History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911, Part 36

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company
Number of Pages: 1280

USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Royalton > History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911 > Part 36

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).

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CHAPTER XX.

ROYALTON ACADEMY.

No one in looking over the old records of the town can fail to admire the perseverance, and appreciation of the higher things of life, that the early residents of Royalton manifested. No matter if they could not spell, if some of the most active and energetic citizens could not even write their own names, they meant to furnish their children with the opportunities which they had lacked. So we find as early as Nov. 19, 1782, that the town at a special meeting appointed Lieut. Stevens, John Hib- bard, and Lieut. Calvin Parkhurst, a committee to draw a sub- scription paper in order to promote a "greamary" school. They had not yet recovered from the devastation of 1780, but they would not neglect the education of their youth. No doubt it was the few, as it always is, who were most anxious to promote the higher interests of the town, and in this work, we may be sure, our old friend, Zebulon Lyon, was one of the prime movers.

If this movement was for the purpose of securing an act of the Legislature establishing a County Grammar school in Roy- alton, it must have failed, as Norwich secured the school by legislative action, June 14, 1785. It is more probable that the intent was simply to obtain advanced instruction for the young men and maidens of the town. Who the early instructors were in this school we do not know. It is possible that some citizen of the town served in this way. Norwich had to resort to a lot- tery to carry on her school. Probably we shall never know the struggles of the infant town to maintain its "greamary" school during the next twenty years.

At the March meeting in 1802 the town was called on to act on the question, whether it would allow an academy on the com- mon or not, and the vote recorded is, "Voted not to suffer an academy to be set up on the meeting house Green." It does not follow that the sentiment was inimical to an academy, but rather that they were jealous of the rights which they had in the "Green," and were fearful of violating the conditions on which the common had been given to the town. At any rate, they had their academy somewhere, for the records of Middle-

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HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

bury college show, that, in the year 1803-4, Walter Chapin was principal of Royalton Academy.

He had just graduated, and was twenty-four years old, hav- ing been born Jan. 15, 1779, in West Springfield, Mass., the son of Austin and Bathsheba (Cooper) Chapin. He united with the church in Royalton, Aug. 19, 1804. From his work in the academy he went to Middlebury college as tutor for a year. He studied theology with Rev. Martin Tullar, probably during the year that he was principal of the academy. He acted as mis- sionary for a time, then settled as pastor of the Congregational church in Woodstock, where he died July 22, 1827. He married Hannah Moshier, Mar. 7, 1813, by whom he had eight children.

If the salary of the principal depended on the tuition of students, it could not have been very tempting to a college graduate. The town, however, already had one or more lawyers of repute, well qualified to instruct law students, and its clergy- men, also, were equally well fitted to instruct in theology. Few men in those days made teaching a profession. It was rather a stepping stone to some other profession, and so the academy was able to draw men of brilliant parts, and of sterling worth, to teach within its walls, who were glad of the opportunity of earning something while they fitted for their life work.

When the town was chartered by Vermont, one right had been set apart for the use of county grammar schools. The legislature on Oct. 27, 1795, passed an act to enable selectmen to lease the county grammar school lands. In 1806 this article was inserted in the warning for the March meeting: "To see if the town will appropriate the school lands in said Town to the support of a grammar school in the Scenter District in said Town." They voted "No" on this question. The "school lands" may have been meant to include all the school lands, and not the grammar school lands alone. Be that as it may, the next year the town obtained from the legislature a charter, establish- ing a county grammar school by name of Royalton Academy. The act was passed Nov. 11, 1807, and reads as follows :

"Nov. 11, 1807. An Act establishing a County Grammar School at Royalton, in the county of Windsor.

Sec. 1. It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont, That there be, and hereby is a County Grammar School instituted and established in such place, in the township of Royalton in the county of Windsor, as the trustees herein named shall think most convenient for the purpose, to be known and designated, by the name and style of Royalton Academy.

