USA > Rhode Island > Kent County > East Greenwich > History of the town of East Greenwich and adjacent territory, from 1677 to 1877 > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
"SECTION 3. And be it further enacted, That the Trustees of said corporation shall have power and author- ity to elect and appoint the Principal and other Instructors in their various branches of literature; to ascertain and fix their respective salaries, and the price of tuition and inci- dental expenses ; and to remove any Instructor from his or her office for misdemeanor, incapacity or unfaithfulness, and others to elect and appoint in their stead. And the said Trustees, shall have the superintendence and direction of said Academy; and shall have power to make such laws, regulations, and ordinances, with penalties, as to them shall seem meet for the successful instruction and government thereof, not contrary to the laws of this State or the United States; and shall repair the Academy when needful, and may average the expense of said repairs in proportion to the shares, that each proprietor shall possess; and in case any of the proprietors shall refuse or neglect to pay his or her part of such assessments, his or her shares shall be put up at public vendue and sold to the highest bidder, and if any overplus remains, it shall be paid over to each such delin- quent or delinquents, who shall thereafter cease to be mem- bers of said corporation.
" SECTION 4. And be it further enacted, That the pro- prietors of Sixty Shares shall constitute a quorum of said
208
HISTORY OF EAST GREENWICH.
Corporation ; and that each Proprietor shall be entitled to as many votes as the number of shares he possesses, and may vote by himself or proxy, duly appointed under the hand of the person appointing.
" SECTION 5. And be it further enacted, That if at any time of a regular meeting of said Corporation, there should not be a quorum of the members present, the President or in his absence the Secretary shall have power to adjourn said meeting, and shall give at least three days' notice of said adjournment to said Corporation; and at the meeting adjourned, eight Proprietors, whereof the President, Treas- urer, or Secretary to be one, shall constitute a quorum to transact the business.
" SECTION 6. And be it further enacted, That the said Corporation shall and may receive into their body politic, any person being a Proprietor of one or more shares, or who shall make a donation to the use of said Academy to that amount. And that the said Corporation shall have, and there is hereby granted unto them full power to make and ordain such rules, regulations and by-laws, as they shall judge needful, for the better government of the Corpora- tion, and alter and repeal the same; provided such rules, regulations and by-laws be not repugnant to the laws of the State, or the design of the Institution.
" SECTION 7. And be it further enacted, That for the greater encouragement of this Institution of Learning, the estate of this Academy lying and being within this State, shall be exempted from all taxes; and the person of the Principal and other Instructors, during their connection with said Academy, shall be exempted from serving on juries, and from military duty, or impressment.
.
" SECTION 8. And furthermore, For the establishment of the perpetuity of this Corporation, and in case that any time hereafter any law should be enacted, or any matters done and transacted by this Corporation contrary to law or the tenor of this Charter, it is hereby enacted, ordained and declared that all such laws, acts and doings shall be in themselves null and void; yet the same shall not, in any court of law, or by this Assembly, be adjudged in de- feasance or forfeiture of this Charter, but the same shall be and remain inviolate and entire unto the said Corporation in perpetual succession ; which said Corporation may at all times forever hereafter, proceed and continue to act, and all their acts conformable to the powers, tenor, true intent
209
KENT ACADEMY.
and meaning of this Charter, shall be and remain in full force and validity, the nullity and avoidance of any such illegal acts to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.
" SECTION 9. And be it further enacted, That the Trustees of said Academy shall have power to call special meetings of the Corporation, whenever they shall think necessary, giving due notice thereof."
The whole charter is copied for the express purpose of showing how liberal the Legislature was at that early period, in granting a charter so legally strong, and also the wonderful ability of the Hon. Ray Greene, displayed in framing it.
FIRST EXTRACT FROM THE CORPORATION RECORDS OF THE KENT ACADEMY, DATED DECEMBER 7TH, 1803.
" Voted, That the sum of one hundred and thirty eight dollars be paid out of the Treasury to Messrs. Ethan Clark, William Arnold, Richard Mathewson, Earl Mowry, Peter Turner, Ray Greene, Elihu Greene and Christopher Greene upon their executing a conveyance of the lot of land upon which the Academy stands, to the Corporation, in full for the consideration of the deed of conveyance."
EXTRACT FROM THE RECORDS, AUGUST 31ST, 1804.
