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A    )         X    <C o'
HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL,
OR,'The Free Schoole of 1645 in Roxburie."
WITH
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
MINISTERS OF THE FIRST CHURCH, AND OTHER TRUSTEES.
BY
C. K. DILLAWAY,
Secretary of the Board of Trustees.
ROXBURY:
JOHN   BACKUP.
1860.




Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1860,
BY JOHN BACKUP,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts
J. M. Hewes, Printer, 81 Cornhill, Boston.




TO THE
REV. GEORGE PUTNAM, D. D.
PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES,
THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED
BY HIS
FRIEND OF MANY YEARS,
THE AUTHOR.








PREFACE.
AT a recent meeting of the Trustees of the Grammar
School it was voted "That a History of the School should
be prepared, setting forth its origin, objects and relations."
It was also voted " That the Secretary be requested to
prepare such a History."
In compliance with this request the following pages
have been written.  The materials have been gathered
from various sources, chiefly from the Records of the Trustees. These, since 1789, have been faithfully kept, and
furnish sufficient information of the growth of the school
during the seventy years succeeding that date.
For the period from 1645 to 1789, an important one,
because affording an account of the origin of the school, of
the zealous efforts of its early patrons to sustain it, the
Colonial legislation in its behalf, &c., they were not found
so complete as could be desired. All their deficiencies,
however, have been fully supplied by the Records of the
First Church and of the Town of Roxbury, the Collections
of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Winthrop's His



vi                     PREFACE.
tory of New England, and other authentic works relating
to the early settlers in Massachusetts.
The writer is indebted for many interesting facts to descendants of past Trustees, especially to the Rev. Dr.
Charles Lowell, Dr. Wm. R. Lawrence, Mrs. S. F.
McCleary, Messrs. A. A. Lawrence and J. Wingate
Thornton.
The History of an Institution which for more than two
centuries has furnished our colleges with so many brilliant
scholars, and which numbers among its graduates some of
the most eminent men in the highest occupations of life,
cannot be without interest to our citizens who have so
long enjoyed its benefits.
When we consider the present high character of the school,
and what its prospective wealth will enable the Trustees to
accomplish at no very distant day, we cannot fail to regard
with reverence the wisdom and liberality of its Puritan
founders. They have left us a rich inheritance; may it
never be said that through any neglect or indiscretion of
its guardians, it has failed  to  answer its beneficent
purpose.
ROXBBURY, MARCH 1, 1860.




CONTENTS.
Page
CHAP.   I. Its Foanders and Early Patrons,..          7
II. The Records,.....   14
III.  The Feoffees-Meeting of Donors, &c..   25
IV. Covenant with the Teacher,...   30
V.  Colonial Legislation,....   33
VI. Thomas Bell,....   38
VII. Leases, Rents, &c..  40
VIII. Leases for Five Hundred Years, and what
became of them,.....  48
IX.  Grant of Land near Oxford, Worcester
County, and what became of it-Suits
to recover Rents,.              55
X.  Other Leases, and the information gathered from them,.. 58
XI. Trustees of Mr. Bell's Will —xtracts
from their Records,...          62
XII. The Old Writing Book,... 68
XIII. The New Regime,...  70
XIV.  Compensation of Teachers-Further Extracts from the Records-Answer to Petitioti of Moses Davis,.. 75
XV. The Policy of Long Leases,...         82
XVI. The Action of the City Authorities and
the Trustees for the Establishment of
an English High School,... 89
XVII. The School Committee and the Trustees,    96
XVIII. The School in 1859-60,...100




V111                     CONTENTS.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Thomas Weld,...                                   111
John Eliot,                                                113
Samuel Danforth,...127
Nehemiah Walter,....130
Thomas Walter,...  136
Oliver Peabody,........137
Amos Adams,........137
Eliphalet Porter,....139
Increase Sumner,..                                   142
Isaac Heath,.........145
Thomas Bell,....147
Judge Lowell,.....  148
John Lowell,........160
William Mead,....165
John Bowles,'....167
Joseph Dudley,....168
Paul Dudley,....170
N  OTES.
A. The Gathering of the Churches,....  173
B.  The Boston Latin School,.....      175
C.  The Ministers' Tomb,......180
D. Cotton Mather on Eliot's Anti-wig Warfare,..  181
E.  Eliot's Monument at Natick,....       182
F.  The Training Field in Roxbury,....  182
G. Eliot's Thirty Acres on Plymouth Street,.  183
H. Past Teachers,........185
I.  Legislative Act of 1789,...186
J.  Samuel Hugburne's Bequest,.....  194
K. Past Feoffees and Trustees,.....  194
L.  Daniel Gookin,........195
APPENDIX,.........197




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
CHAPTER I.
ITS FOUNDERS AND EARLY PATRONS.
" THE Free Schoole in Roxburie," now more generally known as the " Latin and English High School,"*
was founded in the middle of the seventeenth century, only fifteen years after the settlementt of Boston and thirteen after that of Roxbury.
The document of the earliest date in possession of
the Trustees is the following agreement, beautifully
written in ancient characters and dated "last of
August, 1645."
" Whereas, the Inhabitantes of Roxburie, in consideration of their relligeous care of posteritie, have
taken into consideration how necessarie the education
of theire children in Literature will be to fitt them for
public service, both in Churche and Commonwealthe,
in succeding ages.t They therefore unanimously have
consented and agreed to erect a free schoole in the
* Its corporate name is "The Grammar School in the easterly
part of the Town of Roxbury."
t See note A.
t Note B.
2




8       HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
said Towne of Roxburie, and to allow Twenty pounds
per annum to the Schoolemaster, to bee raised out of
the Messuages and part of the Lands of the severall
donors (Inhabitantes of the said Towne) in severall
proportions as hereafter followeth under theire halides.
And for the well ordering thereof they have chosen
and elected seven Feoffees who shall have power to
putt in or remove the Schoolemaster, to see to the
well ordering of the schoole and schoolars, to receive and pay the said twenty pounds per annum to
the Schoolemaster, and to dispose of any other gifte
or giftes which hereafter may or shall be given for the
advancement of learning and education of children."
[Vacancies to be filled by donors and thereafter
by Feoffees.]
[1645.]  "In consideration of the premises, the
Donors hereafter expressed for the severall proportions
or annuities by them voluntarily undertaken and underwitten, Have given and granted and by these
presents doe for themselves their heires and Asignees
respectively hereby give and grant unto the present
Feoffees, viz., Joseph Weld, John Johnson, John
Roberts, Joshua Hewes, Isaac Morrell, Thomas Lambe
and theire Successors chosen as is aforesaid, the severall rents and summes hereafter expressed under
their handes issueing and going forth of their severall
messuages lands and tenements, in Roxburie hereafter expressed. To have and to hould receive and
enjoy the said annual rents or summes to the only
use of the Free School in Roxburie, yearly payable




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.          9
at or upon the last of September by even portions:
the first portion to begin the last of September this
present yeare."
[ hen follow provisions for collecting the rents in
case of neglect or refusal to pay.]
" And for the further ratification hereof the said
donors become suitors to the General Court for the
establishment hereof by their authority and power,
always provided that none of the Inhabitantes of the
said Towne of Roxburie that shall not joyne in this
act with the rest of the Donors shall have any further
benefit thereby than other strangers shall have who
are no Inhabitantes.
In witness whereof the said Donors aforesaid have
hereunto subscribed their names and sommes given
yearly the last day of August in the year of our
Lord 1645."
~. s. d.
Mr. Thomas Dudley, for the house he
dwells in,....1 04 00
Captain Gookins, for the house he dwells
in,...... 100 00
"When Capt. Gookins leases the house
he dwells in, then the following inhabitants
who shall possess the lot adjoining thereto
are to pay ten shillings yearly, and the
possessors of the nook of land late Samuel
Scarborough's, are to pay the other ten
shillings yearly."
Signed, Thomas Dudley.




10      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
~. s. d.
Mr. Thomas Weld, for his dwelling-house,   1 04 00
Mr. John Eliot, for his dwelling-house,.  1 04 00
Signed, John Eliot.
Capt. Joseph Weld, for his house,.   1 04 00
Signed, Joseph Weld.
Mr. Hugh Prichard, for his house,.   1 04 00
Signed,  Hugh Prichard.
In like manner other names, houses or
lands, with the yearly donations against
the names.  But it is not necessary to
insert the whole. The names and sums
only will be copied.
Joshua Hewes,....             16 00
John Gore,.....       16 00
John Johnson,....            13 00
Thomas Bell,.....1 00 00
" fr. Bell at request of Mr. Eliot hath
given power to D [miceeaten] and Mr.
Eliot to make the sum of his donation
upon his farm twenty shillings,-witness
his letters dated the 22d of the third
month, 1669,-this is twenty shillings per
annum.  We the Feoffees saw this letter, and by our names testify the same,
that he giveth 20s. ye annum.  John
Eliot, Wm. Parke, Thomas Weld, John
Bowles, Robert Williams, Giles Payson."
See, also, Jeremiah Cesworth below,




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.       1
where an addition of two shillings is
made to the first sum of 13s-=15s.
s. d.
William Park,.....   13 00
Isaac Morrill,.....  12 00
Isaac Heathe,.....11 00
Thomas Lamb,....  10 00
William Dennison,....   08 00
Philip Eliot, [John Eliot, witness,]..  08 00
John Roberts,.....   08 00
George Holmes, [Robert Williams, Giles
Payson, witnesses,]....   08 00
William Cheney,.                        08 00
John Watson,..             08 00
Samuel Finch,..   06 08
John Watson,.                         04 00
Daniel B. Brewer,..              05 00
Isaac Johnson,...04 00
James Astwood,.....  04 00
John Bowles,..... 04 00
Griffin Crafts,..           04 00
John Ruggles,..... 04 00
Robert Williams,....         04 00
John Scarborough,....   04 00
Giles Payson,.....04 00
Richard Pepper,.....   04 00
Humphrey Johnson,....   04 00
Richard Moody, Sen.....   03 04
Richard Moody, Jun.....   03 04
John Moody,.....   03 04
2*




12      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
s. d.
Abraham Newell,,....  03 04
John Stonnard,.....   03 04
Edward Payson,....03 04
Robert Seaver,.....  02 06
Robert Gamlin,.....03 04
Thomas Gardiner,....  03 04
John Leavins, [Jno. Eliot, witness,]  03 04
Edward Porter,.....   02 06
Christopher Peak,....  02 06
James Morgan,.....   02 06
Richard Peacock,.....  02 00
Francis Smith,.....  02 00
Thomas Ruggles' widow,...  02 00
John Mayo,.....  02 00
Ralph Hemmingway,....  02 00
Edward Bridge,....  02 00
Abraham Howe,....  02 00
Gowen Anderson,...  02 00
Arthur Gary,.                        02 00
Edward Rugby,.                         02 00
Edward White, [Jno. Gore, witness,].  02 00
Robert Pepper,.....02 00
William Lewis, [Jno. Eliot, witness,].  02 00
Martin Stebbins, I     0
Peter Gardner,.                  0
John Scarborough,.                   02 00
Jeremiah Cesworth,*....  02 00
* See Bell's donation on page 10.




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.         13
"Mr. Bell in his time of living in Roxbury did buy out this land, and this is comprehended in Mr. Bell his donation of twenty
shillings ye annum."
s. d.
Robert Prentist, [Jno. Eliot, witness,].   02 00
Lewis Jones,.....   04 00
[64 donors,* ~21 10 08 per. an.]
Immediately after the foregoing agreement and
names of donors, is a further agreement, viz.:
[1646.]  " It is agreed by all those of the inhabitants of Roxbury as have or shall subscribe their
names or marks to this book for themselves severally
and for their respective heirs and executors, that not
only their houses, but their fields, orchards, gardens,
outhouses and homesteads shall be and hereby are
bound and made liable to and for the several sums
and rents before and hereafter in this book mentioned
to be paid by every of them. Dated this xxvIII of
December 1646."
Signed by Thomas Dudley, Thomas Weld, John
Eliot, Isaac Heath, Hugh Prichard, John Johnson,
William  Lewis, John Roberts, Gowen Anderson,
Giles Payson, Edward Porter, Thomas Gardiner.
* See note J.




14      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
CHAPTER II.
THE RECORDS.
A tradition from a remote period has been generally received by the inhabitants of Roxbury that the
ancient records of the Free School were then destroyed by fire; and another that they were lost in the
revolution of 1775, while the right wing of the American army occupied the town of Roxbury.
In December 1815, at a meeting of the Trustees of
the School, it was voted to enquire " how the lands
and funds were acquired"-the school " when founded"-and "for what purpose," as the original records have been burned or lost.
Rev. Dr. Porter, Thomas Williams, Esq., and
Deac. Munroe were the committee.
No report of this committee is on record or on file,
and the questions proposed have not received any
satIsfactory answers.
It is intended to enquire into the facts of these traditions and the questions propounded to the committee of 1815.
We have the old school book in the parchment
cover, in which is a record dated 1645.
Was the school then founded? Is that book the
earliest and original record of the school from its foundation, or is it a book afterwards compiled from such




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.       15
historical facts and documents as were known at the
time of its compilation?
The earliest document which has a bearing on these
questions is the following:
" Colony of Massachusetts Bay:
" The humble petition of the Feoffees of the School
of Roxbury to the Honorable General Court this 20th
of the 3d M. 1669. Sheweth.
" 1. That whereas the first inhabitants of Roxbury to the number of more than sixty families, well
nigh the whole town in those days, have agreed together to lay the foundation of a Grammar School for
the glory of God, the future good and service of the
Country and of the Church of Christ: and for the
particular good education of the youth of our Church
and town and for the maintainance thereof, have by
a voluntary donation given a small rent forever out of
their several habitations and homesteads, as appeareth in the records of our School book, and have settled a company of feoffees in a certain order of their
perpetual succession and given unto them full power
both to receive, gather and improve the said rents to
the end whereunto they are given, as appeareth in
the Charter.  In which way we have had a school
and gone on peaceably for many years, till of late
some interruption and opposition hath risen, which
hath awakened us to petition the Honored Court, to
ratify, confirm, and authorize the said School and
the rents due thereunto by voluntary donation, and




16      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
the feoffees who have the power to gather, order and
manage the same.
" 2d. Furthermore, whereas by divine providence
our first book and charter was burnt in the burning
of John Johnson's house, it was again with the like
voluntary consent and agreement renewed in this form
and manner as we do now present it, yet by reason of
the death of sundry of the donors and the alienation
of sundry of the tenements we are under this defect
that some of the hands of the donors are not unto
this 2d book personally which were to the first; nor
are they attainable, being dead; therefore our humble request is-that seeing it was a voluntary dedication to so pious a use, and enough still living that do
attest the same, and the payment of their several
sums for this many years, hath entitled the school in
the right thereof, that the Honored Court would please
to ratify and confirm the school's title unto those habitations and homesteads, for the rents due thereunto,
and to impower the Feoffees to receive and gather the
same, as if the names of the donors were written with
their own hands.
"3d.  Whereas there is a parcel of land many
years since given to our School, but through slackness in such public matters, the School's title to it is not
yet so sufficiently secured as were meet, and there be
left alive no more than needs might be to confirm the
same, and it is by annexing a Schedule to the will of
the deceased donor, touching a clause in his will
which was not put in when the will was proved. Our




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.         17
humble request is that by the authorities of this Court,
the Schedule and the School's title to the lands may
be ratified and confirmed; so committing you to the
Lord we rest your humble petitioners.
John Eliot.
Thomas Weld."
In answer to this petition and for the due encouragement of the School at Roxbury, this Court doth
appoint Major General Leverett, Mr. Edw. Tyng,
Mr. Stoughton and Mr. Thomas Shepard or any
three of them to be a committee to inquire into the
true state of this affair, to hear what may be said pro
and con, endeavouring within themselves an amicable
agreement and full settlement of that affair amongst
themselves; and if that cannot be obtained, to make
their report where the obstruction lies and what it is,
to the next session of this Court, that so the obstructions may be removed and so good and pious a work
may be confirmed and determined according to the.
mind of the donors of so charitable a work.
This is past by the Magistrates, their Brethren the
Deputies, hereunto consenting.
Edward Rawson, Secretary.
2d June 1669.
Consented to by the Deputies,
William Torrey, Clerk.
Secretary's Office, April 17, 1815.
A true copy from the original on file.
Alden Bradford,
Secretary of the Commonwealths




18      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Were it not stated in the petition that " the first
book and charter were burned," the old tradition
would be abandoned and the old book now in possession of the Treasurer would be received as the " first
book."  The internal evidence would leave no doubt.
The book contains no intimation that a former book
had been lost or destroyed, or that it is a second
book. It contains records made by different hands
successively from 1645 to 1787. It contains a long,
formal and particular agreement in writing " to erect
a free school," dated "last of August 1645," and
subscribed by certain inhabitants of Roxbury.
Now three of the donors'whose autograph signatures are affixed to their donations in the book, died
in 1646, viz., Thomas Lamb died March 28th, John
Scarborough, slain by discharging a great gun June
9th, Joseph Weld died of cancer on his tongue and
was buried Oct. 7th.  (Roxbury Church Records..)
It is therefore certain that the old book was in
being as early as March, 1646, and as Gov. Winthrop
under date 1645 says, " Divers free schools were
erected as at Roxbury, for maintainance whereof
every inhabitant bound some house or land for a
yearly allowance forever," no doubt remains that
" the free schoole in Roxburie" was found and organized under the agreement in the old book 1645, or
that the old book is the original record of the school
from the time of its foundation.
How can this conclusion be made consistent with
the statement of Mr. Eliot and Mr. Weld in their pe



HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.        19
tition, 1669, viz., —" our first book and charter was
burned in the burning of John Johnson's house-it
was again renewed-yet some of the hands of the
donors are not unto this second book personally,
which were at the first."
It is implied in this statement that the book burned
contained a written agreement " to erect a free
schoole."  This agreement " was again renewed in
another book as we do now present it," dated " last of
August 1645."
Now this agreement renewed is entered in the
second book. Then follow the names of the donors,
which were in the first book written by one hand, the
houses or lands bound and the given sums standing
against the respective names and a space under each
left for the donor to place his signature. Fifty-two
have signatures and eleven have no signatures, for
reasons stated in the petition, and the places remain
vacant.  In the margin are names of witnesses
against six of these places which have no signatures.
If we turn to the following.report of the Referees to
whom  the petition was referred, we shall find the
reason for the names of witnesses in the margin.
"' Colony of Massachusetts Bay:
" In pursuance of the appointment of the Honorable General Court, May the 19th, 1669, and further
renewed, October the 12th, 1669, appointing us Referees to inquire into the true state of the matter of a
3




20      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
petition presented in the name of the Feoffees of the
School in Roxbury, signed by Mr. John Eliot and
Mr. Thomas Weld, we having read the papers presented by the persons concerned and heard their
several allegations, do find that in the year 1645
there was an agreement of many of the then Inhabitants of Roxbury for the laying a foundation for a
School for the instruction of youth in Literature, and
that the School work that hath been carried an end
in that town hath been performed upon that foundation and that there hath not any other provision at
any time been made, for the promoting of Literature
amongst the youth there.  We find also that many of
the present inhabitants are strongly desirous that that
foundation may be encouraged, who doubt not but by
the countenance of the authority of this Court they
shall be able to carry an end the work effectually to
the ends proposed.
" We find also that several of the Inhabitants do
strongly oppose the way proposed and that hath been
in practice as declared by the petitioners, yet do not
find that they proposed any other effectual way; but
some of them desirous that this may be altered, provided another might be settled first that might be
more acceptable to them; yet they declared that
they feared if the way that hath been formerly attended be wholly waved they should have no School
at all; therefore desire that that way that hath been
and yet is, may be continued and established rather




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.       21
than that there should be no School. And for as
much that by the endeavours we have used to persuade them  to a mutual agreement, we find not any
desirable effect, nor that the temper of those opposing
the former foundation is encouraging that by any
other endeavours they will be persuaded.
"The premises considered, we conceive that the
petitioners' desires should be granted in granting a
confirmation of the School at Roxbury, and to be a
free School for all in that town; and that the present
feoffees and their successors chosen as by that agreement be confirmed and impowered, as to collect former
subscriptions, so to take in others, and to collect what
rents by donation or otherwise may arise due to them;
and that those whose names are not in this book, two
witnesses upon oath appearing to prove they did assent
and agree to the way of the book, be obliged, and
their heirs and assigns as if their names had been
thereunto; we also conceive that the land of Lawrence
Whittamore be improved to the best good of the-town
in being settled upon the free school; all which we
submit to the wisdom and determination of this Honorable Court.               John Leverett,
Edward Tyng,
William Stoughton,
Thomas Shepard."
May 19th, 1670.




22       HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
"The Magistrates have past this, their Brethren
the Deputies, hereunto consenting; that there be an
order drawn up accordingly.
Edward Rawson, Secretary.
Consented to by the Deputies.
William Torrey, Clerk."
Secretary's Office, April 17th, 1818.
A true copy of the original on file.
Attest,       Alden Bradford,
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Thus far the payment of 1645 in the old book,
and the statements in the petition are in strict conformity.   It now remains to be shown that John
Johnson's house was burned previously to the " last
of August 1645."
Gov. Winthrop says, 1645, 2, 6, (1645, Ap. 6,)
" Two great fires happened this week, one at Saclm; Mr. Downing having built a new house at his
farm, he being gone to England, and his wife and
family gone to the church meeting upon the Lord's
day, the chimney took fire and burnt down the house
and bedding, apparel and household, to the value of
200 pounds.  The other was at Roxbury this day.
John Johnson,* the surveyor general of the ammuniAs he was "chosen constable of Rocksbury" so early as 19
October, 1630, testified by our Col. Rec. I, 62, we may conclude
that he came with Winthrop. By his will he gave a dwelling
house and lands to wife during her life, and after " unto my five
children, to be equally divided, my. eldest son having a double
portion therein, according to the word of God."-Savage.




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.        23
tion, a very industrious and faithful man in his place,
having built a fair house in the midst of the town,
with divers barns and other outhouses, it fell on fire
in the day time (no man knowing by what occasion,)
and there being in it seventeen barrels of the country's powder and many arms, all was suddenly burnt
and blown up, to the value of 4 or 500 pounds, wherein a special providence of God appeared, for he being
from home, the people came together to help, and
many were in the house, no man thinking of the powder, till one of the company put them in mind of it,
whereupon they all withdrew, and soon after the powder took fire, and blew up all about it, and shook the
houses in Boston and Cambridge, so as men thought
it had been an earthquake, and carried great pieces
of timber a great way off, and some rags and such
light things beyond Boston meeting-house. There
being then a stiff gale at south, it drove the fire from
the other houses in the town, (for this was the most
northerly,) otherwise it hath endangered the greater
part of the town.
" This loss of our powder was the more observable
in two respects, 1. Because the court had not taken
that care they ought to pay for it, having been owing
for divers years; 2. In that, at the court before, they
had refused to help our countrymen in Virginia, who
had written to us for some for their defence against
the Indians, and also to help our brethren of Plymouth
in their want."   [See also Hubbard, Col. Mass.
Hist. Soc. vols. vii and viii, p. 430, 2d series.  See
3*




24      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
also account of same fire by Mr. Eliot, 1645, in Roxbury Ch. Records, p. 246.]  This last in the handwriting of Eliot, agrees with that of the more precise
Winthrop, and is to be received in preference to that
of Hubbard, in which there may have been an error
by the transcriber.
It may therefore be considered as a settled fact,
that the old book in the parchment cover, now in our
possession, contains the original agreement whereby
the " free schoole" of 1645, now " The Grammar
School in the easterly part of Roxbury," was "erected," and for all practical or legal purposes, is the
first book and the only book containing the school
records from  the time of its foundation.  But the
burning of a previous book does not justify or palliate
the scantiness and imperfection of the Records of the
Feoffees or Trustees, or the want of an account of
money received and paid by them or their Treasurer,
if any such officer were appointed.
It seemed important to ascertain the origin and
foundation of the school and the design and intention
of its founders; for all donations subsequently made,
are legally considered given to the end and for the
same purpose, subject only to the expressed condition
of the donors.




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.         25
CHAPTER  III.
THE FEOFFEES; MEETING OF DONORS, &C.
The records and papers on file were written in ancient characters, and the latter are much defaced
and mutilated. Both, therefore, are now difficult to
be read, or are illegible by persons not acquainted
with the ancient characters. It may be of some use
to present the most important parts in a modern character, showing the progress of the school, the intention of Mr. Bell in his will, the history of the school
lands, what of them were given by Mr. Bell and what
were given by other benefactors, or acquired by purchase or otherwise.
The earliest entry in the old book is the agreement
of 1645 on pp. 7-19.  The next is a further agreement of 1646; p. 19, as already stated.
The next entry is at the end of the book, p. 117.
[1648.]  "We have appointed William Hely to
receive all the demands from us for boarding Father
Stowe and his son and the rent for his house made
the school of Bro. Bridges, being 25.18, and a ld.
which is to be discounted of his rent of the school
land, this being the 27th of November 1648."
Then the following agreement, p. 116:
"This witnesseth that I, Isaac Morrill, have agreed




26      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
and undertaken yearly to collect and gather the school
money and pay it into the schoolmaster.....
This bargain and agreement was made by all the
Feoffees the 27th of November,.... the said Isaac
Morrill to have yearly 28s. 8d. for the gathering of
the yearly payment of the schoolmaster..the 27th
of November, 1648.
Signed, Isaac Morrill."
[1649.]  "The Feoffees have agreed with Mr.
Hanford to teach the free school the next year, beginning the twenty-fifth of the first month in the year
1650, and for his wages we do promise to give him
twenty-two pounds."
[1652.]  On the same page, " The Feoffees have
agreed with Mr. Daniel Weld this 22d of the 9th, 52,
that he provide convenient benches, with forms with
tables, for the scholars to sit on and to write at, with
a convenient seat for the school master and a desk to
put the Dictionary on and shelves to lay up books,
and keep the house and windows and doors with the
chimney sufficient and proper-and there shall be
added to his yearly stipend due by the book the rent
of the school land, being four pounds the year. He
having promised the Feoffees to free them of the labor
of gathering up the particulars of the contributions
and they to stand by in case any be refractory.
Signed,  Daniel Weld."
"By virtue of this agreement the Feoffees are discharged until the twenty-ninth day of September,




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.      27
1666, the Michaelmas after his decease, viz., Mr.
Daniel Weld the late school master."  [This note
was probably added after Mr. Weld's decease, July
23d, 1666, aged 80 years.]
[1658.]  Page 21.  "25 March, 1658.  The
names of the Feoffees of the schoole of Roxbury now
in being, are Isaac Heath, Elder of the church of
Roxbury, John Johnson, William Parke, Isaak Morrill, for as much as it hath pleased God by his providence to remove by death and removal sundry of the
Feoffees; now to make up the number of names,
according to the order mentioned in the booke, we
the surviving Feoffees have chosen to make the number complete, namely, Griffin Crafts, John Pairpoint,
Thomas Weld: since John Johnson's death was chosen 18 day of May, 1660, John Ruggles, senior, to
complete the number of them."
Although this is the first record of a choice of
Feoffees, it is stated in the Roxbury Church Records,
that Philip Eliot, who died in 1657, was a Feoffee.
[1662.]  Page 21. "At the town meetinge the
nineteenth day of the eleventh month 1662, it was
unanimusly agreed that all the donors of the schoole
in Roxbury doe meete together in the schoolehouse at
nine of the clock upon the forth day come fortnight,
being the fourth day of the last month the same yeare,
and whoever also of the inhabitants or neighbours of
the said town that are willing to joyne in the promotinge the good and benefitt of the said schoole are desired also to be present at the said meetinge."




28      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Then the following:
"The Donors did meet upon the fifteenth day
of February, 1662, and they came to a new choice
of seven Feoffees and they chose these following.
Deacon Parke,
Edward Denison,
Robt. Willyams,
Willyam Cheney,
Giles Payson,
John Bowles,
Thomas Weld.*
"The donors being warned to the formentioned
end upon the eigth day of the said month when there
was a town meeting legally called, and the donors
who ware entred in the book haveing pertickular
warning from howse to howse with severall others
both of the meeting and the end of it."
This is the first meeting of the donors recorded in
the book.
On a paper not recorded, marked No. 1 a, File
viii, is the following memorandum:
[1666.]  "In the year sixty six, in the month of
January, Mr. Daniel Weld being formerly dead,
the Feoffees sent out to call together the Donors,
who after notice and warning came in and met the
same month aforesaid, and after some discourse it was
thought convenient and a matter most tending to
peace and love, to propound the case to the whole
* Son of the pastor.




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.        29
town, that opportunity might be to as many as thought
of the town to come in and join in this work, and as to
help bear the charge so to have the privilege of the
school.. or else that they would present a better
way and we would join them... It was concluded
and voted to meet that day sevennight, and upon
that day the town met. After much discourse, spending the day, that meeting was orderly dissolved and
nothing done."
It is understood that the town at this time supported no school, though required by law since 1647 to
provide a schoolmaster to teach children to read and
write, and if the town were increased " to the number of one hundred families or householders," to " set
up a grammar school."
The free school could not receive all the children,
yet the town would neither contribute to its support,
nor propose any other plan.
[1666.]  Upon the same paper No. 1 a, File
viii, " Upon the 26, 12, 66 (26th day of the 12th
month, 1666) the Feoffees met together and agreed
to speak with Mr. Mighill to be school master for our
town... to begin his time by the 26th of March
next."
[1668.]  "The Lord having taken away two of
the Feoffees by death, by the liberty the rest of the
Feoffees have they have compleated their number
by the choice of our two Elders, namely, Mr. John
Eliot our teacher, and Mr. Samuel Danforth our Pastor, the 24th of November, 1668."




