USA > Rhode Island > Bristol County > Bristol > Sketches of old Bristol > Part 15
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July 16-To several places. Dined with Capt. Charles D'Wolf. Joseph Diman and Wm. Wood begin to mow my ten acre lot. July 17-Fair. Am making hay with brothers Job and John. July 21-The inhabitants of this town are using their utmost efforts to prepare their rareripe onions for the market, and I find that 16,000 bunches have been sent out of town this week. Aug. 6-Deacons Diman, Wardwell and Munro, with Capt. Reynolds meet at my house, when the latter brought some trifling charges against me, at last charged me with preaching the late Mr. Burt's sermons. I then demanded of him to prove it, but at it was late, we adjourned to some future time. He is the strangest man I ever met in my life.
Aug. 22-Very hot. The General Assembly collect here this day for some secret and unaccountable reason, but disperse with- out doing any business.
Aug. 26-The Society begins to raise my house.
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Sept. 2-Sunday, cool. To Church. Preached. Read a letter missive from the church in Little Compton to the church in Bristol, for assistance on the 19th. Jeremiah Finney and Deacon Munro were chosen to attend the pastor on that occasion.
Sept. 7-In the evening the church met at my house with Capt. Reynolds who said he could not support his charge of Aug. 6. After looking up to God by prayer, I then declared to him positively that I had never preached one of Mr. Burt's sermons. He said he was satisfied with my declaration and acknowledged that through a deep rooted prejudice he had been mistaken. He then said if I have injured your character, I am sorry for it. My answer was: I can freely forgive you. We then took each other by the hand, and finally settled all differences. We then sang a hymn and separated to our lodgings.
Sept. 17-Monday. Cool. Am preparing to journey to Little Compton to an ordination.
Sept. 18-Up early. Set out at 9 o'clock with Mrs. Amarantia Munro (my housekeeper), Dea. Munro and brother Job, over Bristol and Howland ferries, to Abraham Brown's, where we . dined; found there the Rev. Ephraim Judson and wife, and John Smith and wife.
P.M .- Rode to Little Compton to Col. Nath'l Church's; to Dea. Taylor's; to Capt. George Simmons'; there met an Eccle- siastical Council. Examined the candidate, Mr. Mace Shepard; gave the parts to the several gentlemen and at 8 o'clock ad- journed the council until tomorrow, 9 o'clock; then rode with Mr. Smith to Col. Wm. Richmond's; supped and lodged.
Sept. 19-Cloudy, strong south wind, likely to rain. To Widow Palmer's. Mrs. Amarantia dressed my hair. To Sam'l Gray's. To the council. 10 o'clock-it begins to rain fast. Rev. Mr. Hitchcock and Dea. Green came. At II o'clock, we rode to the meeting house where I had the honor to begin the solemnities of the ordination with prayer; then sang. Rev. Ephraim Judson preached the sermon. Mr. Smith the ordaining prayer at the laying on of hands. Mr. Hopkins gave the charge; Mr. Patten the right hand of fellowship; Mr. Judson, 2nd, the concluding
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prayer; then closed with singing. The audience observed great decorum and attention. The storm is violent with wind and rain. We all repaired to the council house where I saw Dr. John Haskins and a Mr. Stone of Boston. We dined; a social time with the ladies and gentlemen. At 5 o'clock, rode to our lodgings with Mr. Hitchcock very fast as the storm increased. Spent an agreeable evening at Col. Richmond's. Supped on tautog, coffee, etc. 12 o'clock-to bed; slept poorly. A dreadful storm. O Lord, have mercy on the poor seamen.
Sept. 20-Cloudy, wind southwest. To Mrs. Palmer's. Mrs. Munro dressed my hair. To Col. Church's; to Esq. Simmon's; dined at Col. Church's with Mr. Patten. P.M .- to lecture house. Mr. Hitchcock preached.
Sept. 21-After breakfast took my horse and proceeded to Bristol.
Sept. 28-Thomas Waldron took me in his small cedar boat to the Island of Patience where I dined with Mr. Slocum. We then proceeded to East Greenwich to Judge Mumford's and drank tea. To William Green, 2nd, and lodged.
Sept. 30-At 10 o'clock to the Court House, preached. P.M .- preached.
Oct. I-I o'clock, set out for Bristol. To Patience Island in 1 1/4 hours, from there to Bristol, I h. 26 m. A brisk wind; some wet in the boat coming home. Am reading Dr. Channing on Universal Salvation.
Oct. 5-My carpenters go on well. Capt. Josiah Wardwell returns from Jamaica in 32 days.
