USA > Vermont > Addison County > Salisbury > History of Salisbury, Vermont > Part 3
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It was found that, at this time, all the lands of much value had been taken up, and that many of the origi- nal proprietors had, as yet, been unable to locate their rights ; so that the remaining part of the share for schools, at least half of the share for the first settled minister, the whole of the share for the support of the gospel in foreign lands, and the whole of the glebe for the Church of England, still remained to be laid, in case land could be found that was worth surveying. It was finally found that a part of these shares could
41
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
be laid on the mountain, where land, at present, is of no real value. Here the remaining part of the share for schools has been laid out, and lies chiefly in that part of the town which was set off to Ripton in 1832. A part of the share for the first settled minister is also found here, and a part of the share to be appropriated to the support of the gospel in foreign lands, but the glebe and other public lots were laid on that part of the town which was given to Leicester by compromise, and now no land can be found within the limits of the town on which either can be located.
As the controversy between Salisbury and Leices- ter, and the controversy between the state of Vermont and the state of New York, had not been adjusted, the original grantees did not think so favorably of their wild lands here as they did at the time they pro- cured their charter, and as these controversial matters were not both settled until 1796, land lying in this town did not stand very high in the market. It is believed that only one man whose name appears as grantee settled in this town. Most of them sold out their entire rights, for insignificant sums, without ever visiting the town, and more than half allowed their rights to be sold at vendue, to pay assessments or taxes. Benjamin Smauley bought nineteen full shares at vendue, varying in price from one pound fifteen shillings to two pounds six shillings cach. This could
...
45
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
not exceed three or four cents per acre. How much of this land was redeemed is not known; certainly very little, if any. Whole rights have been known to be sold for a single dollar.
The grantees allowed themselves, by vote, to pitch the remaining part of their shares, after they had drawn their home lots. Now, as nearly half of these home lots were lost in their settlement with Leicester, all they could do was to pitch their land wherever they could find any within the limits of the town that had not been previously taken up; in which case it was customary to allow five rods on each hundred rods, and in that proportion for a greater or less dis- tance, as sag of chain, so that if a person measured one hundred rods, he would add five, that the land might be sure to hold out in measurement after it was cleared ; he was also allowed, by vote, to lay out, for each hundred acres, five acres for highways, and in that proportion, for a greater or less quantity of land. It is found by recent measurement of some of the early pitches, that the surveyors and chainmen com- mitted many inaccuracies, both in running lines and in measuring. At that time, land was so cheap, it was not thought worth the while to be very particular in surveys. Most of the pitched lands in this town, on a re-survey, are found to overrun their estimated amount, while a few fall short.
46
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
As no fixed rules had been agreed upon in pitching lands, provided pitches were not made on lands al- ready taken, many pieces in strips, gores and various shapes have been found, on subsequent surveys, lying between the original pitches. Such pieces have been fenced or otherwise occupied and held under the quieting act of 1785, which gives the occupant good title to land, after having peaceably possessed it fif- teen years.
In the Spring of 1796 Gamaliel Painter and Daniel Chipman, having been appointed a committee for that purpose, reported a survey of the town plot, agreeable to the provisions of the charter. By this plot the central part of the town referred to in the charter, was divided into acre lots, some of which were sold and others fenced in, by owners of contig- uous lands, and probably held by possession.
After the controversy with New York was settled, and this State admitted into the Union, which oc- curred 1791, most of the settlers allowed their lands to be sold for taxes, principally road and bridge taxes ; afterwards taking a collector's deed of them. Especially was this the case with lands which lay in that part of the town previously claimed by Leicester.
It is probable that none of the exciting scenes of conflict between citizens of New York, and settlers under the New Hampshire Grants, took place in this
47
HI TORY OF SALISBURY.
town; though the people were well acquainted with the difficulties between the two States, and in case of an emergency requiring their personal interference, were ready, both men and women, to apply the " Beach Seal," in keeping with the true meaning of the spirit of the times.
48
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
CHAPTER VI.
LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS.
MANY of the early settlers of Salisbury were very illiterate men, and none had received any better edu- cation than that obtained at common schools in the states from which they came. The extent of their learning was to be able to read, write and spell, and that, often very indifferently, while a few had some knowledge of arithmetic. Some persons were elected to important offices in town, who had no knowledge of figures, and could not even write. This was not a rare occurrence. If, for instance, one of the three se- lect men, had a knowledge of the primary branches of education, it mattered little how it might be with the others, provided they were good judges of men and property. The same might be said of the listers and perhaps of other officers.
