Dedham Town (part 1 of 7)

Preface

It is the design of this volume to show the origin and growth of school privileges in an old New England town. As the chief factor of every school is the teacher, special attention has been given to ascertain who have held that responsible office in Dedham ; for it is not to be doubted that their influence has shaped in a large degree the moral and intellectual character of the town. In making up this record we have often thought how difficult it would be to estimate the work of this long procession of public servants, under whose care the minds of Dedham citizens have been nurtured. We have therefore judged such a record worthy of preservation as a vital part of our town's history. As constant care was exercised that fit persons only should have charge of school instruction, it has been a chief pleasure in preparing this work to feel that it is done in behalf of men and women whose names ought not to be forgotten.

The Schools And Teachers Of Dedham, Massachusetts

In 1634 the territory of Dedham, excepting the grassy meadows bordering on the Charles and Neponset rivers, and perhaps a few Indian cornfields, was still covered with a dense forest. A year later a small number of enterprising men from Watertown had discovered its value and desired to make it their permanent home ; and, to express entire satisfaction with their choice, would have called it Contentment. The next year, 1636, the town, in answer to their petition, was incorporated by the General Court of Massachusetts Bay, but it was named Dedham. The eight following years were a constant and hard struggle in subduing wild nature and making the place a safe and comfortable home for English emigrants. At the close of that period a little village or hamlet, consisting mostly of log houses covered with thatch, was clustered around the spot where the county buildings now stand ; and the area now occupied by Dedham Village was mostly cleared and under cultivation. A road connected the little settlement with Boston by way of Roxbury, and others were opened through East Street and to the estates occupying the tillage land of the Central plain. Thus the vigorous town was planted and had taken firm root in a congenial soil.

The founders of Dedham evinced in many ways their capacity for wise forethought. They evidently regarded themselves as the builders of a town for whose future character they would be held responsible. While they made many good regulations for securing private and individual rights, they never forgot to plan for the benefit of coming generations.

Accordingly, as soon as they had established homes of a very primitive style, with very few comforts and no luxuries, they turned their thoughts to the subject of education ; and there is no doubt that the presence in the little settlement of several men who had been trained in the universities of the mother country had a most favorable influence in shaping the measures which they adopted.

In the town records of 1638 four persons have ]\Ir. prefixed to their names, to indicate that they had taken the Master's degree at a University. These were John AUin, the first minister of Dedham ; Timothy Dalton, the first minister of Hampton, N. H. ; Thomas Carter, ordained in "VVoburn, 1642, and Ralph Wheelock.

On the second day of January, 1642-3, fifty-one persons were present at a gLMieral meeting of the Town, in which the allotment of land was considered ; and in the record of its proceedings is the following statement :

It was with an unanimous consent concluded that some portion of land in this entended division should be set apart for publique use: viz for the Towne, the Church and a fre Schoole ; viz 40 acres at the leaste or 60 acres at the most.

This " unanimous consent" indicates a truly commendable liberality and public spirit, and that there were in the town wise counsellors to control its plans for public improvements. It also leads us to expect further steps in the same direction ; and we are not surprised at the memorable action of a town meeting two years later. This is so fitly described in the Records that we give it here without abridgment, and also include the names of those who were present and participated in the good work.

1644. At a meeting the first day of the Eleventh Month, Assembled those whose names are under written with other the Inhabitants of this Town : M"" Jn<* Allen past^ John Hunting Eld"" Hen Chickering, Tho. Wight, Jn° Thu[rston], Anthony Fisher, Jos. Fisher, Dan Fisher, Jno Luson, Mr. Ralph Wheelocke, J no Gaye, William Bullard,

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The said Inhabitants, taking into Consideration the great necesitie of providing some means for the education of the youth in o"^ s'd Towne, did with an unanimous consent declare by voate their willingness to promote that worke, promising to put too their hands to provide maintenance for a Free Schoole in our said Towne. And farther did resolve and consent, testifying it by voate, to rayse the summe of Twenty pounds p annu. towards the maintaining of a Schoole M'' to keep a free Schoole in our s'd Town.

And also did resolve and consent to betrust the s'd 2d£ per annu & certain lands in o'^ Towne, formerly set apart for publique use, into the hand of Feofees to be presently chosen by themselves, to imploy the sd 20^, and the land afors'd, to be improved for the use of the said Schoole : that as the profits shall arise from the said land, every man may be proportionably abated of his some of the s'd 20j^ aforesaid, freely to be given to the use aforesaid. And y* y® said Feofees shall have power to make a Rate for the necesary charg of improving the s'd land : they giving account thereof to the Towne, or to those whom they should depute. John Hunting, E^^'', Eliazer Lusher, Francis Chickeringe, John Dwight & Michael Powell, are chosen Feofees and betrusted in the behalf of the school as afore said.

The school thus established, to be managed by Feoffees, was designed to continue seven years, as will appear in the following record relating to the training ground :

1644. 4*^ 12°^". Granted to the Feofees for the free schoole in Dedham for the use of the s'd schoole a parcel of the Training ground so much as shall be set out to them by the Towne, which said p'cel is granted from this present day unto the last day of the eighth month which shall be in the year 1650. Hen. Chickering, Eli. Lusher & Hen. Phillips deputed to set out the s'd parcell of Land above said.

The Common near the Dexter School is a part of the old Training Ground, and to use it as a playground for "the s'd Schoole " seems to accord with the original grant to the Feoffees.

The records of the Feoffees have not been preserved, so that we are not able from their records to give the names of the teachers under their administration. There is, however, no doubt that according to a family tradition, Ealph Wheelock, the ancestor of the first and second presidents of Dartmouth College, taught during that time ; this is rendered the more probable from the fact that during the seven years, from 1644 to 1651, he was not called to perform public duties which would interfere with his work as a teacher, though previously he had been employed almost constantly in other offices of the town ; and after removing to Medfield he was the fkst teacher there for several years.

This first Dedham teacher was born in 1600, in County Salop, or Shropshire, England ; was educated at Clare Hall, Cambridge University; took his degrees in 1626 and 1631; came to New England in 1637 with his wife Rebecca, first to Watertown, then to Dedham in 1638 ; became a freeman there March 13, 1639 ; was representative in the Great and General Court 1639 and 1640; Clerk of the Writs, 1642, as successor of Edward AUeyne deceased ; taught school from 1644 to 1651, a seven years covenant; then removed to Medfield and represented the new town in the General Court from 1653 to 1656 ; taught the first school of Medfield from 1656 several years ; and died Jan. 11, 1684, in his 84th year. He has been fitly eulogized as a fine type of the New England Puritan. It was most fortunate for the school to have so able a man for its first teacher. His learning and his fidelity gave it seven years of prosperity and made this earliest experiment of popular education a complete success.

When the school had been in operation three years, the General Court of Massachusetts, in which the representative from Dedham was one of the Feoffees of the Free School, enor DEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS 9 acted its first statute relating to education. That the successful experiment of Dedham influenced the General Court, we cannot doubt. The example of this town seems to have determined the policy of the colony. It is also remarkable that this first statute included for towns containing a hundred families, the idea of a high school such as Dedham was already enjoying. In giving the text of the Statute, we consult the comfort of our readers by adopting modern spelling and discarding abbreviations which, though pleasing to antiquarians, are no help to the one who is reading for information.

It being one chief project of that old deluder, Satan, to keep men from the knowledge of the Scriptures, as in former times by keeping them in an unknown tongue, so in these latter times by persuading from the use of tongues, that so at least the true sense and meaning of the original might be clouded by false glosses of saintseeming deceivers ; that learning may not be buried in the grave of our fathers in the church and commonwealth, the Lord assisting our endeavors, -

It is therefore ordered, that every township in this jurisdiction, after the Lord hath increased them to the number of 50 householders, shall then forthwith appoint one within their town to teach all such children as shall resort to him to write and read, whose wages shall be paid either by the parents or masters of such children, or by the inhabitants in general, by way of supply, as the major part of those that Older the prudentials of the town shall appoint : provided, those that send their children be not oppressed by paying much more than they can have them taught for in other towns ; and it is further ordered that where any town shall increase to the number of one hundred families or householders, they shall set up a grammar school, the master thereof being able to instruct youth, so far as they may be fitted for the university, provided that, if any town neglect the performance hereof above one year, every such town shall pay £r) to the next school till they shall perform this order.

school received the regular support of the town, and soon required a building for its accommodation. The following record shows the action of the town :

Jan. 1648-9 At a General meeting of the Town. . . A schoole house and a Watch house is resolved to be built this next yeare the care whereof is left to the select men.

Fortunately we have the specifications for this first schoolhouse and the watch-house combined with it. In the records of the selectmen, the neat handwriting of Capt. Lusher has preserved for us the following account of this early temple of learning :

11 mo 15. 1648. Assemb : Hen Chickering, Joh Kingsbury, Joh- Dwight, Tho. Wight, Fra Chickering, Joshu. Fisher, & Elea : Lusher A school house to be built as followeth, together w*^ a watch house.

the length 18 foote, being 14 foote beside the chimney, the wideness 15 foote, the studd 9 foot betwixt joynts, one floore of Joyce : 2 convenient windowes in the lower roome & one in the chamber, the plancher layed, the floor planked, the stayers made, the sides boarded, feather-edged and rabbited, the doors made & hanged.

the watch house to be a leanto set at the back of the chimeny sixe foote wide, the length therof two foote & one half mor than the house is wide, so placed that the end therof may extend past the corner of the house, so that the watch may have an aspect 4 severall wayes. & open windowes therein suitable to a watch house : & covered w*** board up to those windowes & upon the roofe, & a mandle tree hewen & fitted for the Chimney."