Oct. 7-To church. Administered the Sacrament. P.M .- Heard brother Job Wight preach for the first time. He per- formed exceedingly well. Am reading Dr. Mayhew on Justi- fication. A heavy frost tonight.
Oct. 20-Rode to Little Compton, to preach the next day. Met Miss Alice Burnington (who became his wife) for the first time. Oct. 18-To Stephen Wardwell's and married Mr. Elisha May to Miss Hannah Wardwell.
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Oct. 31-My grandmother Wight died, aged 103 years-born in 1684.
Nov. 25-Married Thomas West and Catherine Manning.
Nov. 29-We kept Thanksgiving. I preached from Psalms 99:1. Mrs. Burt, Widow Bennett Munro and Anna McCarty dined with us.
Dec. 3-At the new house all day. Wm. Cary plasters my kitchen.
Dec. II-Wm. Easterbrooks killed my hog which weighed 350 lbs. Mrs. Amarantia Munro is not well and seems affronted with me (probably on account of his frequent visits to Tiverton to see Miss Burnington).
Dec. 25-To church to hear Mr. John Usher preach a Christmas sermon from John 3:19. Dined with him. Evening, to Capt. Chas. D'Wolf's.
Dec. 26-Rode to Swansea with Col. Patten. P.M .- About some ministerial land in Swansea belonging to the Congrega- tional interest; now in the hands of the Quakers.
Dec. 28-Hall, my carpenter, finishes work on my house, but in a most shocking manner.
Dec. 30-Am packing my things to move tomorrow, (God willing).
Dec. 31-With the assistance of Jonathan Diman, Benj. Ward- well, John Howland, Benj. Norris, Jonathan Russell, Newton Waldron, man, horse and cart, I move my household furniture, etc., from Jonathan Diman's to the new Parish House belong- ing to the C. C. Society. Lodged in my house for the first time. My family consists of myself; Mrs. Amarantia Munro, my housekeeper, her daughter Hannah; and John, my servant boy. Evening-After having read the 26th chapter of Scriptures and blessed God for the goodness of his Providence the year past, for providing me so comfortably an habitation, etc., I re- tired to rest and slept sweetly under the shadow of God Al- mighty's wing. Twenty-five persons died in Bristol in 1787.
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THE MIDDLE DISTRICT SCHOOL
Address by Charles O. F. Thompson at Taft School Club Meeting, Oct. 9, 1941
MR. CHAIRMAN, Members of the Taft School Club, and guests-assembled here tonight to commemorate the one hun- dredth anniversary of this historic old schoolhouse:
First-I want to thank the Committee for their kind invita- tion to take part in these exercises-and to congratulate them on the fine work they have done.
This old Middle District School, as it was called for so many years, has always been of interest to me. Although born and brought up in that part of our town where one is known as a "downtowner," there is, nevertheless, a tender spot within my heart for this old school-for, years ago, back in the 18 50-60's, my father, his several brothers, and their only sister, my dear aunt, Mary Ella, all attended this very school. At that time my grandfather, Capt. Joseph Stanton Thompson, one of the lead- ing shipbuilders of those days, lived in, and, I think, owned the Sam Drury Wardwell house on the corner of Poppasquash Road and Hope street-so, quite naturally, the Thompson tribe all trooped up the Neck road, day after day, to school.
At the time this schoolhouse was erected, John Tyler was the president of our 65 year young republic. The years 1841-42 were stirring times, for those were the days of political giants- when such men as John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, and many other famed men were making history in the halls of our Congress at Washington.
At this time a few words about the people, who 100 years ago were shaping the affairs of this village, should not be out of place. One hundred years as measured by the average span of life, called a generation, is a long time, and many generations have come and gone since this old schoolhouse was erected.
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The school committee for the year 1841 was made up as follows: The Reverend Doctor Thomas Shepard, pastor of the Congregational Church, was Chairman of that body; Dr. Shep- ard was a man always interested in the education and welfare of the youth of those days. William Throop was the Secretary of the committee; "Judge" Throop was also the efficient Town Clerk at that time. The other members were: John Howe; "Squire" Howe, as he was called, who was a lawyer and repre- sented Bristol in the State Legislature for many years. He was the father of the late Bishop Howe. Peter Church, Samuel Bradford, Stillman Welch, John Gray, Wm. B. Tilley, Samuel White, Daniel Lindsey, and Wm. H. S. Bayley; the last named was Proprietor and Editor of our local sheet the "Phenix"; he was also one of the successful auctioneers of those days.
