USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > Newport > Annals of Trinity church, Newport, Rhode Island, 1821-1892 > Part 23
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salary of £30. He died in October, 1769, and the Vestry voted to pay his widow his salary as organist till the following Easter ; and to allow her to remain in the house in the School House yard, rent free, during the same time. The following April she was warned out, and the Vestry voted to pay Rev. Mr. Bisset ( the schoolmaster, whose name as such is here first mentioned) £8, sterling, per annum, for the hire of the house, which, in the opinion of the Congregation, he was entitled to. But Mr. Bisset claimed more, and wanted to be paid "at the same rate for two and a half years past." The Vestry did not agree to this, and it was referred to the Congregation; but it does not appear to have been brought up again.
The above shows that Rev. Mr. Bisset had been schoolmas- ter two and a half years prior to 1770.
In February, 1770, a letter was laid before the Congregation, from the Rev. Mr. Bisset, to the effect that if his salary was not raised by the addition of £100 per annum, and the house he occupied be put in immediate repair, he would accept of an invitation to become the assistant of the Rev. Dr. Canner, at the Chapel in Boston; whereupon it was "voted not to comply with the request of Rev. Mr. Bisset, and a Committee was appointed to write to the Rev. Arthur Browne, at Portsmouth, N. H., and inform him that the Rev. Mr. Bisset was about to leave the Church and school, and request his assistance in supplying the Church with a minister, until the return of his son, Rev. Marmaduke Browne, either by coming to Newport himself, or sending up Rev. Mr. Badger."
The Committee was also to "write to Rev. Dr. Miles Cooper, of King's College, in New York; and to Rev. Dr. Smith, Pro- vost of the Academy in Philadelphia, and enclose a paragraph of Mr. Kay's will, respecting a schoolmaster and assistant, and requesting those gentlemen to make inquiry for a suitable per- son to go to England for orders, to supply Mr. Bisset's place."
At a meeting of the Congregation, in April, 1770, it was voted to put the house in the school house yard in tenantable order for the use of the Rev. Mr. Bisset, who was to keep it in repair.
At this time the Vestry and Congregation were divided in
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their views, as to the best disposition to be made of the Kay property. It was voted by the Vestry, at a meeting held June 25, 1770, to sell the house belonging to the Church, part of the Kay estate, for the sum of $3000, and the option to purchase it to be given to Mr. Brinley, then the tenant. This was not countenanced by the Congregation at a meeting held the follow- ing month, July 9th, when it was "voted that a vote passed by the Vestry at their last meeting, respecting the selling of the house Mr. Brinley lives in, be reconsidered, and that the said house, together with the house in the schoolhouse yard included, be leased to Mr. Francis Brinley for the term of seven years, at the rate of £62, sterling, per annum, and that he be obliged to pay $100 in repairing the house he lives in, and that he keep the said estate always in good repair at his own charge, and that the said house be painted at the expense of the Church, as soon as oil and colors can be procured."
It would appear from the record of 1771 that Rev. Mr. Bis- set still continued in charge of the school, notwithstanding the acceptance of his letter of resignation, recorded on page 105; for at a Vestry meeting April 8, a Committee of two was ap- pointed to visit his school from time to time, as often as they judged necessary, in order to see that the number of charity boys was always complete, and with power to fill any vacancy.
At the same meeting it was decided that the expense of painting the Kay house should be defrayed out of any money due to the Church. A Committee was also appointed to draft a letter to the Society for Propagating the Gospel, calling for the selection of a suitable person as schoolmaster and assistant, should the Society decide to appoint Rev. Mr. Bisset Minister of the Church.
The October following a letter was addressed to Rev. Dr. Burton, Secretary of the Society, acquainting him that the Rev. Mr. Willard Wheeler had offered to accept the school, provided there should be a vacancy, and a request was made to the Soci- ety, if no suitable person had been selected, not to trouble themselves any further in the affair, as they would in that case accept Mr. Wheeler.
At this time the support of the Society for the Propagation
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of the Gospel in Foreign Parts was wholly withdrawn from the Church. Rev. Mr. Bisset enjoyed the Kay donation till Easter, 1772, and on the IIth of the following May Rev. Mr. Wheeler was chosen assistant and schoolmaster, on the Kay foundation; his salary to date from the Ist of the previous April.
