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Brief Notices of the Early Teachers.

Mr. Trask, in Chapter XXIII., gives “brief notices of the early teachers in the public schools" of Dorchester, and we avail ourselves of his labors to make their names and merits known to our readers:

REV. THOMAS WATERHOUSE is the pioneer teacher on the records of the town. He was born about the year 1600; was a graduate of Cambridge University, in England; taught in Dorchester in the year 1639, but soon after returned to England, and was a preacher in the County of Suffolk.

Palmer in his Nonconformist's Memorial, mentions his subsequent labors in England: "He was a scholar of the Charter house. He came from the university very zealous for the ceremonies, but being curate to old Mr. Candler of Coddenham, his zeal very much abated. He there married a gentlewoman of a very good family. He afterwards had a living (in the gift of the Charter house) near Bishops-Stortford, in Herts. Upon the breaking out of the civil war, he went to New England, and had removed all his effects in order to his settling there. But soon hearing of the death of his wife's brother (upon which a good estate fell to her and her sister), he returned to Old England, when he became master of the public school in Colchester. He had not been there long before he had an impulse upon his spirit that some remarkable judgment would befal that place, upon which he determined to remove, and no arguments could prevail with him to stay. Accordingly, in about half a year that town was besieged, and the hardships they went through were peculiar. Mr. W. had removed into High-Suffolk, where his wife's estate lay. After being silenced, he lived at Ipswich, and sometimes preached there occasionally; but his principal employment was teaching a school, for which he was peculiarly qualified, and he had good success. He died at Creeting in 1679 or 1680, near 80 years of age. He was a very useful man, of a blameless conversation, and very firm in his Nonconformity."

HENRY BUTLER was the teacher as early as 1648. He was born in the county of Kent, England, and received the degree of M. A. at Cambridge University. "When he was about 30 years of age he took a voyage into New England, with several others, for the free exercise of their religion, and continued there 11 or 12 years in the work of the ministry, and teaching university learning."

ICHABOD WISWALL, the second son of Elder Thomas and Elizabeth Wiswall, was born in Dorchester in 1637, and entered Harvard College, 1654. Several of the members of his class were dissatisfied with a vote of the College Corporation, requiring that students should pass four years in the institution previous to taking a degree, whereas, at the time they entered, a continuance of three years entitled them to that honor. Accordingly, Mr. Wiswall, with William Brimsmead, of Dorchester-who was afterwards the first minister of Marlborough-and perhaps others, in a spirit, as they thought, of manly independence, left the College at the expiration of three years, without receiving the customary degree. Before leaving College, however, young Wiswall seems to have been engaged in teaching school in Dorchester. In the Town Records, under date of 8 Feb., 1655, is an agreement between the Selectmen and Thomas Wiswall, that his son Ichabod, then about 18 years of age, should be the teacher of the school for three years.

The following is a copy of the contract, signed by Ichabod Wiswall, and by Edward Breck in the name of the rest of the Selectmen:

"First, that Ichabod, wth the Consent of his Father, shall from the 7th of March next Ensuinge, vnto the end of three full years from thence be compleate and ended, instructe and teach in a free Schoole in Dorchester all such Cheldren as by the Inhabitants shall be Committed vnto his Care, in English, Latine and Greeke as from time to time the Cheldren shall be Capable, and allso instruct them in writinge as hee shall be able; wch is to be vnderstood such Cheldren as are so fare entred all redie to knowe there Leters and to spell some what; and also prouided the schoole-howse from time to time be kept in good order and comfortable for a man to abide in, both in somer and in Winter, by prouiding Fire seasonably, so that it may neather be preiudiciall to master nor Scholar-and in cause of palpable neglect and matter of Complaint, and not reformed, it shall not binde the m to Endanger his health.

"Secondly, that the Selectmen of Dorchester shall, from yeare to yeare, every yeare paye or cause to be paid vnto Icabod or his Father by his Assignment the full somme of Twentie-Five Pounds, two-thirdes in wheate, pease, or barley, marchantable, and one-thirde in Indian, att or before the first of March, dueringe the three yeares, yearly, at price Currant, woh is to be vnderstoode the price weh the generall Court shall from time to time appoint."