The boys and girls who attended this school 100 years ago knew most of the folks in the village, as it was then called, when the population was around 3500 souls. Senator James D'Wolf, the town's leading and most interesting citizen, who lived up at the "Mount", had just died a few years since; his son, Wm. Henry, was living in the big house on Hope street, the Linden Place, as we know it. The good Dr. Shepard had arrived in the village a few years before to take charge of the Congregational flock which was a very important factor in the village in those days. His church stood in the middle of Brad- ford street at that time. The old banker, Robert Rogers, who lived over on Poppasquash was driving over to the village every day to look after his shipping interests and to keep a watchful eye on the doings of his small bank; this was the Eagle Bank which used to carry on its banking business in the north room of the old Cushman house which was on the site of the Has- brouck Block, on Hope street. The old banker was piling up his wealth with constant regularity, for when he died in 1870, he left an estate of over $ 1,300,000. A tidy sum for those days!
Old Henry D'Wolf was living up on the Neck, a short dis- tance above this schoolhouse, in the old farmhouse on the west side of the road, that formerly belonged to his father, William,
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one of Mark Anthony's illustrious sons. The old landmark was torn down in 1890. Governor Byron Diman, always an im- portant personage in the community, was still looking after the many business interests of the D'Wolfs.
Back in the year 18 1 I the village was divided into three school districts, stretching from shore to shore. The North District extended from Peck's Hill to Warren. The Middle District began at Peck's Hill and extended to Poppasquash Corner and included Poppasquash. The South District comprised the re- mainder of the town.
Now just a few words about the original Middle District schoolhouse that stood some distance up the road to the north of this building. It was a small brick structure 22 feet by 20, and according to the old records, it was erected in 1802 by private subscription and was in use up to the year 1841. Many people still living remember the pile of old bricks by the side of the road that marked its site.
The first we learn about the old schoolhouse where we are gathered tonight is from the records of the town meeting held April 21, 1841, called the "Annual April Town Meeting", to distinguish it from the many special town meetings held throughout the year. What do you think was the cost of this building? At that time the freemen voted that a sum not ex- ceeding $ 500, be appropriated for the erection of a schoolhouse in the Middle District, on the Neck, in place of the present brick schoolhouse which is unfit for use. This old schoolhouse has not always been over here on the east side of the road; for more than 70 years it was located directly across the road, at the south- east corner of the graveyard; the jog in the wall shows the original site. At the time the Colt Drive was opened in 1913, the building was moved across to its present site. Years ago when they cut an opening in the side of the building to make an entrance for the fire truck of the Defiance Engine and Hose Co. which was quartered there, they found some of the seaweed in between the walls that had been put there, to keep out the cold weather, when the building was erected.
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Now a word about the old-time schoolmaster whose name the school now bears: Putman W. Taft was born in the year 1821; he died in 1915 at the advanced age of 93 years, 5 months. At the early age of 17 years, he began teaching school. Later he attended Worcester Academy. He taught in this Middle Dis- trict School for seven years, 1856-63. He then returned to his home town, Mendon, Mass. In 1885 he returned to Bristol, at the urgent request of the then superintendent of schools, John Post Reynolds, and resumed his old position as schoolmaster of the school he left so many years before. He taught here six more years, from 1885 to 1891. During the time he and his wife had rooms in Mr. Reynolds' house.
You will be interested to learn as to how the school got its name, Taft School. September, 1910, the school committee voted to change the name from Middle District School to Taft School in memory of Putnam W. Taft, a former master, who was a direct descendant of Robert Taft, an early settler of Bristol. The old-time schoolmaster has been pictured as a stern, gruff individual who ruled his little flock with a three-foot ferule. Not so with dominie Taft. One who years ago attended this school at the time of his return to Bristol for a second term has pictured him as a fine old man, gentle of manner, and gentle of speech, who ruled and taught the pupils by the spirit of endearment. A study of the portrait hanging in this hall shows a kindly and sympathetic face, radiating friendliness and under- standing. Mrs. John Post Reynolds, who knew him well years ago writes: "Mr. Taft taught my husband when he was a young boy, and because he was such a good teacher of mathematics, years later, when my husband became superintendent of schools, and there was a vacancy at the Neck School, he asked Mr. Taft to return and teach the next generation."
Miss Helen Taft, a daughter of the old schoolmaster, has written me a very interesting letter and I should like to read a few excerpts from it. "Some of the pupils who attended my father's school back in the years 1856-1863, as I remember, were Charles Pitman and sisters, Susan Peck (Mrs. Robert N.