30      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
CHAPTER IV.
COVENANT WITH THE TEACHER.
[1668.]  The following " covenant" was made but
not recorded " the 25th of the 12th, 68."
"Know all men by these presents, that Mr. Eliot,
sen., William Park, Thomas Weld, John Boles, Robert Williams, Giles Payson, at present Feoffees in
Roxberry, have covenanted and agreed with John
Prudden to keep a schoole in ye towne of Roxberry,
for ye space of one full yeare, beginning on ye sixth
of March next ensuing ye date hereof, but not longer
except ye said John Prudden see cause for to doe;
provided he give a quarter's warning to ye aforesaid
feoffees yt they may otherwise conveniently provide
themselves with a schoolmaster; whereupon ye said
John Prudden doth promise and engage to use his
best skill and endeavours, both by precept and example, to instruct in all scholasticall, morall, and theologicall discipline, the children (so far as they are or
shall be capable) of those persons whose names are
here underwritten, all A B C Darians excepted."
Then follow the names of fifty-four persons in three
columns, and in a fourth column headed " gratis" are
names of four others, viz., John Gorton, John Griggs,
Wm. Haskins and  -  Frizall.
"In consideration whereof ye aforesayd feoffees
(not enjoyning nor leting ye said Prudden from teach



HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.        31
ing any other children, provided ye number thereof
doe not hinder ye profiting of the fore-named youth)
doe promise and engage (for the due recompence of
his labour) to allow ye said John Prudden ye full and
just summe of twenty-five pounds: y" one halfe to be
payed on ye 29 of September next ensuing the date
hereof, and the other halfe on the 25 of March next
ensuing, i. e., in ye year (70), ye said ~25 to be
payed by William Park and Robert Williams, their
heirs and administrators at ye upper-mills in Roxberry,
three quarters in Indian Come or Peas and ye other
fourth-part in Barley, all good and merchandable, at
price currant in ye countrey rate, at ye days of
payment.
"It is also further added (by agreement) for
ye encouragement of ye said John Prudden in y" said
imployment yt if any person or persons in y" towne of
Roxberry shall for like ends desire and upon like
grounds with those above mentioned, see meete to
adde their names to this writeing, they shall enjoy
like priviledges with those whose names are above
written, provided yt whatsoever they shall give in
yt way, shall be an addition to ye ~25, and to be
payed with it as afore-sayd; for the confirmation of
which covenante we mutually subscribe our hands
hereto."
" Whereas it is above-sayd yt William Park and
Robert Williams doe engage both for the time, place
and manner of the paying the aforesaid twenty-five
4




32      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
pounds, Giles Payson and Robert Williams, their
heirs or administrators, doe hereby engage for ye payment of ye one halfe of the afore-sayd twenty-five
pounds at ye same place and in ye manner as above
written, but in ye month commonly called November
next ensuing ye date hereof; and for ye payment of
ye other halfe ye aforesaid William Park and John
Boles doe in ye like manner engage themselves, heirs
and administrators, to be payed on ye 25 of March
next ensuing that; i. e., in ye year (70) or before
yt time.                        John Eliot,
William Park,
Thomas Weld,
John Bowles,
Robert Williams,
Giles Payson.
John Prudden.
This covenant fulfilled to the
satisfaction of the covenanters.
John Prudden."*
* See note H.




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.         83
CHAPTER V.
COLONIAL LEGISLATION.
[1670.]  The petition of John Eliot and Thomas
Weld dated 20th of the 3d mo., 1669, to the General
Court, its reference to a committee and the report of
that committee have been already given.
The following act in relation to that petition was
adopted:
Colony of Massachusett8 Bay:
At a General Court of Election held at Boston the
11th of May, 1670.
" Whereas, certain of the inhabitants of Roxbury,
out of a religious care of their posterity and their education in good literature, did heretofore separate and
set apart certain sums of money amounting to twenty
pounds, to be paid annually unto certain feoffees and
their successors by the said donors or feoffees orderly
chosen for the sole and only behoof, benefit and settlement of a free school in the said town of Roxbury,
obliging themselves, heirs, executors and assigns together with their houses and homesteads for the true
and full performance of their respective obligations,
all which doth fully appear by their agreement bearing date the last of August one thousand six hundred
forty and five, in which agreement the original donors
were wisely suitors to the General Court for the estab



34      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
lishment of the premises according to which a petition
was preferred in the name of the present feoffees to
the General Court holden at Boston, May 19th, 1669,
in answer of which the Court impowered a committee fully to take cognizance of and return the case
to the court, which accordingly was done as appears
by their return dated May 19, 1670-after serious
consideration whereof this Court doth hereby
" Order and Enact, that the said agreement made
and signed by the donors of the said sum of money
the last of August, 1645, be by our authority ratified
and established to all intents, ends and purposes
therein specified, both in its respect to the orderly
choice and power of the feoffees as also for the time
and manner of the payment of the said sums of money
distinctly to be yielded and paid by the donors of the
same according to their respective subscriptions, and
in case of refusal of payment of any part of the said
sums of money to which subscription is made or consent legally proved, that the orderly distress of the
feoffees upon the respective estates obliged shall be
valid for the payment of any such sums of money so
refused to be paid; as also this Court by their authority doth settle and determine the lands of Laurent Whittemore with all the rents and arrearages
that have or may arise from the same, to be received
and improved by the said feoffees to the use, behoof
and benefit of the free school in Roxbury, which said
feoffees are hereby impowered for the ordering of all
things for the settlement and reparation of the school




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.          35
house, choice of master and order of the scholars; to
improve all donations either past or future for the behoof and benefit of the said school without any personal or private respects, as also the ordering of twenty acres of arable land lying in the great lots which
hath been in occupation for the said school about
twenty years; as also that if for the necessary and
convenient future being of a schoolmaster there be
necessary the future levying of any further sums of
money, that the said Donors be absolutely and wholly
free from  any such levy or imposition, those only
being accounted donors who are possessed of or responsible for the said sums of money according to
subscription, and the said feoffees to be always responsible to the Court of Assistants and donors for their
faithful discharge of their trust:-Provided there be
constant provision of an able Grammar school master,
and the school house be settled where it was first intended, and may be accommodable to those whose
homestalls  are  ingaged towards  the maintenance
thereof, and in case there be need of further contribution that the levy be equally made on all the inhabitants excepting only those that do by virtue of their
subscriptions pay their full proportion of the annual
charges.
" True copy from the Records of the General Court,
pages 656 and 657.
Attest,  John Avery, Jun'r, Secretary."
The lands mentioned in the foregoing act are described in the two following leases.
4*




36      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
[Lease A, File I.]   This indenture made this
twenty-fifth day of January in the year of our Lord
one thousand six hundred seventy, and the twentythird of the raign of our Sovereign Lord Charles the
Second, between Mr. John Eliot, William Park, &c.,
feoffees of the free school in Roxbury &c., on the one
party, and Capt. Isaak Johnson and Robert Pepper
on the other party, witnesseth, that the said John
Eliot, &c., feoffees as aforesaid according to the power
granted unto them  by the Hon. General Court as
appeareth by their act dated the 19th day of May,
1670, for and in consideration of the rents herein
hereafter reserved, &c.,-have demised  &c., all
those two messuages, tenements or parcels of land
lying and being in Roxbury aforesaid, the rightful
possession of Laurent Whittemore, late of Roxbury,
viz., four acres of pasture lands more or less, adjoining unto Stony river* adjacent to the land of Goodm
Drake, late also of Roxbury, as it is now in the possession of Jno. Pairpoint, together with ten acres
more or less lying upon Pond Lot Hill, &c., known
by the name of Whittamore lott, to have, to hold, &c.,
unto the said Isaak Johnson and Robert Pepper, &c.,
for and during the tearm of eighteen years beginning
from the tenth of Novr. next ensuing the date hereof,
fully to be compleated and ended, the said Isaak
Johnson and Robert Pepper, &c., paying therefor
* The stream running by Wait's Mill, and the corner of Centre
St., under Hog's Bridge.




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.         37
yearly during the said tearm, the full and just sum of
three pounds in merchandable corn at the price which
shall be in the country rate at the time of payment,
to be delivered at the now dwelling house of the
above said Thomas Weld in Roxbury, &c.,-the re-.ceipt of one of the forementioned feoffees or the then
incumbent of the free school shall be the tenant's
discharge, &c., &c."
The above was assigned to Deacon Park.
[Lease B, File 1.]    This indenture made the
twenty-fifth of September, one thousand six hundred
and seventy, between John Eliot, &c., feoffees, &c.,
and John Holbrook-witnesseth that the said John
Eliot, &c., have demised, &c., all that messuage or
tenement of school land-in the great lots containing
by estimation, seventeen acres-together with four
acres of land lately belonging to John Stebbins, and
three acres lately Giles Payson's, in all twenty-four
acres of arable or pasture land-seven years-paying therefor yearly-five pounds-this tenth day of
April one thousand six hundred and seventy-one."
[1672.]  Page 39.  "Agreed 21, 4, 1672, by
the Feoffees of the free school, That whatsoever
schoolmaster be hired for the town use, it shall be
done in writing, under the hands of five at least, of
the Feoffees and the schoolmaster, and that for the
term of and for a year only, and to be renewed and
agreed upon every year.  In which agreement the
sum of money to be paid-and the duty of the schoolmaster, and manner and nature of his performance




38      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
therein is to be set down, and no donor to be obliged
to pay any dues unto any other but such schoolmaster
so hired-and that a quarter of a year warning and
notice shall be required to be given either by the
Feoffees or by the schoolmaster when either or both
will hire or be hired for no longer time."
CHAPTER VI.
THOMAS BELL.
11671, 1672.]  Mr. Bell deserves particular notice for the interest he manifested in the success of
the free school. He was one of the early settlers in
Roxbury, and subjected his estates to an annual tax
for the support of the school. At his death, which
occurred in Lgndon in 1671, it was found that he had
bequeathed to it all his real estate of nearly 200
acres, in Roxbury. His will was made January 29,
1671, and probated in London, May 3d, 1672.  It is
a long document of fifteen pages, from  which we
make the following extract:" Imprimis, I give unto Mr. John Elliot, Minister
of the Church and people of God, at Roxbury, in
New England, and Captain Isaac Johnson, whom I
take to be an officer or overseer of and in the said
Church, and to one such other like godly person now
bearing office in the said Church, and their succes



HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.         39
sory, the Minister and other two such head officers of
the said Church at Roxbury, as the whole church
there from time to time shall best approve of, successively from time to time forever, all those my messuages or tenements, lands and hereditaments, with
their and every of their appurtenances, scituate, lying
and being at Roxbury, in New England, aforesaid,
in parts beyond the seas, to have and to hold to the
said Minister and officers of the said Church of Roxbury for the time being, and their successors from
time to time for ever in trust only, notwithstanding to
and for the maintenance of a schoolemaster and free
schoole for the teaching and instructing of poore mens
children at Roxbury, aforesaid forever, and to and
for no other use, intent or purpose whatsoever."
The above extract from  Mr. Bell's will is also
entered in Roxbury Church Records, p. 298.
[1673.]   Page 41.  "Mem., that on the 10,
12, 1673, the above grant of land was read to the
Church and they voted Mr. Samuel Danforth, Pastor
to the said Church of Roxbury was chosen and empowered to act with the other two above mentioned
as above."
Page 43.  " Roxbury, this 27, 12, 1673."
" Whereas, Mr. Thomas Bell of London, merchant,
lately deceased, hath by his last will and testament
given his farm in Roxbury, in New England, to certain Trustees for the maintenance of a schoolmaster
and free school in Roxbury forever, and Mr. John
Eliot and Capt. Isaak Johnson, two of the Trustees,




40      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
have affixed the rent of said farm to the present free
school in Roxbury as appears by their lease of the
said farm  to Mr. John Gore, I, Samuel Danforth,
being according to the direction in Mr. Bell's will
chosen by the Church to be the third Trustee, upon
mature deliberation, I do allow and approve and do
hereby confirm the affixing of the said donation of
Mr. Bell to the present free school in Roxbury.
Witness mine hand.           Samuel Danforth."
CHAPTER VII.
LEASES, RENTS, &C.
The following lease, much worn and defaced, is
on file.
" Articles of agreement made and concluded upon
between Mr. John Eliot, Mr. Samuel Danforth, and
Capt. Isaak Johnson, being overseers and husbands
in trust of that part of the estate of Mr. Thomas
Bell, formerly of Roxbury, deceased, which lyeth and
is contained in said Roxbury on the one partie, and
John Gore of said town, schoolmaster, on the other
partie, are as followeth, viz.:""The said overseers, husbands or trustees have,
and by these presents do rent, let out to hire unto
the said John Gore, the houses, barns and homestead
of the said Mr. Thomas Bell, together with all and




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.         41
every parcel of land whatsoever, which  was the
proper estate of Mr. Thomas Bell at his decease, and
by him given to the use and benefit of a master and
free school for teaching and instructing the children
of Roxbury, (with special regard to the children of
the poor,) and with all the privileges,-to have and
to hold, from the first day of May one thousand (illegible) twenty one years.
" In consideration whereof, the said Gore doth covenant to teach, or by his substitute, against whom
there shall be no just objection, to cause to be taught
a grammar free school according to the order and appointmient of the said trustees, or paying unto the
said overseers the sum of twelve pounds per annum in
corn, or in cattle, or paying the same sum to any
other person for the use and benefit of a school and
schoolmaster as above mentioned,-finally, also, to
repair said houses and barns upon his own proper cost
and charge; both parties respectively to these presents have set their hands and seals this fourth day of
March, one thousand six hundred and seventy-three.
"Signed by
"John Gore."
"In presence of two witnesses."
The affixing of the rents, &c., of Mr. Bell's lands
to the free school, as stated by Mr. Danforth, met
with great opposition, the same which was manifested to the Referees in 1670.




42      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
To settle these disputes, the following act was
passed:[1674.]  "At a General Court for Election, held
at Boston in New England 27th May, 1674."
"In answer to the petition of the Feoffees of the
free school of Roxbury, settled heretofore by order of
Court, in Town Street, the General Court having
heard and seen the pleas and evidences in the case,
doe, upon mature deliberation, judge that the declared
intent of Mr. Thomas Bell, both in his life and at
his death, in his will, was the settlement of his estate
in Roxbury upon that free school then in being at his
death in the said town."
It appears, then, that Mr. Bell in 1645 was one of
the founders of the free school in Roxbury, and that
his original subscription 13s. was afterwards raised
2s. by purchase of the estate of Jeremiah Cesworth.
That not only the children of the donors attended
the school, but also those of certain poor persons " gratis," allowed by the Trustees. (See Agreement, p. 30.)
Mr. Bell, with his wife, returned to England previous to 1654.  (See Roxbury Church Records,
p. 32.)
Mr. Bell continued to be so well satisfied with the
school in 1669, that he then directed Mr. Eliot, by
letters, to raise his donation to twenty shillings a
year.  At London, 1671, January 29th, Mr. Bell
makes his will, bequeathing to Trustees all his houses
and lands in Roxbury " to and for the maintenance
of a schoolemaster and free schoole for the teaching




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.         43
and instructing of poore mens children at Roxbury."
The school then in Roxbury was a free school in
which poor men's children were taught " gratis," to
the extent of the means of the school.  More funds
were needed to extend " gratis" the benefits of the
school.
Under these circumstances, Mr. Bell makes his
will and gives all his lands in Roxbury to and for a
free school for teaching poor men's children, and appoints persons who were donors and Feoffees of the
then free school to be his Trustees.
Now, what free school did Mr. Bell intend in his
will? Is there any doubt? Mr. Eliot, the minister,
friend and correspondent of Mr. Bell, said it was the
free school of which Mr. B. was one of the founders,
and had continued a patron to the time of his death.
Mr. Danforth, the pastor, and Capt. Isaak Johnson,
being the other two Trustees, declare the same.
Finally, the General Court, 1674, upon mature
deliberation, "having heard and seen the pleas and
evidences," judge the declared intent of Mr. Bell,
both in his life and at his death, in his will, was " the
settlement of his estate in Roxbury upon that free
school then in being at his death in the said town."
Again, as Mr. Bell in 1645 bound his house forever for the payment of a yearly rent to the school of
which he was a founder, it is to be presumed, in case
he intended another and a new free school, he would
have made an exception or reservation of the above
rent in his bequest to the Trustees under his will, for
5




44       HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
he could not have intended to give a part of his estate to one school, and then the whole to another
school, including the part given to the first.
[1674.]   Page 44.  "28, 2, 1674.  A  joynt
meeting and Vote of all the Feoffees chose Mr.
Thomas Weld, Jr.,* schoolemaster for the year ensuing, and agreed that the whole donations and rents of
the free school, together with the rent of Mr. Bell's
farm, be paid him, except so much as is necessary for
repairs of the school-house."
This vote is explained by- a note from Mr. Gore,
26th March, 1674, by which it appears " that he apprehended some inconvenience, and wishes some postponement while the Feoffees and Trustees of Mr.
Bell's will should come to a nearer union in some
points that there seems to be some difference of opinion between us in. I do hereby declare that it shall
not be anywise grievous to me, if the Feoffees make
choice of another schoolmaster. 26 March, 1674."
Signed,    "John Gore."
On the back of Mr. Gore's note, is an agreement
not signed, " this 27, 1, 1674, (27th March) between the Feoffees and Mr. Gore, that the said Mr.
Gore shall.... tend the said school and all scholars that shall attend belonging to said Town, whether
Latin scholars, writers, readers, or spellers, for the
term of a full and compleat year, beginning from the
twenty-fifth of March past."
* The grandson of the pastor.




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.        45
[1674.]  Page 44. " Memo. Novem. 10, 1674.
Disposed of the twenty pounds money received of
Edward Morris by virtue of judgement granted against
him on account of Mr. Bell's moveables-ten pounds
to John Ruggles, six pounds to Jonathan Fairbanks,
twelve shillings to the charge of Court, so there remains in Deac. Parks his hands three pounds eight
shillings. Aug. 4, 1676."
" 24, 1, 1676-7. Received of John Ruggles the
above said ten pounds, with thirteen shillings interest,
and is in Deac. Park's hands for the school, &c."
Oldest Receipt on file; Land given.
[1674-5.]   "This writing  witnesseth  that I,
Thomas Weld, Junr. have received of James Frizzal,
Senr. the full and just sum of ten shillings in current
money of New England, for the marsh given by
Sam' Finch to the school the 6th day of this instant
month, as...... witness my hand."
(Signed,)   "Thomas Weld, Jr
" Dated 6, 1, 1674-5."
This is probably Frizzal's marsh on the great river
at Gravelly Point*, now leased for 999 years.
[1679-80.]  "At a meeting of the donors in
Roxbury, March 16, 1679-80, for the supply of
wood for the school. It is ordered that parents, masters, and guardians for the several children comeing
* The point that runs out into the bay at the mouth of Stony
River, towards Cambridge.




46      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
to the school, whether inhabitants or strangers, shall
in the month of October or November pay to the
school master four shillings per child coming to school,
or bring half a cord of good merchantable wood, except such as for poverty or otherwise shall be acquitted by the Feoffees."
On the other side of the same paper, with the same
ink and by the same hand, is the following:"Mr. Eliot and Mr. Boles declaring their intention
of laying down their trust as Feoffees, Mr. John
Pierpont and Gen. Timothy Stevens were made choice
of by a unanimous vote of the donors for the supply
of that place, and after information and upon complaint that many of the donations remain unpaid,...
it is agreed and ordered that the Feoffees annually appoint and empower one of themselves or the donors
as Baily (Bailiff) for the year, who shall give notice
from house to house of the donors, the place and time
of payment,... and in case of failure, to make
distress,... and that Robert Williams is empowered
for the year ensuing, and that twenty shillings be annually allowed out of the donations for satisfaction of
their service."
File VIII, contains a letter from the schoolmaster,
and on the back of it is a draught of a record made
(p. 45) under date of July 25th, 1684. By another
paper in the same file, Mr. Thomas Bernard " entered
upon the school July 22d, 1680."  From these dates
and the signature of the letter, viz., " T. B.," it is
concluded that Mr. Bernard was the writer. He says;




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.         47
[1681.] " Of inconveniences I shall instance in no
other than that of the school-house, the confused and
shattered and nastie posture that it is in, not fitting for
to reside in; the glass broken, and thereupon very raw
and cold, the floor very much broken and torn up to
kindle fires, the hearth spoiled, the seats, some burnt
and others out of kilter, so that one had as well nigh
as goods keep school in a hog stie as in it.
" I thought it good to acquaint you with it, and
would entreat to acquaint the rest of the Feoffees
therewith."                            "T. B."
If they failed to understand the real state of affairs,
it was not the fault of Mr. B.
[1682.]  Page 110.  "Ap. 24.  Then agreed
with Ensigne Tobias Davis that he shall improve the
school land in Great Lots, at fifty shillings money per
an., until the first day of May, 1689."
[1682.]  " Robert Williams is chosen steward for
the gathering of the year's rent ending March 25,
1682."
[1683.]  "Memorand. 29th Octob. 1683. Given
by Mr. William  Mead, late of Roxbury, deceased,
(as is expressed in his will) unto the free school of
Roxbury, for the encouragement of learning, all the
aforesaid little tenement by me purchased; in case
my beloved wife Rebeckah marry not, my will is that
after her decease the whole... shall be for the use
and benefit of the aforesaid school, and managed by
the Feoffees of the said school for the' best advantage."




48      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
The land above referred to was known as Mead's
Orchard, and is situated on Warren Street, between:
Walnut and St. James Streets.
[1684.]  Page 49. Giles Payson grants " three
acres of pasture land" to the Feoffees " in consideration of his respect and affection to the free school, and
for acquittance from his book rent, which is four shillings per annum." Signed by Giles Payson, and also
signed by John Bowles, James Pierpont, Joseph Dudley, Robert Williams, Samuel Williams, John Ruggles,
senior, and Timothy Stevens, Feoffees.
"' N. B. Granted to take off in full Donations on
House Lots."
CHAPTER VIII.
LEASES FOR FIVE HUNDRED YEARS, AND WHAT BECAME:
OF THEM.
Page 49. "School House in Roxbury, Jan'y 15,
1683."
" Joseph Dudley, Esq., and Ensigne Timothy Stevens are hereby empowered..to let and sell the
whole estate of Mr. Thomas Bell belonging to the
free school..for the space of five hundred years."
Signed by seven Feoffees.
There is on file a public advertisement of intention
to sell.




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.           49
[1686-7.]  Lease for 500 years. "This indenture
made this twenty-first day of Jan'y, 1686-7..
between Joseph Dudley, &c.,'Feoffees' and  Mr.
John Eliot, Pastor and two Deacons, Payson and
Gary,'Trustees,' on the one party, and Timothy
Stevens and Samuel Ruggles on the other party,
witnesseth, that the above said Dudley, &c., and
Eliot, &c., do hereby demise, grant and to farm, let... woodland lying at Walk Hill... thirty-five
acres (10 acres deducted from  45 for Mr. Gore)... half of a forty-five acre lot at Muddy pond,*
also eighteen acres in the Nookst... four acres at
Rocky Swampt... two acres of Marsh at Gravelly
Point, (being Bell's land) for and during the term of
five hundred years, beginning the first of May next,.. yielding and paying therefor yearly to the Feoffees..or in their absence to the master of the
said school at the school house, four pounds current
money."
The above signed by the parties, but afterwards
cancelled.
[1686.]  A similar lease was made to Mr. John
Gore, of the "Mansion house, barns, orchards and
* Near the Punch Bowl in Brookline.
t A name used for certain points of land, or knolls that made out
into the meadows near the streams, as the Nooks on Stony River.
t This locality, says Mr. Ellis, it is hard to identify. Several
roads in different parts of the town lead to " Rocky Swamp."
The chief one extended from what is now known as "Tommy's
Rock" up on to Stony River, through the valley.




50       HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Homesteads late belonging to  the said Mr. Bell,
with the land on the west side of the Highway...
30 acres... with four acres of Marsh at the Salt
Pans* and two acres more at Gravelly Point, or the
remainder belonging to Mr. Bell when two acres
shall be first taken out which is otherwise disposed of.
Also fourteen acres.... with ten acres of land at
Walk Hill, part of Bell's lot there... with twentytwo and a half acres, or the hither half a lot at Muddy pond formerly belonging to Mr. Bell... for 500
years... for 14 pounds."
[1688.]  A  similar lease to "' Samuel Ruggles,
senior,..4 acres bounded N. westerly by the Common land of said Towne, westerly by Stony river,..
500 years-40 shillings.".  On the back are receipts for rents each year, by Feoffees, or master, the
last [1718] by " Richard Dana, schoolmaster."
[1688.]  Lease made to " John Lyon and Ebenezer Heath for the Pond Lot for forty years at the
rent of forty shillings per annum."
The leases for 500 years produced much uneasiness among the donors of the school and the inhabitants of the town.  It was urged that there was
unfairness in the sales; that leases for so long a timn
were inconsistent with the intention of the donor, and
therefore  void.   A  suit was brought into court.
Auchmuty and Valentine were counsel for the school.
* At the east end of the town, towards the bay next to Dorchester.




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.       51
Henry Bowen in his deposition July 16, 1716, states
in what the unfairness and injustice consisted. He
also refers to " Matthews his lot" worth "twenty
shillings a year."  This lot was included in the 18
acres in Nooks, leased to Stevens and Ruggles.
[1716.]  The following petition in relation to this
matter is on file.
" To his Excellency Samuel Shute, Esq., General
and Commander in Chief in and over his Majesties
Province of the Massachusetts Bay, &c., and the
Honourable the Council and Honourable House of
Representatives in General Court convened.
" The humble Memorial or Petition of Nehemiah
Walter, Pastor, and John Payson and John Mayo,
Deacons of the Eldest Church of Christ in Roxbury;
humbly sheweth:
" That your Memorialists at the last session of this
honourable Court exhibited their Petition, praying to
be relieved against a long Lease made in Prejudice
of the School at Roxbury, and against the Will and
Mind of the Donors of that laudable Charity, shewing
the abuse and misapplication of the same, both from
the Nature of the Gift and from good Authorities in
the Law, &c., and both parties then appearing, the
matters contained in the said petition were fully
heard, argued and debated, but no act or conclusion
thereupon made, as your Petitioners understand.
" They therefore most humbly pray that this Honourable Court would reassume your Petitioners case
as to Justice and good Conscience should appertain."




52      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
The following is the action of the Court thereon:
In Council August 3d, 1716.
"In answer to the Petition of Reverend Nehemiah  Walter, &c.,... the present Feoffees in
Trust according to the Will of Mr. Thomas Bell of
London, Merchant, deceased, and upon a full Hearing of both Parties, Resolved, that the Lands and
Tenements of the said Mr. Thomas Bell, &c., devised
by him  to Feoffees in Trust, only to and for the
maintenance of a schoolmaster and a free school for
the teaching and instruction of poor mens children at
Roxbury, for ever, and to and for no other use, intent
or purpose whatsoever, being leased for five hundred
years, is contrary to the law and statutes of England,
where the testator lived and died, when he made his
afore recited will, and beyond the power of the Feoffees in trust in the said will, and a frustration in a
great degree of the pious intention of the donor; and
that the full benefit and profits of the said estate be
henceforward restored to the petitioners, to the uses
and intents aforesaid, any lease or leases made to the
contrary notwithstanding.
" Provided, that all things being duly weighed
what the estate has been bettered by the lessees and
equitable allowance therefrom shall be made according to apprizement of three persons of integrity upon
oath."
" Sent down for concurrence.  Read and nonconcurred."




HISTORY OF -THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.        53
[1717.]  As early as June 1717, funds had been
subscribed " for defraying the charge of the Law in
recovering the school lands." There is on file a subscription for the " suit against Capt. Eben Gore to
recover the school lands." Nothing appears in the
school records about the Suit vs. Mr. Gore, or in the
papers, except a bill of cost regularly taxed.
April, 1717.  A  suit was pending between the
Trustees one party, Joseph Stevens and Joseph Ruggles the other party (Timothy Ruggles being guardian of Joseph Ruggles) to recover the school lands
leased January 21, 1686-7, for 500 years.
On the back of the lease are receipts for rent, and
also the following:" Boston June 6, 1717, Suffolk ss. We the subscribers being the partys interested in this lease have
this day cancelled and made void the same, having
agreed upon new leases: as witness our hands.
Joseph Stevens,
Samuel Stevens,
Timothy Stevens,
Joseph Ruggles.
Witness, John Ballantine, Jr.,
Benj. Rolfe."
The above was acknowledged and recorded June 6,
1717.
Suit vs. Eben Gore to recover school land.
By the bill of costs on file it does not appear that
the case did or did not go to a jury at the Inferior




54      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Court, July 1777.  Mr. Gore then appealed to the
Superior Court, November 1777.  The Trustees reviewed in May, 1718, when Mr. Gore recovered.
Costs ~4 17 4.
The following bill of costs allowed and paid by the
Feoffees is on file.
Plaintiffs' Costs.
Nehemiah Walter et. al. Pltffs.
vs.
Ebenezer Gore, Defft.
Court, July 1717,...      2 13 6
Superior Court, appeal, Nov. 1717,    4  8 6
Review, May 1717, including Capt.
Gore's bill, ~4 17 4,...    12 12 7
~19 14 7
The following payments are also recorded:[1716.]   To Mr. Auchmuty to engage him  in
the school case vs. Ruggles& Stevens,  ~1 00 00
July 2d, Jury,..                     18 06
Oct. 10, Mr. Valentine, to plead
the school case at the Superior
Court,.......             1 00 00
On file is a copy of an agreement probably made
to provide for the execution of new leases for 14
years at a rent of ~10 per ann. as substitutes for
those for 500 years.