WILLIAM POLE, an early settler of Dorchester, taught as early as 1659, and until 1668. In the year 1661, "the Selectmen did covenant" with him, and promised him £25 for his services that year. In 1666, there were "agitations about a schoolmaster," and a committee, consisting of Mr. Richard Mather, Lieut. Hopestill Foster and John Minot, were chosen to procure a master, while at the same time, "it was voted that Mr. Pole should go on in keeping school until another master be provided." In 1667, the same committee were empowered "to agree with such a man as they shall judge meet, not exceeding £40 a year." Mr. Pole continued with them, at the desire of the town, till another could be obtained, a schoolmaster having long "been endeavored after." In 1669, "Sir Atherton" succeeded him. In addition to Mr. Pole's services as a schoolmaster, it may be mentioned that "he was Clerk of y Writs & Register of Births, Deaths & Marriages in Dorchester about 10 years."

During Mr. Pole's administration (in 1665) the town voted that "the new impression of Mr. Mather's catechism should be paid for out of the town rate; and so the books to become the town's"-the said work to be disposed of, to each family, according to the direction of the Elders, with the Selectmen and Deacon Capon. The town paid Anthony Fisher £4 10s. for printing the catechism. Cotton Mather, in his life of Rev. Richard Mather, his grandfather, says: "He published catechisms, a lesser and a larger, so well formed that a Luther himself would not have been ashamed of being a learner from them." HOPE ATHERTON, son of Maj. Humphrey Atherton, was born in Dorchester, where he was baptized 30th August, 1616. He graduated at Harvard College, 1665, and taught the school in his native town in 1668 and 1669. Consideration £25,"to be paid him in such Marchantable pay as ye towne vsually pay Rates & towne charges in:"-" what Children come out of other Towns, he shall have ye benefit of them." In 1669, he was to have £30. On the 8th of June of the same year, it was voted by the town to dismiss Mr. Atherton from his engagement to the school by the 29th of September following, “or sooner, if the town by their Committee can provide a supply for the school." This action was taken in accordance with a desire expressed by "brethren & friends living at or near the town of Hadley," that Mr. A. should enter "the public work of the Ministry with them." In 1670, Hatfield was incorporated as a distinct town, having been previously a part of Hadley. Mr. Atherton accepted a call tendered him by the people of Hatfield to become their first minister, and on the 25th of November, 1670, they voted to build him a suitable house, and to give him a salary of £60 a year, "two-thirds to be paid in good merchantable wheat, and one-third in pork, with this provision: If our crops fall so short that we cannot pay in kind, then we are to pay in the next best pay we have.'” Rev. Hope Atherton married Sarah, daughter of Lieut. John Hollister, of Wethersfield, Conn., in 1674. She had by Mr. Atherton three children. Soon after the death of Mr. Atherton, probably in 1679, his widow married Timothy Baker, of Northampton, a man of distinction in that town. She was his second wife. By this connection Mr. Baker had five children (the first child being born in February, 1680-81), one of whom was the celebrated Capt. Thomas Baker, who married Christine Otis, of Dover, N. H.

Mr. Atherton accompanied Capt. Turner, in 1676, as chaplain, in the expedition against the Indians, in the neighborhood of Greenfield, which resulted in the celebrated "Falls Fight."

JOHN FOSTER, son of Capt. Hopestill and Mary Foster, was born in Dorchester about 1648; graduated at Harvard College in 1667; commenced teaching school, it is thought, October of 1669, at £25 per annum. In article fourth of his agreement, it was "granted as a liberty to ye Master if he see it meete, for to go once in a fortnight to a lectuer." His salary in 1670 was £30. On the 23d of December, 1672, it was agreed that Mr. Foster "shall teach such lattin schollars as shall Come to his fathers hous one wholl yeer next ensueing from the first of January next, and to instruct and give out Coppies to such as come to him to learne to writte"-"for his paines to haue £10." In 1674, his "recompence" for teaching grammar scholars in English, Latin and writing, "at ye schole-house," was £30. The same year the General Court granted permission to establish a printing press in Boston. One was set up by Mr. Foster in 1675 or '6. This was the first printing house in Boston; now there are about eighty in that city. Mr. F. is known to have been the author of an almanac for 1675, also for 1680; and author and printer of almanacs for the years 1676, 78, 79, 81, the latter being the year of his decease. Among other works, he printed Increase Mather's Exhortation to the Inhabitants of New England ("Are to be sold over against the Dove"), 4to, 1676; Hubbard's Election Sermon, delivered 3d May, 1676, 4to, 1676; I. Mather's Brief History of the Warre with the Indians, &c., 4to; A relation of the Troubles of New

England from the Indians, &c., by I. Mather, 4to, 1677; Hubbard's Narration of the Troubles with the Indians, &c., 4to, 1677; Rev. John Eliot's Harmony of the Gospels, 4to, 1678; Increase Mather's Sermon preached to the Second Church in Boston in New England, March 17, 1679-80, when that Church did solemnly and explicitly Renew their Covenant with God, and one with another;" also, Samuel Willard's Discourse, preached the same day, after that Church had renewed their Covenant." The two discourses, which were probably among the last works printed by Mr. Foster, are boun 1 together. The preface, by Increase Mather, is dated April 19th, 1680. These books are all in quarto form, and several of them are in the possession of Mr. S. G. Drake.