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Turner) and sisters Lizzie and Helen, George and Rebecca Peckham, Fitz Monroe, Isaiah B. White, Robert N. Church, Charles and Eddie Lindsey, Joe, Ella, Manton, William, and Frank Thompson; a younger brother, Charlie Hall, was prob- ably under school age; John Gray, John Post Reynolds, Sarah and Emily Manchester. There were three Honeywell sisters, May, Josephine, and Kate, but I am not sure that they were in that district."
If one had traveled the Neck road during the summer of 1841 he would have heard the ring of carpenters' hammers as the frame-work began to take shape. The schoolboys of that time, those living on the Neck, who soon were to spend many long hours within its walls, were no doubt the ones most interested. The construction was going on during all that summer, for at a Special Town Meeting held the last of October :- "Peter Church and John Gray were appointed a committee to cause a suitable fence to be erected in front of the new schoolhouse on the Neck." Things had been going very nicely-for on December 4th the School Committee, among other things, had this to say :- "The Committee has visited the two schools on the Neck and are happy to find them in successful operation for the winter term. The Middle District scholars have entered their new house and number 73. The location is most delightful (backed up against a graveyard and a couple of cheerful-looking receiving vaults- it must have been) it does honor to the town."
We have been fortunate in locating some of the old records of the early days of the school, which are most authentic; they give us the very thing we wanted most, a record from year to year of the teachers who were connected with the school from the year 1841 to date. This one from the first day the school opened so many years ago, although brief, is interesting.
"Report of the Middle District School for the school year
1841-42 :-
Teachers-6 months by Miss E. Church-average attendance for summer term, 39-5 months by Mr. Nelson B. Tanner- average attendance for winter term, 75." It would seem that
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Miss Church's term of 6 months was for the summer period in the old Brick School that we just mentioned; then, when the new school opened in December, 1841, Mr. Tanner assumed his duties and was accordingly the first schoolmaster of this school.
Evidently there was only one floor in use, the pupils young and older were all on one floor, in one room. What floor we do not know. We do know that years later there were two schools -upper and lower grades-and consequently two teachers, and both floors in use. In those days they had a woman teacher during the summer months when the younger pupils were in the majority. During the winter months when the older boys could be spared from the farms they employed a man teacher. Oft- times the schoolmaster was younger and of smaller stature than many of the husky farm lads who came in for the winter months. This state of affairs often resulted in very serious complications -for the young schoolmaster.
Now more about the report: "The subjects taught were reading, writing, spelling, geography, arithmetic, history, gram- mar, and philosophy. The school was visited by the committee four times and faithfully examined in the several studies above mentioned. The new schoolhouse is capable of accommodating 90 scholars. The committee is pleased with the increased attend- ance during the winter term since the new school was occupied."
The amount paid out that year for the ten teachers in the entire village, employed part or whole time, was $1632. For books and stationery-$477.89.
Mr. Tanner was still connected with the school in 1842, 43, and 44. For his services, teaching ten months of the year, he received $250. The school report for 1844-45 concerning the Middle District School was not so rosy. Schoolmaster Tanner was having his troubles. The attendance for the nine months had fallen off. The average summer attendance was 48 and for winter 54. Listen to what the school committee had to say: "The school, we regret to report, has not succeeded so well during the past winter as in former years. A spirit of insub- ordination has manifested itself among the older scholars."
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Since assuming his duties in the new school, Mr. Tanner was teaching both terms, summer and winter. Evidently they had done away with women teachers during the summer term, at least for this school.
Through the kindness and interest of our Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Mapes, we have been able to present, tonight, a complete list of the teachers connected with this school from the year 1841 to date:
Nelson B. Tanner 1841-1847
Virgil O. Hardin 1869-1876
John C. Rich
1847-1856
Henry C. Sayles 1876-1881
Putnam W. Taft
1856-1863
L. L. Anderstrom 1882-1883
Charles H. Fay 1863-1864
Charronton H. Baker
1883-1884
John A. Arnold
1864-1865
William Valentine
1884-1885
William E. Thompson 1865-1867
Putnam W. Taft 1885-1891
Ellery W. Greene
1867-1869
Juliette E. Coggeshall
1891-1917
Annie M. Tobin
1918-
Assistants
Mary Usher 1855 Winter Term Helen L. Peck
1859 Winter Term
Alice Franklin 1858 Winter Term Emily C. Waldron 1871 Winter Term
Harriett L. Coggeshall 1881-1882 Gertrude E. Church 1884-1895
And now just a word before bringing this account of the old schoolhouse to a close about the present incumbent, Miss Annie M. Tobin. Miss Tobin has been teaching at this school for nearly a quarter of a century; she is very fond of her little charges and in turn is dearly loved. Such a record, teaching for nearly a quarter of a century, could spell only one word-efficiency!