It is supposed that this building stood very near, if not on, the spot where the Unitarian Vestry now stands ; and we have only to imagine the busy hum of school work filling the east room by day, and the faithful watching of the sentinel from the windows of the west-end leanto during the long and lonely nights, to understand how child and man in those old days performed their several parts in laying the foundation of a free school and a free state.

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The cost of this little school house is shown by the following record of a town debt paid out of the rate of 1648 by John Morse, constable :

"jSergt. Fisher & Eleazer Lusher ar requested to treate and conclude w"^ a workman, or workmen for ye building of a Chimney in y® schoole house." At the same time " Br. Dwight is requested to treate & conclude w*"^ a workman for y® shingling of y^ schoole house."

" For building the Schoole house chimney 3^: for boards, nayles Schoole house 1^8®"; also " to Tho. Batteley in pt for shingling y* Schoole house 1^ 18-7." The same year Tho. Batteley is called to account for taking " boarding & shingling timber w^'^out Leave."

It is an interesting fact, that, in the records of the first meeting of the Selectmen after the resolve to build the schoolhouse, there occurs this brief item : " Mr. Wheelocks motion for advice answered." As the teacher of the school, it would be reasonable and perfectly natural for him to seek information about the proposed building.

The preceding account covers the first seven years of the school ; and for continuing the history we find but meagre assistance in the town records. Still there is enough to show that the spirit of the people had not changed, and that their purpose was still to be carried out. Thus the record runs :

At a general town meeting 1651. . . It is resolved that a school for the education of youth in our town shall be continued and maintayned the whole term of seven yeares next, and that the settled mayntenance or wages of the Schoole IVf shall be 20;^ p ann at y® leaste: A Towne Stocke shall be raysed to the summe of 20^ at y® least.

This shows that the first seven years had been so satisfactory that no change was desired in the management. No new election of feoffees was recorded, and we may presume that the same men continued to hold the ofBce.

But Mr. Wheelock's * ' covenant for the school-keeping " had expired, and his interests had been transferred to Medfield. The 20£ for the master's salary had been voted but no record tells who was the teacher for 1652. Tradition, however, points plainly to Mr. John Brock, the first man from Dedham to graduate at Harvard College, 1648. He was in Dedham in 1652. His parents, Joseph and Elizabeth, having died in 1650, he sold his inherited estate in Dedham in 1652. He preached and taught schools at Rowley and Isles of Shoals ; and was ordained at Reading, Nov. 13, 1662 ; and died there June 18, 1688. Cotton Mather made his funeral sermon; and Judge Sewall in his diary says : ' ' Mr. Brock was very laborious in catechising and instructing youth." But the next year a change was made in the care of the school whereby it passed into the hands of the selectmen. The following record of a general meeting indicates this :

S*^ of 11 mo 1652. The question concerning the Schoole being kept only in winter being proposed for Resolution, the answer is : That the selectmen that shall be this daye chosen shall attend to procure a fitt schoole M"^ at the beginning of the summer ; and if it p've difficult, or not to be attayned, they may p'pose the case to the Towne for further resolution.

At this day, when well qualified teachers are so abundant, we can hardly realize the difficulty of maintaining the high standard set up by the Feoffees of the Dedham School. But such teachers as Wheelock and Brock were " not to be attayned." England was not driving out into the wilds of America so many of her university graduates, and the little college at Cambridge was not sending out many j^oung men willing to teach awhile before they began to preach in the new towns now anxious to secure them as pastors.

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But the selectmen now being authorized to find a schoolmaster, acted promptly, and from the records of their clerk we are able to give the name of the first teacher which they employed.

18 of y® 1 mo. Assemb. Joh. Kingsbery, Fra. Chickering, Lieft. Fisher, Joh. Dwight, Sergt Fisher & Elea. Lusher, Pet. Woodward Agreed w**^ Jacob Farrow to keep the Schoole to begin 28 of 1 mo 1653 to have 20 £ pr an. to be payed in town paye being merchantible at the end of each halfe yeare the one halfe of the saide sume. he undertakes to teach to read English and the Accidence & to write & the knowledg & art of Arithmetick & the rules & practice thereof : this to be p'posed to the towne.

The fact that Mr. Farrer undertook to teach the " Accidence," shows him to have had a knowledge of Latin, as this was doubtless Brinslej^'s Accidence, a latin grammar, published in 1G12, and widely used in the schools of England.

How long these brothers, John and Jacob Farrer, had charge of the school, it is not possible to determine. It was probabl}^ less than a year. They M^ere emigrants from Lancashire, Eng., John being the older, and both went to Lancaster in 1653 or 4. Two of Jacob's sons were killed by the Indians about 1675. He died in Woburn August 14, 1677, whither he had fled, and where John had lived since 1656. The latter died the 11th of July, 1690, " ver}^ aged." Jacob

Farrer was a surveyor and was much occupied in laying out the allotments of land in the town of Lancaster. The descendants of John and Jacob Farrer are numerous, and several of them have been eminent as scholars.

The next schoolmaster was Lieut. Joshua Fisher, who appears to have consented to keep the school a short time when it was difficult to obtain a teacher. His appointment is thus recorded :

11 of y® 10 mo 54. Agreed with Lieut. Fisher to keepe schoole in our Towne for the same alloweance that the former schoole M"^ had proportionable to the time he shall attend the same, which at present is but for this winter time ; who afterwards shall be discharged thereof at any time after he have given one weeks notice.

The Lieutenant did not on account of his school duties cease to be a selectman or to receive pay for ' ' dyeting " the selectmen. A curious entry in the records about the close of his term, reads thus :

Lieut Fisher is requested and undertakes to repayer the broken panes of glasse in the meeting house so farre as he may finde glass spare for that use.

3 of 10 mo. 1655. The Rate made for the payment of Lieft, Fisher for the time he kept the school being 4 months, and one week, and for wood he expended upon that occasion the sum being 1£ 13^ 4**.

It seems to have been the custom to make a rate for the teacher's pay once in six months. In the last instance sixtysix persons were taxed to pay the Schoolmaster.

Lieut. Joshua Fisher was the son of Joshua of Med field, born at Syleham, Eng., in 1620 ; came to New England in 1637 ; made freeman 1639 ; married Mary Aldis at Dedham Nov. 16, 1643; married Widow Lydia Oliver of Boston, 1654; was Selectman 22 years from 1648 ; Town Clerk 4 years ; was an Inn Keeper and Surveyor. He was almost constantly em-

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28 of y® 1 mo 1656 Lieft Fisher and Ensign Chickering are deputied to treat with Willy Woodward about the keeping schoole & and to receive & return to the select men his direct answer.

Mr. Woodward probably taught a part of the year. He became a preacher and served the town occasionally in that capacity, for which services money was paid to his executor after his early decease. He was the son of Peter Woodward of Dedham and for a time member of Harvard College ; ' ' was probably one of the seventeen who left college in 1655 without a degree." John Hull in his diary calls him "a young and powerful preacher."

In December of that year the Selectmen bethought themselves of their venerable neighbor as is shown by the following passage in their records : to be proposed at the generall meetinge that a School M"^ being not yet attayned nor like conveniently to be speedily Supplyed & the late select men conceaveing that Brother Metcalf might be useful that waye, & being treated withall seemes not wholly averse, it is desired the towne would consider it at present and declare them selves.

9 of 11 mo 1656. Agreed with Michaell Metcalfe for to keep the schoole for the year insuinge, the said Michael doe undertake to teach the children that shall be sent to him to reade English and to write : all which he do undertake faithfully to do : in consideration whereof we doe engage he shall receive from the town the summe of twenty pounds two therd partes in wheate att the price of the towne or Countrie Rate and the other parte of the paye in other come at price above mentioned, and the schoole to be kept at the school house except the weather be extreame to hinder, and then he is to atend it at his owne dwellinge house : and the towne is to take care to have the harth layde in the schoole house forth with, and to have the windows made fitt : & wood for the fire to be layd in att the schoole house : we ingage to call upon the parents of the children that they carefully provide it in due time.

And it is agreed that the therd part above expressed to be payed in other corne shall not bee above one therd part in Indian corne : and in the heat of the weather if the said Michael desire to use the metinge house he may so doe provided the house be left clene against any publiq use of the house, and also that the windows be made good if any be broken, and any other damage made good that is done by the use of the metinge house in that kind : and the school to begin the 19 day of this present mo : and the pay is to be quarterly as is above expressed, that is b£ a quarter.

