USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Historical sketches : a collection of papers prepared for the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 1921-1925, Volume VII > Part 6
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Providence Meeting, which belonged to Gwynedd Monthly Meeting, was built in 1723, and there was a school under its care.
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EARLY FRIENDS' SCHOOLS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
In 1810, Jacob Jones, of Merion Meeting, gave a tract of land and sum of money to establish a free school for the poor and orphan children of Lower Merion township. This was the foundation of what is now the Lower Merion Academy.
There is no record of a school in connection with Merion Meeting, built in 1695, but there probably was a school, as there are several school desks stored in the gallery at the present time.
Wickersham places Loller Academy, at Hatboro, under the head of Friends' schools, but it was not under the care of the meeting. Robert Loller, in 1810, left a two-story building and grounds to be used as a school, and in 1812 it was chartered as Loller Academy.
John Barnes, of Abington, left one hundred and twenty acres, in 1697, for the use of a meeting and school. The present school dates from 1702, and the first teacher was Jacob Taylor. About 1749, William Carter left a sum of money for the education of poor children. For many years Abington was a boarding and day school, and ranked in grade with Friends' Central in Philadelphia, but of recent years only the lower grades are taught, and it is a day school only.
Horsham Meeting was built in 1717, but the first men- tion of a school was the following advertisement for a teacher in the "Gazette" of 1753: "Any person well quali- fied for keeping a school and comes well recommended by applying to John Lukens, surveyor, Abraham Lukens, or Benjamin Cadwalader, living in Horsham township, near the meeting house, may meet with proper encouragement." Isaac Comly, author of several school books, taught there in 1799.
There were four schools under the care of Horsham Meeting in 1779, as will be seen from the following minute: "We, the committee appointed, report as follows: That upon inquiring we found that the school house on the meet- ing house land is wholly the property of Friends, and the subscribers generally Friends: we also find that there has been a school house lately built on a piece of land held in
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HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
trust for that purpose between John Parry's and John Wal- ton's wholly by the Friends, and generally Friends sub- scribers : there is also one other school house near the Billet on a piece of land held in trust for that purpose by Friends and others, and one other school house near John Jarret's upon sufferance : the two last mentioned schools being made up by subscribers of different societies: which after being considered, the same Friends are continued with John Parry, Samuel Shoemaker, John Conrad, and John Jarret added to them as a committee, to have the oversight of such schools as may be properly under the notice of this meet- ing." In 1787, there were three schools. There is still a school at Horsham under the care of the meeting.
These schools were located in rural districts, and while in some of them only the lower grades were taught, Abing- ton, Gwynedd and Plymouth were advanced schools. Some of the subjects taught were geometry, mensuration, algebra, surveying, history, natural philosophy and astronomy, and, very rarely, Latin and Greek.
In conclusion, these words of Whittier seem appropriate :
"Long live the good School! giving out year by year Recruits to true manhood and womanhood dear: Brave boys, modest maidens, in beauty set forth The living epistles and proof of its worth."
Since reading this paper, the following information has been handed to me by two of our members. It is in connec- tion with the school at Lower Merion Meeting.
Deed. 1 December, 1747. Rees Price and his son, Edward Price, both of Lower Merion, to Richard George, Evan Jones, and John Roberts, 2,000 square feet "near the meeting house in Merion," being part of the land of said Rees and Edward Price. "To Build or Erect one or more house or houses thereon for the use of a school for such as shall contrib- ute toward building the same, and to such others as the majority of sd. Contributors shall approve of."
It is agreed "that the master with the schollars that shall belong to the school shall have privilege of ingress egress and regress from the sd. piece of ground to a spring of water (near the sd. granted piece of
£
(As it is today.) HORSHAM SCHOOL HOUSE
1
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EARLY FRIENDS' SCHOOLS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
ground) on the land of sd. Rees Price and thereof to satisfy or quench their thirst." 1
In 1803, John Roberts, Mill Wright, of Lower Merion, left 50 pounds "to be paid to any Trustee that may be Ap- pointed to Build a school-house near the Meeting-house of the People called Quakers in Lower Merion."
In 1808, Hugh Roberts, of Lower Merion, left money in trust to be applied for repairing the stone school-house near the meeting house of Friends of Lower Merion.