The following is a list of town officers from March 1788 to September 1859.
49
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
TOWN CLERK. SELECTMEN. TREASURER AND REPRESENTATIVE.
CONSTABLE.
Eleazer Claghorn, Jas. Bradley, T.
Stephen Hard.
1789. E. Claghorn,
Jas. Bradley,
Eleazer Claghorn, S. Hard, Elias Kelsey, James Bradley,
S. Hard,
J. Bradley,
Solomon Everts.
1791.
A. Johnson,
J. Bradley,
Solomon Everts.
Eleazer Claghorn, S. Hard, H. Weeks, John Fife,
E. Claghorn,
1792.
Asa Lawrence,
J. Bradley,
Eleazer Claghorn, E. Claghorn,
E. Kelsey,
S. Hard,
1793.
Eleazer Claghorn,
Eleazer Claghorn, Jas. Bradley, Elias Kelsey, Stephen Hard, S. Hard,
Solomon Everts.
1794.
E. Kelsey, Salathiel Bump, Holland Weeks,
S. Hard,
1795.
S. Bump, E. Claghorn, Jas. Bradley,
Stephen Hard,
1796.
S. Bump, E. Claghorn, J. Bradley,
E. Claghorn,
1797.
E. Claghorn, S. Bump, Asa Lawrence,
H. Weeks, E. Claghorn,
Sam'l Pierce.
1798.
S. Bump,
Stephen Hard,
S. Bump, A. Lawrence, S. Hard,
S. Hard,
Sam'l Pierce.
4*
Jas. Bradley,
Stephen Hard,
Sam'l Pierce. :
E. Claghorn,
Stephen Hard,
Sam'l Pierce.
Stephen Hard,
Holland Weeks,
Sam'l Pierce.
Stephen Hard,
Stephen Hard.
Eleazer Claghorn,
1790. Holland Weeks, Abel Johnson, E. Kelsey, Benj. Garfield, S. Hard,
E. Claghorn,
Solomon Everts
1788. Eleazer Claghorn, Stephen Hard, James Waterous, Steph. Hard, R.
50
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
TOWN CLERK. 1799.
Reuben Saxton.
John Deming, Wm. Smauley,
S. Bump,
1800.
Reuben Saxton,
H. Weeks, J. Deming,
W. Smauley,
S. Bump,
1801.
S. Bump,
R. Saxton,
Reuben Saxton,
A. Lawrence,
Abner More,
S. Bump,
1802.
S. Bump, A. Lawrence,
W. Smauley,
S: Bump,
1803.
S. Bump, Henry Kelar,
E. Claghorn,
R. Saxton,
1804.
S. Bump,
S. Bump,
Reuben Saxton,
H. Kelar,
Sam'l Pierce.
1805.
S. Bump,
R. Saxton,
Reuben Saxton,
H. Kelar,
Sam'l Pierce.
1806.
S. Bump,
R. Saxton,
Reuben Saxton,
E. Kelsey,
Sam'l Pierce.
1807.
S. Bump,
R. Saxton,
Reuben Saxton,
E. Kelsey,
Sam'l Pierce.
1808.
S. Bump,
R. Saxton,
Reuben Saxton,
A. More, Gam'l Kelsey,
S. Bump,
1809.
H. Kelar,
R. Saxton,
Reuben Saxton,
Patrick Johnson, Jonathan Gibson, R. Saxton,
Caleb H. Crook.
1810.
H. Kelar, P. Johnson, J. Gibson,
R. Saxton,
Reuben Saxton,
SELECTMEN.
TREASURER AND REPRESENTATIVE.
CONSTABLR.
H. Weeks,
H. Weeks,
Sam'l Pierce.
Reuben Saxton,
Sam'l Pierce.
Sam'l Pierce.
R. Saxton,
Reuben Saxton,
Sam'l Pierce.
Reuben Saxton,
Sam'l Pierce.
E. Claghorn,
R. Saxton,
E. Claghorn,
S. Bump,
H. Kelar,
S. Bump,
H. Kelar,
S. Bump,
Abner More. :
Eliakim Weeks.