It is hardlj to be supposed that Mr. Metcalf taught only readino^ and writing', but rather that he ag-reed to teach these at least to all the pupils. There is now in existence the identical arithmetic which he used as a teacher of the school. This book, an enlarged edition of Robert Record's arithmetic, was published in 1630, and is now in the archives of the Dedham Historical Society. He was born at Tatterford, Norfolk Co., England, in 1586 ; consequently he was seventy years old when he became a schoolmaster. To escape from persecution he took passage for America April 16, 1637, and was admitted townsman of Dedham July 14, 1637. He was evidently much respected for intelligence, which caused his townsmen to turn to him for assistance in the business of education. That any dissatisfaction should appear, toanno}'^ Mr. Metcalf, seems very strange ; but here is proof that some w^ere ready to find fault. Town-clerk Fisher made this record :

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16'^'* of the 12 mo 1656. Upon the complaint of some of the Inhabitance that the school Master refuse to teach such childring as are above fourteen yeares of age the men hereunder named are deputed to goe and treate with the school master about the covenant wherein it is expressed he should teach all that are sent to him to Wright and read.

No early schoolmaster was required to teach spelling, as the subject was not considered important. In the arithmetic used by Master Metcalf the same word is sometimes spelled in three different ways in the same paragraph. The trouble did not become serious, for in a few da3^s, at a general meeting, the following vote was passed :

The Town doe give Micell Metcalfe a call to keep school the year insuinge and leave it to the next select men to agree with him for 20^ a yeare.

Near the end of this second year, on the fourth of the twelfth month, he was requested to keep another year, when his reply was "that at present he was not ripe to give an answer," so it was agreed that he should continue a month on the same terms as before, and then they might come to an agreement. At the end of the month they made a similar contract with Mr. Metcalf for a year, " or so long therein as God shall enable him." It was specified "that if any inhabitant shall take any child or children to that end to send them to schoole " the schoolmaster might refuse to teach them until they gave him satisfaction. It was also provided that he shall be required no more highe waye work but only one daye work of one man & a teame, and one day more of a man. And no advantage shall be taken to discount for not attending the Schoole except it be discontinued a full weeke together.

But it is evident that this year was not completed according to the contract. On the 6th of the 10th month " the want of a school M' " was a subject of debate in the board of Selectmen.

6. of 10 [mo] 59 . . being met to finish the Countrey Rate, the consideration of the want of a schoolm^ being p[ro]posed it is vpon debating the case resolued to give a calle to Thomas Marret jun"^ of Cambridg to keep the schoole for a quarter of a yeare vpon the alloweance p[ro]portionable to the sail ary formerly agreed vpon in that case that is 5^ for that quarter & to be pd halfe in wheat and half in other corne.

" Agreed with Thomas Marrett that he shall continue to keepe the schoole in Towne so long as to make the time one whole yeare from the time he began, that is, the 3 of January 1659, for the Summe of 20^ to be pd one halfe in wheat and the other halfe in Indian Corne at price Current in Towne being merchantable ; and he undertakes to attend the teaching of the schollars sent to Schoole according as the former schoolm'^. Michall Metcalfe did engage."

Agreed with Tho Marritt to keep the Schoole in this Towne : for halfe a yeare : to teach all such children as shall be sent to him to write and to reade.so far as god shall inable him with all diligenc and for the same he is to have : the full summe of of tenn pounds, to be payd. the one halfe in wheate at four shillings 10 penc for bushell : and the other half in endene corne : at 3 shillings per bushell to be payed quarterly or at every quarters end five pounds ; and he is to begine the one and twentieth of the 11 mo. 1660 and to continue till the one and twentieth of the 5 mo. 61 and in cause the select men shall se cause to provide a nother in that time for a nother halfe yeare or not to have a Schoole kept a nother halfe yeare they are to giue the sayd Thomas two monthes warning that he may prouide him selfe else wheare. other wise he is to proseed for the other halfe yeare for the same price and pay : and at the same rate as above specified for the other half yeare ; and if the sayd Tho shall omit keeping of the Schoole upon any ochasione on hoole weeke : he shall be acovntable for it; but if upon ochasion he omite two or thre dayes ; in a weeke : so that he keep parte of the week : thier is nothing required of him for it."

Thomas Marret was the son of Deacon Thomas Marret of Cambridge, and was probably known in Dedham because his sister Abigail married Daniel Fisher of this town. In 1664 he was in New London, Connecticut, emplo3^ed as a scrivener for that town. He was appointed custom-master for the port of New London in 1668, and on December 15th of the same year was chosen Marshal of New London County, which latter office he resigned in 1674. Miss Caulkins in her " History of New London" (page 314) states that he "was, for several years, the most conspicuous attorney in the place," and that his name disappears "from the rolls of living men, about 1685." jVIr. Marret evidently did not complete his second year, and the town showed its confidence in the venerable master Metcalf by making with him another covenant on the 24*^ of the 1661. As a specimen of exact bargaining, characteristic of old times, we will venture to give it entire :

Agreed with Michall Metcalfe to keepe the schoole so longe time as god shall inable him for seaven shilinges eight pane a weke the schoole to be keept in the parlor of the dweling house some time Frances Chickringes deceased : to teach the malle children that shall be sent to him by the inhabitance the sayd Michall do ingage to teach them to reade and to wright English as they shall be capable : in considration where of we the select men do ingage and promise to pay vnto the say[d] Michall his ex[e]cetors or asignes at the ende of the quarter for so longe a time as he keepe schoole : seaven shilinges eight penc a weeke : viz. halfe in wheat at the price the biscat bakers take when it is dew and the other halfe in rye or Endine corne at the price it pas curant from man to man : and all good and merchantable corne to be delivered at his dweling house : more over that woode for the fire be layd in at the schoole house : a hachet and belows to be prouided all so it is at our liberty when we please to put in hoome we think goode to keepe the schoole and we grant the like librty to the sayd Michall to leaue of the schoole at any time when he shall se cause : not with standing : any thing expresed in eyther of thes covenants above sayd : shall not hinder the sayd Michall in his just librty or absence from schoole vpon any speciall ochasions or providences that may be fall and that no advantage shall be taken so as to detayne any parte of his wages for some times : being nessesarily taken of from the schoole prouided : if it shall be aboue a weekes time : it shall then be discounted : other wise not : the schoole to begine the first of the 6mo 1661 provided that the in habitanc take no children from other Townes to put them to schoole if any do so they shall agree with the schooU master.

Under this agreement Master Metcalf continued his labors probably till the spring of 1663. He died December 24, 1664. He was a beloved teacher, and his name should be honored.

The next Schoolmaster was John Swinerton. He was covenanted with as his predecessor had been,, but in terms somewhat different, as the town probably then contained nearly a hundred families, and one capable of teaching Latin would soon be required by the Statute of 1647.

Nouember 22 1663 . , . the said m"^ Swinareton is to teach such male childeringe as are sent to him to wright & read & the use of retmitick as they are capable and the Latten tounge so fare as he can & to trie for one quarter of a yeare houe he may sute with the Towne & the Towne take content with him & so to continue for a year if there be a concurance betwen the Towne & him.

His term of service seems to have been half a year. Afterwards he settled as a physician in Salem, where he was respected for his skill and esteemed for his benevolence. A Latin book for elementary instruction, Brinsley's Accidence, containing John Swinerton's name, written in 1652, was formerly in the possession of William B. Fowle, of Boston. This book, consisting of questions and answers, was published in 1612, and was generally used in the schools of England. The

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Accidence of Ezekiel Cheever was published about 1650, and took the place of Brinslej's book in America. Dr. Swinerton died in Salera, January 6, 1691, aged 57.

The Town seems to have been compelled to come back to its home supply of instruction. One who is unable to endure the hard labor of subduing the forest and raising '< wheat & other corne " is supposed to be worth trying in the not less useful work of teaching, as is shown by the following record :

6. of 2. 64. Assemb. after Lecture. ... In consideration of the p'sent want of a school master and of the weakly estate of o"^ Br Joseph EUice he being willing and we being hopefull he may doe Some good in teaching Some childeren to read English, for p^'sent and vntill one more able may be attayned, doe agree and order, that forthwith notice be given that he shall begin to teach at the schoolhouse the next two daye and that he shall have 6* p week so long as he shall so teach and that this shall be p'^pounded to the Towne the next lectur daye that the mind of the Towne may be known therein.

There is no doubt that the Town assented to the choice of **Br. Joseph EUice," and that his teaching was satisfactory. When he had labored in his new vocation a half year or more, the following entry was made :

22 : of 9 : 64: Assemb: afternoon . . . being mett to make the Rate to paye the Schoolmaster at 3^ 6^* each Scholler the number of Schollers being 45. and estates rated at ^^ p[er] £

19 : of 9 : 1666 ... It is ordered that Joseph EUice shall keepethe schoole one halfe yeare more and is to haue the same payem* that he haue formrly had for the like time to begin againe the next 2 daye being the 26. of 9. 66 :

So this man of "weakly estate" taught the school three years, and no fault was found in his record. He became a townsman January 11, 1651. He does not appear on the records as a church member ; but he is there called ' ' brother EUice." His name is on the rate bills till 1671, but in 1672 " Yid : Ellice " takes its place: this seems to show approximately the date of his death.

Samuel Man, a youth of twent}'^ years and a graduate of Harvard College in the class of 1665, appears as a teacher in Dedham in the summer of 1667. The covenant with him was brief but definite.