The school did not prosper under Mr. Wheeler, and in April, 1776, a Committee was appointed "to acquaint him that the Vestry and Congregation were greatly disappointed and dissatis- fied with regard to the school, and as many difficulties arise from the unhappy situation of public affairs, in collecting the rents and taxes of the Church to support the officers, they would have no objection to Mr. Wheeler's being removed to another and more advantageous living."
From this time we hear nothing more of the school till 1790, when an effort was made to revive it. In the meantime, at almost every meeting of the Vestry and Congregation, some question was asked in regard to the management of the Kay property; and in April, 1785, an effort was made on the part of the Vestry to borrow of the congregation who were proprie- tors of pews, a sum of money to enable them, with the rents due to the Church, to discharge the interest of a bond due from the Church to the heirs of Peter Dorden, to be paid at a future day out of rents falling to the Church.
The April following a Committee was appointed to lease all the estates upon the best terms, for the year, collect the past year's rent and all the money due to the Church, and appro- priate the same to paying the interest on the above-named bond. A similar vote was passed at the annual meeting, 1783.
In April, 1784, a proposition was made to the Vestry to ex- change the seven acres of Kay land in the south part of the town, for an equal quantity of land adjoining the Kay estate on the hill; and subsequently a committee was appointed to make the exchange, acre for acre; also to endeavor to obtain a passage to the land thus acquired through the land belonging to the Jews, by making an exchange with them. With what result does not appear on the records.
March 27, 1785, a Committee was appointed to collect all the rents on account of the Kay estate, and pay the same to
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.
William Vernon, in part of the bond due from the Church to the heirs of Peter Dorden, deceased; and the same Committee was instructed to lease out, on the best terms, all the said estate for a term not exceeding seven years, that ten poor children whose parents belong to the Church, might have their schooling paid out of the rents, and the remainder, after covering repairs, was to be appropriated towards the payment of the said bond.
The Committee reported that they had leased the Kay house, together with the lot of land had of George Scott, in exchange, to Dr. Barker, for six years from January 1, 1786, at the rate of two hundred silver milled dollars per annum; three years' rent to be paid down, in advance. This course met with the approval of the Vestry, and the committee was authorized to give a lease for eight years, and to ask Dr. Barker to advance as much money as would pay Mr. Gibbs what he had advanced for repairing the buildings, and the balance due to Mr. Bours, after having audited his accounts. ( Mr. Bours had officiated as lay reader for five years, prior to the election of Rev. James Sayre, as Minister, in 1786, at an annual salary of £30. He had also the disbursing of some of the funds of the Church. At the close of his services, October 8, 1786, there was a bal- ance due him of £147.16.o, lawful money, for which sum an obligation was given him, payable with interest.)
Dr. Barker declined to advance more money than the sum named, and the Committee were to ask a loan of him, which application was successful, and the sum of $243.25 was hired, to pay the expenses incurred in repairing the Kay house.
In 1787 there was a repetition of the vote to collect the rents due on Church lots, or eject the tenants, and Rev. Mr. Sayre was requested to give notice that provision had been made for schooling ten poor boys, and that the names of the proper ob- jects of this charity should be sent to the Vestry; but it does not appear from the records that anything grew out of the above effort.
In February, 1790, it was "Voted that provision be made for schooling ten poor children, agreeably to Mr. Kay's will, as soon as possible," and a Committee was appointed to seek for some person qualified as the will directs, to teach them. Rev. Mr.
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Smith, the Rector, was asked to take charge of the school for the time being, and public notice was given that all who had children entitled to the benefit of the donation should send in their names before Easter.
In February, 1792, a Committee was appointed to view the schoolhouse lot, and the lot proposed for an exchange by Mr. Channing, and to report on the expediency thereof. The report, if made, does not appear on the records.
In March of the same year the Vestry agreed to lease to Mr. Tilley the land on which his ropewalk47 stood, for seven years, or as many more years as he chose, at the rate of $15 per year. At the same time the Kay house and one acre of land was leased to Benjamin Brenton, for one year, for $90, payable in advance, and the remainder of the land to P. and B. Mum- ford, for $50.