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.        55
CHAPTER IX.
GRANT OF LAND NEAR OXFORD, WORCESTER CO., AND
WHAT BECAME OF IT.-SUITS TO RECOVER RENTS.
[1715.]  Page 32.  The Feoffees, 16th Sept.,
1715, appoint a committee to petition the General
Court " requesting of them to renew and confirm their
Grant of five hundred acres of land to the free school
in Roxbury."
The following is the grant referred to:
" At the second session of the General Court held
at Boston the 16th Oct., 1660. The Court judgeth
it meet to grant to the town of Roxbury five hundred
acres of land towards the maintainance of a free
school."
"Copy examined. Joseph Hillers,
Clerk."
By the papers on file, among which are extracts
from the Records of the Town of Roxbury, 1749, it
appears that the town, and not the free school, obtained
the land. But the time and the cause do not appear.
(See Town Rec. p. 108, May 15, 1749.)
The town sold one half of the Oxford land in 1770,
and the other half in 1774-in all for ~233 10 00
=$745.  This sum was kept as a distinct fund under
the care of a special committee till March 1, 1790,
(T. R. p. 465,) when it was " Voted that the said
6




56      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Committee be requested to pay the same to the
Treasurer-to be deposited in the Town Treasury."
This was done, and the money became a part of
the funds appropriated to the ordinary expenses of the
town.
It would gratify a reasonable curiosity to ascertain
how it happened that a legislative grant of money for
a specific and important purpose, was thus, without
any apparent authority, diverted to other and very
different purposes.
If the town had authority for the course pursued,
it would appear in the records of the Legislature,
from whom the grant came, or on those of the town,
properly on both. But there is no evidence of such
authority.  The sum for which the land was sold, if
invested at compound interest from March 1st, 1790,
when it ceased to be used as the donors intended,
would now exceed $40,000.
[1722.]  A suit is brought vs. Samuel Stevens to
recover rents due by the book from Isaac Morrill, his
great grandfather.  The writ dated Feb. 21, 1772,
and signed by Habijah Savage, was served Feb. 25.
Body arrested and bond given.  Henry  Wilson,
constable.
Court, 25th day of March next, " To answer to
the Honl. Paul Dudley, Esquire, Samuel Williams,
Yeoman, John Bowles, Gentleman, John Mayo, Cordwainer, Edward Dorr, Shop keeper, John Williams,
Yeoman, Edward Sumner, Fishmonger, all of Roxbury, and Feoffees... in an action of debt for




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.          57
refusing and neglecting to pay.. thirty shillings,
being so much in arrear and justly owing from the
Deft., as he is the possessor of the messuage or homestead in Roxbury, aforesaid, of Isaac Morrill, formerly
of said Roxbury, Yeoman, deceased, Great Grandfather of the Defendt....... whereupon the said
Pltffs. declare and say that the said Isaac Morrill in
his life time, viz., in the year 1645, signed a certain
writing..  binding or obliging his dwelling house. for payment of a yearly stipend of twelve shillings. confirmed by General Court, 1670... And further, the Pltffs. in fact say, that afterwards, by an
agreement or general consent, as well of the Feoffees
as the subscribers and their successors, the several
subscriptions... were abated the one half.. to
be paid in money, whereby the yearly payment of the
said Morrill.. was reduced to six shillings per year,
and which was paid for several years by the Defendt.,
until of late, viz., for five years last past ending in
March last..... of six shillings, amounting in
the whole to thirty shillings."
This action was settled by an agreement under
hand and seal of Samuel Stevens, (old book, pp. 88,
89) dated 4th of March, 1722-3, by which he covenants to pay the rent or stipends, as they shall become due.




58      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL,
CHAPTER X.
OTHER LEASES AND THE INFORMATION GATHERED FROM
THEM.
[1722.]  The lease for 500 years having become
null and void by agreement, the 500 acres of land
near Oxford, adjoining a pond called Chabunagungamong, having been settled upon the town of Roxbury,
and the suit against Stevens for rents five years in
arrears having been settled and the arrearages paid,
the contentions ceased, and the lands given by Mr.
Bell returned to the care of his Trustees, and the
land otherwise belonging to the school returned to the
Feoffees. The Trustees and the Feoffees were separate Boards.  The Trustees leased the lands given
by Mr. Bell, received the rents and paid the same
over to the Feoffees.  The Feoffees leased the other
school lands and had the entire appointment and management of the school as to masters, scholars, studies,
and all other concerns.
There are several leases on file made by Mr. Bell's
Trustees, which are of little use except to determine
what of the school lands were given by Mr. Bell, and
the situation and bounds of the same.
Lease B. 1st March, 1720, to Ebenezer Gore, 11
years.  House, barn and six acres, bounded on the
highway leading to Rocky Swamp, south: on lands
belonging to Titus Jones, westerly; on Stony river,




HISTORY OF THE GRAIMMAR SCHOOL..59
northerly; on land of heirs of B. Gamlin, easterly;
also 30 acres homestead of Mr. Bell, bounded on
aforesaid highway north and west; on the highway
leading to Samuel Weld's house, east, &c., together
with four acres Salt Marsh at the Salt Ponds, bounded
on the creek, &c., together with 2 acres at Gravelly
Point and 14 on the highway leading to Saml. Weld's
house, east; also 10 acres at Walk Hill and 221
acres at Muddy Pond, all which land belonged formerly to Mr. Bell.  Lease 11 years ending  1731,
~15 per ann. and pay all rates, also make 110 rods
of stone wall.
Lease C.  26th March, 1724, to Saml. Stevens, 7
years, Muddy Pond 42=22-  acres, Nooks 18 acres,
Rocky Swamp meadow 6 acres, Marsh Grav. Point,
2 acres. Rent ~6, annually.
Lease D.  8th April, 17\35, to John Mory, 5
years, 16 acres situate in 3d allotment of lands, formerly leased to Ebenezer Gore, bounded westerly on
school land now leased to Zachariah Smith, northerly
on land of Joseph Lyon, easterly on a Highway,
south on land of John Mory.  Lessee to make each
year eight rods stone wall on the premises, next the
Highway, &c., and to pay all rates and taxes.
Lease E. 28th March, 1738, to Ebenezer Weld,
7 years, Walk Hill, 45 acres in two parts, separated
by a road.  Rent ~15, all rates, and 10 rods stone
wall yearly.
There are other leases of the same lands and later
dates, but they give no further information.
6*




60      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
File I, contains leases made by Feoffees leasing
lands not given by Mr. Bell, but managed solely by
themselves.
Lease E.  25 March, 1728, to JohnStone 7 years,
10 acres Whittemore lot, Pond Hill,~2 10 00.
Lease E, 2.  25 March, 1754, to Edward Child
5 years, Marsh at Gravelly Point on River (Frizzal)
~00 10 00.
Lease G. 25 March, 1772, to John D. Williams,
20 acres in Great Lots, 5 years, ~3 9 4.
On the petition of the Feoffees [1786,] they were
authorized by the General Court to sell " a piece of
land of about 20 acres" in Roxbury, provided they
" gave a bond to the Treasurer of the said town of
Roxbury, to the satisfaction of the selectmen thereof,
conditioned that no part of the principal sum said land
shall sell for, be appropriated to any other purpose
than that of being vested again in real estate," &c.
Lease R.  25 March, 1788, to Ralph Smith, 7
acres near his house and on the Mill Pond.  "Paying
annually as much money as will pay and discharge
the schoolmaster's board for twenty-one weeks, or
board the said master twenty-one weeks himself."
[1728.]  In a letter on file, (March 25, 1728,)
Eben. Pierpont, schoolmaster, asks of the Fedffees if he
shall receive scholars "before they can read tollerably
well in their Psalters." The Feoffees answer that he
" shall not be obliged to receive any children for his
instruction.... until such time as they can spell




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.        61
common easy English words either in the Primer or
in the Psalter in some good measure.
" John Bowles, by order of Feoffees."
[1731.]   April 7.  The following schedule of
" profits or income of the free school in Roxbury,"
is on file.
" Imprimis, Mr. Bell's farm, so called:"~  s. d.
Ebenezer Gore's Lease, at...  30 00 00
Ebenezer Weld's  "...   7 00 00
Zach. Smith's     "...   3 00 00
Scarborough and Sam'l Williams,.   5 00 00
~45 00 00
" Other school lands:"~. s. d.
Joseph Ruggles,..   6 00 00
Joseph Williams,..   4 10 00
Joseph Warren,..   2 10 00
John Stone,...   2 10 00
James Frizzel,..     10 00   16 00 00
"Governour Dudley's donation, ~50,"      3 00 00
Subscriptions collected by ~. s. d.
Mr. Dorr,...    2 02 00
Mr. S. Williams,..    1 16 03
Mr. Ed'd Sumner,.    1 08 00
Major John Bowles,.    1 04 00
Dea. Mayo,..             19 00
Mr. John Williams,.       12 08    8 01 11
The whole amounts to,.    72 01 11




62      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Order Concerning Wood.
[1735.]  Roxbury, Nov. 10.  "At a meeting of
the Feoffees, ordered, that the parents or masters of
each and every child sent to the said school, shall
either send with said child eight shillings in money or
two feet of good wood, and in case they do neither,
the master is hereby ordered to suffer no such children to have the benefit of the fire. Provided always
that this order shall not extend to any child or children who shall be exempted by the Feoffees by reason
of poverty or low circumstances of the parents or
master;  they  applying  to  the Feoffees for the
purpose.
Signed,   Paul Dudley,
John Bowles,
Edward Sumner,
Isaac Williams,
Shubael Low,
Eben'r Dorr."
CHAPTER XI.
TRUSTEES OF MR. BELL'S WILL-EXTRACTS FROM THEIR
RECORDS.
[1738-9.]  "Jan'y 2, 1738-9.  Ebenezer Gore
by deed," (No. 6, File IV.) " quitclaims to Nehemiah Walter, &c.... a certain piece of Meadow




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.        63
land,..one acre and a half,.. bounded..westterly by Stony River."
[1741-2.]  " March 23d, 1741-2.  Petition and
Act of General Court to authorize Nehemiah Walter
et al... to sell.. pasture land.. near Rocky
Swamp.. about 18 acres,.. the produce of the
sale.. to purchase other real estate."
This must have been " 18 acres in the Nooks."
[1742.]  "30th Decem., 1742.  Samuel Scarborough for twenty pounds, old tenor,.  grants..
to.. Nehemiah Walter et al., one acre and a half. of land..bounded westerly partly upon the
school meadow."
[1760.] " On petition of Amos Adams and others,
dated Decem. 19, 1760... In House of Representative, June 5, 1761, read, and ordered that the Rev.
Amos Adams et al... be and hereby are empowered to make sale of the said six acres of swamp or
meadow ground, as also the two acres of upland adjoining thereto...to purchase other real estate."
No record of the doings of the Trustees under Mr.
Bell's will has been discovered, except some minutes
in Roxbury Church Records, pp. 311, 312, from
which we extract the following:[1760.]  Oct. 13.  "Deac. Edward Ruggles and
Thomas Gardiner gave bond to the Trustees for
~31 07 05, school money, that arose from the sale of
land."
Then follows a record of eight leases of school land
for five and seven years.




64      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
[1765.] " This year the Trustees demolished the
old house on the school farm where Capt. Gore dwelt,
it not being capable of being repaired, and erected a
new house in its place.  Whatever was valuable in
the old was used to build the new house."
[1768.]  The Trustees built a new barn on the
school farm, which cost ~418, old tenor."
Records of Feoffees.
[1742.]  Page 68.  "At a meeting upon the 2d
of August, 1742,.. Whereas, the old school-house
in the Easterly part of Roxbury being gone much to
decay, it was thought proper by the Feoffees to erect
a new school-house, and, with the help of many welldisposed persons, by way of subscription, they did in
the year 1742 erect a new house for said use, for
which, in the same year, the Hon. Paul Dudley, Esq.,
was pleased to bestow, for the use of said school, a
good, handsome bell." (This bell was recast in 1789.)
The school-house here referred to was the third
which had been built, the others having stood nearly
on the same spot.  It was a building of brick, to
which a second story was added in 1820.  It was
sold in 1835 to Dudley Williams, and is now occupied
by the Norfolk Co. Journal Office and the Central
Market, opposite the Universalist Church and in the
rear of Dudley Block. The lot on which the schoolhouses now stand, on Mount Vernon Place, was purchased of the heirs of the late Dr. Warren.
[1760.]  Page 70.  "Then the Feoffees agreed




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.        65
with Mr. Joseph Warren* to take the school for one
quarter of a year."
There is on file an autograph letter of Mr. Joseph
Warren, dated " Boston, Decem., 1761,".stating a
balance of his salary due him, " by payment of it to
my mother, or order, you will greatly oblige,
" Gentlemen,your H.servant,  Joseph Warren."
On the next page is the receipt of his mother,
dated " Roxbury, Decem. 18th 1761," and signed,
" Mary Warren."
[1766.]  Page 71.  We now come to the first intimation of the existence of the office of Clerk or
Treasurer.
" At a meeting of the Feoffees. Novem. 18,
1766, Joseph Williams, Esq., was chosen Clerk and
Treasurer to said Feoffees,.. and voted that he be
desired to purchase a book for the school in order to
enter all the votes and proceedings of said Feoffees,
and receipts and payments of moneys for the school
account accordingly."
There is an old book consisting of eight quarto
leaves of writing paper, sewed in form of a common
writing book, without a cover. In this book Joseph
Williams commenced the account of money received
and paid, beginning 1754; and notwithstanding the
above vote, continued the same therein till the paper
was all used in 1774.  It is headed thus:* Afterwards Gen. Warren, distinguished in our Revolutionary
history.




66       HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
" Dr.  Joseph Williams, one of the Feoffees of the
free Grammar school in Roxbury. Cr."
Two pages contain statements of money due to and
from the school; also the income of the school: four
pages contain records of meetings of the Feoffees,
leaving only five pages for cash received, and five for
cash paid, in twenty years. This is the only account
of cash by the Feoffees which has been discovered.
[1770.]  On file is a list of names of scholars,
with their studies.
"Roxbury School, 1770."
Scholars-Latin,...    9
Cypherers,..   20
Writers,..   17
Testament,..   10
Psalter,..   10
Spellers,..   19
85
[1773.]  Receipt on file:" Roxbury, April 8, 1773.
" Received of Colo. Williams, of the Feoffees of the
Grammar School, a Bag of Coppers, weight, thirtyfour pounds, in part of my salary for the year current,'the same being by estimation ~4 13 4, lawful
money, and for which I am to be accountable."
"I say received in part,
"John Eliot."
~4 13 4.




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.        67
It is believed that the foregoing extracts contain
notices of all the entries made in the old book from
1645 to 1787, excepting meetings of donors to appoint
Feoffees to fill vacancies in their Board which had
existed more than one month, and to appoint schoolmasters.  Excepting also receipts signed in the old
book by the schoolmasters, for payment of their salaries, occupying a large portion of the book, (leaving
many blank pages,) and entered without regard to
the order of the dates, wherever part of a page happened to be vacant.
It contains, also, notices of all important papers in
the files previous to 1787, of which, it is believed,
sufficient extracts have been made.
7




68      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
CHAPTER XII.
THE OLD WRITING BOOK.
[1765.]  "Roxbury, Dec. 24, 1765. At a meeting of the Feoffees the above and foregoing accounts
were audited and settled."
This is the first settlement on record.
A capital sum of ~24 19 0 was received on Edward Sumner's bond.
[1770.]  "At a meeting of the Feoffees.. on
Tuesday the 11th day of September, Annoque Domini,
1770, at the house of Doctr' Thomas Williams, present
Rev. Amos Adams, Deacon Samuel Gridley, Deacon
Stephen Williams, Trustees of Mr. Bell's donation;
Joseph Williams, Esq., Messrs. Daniel Williams, Samuel Sumner, John Williams, James Mears and Doctr
Thomas Williams-, Feoffees of said school.
"Voted, that they would meet Thursday the 20th
day of September instant, at the house of James
Mears, Junr. in order to visit said school at three
o'clock, afternoon, and then further to advise, and on
suitable days to visit said school quarterly for the
future."
They met in accordance with the above vote, and
this is the first evidence of any attempt at a systematic
examination of the school.
[1774.]  "At a meeting of the Feoffees Jan'y 24,
voted to cut wood on Pond Hill."  (This was the
Whittemore lot.)




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.       69
"Voted unanimously. to apply to the General
Court... to sell 20 acres in the Great lots, to purchase other land."
After the pages of the writing book were completely
filled, [1774,] the Treasurer began his accounts and
records of the Feoffees in two new folio account books,
Day and Leger, in which the accounts of the Treasurer have been kept until 1851, and the records of the
doings of the Feoffees until the new organization of
the school, under an Act of the General Court, passed
January 21, 1789.  (See Note I.)
At the commencement of the new book appear the
following memoranda, signed by William Davis, Sec'y.
" The school lands leased to sundry persons on the
25th day of March, 1794, for 120 years, will revert
to the school, with the buildings and improvements
thereon, on the 26th day of March, 1914."
" The above applies only to about four acres of
land, leased to Ralph Smith, near the Mill Pond, on
which a part of the kitchen of his dwelling-house and
out-buildings now  stand."  (Near the  corner of
Washington and Lowell Streets.)
" Also a small house-lot near the old work house,*
on the great road leading to Dedham, leased to Capt.
Samuel Langley."
"All the other lands on long lease, with all the
buildings and improvements thereon, will revert to
the school 1915 and 1916."
* It stood on Centre Street, a few feet west of the brick building
occupied by Engine Co. No. 2.




70      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE NEW RE/GIME.
At the first meeting under the act of 1789, Hon.
Increase Sumner was chosen President, Joseph Ruggles, Secretary, and Dr. Thomas Williams, Treasurer.
The school-house being small, and out of repair, it
was voted, if sufficient funds could be obtained, "to
erect a new brick school-house where the old one now
stands, forty-two feet long and twenty-six wide, with
walls twelve feet in height,' with a hip'd roof.'"
At a subsequent meeting, June 9,1789, Hon. John
Lowell, Rev. Eliphalet Porter and Hon. Increase
Sumner were appointed a Committee to hire a schoolmaster.  Committees were also appointed to procure
a suitable seal for the Trustees, and to draw up Rules
and Regulations for the Board.
A new spirit seems to have been infused into the
Board at this period.  The meetings began to be
well attended; business was transacted in a more
methodical manner, and the interests of the school
generally more faithfully attended to.
The amount of study required in the school, or of
holidays and vacations allowed, would hardly suit our
boys of the present day.
It is often said that we require too much; that the
intellect is overtasked; that in our eagerness to make
great scholars of our children, we sacrifice their




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.        71
health, and that the slender frames and puny faces of
the present generation are the result of this forcing
process. If a comparison of our school requisitions
with those of our forefathers proves any thing, this
cannot be so. No later than 1789, the school hours
required were, on an average, seven and a half per
day through the year.  At the present time five and
a half are considered an unreasonable amount. As
to vacations, there were but two in a year, one of six
days at Commencement time, the other of two at
Thanksgiving.  The holidays, including those of " the
Public Lectures in the First Parish," were in proportion; amounting in all to about five days in addition
to Saturday afternoons.  Now about one fourth of
the year is given up to vacations and holidays. We
certainly would not advocate a return to the old system;-the present one is the best for teachers and
scholars; but we would suggest that the deficiency in
physical strength and vigor, so apparent in our children of the present day, cannot fairly be attributed
to the unreasonable exactions of Trustees or School
Committees.
[1789.]  At a meeting on the 14th Dec. we find
another assessment on the boys for wood. Considering that the lands in possession of the Feoffees abounded in wood, so much so indeed that they realized
considerable profit from the sale of it, we are at a loss
to understand the policy of requiring the members of
a free school to pay a sum which would be considered
large even in these days, for such purpose.
7*




72      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
The requisitions for admission at this period were
"to read tolerably well by spelling words of four
syllables."
[1791.]  March 14.  "Voted, that Capt. Joseph
Williams, Joseph Ruggles and Deac. Nehemiah Munroe, be a committee to let the school farm and the
pasture at Walk Hill, and to dispose of the wood from
the wood land belonging to the school near Rocky
Swamp at their discretion, within one year from date,
and make such repairs to the school farm, house and
barn as they may judge necessary."
At a subsequent meeting, the same committee were
instructed " to set some apple trees and graft some
others on the school farm," &c.
[1793.]  June 10.  "Voted, that about twenty
acres of Muddy Pond pasture be fenced with good
stone wall in order to secure the young growth of
wood for the benefit of the school," &c.
Dec. 24.  "Voted, that John Lowell, Thomas
Williams and Ralph Smith, be a committee to divide
the school land by a line running from the S. Easterly corner of the barn improved by Lemuel Burrell
to Judge Sumner's land, parallel to the Dedham road,
and lay out the land S. East of said line into six or
more convenient building lots, according to their best
judgment, and make a lease for one hundred and
twenty years of three of said lots for the most that
may be offered at auction, reserving an annual rent
besides, of ten cents per annum, if demanded, and
inserting a covenant in the leases to secure to the




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.        73
school such buildings as may be on the land at the
end of one hundred years or any time thereafter, to
be returned in good order at the end of the term."
In accordance with this vote, lot No. 1 was sold
to Ralph Smith, for ~76 — No. 3, to Capt. Samuel
Langley, for ~83, and No. 6, to Ralph Smith,
for ~65.
The policy of leasing the school lands for long
periods seems to have originated with Judge Lowell,
and affords one among many evidences of the good
judgment and sagacity of that gentleman. The present financial prosperity of the school is in a great
degree to be attributed to him.
[1794.]  March 10. A committee was appointed
to sell the other three lots which are laid out in the
same way and manner as the others were sold.
Dec. 8. There is a copy of an advertisement of
the lease by auction for the term of one hundred and
twenty years, of " three lots of school land near the
almshouse in Roxbury, two on the road leading to
Dedham, and one on the road leading to Cambridge,
containing about 80 feet front and 200 feet deep
each; a small rent of one-eighth of a dollar to be paid
annually on each lot, if demanded," &c. No. 2, was
sold to Nathl. Ruggles, for ~ 95. No. 4, to Joseph
Ruggles, for ~100, and No. 5, to Ralph Smith,
for ~83.
[1796.]  March 14.  Hon. John Lowell and
others were appointed a committee "to lease the
school farm and all the other lands belonging to the




74      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Grammar School in the Easterly part of Roxbury,
except Mead's orchard, at public vendue, to the
highest bidder, for the term of 120 years... the
net proceeds to be vested in other real estate."
The sales made in accordance with the above vote
were as follows:
The westerly part of Walk Hill, containing 19
acres, I qr., 9 rods, sold to David S. Greenough for
$15.50 per acre,=$299.30.  Easterly part of the
same, 27 acres, 3 qrs., 2 rods, to Ebenezer Weld at
$17.50,=$485.84.   Low Meadow, part of school
farm, 12 acres, 2 qrs., 1 rod, to Dr. Thomas Williams at $96.67,=$1,208.94.  Pasture opposite Low
Meadow, 10 acres, 3 qrs., 1 rod, to John Lowell at
$32-$344.20.  Easterly part of school farm, 11
acres, 2 qrs., 17 rods, to Stephen Williams at $105
-=$,218.60.  South part of do., 17 acres, 2 qrs.,
21 rods, to Capt. Joseph Williams at $105, including 2 acres, 1 qr., 16 rods salt marsh at $100=
$2,098.80.  Flat opposite school farm house, 6 acres,
17  rods, at $167, to John  Lowell=$1,019.70.
House, barn and about 4 acres land as staked out,
say 3 acres, 2 qrs., 15 rods, to Thomas Williams for
$1,350.  The piece next to and adjoining his house
and land, 2 acres, 2 qrs., 16 rods, at $125, to John
Amory= $325.  Piece of marsh land near the Creek,
by Dr. Thomas Williams's, 4 acres, 3 qrs., 38 rods,
at $60, to Proprietors of Roxbury Canal=$299.30.
Gravelly Point Marsh, 2 acres, 1 qr., 36 rods, for
$100, to Capt. Joseph Williams. Frizzel Marsh, 1




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.        75
acre, 27 rods, at $23, to Wm. Blaney=$26.76.
Pond Hill pasture, 10 acres, 1 qr., 31 rods, at
$20.661, to Paul Gore=$215.75.  East end of
Muddy Pond Hill, 22 acres, 2 qrs., 23 rods, at $29,
to Ralph Smith=$656.70.  West end of do., 22
acres, 2 qrs., 23 rods, at $15, to Joseph Ruggles$339.60.  The whole amount received, $9,888.49.
CHAPTER XIV.
COMPENSATION OF TEACHERS-FURTHER EXTRACTS FROM
THE RECORDS-ANSWER TO PETITION OF MOSES DAVIS.
There seem to have been various modes of paying
the schoolmaster. In the early days he was paid in
corn; afterwards he was " boarded out" by the Trustees, they also paying him a small amount in money,
not unfrequently in copper money. At the beginning
of the present century we find the following special
agreement:" They (the Trustees) agreed with Dr. Nathl.
Shepard Prentiss to teach the Grammar school..
on tryal, at the rate of $500 per year, and allow him
the use and improvement of the house and barn and
appurtenances, which the said Trustees bought of Mr.
Wm. Blaney, together with the improvement of a convenient spot of the school land adjoining said house,
for a garden-to say, all the school land lying back




76      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
of said house, back and round the barn, and square
with the south end of said house, beginning on the
road about 10 feet from the said south end and running parallel with the said south end of the house,
back until it strikes the wall on the back line. The
idea of the said Trustees and of Dr. Prentiss, aforesaid, was that if on tryal, he, the said Prentiss, shall
give satisfaction to the Trustees as a teacher, and he,
the said Prentiss, shall be satisfied, then, and in that
case, that he is to teach said school for a number of
years at a price that should be agreed on after one
year from  the time he enters on said business,"
&c., &c.
At the same meeting the Treasurer was authorized
to pay to WVm. Blaney " the sum of eight hundred
and seventy-two dollars, being the purchase price of
a dwelling house and barn, &c., standing on the
school land called Mead's Orchard," &c.
At a meeting six months after this, the sum of
$150 was voted to repair the house above mentioned.
Occasionally we find records made of payment for
-services to the Treasurer and Secretary. The sums
paid were small, never exceeding ten dollars.  This
custom was discontinued in 1840.  Every member of
the Board since that time has served without any
compensation whatever.
[1803.]  Dec. 12.  "Chose the Rev. Mr. E.
Porter a committee to provide a catechism  for the
school, who was desired to request the assistance of
Master Prentiss."




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.         77
[1804.]  March 12.  The Treasurer was directed
to demand of the Turnpike Corporation " the sum of
$300, for the land belonging to the school which said
Turnpike Corporation have made use of for the purpose of their Turnpike road, and in case said money
is not immediately paid, that the Treasurer aforesaid,
take the legal steps for the recovery of the same."
Dec. 15.  Rev. E. Porter, Wm. H. Sumner and
Joseph Ruggles, were appointed a committee "to
answer the petition of Moses Davis."
As the petition is not on record or on file, its purport can be inferred only from the following answer:
" The Trustees of the Grammar School in the
easterly part of Roxbury having observed the beneficial effect of that establishment on morals, manners
and education, feel no less grateful than their fellowtownsmen for its endowments.
" Their gratitude is likewise extended to the Government of the Commonwealth for the fostering care
which they have bestowed on this useful institution at
various times, and which is exhibited in their various
laws for the confirmation of devises and donations to
it, and for regulation of its concerns.
" Having found the laws passed previous to 1789
inadequate to the regular carrying on of the affairs of
said school, by their Act of Incorporation in that year,
they have enabled the Trustees to act with a single
eye to the good of the school, unembarrassed by those
interferences with its government which had proved
so injurious to its interests.




78      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
"Our review of the measures which have been
adopted for the regulation of the concerns of the
school, is satisfactory.  Necessary appropriations for
its support have been made, and its annual income
has increased in a ratio nearly equal to the rapid increase of the town.  The increasing necessity for
greater expenditures will not authorize the annual application of the whole inoome to the support of the
school at a time when it is greater than can be expected from such an investment of a part of its present stationary capital as the security and permanency
of the funds'and the future interests or the school
require.
"' The Trustees, appointed and empowered as they
have been to regulate the school and manage its
funds, have endeavored faithfully to discharge the
duties of their trust. They hold four stated, besides
occasional meetings, annually, for the purpose of visiting the school, consulting its interests, and managing
its concerns.
" For these and other services they receive no reward except what arises from  the consciousness of
their desires and endeavors to be useful to the community; and when they consider the respectable situation of the school and its funds, they flatter themselves that their endeavors have been crowned with a
degree of success which will satisfy every reasonable
expectation.
"They have to regret that some individuals, by
their observations, censures and interferences, have




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.         79
seemed to discover a spirit of dissatisfaction and
distrust.
" The Trustees will always be happy to receive
from  any quarter any information or suggestions by
which they may be better enabled to direct the affairs
and promote the interests of the institution committed
to their charge. At the same time they must be indulged in expressing their opinion that formal applications from others, intended to influence the measures
and especially the contracts of the Trustees, without
furnishing them  with any new light to guide their
judgment, will generally tend to embarrass rather
than aid them in their proceedings. The welfare of
the school is nearest to their hearts; in its government
they shall be directed by an unvarying view to its
interests, pursuing them with that independent rectitude which experience has proved so necessary to its
prosperity."
In the communication which elicited the above answer from  the Trustees, there must have been some
outpouring of the jealousy and fault-finding spirit
often manifested at a later period. Notwithstanding
the singular success which has attended the institution in its financial management, as well as in the
results of the instruction it has afforded, there have
never been wanting men in our community whose hostility to the Trustees has been incessant and uncompromising.
The cause of this may be found, not in the mode of
administration adopted by the Trustees, but in the
8




80      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
mode of their election. That they are a close corporation, electing their own members independently and
without reference to any popular vote, is enough to
arouse a spirit of jealousy and opposition in the narrow
minded.  Although the Board, from its foundation to
the present time, has been composed of men whom
the people are accustomed to place in the most responsible offices of trust, the fact of their becoming Trustees of the Grammar School has been sure to bring
upon them an amount of hostility as unreasonable as it
is powerless.  More than once attempts have been
made to break up the corporation, and always on the
most frivolous pretences.  Within the last twenty
years [1840-60] some of our unscrupulous politicians
in one of those outbursts of zeal for the interests of
our adopted citizens, which periodically manifest themselves, attempted to  create a popular excitement
against the Trustees.  At a public meeting of the
citizens a charge was brought that the funds of the
school had been misapplied,-that they had been given
for the " maintenance of poor men's children" exclusively, but the Trustees had allowed the children of
the rich to share equally the benefit of them. A
Committee was appointed to inquire and report. The
result of their investigation was not what they expected.  It appeared that the funds originally contributed, and by which the school was supported from
1645 to 1672, were given by the wealthier class for
the benefit of THEIR children, —that a few boys, sons
of men too poor to contribute, were admitted to the




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.         81
school gratis,-that Thomas Bell being desirous that
the children of the poor generally should have the
benefit of public instruction, left, by his will, sufficient property for this purpose, intending it evidently
for the school already founded, and of which he had
been a liberal friend during his life-time, —that legislative authority confirmed this intention, thus establishing, on a liberal foundation, a free institution
where the rich and the poor can meet together on
common ground,-and, finally, that the Trustees had
not misapplied the funds, but had acted with a conscientious regard to the interests of the school and the
design of its founders.
[1805.]  May 11.  Another assessment for "fire
money."  If any neglect to pay, " then the master is
requested not to instruct such children."  At the
same meeting a vote was adopted requiring the school
lands "to be perambulated and the boundaries renewed once every five years."  This vote has been
complied with from the date of its adoption to the
present time.
Dec. 9. Ward Nicholas Boylston presents " a silver
pen to be given to the best writing scholar as an encouragement to penmanship."  It appears at a subsequent meeting to have been awarded to Nathaniel
S. Prentiss, Jr. The same liberal gentleman made a
similar present, March 15, 1807, which was awarded
to Benjamin Seaver, afterwards Mayor of Boston.
[1820.]  March 20.  Authority was given to




82      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
lease a piece of salt marsh " bounded on Cambridge
Bay."
[1822.]  March 15.  Authority was given to lease
for ninety-four years about two acres of land, with
dwelling-house, barn, valuable fruit trees, &c., situated on upper road to Dorchester, "about a quarter
of a mile from the paved streets." This was a part
of Mead's Orchard.  It was sold to Rebecca Lubec.
June 19.  A  Committee was appointed to place
permanent landmarks on the bounds of a piece of
marsh land leased to Capt. Joseph Williams, and by
him sold to the Mill Dam Corporation.
[1834.]  March 22.  Authority was given to purchase of Dr. Brown three lots of land bounded on the
burial ground, near Warren Street, for the location
of a school-house. This is the land now occupied
by the school on Vernon Place.
CHAPTER  XV.
THE POLICY OF LONG LEASES.
Sept. 19.  The following report, presented by a
Committee of which Hon. John Lowell was chairman,
and unanimously accepted, is considered of sufficient
importance to insert as part of the history of the
school. It explains, in the most satisfactory manner,
the policy of the Board in regard to long leases.