" At a meeting of the Proprietors of Kent Academy, on the 15th of August, 1804, the subscribers were appointed to examine the accounts and bills of the Committee, author- ized to superintend the erection of said building, and pro- cure the materials for the same, whereof Richard Mathew- son and Stephen Arnold were chosen by them the principal agents-report, that they have carefully examined the ac- counts and bills, and find no material error in any of them, not sufficient in their opinion to make an alteration.
" That the building has cost up to the 14th of August, 1804, the sum of $3,733.55. The subscriptions received and ma- terials up to said date, amount to $3,702.6,5 mills; balance due Richard Mathewson at same time $31.49,5 mills, refer- ence had to their statement on pages four and five, all of which we submit to the Proprietors.
" WILLIAM GREENE, WANTON CASEY, WILLIAM GREENE SPENCER."
210
HISTORY OF EAST GREENWICH.
EXTRACT FROM THE RECORDS OCTOBER 6TH, 1804.
" It is voted and resolved, That the Trustees shall have full power and authority, to control and appropriate the funds of this Corporation for the use, benefit, and improve- ment of the Academy ; and principally to the following purposes, namely-for the fencing of the Academy grounds, and setting out trees thereon, procuring step-stones for the the doors, and necessary and suitable furniture and finish- ing for all parts of the Academy. And they shall also have power to apply the funds of the Corporation to the purchase of a bell, Maps, a pair of Globes, and such useful Books as they may judge proper for establishing a Library, which shall be under the regulations hereafter to be made by the Corporation."
The maps and globes were splendid articles, and were imported from Europe. The maps were on a large scale, four by five feet and elegantly mounted, and the twenty- four inch globes were the best that could be procured. The bell, then the only one in the village was a very fine toned one, and remained in the belfry until the Academy became the property of the Providence Conference, when, being cracked, it was replaced by the one now in the south tower of the Greenwich Academy.
The first person who had charge of the Academy as principal was Abner Alden, A. M. He was a man of supe- rior qualifications as a teacher, and succeeded in establish- ing an excellent school. After conducting the school for several years, with unusual success, he suddenly left the charge of the Academy, and conducted another school at Bristol. Mr. Alden was a man of high literary attainments, and was the author of a spelling book and a reader, both standard works, and used in all the schools in Rhode Island for a number of years.
Mr. Alden's assistant was Mr. Jeremiah Chadsey, of Wickford, who was one of the best mathematicians at that time, and was employed to make the calculations for a nautical almanac.
Joseph L. Tillinghast succeeded Mr. Alden and continued as principal until 1811, when Aaron Putnam took charge of the Academy. Mr. Putnam left the school in the year 1812, and was succeeded by the Rev. Ezekiel Rich.
Mr. Rich continued the school until July, 1814, as it ap- pears from the Trustees' records in the following extract :
211
KENT ACADEMY.
" Ethan Clark, Esq., agreeable to his appointment at the last meeting, made his report verbally-that he had called on the Rev. Mr. Rich at two several times and requested to know his wishes respecting his continuing as preceptor in Kent Academy and how long; to which Mr. Rich had given him his ideas and observations in writing, which is pre- sented to this meeting directed to the Trustees of the Kent Academy under cover of seal, which on perusal, it appeared that Mr. Rich intended leaving the Academy on the first day of July next."
" Voted, That, that part of Mr. Rich's letter above re- ferred to, wherein he states his intention to leave Kent Academy on the first day of July next, is very acceptable to this board."
The next who took charge of the Academy was Mr. Jonas Underwood, in the year 1816.
EXTRACT FROM THE RECORDS OF THE YEAR 1816.
" Voted and Resolved, That Samuel King and Franklin Greene be, and they are hereby appointed and empowered a Committee to obtain and agree with a Preceptor for said Academy on such terms and conditions as they may think proper, not involving said Institution or the Proprietors in any expense unless they send to school.
" And it is hereby recommended to said Committee, not to engage any one for a longer time than until -
- unless he should be fully approved of by the Board of Trustees, but that they advertise for a Preceptor, to take charge of said Academy at the expiration of the term which they may agree, and that a man with a family will be preferred."
Who was Mr. Underwood's successor does not appear from the records, but we presume, from the following ex- tract of the year 1818, that it was a Mr. Northup :
" Voted and Resolved, That a Committee of three, con- sisting of the following persons, be appointed : Samuel King, Wanton Casey, and Franklin Greene.