Sec. 2. And it is hereby further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That the Rev. Martin Tullar, the Rev. Samuel Bascom, Zebulon Lyon, Jacob Smith, Joseph Fessenden, Daniel Rix, Jun., Thomas Freeman, Jun., Nehemiah Noble, and Rodolphus Dewey, and their successors, shall at all times hereafter form and constitute the board of trustees, for the said institution, and be known by the name and style of Royal-

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HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

ton Academy: And the said trustees and their successors in office, are hereby declared, constituted, ordained and appointed, a body corporate and politic, to all intents, in name and fact; shall have full power to take by gift, grant, purchase or devise, any estate, either real or per- sonal, for the use of said Academy, and are hereby fully empowered to hold, and lease the lands lying in the town of Royalton, and the sec- ond division lot in Rochester, in the county of Windsor, granted for the use and benefit of County Grammar Schools, and by themselves or their attornies, to institute, maintain, and defend any suit or suits which may or shall be sued, prosecuted or impleaded, either in law or equity, for the recovery, or defence of any of the rights, or property of said Academy as they shall find necessary. Provided, That whenever any other grammar school or schools, may be incorporated in said county, the net proceeds or avails of said lands, shall be subject to such division, among all the grammar schools in said county, as any future legislature shall direct.

Sec. 3. And it is hereby further enacted, That the first meeting of said trustees shall be holden at the house of David Waller, in Royalton, aforesaid, on the first Monday of January next. And the said trustees, when met, (a majority of whom shall constitute a quorum) may appoint a president, and other necessary officers of said corporation, which president and other officers, shall thereafter be elected on the first Monday of January annually, agree upon the manner of warning future meetings of the corporation, determine the manner of filling future vacancies, which may happen by the removal, resignation or death of trustees, and transact such business, and agree upon and enact such rules and bye-laws, as they shall judge necessary, for the well being, ordering and governing the affairs of said corpora- tion. Provided, that such rules and bye-laws, shall not be contrary to the constitution, and laws of this State.

Passed Nov. 11, 1807.

Attest-

A true copy. Thomas Leverett, Sec'y."

Who the principals of the academy were from 1804 to 1810 has not been ascertained. In the latter year Grant Powers was engaged. He had graduated from Dartmouth that year. In the "Washingtonian" printed at Windsor, under date of Sep. 3, 1810, he informs the public, that the academy will be opened on the 17th inst. under the care of John Wild, whom he has obtained to teach until his health shall be restored, which he hopes will be in a few weeks. Tuition was set at $2.00 per quar- ter, and no student was to be admitted until he had paid four shillings in advance.

Mr. Powers was born May 31, 1784, in Hollis, N. H. He became pastor of a church in Haverhill in 1815, and two years later he married Eliza H. Hopkins of Thetford. He removed to Goshen, Conn., in 1829, and died Apr. 10, 1841. He was the author of "Historical Sketches - . - in the Coos Country," a work of much interest and value to historians. This was pub- lished the year he died, and is now quite rare.

Mr. Powers was succeeded by David Pierce. He was the son of David Pierce, and was born Mar. 26, 1786, in Southboro, Mass. He had fitted for college at Randolph Academy, and

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HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

graduated at Dartmouth in 1811. He was Principal of Royal- ton Academy the year following, 1811-12. He then went to Woodstock to study law with Charles Marsh. He taught there while studying, and was admitted to the bar in 1816. He began practice in Woodstock in 1823. He married Ruth Downer of Sharon, and had four children. After her death he married Mary S. Gardner of Brighton, Mass. In 1836 he was chosen Justice of the Court of Common Pleas. He died Aug. 16, 1872, an honored citizen.

The next principal of whom there is any record was Re- membrance Chamberlain, a son of Remembrance and Elizabeth (Elliott) Chamberlain. He was born in Newbury, Dec. 2, 1789. He graduated from Middlebury in 1814. A letter from him dated Cavendish, June 12, 1815, and addressed to Col. Stafford Smith, says: "I shall be in Royalton to begin school the fourth Monday in August. It was mutually agreed when the bargain was stated that, if after a fair trial, the school should not be profitable, I should be released from my engagements." The school seems at this time to have been in an unpromising condi- tion. How well he succeeded is not known, but he was in Prince- ton Theo. Sem. in 1816, so that his term of service could not have been more than one year.