13:8: 67 Assemb. after Trayneing . . . Agreed with m' Samuel Man. to teach the male Children of this Tovvne that shall be sent to him in English writeing. Grammar, and Arithmeticke for the space of one whole yeare from 27'^^ of this Instant moneth. for which he is to receaue 20^ in Such paym* and at such prizes as the Countrey Rate shall accept for that yeare. one halfe to be payed at the end of each halfe yeare. at his assignm* in Dedham.

Grammar here evidently means Latin Grammar, or Cheever's Accidence and Latin preparatory to College. This teacher appears to have been much esteemed, being doubtless more scholarly than his immediate predecessors. Probably about this time the number of families in Dedham made it necessary to maintain a grammar school in which boys could be fitted for college. Before Mr. Man's first year was completed the selectmen recorded their action as follows : last year : both for what he shall doe and w* paye he shall receaue for salleray for that yeare he shall be schoole master fcjr the yeare next ensueing the end of the yeare he covenanted for.

The young man continued his duties and, as the end of the year approached, we find still further proof of his popularity in the following record :

Mr Man being p^'sent upon call, it being p[ro]pounded to him whether he would attend the same worke of keepeing schoole according to his former couen* for one yeare more and accept of 20' pounds for his sallary in Corn at price Currant, who accept of and engage to p[ro]ceed accordingly.

26 : 2 : 72 - Assemb. towards night . . vpon treatie w*^ M'^ Sam'' Man. he accept of agreem' tendered to him to keepe the Schoole in this Towne for the space of one yeare more after his p'sent yeare is expired upon the same tearmes that he agreed vpon 13 : 3 : 67". allwayes excepting his engagem* to WoUomonuppoage [Wrentham]. and vpon that occasion, he to giue the Selectmen two monthes notice, that they may supply themselues.

The fact that the Selectmen were within a few months trying to ' ' supply themselves " proves that Mr. Man soon left the school to enter upon his other engagement. He will disappear from Dedham for a season, to return a little later. But a curious entry in the Kecords attests his honesty and fidelity in little things.

13 : 10 : 72 . . This day m'' Man sent 6"^ in money in satisfaction for three quarrells of glase broken by the schollers while he keept the schole, which is left in the hands of Nath. Fisher.

The covenant made with M' Man 13 : 3 : 67 and often since re newed being read to M'' Burroughs and tendered to be p[er]formed to him for one yeare next ensueing after a daye to be appointed M'^ Burroughs accept it not

This hitch in the negotiations showed Mr. Burroughs to be a man of decided views and seems to have made the Dedham authorities more anxious than before to secure his services. This appears in a record two days later :

19:4:72. . vpon further consideration of supply of our schoole by m' Burrough. and haueing receaued a message from him by brother Robert fuller in answer to a letter of ours to this effect, that where as we haue p[ro]vided that M"^ Burrough may be entertayned for Ten pounds p an. he desire that the other Ten pounds due to himself may without his care be turned into such comoditie or specie, as himself shall need, or order, in answer whereto, the Selectmen haueing sent for severall bretheren to advise with in this difficultie. onely Bro : Avery being come to us doe agree vpon this necessitie to vndertake to answer his request expecting that the Towne will join in accomplishm* hereof and order that M' Burrough be speedily enformed accordingly.

How far this attempt to enter upon a course of specie payment was continued, we are not able to show. That it was not entirely successful is evident from the final entry in the town book relating to this case.

28 6 73 A bill is giuen to M"^ Buroughs to recaive of the constable 10i-00«-00* : Si-S'-O** in mony : 6i-15»-0'i in come for the full discharge of his years salery for keeping the schoole :

Of Dedham. Massachusetts 25

This Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs was the son of Jeremiah Burroughs of Scituate, and was born in 1651. He had an assignment of common lands in that town in 1699. His son was married to Hannah Ewell, and was in Marshfield in 1710. Mr. Burroughs taught in Dedham one year and was followed by one of the older citizens of the town.

14:10:74... Agreed with Tho Battely to keepe the schoole for one quarter of a year : for the salery vsualy given vnto Schoole Masters and is to begin the 21 of this instant : agreed this to be posted vp : and notice given to bring in wood :

The Towne beinge presented for beinge defectiue in want of a schoole Master: Cap Dan Fisher was chosen to Answer the presentment according to summons.

New settlements were forming rapidly, and many new fields were opening for young men of learning and ability. So, for several years, Master Battelle occasionally held the position of teacher for two or three months at a time. This was the case in 1674 and 1675. In 1676 Mr. Man having been obliged to abandon Wrentham on account of Indian hostilities, was reinstated and continued in school three years, till 1679, when he again returned to his flock, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was not ordained till April 13, 1692. He married Esther, the daughter of Robert Ware of Dedham, May 13, 1673. They had six sons and five daughters. He died May 22, 1719 ; and among his most honored descendants is Horace Mann. AViA^' o /"ynoxA^ OD reappears as the schoole masqfC^^^&S^ nn^O^^vtl^ terinl679thel7..dayofthe (^^ 10th month [December] to teach all the mall children that shall be sent to him to Read and Wright and cast Accounts according to the best skill he Hath and what so ever else is proper to scholars that he is capable to teach them : . . .

to keepe the schoole vntell the 24''^ of June next ensueing. vnles there shall some other appear who may bethout more meete to manage that worke.

Mr. Battelle evidently did not continue many days in the school, as the record shows that another was called to the place. A few months previous to his last appointment, an event occurred which changed the prospects of the school. This will now be introduced by the record of the transaction.

28 : 4 : 80 . , . Doc Will Avery doth tender mony sixty pounds for the incoragment of a latine Schoole in this Towne provided ther be such incoragmt to a [sjchoole as may be sutable of the Townes part and to that en[d] to treet with him refering to his conditions we chose Cap* Dan Fisher and En Tho Fuller.

3 lOmo 1680 . . . Cap* Dan Fisher made a return of the trust comited to him selfe an En Tho Fuller of a some of mony of sixty pounds given to the Towne and the Improument for the benefit of a Latine Schoole. The returne is as followeth be it Here by declared that I Will Avery Phisision now resedent in Boston : some times of the Church of Dedham do out of my intire loue to the Church and Towne thier frely giue the full some of sixty pound in mony thier of to be Holy for the incoragmt of a latin Schoole as shall be from time to time so ordered by the elders or elder of that Church and select men for the time being desiring other hom god shall make able may adde thier vnto that a latine Schoole may generaly be maintayned thier and this to stand vpon record in thier towne Booke

14-1-1680-1 . . . it being proposed to the Towne whether they will allow twenty two pounds by the year to a lattin schoolemaster whereof seaven pounds shall be mony besides the incom of that 60 pounds given doctor Avery, it was voated in the afirmative.

'The Dedham Historical Society has in its possession an elegant calf chair, given as a memorial of this schoolmaster, the ancestor of the Battelle family in America, by one who is rtistintrnishe'l for his liberal gifts to educational institutions. The chair bef.rs a silver plate on which is engraved the following: " Thomas Battelle, Selectman, 1677, 1678, 16S6. 16S3. Town Clerk, 168T, 1688. Given by Robbins Battell, Norfolk, Conn, a descendant."

The question being put whether the care of providing A lattin School Master shall be left to the care of the selectmen it was voated in the Affirmatiue

The select men have deputed Nath : Stearns to treat with Capt Hinksman his son about keepeing schooll " Capt. Hinksman his son"was who entered upon his duties as Latin School master at the beginning of the year l(j81, and remained in oiEce till the autmnn of 1685. As his father was for a time one of the assistant teachers of the Boston Latin School, it is highly probable that Richard was educated there. There is noi:hing on record to show the character of his teaching. Ho seems to have been free to make known the wants of his school, and the town always cheerfully supplied them. Robert Avery received of the constable

12-10-81 . . the schoole Master complaineing that there want seates for the children and A table Deacon Aldus is desired and deputed to doe what is necesary in that respect.

22. H. 1683 . Assembled Insi Fuller Dea Aldus Serg* EUic Serg* Pond Serg*^ Metcalfe Willi Auery Nath Stearnes with the Reu*^ Elders to order & dispose of the money giuen by Doct Willi Avery for the vse" of A lattin Schooll

Ensi Tho Fuller Serg' Daniel Pond and Sergt Tho Metcalfe are desired and impowered w'^ the Rev'^ elders and Select men to take care of and to dispose of the money aboue said so as it maybe secure and improued for the end mentioned.

What the annual income of this gift added to the master's salary, no record discloses. Dr. Avery's hope that it would be increased by other donations was not realized. The name of the Avery School in East Dedham is all that now remains to remind us of his liberality.

After the danger from Indian hostilities ceased , the settlers were more widely scattered, and it was not easy for all to enjoy the privileges of education at one school. This led to some complaints about the mode of taxation, and an attempt was made to equalize the burdens.

At A general! meeting of the Inhabitants 10-1-1684-5- This Day the Committee chosen 1-11-1684 to consider of Some just and equiall way, whereby to raise the schoolemasters Sallary did present their thouts in Severall queries or propositions which being seueraly scaned and considered the inhabitants did vote as followeth viz ' 1 That the one half of the Schoole charges as well for quality as for quantity shall be raised upon the ratable estate of our inhabitants whether nearer to the school or further of.