" Resolved, That to the Committee our authority for the following purposes be delegated, and that they be author- ized and requested to act to the following effect :
" First, That the said Committee instruct the Treasurer, and unite with him their exertions, that the Academy be kept in good repair, and that in case of injury the same be repaired at the expense of the person causing the injury.
212
HISTORY OF EAST GREENWICH.
" Second, That the Committee, collectively and individu- ally attend at least once in the week at the Academy, and if necessary give the Preceptor the friendly and candid advice respecting the government and instruction of the Academy.
" Third, That the said Committee arrange without de- lay for a successor to Mr. Northup, on any terms which they may think beneficial to the Institution, and not involv- ing the Academy in expense, and the said Committee regu- late if necessary, the rates of tuition.
" Resolved, That the Rev. Daniel Waldo be requested to call occasionally at the Academy, to afford to the scholars of the Institution such advice and instruction as his duty as a Clergyman, and parental kindness may dictate.
" Resolved, That whereas, in the year 1815, the Trustees of the Academy placed that Institution under the care of the Rev. Mr. Waldo, subject to a yearly rent, and it was soon after discovered that Mr. Waldo could not consist- ently with his arrangements with the Missionary Society, preside over the same, and that he ceased to preside over the Academy, we agree that all claim on Mr. Waldo for the rent of the Academy be cancelled, and the same be rendered null and void.
" Resolved, That the Treasurer be requested to discon- tinue his application to Mr. Jonas Underwood for rent of the Academy and that all claims for rent of the same since 1815, be cancelled and relinquished."
Thus far it appears that the institution has not been of any pecuniary benefit to the Proprietors, but rather a con- stant bill of expense in the form of taxes on the shares for repairs, although it seems from the following extract in the year 1820, the officers' salaries could not have been very large :
" Resolved, That the Secretary's account for the sum of Three Dollars be paid to him for recording the proceedings of the Trustees from the founding of the Institution to 1820."
Only three dollars for eighteen years of service.
When I first examined the Trustees' records, several leaves of the book were absent. Afterwards they were found, which will account for the discrepancy of the dates.
213
KENT ACADEMY.
EXTRACT FROM OLD RECORD OF 1805.
" Voted, (upon application of sundry persons), That Mr. Harrington have liberty to teach a Singing School in the Academy every Saturday evening, Sunday and Sunday evening, for the term of one Quarter, commencing at this time, and that the Hall upon the lower floor be assigned for that purpose, to be under the particular care and super- intendence of the Preceptor, Mr. Alden.
" Voted, That Mr. Richard Mathewson, the Treasurer, be requested to procure immediately a tin stove pipe of sufficient length for an iron stove, to be placed in the middle of the Northwest room, upon the lower floor of the Academy, and to lead into the Chimney in the same room, and that he charge the amount thereof to the Academy, and that he also be requested to attend to the placing of the stove, as above, as soon as may be, and that he call upon Mr. William Greene for the stove, having borrowed it of him, for this winter, for that purpose."
April 15th, 1805. " Voted, That William Greene be directed to purchase a set of twenty four inch globes, for the use of the Academy, and that he call upon the Treasurer for the amount of the same."
August 24th, 1805. " Voted, That Mr. Alden be re- quested to open the upper Hall in the Academy, to be used by Mr. Carpentier, for the purpose of a dancing school, to be kept on Saturdays only, he the said Carpentier paying to the Treasurer of the Corporation fifty cents a quarter, for each scholar for the use of the Hall."
It appears that the Trustees were very willing that the Academy should be used for a dancing school, but not for religious meetings, as the following entry will show :
December 26th, 1805. " Application having been made to this meeting by Mr. Barney Greene for liberty to as- semble in the Academy, during the cold weather of the present winter for the purpose of Public Worship,
" Voted, That in the opinion of the board they are not authorized by the Charter of the Institution to give such liberty."
This shows how far bigotry will carry some people. Here was a request from a religious society for permission to hold meetings in the Academy on days when it was not used for any other purpose, yet the application was rejected
15
214
HISTORY OF EAST GREENWICH.
under the pretext that the charter of the institution would not allow it.
" Application also having been made by Mr. Nathan Whiting (at the same meeting of the Trustees) in behalf of Mr. Charles Miller that he have liberty to teach a Singing School in the Academy for one Quarter.