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.         83
Eleven years after its acceptance, when three-fourths
of the Board were new members, the Secretary was
instructed to enter it again upon the records, as an
evidence that the Trustees had not changed their
opinion of the wisdom of the course recommended by
the Committee.
" The Committee of the Trustees of the Roxbury
Grammar School, appointed to take into consideration the application of the Roxbury Chemical Corporation, for the purchase of the fee simple of the land
now occupied by them  and which they occupy by
virtue of a lease made by the Trustees of the said
Grammar School, about forty years since, which
lease was made for the term  of one hundred and
twenty years, beg leave to report that they are unanimously of opinion that it is inexpedient to comply with
said request or to dispose of said land in fee simple,
or for an additional term of years.
"But as the question presented to the Board is
one of great moment to the Institution over which the
Trustees are by law appointed the guardians, and as
it is of great importance that the principles upon
which this decision is made should be known, as well
to all other lessees of the estates of said Corporation
as to the successors of the present Trustees, the Committee take the liberty to state at large their reasons.
"The property belonging to this Institution consisted at the time of its first legal incorporation, of
various pieces of real estate scattered over the town
of Roxbury.  Soon after the Act of Incorporation
8*




84       HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
was passed, the Board of Trustees appointed under it
thought it expedient to raise a capital which would be
more productive than the said tracts of land theretofore had been, and for the purpose they solemnly
resolved to dispose of said tracts and parcels of land.
Among the members of the Board at that time were
two gentlemen of high legal standing,* who had taken
an active part in procuring the Act of Incorporation.
They recommended the disposal of the land upon long
leases, probably in some degree influenced by the conviction that it would better comport with the views of
the devisors or grantors of the lands, partly by a
conviction that lands were safer for permanent, charitable institutions, partly by belief that lands in a
new country, in which they had risen, in a little more
than a century, from the price of a few blankets, to
the natives, to a great pecuniary value, would go on
to increase in the same ratio, perhaps a higher one;
partly, and perhaps principally, from a belief that it
is improvident in any present generation to grant
away from posterity, property which was designed for
that posterity.  Whatever, however, their motives
might have been, they resolved to retain the fee
simple of the lands for the Institution.
" So far as we Can now perceive, the decision they
made was a very wise one.  The lands leased at auction for a term  of one hundred and twenty years,
* Hon. Judge Lowell and Hon. Increase Sumner, afterwards
Governor of Massachusetts.




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.        85
appear to have brought nearly or quite the prices
then paid for the fee simple.  No purchaser for a
term of years could complain of the imperfect state of
his tenure.  He was not obliged to purchase.  He
was not deceived as to his rights. He knew all the
conditions and solemnly subscribed to them. Under
this title, purchasers proceed to erect houses and
expend sums of great amount, with a full knowledge
that the whole property would revert to the Corporation at the expiration of the lease.  Still less have
subsequent purchasers a right to complain.  They
knew their title, and the fair presumption, both of law
and of equity, is, that they paid less for their lands in
proportion to the periods of the leases which had
expired.
" There is another important consideration.  It
was a part of the conditions of the lease, and a very
serious one too, that the Corporation should have a
right of entry upon the premises leased twenty years
before the expiration of the several leases, and to
cause the buildings and improvements thereon to be
appraised; and there was a provision, that there
should be no strip and waste made upon the improvements as valued, nor should the same be removed
under the penalty of forfeiture of the remaining term
of years.
"Here, then, was a part, and an important part,
of the consideration for granting the lease which the
Corporation are called upon to release and give up.
"The Committee are unanimously of opinion, that




86      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
it is not expedient to undo what has been so wisely
and prudently done, especially as so large a portion
of the term has expired and as the reasons for refraining from the disposal of the fee are yearly growing more and more powerful, it is hoped that it will
be considered as a settled principle, that these lands
should be retained until our successors shall be able
to realize the proposed benefit by coming into possession of the improvements, which it seems both lessors
and lessees understood and agreed should become the
property of the institution.
"It is hoped that no future Board of Trustees will
be ambitious of imitating the example of the first improvident man in history, who in a fit of impatience
sold his birthright for a mess of pottage.
John Lowell,
Saml. J. Gardner,
John Lemist,
Enoch Bartlett,
Isaac Davis,
Committee."
[1839.]  June 11.  Tho School Committee apply
to the Trustees to ascertain on what terms the Grammar School could be made such a High School as the
town is required to keep by the following section of
Revised Statutes.
SECT. 5.  (Page 218.)  "Every town entertaining five hundred families or householders, shall, besides the schools prescribed in the preceding section,




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.        87
maintain a school, to be kept by a master of competent ability and good morals, who shall, in addition to
the branches of learning before mentioned, give instruction in the history of the United States, book
keeping, surveying, geometry, and algebra; and such
last mentioned school shall be kept for the benefit of
all the inhabitants of the town, ten months at least,
exclusive of vacations, in each year, and at such convenient place, or alternately at such places in the
town as the said inhabitants at their annual meeting
shall determine; and in every town containing four
thousand inhabitants, the said master shall in addition
to all the branches of instruction before required in
this chapter, be competent to instruct in the Latin
and Greek languages, and general history, rhetoric
and logic."
After conference with the School Committee, the
Trustees agreed to make the school such an one as
the town is required to keep, the following act of the
Legislature having been first obtained April 9, 1839,
accepted by the town June 25, 1839, and by the
Trustees September 10, 1889.
An Act relating to the Grammar School in Roxbury.
" SECT. 1.  The Grammar School in the easterly
part of the town of Roxbury shall hereafter be deemed
such a school as the town is required to maintain by
the fifth section of the twenty-third chapter of the
Revised Statutes; provided, that said school shall
always be a free school, and shall, in all respects




88      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
fulfil the conditions of the section aforesaid; and provided also that the statistics of said school shall be
included in the annual return of the School Committee of Roxbury.
" SECT. 2. All the powers and duties assigned by
law to School Committees shall pertain with respect
to said Grammar School, to the Trustees thereof
solely, agreeably to their act of incorporation.
" SECT. 3. This act shall take effect as soon as
the town of Roxbury and the Trustees of said school,
respectively, shall have accepted the same by legal
votes, and made the necessary arrangements for complying with the first section hereof, and shall continue
in force during the pleasure of said Tru'stees and
their successors, and no longer."
[1842.]  June 14. It was voted that the town
School Committee be requested so to establish the
range of studies and the degree of advancement in
the Washington School, that the Trustees' school may
be in reality as well as in name, the High School of
Roxbury, and be furnished with qualified pupils.
At the next meeting, Sept. 13, a communication
was received from the School Committee declining
the proposed arrangement.
[1844.]  Ap. 23.  The organization of the school
as a Latin School was restored, such English studies
only being allowed as are compatible with its interests
as a Latin School.
[1848.]  June 13.  Authority was given by the
Legislature to sell land held by the Trustees under




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.        89
the will of Mr. Bell, and to invest the proceeds in
other real estate, in rail road stocks in Massachusetts, in State or U. S. stocks, or to loan upon bonds
and mortgages.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE ACTION OF THE CITY AUTHORITIES AND THE TRUSTEES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ENGLISH HIGH
SCHOOL.
[1852.]  June 22. A communication was received from Hon. Samuel Walker, Mayor and Chairman
of Committee on Public Instruction, and Rev. Wm.
H. Ryder, Chairman of the School Committee, asking
the Trustees of the Latin School " to appoint a Committee of conference to consider whether it be practicable to change the present form of that school so
as to answer the requisition of an English school."
The Board appointed Messrs. Samuel H. Walley,
Theodore Otis and I. Munson Spelman, a Committee,
in accordance with the above request.  As the report
of this Committee is important on account of subsequent occurrences in the history of the school, we
give it here in full.
"The Committee which was appointed to confer
with the sub-Committee appointed by the School
Committee, and ascertain whether it is practicable to




90      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
carry out the act of 1839, by any mutual arrangement between this Board and the School Committee,
and if so, to report what plan they would recommend
for the adoption of the Board, respectfully Report:" That as the result of their deliberations and conference with the Sub-Committee they have agreed to
recommend to the Trustees the following plan for a
basis of future action between the Trustees and the
School Committee, viz:
" The Act of 1839 in relation to this school is to be
complied with by both parties in all its provisions.
" For the purpose of affording the School Committee every possible facility, consistent with our duties
as Trustees, for visiting, inspecting and examining
the English High School, and becoming familiarly
acquainted with its condition, and the progress of the
scholars, the Examining Committee appointed by the
Trustees shall hereafter consist of not less than six
members, and shall act in connection with a Committee appointed annually for the purpose, by the
School Committee, in the manner hereinafter designated.
" The joint Committee to be called the local Committee of the High School.
" The Chairman of the Committee on the part of the
Trustees, shall be, ex-officio, Chairman of the joint
Committee.
" Regular meetings of the Committee in relation to
the English department, whether for the purpose of
examination or for consultation as to the condition and




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.         91
studies of the department, and for canvassing the
merits of candidates for election of master or assistant
master of the school when vacancies may exist, shall
be open to all members of the Committee, and each
member shall be notified by the Chairman of the Committee, or the Secretary of the Board, of the time and
place of such meeting.
" Admissions to the school are to be made annually.
" The standard of qualification for admission to the
English department to be the same as to the High
School in Boston.
" The examination of pupils for admission to the
English department to take place in the presence of
the Committee of the English department; and to be
conducted by the master, or assistant master, whose
decision shall be final, unless the Committee on the
part of the Trustees, after conferring with the SubCommittee of the School Committee, shall decide
otherwise.
" All boys, members of the Washington and Dearborn Schools, who are qualified for admission to the
High School by age and attainment, shall be forthwith transferred to the same for examination, and not
allowed to remain longer at said schools, unless upon
such examination they shall be found to be deficient
in the requisite qualifications.
" After having received the written report of the
Committee, who shall previously have canvassed the
qualifications of candidates, the masters of the school
shall in all cases be appointed by the Trustees; and
9




92      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
all repairs and alterations to the building shall be
under the control of the Trustees.
" The studies to be pursued in the English department shall be prescribed by the Trustees, by vote,
but shall include all which are required by the fifth
section of the 23d chapter of the Revised Statutes.
" It is expected that the city will appropriate
$500 per annum, as formerly, for the use of the
Trustees, and a larger sum, if in the judgment of the
Board of Trustees and School Committee it should be
necessary.
" This arrangement may be terminated by either
party after notice having been given, except that the
appropriation of money shall continue until the end of
the quarter which may have been commenced when
the arrangement shall terminate."
Per order of the Committee,
Samuel H. Walley, Chairman.
June 28, 1852.
The report was accepted, a certified copy transmitted to the chairman of the School Committee, a
cdmpetent teacher appointed, after conference with
them, and all other provisions in the proposed system
fully complied with.
A year later the increased number of scholars rendered a new building necessary.  To ascertain the
best mode of meeting the expense incident to its
erection, it was thought expedient to state the case to
the City Government, and call on them for increased
appropriation until such time as the funds of the




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.        93
Board should enable them to sustain the enterprise of
a Latin and English school unaided by the City.
Messrs. Walley, Cotting and Spelman, a Committee
appointed to confer with the City, reported as follows:" A very full and harmonious interchange of opinions took place; the Committee of the Trustees explaining the condition and probable wants of the
school, and the present and prospective resources of
their Board, and the City authorities expressing their
approbation of the school and its present teacher, and
a desire to cooperate with the Trustees in any prudent arrangement to secure its continued and augmented prosperity.
" Among other plans suggested by your Committee
was the following, which, as it was considered by the
City authorities, we give in full, viz.:" I.  The Trustees are to continue to maintain a
Latin School and an English High School under the
existing arrangement between them  and the City in
all respects, except as to the amount to be appropriated by the City annually for their part of the expense to be incurred in the support of said school.
" II.  The Trustees are to cause to be erected
upon their own land, on Warren Place, a wooden or
brick building of sufficient capacity to accommodate
seventy or eighty boys of the English High School,
the expense of the building not to exceed four thousand dollars, and the building to be in readiness for
the occupancy of the school at the commencemont of
the term on the last of August of this year.




94      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
" III. The Trustees, after having expended four
thousand dollars of their capital stock in the erection
of the proposed building, are to expend the entire
amount of income arising from their remaining productive property, for the purpose of defraying the
expenses of the Latin and English High Schools.
" IV.  The Trustees acting upon information furnished them by the Committee of their own body and
the Sub-committee of the School Committee, acting in
accordance with the existing arrangements, shall make
suitable provision for the increasing wants of the
English High School occasioned by the addition of
two or more classes, so as to afford a three or four
years' course of instruction at said school as shall
hereafter appear to be requisite to meet the wants of
parents and lads.
"' This provision shall be made by the appointment
of one or more suitable teachers, as may be needed,
and by providing desks and fuel and other conveniences required by the growth of the school.
" V.  The increased expense for thus conducting
the English High School, over and above the amount
of one thousand dollars now appropriated by the City
towards the support of the Latin and English High
Schools, shall be borne by the City, and for this purpose an estimate shall be furnished annually to the
City by the Trustees, stating how much will be requisite for the year then next ensuing.
" VI.  It is to be distinctly understood and agreed
that if the Trustees make sales of property, now un



HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.        95
productive, by means of which sales their income is
increased, such increase shall be appropriated towards
the support of the English and Latin Schools, and in
reduction of the amount to be appropriated by the
City, provided always that till such time arrives, the
necessary deficiency shall be annually supplied by the
City in equal quarterly payments.
" VII. This arrangement to be terminated in the
same manner, and no other, in which the existing
arrangement can be terminated; and it is to be considered as additional to and in no wise contradicting
or conflicting with the present arrangement on any
point but the amount of appropriation.
"Your Committee are informed that the School
Committee have delegated full power to their Subcommittee to act in the premises in their behalf, and
that the Committee on Public Instruction have expressed to said Sub-committee their sanction of the
proposed arrangement.  If, therefore, the Trustees
accept this report of their Committee, and authorize
any Committee of their body to make the proposed
arrangement with the City authorities, there is no
reason to doubt that the plan can at once be carried
out successfully and to the satisfaction of all concerned.
" Your Committee would add, that they have submitted this report to the Sub-committee of the School
Committee for advisement, and they approve of its
contents.
"For the Committee,
"Samuel H. Walley, Chairman."
9*




96      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
The report was accepted, and the same Committee
authorized to complete the arrangement with the City
authorities and to erect a school-house as proposed.
Before six months had elapsed, a capacious, comfortable house was built and ready for occupancy, the
cost of which, a noteworthy circumstance in these
days, did not exceed the estimate.
[1853.]  March 9.  The Board decided to require five classes, and a continuance at the school five
years, for preparation for college.
CHAPTER XVII.'THE SCHOOL COOMMITTEE AND THE TRUSTEES.
[1857.]  In the Annual Report of the School
Committee for 1857, was found the following clause:
" The Committee will take the liberty to say that,
in their opinion the standard for admission to these
schools,:[High,] though high enough according to
the printed rules, is, practically, put too low. The
work that properly belongs to the Grammar School
has to be done here.  Many pupils are admitted who
are by no means qualified to enter on the proper studies
of a High School.  The error should be corrected by
more strict examination in future. The High Schools
should be devoted, strictly and only, to  iigh School
studies.  Whatever reduction of numbers might fol



HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.         97
low, this principle, we are confident, ought to be
adhered to."
The Local Committee of the High School, composed
jointly of the Trustees and School Committee, seem
to have entertained the same opinion. We infer this
from the fact that at the next annual examination for
admission, only one of the thirty-seven candidates
was found qualified; all the rest were rejected.
The result of this examination created not a little
excitement, especially among the parents of the boys
rejected.  The Local Committee were urged to reexamine; but after a full consideration of the matter,
it was "unanimously voted that a reexamination
would be inexpedient."
As the arrangement between the Trustees and the
City authorities had been faithfully kept from its
commencement to the present time, the School Committee acting throughout in harmony with the Trustees, and actually originating the course of proceeding in the Local Committee at the recent examination,
it was with some surprise that the Board of Trustees,
at their next meeting in September, 1857, received a
communication from the School Committee stating
that "they should terminate the arrangement with
regard to the English department on the first day of
October next."
The reasons which induced the School Committee
thus summarily to break off from the Trustees in the
management of the school, were never communicated,
nor did the Trustees trouble themselves to ascertain




98      HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL,
if they had any.  The Secretary was instructed to
notify them " that their communication was received,
placed on file, and the termination of the arrangement
duly recognized."
The termination of the arrangement between the
two Boards produced no effect upon the character, or
any change in the management of the High School.
The Trustees, as a matter of course, continued to exercise the power conferred upon them by the Act of
1839, and to execute the duties enjoined upon them
by the Legislature.
The School Committee were not long in perceiving
they had acted hastily, and without due regard to the
interests of the City, or the official courtesy they had
always received from the Trustees.  But it was too
late to retract.
They applied to the City authorities to establish an
English High School, which should be under the exclusive control of the School Committee. Their application was referred to the Committee on Public Instruction.
The report of that Committee, written by Hon.
John S. Sleeper, then Mayor of the City, is an elaborate and able document. After giving, in a clear and
satisfactory manner, the early history of the school,
its past and present means of support, &c., the advantages resulting to the City from the Legislative
Act of 1839, the connection of the Trustees with the
School Committee, and the harmony which had subsisted between the two Boards, the testimony of the




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.         99
School Committee, (in 1857, the very year when the
abrupt separation from  the Trustees took place,)
"that the present condition of the High School is
such as to maintain the well-established reputation of
the Institution," and that it is "worthy of all the
confidence it receives," the report thus closes:" After a careful examination of the whole subject,
it would appear to your Committee that the High
School for Boys, as at present conducted, is worthy
the confidence of the public. It is such a school as is
wanted by the people; and the repeal of the Act of
1839, already alluded to, would deprive the City
Government of the means of using a fund, which, in
the present condition of our finances, it is desirable
to use.
" Your Committee therefore, cannot advise the trial
of an uncertain and expensive experiment,-one from
which great advantages, if any, can hardly be expected to accrue, and would recommend as the opinion of
this Committee, that it is inexpedient to grant the
request of the Board of the School Committee to
make provision for an English High School for Boys."
The above report was presented in the Board of
Aldermen and 2,000 copies ordered to be printed for
the use of our citizens, September 21, 1857, since
which time there has been no further agitation of the
subject. The school has continued under the control
of the Trastees, gaining every year in popularity, and
stands now among the first institutions of the kind in
New England.  The wisdom of the course pursued




100     HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
in the examination of 1857, has been clearly manifested in the improved condition of the Grammar Schools
since that time, and in the better qualification of candidates offered in 1858 and'59.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE SCHOOL IN 1859-60.
Board of Trustees in the order of election.*
1830. George Putnam, President.
1831. Enoch Bartlett.
1839.  Charles K. Dillaway, Secretary.
1846. Augustus C. Thompson.
1847. Theodore Otis.
1850.  S. Parkman Blake.
1854. Thomas D. Anderson.
1855. James Guild, Treasurer.
1856. John S. Sleeper.
1859.  William S. Leland.
1859. Joseph S. Ropes.
1859. Supply C. Thwing.
Quarterly meetings of the Board are held on every
second Tuesday of June, September, December and
March.  The annual meeting is on the second Tues* Note K.




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.    101
day in June.  Special meetings are held whenever
called by the President.
Latin Department.
AUGUSTUS H. BUCK, Principal.
WILLIAM C. COLLAR, Assistant.
Requisitionsfor admission.
Candidates must be at least ten years of age; able
to read and write English correctly and fluently;
understand Mental and the simple rules of Written
Arithmetic, Modern Geography, and English Grammar sufficient to parse common sentences in prose.
A knowledge of Latin Grammar shall be considered
equivalent to that of English.
Candidates for admission to form a new class, are
examined only once a year, on Friday and Saturday
of the week preceding the summer vacation; but boys
who are fully qualified to join an existing class may
be admitted on the first Monday in December, March
or June.  Every candidate must bring a certificate of
good moral character, from the master of the school
he last attended.
Course of Instruction.
[Intended to occupy five years.]
FIFTH CLASS.
Latin Grammar to Syntax,    Andrews & Stoddard.
Latin Exercises,..    McClintock.
Latin Reader,..    Andrews.
Mental Arithmetic,.    Colburn.




102     HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Written Arithmetic,..    Eaton.
Modern Geography,..    Mitchell.
Ancient Geography,..    Mitchell.
Ancient History,..    Worcester.
FOURTH CLASS.
Latin Grammar to Prosody.
Latin Reader, finished.
Caesar's Commentaries,.    Spencer or Lang.
Latin Prose Composition,.    Arnold.
Greek Grammar, Etymology,    Sophocles.
Greek Exercises,..    McClintock.
Arithmetic, continued.
History continued.
THIRD CLASS.
Latin Grammar, Prosody.
Caesar, finished.
Virgil.
Greek Grammar, Syntax.
Greek Exercises, finished.
Algebra,....    Sherwin.
English Grammar,..    Fowler.
French Grammar,..    Fasquelle.
Rhetoric,....    Quackenbos.
SECOND CLASS.
Virgil, continued.
Greek Grammar, continued.
Greek Prose Composition,.    Arnold.
Greek Reader, Fables and Dialogues, Felton.




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.    103
Cicero's Orations,...    Johnson.
Writing of Latin, continued.
Algebra, finished.
French Reader,..  Arnoult.
Physical Geography,..    Warren.
FIRST CLASS.
Xenophon's Anabasis,..    Boise.
Virgil, finished.
Geometry.
Arithmetic, finished,..    Greenleaf.
Iliad, three Books,..    Owen.
Writing of Greek and Latin, continued.
Reviews of all the studies of the course.
Scholars in Latin Department.
FIRST CLASS.
Frank Eustace Anderson,.    St. James Street.
Chauncey Child Dean,..    Winthrop   "
Jonathan Dorr,...    Dudley        "
Almon Danforth Hodges, Jr..    St. James 
George Golding Kennedy,.    Warren 
John Codman Soley,..    Dorr
SECOND CLASS.
George Wales Dillaway,.    Eliot Square.
Theodore Cushing Otis,.    Otis Street.
James Seymour Severance,.    Cedar  "
Frederic Sparrell,..    Vernon "
Stephen Henry Stackpole,.     ShawmutAv'nue.
10




104     HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
THIRD CLASS. —A.
Robert Patton Anderson,         Winthrop Street.
Edward Augustus Capen,.    Cedar 
Franklin Judson Clark,.   Akron 
Alfred Henry Hall,..   Dorr 
Edward Johnston Harrington,.    Centre    "
John Leonard,...   Bartlett   "
Henry Ware Putnam,..   Highland 
Harry Gushing Stetson,..    Cedar
Charles Hathaway Young,.   Adams
THIRD CLASS.-B.
Francis Henry Harrington,.    Centre Street.
Benjamin Houston Mann,.    Washington St.
Michael Joseph McGettrick,.        "
Montgomery Olmstead,.    Centre      "
Samuel Adams Simmons,.   Highland   "
Andrew Spinning Van Kuran,    Porter, 
FOURTH CLASS.
Herbert Codman Clapp,.    Oakland Place.
James Henry Davenport,.   Porter Street.
Henry Morton Dexter,..   Hill Side.
David Greene Haskins, Jr..   Warren Street.
Charles Stanley Lester,.    Greenville "
William Montgomery, Jr..    Centre    "
William Ripley Nichols,.    Walnut   "
Theodore Melville Plimpton,.   Hawthorne "
Mark Sibley Severance,.    Cedar      "
George Henry Tripp,..   Centre
John Marshall Whittemore,.   Walnut   "




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.    105
FIFTH CLASS.
Benson Beriah Banker,.    Putnam Street.
Edward Hickling Bradford,.    Shawmut Av.
Roderick Dhu Coe,..    Walnut Street.
Charles Chauncy Cushing,.    Chestnut "
Henry Daniel Davis,..    Longwood Av.
Walter Hiram Hutchins,.    Vernon Street.
John Paul Jones,.    Heath     "
Peter Faneuil Jones,.. 
George Grinnell King,..    Vine 
William Ansil Metcalf,..    Chestnut Street.
Henry Goddard Pickering,.    Walnut 
Julius Caldwell Shailer,..    Washington"
Charles Eastman Staniels,.    Warren    "
Frank Fisher Stone,..    Hill Side.
Russell Carpenter Van Kuran,    Porter Street.
Benjamin Davis Washburn,.    East Needham.
Victor Audubon Wilder,  Vernon Street.
English Department.
SAMUEL M. WESTON, Principal.
GEORGE H. GORELY, Assistant.
Requisitions for Admission.
Candidates are examined on the Friday and Saturday preceding the summer vacation.  They must be
at least twelve years of age, and pass a satisfactory
examination in Spelling, Reading, Writing, English
Grammar, Arithmetic, Modern Geography, and the
History of the United States. Every candidate musi
bring a certificate of good moral character from the
master of the school he last attended.




106     HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Course of Instruction.
[Intended to occupy three years.]
CLASS III.  1. Review of Preparatory Studies,
using the text-books authorized in  the  Grammar
Schools of the City. 2. Zornlin's Physical Geography, Worcester's Ancient and Scripture Geography.
3. Worcester's General History.  4. Sherwin's Algebra.  5. French Language, Fasquelle's Grammar,
Le Grand-Pere.
CLASS II.  1. Sherwin's Algebra, continued.
2. French Language, continued.  3. Legendre's
Geometry. 4. Hitchcock's Book-Keeping.  5. Sheppard's Constitution of United States. 6. Whately's
Elements of Logic.  7. Quackenbos's Rhetoric, commenced.
CLASS I. 1. Trigonometry, with its applications
to Surveying, Navigation, Mensuration, &c. 2. French
Language, continued. 3. Rhetoric,continued. 4. Natural Philosophy.  5. Haven's Mental Philosophy.
6. Cleaveland's Compendium of English Literature.
7. Wayland's Moral Philosophy.
The several classes have exercises in English Composition and Declamation. The instructors pay particular attention to the penmanship of the pupils, and
give constantly such instruction in Spelling, Reading,
and English Grammar, as they think necessary to
make the pupils familiar with.these fundamental
branches of a good education.