2 that all such persons as dwell within one mile and a quarter from the School haveing male children shall pay for each such child five shillings A year from six years old to twelve years old

3 that those that dwell within two miles and A halfe of the Schoole and beyond the mile and quarter: shall pay two shillings six penc A year for their male childrin from seaven years old to twelve years old.

4 that gramer scholeres shall be rated and pay to the Schoole five shillings p head more than english scholers that dwell within A mile and quarter of the schoole.

5. that those inhabitants that dwell more than two miles and A halfe from the schoole shall be freed from all charge of rates vpon their childrens heades for the school vntel they shall receive benefit thereby, and then shall be rated and pay as those within A mile and quarter : alewayes prouided that such childrin be taken care of, so as they be sufficiently taught to read and wright.

6. that the one halfe of the schoole charge shall be raised vpon the heades of children according to those rules of proportion above mentioned.

A Tax bill of January 26, 1684-5, is on record wherein each inhabitant is assessed thre farthings in the pound one third to be paid in money and two thirds in come to defreyTown charges and part of the Schooll master's Sallery and the other part [of the Salary] is raised vpon the childrin.

Of Dedham, Massachusetts 29

The amounts are put opposite the parents' names to the right of the amounts on estates. Thirty-five parents are taxed for 49 children. Very soon after that the school tax was levied as before on " persons and estates."

26 August 85 . . . m'' Hinchman declares his earnest desir to be dismist from keeping the School declareing that it would be very great detrement to hime to be holden longer in it. vnto which desir of his alter serious consideration the Select men returned this Answer, viz*, that they were not willing to hold hime ; it being So much to his damiage, but desired that he would continue in that work So long as he conueaniantly could ; and further agreed to make A motion to James Thorp and to his Son peter that he, viz*, peter would keepe schooU in m' Hinkmans Stead and desired and deputed Serg* metcalfe and Nath : Stearnes to treat with them vpon that account.

14 September 85 at A general Town meeting after traineing it was proposed to the inhabitants whether they were willing that the Selectmen should agree with Peter Thorpe to keepe the Schoole to which they answer and declare by their vote that they are not willing

Mr. Henchman soon left Dedham, and some years later was the master of a writing school in Boston. His successor was Joseph Holbrook, who evidently did not enter upon his duties with the purpose of continuing a long time in the Town's service. The recorded contract is nearly all we are able to give concerning him.

22 September [1685] . . . This Day we made an agreement with m"^ Holbrook to keepe the SchooUe and to teach such children as come to reade and wright both English and latin acording to his abilety and their capasityes for the Space of one halfe year absolutly : and So much longer after the halfe year is out as he can without damiage to hime Selfe. and he is to begin the halfe yeare ihe fifth day of October which will end the fifth day of April 86 for which serve that halfe year he is to receive Seaven pounds in corn pay and five pounds in money, and so proportionabley for what time he shall continue longer in that servic.

1 11 1685 . . . The Towne beinge Indebted to m'" Joseph Holbrooke : for keepinge the school as doth appeare : three pound ten shilings the Select men order TimothyDwight to giue thoes that leagally dema[n]d it a bill to the present Constables, James Thorp and Nathaniell Chickring l-*-8^-0 in mony and 2-^-2»-0 in comon Town payment the time that the schoole was keept was seuen weekes and 3 days

Mr. Holbrook was not a graduate of Harvard College ; but perhaps he may have once been a student there. In Thatcher's Journal (Teele's Milton, p. 653), under the date Dec. 6, 1683, the author says, on returning home : "I found a College scholar VLZ. Holbrook at ray house waiting for me with whom I spent most of the afternoon." This may refer to the Dedham schoolmaster.

The next master was John Eliot. The only information concerning him is obtained from a few accounts of money and <« corne " which he received for his services.

27 10 1686 ... A bill is giuen to m' Eliot Schoolmaster to receaue of Constabl Thorp two pounds ten shilings and of Constabl Richard [s] two pound ten shilling. 5^ 0* O'* in mony.

August 19 , . . Ens Thomas Fuller p''sent a bill under the hand of m"^ Jn° Eliot Late schoolem'^ wherin m' Eliot owne the receipt of twenty shillings in silver of Ens Tho : Fuller as a part of the money due to him

This John Eliot was the son of Rev. John Eliot of Xewton, and grandson of the apostle to the Indians. He was born April 28, 1667 ; was fitted for college by Gen. Daniel Gookin, and graduated at Harvard College in 1685 ; was an attorney at Windsor, Connecticut ; a speaker of the House of Deputies, and Judge of the Harvard County court. He died March 25, 1719. [See Sibley's " Harvard Graduates," Vol. HI, page 339.]

At this time it was extremely difBcult to obtain a Latin master, and rather than be entirely without a school, the ser~ vices of Thomas Battelle were again obtained for two months, December and January, 1790-1. Under the circumstances, this was the best the town could do, and yet it was not satisfactory to all. The selectmen recorded the result as follows :

We presume that when ' ' brother Morse " informed the Court that so good a man as Thomas Battelle had been employed a part of the year, the good intentions of the town were appreciated, and no fine was imposed for its seeming neglect.

It is proper to say here that Mr. Battelle was much esteemed as a citizen, and was often called to engage in public affairs. He married Mary, the daughter of Joshua Fisher, September .5^ 1648 ; became a freeman in 1654 ; died February y, 1706, and in the record is styled " the aged."

Agreed With Joseph Lord to keepe y® Schoole one halfe yeare the time to begin in y^ 4 day of August 1 691 for which seruice he is to haue foure pound in money and eight pound ten shillings in corne at price currant.

Mr. Lord was born in Charlestown, and had just graduated at Harvard College. He taught in Dedham two years ; afterwards was ordained, and in 1697 went with his Church to Dorchester, South Carolina, where he died in 1748.

6**^ 5 : 1691 . . . Tho Medcalf is Desired and appoynted to agree with Si"^ Lord of Charlstown to keep y® schoole in this Towne for one yeare.

Tiie next contract for School-keeping was made with John "Woodward, August 26, 1693, for " one quarter of the yeare and to recaive mony two pounds and in corn fower pound five shilings." He began his work Sept. 4, 1693, and continued to keep the School two years, as long evidently as he could be retained. He was the son of Peter and Mehitabell Woodward, born in Dedham December 7, 1671, and fitted for college in "the Dedham "Latin School," under the instruction of Master Man ; graduated from Harvard College in 1693 ; was ordained at Norwich, Connecticut, December 6, 1699 ; married Mrs. Sarah Rowell, 1703; was dismissed September 13, 1716 because of a controversy in his Church respecting the Saybrook Platform ; retired to a farm in East Haven, where he died in 1746.

December 31, 1694 ... It was also proposed to the Town whither thay will raise maintinance for the Schoole only upon persons and estates of the inhabitance. this was voated in the affirmative.

With a few exceptional years, this had been the method of raising the schoolmaster's salary from the beginning. The school-house built in 1649, had served its purpose, and before quite completing its half century of educating and guarding the Town, gave place to an edifice of simpler construction. Its main features, though not its dimensions, may be learned from the following record. According to a preliminary agreement, made August 26, 1693, it was to be built the same length and breadth, and " windowes as extensive as the old School House."

march the 8 1 694-5. Assembled Sarg* Samuell Guild Daniel Fishar Nathaniell BuUard and William Avery To goe threw with the agreement with John Baker conserning the Schoole house & doe agree that the Said John Baker Shall goe on and build the Schoole house finding all timber bords claueboards Shingles naills glasse brick stone & clay. & borde the outside & clauebord the Inside & make it close warme and desent suitable to such a Schoole house & to make one doore & two windowes containing twelue foots of glasse also a good

Of Dedham, Massachusetts 33

Stone Chimny nine foots between gams and to carry it out of the house with good brick twelue cors of brick aboue the house & to find whatsoeuer else is nesecery & to finish said house to the turning of the kay and the aboue said house to be finished by the first of June 1695 Excepting the upar flore & claubording the Inside which flore clauebording is also to be finished by the twenty fifth day of October next after the date herof for and in consideration of this aboue written we the Select men of Dedham doe agree in the behalfe of the towne that the abouesaid John Baker shall Receiue of the Town of Dedham twenty shilings in mony att the time when said School house is raised and fine teen pounds ten shilings att the twenty fifth day of february next to be payed in corn in Rye at four shiling per bushel & Indian corn at three shilings par bushell & so much as shall be payed of this fifteen pounds ten shilings in mony the Said John Baker shall abate one fourth part thereof he is also to Receiue the old Schoole house with what belongs thereto & the Stone & clay of the Towns lying by it the aboue said mony and corn to be payed to John Baker to him his Heyers or Sussesers To oblige to the faithfull parformance of the whole above written we have here unto set our hands this aight day of March 1694-5 John Baker

The first schoolhouse was sometimes so cold as to interrupt the school ; the new one, with its fire-place " nine foots between gams," could be warmed if the supply of wood did not fail. The question of ventilation would also give no trouble. The new house with its " inside clauebording," and chimney "nine foots between gams," was first occupied by " Sir "Joseph Morse, who had just received his degree from Harvard College in 1695. The covenant with him is brief, as long usage had established the general duties and obligations of schoolmasters.

