North Carolina Schools and Academies 1790-1840 A Documentary History:
Electronic Edition.
Coon, Charles L. (Charles Lee), 1868-1927.
Funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services
supported the electronic publication of this title.
Text transcribed by
Apex Data Services, Inc.
Images scanned by
Jill Kuhn Sexton
Text encoded by
Apex Data Services, Inc., Melissa G. Meeks, and Jill Kuhn Sexton
First edition, 2001
ca. 2.6M
Academic Affairs Library, UNC-CH
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
2001.
© This work is the property of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It may be used freely by individuals for research, teaching and personal use as long as this statement of availability is included in the text.
Source Description:
(title page) North Carolina Schools and Academies 1790-1840 A Documentary History
Charles L. Coon
lii, 846p.
Raleigh
Edwards & Broughton Printing Company State Printers and Binders
1915
Call number C370.9 C77n (North Carolina Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
The electronic edition is a part of the UNC-CH
digitization project, Documenting the American South.
The text has been entered using double-keying and verified against the original.
The text has been encoded using the
recommendations for Level 4 of the TEI in Libraries Guidelines.
Original grammar, punctuation, and spelling have been preserved. Encountered
typographical errors have been preserved, and appear in red type.
All footnotes are inserted at the point of reference within paragraphs.
Any hyphens occurring in line breaks have been
removed, and the trailing part of a word has been joined to
the preceding line.
All quotation marks, em dashes and ampersand have been transcribed as
entity references.
All double right and left quotation marks are encoded as " and "
respectively.
All single right and left quotation marks are encoded as ' and ' respectively.
All em dashes are encoded as --
Indentation in lines has not been preserved.
Running titles have not been preserved.
Spell-check and verification made against printed text using Author/Editor (SoftQuad) and Microsoft Word spell check programs.
Library of Congress Subject Headings, 24th edition, 2001
Languages Used:
- English
- French
- Latin
- Greek
LC Subject Headings:
Revision History:
- 2001-,
Celine Noel and Wanda Gunther
revised TEIHeader and created catalog record for the electronic edition.
-
2001-10-30,
Jill Kuhn Sexton
finished TEI-conformant encoding and final proofing.
-
2001-06-22,
Melissa G. Meeks
finished TEI/SGML encoding
- 2001-06-17,
Apex Data Services, Inc.
finished transcribing the text.
[Spine Image]
[Title Page Image]
NORTH CAROLINA
SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES
1790-1840
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
BY
CHARLES L. COON
RALEIGH
EDWARDS & BROUGHTON PRINTING COMPANY
STATE PRINTERS AND BINDERS
1915
Page iii
PREFATORY NOTE
The documents brought together in this volume attempt to portray education as it existed in North Carolina during the fifty years immediately succeeding 1790. In two former volumes covering this same period an attempt was made to trace the development of the sentiment which led to the passage of our first public school law in 1839. In many ways this volume supplements the material brought together in the Beginnings of Public Education in North Carolina 1790-1840.
No claim is made that these documents are entirely complete. It has been impossible to get first hand information about many schools of the period. However, these documents are representative and typical.
C. L. C.
Page v
EDUCATION IN NORTH CAROLINA 1790-1840
These documents reveal much that is interesting in our educational history. The influence of the University of the State, the kind of teachers who taught the schools and from whence they came, the equipment of the schools as to buildings and furniture, the salaries of teachers, school entertainments, methods of teaching and courses of study, the attempts to establish Lancaster schools, the current ideas of religious education, the beginnings of the denominational colleges, the military school craze, the first law schools, the general resort to lotteries to raise school funds, and the kinds of books sold in the bookstores of the day and the like are the topics which stand out as worthy of the notice of the student of our educational history. I shall try to show how a number of these topics are set forth in these documents, considering each in chronological order.