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.    107
Scholars in English Department.
FIRST CLASS.
Henry Sylvester Steele Bliss,. 2 Dana Place.
Alfred Warren Eaton,.. 32 Prentiss St.
Francis Cummings Pratt,. 67 Ruggles St.
SECOND CLASS.
Linus Bacon Comins, Jr.,. Jamaica Plain.
Patrick Daly,... Tremont St.
Edward William Dolan,.. Eustis St.
Charles Dunbar,... 15 Charles St.
Charles Henry Gallup,.. Washington St.
Charles Henry Hatch,.. 8 Cottage St.
John James Lynch,.       29 Adams St.
Patrick O'Leary,...Mall St. Avenue.
George Frederic Pearson,. 146 Eustis St.
John Prince,... Dale St.
Stanley Seaver,... Marcella St.
Philip Wentworth Sweat,. Ruggles St.
Walter Harris Tenney,.. 19 Chestnut St.
Frederick William Todd,. 20 Winthrop St.
Stephen Glover Train,.. Cedar St.
John Welch,..    4 Longwood Av.
Henry Bertram Wentworth,. Winthrop St.
Frank Storer Wheeler,.. 113 Eustis St.
John Wesley Wolcott, Jr..Walnut Park.
THIRD CLASS.
William John Austin,.. 6 Norfolk Avenue.
Raymond Curtis Bayer,.. Elm Place.
10*




108     HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Dana Bullard Brigham,.. 30 Elm St.
Lucius Augustus Brown,. Norfolk Avenue.
Henry Myers Cunningham,. Quincy St., Dorch.
Cassius Henry Darling,.. 13 Cottage St.
Joshua Felton,... 25 Williams Place.
Albert Jones Foster,.. 133 Eustis St.
Wm. Henry StockmanFrothingham,  Oak St.
Charles William Grant,.. 16 Chestnut St.
Davis Johnson,... 53 Warren St.
Wells Goddard Kellogg,.. 57 Zeigler St.
Charles Dabney Leckie,.. Warren St.
Samuel Lockwood, Jr... Highland St.
Thomas Lynch,... Sweat St.
George Edward Mecuen,. Vale St.
John Moran,... Tremont St.
Isaac Wheelock Newton,. 33 Chestnut St.
George Albert Nudd,.. Smith St.
James Ormand,.. Webber St.
Alfred Trescott Pope,.. Walnut St.
William Seaver,... 79 Ruggles St.
James Clapp Stinbry,.. Orange Court.
Edward Marshall Symmes,. 9 Cottage St.
Frank Dunham Thompson,. Auburn St.
Francis Forest Wait,.. Hill Side.
Granville Stocker Wallingford,   Fremont Place.
Alonzo Jacob Wells,.. 3 Cedar St.
Romanzo Newton Wiswall,. 15 Vernon St.
Tyler Erskine Woodbridge,. Oak St.
Alonzo Gage Worcester,. 21 Greenville St.




HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.          109
Vacations and Holidays.
One week commencing  on the Monday before
Thanksgiving Day; one week commencing on the
fourth Monday in February; one week commencing
on the Monday before the last Wednesday in May;
six weeks commencing on the Monday preceding the
last Monday in July; Christmas Day; New Year's
Day; Fast Day; May Day; Fourth of July; Commencement Day  at Harvard  University;  every
Wednesday and Saturday afternoon.
School Hours.
From the first Monday in May to first Monday in
October, from  VIII A. M. to I P. M.  From  the
first Monday in October to first Monday in May, from
IX  A. M. to II P. M.  On Wednesdays and Saturdays the school is dismissed two hours earlier.
The vacations, holidays and hours of instruction
are the same in both departments.
Property of the Trustees.
LEASED LAND.*
Lot I. Mead's Orchard, westerly side of Warren
St., corner of Walnut St., 17,678 square feet.
Lot II.  Pond Hill Pasture, on the hill south of
Jamaica Pond, 10 acres, 1 qr., 3 rods.
* We give no estimate of the present worth of the leased land.
It is sufficient to say that if the increase in the value of real estate
in Roxbury should be no greater during the next, than it has been
during the past fifty years, the income of the school at the expiration of the leases will make it, from the above lands alone, the
most richly endowed institution of the kind in New England.




110     HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Lot III.  Westerly side of Walk Hill St., 19
acres. Also rear of J. R. Weld's homestead, 4 acres,
3 qrs., 27 rods.
Lot IV.  Near crossing of Worcester Railroad
and Parker St., at Mill Dam, 2 acres, 1 qr., 36 rods.
Lot V.  From School St. to Stony Brook, 2 acres,
2 qrs., 16 rods.
Lot VI.  South side of Beach St., 221 acres.
Lot VII.  Bounded by Centre, Smith and Washington Sts. and Stony Brook, 6 acres.
Lot VIII.  Town landing  at Roxbury Point,
4 acres, 1 qr., 38 rods.
Lot IX.  N. W. side of Dedham Turnpike, opposite Forest Hills corner, 9 acres, 3 qrs., 21 rods.
Lot X.  Bell's Homestead, both sides of Dedham
Turnpike, near School St., 17 acres, 1 qr., 39 rods;
also between Dedham  Turnpike  and  School St.,
11 acres, 2 qrs., 17 rods.
Land not Leased, Stocks, ec.
School-houses and land adjoining,. $10,086 27
Land on Walk Hill St., W. Roxbury,    15,000 00
Land on Shawmut Avenue, Roxbury,        3,000 00
Notes and Mortgages,...   17,410 83
Railroad Stocks,....   13,434 50
Bank Stocks,....    7,958 50
Railroad Bonds,....    5,521 19
City of Boston 5 per ct. Scrip,..    1,000 00
City of Roxbury 6 per ct. Scrip,.    3,000 00
East Boston Ferry Stock, one share,.      15 00
$76,426 29




BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
OF THE MINISTERS OF THE FIRST CHURCH, AND
OTHER TRUSTEES.
THOMAS WELD.
Thomas Weld was born in Tirling, in Essex, England, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge.
He arrived in Boston June 5, 1632, and in July was
ordained first minister of the Church in Roxbury. In
November following, Mr. Eliot was settled as his colleague.*
In 1639 he assisted his colleague and Richard
Mather in making the New England version of the
Psalms, and in 1641 was sent, with Hugh Peters, to
England as an agent of the Colony. In 1646, when
Edward Winslow  was sent out to answer Gorton's
complaint, Peters and Weld were dismissed from the
agency and desired to return home; but they both
preferred to remain in England.  Mr. Weld was
afterwards settled in the ministry at Gateshead, in the
* In the list of ministers Mr. Weld is called pastor and Mr.
Eliot, teacher; the duties of the former were "to exhort and to
rule; of the latter, to instruct in knowledge, and also to rule,"




112               THOMAS WELD.
bishoprick of Durham, opposite Newcastle. Hutchinson says he went to Ireland with Lord Forbes,
but came back to England and was ejected from his
living in 1662. Whilst in New England, he took an
active part in the proceedings against Mrs. Hutchinson, and at the trial distinguished himself as one of
her principal opponents.  He seems-to have been
very bitter against those who differed from him in religious opinions.
There is a book now extant, "Weld's Short Story
of the Rise, Reign and Ruin of Antinomians, Familists and Libertines that Infected the Churches of
New England."  It is a scarce and curious book;
but while it points out the extravagancies of their
opinions and conduct, it shows that in the bitterness
of dispute, even a minister of the gospel may not
know what spirit he is of. A copy of this work in
4to, 1692, is in the library of Harvard College.
With others, he wrote " The Perfect Pharisee
under Monkish Holiness," against the Quakers; and
"The Fallen Jew Detected," against a man who pretended to be first a Jew and then an Anabaptist.
He was also the author of "A Vindication of the
New England Churches."  His biographers speak
highly of his talents as a writer and preacher. He
was very popular with the magistrates, and often consulted in political matters.  In Winthrop's Journal
frequent mention is made of calling on ministers for
advice.  He died in 1662.




JOHN ELIOT.               113
JOHN ELIOT,
This distinguished man was born probably at Nasing, Essex County, England, in 1604, and educated
at Jesus College, Cambridge. On leaving that institution he became a teacher in the grammar school
of Rev. Thomas Hooker, who, at a later period, was
one of the most eminent divines of his time. From
him and his household Mr. Eliot must have received
those religious impressions which had such an influence upon his future life. "When I came to this
blessed family," said he, " I then saw, and never before, the power of godliness in its lively vigor and
efficacy."
As might be expected of an educated young man
of such devotional tendencies, he determined to become a preacher; but there being in England but a
narrow field of usefulness for a Nonconformist or Puritan preacher, he came to this country, and arrived in
Boston in 1631. At this time there was no minister
at the First Church. Mr. Wilson had gone to England, and the religious services were conducted by
Governor Winthrop, Mr. Dudley and Mr. Nowel,
the ruling elder.
The following year Mr. Eliot was settled as a
teacher of the Church in Roxbury. Governor Winthrop says, "Mr. John Eliot, a member of the Boston congregation, whom the company intended presently to call to the office of teacher, was called to
be a teacher to the company at Roxbury; and though




114                JOHN ELIOT.
Boston labored all they could, both with the congregation at Roxbury and with Mr. Eliot himself, alledging their want of him, and the covenant between
them, yet he could not be diverted from accepting
the call at Roxbury; so he was dismissed."
In the Roxbury Church Records the following reasons are assigned by him for the preference given to
that town:
" His friends were come over and settled at Roxbury, to whom he was foreengaged,. that if he were
not called before they came, he was to join them;
whereupon the Church at Roxbury called him to be
their teacher in the end of summer, and soon after he
was ordained to that office. Also his intended wife,
Hanna Mumford, came along with the rest of his
friends. She found him, and soon after their coming
they were married."   He was accordingly settled
Nov. 5, 1632.
In 1641 the connection between Mr. Weld, pastor,
and Mr. Eliot, teacher of the Church, was terminated
by the departure of the former for England, as agent
for the Province.  From  that time till 1650 Mr.
Eliot discharged alone, with exemplary zeal and ability, the duties of the ministry. In 1650 Mr. Samuel
Danforth, a member of the Church of Cambridge, and
one of the early fruits of Harvard College, was ordained as colleague pastor.
The troubles with Mrs. Hutchinson occurred during the ministry of Mr. Eliot, and he, unfortunately,
became involved in them.  The trial of this noted




JOHN ELIOT.                115
lady is a valuable document for those who would
know the manners, customs and principles of our
fathers. Mr. Eliot, with other ministers, visited her,
conversed freely on religious subjects, and expostulated with her concerning things which had become
matters of notoriety, especially her manner of censuring the ministers of the Plantation, whom she so generally condemned.  The spiritual tone of her mind
was discovered in this conversation, nor could any
subsequent array of courts and magistrates influence
her.  The ministers of that time, Mr. Eliot included,
were over zealous in their testimony against her.
They had not learnt what subsequent experience
would have taught them, that in every manifestation
of religious excitement, however extravagant, the less
opposition we offer, the less likely is what we may
consider fanaticism, to prevail.
Mr. Eliot was an early and faithful friend of common schools.  "It was," says Cotton Mather in his
Life of Eliot, "his perpetual resolution and activity
to support a good school in the town that belonged
unto him.  A grammar school he would always have
upon the place whatever it cost him; and he importuned all other places to have the like. I cannot
forget the ardor with which some heard him pray, in a
synod of these churches, which met at Boston to consider how the miscarriages which were among us
might be prevented; I say with what fervor he
uttered an expression to this purpose:-' Lord, for
schools every where among us! That our schools may
11




116                 JOHN ELIOT.
flourish! That every member of this assembly may go
home and procure a good school to be encouraged in
the town in which he lives! That before we die, we
may be so happy as to see a good school encouraged
in every plantation of the country!' God so blessed
his endeavors, that Roxbury could not live quietly
without a free school in the town; and the issue of it
has been one thing which has almost made me put
the title of Schola illustris* upon that little nursery;
that is, that Roxbury has afforded more scholars, first
for the colledge and then for the public, than any
town of its bigness, or, if I mistake not, of twice its
bigness in all New England. From the spring of the
school at Roxbury there have run a large number of
the streams which have made glad this whole city of
God."
His efforts in the cause of education were not confined to this school.  In 1689, the year previous to
his death, he conveyed an estate of about seventy-five
acres of land to certain persons and their heirs, for
"the maintenance, support and encouragement of a
school and schoolmaster at that part of Roxbury commonly called Jamaica, or the Pond Plains, for the
teaching and instructing of the children of that end
of the town, (together with such Indians and negroes
as shall or may come to the school,) and to no other
use, intent or purpose whatever."
* Among the graduates from Roxbury were the Dudleys,
Eliots, Bowles, Walters, Thomsons, Danforths, Paysons, Pierponts, Welds, Graves and others. (Harv. Coil. Catalogue.)




JOHN ELIOT.                117
This is the origin of the Roxbury "Eliot School
Fund."
In 1639 an effort was made to improve the psalmody of that period. Mr. Eliot, Mr. Weld and Richard Mather were selected to make a new metrical
translation.  In this selection, Hebrew  scholarship
rather than poetical taste, seems to have been the
guide, as was quite apparent when " The Bay Psalm
Book," the joint product of the three selected fathers,
was published.
But we must hasten to that period in Mr. Eliot's
life which made him a marked man for the reverence
of all succeeding ages.  His attention was early
directed to the spiritual welfare of the native inhabitants of New England.  He knew there was a religious element in their characters, wild, perhaps, or
faintly developed, which needed only a right cultivation for its expansion into true Christianity. He determined to commence his ministerial labors among
them, and as a necessary preparation for this, devoted himself for two years to the learning of the
Indian language, a task, the difficulty of which few
can appreciate.
Cotton Mather gives a graphic description of this.
"Behold," says he, " new  difficulties to be surmounted by our indefatigable Eliot! He hires a native to teach him  this exotic language, and with
laborious skill and care reduces it into a grammar,
which he afterwards published. There is a letter or
two in our language which the Indians never had in




118                JOHN ELIOT.
theirs. But if their alphabet be short, I am sure the
words composed of it are long enough to tire the
patience of any scholar in the world.  One would
think they had been growing ever since Babel unto
the dimensions to which they are now extended. For
instance, if my reader will count how many letters
there are in this one word Nummatchekodtantamesangamennonash, when he has done, for his reward I'll
tell him it signifies no more than " our lusts;" and
if I must translate "our loves," it must be nothing
shorter than " Noowomnantainmoonkamnonnash." But
I pray, Sir, count the letters.  I know not what
thoughts it will produce in my reader when I inform
him, that once finding that the demons in a possessed
young woman understood the Latin, Greek and Hebrew languages, my curiosity led me to make trial of
this Indian language, and the demons did seem as if
they did not understand it."
The first place he began to preach at was Nonantum, or the eastern part of Newton, Mass.
" His manner of teaching," says Gookin,* " was
first to begin with prayer, and then to preach briefly
upon a suitable portion of scripture, afterwards to
permit the Indians to propound questions; and divers
of them  had a faculty to frame hard and difficult
questions, touching something then spoken, or some
other matter in religion, tending to their illumination;
which questions, Mr. Eliot, in a grave and Christian
* Collection of Mass. Hist. Soc,, I, 168, Also note oI,




JOHN ELIOT.               119
manner, did endeavor to resolve and answer to their
satisfaction."
His first discourse to them was from Ezekiel 37: 9.
He described the character of Christ; told them in
what manner he appeared on earth, and that he would
again come to judgment, when the wicked should be
punished and the good rewarded.  He spoke of the
creation and fall of man; then urged them to repent,
to pray to God, and own Christ as their Saviour.
After the discourse, the Indians put many questions,
some of which denoted not a little shrewdness; as,
for instance, " whether, if the child be good and the
parent naught, God will be offended with the child;
because God saith in the second commandment, that
he visits the iniquities of the fathers upon the children," &c.
The influence of this excellent man upon this simplehearted class of hearers soon became very great. It
is true, that he often encountered opposition, especially from the sachems; these did all they could to
obstruct the work, for they feared a loss of power and
influence if men had any other law to govern them
than the authority in their hands; they threatened
him with every evil if he made any more conversions.
But he told them, " I am about the work of the great
God, and he is with me, so that I fear not all the
sachems in the country."  (Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll.,
I, 14.)
The first Indian church established by his zealous
efforts was at Natick in 1660. It was incorporated
1'1*




120                JOHN ELIOT.
after the manner of the Congregational churches in
New England.  Branches were afterwards established
in different parts of Massachusetts, to all of which Mr.
Eliot gave, occasionally, the benefit of his ministrations; but his pastoral care was more immediately
over the church in Natick.  This church continued
many years after his death.
Winthrop, (II, 303) after speaking of the labors
and success of Eliot, says: " God prospered his endeavors so as he kept a constant lecture to them in
two places, one week at' the wigwam of one Wabon, a
new sachem near Watertown Mill, and the other, the
next week, in the wigwam of Cutshamekin, near Dorchester Mill. And, for the furtherance of the work
of God, divers of the English resorted to his lecture,
and the governour and other of the magistrates and
elders sometimes; and the Indians began to repair
thither from other parts.".... " But first I should
have spoke of the catechising of their children, who
were soon brought to answer him some short questions, whereupon he gave them an apple or a cake;
then he demanded of some of the chiefs, if they understood him; if they answered yea, then he asked
of them if they had any questions to propound. And
they had usually two or three or more questions
which he did resolve. At one time (when the governour was there and about two hundred people, Indian and English,) an old man asked him, if God
would receive such an old man as he was; to whom
he answered by opening the parable of the workmen




JOHN ELIOT.                   121
that were hired into the vineyard; and when he had
opened it, he asked the old man if he did believe it,
who answered he did, and was ready to weep."
It was not by preaching only that Mr. Eliot manifested his interest in the welfare of the Indian race.
He instructed a native, named Monequessin, to be a
schoolmaster among them.  With occasional aid from
friends, he established schools. A contribution of
ten pounds for this purpose came from an unknown
source. Half of it he paid to a woman in Cambridge
for teaching Indian  children; " and God," says he,
" so blessed her labors that they came on very prettily."   The other half he gave for a similar purpose
to a schoolmaster in Dorchester.   To all this was
added his own personal instruction as often as he
could give it. With the results of his labors and the
progress of the children generally, he seems to have
been well satisfied.*
Of the general character of Eliot's preaching we
have the evidence of his contemporaries that it was
* More so probably than Mr. Egede with the Greenland boys,
of whom their teacher says, (Cranst. Hist. of Greenland, I, 290,)
"As to their learning, it went briskly at first, because they had a
fish-hook, or some such thing, given them for every letter they
learnt. But they were soon glutted with this business, and said
they knew not what end it answered to sit all day long looking
upon a piece of paper, and crying, a, b, c, &c.; that he and the
factor were worthless people, beeause they did nothing but look in a
book, or scrawl upon paper with a feather; but, on the contrary,
the GreenlaWders were brave men, they would hunt seals, shoot
birds," &c., &c.




122                 JOHN ELIOT.
plain and to the purpose. Mather somewhat quaintly
says, " the very lambs might wade into his discourses
on those texts and themes wherein elephants might
swim."  In his delivery, he was earnest and impressive, easily commanding the attention of his audience.
He cared little for rhetorical ornament, and still less
for any thing resembling the transcendental philosophy
of the present day.
In the common affairs of life, in his dealings with
his fellow-men, as a neighbor and friend, he was a
model of practical Christianity.  In his home there
was always happiness.  His wife was an excellent
economist, and by her prudent management enabled
him to be generous and hospitable.  As an evidence
of her thrift and judicious management, it is said that
he was able, with a small salary, to educate four sons
at Cambridge, all of whom became successful ministers.
Like many other eminent men, Mr. Eliot had his
peculiarities, some  would  call them  weaknesses.
Take, for example, his extraordinary prejudice against
wearing wigs.  He preached against it; he prayed
against it; he thought all the calamities of the country, even Indian wars, might be traced to this absurd
fashion.*  There are many traditions which seem like
amusing stories of the good man's anti-wig warfare.
Equally strong was his prejudice against the use of tobacco.  But in this he did not stand alone.  The
prevailing sentiment of the better class was on his side.
* Note D.




JOHN ELIOT.                123
Gov. Winthrop says: "At this Court (1634) were
many laws made against tobacco, and immodest fashions, and costly apparel, &c., as appears from the
records."
"He that will write of Eliot," says Cotton Mather,*
"must write of his charity, or say nothing.  His
charity was a star of the first magnitude in the
bright constellation of his virtues, and the rays of it
were wonderfully various and extensive. His liberality to pious uses, whether public or private, went
much beyond the proportions of his little estate in this
world.  Many hundred pounds did he freely bestow
upon the poor; and he would, with very forcible importunities, press his neighbor to join with him in
such beneficences.... He did not put off his charity to be put in his last will, as many who therein
show that their charity is against their will, but he
was his own administrator; he made his own hands
his executors, and his own eyes his overseers."
It is said that on one occasion the treasurer of the
parish on paying him his quarterly stipend, knowing
well his lavish expenditure for the relief of others, put
the money in a handkerchief and tied it in as many
hard knots as possible, in hopes to compel him  to
carry it home.  On his way thither, he called to see
a poor, sick woman, and, on entering, gave the' family
his blessing, and told them that God had sent them
some relief.  He then began to untie the knots, but
* Magnalia, I, 489.




124                 JOHN ELIOT.
after many efforts to do so, being impatient at the
perplexity and delay to get at his money, he gave the
whole to the mother, saying, " Here, my dear, take
it; I believe the Lord designs it all for you."*
To a minister complaining of the injurious treatment of some of his parishioners, he said, " Brother,
learn the meaning of these three little words, bear,
forbear andforgive."
Mr. Eliot's house stood in the rear of the spot now
occupied by Guild Hall.t
During the war with the sachem  Philip, 1675,
Eliot, on many occasions, showed his fidelity to the
Indians who had been under the influence of his
preaching.  In the excitement of the time, little discrimination was made by the people of Massachusetts
between the hostile and the friendly Indians. In the
latter class, were those whom  Eliot had converted
from savages to Christians.  He became their advocate and friend,-he defended their cause against the
violence of their enemies, and never did he appear to
more advantage than when pleading for these poor,
friendless beings.  " Since the death of the Apostle
Paul," says Mr. Everett, " a nobler, truer, and warmer
spirit than John Eliot never lived; and, taking the
state of the country, the narrowness of the means, the
rudeness of the age into consideration, the history
of the Christian church does not contain an example
of resolute, untiring, successful labor, superior to that
* Biography by W. H. Eliot, Jr.  t Note G.




JOHN ELIOT.                    125
of translating the entire Scriptures into the language
of the native inhabitants of Massachusetts; a labor
performed, not in the flush of youth, nor within the
luxurious abodes of academic ease, but under the constant burden of his duties as a minister and a preacher,
and at a time of life when the spirits begin to flag."*
In the old burial ground in Roxbury, at the corner
of Washington and Eustis Streets, there is a tombt
belonging to the First Church.   It has upon it a
simple monumentf and tablet with the following inscription:Here lie the Remains of
JOHN ELIOT,
The Apostle to the Indians.
Ordained over the First Church Nov. 5, 1632. Died May 20, 1690.
Aged LXXXVI.
Also of
THOMAS WALTER,
Ordained Oct. 19, 1718. Died Jan'y 10, 1725.
Aged xxix.
NEHEMIAH WALTER,
Ordained Oct. 17, 1688. Died Sept. 17, 1750.
Aged LXXXVII.
OLIVER PEABODY,
Ordained Nov. 7, 1750. Died May 29, 1752.
Aged xxxII.
AMOS ADAMS,
Ordained Sept. 12, 1753. Died Oct. 5, 1775.
Aged XLVII.
ELIPHALET PORTER,
Ordained Oct. 2, 1782. Died Dec. 7, 1833.
Aged LXXV.
* Address of Hon. Edward Everett at Bloody Brook.
t Note C.           t Note E.




126                JOHN ELIOT.
Within a few rods, then, of the school which he
loved, and labored so earnestly to found, are the remains of this excellent man.
Roxbury owes a debt of gratitude to many ratriotic, self-sacrificing citizens, but among them no one
deserves to be held in more faithful remembrance than
the Apostle Eliot.
List of the Publications of John Eliot.
1. Indian Catechism.  Cambridge, 1653.
2. New Testament.  1661.
3. Indian Bible, Catechism and Psalms of David
in metre. 8vo, 1663.
4.  Indian Psalter.  1664.  8vo, Cambridge.
5.  Baxter's Call to the Unconverted, translated
into the Indian language. 1664. 8vo, Cambridge,
1664.
6. Indian Grammar.  4to, 1666.
7. Indian Logic Primer.  Cambridge, 1672.
8. Harmony of the Gospels.  Boston, 1678.
9. Practice of Piety, translated into the Indian
tongue. 1685.
10. Indian Primer.  Cambridge, 1687.
11.  Thomas Shepard's Sincere Convert and Sound
Believer, translated into the Indian tongue. 12mo,
Cambridge, 1689.
12.  Christian Commonwealth.
13.  Answer to Norcott's Book  against Infant
Baptism.
14.  Communion of Churches.




SAMUEL DANFORTH.              127
SAMUEL DANFORTH.
Samuel Danforth was born at Framlingham, in
Suffolk, England, September, 1626. Of his father,
Cotton Mather says: " He was a gentleman of such
estate and repute in the world, that it cost him a
considerable sum to escape the knighthood which King
Charles I imposed upon all of so much per annum;
and of such figure and esteem in the church, that he
procured the famous lecture at Framlingham in Suffolk, where he had a fine manor."  The son was
graduated at Harvard College in 1643, in the second
class that received the honors of that Institution.
From his being early appointed one of the officers of
instruction, we may infer that his rank, as a scholar,
was high.  He was also a member of the Corporation, and, to the extent of his means, a donor to the
College.
In 1650 he was ordained colleague pastor with Mr.
Eliot of the First Church in Roxbury. His pastoral
office continued till his death, Nov. 14, 1674.
Rev. Dr. Sprague, in his " Annals of the American
Pulpit," says:    Mr. Danforth was undoubtedly regarded among the greater lights of New England in
his time. As a preacher, he was remarkable for sustaining all his positions by arguments from Scripture;
for adhering closely to the main object before him;
for a free, clear and rapid utterance; and for a
depth and power of feeling which in almost every sermon manifested itself in tears. He never ventured
12




128             SAMUEL DANFORTH.
extemporaneous efforts in the pulpit. He not only
wrote his sermons, but wrote them twice over in an
exceedingly legible and beautiful character; he then
committed every word to memory, and his memory
was so tenacious that it was never known to fail him.
He was accustomed on the Sabbath morning to expound the books of the Old Testament, and in the
afternoon to discourse on the' body of divinity,' and
many occasional subjects."
As a pastor he was unwearied in his attentions to
his parishioners, visiting faithfully the sick and afflicted, and by every means promoting harmony.
"No temptations," says Cotton Mather, " arising
either from the incompetency of the salary allowed
him to support a hospitable family, or from the provocation which unworthy men in the neighborhood sometimes tried him withal, could persuade him to accept
of motions which were made him to remove to more
comfortable settlements; but keeping his eye upon
the great man's motto, prudens qui patiens, he continued in his Roxbury station for three years more
than thrice seven together."*
In early life he devoted some time to scientific pursuits, especially to astronomy. He published almanacs, some of which were considered valuable for the
chronological tables they contained.  He published
an astronomical description of the comet of 1664,
with a brief theological application. He maintains
* Magnalia, II, 48.




SAMUEL DANFORTH,                129
that a comet is a heavenly body, moving according
to defined laws, and that its appearance is portentous.
Mr. Danforth was married in 1651 to a daughter
of Rev. John Wilson of Boston, by whom  he had
twelve children.   Two of his sons became eminent
divines in this State, one of Dorchester* and the
other of Taunton,
Mr. Danforth was the owner of a large lot of land
on Roxbury  Street, on which  probably his dwelling stood. As the description of this estate gives
an idea of the appearance of a pretty large portion of
the south east side of Roxbury Street at that period,
we give it in the quaint language of the time.  "The
orchard field, pasture and meadow  of the late Mr.
Samuel Danforth of Roxbury,bounded by Mr. Thomas
Dudley's land, sometime formerly Mr Hughes his, on
the one side, and the street and highway leading to
the burying place at Roxbury, and turning about the
training field,t on the other side,-with the addition
only of a straight line from the corner of the training
field to said Dudley's land, which finisheth the compass thereof, unto which land appertaineth the land
between Mr. Bolds his land before his door, fenced in
* The Dorchester burial ground is famous for its epitaphs, many
of which were written by Mr. D. of that town. Of their poetical
merit, the less we say the better. Our Roxbury divine is favored
with the following in Latin; the allusion is to his astronomical
propensities.
"Non dubium, quin eb iverit qub stellse eunt,
Danforthus, qui stellis semper se associvit."
t Note F.




130            NEHEMIAH WALTER.
of latter years by said Bolds, and the highway that
boundeth the land first mentioned; which strap of
land hath long time lain out of fence, and hath some
trees standing thereon and anchiently had a barn
thereon."
Judge Leland says, "The modern description of
this land is substantially this:-Beginning at the corner of Washington and Eustis Streets, and running
along Washington to a point nearly opposite Vernon
Street; thence in a southerly direction across the
house lots, across Warren and through Union Street
to a point beyond the lower end of the latter street;
thence turning and running to Eustis Street; thence
along Eustis to the place of beginning.
" Mr. Danforth was pastor at the time of his death,
and was forty-eight years of age. His wife survived
her husband for many years... So great was the
excellency of her character that after she had been
for some time a widow, Mr. Joseph Rock, of Boston,
received the impression that she would make him a
good wife, and seeking her consent she consented,
and lived to become again a widow."
NEHEMIArH WALTER.
Nehemiah Walter was born in Ireland, December,
1663.  His parents were from Lancashire, England.
In early youth he was distinguished for scholarship,
particularly in Latin, which he spoke fluently.
In 1680, when the prevalence of popery threatened




NEHEMIAH WALTER.              131
Ireland, his father, Thomas Walter, removed thence
with his family to New England.  Here he placed
his son under the care of the distinguished Mr. Cheever, the master of the Public Grammar School in
Boston, who, after a short examination, returned him
to his father with the assurance that he was already
qualified for college studies.
In the seventeenth year of his age (1680) he was
admitted to Harvard College.  After graduating, he
visited France by invitation of Mr. Nelson, an eminent Boston merchant, and acquired there a thorough
acquaintance with the French language, in those days
a rare accomplishment.  After returning home, he
devoted himself for some years to the critical study of
Greek and Hebrew.  So distinguished was he among
the scholars of his time, that in their debates upon
any point, philological or theological, his opinion was
generally appealed to and accepted as decisive. The
memorable Elijah Corlet, master of the Grammar
School in Cambridge, often employed him to officiate
in the care of his school when obliged to be absent
himself, and considered his place well supplied by Mr.
Walter.
He began early to acquaint himself with church
history, impartially reading the controversial writings
on all sides, and weighing their several arguments
with skill. He took this method to settle his judgment in the Episcopal and Presbyterian controversies,
or those between the Church and Dissenters in England, and between Presbyterians and Congregational12*




132            NEHEMIAH WALTER.
ists, finally adopting the way of the churches of New
England.
Although an admirer of John Calvin and many of
the more modern English divines, he took no man or
set of men for his standard; nor did he subject his
faith to any scheme of divinity, or his conscience to
any model of religion whatever of mere human contrivance. He carefully avoided all extremes, equally
opposing Arminianism on the one hand and Antinomianism  on the other; yet speaking charitably of
divines who leaned to either of the extremes, and
always taking care to preserve a distinction between
persons and opinions. With this disposition he became a candidate for the ministry.
His introduction to a Roxbury pulpit seems to have
been providential.  He had contemplated a voyage
to Europe, and actually engaged his passage. But
it happened whilst the vessel was waiting for a wind,
that he received on Saturday a message from the
First Church in Roxbury, inviting him to preach on
the following Sunday.  He accepted the invitation
and preached, it was said, for the first time, and made
a very favorable impression. The people there had
for some time been seeking a colleague for their aged
pastor, the venerable John Eliot, but had not been
able to unite on any one of the many candidates who
had preached for them.  So much pleased were they
with Mr. Walter, that they hastened to invite him to
preach for a season for them, with the prospect of a
settlement in due time.