Blake, in his Annals (p. 29), states that Mr. Foster "made the then Seal or arins of ye Colony, namely an Indian with a Bow & Arrow,* &c." Mr. Foster died September 9th, 1681, aged 33.

JAMES MINOT, who taught in 1675, 77, 78, 79, '80, was born in Dorchester, 14th (Farmer says 18th) September, 1653. He was the son of Capt. John and Lydia (Butler) Minot, and grandson of Elder George Minot, who settled at what is now Neponset Village about 1630. Elder George was born in England, August 4th, 1594, and was the son of Thomas Minot, Esq., of Saffron Walden, Essex, England.

James, the subject of this notice, graduated at Harvard College in 1675. "He studied divinity and physic," and by the combination made himself more efficient to minister to the general wants of the people. In June, 1680, the town "voted that if Mr. Minot can be procured to preach once a fortnight (his year beginning in January last and to end next January) that he should have twenty pounds, half money and half other pay." Probably Rev. Mr. Flint, the pastor, was in feeble health at this time, for he died on the 16th of September following.

After relinquishing the school in Dorchester, Mr. M. "removed to Concord, where he was employed as a teacher and physician. In 1685, he was hired to preach in Stow, for 12s. 6d. per day, one-half cash and one-half Indian corn;' and again in 1686, for 'what older towns had given their ministers-£13 for 13 Sabbaths.' In 1692, he had another application to preach there, which he declined. Relinquishing the profession soon after, he was appointed Justice of the Peace, in 1692, and a captain of the militia, then offices of much distinction. He represented the town several years in General Court, was much emploved in various public trusts, and distinguished himself for his talents and excellent character."

He married Rebecca, daughter of Capt. Timothy Wheeler, of Concord, by whom he had ten children. Many distinguished individuals in our country descended from them. Mrs. Minot died on the 23d of September, 1734, aged 68. He deceased September 20th, 1735, aged 83 years.

WILLIAM DENISON taught the school in 1681-to have £20 and "his accommodation for diet;" the next year to have twenty shillings more in money; in 1683 he taught part of the year. He was a son of Edward Denison; was born in Roxbury, 18th September, 1664; graduated at Harvard College, 1681; married Dorothy, daughter of Thomas Weld, of Roxbury, 12th May, 1686. He was made a freeman in 1690; was a representative to the General Court for twenty years, and died in Roxbury, 22d of March, 1718, aged 54 years.

Mr. D. belonged to a family of note. His grandfather William, one of the early settlers of Roxbury, was a freeman in 1632, and a representative in 1653. His son Daniel was a representative many years; an assistant; a speaker of the House; afterwards a major-general. Edward, the second son of William, and the father of the subject of this notice, married Elizabeth Weld in 1641;

the

* Dr. erce says (Address at opening of Town Ila, Brookline, 1845 p. 2) device is" ascribed to "John Hu 1, the mint master. In regard to this, it may be Fai that the original silver seal of the Massachusetts Company, in England, was sent over to Gov. Endicott in the year 1629. It was in use until the accession of Gov. An iros in 1686, which was about five years after the decease of Mr. Foster. The seal was probably restored in 1689, alter the deposition of Andros, and laid by in 1692, when the Province seal, under the s cond charter, was substituted. In 1775, the Colony seal was adopted; and in 1780, our present State seal. Th five seals, by way of distinction, Inay be de-ignated as the "first charter," "usurpatio," "second charter," the "revolution," and "constitution" seals.

It seems to be a mistake, therefore, to suppose that either of the persons above mentioned "made" or "devised" the first seal. Engravings of it certainly were formed, en blocks or plates, for pr nting, and it would be natural enough for the mint master and the printer, especially the latter, to have an oversight in their production. The inpressions of the seal on the public documents, were variable in their size, and it is not imp.obable that both Hull and Foster may have designed or manufactured, in wood or metal, different sized models of it.

was a representative in 1652 and '55. He died April 26, 1668. George, the third son of William, and brother of Edward, was distinguished in the war with King Philip.