" Voted, That Mr. Charles Miller have liberty to teach a Singing School during said term in the Academy, provided such school shall not interfere with Mr. Alden's school hours, and also provided that Mr. Alden will superintend the said school as respects the building, to see that order be observed and that no damage be done to the House, and in case of any damage being done, that Mr. Miller be accountable."
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of Kent Academy, convened on the 30th day of October, 1807, by order of the President of the Board, in consequence of a letter from Mr. Abner Alden dated the 24th of October, 1807, directed to the Trustees of Kent Academy, intimating his intention to leave the Academy and relinquish his place as preceptor thereof, it was
" Resolved, That Ethan Clark, Esq., Mr. Stephen Arnold and William Greene, be appointed a committee to take into consideration the subject matter of Mr. Alden's letter, and that they agree with Mr. Alden or such other person as they may think proper, to take charge of the Academy as Preceptor thereof, after the expiration of the present Quar- ter, provided that Mr. Alden shall conclude to leave the Academy at that time, as contemplated by his letter."
December 4th, 1807. "The committee who were to re- port further upon Mr. Alden's answer, whether he would continue in the Academy and how long, offer the following report :
"' The committee above referred to, have received Mr. Alden's verbal answer, that he will continue as Preceptor of the Academy, until the 25th of March next, when he ex- pects to leave the town, and expects the Trustees to be gov- erned accordingly.'"
January 22d, 1808, " Resolved, That whereas Mr. Alden's last communication to the Trustees (through their commit- tee) intimating his intention to leave this Town, and relin- quish his place as Preceptor of the Academy was verbal, and they have since had no written communication inform- ing his intention, therefore resolved, that the Clerk be
215
KENT ACADEMY.
requested to write to Mr. Alden, and request his final determination in writing by two o'clock to-morrow P. M.
" Resolved, That the following be rates of Tuition for the Quarter commencing the 21st of March, 1808 :
" Reading and Spelling. . . .. .. $2 00 Reading, Writing and Spelling.2 25 Arithmetic with Book-Keep- ing .. .2 50
Latin and Greek Languages. . $3 00 Logic and Criticism .. . . ... ... 3 00
The principles of Astronomy English Grammar .. 3 00 and Geography with the use of the Globes. .3 50 Composition and Speaking. 3 00
" And it is understood that the Fifty Cents upon each . Scholar who shall study Astronomy and Geography, shall be for the use of the Globes, and shall be collected by the Preceptor and paid to the Society's Treasurer, and that the above shall be the rates of Tuition until further directions from the Trustees."
April, 1822. " It having been represented to this meet- ing that Nathan Whiting, Esq., offers to take charge of Kent Academy,
" Voted, That Nathan Whiting be, and he is hereby ap- pointed Preceptor of Kent Academy on the following terms ; said Whiting is to have the use of the Academy, free of rent, he keeping the same in repair, with the liberty of fixing his own rates of tuition, one month's Notice pre- vious to the expiration of a quarter shall be given in writ- ing by the Trustees before the removal of Mr. Whiting, and one month's Notice previous to the expiration of a quarter shall be given in writing by Mr. Whiting to the Trustees before he shall be at liberty to relinquish the Pre- ceptorship ; the Academy to be opened on Monday the 6th of June.""
Many of our readers in East Greenwich will remember this school of Mr. Whiting's. There has never been a school there before or since where the scholars enjoyed such perfect happiness as they did under the administration of Mr. Whiting. Although he was a fine classical scholar, possessing an abundance of general knowledge himself, he had very little faculty to communicate it to others. Being rather absent-minded and very unwilling to punish dis- obedience or neglect, unfair advantage of these failings was taken and enjoyed supremely. Occasionally on pleasant summer afternoons, pupils were allowed, (during school hours), to sit on the front steps of the Academy, under the pretence of studying in the open air, where they would amuse themselves in composing satirical poetry on their
216
HISTORY OF EAST GREENWICH.
teacher's eccentricities, and squibs on each other ; (and really some of that poetry was worth preserving, for al- though most of it was doggerel, a great deal worse has been published and sold). Yet in spite of all this, some learned more in certain branches of knowledge during Mr. Whiting's administration than ever before, particularly geography and general knowledge of the world. Previous to this all the information acquired was from "Morse's Geography;" which was committed to memory and then recited, but Mr. Whiting taught by using the atlas, and demonstration with the " terrestrial globe."