NEHEMIAH WALTER.              133
The good old minister was so charmed with the
young preacher, that on the first day of hearing him,
he requested members of the church to stop after the
evening service, and was for putting it to vote whether
they would give him  a call.  But the Hon. Joseph
Dudley, afterwards Governor, notwithstanding he entertained a high opinion of Mr. Walter, thought so
sudden a decision inexpedient, and persuaded Mr.
Eliot to defer it for a while. After a short delay, a
call was unanimously given, the brethren of the
church making their choice on Sunday July 15,
1688, and the inhabitants of the town, in public assembly, on Sunday September 9, approving and confirming it.
On Wednesday Oct. 17, 1688, Mr. Walter was
ordained, and preached the sermon himself, as was
the custom  at that time.  Mr. Eliot, then in his
eighty-fourth year, presided at the ordination and
gave the charge.  When two ministers were settled
over the same church, it was usual to call onie pastor
and the other teacher; but Mr. Eliot gave both these
names to his colleague, and on his return from the
ordination pleasantly said to Mr. Walter, " Brother,
I have ordained you a teaching pastor, but don't be
proud of it, for I always ordain my Indians so."
Throughout their joint ministry the relation was
like that between father and son.  Cotton Mather, in
his Memoir of Eliot, says: " The good old man, like
Aaron, as it were, disrobed himself with an unspeak



134             NEHEMIAH WALTER.
able satisfaction when he beheld his garments spread
upon a son so dear to him."
Mr. Walter gave early presages of future eminence,
and from  youth to advanced age showed himself a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, a burning
and a shining light, both in the pulpit and out of it.
As a preacher he was earnest and impressive. The
subjects he most dwelt upon may be inferred from the
following, taken from some of his published sermons:" Unfruitful Hearers Detected and Warned."  " The
Body of Sin Anatomized."  "A Discourse on Vain
Thoughts."  "The Great Concern of Man."  "The
Wonderfulness of Christ."' The Holiness of Heaven."  "Faithfulness in the Ministry;"  a sermon
preached to the Convention of Ministers.  Also several discourses published together, on the 55th chapter of Isaiah.
In 1717 his health began to be affected by his ministerial labors. He contracted a disorder producing
dizziness and debility which required him to suspend
the exercises of his pulpit, and, indeed, all professional studies.
As an evidence of the importance attached to his
services by his parishioners and others, it is stated
that the occasion of his ceasing to preach was observed
as a day of fasting and prayer, not only by his own
flock, but by the ministers and people of the vicinity.
In a few months he was able to resume his labors,
and continued them without assistance till Oct. 19,
1718, when his son, Thomas Walter, was ordained




NEHEMIAH WALTER.               135
his colleague. This connection, unfortunately, was of
short duration, being broken by the early death of the
junior pastor.
The whole weight of the pastoral office again devolving upon the senior pastor, his people, in consideration of his advanced age, and their great desire to
retain his services as long as possible, relieved him
from half of each Sunday's service, by supplying the
pulpit at their own expense when he did not preach.
Among his parishioners and warm friends was his
Excellency Governor Dudley, who on many occasions
bore testimony to the high estimation in which he
held his minister. There was also the Governor's son,
the Hon. Paul Dudley, for many years one of his
Majesty's Council, and Chief Justice of the Province,
whose respect for Mr. Walter fully equalled, if it did
not exceed, that of his father.  Rev. Dr. Eliot in his
biography of Mr. Walter, says, " His discourses were
always studied, and he delivered them  with great
animation though with a feeble voice. He had a delicate bodily frame and was small of stature."  Rev.
Dr. Chauncy regarded him as one of the most brilliant of our countrymen.
On the 25th fof December, 1749, he was confined
to his house by bodily indisposition, which gradually
increased upon him, and terminated in his decease,
Sept. 17, 1759, in the 87th year of his age.  His
ministry and that of Mr. Eliot occupied a space of
nearly 120 years.




136              THOMAS WALTER.
THOMAS WALTER.
Thomas Walter, son of Nehemiah Walter, was
born in Roxbury Dec. 13, 1696, graduated at Harvard College in 1713, and ordained his father's colleague Oct. 19, 1718. Rev. Dr. Eliot says of him,
" He possessed a very extraordinary genius, having all.
his father's vivacity and richness of imagination, with
more vigor of intellect."
Dr. Chauncy, in his account of eminent men, says,
"There was no subject but what Mr. Walter was intimately acquainted with, and such was the power he
had over his thoughts and words, that he could readily, without any pains, write and speak just as he
would; that he made himself master of Dr. Cotton
Mather's learning, by taking frequent opportunities
of conversing with him; and that had he not died in
the prime of life, he would have been known as one
of the first of our great men." He was distinguished
for his musical taste, and was the author of an elementary work on the Science of Music, which became
very popular.  The tunes he collected were introduced into our churches, and his rules taught in our
schools.
Among his printed sermons we find one on " The
Sweet Psalmist of Israel," published in 1723, at the
request of the ministers of Boston; and another on' The Scriptures, the Only Rule of Faith and Practice." They are both productions of great merit,




OLIVER PEABODY.-AMOS ADAMS.           137
Prince says, " He was an accomplished scholar, an
orthodox preacher, and began to be a great blessing
to the New England churches in bravely and learnedly defending their scriptural profession and gospel
order, as appears by his printed  writings."   He
died Jan. 10, 1725.
OLIVER PEABODY.
Mr. Peabody, the successor of Mr. Walter in the
ministry of the First Church, was invited to settle as
colleague pastor, but was not ordained till November,
1750, about two months after the death of his venerable
predecessor.  He was a preacher of acknowledged
ability.  His ministry and his life were brief.  He
died in May, 1752, about a year and a half from the
time of his settlement.*
AMOS ADAMS.
Mr. Adams, the sixth minister of the First Church,
was born in Medfield, Mass., Sept. 1, 1728; graduated at Harvard College in 1752, and ordained Sept.
12, 1753.  He married Sarah, daughter of the emi* The house on Eliot Square, opposite the Norfolk House, now
occupied by the author of this volume, was built by Mr. Peabody.
After his death, it was occupied for about eighty years by his successors in the ministry, every one of them having lived in it during
some part of his professional life.




138                AMOS ADAMS.
nent divine, Dr. Charles Chauncy, of the First Church
in Boston.
His biographers speak highly of him as a writer
and preacher.  His delivery is said to have been animated and energetic, his voice musical and of great
power.  Although he spoke plainly and fearlessly of
the sins of his people, so much so indeed that he
sometimes gave offence, he had great influence over
them, and was considered one of the most popular
ministers of his time.
Among his published sermons are the following:On the death of Lucy Dudley, 1756; Artillery Election, 1759; Thanksgiving for the reduction of Quebec, 1759; At the Ordinations of S. Kingsbury,
1761, and of John Wyeth, 1766; The only Hope
and Refuge of Sinners, 1767; Two on the Fast of
1769; Dudleian Lecture at Harvard College, 1770.
The manuscript of this last is now in the library of
the college; it bears testimony to the learning of the
writer.
Mr. Adams died at Dorchester, Oct. 5, 1775. It
was said that after preaching all day to his own
people, he preached in the open air to a regiment of
900, which extra exertion and exposure occasioned a
fever of which he died. Dr. Eliot says in reference
to his death: " At this time [1775] a putrid dysentery prevailed in the camp at Roxbury and Cambridge, which spread more than twenty miles in the
environs of Boston. The people of the First Church
were very much scattered, but Mr. Adams was assid



ELIPHALET PORTER.             139
Uous in his labors, and not only visited his own flock,
but the soldiers who were stationed among the people
of his parochial charge.  He himself fell a victim to
the disease."
ELIPHALET PORTER.
Rev. Eliphalet Porter, D. D., still lives in the recollection of many of the present generation. He
was born in North Bridgewater, Mass., June 11,
1758, graduated at Harvard College in 1777, and
settled over the First Church in Roxbury, Oct. 2,
1782.  He was the successor of Rev. Amos Adams,
who died in 1775, a vacancy of several years having
occurred during the Revolutionary period.
Although Dr. Porter in the pulpit exhibited few, if
any, of the characteristics of a popular preacher of the
present day, few modern preachers are listened to
more attentively, or regarded with more reverence
than he was.  The effect he produced was not that
of excitement; he was not excitable himself, and was
therefore not likely to produce excitement in others.
There was a calmness and solemnity in his manner
which gave to his discourses a peculiar impressiveness.  He was never dogmatical or bigoted.  He had
clear and settled opinions on the controverted points
of theology, and was always ready to sustain them;
but he had no taste for controversy, and, therefore,
rarely preached on subjects which occasion it. He
regarded without prejudice the religious opinions of
13




140              ELIPIIALET PORTER.
those who differed from  him, and never allowed a
difference of opinion to interrupt Christian fellowship.
Many of the discourses he was invited to deliver on
public occasions have been published* and highly commended.  One of them, " A  Sermon before the Massachusetts Convention of Congregational Ministers" in
1810, is a production of singular merit.
Of his pastoral character we may say, it was suited
to the times in which he lived. Frequent visits, for
Social intercourse merely, were not expected; for
these he had neither taste or fitness; his manners
were grave and did not encourage familiarity, nor
had he that easy flow of language so essential to sustain a conversation on the familiar topics of the day.
But in the chamber of the sick, or wherever there
was affliction which the sympathies of a pastor could
alleviate, he was a constant and welcome visitor.
" Though he was a man of few words," says one who
knew him well,t " and, of course, felt that indiscriminate social intercourse was not his fittest element,
* Thanksgiving Sermon, 1783; before Roxbury Charitable Society, 1794; National Fast, 1798; on the Death of Governor Sumner, 1799; Eulogy on Washington, 1800; New Year's Sermon,
1801; before the Humane Society, 1802; at the Ordination of
Rev. Charles Lowell, 1806; before the Society for Propagating
the Gospel Among the Indians in North America, 1807; before
the Convention of Ministers, 1810; Artillery Election, 1812; Ordination of Rev. J. G. Palfrey, 1818.
t Rev. Dr. George Putnam, his colleague and successor in the
ministry of the First Church. (See his sermon at the funeral of
Dr. Porter.)




ELIPHALET PORTER.              141
yet few men ever spoke with more meaning or to so
good purpose; of few men can we remember more'words fitly spoken.'  He did not dazzle, but he enlightened; and the weight of his character, and the
remarkable purity and uprightness of his life, gave an
interest and influence to whatever he said, and impressed his sententious remarks deeply on the mind."
As a citizen, his influence was widely and beneficially felt. A man so distinguished for great practical wisdom  as he was, could not escape frequent
calls for his counsel and assistance in the secular
affairs of the town. In the support and management
of institutions for objects of charity, or for the promotion of education and religion, his services and counsels were conspicuously useful and in constant request.  The various offices of trust to which he was
called were fulfilled with a characteristic caution, prudence and fidelity, which obtained and justified unlimited confidence.
In 1818 he was elected a Fellow of Harvard University. The period of his connection with this institution was one of great difficulty, and he took his full
share of the labors and responsibilities incident to his
official position.  His affection for the college was
ardent and constant.  The notice of his death on the
records of the Corporation manifests their strong
sense of " the great loss our literary and religious
community have sustained by the death of this learned
divine and exemplary Christian, whose intelligence,
fidelity and zeal in support of the interests of litera



142            INCREASE SUMNER.
ture, and especially of those connected with the prosperity of Harvard University, they have had uniform
occasion to witness during the many years he has
been one of the members of this Board."
Dr. Porter died Dec. 7, 1833.  He left no children.  By his will he bequeathed one thousand dollars
to the Theological School of Harvard College.
INCREASE SUMNER.
Increase Sumner was a native of Roxbury.  The
house in which he was born stood on Washington
Street, a few rods north of Vernon Street.  He received his early education at our Grammar School,
then under -the charge of William Cushing, afterwards
Justice Cushing of the Supreme Court of the United
States.
He entered Harvard University in 1763, and was
graduated with distinguished honors in 1767.  He
then became a teacher in the same school in which
he was first taught.  After two years' service there,
he commenced the study of the law in the office of
Samuel Quincy, Solicitor General of the Province.
In 1770 he was admitted to the bar and soon obtained an extensive practice.  In 1776, a critical
period in the history of this country, he was elected a
member of the General Court from Roxbury, and in
1780 a senator from Suffolk County.
In 1782 he was elected a member of Congress, but
does not appear to have taken his seat with that body.




INCREASsE SUM'ER.            143
Apparently he had little taste for political life, for at
the age of thirty-six we find him accepting the office
of Associate Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of
the United States.
During his fifteen years' continuance upon the
bench, he maintained the character of a learned, upriqght and impartial Judge.
In 1797 he was elected Governor of Massachusetts.
So popular was his administration, that he was reelected the next year by a greatly increased majority of votes, and the third year with an unanimity unparalleled in the history of State elections. Hle died
in office June 7, 1799.  "No death" (says Mr.
Knapp in his Biographical Sketches) " except Washington's, was ever more deeply deplored in Massachusetts."'  He was buried with military honors.  The
funeral was the most solemn and imposing ever witnessed in th.e Commonwealth.
In the Historical and Genealogical Register (VIII,
124) there is a letter of Daniel Davis, late Solicitor
General, from which we extract the following: "I
loved and venerated Governor Sumner as a father
and friend. The recollection of his kindness and condescension to me while he was on the bench, and I a
young man struggling for my bread, without money,
patronage or education, will never be effaced from a
grateful heart."
Another biographer, (Hon. William H. Sumner,)
says, " In his manners he was polite and unassuming.
He never compromised or lost his dignity in any place
13*




144             INCREASE SUMNER.
or circle, even in the moments of his greatest familiarity. His mind was naturally strong and its various
powers were well balanced.  He was remarkably free
from every thing which had the appearance of rancor
or party spirit."
In early life he became a member of the First
Church in Roxbury.  The character of his mind in
its religious aspect may be inferred from a conversation during his last sickness, of which Rev. Dr. Porter, his pastor, gives us an account.
"A dying bed," said he, "is not the place for one
to begin to attend to his religion and prepare for another world.  I have not been unmindful of these concerns.  I have thought much of them.  The more I
have reflected on the subject of religion, the more has
my mind been settled and confirmed in its reality and
importance.  I am sensible that many infirmities and
errors have attended me; but I trust I have the testimony of my conscience to the general rectitude of
my views and conduct in life."
The house in which Governor Sumner spent the
last twenty years of his life, is on Shawmut Avenue,
a few rods south of Guild Hall.  It was formerly the
confiscated estate of Judge Robert Auchmuty, and
is now occupied by Charles F. Bradford, Esq.




ISAAC HEATH.               145
ISAAC HEATH.
Isaac Heath was born in England in 1585, and
came to this country in 1631, in company with John
Eliot and others. He settled in Roxbury and labored
zealously for the building up of that town. He devoted himself to the interests of the First Church,
and was one of its ruling elders.
What the duties of a ruling elder were in those
days, we are not definitely informed; that the office
was no sinecure we may infer from the following vote
of an assembly of pastors in 1700:
" Whereas'tis the Business of a Ruling Elder to
assist his Pastor in visiting the Distressed; instructing
the Ignorant; comforting the Afflicted; rebuking the
Unruly; Discovering the State of the whole Flock;
Exercising the Discipline of the Gospel upon Offenders; and promoting the desirable Growth of the
Church;'tis necessary that he be a Person of a
Wisdom, Courage, Leisure and Exemplary Holiness
and Gravity agreeable to such Employments."
The Hon. John Hull of Boston, in his Memoranda
of Notable Events, pays the following tribute to Mr.
Heath: " 1660, (N. S.) Jan'y 21.  Mr. Isaac
Heath, the Ruling elder of Roxbury, departed this
life being about 75 years old, a man exemplarie
for piety and fidelity in his charge, and likewise of
good ability,-the good Lord make us sensible off o'r
pillars falling, and raise up others with a double portion of their spirit."




146                ISAAC HEATH.
In a biography of Isaac Heath, by J. Wingate
Thornton, Esq., the author says of his will, " The autograph, preserved in the Probate office, having been
executed but two days before his death, and being in
the hand writing of Eliot, who was also a witness to
it, plainly indicates the Apostle's presence at the bedside of the dying elder, doing the office of friendship
in his secular affairs, as well as in the sacred ministrations of spiritual guidance and consolation.
"One eye on death and one full fix'd on heaven,
Becomes a mortal and immortal man."
"Addressing himself to Eliot, who made faithful
record of his words, he said,'I request you, my well
beloved brother, to do the office of love, to give counsel as need shall require for the educating of my
grandchildren, especially my grandson, whom  I have
dedicated to God, if it please him  to accept him.'
Eliot faithfully and lovingly fulfilled this last request
of his friend in the Christian nurture of the boy, who
was educated at Harvard College, and grew  up to
manhood and honorable eminence; in his marriage to
Sarah Eliot, consecrated by the benediction of the
Apostle, the friendship of the Teacher and Elder was
happily perpetuated by the alliance of their grandchildren."




THOMAS BELL.               147
THOMAS BELL.
Of Thomas Bell, the most liberal benefactor to the
school, we have but scanty materials for a biography.
He was a London merchant in the middle of the 17th
century, and is so called in his will, dated Jan. 29,
1671. We find his name among the active men in
the Charter of the Corporation for Propagating the
Gospel in New England.  He came to this country
in 1635, and resided here many years.  His house
stood where the ancient mansion, at the corner of
Boylston and School Streets, now stands.
" His lands," says Ellis, in his History of Roxbury,
" extend from Stony River, taking in this homestead,
across School Street and the Turnpike, up to Back,
[now Walnut] Street.  The beautiful, smooth, open
field of nearly eighteen acres, at the right of the Dedham Turnpike, on the brow of the hill, at the corner
of School Street, as you go towards Boston, and the
great orchard opposite, are embraced in this. In all
there are about fifty-six acres in his home farm.
Then upon Walk Hill Street, about two miles and
three-fourthg from Washington Street, is a lot, divided.by Walk Hill Street, of forty-seven acres. Upon
Beach Street, a little less than fifty rods from the
Turnpike, there are two lots, amounting to about fiftyseven acres."
Ile was a wealthy man for those times, and always
a ready contributor to all good enterprises. He returned, with his wife, to England in 1654.  The




148               JUDGE LOWELL.
records of the First Church say that letters of dismission were granted to them at that time. He was a
steadfast friend of the Colony, whose agents in 1661
were to draw on him and others for funds.*  He died
in 1672.  By his will, probated at London Mayv 30,
1672, after providing liberally for his children and
grandchildren, he leaves all his real estate in Roxbury
in trust for the " maintenance of a schoolemaster and
free schoole for the teaching and instructing of poore
men's children" in that town.  How faithfully his
Trustees have attended to the duty assigned them,
and with what beneficial results to our citizens, we
have endeavored to show in the preceding pages.
JUDGE LOWELL.
The father of the late Judge Lowell was born in
Boston, graduated at Harvard College in 1721, and
was settled as minister of the Third Church in Newbury. "It was called," says the Rev. Dr. Lowell,
" the parish by the water side," as the meeting-house
stood by the water. In process of time, sloops were
built for coasting, large vessels for commerce, and its
ships, to use the language of Burke, " vexed every
sea."  The little parish by the water side became a
town, and was dignified with the denomination of
Newburyport.  Now it is a city, always honored because always honorable."
* Hutchinson III, 364,




JTDGE LOWELL.              149
The late Judge Lowell was born in Newburyport
June 17, 1743, (0. S.) graduated at Harvard College in 1760, and commenced the study of the law.
He married the daughter of Judge Thomas Russell of
Charlestown, of whom  President Dwight, in his
" Travels Through New England," says that he came
nearer to his idea of Nathaniel, an Israelite indeed,
in whom there was no guile, than any man he ever
knew. In 1776 he removed to Boston, was there
chosen a member of the General Court, and one of
the delegates who framed the Constitution of the
Commonwealth. In 1781 he was chosen a member
of Congress, and in 1782 was appointed by that body
one of the three Judges of the Court of Appeals, a
tribunal appointed by Congress for the trial of all
appeals from the Courts of Admiralty of the several
States. When the Federal Government was established, he was appointed by Washington Judge of the
U. S. District Court for Massachusetts, and on a
new organization of the Courts he was appointed by
the elder Adams Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of
the United States for the first circuit, including
Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode
Island.
The late Harrison Gray Otis says of Judge Lowell:
" My personal acquaintance commenced in 1783,
when I entered his office in Boston as a student.  He
was then an eminent lawyer, at the head of the profession in Suffolk, to which eminence he rapidly attaincd after removing to Boston from Essex, where




150              JUDGE LOWELL.
he made his debut and practised with a constantly rising reputation.  The events of the.war had thinned
the first rank of legal practitioners at the Suffolk bar,
so that a vantage ground was left open for him which
he at once seized and continued to occupy so long as
he remained at the bar.  I first saw him, as I well
remember, at Cambridge Court, while I was a student at Harvard.  He, with Mr. Theophilus Parsons,
appeared there as counsel for a Mr. W   -, a substantial, and, until then, a quite respectable farmer,
charged with murdering his wife by poison. It was a
trial, which at that period of paucity of crime, thrilled
the whole community with horror and astonishment.
This was probably the first occasion which established
the preeminence of those gentlemen in the estimation
of the whole State, their ordinary circuit, before that
time, having been principally limited to Suffolk and
Essex, in the latter of which Parsons still resided.
Their claim to this precedence was never afterwards
disputed, and they were regarded as par nobile fratrum-rivals, but always friends."......
" In stature, Judge Lowell reached, I should
think, about five feet, ten inches-he was inclined to
corpulence.  His gait was rapid and hurried.  His
conversation animated and ardent.  He appeared to
strangers at first to speak too much ex cathedra, but
he was free of all propensity to brow beat or show ill
humor.  On the contrary, he was the very mirror of
benevolence, which beamed in and made attractive a
countenance not remarkable for symmetry of feature




JUDGE LOWELL.               151
or beauty; and his companionable talents, though
never displayed at the expense of dignity, made him
the delight of the society in which he moved and
which he always put at ease. His private character
was irreproachable;-his honesty  and moderation
proverbial. In a satirical and very personal farce,
got up by a witty desperado, and which had a great
run, he was dubbed by the author, Lawyer Candor; a
most appropriate sobriquet which the world unanimously applied to him.  He was most ardent in his
attachment to his particular friends, who, in their
turn, looked to him as their oracle."
The late Chief Justice Parker, in a notice of Judge
Parsons, says: "His most formidable rival and most
frequent competitor, was the accomplished lawyer and
scholar, the late Judge Lowell, whose memory is still
cherished by the wise and virtuous in our State.
Judge Lowell was considerably his senior, (about five
or six years,) but entertained the highest respect for
the general talents and judicial skill of his able competitor. It was the highest intellectual treat to see
these great men contending for victory in the judicial
forum.".... "Notwithstanding this almost continual forensic warfare, they were warm  personal
friends, and freely acknowledged each other's merits."
Judge Lowell was elected in 1784 a member of
the Corporation of Harvard College, and maintained
his connection with it eighteen years.  President
Quincy (Hist. of H. Col. II, 256) says of him, "His
zeal in the service of the college, the soundness of his
14




152               JUDGE LOWELL.
judgment, and his characteristic integrity, gave great
weight to his influence in the critical period which
succeeded the peace of 1783.  To no individual is
the seminary more indebted than to him  for that
course of policy, which enabled it to escape impending dangers and to attain a comparative degree of
financial independence."
The venerable Dr. Charles Lowell, an honored son
of Judge Lowell, has favored us with some facts in
his father's history.  From  his letter of the 20th
of October, 1859, we make the following interesting
extract:" I have said that he was a member of the Convention for forming the Constitution of Massachusetts,
and on the Committee for drafting the plan.  Not
the least important duty he did there I will mention
by relating a brief portion of my personal history.
" When I was last in England, I was invited by a
Fellow of the Royal Society to attend one of its meetings.  They are held in the evening, and a portion of
the members, designated' The Society Club,' partake
of a collation in an adjoining apartment, before attending the sitting. At this collation, I was placed at
the right hand of the Chairman, who was Sir Robert
Inglis, member of Parliament from Cambridge University.  My country was toasted, and the Chairman
turned to me as intimating that I was expected to
reply.  I did so. In the course of my remarks I
alluded to the distinctions of rank in their country,
and expressed my respect for them.' But,' I added,




JUDGE LOWELL.               153'Mr. Chairman, I have myself a title, though a republican, a title of nobility which I would not exchange
for them all.  My father was a member of the Convention for framing a Constitution of the State in
which I live, and on the Committee for drafting the
plan, and he introduced into the Declaration of Rights,
prefixed to that Constitution, the clause by which
Slavery wasforever abolished in Massachusetts. This,
Sir, is my title to nobility.' There was instantly a
shout throughout the room  and a striking of hands
round the table and much- manifestation of enthusiasm.  Many congratulations were expressed to me,
too, personally, for my possession of a title so honorable as that of being the son of a man who had performed so noble a deed for the welfare of his State
and the cause of justice and humanity.  I ask you,
my dear Sir, as a casuist, if I was sinful in feeling
proud at that moment? I trust I was thankful."
The following, of a later date, will be read with
interest:" MY DEAR SIR,
" I do not remember whether, in writing about
my father, I told you I was present when a Committee called on him to request him  to allow himself to be nominated for the office of Governor, stating
that his popularity was so great in the Commonwealth
his election was morally certain, &c.  My father
thanked them, but declined the nomination, saying, at
the same time, that he could do them a greater ser



154              JUDGE LOWELL.
vice by nominating a better man, a man whom he
well knew and loved, and who was eminently fitted
for the office. It was Caleb Strong of Northampton,
then a senator in Congress.
"The papers of the next day announced Caleb
Strong as candidate for the Governorship. He was
elected and reelected many times, and the State
never had a better Governor. In private life it was
my privilege to know him as intimately as the disparity of our years would admit. I was a frequent inmate of his family, and he of ours.
" In referring to Governor Strong and Northampton, I am reminded of the good man, Mr. Williams,
his minister, and of Mr. Stoddard, the predecessor of
Mr. Williams, and of two or three incidents connected
with them which will amuse you and your readers, if
you see fit to print them.
"Governor Strong lent to Mr. Williams Buckminster's sermons. On his returning them, the Governor
asked his opinion of them.'Oh,' replied Mr. W,,' they wouldn't convert a flea!' Credat Judceus! De
gustibus non est disputandum.
"Of Mr. Stoddard it has been related that he
adopted a method of putting a stop to the racing of
horses on the beach on the Sabbath during or after
the afternoon service, by visiting the spot himself at
the time they were engaged in the sport.
"He therefore ordered Cuff, his negro man, to
saddle his horse for him that he might execute his
purpose.  Cuff himself was a particeps criminia with




JUDGE LOWELL.               155
the doctor's horse, and ran across the fields to give
warning to the young men of the portending visitation.'But never you mind,' said Cuff,'you open the way
to let Massa come in between you, and I'll manage
it.' In due time the minister appeared riding with
much gravity, and took the place prepared for him.
He had no sooner done so, than Cuff cried' Whew,'
and off went the horses on the full race, the minister's
with them, nolens volens. The parson's horse came
out first, and Cuff, throwing up his hat, exclaimed,'Massa Stodder's horse beat!''Massa Stodder's
horse beat!' The minister did not wait to receive
congratulations, but rode quietly some other way.
But it was remarked that Mr. Stoddard was never
displeased at being reminded of the fact that' Massa
Stodder's horse beat.'
"I have complied with your request in giving you
facts about my father; but I must not write to you
of him and omit to mention her, to whom more than
any other individual on earth, my father, as he deeply
felt, was indebted for his chief happiness, and to
whom  I myself owe more than to any other human
being, my now sainted mother, the best wife and the
best mother.
"Faithful, eminently faithful to her domestic duties,
in the Scripture sense' a keeper at home,' she yet
found time to trace the footsteps of the Saviour whom
she loved, in going where she was satisfied it was
needed, on errands of love and mercy, so that she
obtained (Ah! how would she have shrunk from  it
14*




156              JUDGE LOWELL.
had she known it) the honorable sobriquet of'the
lady bountiful!'
"One instance I will give you, as she received a
present reward in the fulfilment, in my experience, of
the Scripture promise,'Cast thy bread upon the
waters and thou shalt find it after many days.'
"In 1802 my father was taken ill and purposed to
go on a voyage in the hope that it might renovate him.
As I had just commenced the study of my profession
with Dr. Tappan, at Cambridge, he determined to
take me with him and place me at Edinburgh, that I
might have the benefit of the lectures of Dugald
Stewart and other eminent lecturers there. He died
after his passage was engaged.  I did not relinquish
the purpose he had formed, but went to Edinburgh
and matriculated at the University there as a student.
"Previously to my departure, I do not remember
how long, perhaps even before my father's death, Dr.
Porter, our minister, called upon my mother and informed her that a Scotch gentleman and his wife had
just come to Roxbury to obtain board, and he thought,
as they were strangers, and might possibly be somewhat
straitened, he would inform my mother of the fact.
"My mother put on her cloak and bonnet as soon
as the Dr. was gone, and set out for the place he had
designated, to ascertain the facts by her own personal
observation. The facts were these.
"A  gentleman in Scotland, of very respectable
standing, married the daughter of a clergyman. The
friends had objected to the marriage on the ground




JUDGE LOWELL.              157
that the suitor was more fond of enacting the gentleman than of engaging in any business which would
enable him to support his family genteelly. The marriage, however, took place, and as there was no better
prospect at home, it was determined that he should
go to Nova Scotia, and a place was purchased for
him there in the neighborhood of Halifax.  They arrived in Boston, on their way to Nova Scotia, and
the last remittance sent them not having arrived,
they came out to Roxbury to board. The lady was
on the eve of her confinement.  It was arranged by
my mother that Mrs. F., the lady in question, should
come to our house, and that her husband should proceed to Nova Scotia and prepare for the reception of
his wife when she could come to him. It was done.
The child was born at our house, and named for my
mother,' Rebecca Lowell.'
" At the proper time, the wife went to her husband,
but when winter came, my mother, knowing that in
an unfinished house in the cold climate of Nova Scotia, Mrs. F. must be a sufferer, sent for her to come
and spend the winter, and she came. At what time
they returned to Scotland, I do not remember, but
when I went, my mother gave me a memorandum of
the names of Mrs. F.'s connections, that I might inquire about them, and give them information of their
sister's welfare.  I put the memorandum  into my
trunk and forgot it.
" I had been in Edinboro' a month or two when I
received a note from the' Miss C —'s,' expressing




158               JUDGE LOWELL.
the wish that I would do them the favor to call upon
them that evening, and a card, while I was out, from'Lt. Col. C - of A.'  Askomel was the name
of his place in the Highlands.
" I went in the evening and called at the house in
one of the best streets in the' New Town' of the
city.  On arriving, I was taken up into the drawing
room and saw two ladies sitting on a sofa at the head
of the apartment.  My name was announced.  The
ladies sprang from the sofa, with their arms extended,
ran to me and threw their arms around my neck, exclaiming,'Is it Mr. Lowell? Is it possible that we
are allowed to see in our house the son of that benevolent lady, who ministered to the comfort of our sister
in a foreign land, visited her when she was sick, and
took her home to cherish her there? And now we
are to be as a mother to her son, and have him come
and go as he would were it his father's house.' In a
little while two young ladies came in, nieces of these
ladies.  As soon as they learned who I was, they,
too, with Scotch feeling and enthusiasm, ran forward:
with extended arms and fell on my neck, uttering the
same expressions,-' Is it Mr. Lowell? How glad we
are to welcome him here,' &c.
"And it was a home to me.  There were other
houses where I went freely, and was welcomed cordially; among them, Dugald Stewart's, Dr. Anderson's,
and especially my dear friend Dr. Thomas Brown's,
afterwards the successor of Stewart as Prof. of Moral
Philosophy, but I had no other home like this."