THE TOWN WATCH YEARS AGO
REGULAR police were employed in the ancient city of Babylon 2000 years B.C., and the city of Rome had a large police force, and arrests for reveling and drunkenness were quite as common as in these days.
The London police force was first instituted in 1253. In 1556, bellmen were appointed in that city to ring a bell each night in every street, and cry.out: "Take care of your fires and
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pray for the dead." In many places in the country the night watch were obliged to make some kind of a call in the night and were especially required to give a call at stated hours near the residence of the mayor or chief magistrate of a town in order that he might be aware that they were attending to duty, giving the hour of the night, the state of the weather and the course of the wind.
This was also common in Bristol, half a century ago, when the watchmen might be heard in the dead hours of the night or the advancing morn, giving three taps on the stone flagging or walks, and crying out: "Half past two o'clock, wind northeast, rainy morning, and all is well!" Simon Davis, now past and gone, in those days was one of the night watch. His headstone, marking his last resting place, may still be seen as you pass along by the East Burial Ground, on Wood street. It reads-
Simon Davis Died-1852 Age-53 years
He had a stentorian voice and the writer, when a young lad, has often heard him give that call. In those times there were no day police force. .
Thomas Waldron, familiarly known as "Uncle Tom", was Simon's partner, one patrolling the upper section of the town, and one the lower; both were considered faithful guardians of the night, and of the town's property; both of them were large and stalwart men."
June 1 - 1848 REGULATIONS FOR TOWN WATCH
I-There shall be only 4 Watchmen engaged the coming season, who shall be employed alternately, that is to say, 2 each night in succession.
2-The watch shall repair each night, at 9 o'clock to the watch House or place of meeting, assigned them, which shall be closed at IO o'clock, and no visitors or interloper shall be afterwards
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admitted. One of them shall take charge of the compact part of the town, South of State street and the other of the part North of State street.
3-The whole of the compact part of the town, from Thames street to High street and from Oliver street to Union street, shall be patrolled, once every hour, from 9 o'clock in the eve- ning to daybreak the next morning, by one of said watch, who shall occasionally, during his patrol distinctly announce as he passes along the streets, the time of night.
4-No watchman during the time he shall be on duty, shall lay down to repose himself, and in case he shall be found asleep, during his watch, he shall forfeit five dollars, to be deducted from his pay, and be forthwith discharged.
5-Each watchman, before entering upon the duties of his place, shall take the oath prescribed for other town officers, and among other things, it shall be his duty to report to the town clerk or one of the town council, each morning, the name of any and every person whom he may have found, during his watch, committing any disturbance, theft or other depredations upon property or violating any of the bye laws of the town, and in case of his neglect to make such report he shall be forthwith discharged from his place and forfeit all his compensation as a watchman.
6-The town Council will designate at the solicitation of the watchmen, to which of the above divisions of the town each shall be assigned in order that the inhabitants may know to whom to impute any neglect of duty.
By order of Town Council Peter Gladding, Town Clerk
One writer, years ago, telling about the town watch when he was a boy said: "The town had one night watchman who slept most of the night in or around the King Philip engine house, which was then on State street, and sometimes, after a good nap he would wake about 2 a.m. and emerge from the engine house and commence the usual cry: "I r o'clock, all's well, wind south- east."
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1841-The freemen, in town meeting assembled, did not like the way the town watch were conducting themselves, so they voted that: "The committee on the Town Watch to instruct the Watch not to smoke segars or tobacco on the streets while on duty."
THE OLD GRAVEYARD on the Southeast Corner of the Common
IN 1850 the southeast corner of the Common was an old grave- yard, surrounded by a roughly built stone wall on three sides. On the east side there was a wooden fence. The graveyard was part of our playground. I do remember it as having been used for burials, and I was a scholar in the "old brick" about 1841. Most of the stones were of the old slate period, with angel heads, hour glasses, Father Time, etc., cut upon them. On the north side, near the east end stood an ancient willow, how old the tree was no one could tell. There was an old story that once upon a time a young school boy had fallen from its upper branches and been instantly killed. We considered this sad tale as only legendary until one day we found among the dead leaves and grass an old headstone, and there clear cut and well preserved was the complete story that happened years back; the old willow, and between the branches and Mother Earth was the falling boy, clinging to the broken branch. There were words on the old blackened stone, I have forgotten them, but I have seen many times in my memory the picture on the head- stone.
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