The following is also in connection with Lower Merion Academy :
Jacob Jones bequeathed the money for Lower Merion Academy in 1803. It was to be "a School or Schools for Education of poor and orphan children of both sexes in said township without charge to said children, their par- ents"; etc. His sister, Elizabeth George, bequeathed the residue of her estate for the same purpose, in 1800, mention- ing her brother's intention.
Lower Merion Academy was built in 1812 and is one of the noted old landmarks of Lower Merion. It has a broad piazza with a brick floor, and flag-stone steps leading to it. The posts are supported at the base by iron pivots. The desks are clumsy and heavy, while the windows have tiny square panes. All these show the age of the building, but the hollows in the steps, worn by the tramp of many feet, show its antiquity. The Academy was one of the first public schools in the United States. It was founded by Jacob Jones, who left a farm of ten acres for the support of a
1 On 7th mo. 12th, 1791, a minute of Radnor Monthly Meeting quotes the report of the Committee on Schools as saying, "that although there are divers schools kept up within the Compass of the monthly meeting, two only appear subject to the rules and directions of Friends-one at Haverford; one at Radnor."
This would indicate that the Merion Preparative Meeting no longer maintained a school at that date.
On 2d mo., 8th, 1793, James Jones and Thomas George are directed to prepare a subscription paper to collect a fund for the establishing of one or more schools .- Ed.
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HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
school at which a certain number of pupils should be edu- cated free of charge. It was a regular Academy with a classical course; was a boarding school with day scholars. The teacher was allowed the use of the dwelling and grounds in return for the tuition of the free scholars. From the beginning, there was no distinction as to sex. The ques- tion of caste soon made trouble. The "free scholars" were looked down upon so much that at one time it was seriously proposed to erect a separate building for the "poor schol- ars." The friends of the institution decided that this would defeat the intention of the founder's will, the first purpose of it was to provide free education. The difficulty was ad- justed by doing away with the paid scholars. The first teacher was Joshua Hoopes, a Friend, who resigned on ac- count of the strife about "paid and free" scholars. He after- ward went to West Chester, where he for many years very successfully conducted a Friends' school. He was a noted botanist and friend of Darlington's. John Levering was the next teacher. He made a noted map of Lower Merion, and had a remarkable reputation as a local antiquarian. Miss Lydia Coggins was another of the very early teachers. Mr. Israel Irwin was head master for twenty-five years.
Among many of the scholars, who afterward became noted, were Charles Naylor, Representative in Congress from Philadelphia, in 1840; and Joseph Fornance, also a Representative from Montgomery county in the early for- ties, who appointed Winfield Scott Hancock to West Point; Professor James Rhoads, of the Central High School, Phila- delphia; Rev. James Rush Anderson, D.D .; Dr. Richard Jones Harvey, one of the California pioneers of 1849; Algernon Roberts, of the Pencoyd Iron Works, and George Brooke Roberts, who was a President of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.
The ground upon which the building stands rises above the picturesque ravine of Rock Hollow, through which the American army passed on September 14, 1777, to the Old Lancaster road, and encamped near Merion meeting house on their way to Valley Forge.
(Courtesy of Mrs. John M. Willis.) BRUNNER ACADEMY
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The Brunner Academy of North Wales*
By MRS. JOHN M. WILLIS
This institution was founded October 14, 1867, by Sam- uel Umstead Brunner, under the name of Kulpsville Acad- emy and School of Business, at Kulpsville, Pa. It opened with two pupils. The first catalogue, printed the following year by S. A. & A. Helffenstein, of Norristown, recorded sixty pupils in attendance, and a faculty of four members. Science, English and business branches were taught by the principal, assisted by George E. Brecht in English, John K. Krieble in mathematics and B. B. Rosenberger, assistant in mathematics. The school began and always remained a non-sectarian institution, the pupils attending the various churches. The pupils who did not live nearby, boarded with private families in the village. Six and eight dollars was the price for tuition for a term of eleven weeks for the aca- demic course; fifteen for the business course. Vocal music was taught at one dollar per term, which probably was much like the old-fashioned singing school of those days. The catalogue already mentioned speaks of the Oxonia Literary Society, which gave two lectures that year, one by Rev. N. B. Baldwin, of Line Lexington, a well-known clergy- man; the other given by Henry U. Brunner, a brother of the principal, and a young lawyer of Norristown.
