established aud en- foreed at the present day ! How many it would snatch from the jaws of dissipation and vice !
"At a meeting of the trustees on the 7th of May, 1816, the monthly examining committee, Rev. Mr. Gostian, Mr. J. Sudam, and Mr. Z. Schoonmaker, were instructed strictly to examine into the education of the students. On the 11th of October following, the committee re- ported favorably upon the examination, except that they found a de- feet in grammar, which Mr. Mun-ell had promised to attend to. This report shows that in those days such committees discharged their duties.
" In 1817, Mr. Munsell having resigned, was succeeded by Mr. Malbone Kenyon as principal, at a salary of $600.
" Atu meeting of the trustees on the 27th of June, 1817, it was agreed that Mr. Kenyon might receive into his school sueb young ladies as he might think proper to teach in the higher branches of the English language, etc., and also such young gentlemen as he might think proper, under the direction of the school entumittee. During this year the linatices had reached a very disordered condition, and n bank loan of $1000 was made to satisfy arrenrages.
"On the 21st of January, 1818, it was resolved that all vaenneies in the board thereafter, occasioned by resignation or otherwise, be not filled, so that the number of the trustees be reduced to twelve, accord- ing to the act of the Legislature of the session of 1816.
" At the same meeting, the board having received notice of Mr. Kenyon's intention to resign at the end of the current year, appointed a cothinitlee, with authority to engage some proper person as princi- pal, and to offer him $150 per anumiu and the avails of the tuition- money for the instruction of twenty-four pupils. but no more. After which, and in the month of April following, Mr. Sidney Weller was engagel as principal upon those terms, except that he wus allowed to lake thirty pupils. On the 16th of October, 1818, the trustees author- ized the number of Mr. Weller's sebolars to be enlarged to forty, on condition that he proeure an usher, to be approved by the visiting committee, thus enreful was the board of that day that the students should not be neglected by over-crowded rooms and an insufficient number of teachers. In May. 1$19, Mr. Weller resigned, and he was suceceded by & Mr. Smith. lle resigned after remaining about a year, and then the claszieal department was not immediately filled, bitt remained vacant for a time. The use of the upper room was granted by the trustees to Mr. French, an English teacher, until a classical teacher should be procured.
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