August 28 1695 . . , This day the Select men have agreed with Joseph Mors to keep the Schoole for which he is to Receive of the Town after the Rate of twenty five pounds by the year whereof aight pounds is to be mony the other Seventeen pounds corn Rye at four shilings per bushell & Indian corn att three shilings per bushell

After teaching a year in Dedham, Mr. Morse preached for a time to the Indians in some part of the Connecticut Colony ; but finally returned to " Punkapoag Plantation," now Canton, and was ordained pastor of the church there October 30, 1717. He died November 29, 1732, in the sixty-first year of his age, and was buried in the old Canton cemetery.

At this time the public interest in education manifested itself in an effort to endow the school with real estate. The manner in which this laudable work was carried out is best described by the following record :

March the 16 1695-6. The propriators of the common lands belonging to this Town of Dedham being met according to their appoyntment and notis given at the Generall Town meeting the second day of this Instant March to consider what might be nesessary to be done for the securing and regulating of their propriaty

It was then, proposed to the Said propriator, Whither they will Grant a tract or parcell of upland medow & swamp to the Quantity of three hundred acres to be wholly to the use and benefit of a Schoole toward the maintinance thereof in this Town of Dedham in that tract of land neer Sudbery of the best of their land medow & swamp there that which may be most prophitable towards the maintinance of a Schoole which they will lay out order and Improve to that end by a commity which they will Chose and appoynt to that work this was granted in the afirmative.

Accordingly the propriator choose a Commity to lay out Said tract or parcell of land for the benefit of the Schoole. the Commity Chosen are Cap* Timothy Dwight, Jonathan Gay and John Smith

The school farm was laid out ; but we shall soon find that as land it did not prove to be a source of much revenue. At least it was not deemed best to retain the property in that form, and there is no proof that any income was ever received from it as a farm.

Of Dedham, Massachusetts 35

Assembled ( Serg* Thomas Metcalfe Tohn Fuller f Cpipptrnpn November: 16 1696 | Leu^ Samvell Guild & William Avery \ "^^^^^^l"'^" The above said Select men in behalfe of the Town of Dedham Agreed with m'' Samuel Whitman to keep the Schoole this present year for which service as Schoole master being dvly performed the Said m"" Samvell Whitman is to Receive of the Town twenty five pounds in money in two eqvall payments the first after six monthes Schooling the second after the year is expired Said schoole master began to keep the Schoole the third week in November 1696 -1.363813

Mr. Whitman tau2fht the school about a year and a half. He had graduated from Harvard College in 1696. After leaving Dedham he was employed in teaching the grammar school of Salem in 1699. In 1706 he was ordained pastor of the church in Farmington, Connecticut. He was a Fellow of Yale College from 1724 to 1746, and died in August, 1751, aged 75. As a minister of the gospel he was eminent for his ability, zeal, and usefulness.

The custom seems to be now established of employing in the school men of liberal education, capable of fitting boys for college. Their terms of service were not long ; but the school was doubtless managed with a good degree of uniformity. When we consider the character of the men as shown by their life work, we cannot doubt the excellence of their labors, and the value of their influence on the young people of Dedham.

The next teacher was a young man who had just graduated from Harvard, and claimed to be a descendant of that John Fox, whose Book of Martyrs has made his name familiar.

July the 8 [1698] . . m"^ John Fox is agreed with to keep the Schoole and began that work the 29 of August & to receive 25 lb & keep him a hors

June 22 : 1700 . . . This day upon Reckoning with m'^ John Fox Schoolemaster for keeping Schoole in Dedham one year and three quarters and there remaines due to Said Schoole master six pounds & fifteen Shilling thirteen thereof is for keeping his hors at his own charge ordained as successor of his father October 14, 1703, and died December 12, 1756, in his seventy-seventh year. His long ministry of over fifty years may indicate that the town acted wisely in agreeing " to keep him a hors." He was, however, of a hardy stock. His mother died in her ninety-ninth year, being the widow of Col. Jonathan Tyng. Mr. Fox published a discourse on the earthquake of 1728.

Under Master Fox the school entered a new century. It had belonged to the 17th ; it had passed through the privations and dangers peculiar to that century of New England life ; it now emerged into the eighteenth century, where there was more of security, and consequently, of stability also. It has been progressive, and we may be confident that it will continue to advance as the town itself grows in population and wealth.

It will be appropriate here to say a few words concerning the text books of that period. The Arithmetics of the early schools were very unlike the modern books of that name. They contained no problems for the pupils to solve. Under each rule one or two examples were fully explained ; and the teacher furnished others to exercise the learner's skill. So every schoolmaster had to be equipped with one or more manuscript books of " Sums " which he could set for his scholars. These were doubtless the product of his own busy school days, when he learned in order that he might teach others. The Arithmetic of Robert Record, enlarged and printed in 1630, was used by Master Michael Metcalf, as before stated.

Before the year seventeen hundred but few books were used in the school. Reading was learned by the beginners from the ' ' English Primer," which contained among other things a prayer of Edward VI ; verses by John Rogers, the martyr ; and the Westminster Catechism. This book cost four pence. After the Primer, the Psalter was read, and by the older scholars the Testament and the Bible. The intense desire of the Puritans that their children should be able to read and understand the holy scriptures caused the Bible to hold a prominent place in the school. It was not only read, but carefully studied. As the children heard it daily quoted in their homes, where religious doctrines were a constant theme of discussion, they took more interest in it than in any other book ; and so, by studying it in the school, laid the foundations of that knowledge which gave them a just appreciation of the religious privileges which were the pride and the safeguard of the State.

The oldest spelling book I have seen makes a part of a small volume printed in 1720, probably in Boston, under this title: "The Youth's Instructor in the Eno-lish Tongue." Besides spelling it treats of penmanship and reading, both prose and poetry ; devotes several pages to arithmetic, business forms, and Bills of Exchange. As the first thirty-two pages are missing, the author's name cannot be determined ; but to his credit it may be said that the work is well composed and contains a larger amount of useful information than is often found in a school book of its size. Certainly, if boys and girls mastered its contents, they would not be very deficient in the three r's. Their knowledge of penmanship would be most thorough, such as we often see exhibited in old manuscripts that almost defy imitation. Writing in those days was treated as a fine art, and was interesting because ornamental. It is certainly a step backward towards barbarism to leave out of penmanship all considerations of beauty and treat it only as a matter of mere utility.

In some schools and probably in that of Dedham, " The English Schoole Master " was, in a literary sense, the highest book in reading. This contained some of the best literary material of that century in both prose and verse, and resembled in a degree the school readers of the present day.

A work on arithmetic by James Hodder was in common use in New England. Leybourn's Arithmetic also had its career in the Colonial schools. But there is nothing to indicate that these books were owned by many of the scholars who learned the art chiefly by ' ' working the sums " setby the masters.

" Oldcastle's Book Keeping" was the principal authority in the early schools ; and no doubt Thomas Battelle was guided by this work in teaching the Dedham youth "to cast accounts." In Latin, Brinsley's or Cheever'a Accidence prepared the way for Eutropius, Caesar, Cicero and Virgil, and the course was continued till the bo}" could be honestly recommended to the College.

How one man could teach such a range of studies we can hardly imagine. He would certainly have little time for moral suasion in managing his subjects, and we can easily excuse him if he did lubricate the wheels of school government somewhat freely with the " oil of birch." However, the school day was long; in summer it probably began at seven A. M., and ended at five P. M., with an intermission of an hour; in winter, or from the first of November to the first of March, the hours were from eight to four. These were the hours in the Salem Grammar School, according to Felt's Annals, and no doubt there was a general uniformity in the schools of the Colony. But we have reason to believe that the younger pupils were general!}' sent home at an earlier hour, and the grammar scholars recited their lessons undisturbed in the last half of the afternoon session. They did not regard this as a hardship, such was their zeal for learning. Besides, their fathers and elder brothers were toiling more hours every day, and doing severer work in felling the forest and preparing the fields for cultivation.

A desire to derive an income from the " schoole farme" induced the town to put it upon sale March 13, 1699, "for money to be improved for the benefit of the schoole."

It was put to the Towne whither thay will choos a commity of three men to make sale of said schoole farme and give deed of convaiance & receive the money for it in the behalfe of the Town to be delivered by the said committy to such as the Town shall appoynt to Receive said money that it may be Improved wholy for the benifit of a Schoole in Dedham towards the maintinance thereof this was answered in the afirmative the Commity choosen thereunto are Sargt Daniell Fisher John Baker and Sargt Eleazer Kingsbery.

Of Dedham, Massachusetts

In accordance with this vote the committee sold the school farm of 300 acres to Jonathan Gay for fifty pounds. The deed of conveyance is dated Jan. 1, 1699-700, "the 12th year of his the northwest angle of the present town of Wellesley, about a mile from Wellesley College, and in 1890 was owned by Abel and Herbert Stevens of Wellesley. The accompanying plan is from a survey made in 1 755, by John Jones of Dedham, the owner at that time being Jeremiah Gay.