R. Saxton,
S. Bump.
51
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
TOWN CLERK. 1811.
SELECTMEN. TREASURER AND REPRESENTATIVE.
CONSTABLE.
Reuben Saxton,
S. Bump, J. Gibson, Joel Newton,
R. Saxton,
Eliakim Weeks.
S. Bump,
1812.
Reuben Saxton,
J. Wainwright, John Morton, Isaac Nelson,
R. Saxton,
1813.
Reuben Saxton,
P. Johnson, Jona Gibson, Eliakim Weeks,
R. Saxton,
1814.
Reuben Saxton,
Josiah W. Hale, Jed'h Lawrence, Jona Gibson,
R. Saxton,
John M. Weeks.
1815.
Reuben Saxton,
J. W. Hale, Jona. Gibson, Jed'h Lawrence,
R. Saxton,
Eliakim Weeks.
1816.
Reuben Saxton.
J. Wainwright, R. Saxton, John Morton,
S. Bump,
Eliakim Weeks.
1817.
R. Saxton, J. Morton,
E. Weeks,
Jona. Gibson,
1818.
R. Saxton, J. Morton,
E. Weeks,
S. Bump,
1819.
S. Bump, E. Weeks,
A. More,
S. Bump,
1820.
J. M. Weeks, E. Weeks, A. More,
S. Bump,
'1821.
A. More, S. Bump, Aaron Barrows,
R. Saxton,
Reuben Saxton,
Truman Dewey.
1822.
A. More, S. Bump, A. Barrows,
R. Saxton.
Reuben Saxton,
Truman Dewey.
S. Bump,
Jona. Gibson,
Artemas Moses,
Reuben Saxton,
Eliakim Weeks.
· Reuben Saxton,
Ruel Smith.
Reuben Saxton,
Truman Dewey.
R. Saxton,
Reuben Saxton,
Truman Dewey.
S. Bump,
James Crook.
S. Bump,
R. Saxton,
John M. Weeks.
R- Saxton,
Jona. Gibson,
Jas. Andrews,
J. M. Weeks,
52
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
TOWN CLERK.
SELECTMEN.
TREASURER AND REPRESENTATIVE.
CONSTABLE.
1823.
Reuben Saxton,
J. Morton,
Nath'l Spencer,
Harvey Deming,
1824.
Reuben Saxton,
1825.
Reuben Saxton,
1826.
H. Deming, N. Spencer,
R. Saxton,
Lothrop Bump.
1827.
Elnathan Darling, A. Barrows, N. Spencer,
L. Steward,
A. Barrows,
1828.
E. Darling, A. Barrows,
Harvey Deming,
N. Spencer, Prentice G. Alden, A. Barrows,
Wash'n Miller.
1829.
E. Darling, L. Bump, A. Doud,
A. Barrows,
Wash'n Miller.
1830.
H. Deming,
A. Barrows,
Levi Briggs.
1831.
H. Deming, A. Doud,
A. Barrows,
Levi Briggs.
1832.
A. Barrows,
A. Barrows,
Wash'n Miller,
C. Bump,
Levi Briggs.
1833.
P. Flagg,
A. Barrows,
Wash'n Miller,
C. Bump,
A. Barrows,
E. N. Briggs,
1834.
Wash'n Miller,
E. N. Briggs, Franklin Bump, Morris Graves,
A. Barrows,
Levi Briggs.
E. N. Briggs,
Lothrop Bump.
H. Deming,
R. Saxton,
Albigence Doud.
A. Barrows,
Reuben Saxton,
Leonard Steward, A. Barrows,
Reuben Saxton,
Wash'n Miller.
Harvey Deming,
Harvey Deming,
A. Doud,
N. Spencer,
E. Darling,
Harvey Deming,
N. Spencer,
E. N. Briggs,
P. Flagg,
E. N. Briggs,
Mark R. Weeks.
A. Barrows,
R. Saxton,
Truman Dewey.
R. Saxton,
A. Barrows, N. Spencer, Jona. Gibson,
Caleb H. Crook, J. Morton, Gam'l Kelsey,
Jona. Gibson,
53
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
TOWN CLERK.
SELECTMEN.
TREASURER AND REPRESENTATIVE.
CONSTABLE.
1835.
Wash'n Miller,
E. N. Briggs, F. Bump, Truman Titus,
A. Barrows,
E. N. Briggs,
1836.