In June, 1795, a proposal was received from Richard Harri- son, Esq., of New York, to take a lease of the Kay house and grounds for nine hundred and ninety-nine years, at an annual rental of $300, Harrison at the same time making an offer of a gratuity of $300, on the signing of the lease, to be devoted to re-shingling the roof of the Church. The offer was accepted, and subsequently the Committee reported that they had received the above-named $300, and had "lodged the same in the Bank of Rhode Island."
In April, 1786, the subject of carrying out the provisions of the Kay will was again brought up; but as it appeared that some time might elapse before a suitable person could be found to take charge of the school, it was voted, that the Committee appointed for the purpose, collect all the rents as they become due, and put the same at interest upon the best terms, and that the principal with the interest thereon, until a schoolmaster entered upon his living, should be made use of (with such dona- tions as might be obtained for the purpose) for the building of
47 WHAT is now Kay street was the site of the Tilley ropewalk. Dur- ing the excitement of the Dorr rebellion, it was burnt by some miscreant, and no attempt was made to replace it.
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a school house on the lot of land where the former school house stood, or on some other lot of land deemed more commodiously situated for a school house. Some of these rents received from Mr. Harrison were in the hands of Mr. Bours, who was required to give his note for the same, for six months, with interest, payable at the bank, with a good endorser.
In February, 1799, the Committee reported that with the rents falling due September 25th, they would have sufficient funds to build a school house, and they were directed to erect a building for this purpose on the old site.
In March, 1810, a Committee was appointed to make inquiry for a suitable person to take charge of the school, at a salary of $300 per annum, the amount of rent received from Mr. Har- rison, which the Vestry pledge for this purpose.
The following August, Rev. Abraham Brunson, of Cheshire, Conn., took charge of the school. But in February, 1801, a new Committee was looking for another teacher, Mr. Brunson having signified his intention to resign his charge. His succes- sor was Mr. Clement Merriam, who was appointed April 26th, 1802, at the same salary; but in August he notified the Vestry that he should retire from the school in six months from the previous July. A Committee was appointed to obtain a school- master and Assistant Minister, and Mr. Merriam was engaged to fill the pulpit during the absence of the Rector, Rev. Mr. Dehon, and by a vote of the Vestry the sum of $25 per month was allowed for the compensation of some suitable person, as usher, during the remainder of the term.
In December, 1802, Mr. John Reed, Preceptor in the Acad- emy at Plainfield, was invited to take charge of the school im- mediately after the 25th of January, 1803; but evidently he did not accept, for in August of that year Mr. Dehon was added "to the Committee appointed to obtain a schoolmaster and Assistant Minister."
April 30, 1804. A Committee reported in favor of selling the land in the south part of the town, and Mr. William Hunter was requested to draft a petition to the General Assembly, in the name of the Rector, Wardens and Vestry, for power to sell said lots, and reinvest the proceeds, which petition was pre-
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sented, but was not granted; and a Committee was thereupon appointed to see what ought to be done with the lots, to pro- mote in the best manner the charitable design of the donor. They were also instructed to have the lots surveyed. The plot of these lots is now in the archives of the Church.
At a subsequent meeting a report of the value of these lots was made, but the report is not on record. By the action of the Vestry the computed value appears to have been $1200, and it was deemed expedient to lease them on this basis for 999 years. In February, 1805, they were accordingly advertised to be sold by public auction, Monday, March 25th, unless previ- ously disposed of at private sale. This vote was reconsidered, March 4th. Several of the lots were sold, and April Ist, 1805, it was voted to dispose of the remaining lots by auction.
On the following May 6th it was voted to invest the proceeds of these lots, with other money hired from the banks in town, in the purchase of ten acres of land belonging to Mr. Henry Bliss, at $139 per acre.
At this time Rev. Mr. Ward having been offered the charge of the school, informed the Rector that he was under an en- gagement for the next five months, at the expiration of which time he would accept the call. The Vestry decided to keep the place open for him.
In November Mr. Ward's salary was fixed at $350 per annum.
In June of the same year, 1805, a Committee was appointed to renew the petition to the General Assembly, for power to sell the Church lots in the south part of the town, which peti- tion was granted, and all who had taken the long leases were allowed to exchange them for deeds in fee.
In September, 1805, the purchase of the Bliss lot, authorized the 6th of the previous May, was consummated; and it was voted that the rent of the Kay house, $300, falling due at that time, should become a part of the purchase money.