Influence of the University--These documents contain many evidences of the educational influence of the University of North Carolina, which was opened for students in 1795. As early as 1801, Andrew Flinn, an A.B. graduate of that college, was principal of Hillsboro Academy. ,1
1 P. 280.
The next year he was principal of the Fayetteville Academy, 2
2 P. 61.
and remained there for several years. In 1803, Bartlett Yancey, an early graduate, was assistant to the principal of Caswell Academy,3
3 P. 19.
where he was supposed to teach the "English Language grammatically." In 1804, Chesley Daniel, another early graduate of the University, was principal of the Raleigh Academy; 4
4 P. 391.
and Wm. C. Love, a University man, was principal of the Springfield Academy in Caswell. 5
5 P. 29.
In 1805, Richard Henderson, another University man, was principal of the Hillsboro Academy, 6
6 P. 281.
and William Bingham, lately "one of the professors in the University," was principal of the Pittsboro Academy. 7
In 1809, John B. Bobbitt was principal of the Westrayville Academy and William Crawford presided over the Warrenton Academy. The Raleigh Star of that time said of Mr. Bobbitt: "No small recommendation of the teacher is that he is a graduate of the University of North Carolina." 8
In 1810, Laurel Hill Academy gave notice that its principal was Murdoch McLean, "a graduate of the University of North Carolina." 9
9 P. 343.
During the same year the Raleigh Register said that Rev. Joseph Caldwell, President of the University, honored the Raleigh Academy with his presence during a part of the examination. 10
In 1815, Laurel Hill Academy gave notice that "students will be prepared for any grade in the University," 11
11 P. 344.
while Tarboro Academy announced that Robert Hall, a graduate of the University, was its principal. 12
12 P. 77.
The same year Williamsboro Academy announced that Andrew
Page vi
Rhea, late a professor in the University, was the principal of that school. 13
In 1816, Franklin Academy advertised that its principal, John B. Bobbitt, was "a graduate of our own University." 14
In 1818, Hyco Academy stated that its principal, John H. Hinton, was educated at the University, and had taught there both in the College and in the preparatory school. 15
15 P. 25.
The same year Union Academy in Halifax County had William E. Webb as principal and said that "those who intend that their children or wards shall complete their education in North Carolina will do well, it is presumed, by availing themselves of this opportunity--the preceptor having been educated at the University and acted for some time therein as a Tutor and Professor." 16
16 P. 178.
During this year, Hyco Academy announced that "this school is strictly preparatory to the University," 17
17 P. 26.
and repeated the announcement in 1820. 18
In 1819, Professor Mitchell of the University was commissioned by the Raleigh Academy to buy its "philosophical apparatus"; 19
19 P. 455.
and Abner W. Clopton, a University graduate, founded the female academy at Milton. 20
In 1820, Thomas G. Stone, a graduate of the University, began to teach at the Hilliardston Academy in Nash County; 21
21 P. 264.
and the next year Williamsboro Academy announced that "the different branches of education as established by the Faculty at the University of this State will be adopted in this Institution." 22
22 P. 125.
In 1824, the same school published that "Students may here be prepared for the Freshman or Sophomore class in the University." 23
23 P. 125.
The next year the principal of this school said that "the department immediately under my own care will henceforth be divided into four classes, preparatory to the University." 24
24 P. 126.
It is worthy of note, too, that in 1820 James F. Martin "a late graduate of the University of North Carolina" was principal of the Madison Academy; 25
25 P. 345.
and that James A. Craig of Chapel Hill Academy, said that "the course of studies in this Academy will be (as usual) so arranged as to render it in every respect preparatory to the University"; 26
26 P. 299.
also that the Louisburg Male Academy claimed that "the plan of education is calculated to prepare young gentlemen for the University." 27
In 1821, Shocco Male Academy announced, among other things, that "young men can be prepared for the University." 28
In 1822, John Rodgers said that the studies in Hillsboro Academy were preparatory to the University. 29