J.VDGE LOWELL.              159
When Judge Lowell resigned the official position
he had so honorably filled, and retired to private life,
he turned his attention to the promotion of various
objects of philanthropy.  IIe interested himself in our
educational, charitable and literary institutions. In
these his influence was widely and beneficially felt.
His taste for agriculture, gardening, botany, &c.,
suggested to him the great advantage to be gained by
the foundation of a Professorship of Natural History
in our University.  He originated a subscription for
that purpose and was himself one of the largest contributors.  The amount raised through his exertions
and those of his friends exceeded $30,000.  How
well he understood the interests of our students may
be inferred from the fact that the department of Natural Science is now one of the most popular and most
richly endowed in our University.
Judge Lowell was one of the active movers in establishing the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, an institution which now includes, in its list of
members, the most eminent of European and American scholars. In the second volume of its Memoirs
may be found his admirable eulogy on James Bowdoin, its President, who died in 1790.  This was
delivered in Brattle Street Church, and afterwards
published at the unanimous request of the members of
the Academy.  Many other productions of his pen
have been published, but this is said to be the only
one bearing his name.
He died in Roxbury, May 6, 1802.




160               JOHN LOWELL.
JOHN LOWELL.
John Lowell was born in Newburyport, Oct. 6,
1769, and graduated at Harvard University with distinguished honors in 1786.  He early commenced
the study of the law under the instruction of his
father, the Hon. Judge Lowell.  With that eminent
jurist for a guide, and with all the advantages of his
own eloquence, learning and industry, it is not surprising that he soon obtained a rank at the bar which
few young men ever reached.
With such men as Parsons, James Sullivan, Dexter
and Otis, he stood on equal ground, although the junior of them all. Hie was one of the most successful
men of his time in addressing a jury; there was no
resisting the vehemence of his appeals, fortified as
they were by all the cogent arguments his acknowledged professional ingenuity suggested.
As might be expected, his practice soon became
extensive, and with its increase came the usual dangers attending incessant mental excitement.  His
health became so much impaired that he was obliged
to seek relief in travel. He relinquished the pursuit
in which he had already gained fame and fortune,
and sailed for Europe in 1803. " He told me," says
Prof. Parsons, " that on the day when he determined,
in obedience to medical advice, or rather command,
to give up all attention to business at once and entirely, he had ninety-three cases on his docket marked
for trial."




JOHN LOWELL.               161
After an absence of three years, he returned home
with greatly improved health. At the time of his return, our relations with Great Britain were such as to
occasion the greatest anxiety. Mr. Lowell was not
the man to sit quietly when his country was on the
eve of war with a great and powerful nation.  He
soon made his influence felt by the stirring productions of his pen. He was a Federalist, and, of course,
the advocate of peace. Through the public journals
and by pamphlets, he made his opinions known in a
series of essays, which for vigor, manliness and wisdom, have never been surpassed.  Over whatever
signature he.wrote, he was sure to be known.  As
the " Boston Rebel," the " New England Farmer,"
the "Roxbury Farmer," the " Old Farmer," or the
"Massachusetts Lawyer," Mr. Lowell was at once
recognized by the fearless energy and the argumentative force of his style.
The pamphlet which he considered his best was a
" Review of a Treatise on Expatriation.  By George
Hay, U. S. Attorney for the District of Virginia.
By a Massachusetts Lawyer."  This was considered
by the late Chief Justice Marshall, a masterly performance.  In a letter to Mr. Pickering, he says,
" Could I have entertained doubts on the subject
this review  would certainly have  removed  them.
Mingled with much pungent raillery is a solidity of
argument and an array of authority which, in my
judgment, is entirely conclusive."
Mr. Lowell never was an aspirant for political




162               JOHN LOWELL.
office, and never accepted any. The only official stations he held were in educational, agricultural, literary and charitable institutions. From 1810 to 1822
he was a member of the Corporation of Harvard University.  How highly his services were esteemed may
be inferred from the following vote, passed on his resigning his seat at the Board.
" Voted, That the Corporation deeply regret that
the University cannot continue to have the services of
Mr. Lowell, the ardent friend of literature and patron
of every elevated and generous design, whose ability,
exertions and zeal have been for a course of years
directed to the concerns of this Institution with distinguished success and effect; and they relinquish
with sorrow their intimate official connection with a
gentleman who has their entire confidence and regard, and whose enlightened views and prompt attention rendered his share in our common labors most
important and valuable."
During his connection with the University many
important changes were made in the discipline and
economical arrangements of that institution.  Holworthy Hall and University Hall were built.  The
Botanical department, which had been founded in a
great measure by his father, was organized and furnished with a Professor. The Botanical Garden was
laid out and planted.  In all these operations Mr.
Lowell was confessedly the principal agent, always
ready to aid them  with his own funds, and equally
ready to interest his friends in their behalf.




JOHN LOWELL.                 163
As a Trustee of our " Grammar School," he was
active and influential. The beneficial results of his
wise counsels are every day seen.  This Institution
has been singularly favored in having representatives
of three successive generations of his family on its
Board of Trustees.
In a very interesting memoir of Chief Justice Parsons, by his son, Prof. Parsons, the author says of
Mr. Lowell: " He was among the founders of the
Massachusetts General Hospital, of the great Insurance Company connected with it, of the  Boston
Athenaeum, and of the first Savings Bank of Boston.
He was also one of the Trustees of the Agricultural
Society and a most skilful practical farmer. - lie introduced a system of observation and careful recording of facts in relation to agriculture, which has been
followed by others, (although not with his exact accuracy,) and has proved of the utmost utility.  His
various papers on this class of subjects, under his favorite signature of'A  Roxbury Farmer,' exerted
much influence in his own day, and are frequently
quoted now in magazines and papers on the culture
of fields and gardens."
"To see him," says the Rev. Dr. Greenwood,
"and hear him converse in his parlor or his garden,
one would suppose that all his occupation was farming
and gardening.  He would discuss the qualities of a
fruit tree or an exotic plant with the same earnestness
and the same copiousness, and the same ready and
15




164                JOHN LOWELL.
various learning, that he would have given to a question of politics, a point of law, or a case of divinity."
There is another sphere in which the beneficence
of Mr. Lowell's character was constantly seen.  Besides the valuable and gratuitous services he performed for various public bodies, he freely gave the
benefit of his time, his purse and his counsel to farmers, poor single women and widows, who were in the
habit of consulting him about their affairs.  These he
always received with the greatest kindness and cordiality, listened to their complaints, and spent hours in
examining their claims, and in endeavoring to establish
good will and harmony, with a patience and unweariedness which excited the wonder even of those who
knew his kindness of heart, and which won for him
the gratitude and affection of all his neighbors.
" It was only," says Mr. Everett, " in social intercourse and the relations of private and domestic life,
that the beauty and worth of Mr. Lowell's character
were fully displayed. He was animated by the loftiest sense of personal honor; his heart was the home
of the kindest feelings; and without a shade of selfishness, he considered wealth to be no otherwise valuable, but as a powerful instrument of doing good.
His liberality went to the extent of his means; and
where they stopped, he exercised an almost unlimited
control over the means of others. It was difficult to
resist the contagion of his enthusiasm; for it was the
enthusiasm of a strong, cultivated and practical mind.
He possessed colloquial powers of the highest order,




WILLIAM MEAD.               165
and a flow of unstudied eloquence never surpassed,
and rarely, as with him, united with the command of
an accurate, elegant and logical pen. It was impossible for him to enter into a social circle, however
intelligent, which he was not able, unconsciously and
without forethought, to hold in willing attention, by
the charms of his conversation."
Mr. Lowell died March 12, 1840, at his fireside in
Boston, suddenly and without pain, at the age of
seventy years.
WILLIAM MEAD.
The following notice of this benefactor of our school
we take from a collection of interesting biographical
sketches* written by Hon. William S. Leland of this
city, now a member of the Board of Trustees:" William Mead was a worthy inhabitant of Roxbury.  He owned but a single acre of land, and on
this his dwelling-house stood, and without much doubt
it was all the land he ever owned.  He died in 1683.
He was, according to his ability, a benefactor of the
Grammar School in Roxbury, giving to it all his land,
which though then valued at but ~40, has proved a
valuable gift to posterity.t  To the older inhabitants of
Roxbury, it would be unnecessary to point out the
locality of' Mead's Orchard,' but to the younger it
* First published in the Norfolk County Journal, Sept. 26, 1857.
t The present value of this land is twenty-five cents per square
foot.




166              WILLIAM MEAD.
may be worth while to say that it is that lot of land
just above St. James Street, at the corner of Walnut
and Warren Streets.
"William Mead in his will dated Oct. 29, 1683,
allowed four days afterwards, says,' I give to my
dearly and well beloved wife Rebecca, one half of my
whole estate, willing the whole of my little tenement
by me possessed in Roxbury unto her, as part of the
half of my estate bequeathed to her; as also all my
movables. All the aforesaid little tenement, in case
my wife see good to marry, I give unto the Free
School of the town of Roxbury, for the encouragement
of learning; and in case my well beloved wife marry
not, my will is, that after her decease, the whole
above mentioned tenement shall be for the use and
benefit of the school, and be managed by the Feoffees
for the best advantage.'
" He left but a small property.  He had no son, and
his only daughter, the wife of Joseph Stanton, and
their only child, Hannah, were both dead at the date
of the will. Hence no one can claim descent from
William Mead. Rebecca Mead survived her husband
but a very short time, though his language implies
that she was in good health.  Her will bears date
Nov. 5, 1683, just a week later than her husband's,
and was proved November 15th following.
"William Mead, though he gave his son-in-law half
of his small estate, speaks of him as undutiful, but
uses no harsh language.  This undutifulness, taken
in connection with the language of both wills, the




JOHN BOWLES.               167
omission of Joseph's name in the widow's will, and
her sudden death, is a fact which raises an uncomfortable suspicion of suicide.
"The widow gave small pecuniary legacies and
articles of clothing to Goodwife Streeter of Muddy
River; to Goodwife Holland of Watertown, and to
Goodwife Welch, and others, doubtless her personal
friends. She did not forget her brothers, and following a good example, she bequeathed " to encourage
learning," seven pounds to Jamaica Plain School, for
the purchase of land.
" There is something touching in these little gifts
of William and Rebecca Mead, gleaming forth from
those early times; and now when we call to mind the
rich endowment of a Bell, let-us not forget William
Mead's little orchard. He gave it for the cause of
education. It was all the land he had."
JOHN BOWLES.
John Bowles, one of the founders of the Grammar School, and for many years a Feoffee, was an
early inhabitant of Roxbury, and seems to have been
active and influential in the management of the public
affairs of the town. He was a leading member of the
Massachusetts Corporation for Colonizing New England, and in 1645 a representative of the town. The
remonstrance of Roxbury to the General Court, 28th
of October, 1664, against the surrender of the Royal
15*




168              JOSEPH DUDLEY.
Charter, was signed first by the Apostle Eliot, and
next by John Bowles.
He was an Elder of the First Church in 1675, and
always a warm and faithful friend of the pastor.  He
died 21st of September, 1680.
The venerable Eliot wrote:' Prudent and gracious
men set over our churches for the assistance of their
pastors, such helps in government had he [Eliot]
been blessed withall; the last of which was the welldeserving Elder Bowles."  And, again, in a speech
to a synod of all the churches in this Colony [12 May,
16801 he said, "There is my brother Bowles, the
godly Elder of our Church at Roxbury, God helps
him to do great things among us."
In the will of Mr. Bowles we find the following bequest: " To the Rev. John Eliot, twenty shillings in
token of my love and service due to him."
JOSEPH DUDLEY.
Joseph, son of Governor Thomas Dudley, born
Sept. 23, 1647, was a graduate of Harvard College
in the class of 1665.  He entered very early into
public life, and during the forty years of his political
career, held probably more offices than any man of
his time; the most ambitious politician of modern days
would hardly desire more.  Governor Hutchinson
gives the following list of them:
" First, a deputy or representative of the town of
Roxbury; then an assistant; then agent for the Col



THOMAS DUDLEY.               169
ony in England, where he laid a foundation for a commission soon after appointing him President of the
Council, first for Massachusetts Bay only; but under
Andros, for all New England.
"Upon the revolution, for a short time he was sunk
in disgrace, but soon emerged. He appeared first in
the character of chief justice at New York, then returning to England, became Lieut. Governor of the
Isle of Wight, and member of Parliament for Newtown, both which places he willingly resigned for the
chief command in his own country."
His appointment as Governor of the Province of
Massachusetts was among the first official acts of
Queen Anne, and he held that office until after her
death, from 1702 to 1715.
Of the character of Joseph Dudley, as Judge or
Governor, we must speak in qualified praise.  He
was unfavorably regarded by the people, and apparently with good reason. He is charged with unfair
judicial conduct, inordinate ambition and selfishness.
Increase and Cotton Mather wrote him severe letters
of reproof, which he answered, copies of which are
preserved in the Collections of the Massachusetts
Historical Society. He had many friends, however,
who considered him a friend to the churches of New
England, and an excellent Governor; among these
were President Leverett and Dr. Colman, who were
Fellows of the College, to which institution Governor
Dudley was a faithful friend.
During the last years of his life, when his interest




170               PAUL DUDLEY.
and ambition were not thwarted by  the opposite
party, his character improved. Among his commendable acts was his gift of fifty pounds to our Grammar School.  In his will, a curious bequest for this
latitude gives his servants to his widow.  In the
same instrument is another bequest of forty shillings
for a ring to Rev. Mr. Walter, minister of the First
Church, as a token of regard.
The statement that Dudley's grave is among strangers, seems improbable.' Wills," says Judge Leland, "are eminently truthful, and Judge Dudley in
his, directs his body to be decently buried with his
father. His will appears to have been signed in Roxbury, and bears date Oct. 27, 1719, and he died
soon afterwards at about the age of seventy-five
years."
Governor Dudley's house stood where the Universalist meeting-house now stands.
PAUL DUDLEY.
Paul, son of Governor-Joseph Dudley, was born in
Roxbury, Sept. 3, 1675, and graduated at Harvard
College in 1690. After reading law some years in
this country, he was sent to England to finish his
studies in the Temple.
In 1702 he returned to Massachusetts with a commission from  the Queen as Attorney General, and
held that office till appointed Judge in 1718. He




PAUL DUDLEY.               171
succeeded Lynde as Chief Justice. Of his character
on the bench, Judge Sewall says:"Here he displayed his admirable talents, his
quick apprehension, his uncommon strength of memory and extensive knowledge; and, at the same time,
his great abhorrence of vice, together with that impartial justice which neither respected the rich, nor
countenanced the poor man in his cause. Thus while
with pure hands and an upright heart, he administered
justice in his circuit through the Province, he gained
the general esteem and veneration of the people."
Judge Dudley was elected a Fellow of the Royal
Society of London, a rare honor for an American
in those days. He wrote several pieces on the natural history of New England, which were published in
their Transactions, 1720-1.  He was also a theologian, and wrote a book on the "Merchandise of
Souls," being an exposition of certain passages in the
book of Revelations.
In the latter part of his life he became a Puritan
of the straitest sect of the fathers of Massachusetts.
From his regard to the interests of religion, and as an
evidence of- his attachment to the institution in which
he was educated, in his last will he bequeathed to
Harvard College ~100, the interest of which was to
be applied to the support of an annual lecture. Four
subjects were specified:-first, Natural Religion;
second, Revealed Religion; third, the Corruptions of
the Church of Rome; fourth, the Validity of Presbyterian Ordination. These subjects were successively




172               PAUL DUDLEY.
to occupy the lectures, and he who was chosen
for the last, was directed to be a sound, grave,
experienced divine, of at least forty years of age.
The Trustees are the President and senior Tutor,
the Professor of Divinity, the Pastor of the First
Church in Cambridge, and the Pastor of the First
Church in Roxbury.
Judge Dudley died at Roxbury, Jan. 21, 1751.




N OTES.
A.
By settlement is here intended the gathering and organizing of a church,' and not the uncertain residence of the
first explorers. The learned and judicious editor of Governor Winthrop's History of New England, in a note,
Vol. I, page 95, arranges the churches thus: —Salem,
1629, 6th August; Dorchester, 1630, June; Boston (at
Charlestown) and Watertown, 1630, July 30; Roxbury,
1632, July.  The same laborious editor states, Vol. I,
page 45, that Blackstone arrived at Boston, 1625 or
1626.  Page 44, Walford was found at Charlestown,
1628, and page 27, Maverick on Noddle's Island, (East
Boston,) 1628 or 1629.
Whatever had been the intention of the 1500 passengers who arrived from  England in twelve ships, July,
1630, they did not keep together and form a single plantation. It is therefore probable that in selecting places
around Boston, some came to Dorchester and some to
Roxbury, as others had done who had come in the " first
company."
In Johnson's " Wonder-working Providence," a rare
historical tract, the settlement of Roxbury is introduced
in the following stately manner: " The fifth Church of
Christ was gathered at Roxbury, scituated between Boston




174                     NOTES.
and Dorchester, being well watered with cool and pleasant
springs issuing forth the Rocky-hills, and with small
Freshets, watering the vallies of this fertill Towne, whose
forme is somewhat like a wedge double pointed, entring
between the two fourementioned Townes, filled with a
very laborious people, whose labours the Lord hath so
blest, that in the roome of dismall Swampes and Tearing
Bushes, they have very goodly Fruit-trees, fruitfull Fields
and Gardens, their Heard of Cowes, Oxen and other
young Cattell of that kind about 350, and the dwellinghouses neere upon 120.  Their Streetes are large and
some fayre Houses, yet have they built their House for
Church assembly destitute and unbeautified with other
buildings.  The Church of Christ here is increased to
about 120 persons, their first Teaching Elder called to
Office is Mr. Eliot, a young man at his coming thither of
a cheerful spirit, walking unblameable, of a godly conversation, apt to teach, as by his indefatigable paines both
with his own flock and the poore Indians doth appeare,
whose Language he learned purposely to helpe them to the
knowledge of God in Christ, frequently Preaching in their
Wigwams, and Catechising their Children."
Our neighbor, of Dorchester, is thus introduced: "The
third Church of Christ gathered under this Government
was at Dorchester, a frontire Town scituated very pleasantly both for facing the Sea, and also its large extent
into the main Land, well watered with small rivers; neere
about this Town inhabited some few ancient Traders, who
were not of this select band, but came for other ends, as
Morton of Merry-mount, who would faine have resisted
this worke, but the provident hand of Christ prevented.
"The forme of this Towne is almost like a Serpent turn



NOTES.                    175
ing her head to the Northward; over against Thompson's
Island and the Castle, her body and wings being chiefly
built on, are filled somewhat thick of Houses, onely that
one of her Wings is clipt, her Tayle being of such a large
extent that she can hardly draw it after her; Her Houses
for dwelling are about one hundred and forty, Orchards
and Gardens full of Fruit-trees, plenty of Come-Land,
although much of it hath been long in tillage, yet hath it
ordinarily good crops; the number of Trees are neare about
1500, Cowes and other Cattell of that kinde about 450."
B.
As our school and the Latin School of Boston were
founded nearly at the same time, and now stand among
the first institutions of the kind in New England, some
account of the early action of Boston in regard to education will not be without interest.
From the Town Records of Boston in 1635, it is stated
as a part of the transactions of a public meeting: "Likewise it was then generally agreed upon that our brother
Philemon Porment shall be intreated to become scholemaster for the teaching and nourtering of children with
us."  To Mr. Porment was assigned a tract of thirty
acres of land at " Muddy River," now, it is believed, a
part of Brookline, and the grant publicly confirmed, with
others, in 1637.
The General Court of Massachusetts having at a previous period granted to the Town of Boston several of the
islands with which the bay is so beautifully interspersed,
the records state that in 1641, " It's ordered that Deare
Island shall be improved for the maintenance of a Free
schoole for the Towne, and such other occasions as the
16




176                     NOTES.
Townsmen for the time being shall thinke meet, the sayd
schoole being sufficiently provided for." Capt. Edward
Gibbon was soon after intrusted with the care and use of
the Island, " until the towne doe let the same."  Accordingly in 1644 it was let for three years, at the rate of
seven pounds per annum, expressly for the use of the
school.  In 1647 it was again let for seven years, and the
rent was " fourteen pounds per annum, for the Scoles use
in provision and clothing."  In 1649 Long Island and
Spectacle Island were placed on similar footing, and the
Selectmen were to take order that they be leased, paying
a yearly rent on every acre, rated afterwards at sixpence,
for the use of the school.
It seems to have been the design of the community to
endow their free school, as they delight to name it, with
bequests in their wills, lands rented on long leases, and
similar sources of income, after the English manner, in
preference to a direct support from the public treasury.
Thus in 1649, William Phillips "agreed to give 13s. 4d.
per ann. forever for the use of the Schoole, for the land
that Christopher Stanley gave in his will to the Sehoole's
use."  Forty shillings per annum for the same use were
secured by lease of 500 acres of land in Braintree, and
several other sums on different lands belonging to the
town at about the same date.
In 1654, "It is ordered that the ten pounds left by
legacy to ye schoole of Boston by Mis Hudson, deceased,
shall be lett to Capt. James Oliver for sixteen shillings
per ann. so long as hee pleases to improve itt."
Orders were also taken for collecting rents on " Deare
Island, Long Island and Spectacle Island, due to the use
of ye schoole."  The first named Island was leased in




NQTES.                     177
1662 to Sir Thomas Temple, knight and " Barronight,"
as the scribe of the day quaintly spells it, for ~14 per
ann., " to be paid yearly, every first day of March, to
the Towne Treasurer for the use of the free schoole."
In 1666 the town "agreed with Mr. Dannell Hencheman, for ~40 per ann., to assist Mr. Woodmansey in the
Grammar Schoole and teach children to wright, the yeare
to begin the 1th of March, 66."  Soon after this it is recorded that Mr. Jones was sent for by the Selectmen
for keeping a schoole," and " required to performe his
promise to the Towne in the winter, to remove himselfe
and familye in the springe, and forbiden to keep schoole
any longer."  He had, apparently, instructed a private
school without leave.
In 1670 " it was agreed that and ordered that Mr.
Ezechiell Cheevers should be called to and installed in the
free schoole as head Master thereof."
Mr. Cheever appears to have been a man whom the
people " delighted to honor." Dr. Mather says of him,
"' We generally concur in acknowledging that New England has never known a better teacher. I am sure I have as
much reason to appear for him as ever Crito for his master,
Socrates.... It was noted that when scholars came to
be admitted into college, those who came from the Cheeverian education were generally the most unexceptionable."
In a poetical " Essay" on his memory, Dr. M. ascribes
the learning of New England to him  and to Corlet, another eminent schoolmaster, who taught the Grammar
School in Cambridge for many years, and who is celebrated in the Magnalia.
"'Tis Corlet's pains and Cheever's we must own,
That thou, New England, art not Scythia grown."




178                     NOTES.
In the following description, we perceive the characteristics of the writer, as well as the master.
" He lived, and to vast age no illness knew,
Till Time's scythe waiting for him rusty grew;
He lived and wrought; his labors were immense,
But ne'er declined to preterperfect tense."
He died Aug. 21, 1708.  " Venerable," says Governor Hutchinson in his History of Massachusetts, " not
merely for his great age, 94, but for having been the
schoolmaster of most of the principal gentlemen in Boston,
who were then upon the stage."  "He is not the only
man," adds the Governor, "who kept his lamp longer
lighted than otherwise it would have been, by a supply of
oil from his scholars."
In 1711 a free Grammar School was established at the
north end, and Messrs. R. Wadsworth, Peleg Wiswall,
Samuel Hunt and Nathan Davies, were successively masters of it.
In 1708 Mr. Nathaniel Williams was appointed master
of the South Latin School, which, since 1790, has been
the only Latin School in Boston. Prince calls it " the
principal school of the British Colonies, if not in all
America."  In 1714 Mr. John Lovell was promoted to
the office of master.  He was an accomplished scholar,
and for forty-two years discharged the duties of his office
with signal ability and fidelity.
There was a dwelling-house and an extensive garden
furnished by the town for Mr. Lovell.  The house was
situated in School Street, nearly in front of the New
Court-house.*  The garden was cultivated for Mr. Lovell
* The building now occupied by the City Government.




NOTES.                     179
in the best manner, free of all expense, by the assistance
of the best boys in the school, who, as a reward of merit,
were permitted to work in it. The same good boys were
also indulged with the high privilege of sawing his wood
and bottling his cider, and of laughing as much as they
pleased while performing these delightful offices.
The first Latin school-house was situated in the buryingground of King's Chapel.  The Proprietors of the Chapel
wanted it removed, but there was great opposition to this
on the part of the citizens.  Finally, the Town, at a tumultuous meeting, voted, by written yeas and nays, to
take it down.  Yeas 205; Nays 197.  The next day the
following lines were sent into the school to Mr. Lovell:" A fig for your learning! I tell you the Town,
To make the church larger, must pull the school down;
Unluckily spoken, replied Master Birch,
Then learning, I fear, stops the growth of the church."
Mr. Lovell passed his vacations with a fishing party at
Spot Pond, in Stoneham.  "And," says one of his pupils,
" the boys heard with glee that he and the gentleman who
accompanied him passed their time pleasantly in telling
funny stories and laughing very loudly."
The successors of Mr. Lovell were Messrs. Samuel
Hunt, William Bigelow, Benjamin A. Gould, F. P. Leverett, C. K. Dillaway, E. S. Dixwell, and the present incumbent, Francis Gardner.  Within a few  weeks the
grave has closed over the remains of Mr. Gould, whose
name will ever be held  in honored remembrance  by
the friends of classical education.  He was a ripe scholar
and most successful teacher.  Under his administration
the school acquired its highest rank, and was quoted even
in England as the model school of this country.
16*




180                    NOTES.
In the principal hall of the building now occupied by
this school in Bedford Street, there are portraits of Mr.
Lovell and Mr. Gould.  The hall has been provided, at
the expense of the Latin School Association, with a valuable library, busts, casts, maps, &c.  We recommend all
who wish to see what constitutes a well-furnished schoolroom to visit this place.
C.
The following account of the building of this tomb is
from the Town Records, June 7, 1725.  "Mr. William
Bowen, brother of Mr. Henry Bowen, late of Roxbury,
was taken by the Turks, and it was proposed to ye Congregation, met in Roxbury, a contribution for his redemption, and the people went generally to the public box,
young and old; but before the money could answer the
end for which the Congregation intended it, the people of
this place were informed that Mr. Bowen was dead, and
the money that the town had given for his redemption was
restored to the Congregation again, and put into the hands
of Deacon Giles Pearson, as we were informed.  About
the same time, good old Mrs. Eliot lay at the point of
death [the wife of the pastor]. It was then agreed upon,
by our heads and leader, with the consent of others, that
the above named contribution money should be improved
to build a tomb for the town, to inter their ministers, as
occasion should require, and that old Mrs. Eliot, for the
great service that she had done to the town, should be put
into said tomb.
"Robert Sharp, certain, and we think Nathanial Wilson, were employed by the Deacons Pearson and Gary
and others concerned, to build said tomb. But before the




NOTES.                    181
tomb was finished, the good old gentlewoman was dead,
and the first the town admitted into said  tomb. Some
months after, Benj. Eliot [a son of the Apostle] died.
He had preached and expounded the word of God to us a
long time, and the town admitted him into said tomb.
"About three or four years after, our Reverend Father,
Mr. John Eliot, left us, and the town laid him in said
tomb."
In 1857 the Standing Committee of the First Church
(Rev. Dr. George Putnam's) examined this tomb, and
made such repairs as the ravages of time had rendered necessary.  They also caused a suitable monument and
inscription to be placed upon it.
D.
" In the written account by Cotton Mather, it is said
that he [Eliot] thought it a' luxurious feminine protexity
for men to wear the hair long.' Especially a shame for
ministers of the gospel to' ruffle their heads in excesses of
this kind.' The Dr. touches lightly upon this subject,
for he himself wore a wig.'Doubtless,' said he,'it
may be lawful in us to accommodate our hair to the modest
customs which vary in the church of God; and it may be
lawful for them who have not hair of their own, enough
for their health, to supply themselves according to the
sober modes of the places where they live.  Mr. Eliot
lived to see the prevalence of the fashion, to see many an
orthodox minister wear a great white wig, and it is reported that he gave over the utterance of his grieved
spirit, saying only, as a last word of complaint, that the'lust was insuperable.'"  (Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll. VIII,
27.)