But the desire of the town to increase the income of the school fund was soon overpowered by sympathy for an unfortunate townsman. The following record is too expressive of old fashioned benevolence to be omitted.

May 13:1700.. The Town taking into Consideration the great loss whitch Timothy Whiting hath suffered by the burning of his Corn mill, have Granted to the said Timothy Whitting the use of five & twenty pounds of the money which is to be received in part of pay for the schoole farme, provided he give good securytie for the Same to the Commity appoynted to make Sale of said farme for the use of Town toward the maintinance of a Schoole, and that the said Timothy shall have the Improvement of said money for this present year without paying any use or rent for the Same.

In March, 1702, the town voted to place the money received from the sale of the school farm in the hands of the same committee which managed the Avery fund. If there had been no waste the united fund was then one hundred and ten pounds, and it enabled the town to increase the master's salary, as they still continued to raise by tax not less than twenty pounds annually for the support of the school. William Avery, Lieut. Samuel Guild and Nathanael Gay at that time were the trustees of the money.

The agreement with John Prentice was ratified by a vote of the town March 26, 1701. The recipient of this increased salary, £20 having been the previous stipend, had just graduated from Harvard College, and being a native of Newton, he may have lodged in that town and ridden to and from his work in Dedham daily. Nor did he soon weary of his employment, as will appear from the following record of a selectmen's meeting :

This 27th day of October, 1704 Reckoned with M"^ John Prentice Schoole master on account of his Keeping school in Dedham four years past the fourth yeare ending the 24th day of this Instant October and their remains Due to said JVP' John Prentice on account of said four year Keeping School twenty five pounds one shilling and three pence 25;^-P-3^

To Comfort Starr to receive of Nathanael Kingsbury, constable out of the Town Rate, seven shillings for making a doore to the Schoole house, and cupbard, lock, and snips bills.

Of Dedham. Massachusetts 41

The " snips bills," at a later day called " sni-bills," formed a sort of hinge, consisting of two iron pins resembling snipe's bills, looped together. This hinge made large was used to fasten the body of the ox-cart to the axle. In the case recorded they were doubtless the hinges of the cupboard door.

June 30th 1705 This day Reckoned with mr John Prentice Schoole master on account of the time the said Schoole Master has kept the schoole since the former Reckoning upon the first day of this Instant June, and there is Due to him upon that account thirty-five shillings - 01-15-00.

This closed five years of Mr. Prentice's service in Dedham. He began to preach in Lancaster, Mass., in 1705 ; was ordained pastor of the Church there March 20, 1708 ; and, after a successful ministry of forty years, died January 6, 1746, aged sixty-six years. That he was an able man is shown by the fact that he was chosen to preach the election sermon in 1735. The Rev. John Hancock, in a sermon before the people of Lancaster, said :

Mr. John Prentice, having obtained help of God, administered unto you for the space of forty years - he was a burning and shining light, and you rejoiced in the light for a long season.

A more extended account of his ministry and life may be found in the history of Lancaster. His father, Thomas Prentice, was said to have been one of Cromwell's body guard, and died in 1722, aged ninety-three years.

July 9th 1705 Assembled Nathanaell Gay Amos Fisher Benjamin Colburn & William Avery Selectmen and did this day agree with Sir Partrigg to Keepe the Schoole one year In Dedham & said Partrigg Schoole Master is to Receive twenty eight pounds for his labor in Keeping the schoole one year : said work being duly performed said School master began to Keep the schoole upon the twelfth day of this Instant July 1705 graduated at Harvard College, 1705; and died in September, 1717. He taught the Dedham school two or three years. Where he spent the remainder of his life we have not been able to ascertain ; but there are reasons for supposing that he continued to be a teacher in the towns of the Connecticut valley, and that he ended his days in the town of Springfield.

The Rev. John Prentice of Lancaster returned to the Dedham School in 1707, and was employed till July 1st of that year, as we infer from the fact that a bill for teaching school to that date was paid by the town February 27, 1708.

He was succeeded by Daniel Baker, the son of John Baker of Dedham, who was born April 18, 1686, and graduated at Harvard College in 1705. He taught in Dedham until April, 1709 ; and in 1712 was ordained as the assistant of the Rev. Daniel Gookin of Sherborn, Mass. He married Mary Quincy, the daughter of the Hon. Edmund Quincy of Braintree. In the language of a contemporary, " he was a gentleman of bright natural parts, much improved by acquired knowledge, and powerful in preaching." He died in Sherborn, May 14, 1731.

Elisha Calleuder, son of the Rev. Ellis Callender of Boston, graduated at Harvard College in 1710, and taught in Dedham about two years. In 1718, he was ordained as pastor of the first Baptist Church in Boston, as his father's successor. The two Mathers, and IVIr. Webb of the North Church joined in the service. Cotton Mather preaching the sermon entitled " Good men united." After serving the church twenty years, Mr. Callender died March 31, 1738, " beloved by people of all persuasions on account of his charitable and catholic way of thinking."

Of Dedham, Massachusetts 43

His term of service was short, closing the same year it began, and we are not able to give any account of his subsequent life, which is supposed to have ended in 1715.

He was one of the most brilliant young men of his time, and must have been a person of rare attractions to the citizens of Dedham. If the records are trustworthy, that he was born December 13, 1696, he was only eighteen days over sixteen years old when he took charge of the Dedham Grammar School. Being the grandson of Increase Mather and nephew of the famous Cotton Mather, and also the son of Nehemiah Walter, the admired colleague and successor of the Apostle Eliot, Thomas Walter had inherited rare abilities, and these had been developed by studj^ and uncommon social advantages. He received his degree iroiw Harvard College some months after coming to Dedham, that is, in 1713. He remained in Dedham as a teacher about a year and a half ; but it is evident that he continued to frequent the tov;^n, for on the 25th of December, 1718, two months after he had, by the unanimous desire of the church, been ordained as his father's colleague in the ministry of Roxbury, he carried off from Dedham, as his grand prize, Rebecca Belcher, the minister's daughter.

He Avas an excellent musician, and in 1721 published *' Grounds and Rules of Music Explained," the first singing book "printed, with bars, in America." In his introduction to the work, he said that he had seen a congregation (was it in Dedham?) where the singing sounded " like j^ye hundred different Tunes roared out at the same Time." Several editions of this book were printed, the last in 1764.

man Nehemiah, I was acquainted with, and often had occasion to admire for the superlative excellence of his natural and acquired accomplishments. He died in the prime of life : otherwise he would have been more known in the world as one of the first in New England of our truly great men." His death occurred January 10, 1724, just after he had completed his 27th year. Cotton Mather preached his funeral sermon.

This refers to the Rev. Ebenezer Gay, D. D., born in Dedham, August 15, 1696, son of Nathaniel and Lydia (Starr) Gay, adopted daughter of Eleazer Lusher. He graduated from Harvard College in 1714, and began to teach in Dedham a few days before he had completed his eighteenth year. He was early distinguished for his scholarship, and maintained that reputation through a very long life. Gov. Burnet said that, " Among the clergy of Massachusetts, Mr. Bradstreet of Charlestown and Mr. Gay of Hingham had the most erudition." His long ministry was exercised in the famous old Hingham Church which in this year 1904 is still standing. It was sixty-eight years and nine months from his ordination to the day of his death, March 18, 1787 ; and if we add the time he preached in Hingham before his ordination, his ministry to one people will fall short of seventy years by a few months only.

Though Dr. Gay's ministry was a long one, his term of service in the Dedham school was short, and the characteristic entry in the Town Book thus announces his successor : -

This was Perez Bradford, the son of Samuel Bradford of Duxbury, and great grandson of Gov. William Bradford of Plymouth. He graduated at Harvard College in 1713 and was a teacher in Dedham only half a year. But this short residence here was not without some good influence on his fortunes ; for on May 14, 1720, the Rev. Joseph Belcher . recorded that he married Mr. Perez Bradford and Mrs. Abigail Belcher. So the teacher carried away the minister's oldest daughter to Attleboro, where he was much in public life ; and, after being a member of the Council of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, he died June 19, 1746.

Benjamin Bass of Braintree, the son of Joseph and Mary (Belcher) Bass, graduated in 1715 ; and according to the Dedham Town Book began to keep the school "on y^ first day of Jul}^ 1715," and he continued this employment with great acceptance for two years. In 1728 he was ordained as the first minister of Hanover, Mass. He was prudent, diligent, devoted and beloved, and possessed a rare faculty for interesting the children of his flock. He never passed a child on the road without a kind word ; and the school children were so fond of him that, on his approach, they woul4 arrange themselves in a row, and as he passed, greet him with bows and courtesies. Mr. Bass was somewhat famous for his wit. He received a call to settle at Eel River in Plymouth ; and when one asked him whether he should accept it, he replied, " No ; Eel River may do for small fish, but it is not large enough for a Bass." This excellent man lived sixty-two years and died May 23,1756.