June 2, 1806, Rev. Mr. Dehon was requested to assure Mr. Viets Griswold, who had opened the Church School House, that as soon as his school was established, the Vestry would afford him every countenance and encouragement in their power, and would appoint a Committee to superintend it. It does not
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appear that any Committee of this kind was appointed; but December 7, 1807, the Rector and Wardens were appointed a Committee to make inquiry of Rev. Mr. Ward, respecting the state of the school, and make report at the next meeting of the Vestry.
The next reference to the school house is under date of May I, 1809, when a Committee was appointed to wait on the Rev. Mr. Ward, and inquire of him whether Mr. Trevett had given him possession of the school house, and whether it was in as good repair as when he entered it.
In July, 1810, Rev. Mr. Ward was still attached to the Church and school; for it was voted at this time to hire the sum of $200 to pay a balance due to Rev. Mr. Dehon and Rev. Mr. Ward.
The next mention made of the school is under date of Novem- ber 5th, 1810, when a Committee was appointed to inquire into the state of the school house, then in the occupation of Mr. John Rodman, and report at the next meeting of the Vestry. The Committee was authorized to make any repairs on the building deemed necessary.
January 7, 1811, it was "Voted, that John Rodman continue in the Church school house, for the term of one year from January II, 18II, on the same conditions he has heretofore had said school house, and that Stephen T. Northam be requested to desire Mr. Rodman to instruct the scholars under his care by Mr. Kay's donation, to teach them the catechism agreeably to the Episcopal mode, at least once a week, and that the chil- dren that are admitted in said school must produce to Mr. Rodman a certificate from the Rector, Wardens and one of the Vestry."
"Voted : that the Wardens be directed to pay the instalments, as they become due, for the three shares subscribed by F. Brin- ley, for the Corporation of Trinity Church, at the Rhode Island Union Bank in this town, agreeably to the regulations as directed by said bank, which instalments are to be paid from monies arising from the Kay foundation."
The property known as the Kay house had probably fallen into decay, for at a meeting of the Vestry, April 14, 1814, a
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Committee was appointed to wait on Benjamin Hazard, Esq., and obtain his legal opinion relative to a lease given by this Church to Richard Harrison, Esq., of New York; and whether Mr. Harrison was not bound to keep the estate in as good repair as when he received it. The Committee was to report at the next meeting, but no mention is made of such report.
At a meeting of the Vestry, March 20, 1815, the clerk was requested to copy into the records the following paper :
"A Copy of Mr. Kay's Bequest.
""'Item, I give and bequeath my dwelling house and coach house to my wife during her natural life, after which I give and bequeath both, with my lots of land in Rhode Island, and four hundred pounds in currency of New England, to build a schoolhouse, to the Minister of the Church of England ( Mr. Honyman ) and the Church Wardens and Vestry, and to the intent and purpose, benefit and use of the school, to teach ten poor boys their Grammar and Mathematics gratis, and to ap- point a master at all times, as occasion or vacancy may happen, who shall be Episcopally ordained and assist the Minister Epis- copal of the town of Newport in some proper office, as they shall think most useful.'
"Newport ss. The above is a true copy as appears on rec- ord in the Town Council's Book, No. 8, page 199.
"Newport, Feb'y 26, 1770.
WILLIAM CODDINGTON, Council Clerk."
In July, 1816, a Committee was appointed to attend quarterly the examination of Mr. Rodman's school, and see that the char- ity boys were taught as prescribed by the will of the late Nathan- iel Kay, Esq., deceased, and to report quarterly to the Vestry the progress of the children in their learning. These reports were probably verbal, for they do not appear on the records.
January 14, 1817. "Voted: that the Treasurer be, and he is hereby, authorized and empowered to dispose of the three shares in the [ Rhode Island ] Union Bank, owned by this Cor- poration, for the most they will command, and apply the pro- ceeds, first, to reduce the note of $400 to $300, and, secondly,
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the surplus to the discharge of those debts that now exist against the Church."
March 3, 1817. A Committee was appointed to obtain the opinion of Mr. Searle, as to the responsibility of Harrison for the destruction of the stable, out-houses and fences, that have occurred.
On the 6th of the same month the Committee reported, but that report is not upon record. The nature of it, however, may be gathered from the action of the Vestry; for it was "voted: that it is expedient to prosecute Harrison for destruction and waste of the Kay Estate." A Committee was appointed to ob- tain legal redress, and the Senior Warden was authorized to supply the necessary funds to carry on the suit.