According to tradition Zebulon Lyon furnished the building for the use of the academy, but it was not conveyed to the Cor- poration until Mar. 14, 1815. Its location is described as being on the north side of White River Turnpike road, a few rods west of where Dr. Henry Ingersoll lived. Permission was given to move the building on to the common, if they saw fit. The condi- tions of the gift were, that a school should be kept nine months in a year or eighteen months in two successive years, and it was not to be a "Woman's school nor a common District School." The building was probably moved, as a subscription was circu- lated for that purpose, dated June 20, 1815. This shows $66.00 raised in money and $6.20 given in work. S. D. and P. Graves lead off with $20, followed by Stafford Smith, Lorraine Terry, Moses Cutter, John Marshall, I. C. Weymouth, William Snow, Henry Ingersoll, Luther Blodgett, Orlando Cutter, Eben. Park- hurst, Jr., J. D. Throop, Charles F. Reed, Abijah Speed, Solomon Wheeler, Eben. Speed, William Reed, Eben. Pierce, and J. Ly- man.

July 19, 1816, the committee hired William Arms Chapin for one year. He was to provide wood for the school, and his own board, and to receive $100 and the tuition of pupils at $2 . per quarter, the trustees to guarantee board and accommodations to all who should apply. Mr. Chapin had just taken an A. M. degree from Dartmouth. He was born in Newport, N. H., Mar.

M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH ROYALTON.

ROYALTON ACADEMY, CHARTERED 1807. BUILT AS AN M. E. CHURCH IN 1839.

OLD SCHOOLHOUSE IN DISTRICT 17. SOUTH ROYALTON GRADED SCHOOL BUILDING.

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HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

1, 1791. He taught in the academy only one year, and later entered the ministry. He died at Greensboro, Nov. 27, 1850.

Joseph Tracy, Jr., wrote from Hartford to Col. Stafford Smith, under date of Apr. 15, 1817, "I intend to see you by the first of next week. If you are anxious for a school and suited with the candidate, I think we shall have no difficulty in making a contract." Rufus Nutting of Randolph, a week before, had written of Mr. Tracy to Col. Smith, "I know him to be one of the best linguists and classical scholars in general who have been this number of years at Dartmouth college. His moral char- acter is unblemished ;- and I doubt not, that if you offer him a sufficient consideration to induce him to tarry with you, you will find him to be-not a fine gentleman, nor a showy pedagogue, but a useful instructor."

An unusual interest attaches to Mr. Tracy, for he not only taught successfully, but won one of Royalton's fair maidens, Elea- nor, daughter of Rev. Azel Washburn. He studied law with Jacob Collamer, and theology with Rev. Asa Burton of Thetford. He preached six years at West Fairlee and Post Mills, then he was chosen by the Vermont State Convention as editor of the Ver- mont Chronicle, which position he held for six years. He then exchanged with his brother, E. C. Tracy, and became editor of the Boston Recorder, and later, of the New York Observer. His last and main work was that of Secretary of the Mass. Coloniza- tion Society.

He took an A. M. degree from Dartmouth, and was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity. In 1859 the U. V. M. con- ferred upon him the degree of D. D. Dr. Tracy was a writer as well, and published several works, among them, "The Great Awakening," "The History of Missions of the American Board," and "The Half Century Memorial of the American Colonization Society." In 1858 he was constituted a director of this society at Washington. At his funeral it was said of him in relation to colonization work, "His judgment was very much depended on by his associates, and his constructive mind was of great service in founding the College at Liberia, and carrying it into successful operation."

It was fortunate for the academy, that in its early years it had such strong, true, talented men as instructors, even though changes were frequent. Dr. Tracy remained two years.