Two public entertainments were also given. In April, 1871, the school was moved to North Wales, in order that it might serve a wider field and have better means of access from the recently built North Pennsylvania Railroad. The property owend by Lewis Beaver, on Main street, and ad- joing the Reformed Church, was rented for the purpose. Here some of the pupils boarded, thus making its start as a
*Read before the Society, April 30, 1921.
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HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
boarding school. Now instrumental music was introduced, which was continued throughout the existence of the school. It was soon discovered that the building was inadequate and not well adapted to the needs and requirements of a modern school, and the principal began laying plans for the con- struction of a new and up-to-date school building. A plot of ground was obtained at what now is the intersection of Pennsylvania and Montgomery avenues, although at that time, these streets had not been laid out. By the spring of 1873, the new building was completed, and the transfer of the school from the old site on Main street was made in time to finish the school year and hold the commencement exer- cises. While the new building was under construction, an epidemic of typhoid fever was experienced in the school on Main street, during which Professor Brunner and his entire family were victims. This for a time seriously interfered with the operation of the school, and delayed the construc- tion of the new building. Unfortunately, catalogues of the first years of the school at the new location have not been preserved, but tradition would seem to indicate that the school had not been so large. The new school was equipped with a hot-air heating system, and provided for the housing and boarding of twenty-five students, but many of the patrons were day pupils, coming from Doylestown, Souder- ton and adjoining towns. In a few years, about 1880, how- ever, the new building began to be well filled with boarding pupils, and the course of study more advanced. Latin was introduced, and weekly lectures by Dr. H. F. Slifer on Anatomy, Physiology and Hygiene. The Latin and music were taught by Rev. George Deihl Foust, who was pastor of the Lutheran church of the town, and a graduate of Mühlen- berg College. Much of the success of the school must be attributed to these two men. During this year, the Alpha Alumni Association was organized, which met monthly, and was open to all students, giving opportunity for public speaking. In June, each year, an annual reunion and ban- quet of former students was held, following the commence- ment exercises of the school, which were well attended and enjoyed.
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BRUNNER ACADEMY OF NORTH WALES
In 1883, a large bell was mounted on the building. It was a home product of an unusually sweet tone, cast by Thomas Durrin, of North Wales. The inscriptions are:
"LEARNING BY STUDY MUST BE WON 'TWAS NE'ER ENTAILED FROM SIRE TO SON,"
and
"TRUTH WITHOUT FEAR,"
which is in French. This bell faithfully tolled the hours for rising and assembling, from this time until the close of the institution. Since 1904, this bell has hung in the spire of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, North Wales, where it is still doing service. An amusing incident in connection with the history of the bell was retold in the Lutheran Parish publi- cation. "Mr. Brunner was in the habit of ringing it every week-day morning at six o'clock. The people in the neigh- borhood needed no alarms, allowing themselves to be roused by the ringing of what is now our church bell. One day, Mr. Brunner did the opposite of over-sleeping himself. He got up at 3 o'clock, thought it was six o'clock and rang the bell. Mr. Noah Weikel, at that time, was town policeman, and feeling sure it was a case of robbers, made a hasty response. Mr. Isaac Wampole's son William was left under a similar impression, aroused himself and proceeded to the source of the trouble. But, I am told, others got up at their leisure, made their toilet and proceeded to breakfast. On one oc- casion, if not on several, it was also used as a call for help when buildings were on fire."
In 1884, two more were added to the faculty : Miss Eliza- beth A. Smith, graduate of Mt. Holyoke College, Massachu- setts, who taught English, History and Drawing, and Henry E. Englehart, teacher of Telegraphy. About this time, the principal introduced a course of lectures at the end of each term, which consisted of thirteen weeks, making nine lec- tures during the school year. These lectures were continued for many years. Among the men of prominence engaged in these lectures were: George W. Rogers, James B. Holland,
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HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Col. Theodore W. Bean, of Norristown; President Rhoads, of Bryn Mawr College; President Magill, of Swarthmore; President Stahr, of Franklin and Marshall; Judge Watson, Gen. W. W. H. Davis, of Doylestown, and Professor Lamber- ton and Josiah Penniman, of the University of Pennsylvania. The years 1885 and 1886 seem to have had the largest enrollment, the school being filled to its utmost capacity. Miss Sue E. Stoe, of Philadelphia, and a graduate of Maple- wood Institute, Massachusetts, was a much-loved instruc- tress. In 1890, a teacher of physical culture was secured, and the pupils trained in Gymnastics, but as there was no gymnasium building, perhaps for financial reasons, this branch was discontinued. About this time, the character of the school underwent, more or less, a change, more atten- tion being given to the classical department, becoming a full-fledged college preparatory school. From this time on, the faculty always included one or more graduates of the best New England colleges, and students graduating from the classical courses entered directly into foremost Ameri- can colleges. Prominent among the teachers in this depart- ment were: Anna W. Gardner, Edith Hovey Carter, Kath- erine Lewis, from Smith College; Helen Cook, from Welles- ley ; Elsie Jones, from Ann Arbor, and lastly, Eleanor S. Ross, a graduate, and now Dean, of Middlebury College, Vermont.