Aaron Barrows,
F. Bump, T. Titus, Sumner Briggs,
A Barrows,
1837.
Aaron Barrows,
1838.
P. D. Barrows,
S. Briggs, E. H. Weeks, Albi Doud,
W. Miller,
Levi Briggs.
Mark R. Weeks,
1839.
P. D. Barrows,
E. H. Weeks, J. R. Olin, L. Bump,
W. Miller,
Levi Briggs.
1840.
P. D. Barrows,
1841.
P. D. Barrows,
M. Storey, F. Bump, J. M. Weeks,
Franklin Bump, M. H. Ranney,
A. B. Huntly.
1843.
P. D. Barrows,
J. M. Weeks, M. S. Doty, John Dyer,
M. H. Ranney, Sumner Briggs,
A. B. Huntly.
1844.
P. D. Barrows,
M. S. Doty, J. Dyer, E. H. Weeks,
M. H. Ranney,
A. B. Huntly.
1845.
P. D. Barrows,
1846.
E. H. Weeks,
S. S. Crook, O. P. Shelden, Amos Hamilton,
M. S. Doty,
Sol. Thomas, jr.
Sam'l S. Crook,
Levi Briggs.
M. R. Weeks,
M. H. Ranney,
A. B. Huntly.
1842.
P. D. Barrows,
M. Storey, F. Bump, J. M. Weeks,
F. Bump,
Sumner Briggs, M. H. Ranney, S. S. Crook,
A. B. Huntly.
Sam'l S. Crook, O. P. Shelden, A. Barrows,
Levi Briggs.
John Beckwith,
Levi Briggs.
James L. Morton, J. Beckwith, S. Briggs, E. H. Weeks, A. Barrows,
Levi Briggs.
Mark R. Weeks,
E. H. Weeks, L. Bump, Miles Storey,
W. Miller,
54
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
TOWN CLERK.
SELECTMEN.
TREASURER AND REPRESENTATIVE. O. G. Dyer,
CONSTABLE.
1847. E. H. Weeks,
A. Hamilton, F. Bump, James Fitts,
John Prout,
1848.
E. H. Weeks,
F. Bump, J. Fitts, John J. Kelsey,
John Prout,
1849.
J. Prout.
O. G. Dyer,
K. H. Weeks,
1850.
Lothrop Bump,
1851.
Lothrop Bump, 1852.
E. II. Weeks,
F. Bump,
H. Thomas,
John Dyer,
1853. .
H. Thomas, Royal Graves, J. J. Kelsey,
J. N. Moore,
Jas. Fitts, jr.
1854.
H. Thomas, J. J. Kelsey, R. Graves,
J. N. Moore,
J. C. Gipson.
1855.
J. N. Moore,
H. Thomas, Jas. Fitts, F. L. Dyer,
F. Bump,
1856.
J. N. Moore,
Jas. Fitts, F. L. Dyer, Frank Atwood,
J. N. Moore,
J. C. Gipson.
1857.
E. A. Hamilton,
F. Bump, H. Thomas, F. D. Taylor,
F. L. Dyer,
1858.
E. A. Hamilton,
H. W. Everts, H. Thomas, Elijah Cloyes,
F. L. Dyer,""
1859.
E. A. Hamilton,
H. W. Everts, H. Thomas, Al'n Wainwright, J. M. Dyer,
H. Thomas,
Jas. Fitts, jr.
J. Prout, F. Bump, H. Thomas,
J. M. Dyer,
James Fitts, jr.
John Dyer,
John Prout,
J. M. Dyer,
Jas. Fitts.
E. H. Weeks,
E. H. Weeks,
E. H. Weeks,
J. N. Moore,
J. C. Gipson.
E. H. Weeks, W. A. Waterhouse,
Jas. Fitts, jr.
H. Thomas,
Jas. Fitts, jr.
James Fitts, jr.
John J. Kelsey, J. Fitts,
John Colby, John M. Dyer,
James Fitts, jr.
J. Prout, Royal D. Hedden, Al'n Wainwright, John Colby,
Nehemiah Pray.
O. G. Dyer,
James Fitts, jr.
F. Bump,
55
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
CHAPTER VII.
E
ALLOTMENT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS .- NOTICES OF SCHOOLS.