If space would permit, I should like to dilate still further on Mr. Whiting's natural ability as a teacher, as he was always ready to answer any question with a satisfactory explanation. It is true our ideas did not " shoot " much, according to the common acceptation of the term, but we gained a large share of animal spirits and bodily health.
The Rev. Charles Henry Alden (nephew of Abner Alden, the first preceptor) succeeded Mr. Whitney in the year 1823. The following rates of tuition, while he was precep- tor, were fixed by the Trustees, per quarter :
"Reading, Writing and Spell- Composition and Speaking .... $3 50 ing ... . $2 50 Arithmetic, English Grammar Mathematics, Logic, Geogra- phy, Astronomy. 4 00 Latin and Greek. 5 00
and Book-Keeping .. ...
. 3 00 1
According to this, the price of tuition had not increased much during twenty years.
From the records, May, 1824 : "The members of King Solomon's Lodge (Masons) made application to the Trus- tees for two rooms in the Academy to be by them occupied for the accommodation of the said lodge, and to know the best terms upon which they can have it.
" Resolved, That (if said Lodge assent thereto) they may have the exclusive privilege to occupy the South-West Chamber in said building, and occasionally may occupy the Hall Chamber, whenever they may desire the same for their public Meetings, for which privileges they are to pay the Treasurer of this Institution the sum of Five Dollars yearly, so long as they shall occupy the same, and if the Lodge choose to put Venetian blinds to the windows of said Chamber, they shall be remunerated that expense out of the rents to be by them paid. Said lodge are to keep the part of the building they use in repair, and if those rooms shall hereafter be needed for the accommodations of the school,
217
KENT ACADEMY.
the lodge is to deliver up the same at any time after being duly notified thereof by the Trustees aforesaid, without charging the Academy with any expense for blinds, or re- pairs made farther than the same shall have been paid for by the rents."
The Rev. Charles Henry Alden was preceptor until May, 1825, when the Rev. Mr. Coleman took charge of the Academy for one year, and was succeeded by Christopher Robinson, May, 1826.
From 1825 to 1820 there is no record, but in December, 1831, a special meeting was called and the following min- utes were entered on the record book :
" December 7th, 1831. Wanton Casey, Esq., in the Chair. Whereas, An application was made to the Trustees, by Mr. Penuel Corbett, of Bristol, R. I. to take the Preceptorship of said Academy upon such terms as might be agreed upon between the Trustees and the said Corbett.
" Resolved, That the said Penuel Corbett, be and he hereby is constituted and appointed Preceptor thereof, and that he commence his school, for the First Quarter, on Monday, December 12th, and it was further resolved by said Trustees that the said Preceptor have said Academy free of rent for the first Quarter, and if he should remain longer as Preceptor thereof, that he shall pay to the Treasurer of said Corporation the sum of $20.00 per year, or Five Dollars per Quarter for each and every Quarter afterward."
Mr. Corbett left the institution November, 1832, and Mr. Christopher Robinson took charge of it as preceptor in December, 1832, at the request of some of the Trustees, and continued it until March, 1833.
" At a special meeting of the Trustees, November 26th, 1832, Wanton Casey, Esq., being called to the Chair, a communication from Professor George W. Greene was re- ceived and read, proposing to take the Preceptorship of the Academy, and wishing sundry repairs to be made."
It appears by the records that Professor Greene soon after abandoned the plan he had formed for establishing a school of a high order, and returned to Europe, where he resided for seventeen years, ten as United States. Con- sul at Rome. Professor Greene, after his second re- turn from Europe, was appointed teacher of modern lan- guages in Brown University, which he retained for several years, and then received the appointment of Lecturer of
218
HISTORY OF EAST GREENWICH.
United States History at Cornell University, which he re- tained as long as his health would admit. He is now living in retirement at East Greenwich, still engaged in literary pursuits, and where he has written and published a number of the most valuable and interesting books on American history.
The next preceptor was Joseph Harrington, who took charge of the institution in the year 1833, and held it one year. He was succeeded by Joshua O. Coburn, who took possession March 17th, 1834, and left April 4th, 1835.
August, 1835. " Whereas, An application having been made by Thomas P. Rodman, of Newport, to the present Board of Trustees, to become a Teacher in the Academy, and having produced such testimonials of his qualifications as were necessary to said board, it is therefore resolved that the said Thomas P. Rodman be, and he is hereby ap- pointed Preceptor of the said Institution."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.