While the student roll of this institution contains no names of Presidents, Governors or men of international reputation, it nevertheless has made its contributions to the useful citizenship of the county and state, as witness many names of local prominent men who had their fundamental training at this school. The many years of faithful work done have not been without their effect on the community. The doors of the institution were closed on account of the sudden death of the founder and principal. The life and history of the school were so inseparably that of its founder, that I feel that this sketch could most fittingly be closed by quoting an article from one of the county publications coin- cident with his death. "Professor Brunner, youngest son of Frederick and Lydia Umstead Brunner, was born at the old
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BRUNNER ACADEMY OF MORTE WALES
homestead in Worcester, on April 6th, 1842. His rudimen- tary education was acquired at the Bethel public school, which he attended six months during the rear beginning at the age of six years and continuing until that of seventeen. In the Spring of 1859 he entered Washington Hall Collegi- ate Institute at Trappe, teaching public school during the winter months and attending school during vacation; later graduating from Eastman's Business College at Poughkeep- sie, New York. He closed his career as public school teacher in 1867 as principal of the Jenkintown public school. In 1867 he opened a private school in Kulpsville. which he conducted successfully until it was removed to North Wales in April, 1871. It is likely he was the pioneer in this section of the state in establishing an Academy and School of Busi- ness. He placed all his resources and character as a man in an expensive building from which some of the most success- ful men and women of today graduated. He gave North Wales free lectures for years and probably by his example we now have several courses along the North Penn. Through the efforts of Professor Brunner and Miss Lizzie Jones, the Montgomery County Teachers' Institute was organized. In faith he was a Lutheran, and secretary of the church coun- cil for a period of twenty years. Naturally a vigorous thinker and doer gathers many warm friendships-and just as vig- orous enemies. But Professor Brunner was always ready for harmony in any department of life. and never hesitated to volunteer reconciliation. He was intensely interested in young manhood and womanhood. He had early struggles, but in later years. prosperity came his way and his benefac- tions ranged from gifts of the products of his gardens. library, advice and time. to worthy students and enterprises. We keenly feel the loss of a real friend.' As time goes on, he will be the deeper missed."
" Professor Brunner died February 22, 1901.
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Morris Llewellyn of Haverford1 1647-1730
By MORRIS LLEWELLYN COOKE (Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia)
Morris Llewellyn was born at Castle Beith,2 Pembroke- shire, in Wales, in 1645, and migrated to America about 1682-83, but of the details of his sailing with wife and two or three small children we have no record. Not even the name of the ship which brought him here is known.
Of his marriage we have the following record :
Mouris Lluellin3 of Castlebieth did this 13 M/2 1673 day in the prs- ence of those Subscribed take Anne Yong (daughter of David Yong of Morwill) to wife theire relacons haveing consented thereto & friends had fellowshipp therenth.4
1 A paper delivered at a meeting of the Historical Society of Mont- gomery County, April 30, 1921.
2 "Castle-bigh (Castle Beity-Castle of the Amblestone) a parish in the hundred of Kemmes, county of Pembroke, South Wales, 10 miles (N. N. E.) from Haverford west, containing 284 inhabitants. * On the border of this parish are the remains of a Roman encampment through which runs the high road separating the parishes of Castle-Bigh and Ambliston. *
* * There is also another encampment near the church fortified with double ramparts and occupying about four acres of ground." (From "A Topographical Dictionary of Wales," by Samuel Lewis, Lon- don, 1833.)
$ Among other spellings of this name are the following:
Maurice Llywelin Maurice Lluellyn
Mauris Lewellin Morris Llewlin
Morris Lewhelin Morris Llewellyn
4 Ms. p. 12-No. 683 Quaker Registers for South Division of Wales in Somerset House, London. For this record and much else in connection with this paper I am indebted to my kinsman, Albert Cook Myers.