AT a town meeting, held March 21, 1789, it was voted to divide the town into three school districts. The first to embrace all the inhabitants living on the west road, from Holland Weeks' to Benjamin Gar- field's (Leonard Jenny's present place of residence) ; also the nearest inhabitants living on cross roads. The second commenced at Gamaliel Painter's, and embraced all the people living on the middle road, as well as those living nearest on cross roads as far south as William Kendal's, who then lived on the farm now occupied by Lothrop Bump. The third embraced as many as would join to support a school on the east road, from Gilbert Everts', on the north, to Leicester line, on the south. Only one school district was le- gally organized this year.
The history of the different school districts must necessarily be very meagre, for the early records of all, except one, have been lost, or so indifferently kept, that it is impossible to gather a connected and intelligible account from them. The first district or-
56
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
ganized is the exception above referred to, and was that embracing the west part of the town ; though the oldest, its records have been carefully kept in a bound book, and preserved entire to the present day. This district was organized on the 22d day of Octo- ber, 1789, on which occasion Joseph Farnham was chosen moderator, and Holland Weeks clerk. Quite a large portion of the inhabitants lived in the west part of the town at that time, all of whom were anxious for the early education of their children.
A good teacher, a man of classical education, named Matthew Sterling was soon procured. He commenced school in the latter part of the autumn of 1789, in a small log house which stood on the ground now occu- pied by the stone school house. A more commodious house, twenty-four feet square of frame work, was built a few rods north of this place, the following year. Here Mr. Sterling remained in the capacity of teacher for several years. * On account of the scar-
* Mr. Sterling was in many respects an excellent teacher. He followed the old Connecticut customs in his mode of in- struction and government.
In the winter of 1793, as the number of his pupils had increased to about forty, he appointed Eliakim Weeks and Horatio Watrous, Ushers, and required that to them the school should show the same obedience and deference as to himself. These ushers were allowed to pass in and out of the house, as
57
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
city of money in those days, it was the custom among the people for a few years, to pay for the tuition of their children in labor, so that while the master was teaching the children to read, write and spell, their fathers were clearing up his land, harrowing his ground and sowing his seed. The taxes for schools
often as they pleased, even during study hours, while the whole school were required to rise and make obeisance to them as often as they passed through the door. Such rules would hardly succeed in these later days, indeed those ushers, even then, were objects of envy and jealousy among the large scholars, and gave rise to dissatisfaction in the district. School government in those days, as a general thing, was much more severe than at present. In the winter of 1794 or 1795 Mr. Sterling made a rule in school, that as often as any scholar misspelt three words in succession, he should be ferulled. Lewis Graves, one of the largest boys, who had not previously enjoyed the advantages of a school, except to a very limited extent, believing the rule was made to reach him alone, became so frightened at the time of recitation, that he was unable to spell a single word correctly, and the law was executed upon him in the severest manner, nine different times (some said eleven times) in a single half-day. By this time the people in the district became justly alarmed, and at the close of that winter's term, Mr. S. was allowed to retire from any further service as school teacher. Lewis Graves, in the year 1854 was between seventy and eighty years of age, a ro- spectable and intelligent farmer, in the north-eastern part of New York. 5 .
58
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
were invariably made upon the grand list, thus re- lieving the poor of any considerable tax except in the matter of furnishing wood, which was a thing easily done in a country covered with timber.
Until about the year 1810 or 1811 no change was made in the manner of raising or paying the wages of district school teachers. The tax was always paid promptly on or before the last day of the term, until a new order of things was instituted by a legis- lative act, which required school taxes to be paid into the town treasury, and distributed to the several dis- tricts, in proportion to the number of scholars in each. Previous to this, the school in district No. 1, was one of the best in Addison County. Parents, as well as committees were punctual in visiting it, encouraging both teacher and pupils, and prompt in all things pertaining to the interests of the school. But by the new law, more than half of the money raised by this district was drawn away and distributed to others. This soon produced indifference among many of our citizens, and the interest in common-school education generally, evidently began to decline. Taxes could not be collected as formerly without great delay ; the school was not visited, and less interest was manifested in the character and ability of teachers. This law, by most people in the district, was considered oppres- sive. Moreover, the war of 1812, with its bad effects,
59
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
lay heavily on the shoulders of the people ; and what was still more discouraging, their school-house was burned down in 1815. But these adverse circum- stances and feelings of dissatisfaction were, on reflec- tion, overcome by a more generous spirit, which may well be cherished everywhere-for by it the common- school education of the poor is placed on an equal footing with that of the rich. Most of the people finally approved of the law; new energies were brought to life, and a new school-house, of stone, erected within a year from the time the old one was burnt.