During his incumbency the prospects for the academy grew brighter. We know from the Hon. Jacob Collamer's eulogy upon Zebulon Lyon, that Mr. Lyon was untiring in his efforts to place the academy upon a sure footing. On April 21, 1817, he deeded to the Royalton Academy Corporation No. 64 in the Second Di- vision and No. 22 in the Third Division of Pomfret lands. The

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HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

rents were to be used for the free tuition of young men of piety and ability, proposing to fit for the ministry, who should bring a note of recommendation from the Royalton Association of Min- isters. If not enough applicants should take advantage of the fund, it was to be used for the general benefit of said institution. The next year Mr. Lyon conveyed to the same Corporation 100 acres in W. 14 L. A., with like conditions as in his deed of Pom- fret land. It may be stated here that Daniel Francis is the only applicant on record as having taken advantage of the generosity of Mr. Lyon. He presented a certificate, as required, from the Royalton Association of Ministers, Feb. 9, 1820, testifying to his fitness for studying for the ministry.

In the fall of 1817 a special effort was made to secure sub- scriptions for enlarging the funds of the academy. The sub- scribers agreed to pay (annually) the sums affixed to their names, "so long as the said Grammar School shall be kept in operation, or so long as the subscriber or subscribers shall live within one mile of the Academy where it now stands on the common." The preceding year Col. Stafford Smith had given a note of $100 to the academy, the interest to be annually for the use of the school so long as it should be in operation nine months in a year.

The trustees of the academy in Oct., 1817, paid to Jacob Collamer $23 for going to Norwich and to Montpelier, arguing before the legislature, and drawing a petition for lands. The Journal of the House of Representatives shows that the petition was presented. The legislature passed an act Oct. 30 of that year, ordering rents of all lands in Bethel granted for support of a grammar school to be appropriated to the use and benefit "of the county grammar school in Royalton, in said county, known by the name of Royalton Academy." Thus by the earnest efforts of the friends of the institution the prospects for its future growth were greatly enhanced.

The next principal was John D. Willard, who was hired to teach one year for $350. The trustees agreed to board him "with a separate room, wood, washing, and candles." He was to have two vacations in the year, not to exceed four weeks in the whole. There is nothing to show that Mr. Willard remained longer than the year. He was a graduate of Dartmouth in 1819, from which he received the degree of A. M., and in 1860, of LL. D. He was born in Lancaster, N. H., Nov. 4, 1799; tutor from 1822 to 1823. He was a lawyer, and doubtless prosecuted his law studies while in Royalton. He became Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in New York. He died Oct. 16, 1864, Troy, N. Y.

If Mr. Willard taught the academy a second year, then the next incumbent was George King Pomroy. Little is known of him, except that he graduated from Dartmouth in 1822. He

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probably began his work in Royalton that fall. He was born in Boston, Mass., in 1804. He was a divinity student, and died young, at the age of twenty-two.

The next preceptor was Nathaniel Sprague, who studied both law and theology, and whose service extended from 1823 to 1831, longer than that of any other teacher of the academy. A sketch of his life is found in the chapter on churches. The numerous receipts he gave for small sums of money, would indi- cate that the funds at the disposal of the trustees were not large.