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Cantigas Iland
Pandewest point
Cardigan
ský
Stumble basd
Llorando
Bruselthe
Classe
Newport
Whenbunch
Fredagby
S. Davids head
Inewearth
S. Prowad 8 : Lol
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S. Davids
Lashowed PENBROKE Aromade
ARIANE SHIRE
Aching
Ramfry Hand
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Likle HasA
Talleney
d. Virbert
S. Brits Iland
yardlong Run ...
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por Peubrooke
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Milford haven Regula
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PEMBROKESHIRE IN XVII CENTURY
18 Rempliton
Bishops and his Clerkes
Ribye
Doluath haven.
Blattes flown
Langlas head
69
MORRIS LLEWELLYN OF HAVERFORD
Ann Young was born in 1647.
The roots of the movement of which Morris Llewellyn's emigration to this country was a part lie far back in the history of the British islands. The inhabitants of Wales in the XVII century were for the most part direct lineal descendants of the ancient Britons-had little Saxon blood. They occupied Britain at the time of the Roman invasion and battled with the Romans as they did with the Saxons, Danes and Normans. Over hundreds of years they resisted these foreign invasions. History possibly presents no people standing forth more conspicuously from the mass. They yielded only inch by inch to superior foes. And at last a remnant-perhaps the best of them-scorning surrender, carried away with them their choicest treasure, their kin- dred and sacred penates and made Wales their chosen land. Thus was preserved their name, their language and their honor.
To the superficial observer it may seem strange-as one historian states it-that even after long centuries the descen- dants of such warlike men should identify themselves with the peaceful doctrines and manners of the Quakers. But as a matter of fact this fighting Cymric blood carried with it a tradition of simplicity of heart, direct dependence on God, and independence of men. The heroic stuff of which they were made yielded readily to the call to service and sacri- fice for principle.
As early as 1639 one Wroth, an Oxford graduate, formed a dissenters' church. Others followed and became itinerant preachers. Of course all such were driven out of Wales at the outbreak of the Civil War, and rumor has it that Morris Llewellyn served in Cromwell's army-perhaps as chaplain. Up to that time preachers in the established Church in Wales were uneducated and at times led scandal- ous lives. They could not speak Welsh. This fact encouraged the use of intelligent pious laymen-husbandmen and arti- sans. During the Interregnum, local authorities in Wales harassed the Friends in many ways-principally through the imposition of tithes, as witness the following, bearing 28 names, each to be fined 10 shillings :
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HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
"These therefore in his Ma'ties name (we) Chardge and command you all and eyther of you yt immediately upon sight hereof you levie by way of distresse and sale of goods and chattels sum appearing at each person's name mentioned in the Schedules annexed and the sum see levied to pay in open court-" etc.
(Signed) HUMPHREY HUGHES JOHN WYNNE
Persecutions were at their height about 1672. In 4 Mo. (June) 1677 we have a record of persecution for "Castle- beigh Psh" of Morris Llewellyn by distraint for the payment of tithes. "Maurice Llywelin has taken from him by David Rees the Priest, and Rhetheran, David's Man, one Lamb, one Pigg and in Wool, worth 5s 6d. The said Moris had alsoe taken from him in the 5th and ye 7th mo. by George Owen Priest his man - Hay and Corne worth two pounds 13s 04d."" Of course the refusal to pay tithes was based on religious principles.
A most interesting description of the many ways in which the Quakers in Wales were harassed by the civil and reli- gious authorities is to be found in a lengthy memoir written by John Humphrey whose nephew Benjamin, as will be seen later, married Mary, daughter of Morris Llewellyn.3 But when church services were neglected and tithes re- mained unpaid an edict went forth against Quaker meet- ings as follows :
"if any person of the age of 16 or upwards, being a sub- ject of this Realme, att any time after the 10th of May next shall be present at any assembly, conventicle, or meeting under colour or pertence of any experience of religion in any other manner than according to the Litargie and practice of the Church of England, in any place within the kingdom of England, dominion or Wales - at which
5 Ms. "Sufferings," Vol. IV. to 1680, p. 382. Formerly in Devonshire House, Bishops Gate, but now Friends' House, Euston Road, London. Quaker Archives.
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