May 5th. The Committee was authorized to employ such counsel, in or out of the State, as they deemed best.
June 2, 1817. The Committee were authorized to employ as counsel Mr. Wells of New York; to ascertain if a compromise could be made with Richard Harrison, for damages to the Kay estate, and if no settlement can be made they are to prosecute.
July 8, 1817. A vote of thanks was presented by the Ves- try to Mr. Wells, "for his distinguished attention, and for his law informative, gratuitously given to the Committee."
January 6, 1818. The Vestry "voted that Mr. Webb take the school house upon the same terms as Mr. Rodman, to wit: to teach ten poor children gratis, reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic, the Church Catechism, and to instruct them in the doctrines and discipline of the Episcopal Church, if they are desirous to be taught them."
October 12, 1818. A Committee was appointed to carry into effect the vote of March 6, 1817, respecting the Kay Estate with Mr. Harrison; and May 11th, 1819, it was voted to prosecute Mr. Harrison for waste of the Kay Estate.
July 12, 1819. The Committee reported that Mr. Harrison proposed to pay $2000 on account of the Kay estate-$1000 in one year, and $1000 in two years, and renew the lease, so that the rent should be in proportion to the old lease; which propo- sition was accepted, and a committee was appointed to make such arrangement with Harrison; but there seems to have been
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some hitch, for in August, 1820, more than a year later, the old Committee was discharged, and a new one was instructed to made the arrangement with Harrison immediately.
December 8, 1820. The Committee presented an indenture that was approved, and the Treasurer was ordered to execute it. By this instrument the Kay estate was leased to Harrison for 999 years, at a yearly rental of $300, based on a valuation of $5000, at 6 per cent. Harrison had the right to pay down this sum of $5000, in instalments, giving three months' notice of such intention; but no payment was to be for a less sum than $1000; and when such payments were made there would be a corresponding reduction in the amount of rent or interest money he would be called upon to pay. If the whole amount was actually paid in, the Church was to give a release from all claims for damage or waste of property.
October 4, 1821. The Senior Warden acknowledged the receipt of $1000, from Richard Harrison, which sum, with an additional sum of $100, rental, was applied to the payment of two notes at the Rhode Island Union Bank, and N. E. Commercial Bank.
October 6, 1824. Application was made in behalf of the Town, for the use of the school house for a public school; which request was granted, on condition that the Town paid a proper rent for the use of the building.
March 25, 1822. The "Bliss lot," so called, bought with money, part proceeds of sale of Kay land in the south part of the town, and part hired for the purpose, was sold to Arnold Wilbour for $1000, and on the 3d of April it was "Voted: that so much of the money received for the Bliss lot as may be, suf- ficient to pay the note due at the Rhode Island Union Bank from the Corporation, be appropriated to that use; and that the residue be funded by the Senior Warden, for the use of the Poor Fund, in payment for the amount loaned from that fund."
The note paid, as appears by the books of the bank, amounted to $435.60.
June 1, 1825. John Rodman was allowed the use of the school house on the same terms on which he had previously had it; and in December, 1826, Mr. Brown was allowed to have it on the same terms.
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In May, 1828, a communication was received from Richard Harrison, in which he refuses to pay any taxes assessed on the Kay estate. This was referred to a Committee, and the Com- mittee reported in June, that no State law had been passed tax- ing Church property.
March 3, 1830. A Committee was appointed to look into the affairs of Mr. Harrison, then deceased; and they were also in- structed to ascertain if the heirs or administrators had made any arrangement to continue the yearly rental of $180.
April 15, 1830. A meeting was called to consider what could be done in regard to a claim against the estate of Mr. Harri- son, deceased. At that meeting it was stated that Mr. [ William ] Hunter was of the opinion that the claim was good; but no steps were to be taken to test it, till the Committee could hear from their counsel in New York, Mr. Slanson.
July 5, 1830. A letter was received from W. H. Harrison, in behalf of the executors on the estate of Richard Harrison, deceased, offering to pay down the sum of $1200, and to sur- render the lease of the Kay property, if the Church would give a full release of all claims-the surrender to be subject to agreement with the occupant of the house at that time - which proposition was accepted and a Committee was appointed to car- ry it into effect.
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