29 P. 283.
From 1822 to 1828, Charles A. Hill conducted Midway Academy in Franklin County as a school preparatory to the University. A typical announcement of his said that the course of classical studies is so arranged as to constitute Midway Academy preparatory to our University. 30
30 P. 107-113.
During this year John Louis Taylor, an alumnus of the University, began his law school at Raleigh. 31
In 1823, Warrenton Academy advertised that its principal was James
Page vii
H. Otey, who was educated at the University of North Carolina. 32
32 P. 585.
The same year the Raleigh Academy gave notice that "the sessions and vacations of the school will be regulated for the present, by those of the University of North Carolina"; 33
33 P. 470.
and a like announcement was made in 1823 for the Episcopal School at Raleigh. 34
34 P. 535.
Wake Forest Academy this year announced that "the classical course prescribed by the University of North Carolina will be followed here." 35
35 P. 532.
Also, during the year 1823, John Rodgers of the Hillsboro Academy had published that "at the late Examination of the Faculty of the University of this State, fifteen young Gentlemen were approved on the studies preparatory to the Freshman Class, and six for the Sophomore." 36
36 P. 284.
Finally, in 1823, the New Bern Academy Plan of Education announced that "the system of studies in the Classical Department shall be similar to that preparatory to admission into the University of N. C. and include the studies of the Freshman and Sophomore Classes of the University, when required." 37
In 1824, the Catawba School in Lincoln County, advertised that its "course of instruction is such as to qualify students for admission into the University of this State." 38
38 P. 225.
Farmwell Grove Academy in Halifax announced that its principal was John Bragg, "a graduate of our University." 39
39 P. 179.
William C. Love, who has already been mentioned as a University man, was now principal of the Springfield Academy. 40
40 P. 29.
Morganton Academy advertised Alexander E. Wilson, a graduate of the University, as its principal; 41
41 P. 17.
and William Hooper announced that his Select Classical School at Fayetteville will prepare students to enter the University of North Carolina.
In 1825, William M. Green, a distinguished graduate of Chapel Hill, began his famous female seminary at Hillsboro. 42
42 P. 300.
John Rodgers, of the Hillsboro Academy, announced that "we decline admitting students who are, at this time, qualified to enter the Freshman Class in the University of North Carolina, as our scheme of studies extends no farther than a thorough preparation of our pupils for admission to this class"; 43
43 P. 286.
and Pittsboro announced that Mr. Lalor's tuition prepares for the University and that John D. Clancy, a University graduate, had succeeded to the principalship of that school. 44
In 1826, John J. Wyche, a University man, took charge of the Farmwell Grove Academy in Halifax. 45
In 1827, Smithfield Academy, then in charge of J. Warnock, a graduate of Glasgow, announced that "the classical course will be adapted to that observed at Chapel Hill." 46
46 P. 195.
The same year the Nashville Academy, then in charge of the Rev. John Armstrong, advertised that "the Trustees are well aware of the inconvenience a young man labors under, who enters College, having pursued a course of studies different from that taught in the University, and they are determined to have an eye to it." 47
47 P. 267.
On January 1, 1827, William J. Bingham took charge of the Hillsboro Academy.
Page viii
He was a graduate of Chapel Hill and was destined to attain great fame as a teacher." 48
In 1828, Absalom K. Barr, a Chapel Hill man, took charge of the Lexington Academy, 49
49 P. 328.
and Thomas G. Stone, mentioned above, was in charge of Mount Welcome Academy in Franklin. 50
50 P. 115.
Charles A. Hill, then at Louisburg, gave notice that his "plan of education accords with that of our University." 51
In 1829, William J. Bingham advertised that his "system of studies is, in general, preparatory to our University"; 52
52 P. 288.
Pleasant Spring, in Wake, said that "the course of studies will be preparatory to the University"; 53
53 P. 560.
and H. R. Hall's Ebenezer Academy in Iredell claimed that "a course of studies is here pursued preparatory to admission into the University of this State." 54
In 1831, James Grant took charge of the Raleigh Academy and printed the testimonials given him by his Chapel Hill teachers. 55
55 P. 497.
Of the examination at the end of his first term the Raleigh Register said: "We were gratified at the performances of the Senior Class, who are about to leave the Academy and enter College--more especially as their destination is our own University." 56
56 P. 500.
About this time Walker Anderson began his female boarding school at Hillsboro, 57
57 P. 312.
which enjoyed considerable success for a number of years. Shortly after the founding of this school William E. Anderson, a graduate of the University assumed its management.