JOHN WILLIAMS, son of Dea. Samuel, and grandson of Robert, of Roxbury, was born in Roxbury, 10th December, 1864. The maiden name of his mother was Theoda Park. She was a daughter of Dea. William Park, a person of distinction in the town of Roxbury. Through the aid and influence of this worthy man, his grandson, John Williams, was enabled to obtain a college education. He graduated at Harvard College in 1683, and in the subsequent year became a teacher in the Dorchester school. In the month of May, 1686, he was ordained as the first minister in Deerfield. This town, at that time a frontier settlement, was continually exposed to the attacks of the savages. Mr. Williams, with an undaunted spirit, took his lot with the people. Soon after his settlement he married Eunice Mather, of Northampton, who was a daughter of Rev. Eleazer Mather, and granddaughter of Rev. Richard Mather, of Dorchester. On her mother's side she was a granddaughter of Rev. John Warham, also of Dorchester.

Rev. Mr. Williams had by his wife Eunice nine children, three of whom were afterwards ministers of the gospel, viz.: Eleazer, who was ordained at Mansfield, Ct.; Stephen, ordained at Long Meadow, Mass.; Warham, ordained at Watertown, west precinct, now Waltham.

The whole of Mr. Williams's family, then living, with the exception of Eleazer-nine in number-were taken captive by the French and Indians, in Deerfield, 29th February, 1703-4. The two youngest sons were murdered by them on the spot; the mother shared the same fate a few days afterwards.

A full account of the taking of Deerfield, and of the privations and awful sufferings that attended this unfortunate family in their journey through the wilderness to Canada, is feelingly narrated by Mr. Williams in his book entitled, "The Redeemed Captive returning to Zion."

His captivity continued a year and nine months, during which time every artifice was used to bring the members of the family under the dominion of popery, but without success, except in one instance. His daughter Eunice was left among the Indians, when he was redeemed in 1706, and no sums of money could procure her redemption. She was at that time ten years of age. Soon after this she forgot the English language, and in her habits became an Indian, one of whom she married. It is said the Rev. Eleazer Williams of "Dauphin notoriety, is her great-grandson. She died in Canada at the age of 90 years. Mr. Williams, after his release, settled again in the ministry at Deerfield. He married for his second wife a daughter of Capt. Allen, of Windsor, Ct., who, like his first wife, was a granddaughter of Rev. Mr. Warham. By this connection he had five children. He died at Deerfield in a fit of apoplexy, on the 12th of June, 1729, in the 65th year of his age and the 44th of his ministry. JONATHAN PIERPONT, son of Robert and Sarah (Lynde) Pierpont, and grandson of James, a merchant of London, afterwards of Ipswich, Mass., was born in Roxbury, in this State, 10th of June, 1665. Robert, the father, was a younger brother of John, who settled early in Roxbury. The latter was a great-great-grandfather of Rev. John Pierpont, the former pastor of Hollis Street church, Boston. He took his first degree at Harvard College in July, 1685, and in February, 1686, took charge of the school at Dorchester.

EDWARD MILLS, son of John and Elizabeth (Shove) Mills, and grandson of John and Susanna, was born in Braintree, the 29th of June, 1665; graduated at Harvard College in 1685; taught the school in Dorchester, probably from 1687 till 1692. In the year 1689, there was a "treaty about Mr. Mills keeping the school," between the Selectmen and the teacher; also in 1687, "as more fully appears in the new book." He went from Dorchester to Boston, where he exercised his gift of teaching for about forty years.

JOSEPH LORD, son of Thomas and Alice (Rand) Lord, of Charlestown, was born June 30, 1672; graduated at Harvard College in 1691. From 1692 till 1695, probably, he taught the school in Dorchester. In the Fall of the latter year, a church was gathered in this town with the design of removing to South Carolina, and Mr. Lord was ordained pastor. The newly-formed church arrived at their place of destination, on the Ashley river, about eighteen miles from Charleston, on the 20th of December, and called the place Dorchester. On the subsequent second of February, "the sacrament of the Lord's Supper," it is said, "was first administered in Carolina." It was necessary that the minister should be ordained in Massachusetts to his work, for "in all that country," whither he was going, says Mr. Danforth, in his valedictory discourse, there was "neither ordained Minister nor any Church, in full gospel order." He married Abigail, daughter of Gov. Thomas Hinckley (by his first wife), on the third of June, 1698.