182                     NOTE$.
E.
In the town of Natick, (Mass.,) where Eliot so often
preached to the Indians, in the centre of what was formerly the Indian Burying Ground, there was erected, a
few years ago, a simple and appropriate monument to the
Apostle. It is of Jersey free stone, obelisk in form, and
about fifteen feet high. On one side is placed the following inscription, beneath a cross in alto relievo:JOHN ELIOT,
Apostle
To the Indians,
Born 1604.
Died 20 May 1690.
On the opposite side is chiselled, in relievo, the Indian
Bible, which Eliot translated, with the title:
Up Biblum
God
1663.
F.
" This is a well-known locality in the early history of
Roxbury.  The land was probably appropriated for the
use of the town shortly after the settlement, and it is believed that the town did not derive its title by deed. At
the annual meeting in May, 1762, the inhabitants voted
to sell the training field, and it was accordingly disposed
of to Joseph Weld.
"If a person should start from  a point on the north
side of Dudley Street, nearly opposite the front door of
the meeting-house on Greenville Street, and walk in a
direction nearly north to Eustis Street, and thence through




NOTES.                    183
Eustis Street towards Mount Pleasant, and through Dudley Street to the place he started from, he would have
marched around what was once the Training Field."
[Hon. Wm. S. Leland.]
G.
" There can be no doubt that John Eliot cared but
little for property.  His life, his character and his mission
teach that his mind was above the things of this world.
The early records prove that this was his disposition;
negatively by the absence of a will or any proceedings for
the settlement of his estate; affirmatively by the gift of
his lands in his life time.  He was the owner of a large
quantity of land, and his homestead was on Roxbury
Street; but it is proposed now to speak of his lot of thirty
acres on the Plymouth road.  This lot was situated on
the west side of that road, and on the south-east side of
the road leading to Rocky Swamp, now Walnut Street.
Rockland Street divides the lot in two unequal portions.
The land is of a triangular shape, and extends nearly to
Bower Street.  Opposite Maywood Street, and nearly midway between Warren and Walnut Streets, there is a portion of an old wall, which extends for a considerable distance, and is doubtless a trace of the boundary of the
Eliot lot, and, it is not improbable, was part of the foundation of the original boundary in the time of the Apostle.
Between the land and what was afterwards the Munroe
farm, it appears by early records, that there were two
fields, one of eight and the other of ten acres. The division line of these lots are indicated now partly by fragments




184                     NOTES.
and scattering stones, which once formed portions of wall,
and partly by straight rows of trees, which were sheltered
and protected in youth by the walls, afterwards removed
when the ownership of these lands was united in a single
proprietor.
" The march of improvement will soon cause all traces
of these ancient landmarks to disappear.  Respect for
them and for the associations connected with them, must
give way at the approach of the Assessors, when the land
is dear and house-lots in demand. Let the remembrance
of them be perpetuated, and if Roxbury is again to have
an Eliot Street, in the place of the one now in West
Roxbury, what could be more appropriate than to give his
name to that portion of Rockland Street located on the
land of which Eliot himself was the owner. The deed of
the Eliot lot shows that reverential regard for learning
which was not shown by word alone, but was truly a
prominent characteristic of those excellent men, who were
of influence in the early affairs of the town of Roxbury.
It bears date in October, 1687, and the following extracts
have been taken:"' To all Christian People unto whom these Presents
shall come, John Eliot, of Roxbury, in the County of
Suffolk, within his Majesties Territory and Dominion of
New England, Clerk, sendeth Greeting:
"' Know Ye that I, the said John Eliot, for divers considerations me thereunto moving, more especially in considertion of fatherly love and endeared affection which I have
and bear to my only surviving son, Joseph Eliot, of Guilford, in the Colony of Connecticut, Clerk, and for and
towards the more liberal education and training up of his
sons in good Literature, if Providence afford opportunity




NOTES.                        185
therefore, grant..... one close or pasture of thirty
acres, lying by the road that leadeth to Brantrey, bounded
on the Highway north, east and west, and south on land
of Joseph Bugbee,'" &c.  [Hon. Wm. S. Leland.]
H.
PAST TEACHERS.
1650. Joseph Hansford,         1731. Joseph Mayhew,
1665. Daniel Weld,             1733. David Goddard,
1666. John Mighill,            1734. Thomas Balch,
1668. John Prudden,            1736. John Ballantine,
1673. John Howe,               1738. Stephen Fessenden,
1674. Thomas Weld,             1740. Nathaniel Sumner,
1680. Thomas Bernard,          1741. John Newman,
1695. Joseph Greene,          1743. Job Palmer,
1698. Andrew Gardiner,        1744. Elisha Savel,
1700. Benjamin Thompson,    1745. Daniel Foxcroft,
1703. John Bowles,            1746. Edward Holyoke,
1705. William Williams,        1747. Solomon Williams,
1708. Timothy Ruggles,        1750. John Merriam,
1709. Ebenezer Williams,      1752. William Cashing,*
1712. Increase Walter,        1753. Joseph Coolidge,
1713. Robert Stanton,         1756. James Greaton,
1714. Thomas Foxcroft,        1758. John Fairfield,
1716. Ebenezer Pierpont,      1760. Joseph Warren,t
1718. Henry Wise,             1761. Ebenezer Williams,
1719. Richard Dana,            1763. Benjamin Balch,
1722. Benjamin Ruggles,        1765. Samuel Parker,$
1723. Thomas Weld,            1766. Oliver Whipple,
1726. Ebenezer Pierpont,      1768. Increase Sumner,~
* Afterwards Judge Gushing of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts.
t General Warren.
t Rev. Bishop Parker of Boston.
~ Governor Sumner.




186                        NOTES.
1770. Samuel Cherry,          1801. Joseph Chickering,
1771. Ward Chipman,           1802. Nathaniel Prentiss,
1772. Joseph Prince,          1807. Samuel Newell,
1773. John Eliot,             1809. Moses Gill,
1774. Benjamin Balch,         1811. Moses Hunt,
1774. Joseph Williams,         1814. James Day,
1775. Thomas Marsh,            1814. L. Dam,
1776. Oliver Everett,          1818. Enos Stewart,
1777. Robert Williams,         1818. John F. Jenkins,
1779. Peter Clark,             1819. Frederic Crafts,
1780. Thomas Williams,         1820. Charles Fox,
1781. John Prince,             1821. William Davis,
1783. Abiel Heywood,          1825. Richard G. Parker,
1789. William Emerson,        1828. F. S. Eastman,
1791. Calvin Whiting,          1835. George Tower,
1792. Joseph Dana,            1837. John H. Purkit,
1793. Charles Cutler,          1839. John Kebler,
1794. James B. Howe,           1839. Daniel Leach,
1795. Joseph Whitcomb,         1839. H. B. Wheelwright,
1796. James Bowers,           1841. B. H. Rhoades,
1797. Joseph Warren,           1842. John D. Philbrick,
1798. Benjamin Rice,           1844. B. A. Gould, Jr.,
1799. Thomas Bede,             1847. George Morrill,
1799. Stephen Longfellow, Jr., 1847. Charles Short,
1799. Luther Richardson,       1849. Edward L. Holmes,
1800. William Pilsbury,        1851. T. P. C. Lane,
1800. Timothy Fuller,          1853. R. C. Metcalf.
1801. Samuel Swett,
I.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
In the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred
and Eighty-nine.
An Act for incorporating certain persons therein named,
by the name of the Trustees of the Grammar School, in
the Easterly part of the Town of Roxbury; and for repealing all the laws heretofore made for that purpose.




Whereas the education of youth has always been considered by the wise and virtuous, as an object of the highest importance to the safety and happiness of a free people;
and whereas, Thomas Bell, late of London, by his last
will and testament bearing date the twenty-ninth day of
January, in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and seventy-one, gave certain lands and tenements,
therein mentioned, in the words following, that is to say,' I give unto Mr. John Eliot, Minister of the Church of
Christ in Roxbury, in New England, and Captain Isaac
Johnson, and to one such other like Godly person now
bearing office in the said Church, and their successors, the
Minister and:other such two head officers of the said
Church of oxbury, -as -the whole Church -there, from time
to time, shall best approve of successively from time to
time, forever, all my messuages, or tenements, lands, and
hereditaments, with their and every of their appurtenances,
situate, lying and being at Roxbury in New England aforesaid, in parts beyond the seas: to have and to hold to the
said Minister and officers of the said Church of Roxbury
for the time being, and their Successors from time to time
forever, in trust only notwithstanding, to and for the maintenance of a Schoolmaster and Free School for the teaching and instructing of poor men's Children, at Roxbury
aforesaid forever, and to be for no other use, intent, or
purpose whatever.' And whereas several other persons
have heretofore bequeathed certain other lands and monies,
to be applied to and for the purposes aforesaid, to be
under the direction of certain Feoffees, to be duly chosen
for those purposes; all which devises and donations have
been ratified and confirmed by several acts of the Legislature of this (then Province) now Commonwealth of Mas17




188                     NOTES.
sachusetts: And whereas the said acts are found to be inadequate to the regular carrying on of the affairs of the
said school, and a number of the inhabitants of the said
Town of Roxbury have petitioned this Court that an act
of incorporation may be passed, to incorporate a competent number of persons, for the purpose of carrying into
effect the benevolent designs of the said Thomas Bell, and
others:
" Be it therefore enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives- in General Court assembled, and by the
authority of the same, that all the laws heretofore made
ratifying and confirming the doings relative to the Free
School in the easterly part of the town of Roxbury aforesaid, so far as the same are inconsistent with this act, be
and they are hereby repealed and rendered null and void.
Provided always, that the persons who act as Trustees of
the estate of the said Thomas Bell and the persons who
act as Feoffees of said donations, shall have respectively,
full right in law to demand and receive all rents and incomes, or any arrearages thereof; or other sums of money,
which from any persons whatever, in consequence of any
leases, contracts or bargains made with said Trustees or
Feoffees are or may become due; and provided also, that
the said Trustees and Feoffees respectively, shall be held
to liquidate and settle all their accounts with and to pay
over all monies which they have received or shall in their
said capacities respectively receive, unto the Trustees of
said school appointed by this Act, or hereafter to be
chosen in pursuance thereof.
"Be it-further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that
Honorable John Lowell, Esquire, Nehemiah Munroe,
James Mears, Reverend Eliphalet Porter, Clerk, Honor



NOTs8.                    189
able Increase Sumner, Esquire, Samuel Sumner, Joseph
Ruggles, Esquire, Thomas Williams, Physician, and Joseph Williams, Gentleman, be, and they are hereby nominated and appointed Trustees of the Grammar School in
the easterly part of the Town of Roxbury, and they are
hereby incorporated into a Body Politick and Corporate
by that name; and the said Trustees and their Successors,
to be chosen and appointed in the manner herein after
prescribed, shall be and continue a Body Politick and
Corporate by the same name forever.
"Be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that
all the lands, buildings, and other property whatsoever,
which have heretofore been given by the said Thomas Bell
and others, to the said Trustees and Feoffees, for the purpose of supporting the said Free School, and all other
estate, interest, claim or demand whatsoever belonging to
said school, or which are held in trust therefor, be and
they are hereby confirmed to the said John Lowell, Nehemiah Munroe, James Mears, Eliphalet Porter, Increase
Sumner, Samuel Sumner, Joseph Ruggles, Thomas Wil.
liams and Joseph Williams and to their successors as
Trustees of the said School forever, for the uses, intents
and purposes, and upon the trust which in the said last will
and testament of the said Thomas Bell, and the donations
aforesaid are intended; and the Trustees aforesaid, their
successors and the Officers that may be appointed in pursuance of this Act, are hereby required in conducting the
concerns of the said School, and in all matters relating
thereto, to regulate themselves conformably to the true
design and intention of the said Thomas Bell and others.
" Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the said
Trustees and their successors shall have one common seal,




f90                      TOTES
which they may make use of in any cause or business that
relates to the said office of Trustees of the said school, and
they shall have power and authority from time to time
to change, alter or renew the same at pleasure; and they
may sue and be sued in all actions, real, personal or mixed,
and prosecute and defend the same to final judgment and execution, by the name of the Trustees of the Grammar School
in the easterly part of the Town of Roxbury as aforesaid.
" Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that
the said Trustees and their successors, shall be the true
and sole Visitors, Trustees, and Governors of the said
School in perpetuaf: successioi f&oreVe, to be continued hi
the way and manner herein afeir pointed out, with full
power and authority to elect by ballot, a President, Seere
tary, Treasurer, and such other Officers as they shall judge
necessary and convenient; and to make and ordain such
Bye Laws, rules and orders, for the good order and government of said School, from time to time, as to them
the said Trustees and their successors shall, according to
the various occasions and circumstances thereof appear
most fit and requisite, either with, or without penalties,
all which shall be observed by the officers, scholars, and
servants of the said school; Provided always, that the
said Bye Laws, rules and orders are not repugnant to the
Constitution and Laws of this Commionealth.
" Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that
the number of the said Trustees shall not, at any one time
consist of more than thirteen, nor less than nine, five of
whom shall constitute a quorum  for transacting business,
and a major part of the members present at any stated
meeting thereof, shall decide all questions that may prop.
erly come before them.




NOTES.                     191
"And to perpetuate the succession of the said Trustees, Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that
as often as one or more of the said Trustees shall die, resign, remove, or in the judgment of the major part of the
said Trustees for the time being, be rendered by age, infirmity, or otherwise, incapable of discharging the duties
of his office, then and so often the remaining part of the
Trustees then surviving, or the major part of them, at
some stated meetings, shall elect by ballot one or more
persons, being reputable Freeholders in the Town of Roxbury, aforesaid, to supply such vacancy or vacancies.Provided always, that the Minister and the two oldest
Deacons of the First Church of Christ, in the said town of
Roxbury, shall always, by virtue of their said offices, be
members of the said Corporation.
" Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that
the Trustees aforesaid, and their Successors be, and they
are hereby rendered capable in law to take and receive by
gift, grant, devise, bequest, or otherwise, any lands, tenements or other estate, real or personal.-Provided, that
the annual income of such real estate shall not exceed the
sum of one hundred and fifty pounds, and the annual income of such personal estate shall not exceed the sum of
one hundred and fifty pounds; (both sums to be estimated in silver, at the rate of six shillings and eight
pence by the ounce) to have and to hold the same to the
said Trustees, and to their successors in that office, on
such terms and under such provisions and limitations as
may be expressed in any deed or instrument of conveyance to them made; Provided always, that neither the
said Trustees nor their successors, shall ever hereafter receive any grant or donation, the condition whereof shall
17*




192                      NOTES.
require them, or any others concerned, to act in any respect, contrary to the design expressed in the last will and
testament of the said Thomas Bell, or any donation heretofore made.
"And all deeds and instruments which the said Trustees may lawfully make in their said capacity as aforesaid,
shall, when made in their name, signed and delivered by
their Treasurer, and sealed with their common Seal, be
binding on the said Trustees and their successors and be'alid in Law.
"Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that
there shall be held a meeting of the said Trustees as soon
as conveniently may be after the passing of this Act, and
afterwards once in every year at least on some day to be
stated by the said Trustees, aunually, forever; at which
meetings the major part of the said Trustees present, shall
proceed to elect a President, Secretary, Treasurer, and
such other Officers as they shall deem  meet, who shall
continue in office for the term  of one year, or until others
shall be chosen in their room; and the said officers'shall
be under oath, faithfully and impartially to discharge all
the duties of their said offices, during the time for which
they shall be elected, and until others shall be chosen and
sworn in their stead.  And there shall be three quarterly
meetings of the said Trustees, besides the said annual
mecting, to be held on such days as shall be prescribed by
the regulations or orders of the said Trustees, at either of
which meetings any business relative to the government
and well ordering of the affairs of the said school may be
transacted, and vacancies filled up, if necessary; Provided, however, that no vacancy in the office of Trustees
shall be filled up at any meeting of said Trustees, unless




NOTES.:                   193
previous notice shall have been given by the Secretary to
each of the Trustees, that such vacancy exists, and is intended to be filled at such meeting; which notice the said
Secretary is directed to give, at the application of either
of the Trustees.
"And that the state of the finances of said School may
be known from time to time, Be it further enacted by the
authority aforesaid, that it shall and may be lawful for the
inhabitants of the said town of Roxbury, at any legal
meeting thereof, not exceeding once in any one year, to
call on the said Trustees for a state of their general accounts, at the then last audit thereof, and it shall be the
duty of the Trustees aforesaid, or some one of their Officers,
for the time being, to exhibit an attested copy of such
statement accordingly.
"Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that
Thomas Clark, Esquire, be, and he is hereby authorized
and directed to determine the time and place for holding
the first Meeting of the said Trustees, and to certify them
respectively thereof, ten days at the least previous to the
holding the same.
"In the House of Representatives, January 21st,
1789. This Bill having had three several Readings,
passed to be enacted.
" THEODORE SEDGWICK, Speaker.
"In Senate, January 21st, 1789.  This Bill having
had two several Readings, passed to be enacted.
"SAMUEL PHILLIPS, Junr., President.
"Approved.         JOHN HANCOCK.
True Copy.
"Attest.  JOHN A VER Y, Junr., Secretary."




194                     NOTES.
J.
In the will of Samuel Hugburne, dated 1642, we find
this provision:" When Roxbury shall set up a free schoole in ye towne,
there shall ten shilling per annum, out of the house and
house lot, be paid unto it forever."
There is no evidence on record that our school ever
received this annuity.
K.
PAST FEOFFEES AND TRUSTEES.*
Amos Adams,                John Doggett,
John Bowles,               William Davis,
William Blaney,            Aaron Davis,
John Bartlett,             John Dorr,
William Cheney,            Charles Davis,
Griffin Crafts,            Isaac Davis,
Thomas Clarke,             John Eliot,
John Clapp,                Philip Eliot,
Henry Codman,              Joshua Felton,
B. E. Cotting,             Samuel Guild,
Edward Dennison,           S. J. Gardner,
Samuel Danforth,           John Johnson,
Joseph Dudley,             T. K. Jones,
Edward Dorr,               Isaac Heath,
Ebenezer Dorr,             M. A. D. W. Howe,
Paul Dudley,               Benjamin Hunt,
* The list may not be complete. As the early records were
carelessly kept, it is not improbable that the names of some of the
Trustees previous to 1789 have been omitted.




NOTES.                   195
Shubael Low,              W. H. Sumner,
John Lowell, (Judge,)    Samuel Sumner,
John Lowell,              Increase Sumner,
John Lemist,              D. A. Simmons,
John A. Lowell,           I. M. Spelman,
John Mayhew,              Thomas Weld,
John Mayo,                Thomas Weld, Jr.,
Isaac Morrill,            Aaron White,
James Mears, Jr.,        Isaac Williams,
N. Munroe,                Thomas Williams,
William Park,             Joseph Williams,
John Pierpont,            Samuel Williams,
James Pierpont,           John Williams,
Oliver Peabody,           Stephen Williams,
Eliphalet Porter,         Joseph Williams, Jr.,
Caleb Parker,             Daniel Williams,
Giles Payson,            Robert Williams,
Luther Richardson,        H. K. Williams,
Nathaniel Ruggles,        Nehemiah Walter,
Joseph Ruggles,           Thomas Walter,
Nathaniel Ruggles, Jr.,    Benjamin Weld,
Ralph Smith,              Rufus Wyman,
Timothy Stevens,          S. H. Walley,
Edward Sumner,            George Zeigler.
L.
Mr. Gookin wrote in 1674 Historical Collections of the
Indians in New England, which remained in manuscript
till published by the Massachusetts Historical Society in
1792.  In this work he gives many interesting particulars




196                    NOTES.
of the various tribes of Indians, their customs, manners,
religion and government.  He was a faithful friend of Eliot,
and frequently accompanied him in his missionary tours.
He was the only magistrate who endeavored to protect the
Indians from the people.




APPENDIX.
THE settlements of Dorchester and Boston are so connected with that of Roxbury, that a few prominent facts
concerning these places may not be useless.
In April, 1630, Governor Winthrop and others, in the
Arbella, with 1500 people, in other ships, sailed from
England for Salem, where they arrived in June.
" June 14, 1630. Monday morning we warped in our
ship and came to anchor in the inward harbour (Salem).
In the afternoon we went, with most of our company, on
shore."  (W., vol. I, p. 27.)
" July, 1630.  Arrive at Charlestown, Gov. Winthrop,
Dep. Gov. Dudley, Sir Richd Saltonstall, with about 1500
people, brought over in twelve ships from England."
(Town and Ch. Rec. Prince, p. 308.)
" July 30, 1630.  Friday, Gov. Winthrop and Dep.
Gov. Dudley and Isaac Johnson and the Reverend Mr.
Wilson, first enter into Church Covenant and lay the
foundation of the Church."  (Prince, p. 311.)
"This Church and Pastor, with their records, moved to
Boston, August, 1630, (Prince, p. 407) and October 14,
1632, thirty-three members (Prince, p. 407) having obtained dismissions, formed a new or Second Church in
Charlestown, (where they had continued to live after the removal of the majority to Boston) Friday, Nov. 2d, 1632.
(Prince, p. 407.)




198                  APPENDIX.
DORCHESTER.
"The latter end of 1629 (i. e.,'beginning of 1630
in the Julian year,') a Congregational Church is by a
pious people gathered in the new hospital at Plymouth in
England.  Rev. Mr. White of Dorchester being present,
-the people-call-the Rev. Mr. John Warham-and
the Rev. Mr. John Maveric to be their officers-who are,
at the same time, ordained their ministers."  (Prince,
p. 271.)
[1630.]  "March 20.  The reverend Mr. Warhamand
Maveric, with many godly families and people under their
care-and Mr. Roger Clap (afterward Captain of the
Castle in Boston Harbour) this day sail from Plymouth
in England-in the Mary and John-one Squeb, master."
(Prince, p. 274.)
[1630.]  "May 30, (Lord's day).  Mr. Warham,
Maveric, &c.-arrive at Nantasket point-But getting a
Boat-they lade her with goods and-go up to Charlestown-go up Charles liver-are not there many dayscome away from this place which is after called Watertown
-so  we remove to Mattapan, name it Dorchester, and
here the natives are also kind to us.  (Prince, pp.
277, 278.)
[1630.]  "Aug. 23.  First Court of Assistants held
at Charlestown on board the Arbella-the first thing propounded is how the ministers shall be maintained-ordered
house to be built-Mr. Phillips to have thirty pounds a
year-Mr. Wilson to have twenty pounds a year till his
wife come over —all this at the common charge, those of
Mattapan and Salem excepted."  (Prince, pp. 313, 314.)
[1630.]  " Sept. 7.  The second Court of Assistants
held at Charlestown-ordered-that Trimountain be called




APPENDIX.                  199
Boston —MIattapan, Dorchester; and the "Town upon
Charles River, Watertown."  (Prince, p. 315.)
From these facts we learn that a Church, organized in
England, arrived at Dorchester and settled there in June,
1630, one month before the formation of the Boston
Church at Charlestown.
[1635.]  "In 1635 Mr. Warham, with nearly all his
Church, moved to Windsor, in Connecticut, and took with
them the Records of the Church. A new Church was formed
at Dorchester, whose records begin,' Mr. Maveric died at
Boston, 3 Feb. 1636, ae 60.'"  (Farmer's Register.)
ROXBURY.
It is stated in the Roxbury Church Records (p. 16)
that " Mr. George Alcock came in the first Company
anno 1630-he left his only son in England-his wife
dyed soon after he came to this land, when the people of
Rocksborough joyned to the Church in Dorchester (until
such time as God should give them opportunity to be a
Church among themselves).  He was  hosen to be a
Deacon especially to regard the brethren at Rocksborough,
and after he adjoyned himself to this Church at Rocksborough and was ordained a Deacon of this Church."
"The first Company" arrived at Salem, June, 1630,
and July after arrived at Charlestown. Of these, the
names of five, in addition to that of Mr. Alcock, stand on
the Church Records as founders of the Church at Roxbury, viz.:-Wm. Pinchon, Thomas Lamb, Thomas Rawlings, Robert Cole, Wim. Chase. These, probably, settled
in Roxbury in 1630, and joined the Church in Dorchester. These and other interesting facts can be ascertained
from the Records of the Church at Windsor, Conn.
18




200                   APPENDIX.
[1632.]  "June 5.  The William and Francis,...
with about sixty passengers, whereof Mr. Welde and old
Mr. Batchelor (aged 71) were, with their families, and
many other honest men."  ( W., vol. I, pp. 77-78.)
[1632.]  July 5 (or during the month.)   "After
many imparlances and days of humiliation by those of Boston and Roxbury to seek the Lord for Mr. Welde his disposing and the advice of those of Plimouth being taken,
&c., at length he resolved to sit down with them of Roxbury."  (W., vol. I, p. 82.)
Rev. Amos Adams, ordained Sept. 12, 1753, made a
particular and complete record of the doings of the Church.
On page 269 he has noted several events which had been
omitted, but refers to no authorities.  He states that Mr.
Weld was ordained in July, 1632. This is probably correct.  He also states that Mr. Weld returned to England
in 1639.  Winthrop (vol. II, pp. 25, 31) says Mr.
Welde, with Hugh Peters and William Hibbins, left for
England, by way of Newfoundland, in 1641, and that' Governour Dudley," Feb'y, 1640, (now Feb'y, 1641)
" also moved the Church of Roxbury for Mr. Welde,
whom after some time of consideration they freely yielded."
(Vol. II, pp. 25, 26.)  Weld therefore returned to England 1641, not in 1639, as noted by Mr. Adams.
[1631.]  " March 30.  Mr. Wilson left Boston for
Salem, to sail thence in the Lyon for' his wife and family' in London.' This ship set sail from Salem, April 1,
and arrived at London (all safe) April 29.' "  (., vol.
I, p. 52. Rox. Ch. Rec., p. 16.)
[1631.]  " Nov. 2.  The ship Lyon, William Pierce,
master, arrived at Nantascot.  There came in her the
Governour's (Winthrop's) wife, his eldest son and his




APPENDIX.                  201
wife, and others of his children, and Mr. Eliot, a minister,
and other families, being in all about sixty persons....
Nov. 4th, morning, she came to an anchor before Boston."
(W., vol. I, p. 65.)
On page 16 of Roxbury Church Records is the name of
Mr. John Eliot as forty-ninth member of the Church in
Roxbury.  Under his name is the following note, which
appears to have been written by his hand:"Mr. John Eliot; he came to N. E. in the 9th mo.
1631-he left his intended wife in England to come over
the next year-he adjoyned the Church at Boston and
there exercised in the absence of Mr. Wilson, the pastor
of that Church, who was gone back to England for his wife
and family.  The next summer Mr. Wilson returned, and
by that time the Church at Boston was intended to call
him (Eliot) to office —his friends were come over and settled at Rocksborongh, to whom he was foreefigaged that if
he were not called to office before they came, he was to
joyne with them.-Whereupon  the Church at Rocksborough called him to be teacher in the end of that summer, and soon after he was ordained to that office in that
Church.  Also his wife came along with the rest of his
friends the same time, and soon after their coming they
were married: viz. in the 8th month, 1632."
This note, by Mr. Eliot, agrees so perfectly with the
preceding statements, that his is confirmed by them and
they by his.
" Septem. 16, 1632 [being Lord's day.]  In the evening Mr. Pierce in the ship Lyon arrived and came to an
anchor before Boston.  He brought one hundred and
* Ann Mumford.




202                  APPENDIX.
twenty-three passengers, whereof fifty children, all in
health."  ( W., vol. I, p. 90.)
As the arrival at Boston of any other vessel with passengers from England (between the month of June, 1632, and
the marriage of Mr. Eliot in the next October, "soon
after her coming,") is not mentioned by Winthrop or
Prince, it may be fairly concluded, that Mr. Eliot's intended wife and his friends came over in that ship.
[1632]  Novem. 5. (W., vol. I, p. 93.)   "Mr.
John Eliot, a member of Boston congregation, and one
whom the present congregation intended presently to call
to the office of teacher, was called to be a teacher to the
Church at Roxbury; and though Boston laboured all
they could, both with the congregation of Roxbury and
with Mr. Eliot himself, alleging their want of him and the
covenant between them, &c., yet he could not be diverted
from accepting the call of Roxbury, Novem. 5.  So he
was dismissed." Prince, p. 408, fixes the ordination of
Mr. Eliot,'Novem. 5, and perhaps Friday, Novem. 9th.'
Mr. Adams (Rox. Ch. Rec.) has it' Novem. 5 or 9,
1632.'"
The foregoing facts have been thus fully detailed, as
they have a bearing on some discrepancies between writers
or records often quoted as authorities.