In the year 1717 the difiiculty of sending to one school from all parts of the expanding town began to call for a remedy. At a general meeting May 13, 1717,

It was further proposed to the town if [it] be their mind to have the school Removed to seuerall parts of thes town, voted in the affirmative. It was also proposed to chose a committy of 3 men to consider and propose what is proper and conuenient as to the places and time to haue sd school removed and the comity chosen by vote were Joseph Smith Amos fisher sen and John Gay tailor

It was proposed to the town if it be their mind to grant an Assessment of forty pounds for the maintainance of y® school voted in the affirmative.

From this last vote we infer that a migratory school was expected to be more expensive than a permanent one. Who was to lead it forth on its wanderings? Certainly not Sir Bass. What wit he would have expended on the new departure, we can only guess. Let the record tell us who is to initiate the change.

William Bullard and Joseph Wight are desired to procure a school master to keep the school. Sir Belcher began to keep the school on the 18 day of Nou 1717

This was Joseph Belcher, Jr., the Dedham minister's son, who had just graduated from Harvard College. He began his work in the schoolhouse near the meeting-house and his own home, before that stone fire-place " nine foots between gams." But he was not to enjoy such generous means of warmth all winter. The Select men held a meeting Jan. 13, 1717-18, and made this record :

Whereas the town haue granted to haue the school remoued to several parts of this town, this day seuerall persons come to the select men and desired of them that the school should be removed to the house of James Fisher from the 20 day of this Jan to the general meeting in march next : the selectmen have giuen their consent that it may be so.

So the schoolmaster went to Clapboard trees in mid-winter, and was doubtless hospitably received, as the pioneer of his class in a part of the town where good teachers have always been appreciated. Sir Belcher never complained of his fate or fare, and probably enjoj^ed the variety of scene which enlivened his hours of relaxation. It will not be desirable to follow the school in all its removals. Mr. Belcher journeyed with it till the spring of 1721. His last engagement for 1720-1 was at forty pounds a year, to begin the eleventh day of July. In the following record the word " dismissed" probably means released.

Of Dedham. Massachusetts 47

His successor was John Wight, who was born in Dedham, April 22, 1699, and graduated from Harvard College in 1721. He then began his work of teaching, and probably studied divinity with the Dedham minister. This he continued till 1726, as appears by the records, dividing his time among three portions of the town ; one-half the year at the school near the meeting-house, and the other half in equal parts at "Clapboardtrees," or West Dedham, and East street. He married Mary Pond of Dedham in 1728, and was ordained at New Marblehead (now Windsor), Maine, December 8, 1743. "Much of his pastorate," says a local historian, "was spent with his people, shut up together with their families in the old Blockhouse, or Province Fort. He lived fifty-three years, and his descendants are numerous." The following curious record testifies that he was not so well content with his remuneration as the people were with his services :

Dec y^ 12*'^ 1726. Assembled y® select men and did desire Jeremiah Fisher to treat with M"^ Wight schoolmaster in order to know whether he will accept of the sum of forty pound p year for his keeping y^ school in the Town for the time past, and also whether he will Still go on to keep y^ School for the said sum of forty pound p year. And if He refuses so to do The Select men did Authorize and impower the Said Jeremiah Fisher forthwith to procure another schoolmaster.

The Select men allso did Agree with Mr. [D]wight that his son should keepe y® schoole in this town after the Rate of fourty pounds per year who began to keep the School december the 19 1726.

The person here referred to, Daniel Dwight, son of Michael and Eachael (Avery) Dwight, was born October 28 , 1707, and graduated at Harvard College in 1726. He taught the Dedham school occasionally for several years, and did not close his labors till 1743. He died July 4, 1747, aged 39. "The Boston Weekly News-Letter" of Thursday, July 16, 1747, says in an obituary notice, dated at Dedham, July 5 : -

Yesterday died here in the 40th year of his age, after a few days sickness of a very maUgnant Fever, that valuable gentleman, Mr. Daniel Dwight. He had a liberal education, was designed for the ministry, and preached occasionally, tho' never setled in that work, and had for Years past laid aside the tho'ts of following that employment, and had engaged in other Business. He was a gentleman of real merit, . , . of a most benevolent Temper ; charitable, peaceable ; a Lover of good Men of whatever Denomination ; a steady faithful Friend, and always ready to do Acts of Kindness to every one that stood in need. . . . As he lived esteemed and desired by those that were most intimately acquainted with him, so his Death is greatly lamented.

In 1726, that part of Dedham which is now Dover, began to have a school of its own supported by the town, as appears by the following record of May 11, 1726 : it was put to the town wether they will Grant a sum of money for the Support of a School in the we[s]terly part of the town agreable to one parregraft in a petititison [xzV] therefor wich was answered in the affirmetive and the money Granted was five pounds.

& Lastly it was proposed wether the town would Chose Eleazer Ellis senor & Nathaniell Chickring a Comitte to Recieue y® said money out of the town treasurey & to take Care that it be improued for Said use.

In this vote of the town we see the germ of the schooldistrict and the district committee. That this germ became a vigorous plant, we know from its widespread and abundant fruits. Another donation was received by the school, but no record of the amount has been found. The fact is recorded on March 6, 1727, as follows : -

It was this day proposed to the Town whether it be there mind that the Money given to the Town by Robart Avery Lately Deceased should be Delivered into the hands of the feffees of the Schoole Money Voted in the affirmitive.

Of Dedham, Massachusetts 49

Feb 27, 1732-3 The Feoffees of the schoole Money (viz) Jabez Pond John Gay & John Metcalfe in their capasety Received of Maj'" Jeremiah Fisher & M'' Michel Dwight Trustees for Dedhams part of y® fifty thousand pound loan the sum of sixty one pound seventeen shillings & five pence, being in full what is due from them to the Town on that accoumpt & they and their heirs are hereby fully discharged from the same as appears by a voate of the Town May 15, 1732.

April the 1 : 1728 M' Bridgham Schoole master began to Keep the School in the Schoole House near the meeting House by order of the Selectmen.

James Bridgham was born in Boston, March 21, 1707; graduated at Harvard in 1726 ; Avas ordained in 1736 at Brimfield, Mass., where he was a pastor forty years ; and died September 19, 1776. "A man of respectable talents, an evangelical preacher, and remembered with affectionate esteem." - [Hyde's History of Brimfield, p. 94.]

The shortness of Mr. Bridgham's term is known by the fact that Mr. Dwight resumed his charge of the school on the 13th of the next month. He continued to be the only teacher in the town till the time of the following record : -

December y® 14*^ 1730 [the selectmen] gave order to y^ Town Treasurer to pay M"^ Daniel Dwight, Schoolemaster y^ sum of sixtythree pounds nineteen Shillings in full for what is due to him for keeping schoole in Dedham & this day Mr Dwight ceased keeping y® School in y® town.

the selectmen agreed to desier Mr. Jeremiah Fisher to keep the school in this town for y® present who began on february 22 1730-31 to keep y® school in y® east part of y® town.

He was the son of Jeremiah and Deborah Fisher of Dedham, born September 3, 1704; graduated at Harvard 1726: married Elizabeth Cook of Boston ; died in 1752.

This teacher, according to the custom of his time, did his work in three different places. The following vote, March 7^ 1725-6, will explain the system of removals which prevailed : -

It was put to the town if it be thare mind that the Gramer School shall be kept one-half of the year in the town near the meeting hous half the said time in the winter season and the other half in the summer season & the other half of the year in y® places where it hath been Last stated Voted in the affirmatiue

& further it was put to the town wetther they would Leave it with y^ select men to set the time when y* school should begin and when it shall End in the same places which allso was Voted in the affirmitiue.

April the 4*^ 1726, . The selectmen allso ordered the School to be kept at y® place where it now is [Jabez Pond's] for six weeks next & then to be kept in the Clabrdtrees near John Richarde's hous six weekes and then in the town near the meeting hous for half one year.

In June, 1733, Mr. Marsh was re-engaged for the second time, and to begin at the school house near Clapboardtrees. It seems reasonable to infer that the residents of West Dedham had erected a school house for themselves ; another step towards the development of a district system. East Street also appears to have erected their own school house, as we infer from the fact that on Oct. 21, 1734, Mr. Marsh is engaged to begin at the Clapboard tree school house, if fit ; if not, at the school near Chamberlain's (East Street). After four years of faithful and acceptable service, Mr. Marsh "lays down the school" March 12, 1734-5. He was born in Hingham, Jan. 20, 1711, and graduated at Harvard College in 1731. He was Librarian of the College from 1737 to 1741 ; a tutor in the same from 1741 to January 9, 1766, when he married Hannah Sprague and retired from his office because a tutor was required by the College laws to reside in the College building night and day. Removing to Watertown, he died there September 22, 1780.

March y^ 10"* assembled y® Select men & Desired John Metcalfe to Endeavor to Procure A Schoole Master as soon as may be, M' Marsh haveing Lately laid down keepeing y^ schoole.

March y^ 18*^ 1734-5 Perseuent to the above Desire I agreed with M' Seath Adams of Milton to keepe y® schoole in Dedham one year for Sixty Pound he is to begin on Monday y^ 24"* of this Instant March att y® Schoole House near y^ Meeting House.

Seth Adams was the son of Edward Adams, graduated at Harvard in 1733, and was a teacher in Dedham about a year. He had a common ancestry with President John Adams and Governor Samuel Adams ; died June 26, 1736.