Mr. Lord remained with his church and society over twenty years, when he returned to this State, and on the 15th of June, 1720, was installed pastor of the church in Chatham. He died in 1748, after preaching at Chatham twentyeight years.

JOHN ROBINSON, born in Dorchester, April 17, 1675, was a son of Samuel and Mary (Baker) Robinson, Samuel being the eldest son of William, of Dorchester. John graduated at Harvard College in 1695, and taught the school in D. the next year; preached at New Castle, in Pennsylvania, for a few years; settled at Duxbury, Mass., on the 13th of November, 1702, as successor to Rev. Ichabod Wiswall, whose daughter Hannah he married, January 31, 1705. They had three sons and five daughters, viz.: Mary, Hannah, Althea, Elizabeth, Samuel, John, Ichabod and Faith. The latter married the elder Gov. Jonathan Trumbull, of Conn. On the 22d September, 1722, Mr. Robinson lost his wife, and eldest daughter Mary, who was then in her 17th year. Mrs. R. and daughter being desirous of making a visit to Boston, took passage for that city in a coaster, in company with Mr. Thomas Fish, of Duxbury, a graduate of Harvard College in the class of 1719. When off Nantasket beach there came up suddenly a tempest; the vessel upset, and all on board were drowned. Mrs. R. was in her 42d year. The body of the daughter was soon recovered -that of the mother about six weeks afterwards. On the body of the latter was found a golden necklace, which is said to be in the possession of her descendants.

Mr. R. continued pastor of the church in Duxbury till November, 1738. He died at Lebanon, Conn., at the residence of his son-in-law, Gov. Trumbull, on the 14th of November, 1745, aged 70 years. A granite monument has been recently erected in the cemetery of Lebanon, at an expense of nearly $2,000, to the memory of Mr. Robinson and his descendants there interred.

JOHN SWIFT, son of Thomas and Elizabeth, and grandson of Thomas Swift, was born in Milton, March 14th, 1678-79; taught the school for a short time in 1696; graduated at Harvard College in 1697, and was the first minister in Framingham, where he was ordained October 8th, 1701. He soon after married Sarah, daughter of Timothy and Sarah Tile ton, of Dorchester, by whom he had six children. His only son, John (H. C. 1733), was a minister at Acton. John, the father, died at F. on the 24th of April, 1745, in his 67th year.

RICHARD BILLINGS, son of Ebenezer and Hannah Billings, and grandson of Roger, of Dorchester, was born in D., September 21st, 1675; graduated at Harvard College, 1698; taught the school the same year, and, probably, during parts of the two years succeeding.

SAMUEL WISWALL, son of Enoch, and grandson of Elder Thomas Wiswall, of Dorchester, was baptized September 21st, 1679; graduated at Harvard College in 1701. About this time he taught the school; afterwards he preached occa ionally, as opportunity offered, having first received encouragement from an association of divines, to whom he had offered himself for examination. He subsequently embarked as chaplain on board of a ship. They were unfortunately taken captive on the voyage by the Spaniards, and carried into Martinico, where he experienced a severe sickness; but, recovering therefrom, returned soon after to his native land. He preached at various places, and in a manner acceptable to the people.

ELIJAH DANFORTH, son of Rev. John and Elizabeth (Minot) Danforth, of Dorchester, grandson of Samuel and Mary (Wilson) Danforth, and greatgrandson of Nicholas, of Framlingham, County of Suffolk, England-was born in Dorchester the 30th of November, 1683, (bap. 2 Dec.), graduated at Harvard College in 1703. He was probably a teacher in town for a short time in 1706; for in the accounts made up to December 2d of that year, is the following: "Paid to Mr. Danforth, schoolmaster, £15." "He was a physician at Castle William (now Fort Independence), and died the 8th of October, 1786, aged 53."

PETER THACHER,* son of Rev. Peter and Theodora (Oxenbridge) Thacher, of Milton (grandson of Thomas, of Weymouth, who was subsequently the first minister of the Old South Church, Boston, and great-grandson of Peter, a Puritan minister of Salisbury, England), was born in Milton the 6th of October, 1688, graduated at Harvard College in 1706, in his eighteenth yeartaught school probably in D. about one-quarter of that year, for which he received £8. On the 1st of December, 1707, £30 more had been paid him for keeping school. Some two months previous to this date, however, he had commenced preaching in Middleborough. He was chosen pastor the 30th of

* Prof. Thacher of Yale College is a descendant.

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