The law referred to had a disastrous effect on some of the other school districts. The inhabitants of dis- trict No. 3, in the centre of the town, also thought the law an oppressive one, and allowed their school- house to go to decay, and their schools to stop, for the most part, for many years. It is believed they were without a school-house for nearly thirty years, employing female teachers only, and occupying a room in some private dwelling as a school-room, and that only during a small portion of the year. Indeed, only the small children were taught in the district, while the large boys and girls were accommodated in neighboring districts, or sent to high-schools abroad. But, under a change of circumstances, this district has become more prosperous, and now has a good
60
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
school-house, built in 1848. The interest of the peo- ple of this town in common schools is apparent from the earnest and ready action which has been taken in building new school-houses, and in removing old and inconvenient fixtures, and giving place to those of more modern and agreeable style, and better in keep- ing with the comfort and health of those who use and occupy them.
Four new school-houses were built in this town within two or three years previous to 1849.
Moreover, the annual interest of the United States' deposit-money has been of great service to common schools. This interest, amounting to $129 08, was first made available in 1839, and lessens the school tax to a sum which can be raised without much effort. The United States' deposit-money for the town of Salisbury, in 1838, was $2,165 22. Under the census of 1840, a small portion of this sum was taken away, which reduced it to $2,159 34, and, under the census of 1850, $30 95 was added to the latter sum.
The first school-books used in this town were Web- · ster's Spelling Book and Third Part (Dillworth's Spelling Book and Arithmetic were used in a few in- stances, but only for a short time). Pike's Abridged Arithmetic soon came into use, and was the only book of that kind used for quite a number of years. Latin Grammar was taught in district No. 1, in the
-
61
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
winter of 1797-98, and English Grammar in the win- ter of 1799-1800. A large majority of the people were opposed to the study of Grammar in common- schools, and it was laid aside for many years. A good knowledge of Arithmetic, as far as the Rule of Three, together with a knowledge of reading, writing, and spelling, was considered by the early settlers a sufficient and ample education to fit a young man for all ordinary business transactions. Those who de- sired a more liberal education, had the advantages of a grammar-school, taking the name of Addison County, which was incorporated under an act of Legislature, and established at Middlebury in 1799.
The people of Salisbury, from the first settlement of the town, have endeavored to aid their teachers as much as possible in sustaining good order and gov- ernment in school. A few parents, it is true, have, at times, seemed unwilling that their children should be made to obey the rules of their teachers, unless, perchance, those rules accorded with their own notions of government, which, in most cases, was no govern- ment at all, either in school or at home. It is un-' doubtedly true, that children brought up under loose parental discipline, are oftenest found to be refractory and disobedient in school. There is no authority which can be invested in a teacher, nor can a teacher adopt any system of government, which shall equal 5*
62
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
the quiet yet effectual influences of a good early training of children at home.
In this town it has sometimes occurred, though rarely, that large boys, even young men, have gone so far in resistance to the teacher's authority as to make opposition in a personal conflict ; and, in a very few instances, combinations have been formed for the purpose of turning the teacher out of doors. The most striking instance of this kind occurred at Salis- bury village, in district No. 5, in the winter of 1826. A young man by the name of William Blake was em- ployed in teaching this school at that time. All went on in good order until the strictness of the discipline be- came unpleasant to a few of the large boys in attend- ance. These boys, it is said, combined together to put the teacher out of doors, one day, in case he un- dertook to punish one of their number, who had pre- viously been deemed guilty of some offence. In the morning of the day intended for the infliction of the punishment, suspicions of this combination were com- municated to Mr. Blake; but being a man of more than ordinary strength, he concluded that the boys would not dare to attempt to carry out so hazardous a plan, and was about to inflict punishment on the offender, when Seymour C. Howard, a young man of considerable strength, stepped out of his seat and demanded that the punishment should not be in-
63
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
flicted. This provocation was followed by a scuffle between the teacher and pupil, which, while it was the means of restoring order in school, resulted in the death of the latter, for he died in the course of a few hours, from the effect of a fracture in the skull which he received during the conflict.
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