The oldest catalogue of the academy known to be in exist- ence is dated 1830. It is a small four-leaved pamphlet, printed at Woodstock, by Haskell and Prescott, at the office of the Working Man's Gazette. The trustees at that time were Rev. Samuel Bascomb, President, Gen. John Francis, Rev. Austin Hazen, Hon. Titus Hutchinson, Dr. Joseph A. Denison, Oel Bil- lings, Secretary, Rev. A. C. Washburn, George Lyman, Treas- urer, and Elisha Rix, Esq. Nathaniel Sprague, A. M., was prin- cipal. There were twenty-seven gentlemen students: Albert and E. H. Billings, Ashbel Buckland, Jr., Solomon Crandall, N. W. Dewey, George Francis, R. H. French, Joseph R. Jones, Thomas C. Kenworthy, A. C. Partridge, Horace Parkhurst, Har- rison Smith, John Waldo, Luther Wheeler, all from Royalton, and J. M. Lovejoy, Austin Marsh, David Mower, Jr., Chester Parkhurst, and Daniel Parkhurst from Sharon, John Cilley from Tunbridge, C. G. Eastman from Fryeburg, Me., S. W. Hall from Rochester, Matthias Joslyn from Waitsfield, Jeremiah Pratt from Barnard, and Sawyer S. Stone from Hartford. Of the "ladies," there were Emeline H. Adams, Jane Blodgett, Amanda J. Deni- son, Emily Durkee, Frances J. A. Fox, Louisa M. Fox, Jerusha H. Jones, Melissa Joyner, Acenath B. Osborn, Abigail M. Parish, Almira Partridge, Susan W. Pierce, Charity P. Runell, Eliza Rix, Charlotte Smith, Laura Washburn, Amanda L. Woodworth, all from Royalton, and Lavina Allen from Fayston. The list of boarding places shows that over thirty families either sent their own children or took roomers. The price of board per week, room rent and washing included, was from $1.25 to $1.50. Tui- tion, $2 per quarter. The catalogue announces that "A Lyceum has been established in town, and means are in train to obtain an extensive apparatus, of which, by the fundamental articles of the Lyceum, the Academy is to have the free use in the course of its public instruction."

William Scales, who succeeded Mr. Sprague, seems to have taught before graduation at Middlebury in 1832. He receipts for services in 1831. As he was born Sep. 28, 1805, and so twenty-six when he graduated, it is reasonable to infer that he paid his own way through college, by teaching at intervals, and

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HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

that he did not remain in Royalton longer than six months. He graduated at Andover in 1837, and became pastor of a Con- gregational church in Lyndon the same year. He preached in various places, but returned to Lyndon in 1855, where he died Jan. 24, 1864. He left a family.

Nathaniel Ogden Preston followed Mr. Scales. He was born in Rupert, Dec. 22, 1804. He graduated from Middlebury in 1831, and began his work as Principal of the academy that year, remaining one year or more. He studied theology with Bishop Hopkins, and preached as an Episcopal clergyman in several states prior to 1862, when he went to Topeka, Kansas, and served there as rector and Principal of the Topeka Female Sem. He became Professor of English Literature in the Kansas State Ag- ricultural College at Manhattan in 1864, where he died Feb. 14, 1866.

From receipts given for salary it would seem that Mr. Pres- ton was serving the academy a part, at least, of 1833. His suc- cessor was Edward Joseph Hallock, who graduated from Middle- bury in 1833, and who is said to have fitted for college in Roy- alton. Up to this time there is no evidence that more than one teacher was employed, though it is probable that some assistance was required. During the year that Mr. Hallock served, mention is made of a Miss Robbins as assistant teacher. Mr. Hallock graduated from And. Theo. Sem. in 1837. He went to Castleton the next year to supply the Congregational pulpit for a few months, and accepted the position of Principal of Castleton Sem- inary, which was then in a dying condition. He put new life into it, and built up a fine school, over which he presided for nineteen years. He was twice married and had three children. He died in St. Louis, Mo., Sep. 11, 1866.

James Clark, a graduate of Dartmouth with an A. M. de- gree in 1834, took the principal's chair vacated by Mr. Hallock. Little is known of him or his work. Unlike his predecessors he appears to have chosen teaching as his profession, and he gave a longer term of service than it had been the fortune of the acad- emy to secure since Mr. Sprague's incumbency. He probably left some time in 1836 to go South, as his death occurred in Savannah, Ga., July 31, 1837.

Timothy Green Brainard was preceptor for one term only. He had studied at Middlebury, but took his degree from Yale in 1830. He became a clergyman. He died in 1894.

It was probably in 1835 that a new bell was put into the academy. Amos Bosworth acknowledged receipt of $1.99, Apr. 28, 1836, for freighting the old bell to Boston and bringing back the new one. When the old bell was hung is not known, or why it was necessary to procure a new one at this time.

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History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911, Part 36

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847- Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company Number of Pages: 1280

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company
Number of Pages: 1280