In 1833, the Pittsboro Academy claimed to prepare students to enter any one of the three lower classes of the University. 58
58 P. 41.
During this year Benjamin Sumner took charge of Arcadia Academy in Person and advertised the fact that he was a graduate of the University and printed what his teachers said about him as a student. 59
59 P. 331.
A few years later on he says that the Arcadia "Course of Studies is usually preparatory to admission into the University." 60
60 P. 333.
In 1833, Ponoma Academy near Rowles' Store in Wake advertised with pride that its principal, William B. Strain, had been a tutor at Chapel Hill. 61
61 P. 553.
During this year J. D. Hooper, a distinguished graduate of the University, became connected with the Episcopal school at Raleigh. 62
In 1834, Solomon Lea was made principal of Warrenton Academy. The trustees in a public statement said: "To those unacquainted, it will be sufficient to know that he graduated at Chapel Hill, and is recommended by the Faculty of that celebrated school." 63
63 P. 588.
The Raleigh Academy was now in charge of L. B. Johnson and Thomas B. Haywood. They announced that "the Classics will be pursued to any extent that may be desired. The excellent Prosody of Professor Hooper, and the Fine Scheme of Preparatory Studies prescribed by the Faculty of the University of this State will be constantly kept in view." 64 Joseph H. Saunders, during this year, became chaplain of the Episcopal School
Page ix
at Raleigh. He was a Chapel Hill graduate 65 and a distinguished minister and teacher.
In 1835, William H. Owen took charge of the Leasburg Classical School in Caswell. He was a graduate of the University. 66
In 1836, it was announced that Robert G. Allison had become principal of Raleigh Academy. It was also said that "he is a graduate of our University." 67
In 1837, the principal of the Northampton Academy said that "with boys who design to enter College, the Preparatory Course of Studies and the Standard authors adopted by the Faculty of our own excellent University at Chapel Hill, will be, henceforth, invariably adhered to." 68
68 P. 276.
And the trustees of Stony Hill Academy in Nash the same year said that "those who intend a course at College will invariably use such authors as are recommended by the Faculty of our University." 69
In 1838, there are numerous evidences of the influence of the University on the schools of the State. The Oxford Academy gave notice that "Classical Students will be prepared to enter the Freshman or Sophomore class, agreeably to the course of studies prescribed by the University of the State." 70
70 P. 147.
Pomona Academy announced that it taught such studies as "prepare young men for entering the University." 71
71 P. 554.
William B. Otis, Raleigh Classical Academy, advertised that its "pupils are prepared to enter the advanced classes of the University of this State." 72
72 P. 570.
Shocco Classical Seminary said that "students for the University will be prepared to enter Freshman or Sophomore class." 73
73 P. 632.
Finally, Manly's Private School, in Raleigh, announced that its principal was a graduate of the University of North Carolina. 74
Physical Equipment of the Schools.--These documents give us only glimpses of the school buildings and their equipment. It is well to remember that the North Carolina of this period was a sparsely settled, agricultural State with no large towns. It is well to remember, too, that blackboards were not much in use anywhere in the world before 1820 and that modern school desks and furniture were unknown everywhere.
The academy at Warrenton as early as 1795 was quite well known in the State. The first building was replaced in 1800 by a structure "forty feet by thirty-five, two stories high." 75
75 P. 577.
I have never been able to find a description of the first house used by this school. In 1805 the Warrenton trustees said that they had "contracted for the building of a steward's house, together with all necessary outhouses." They also said the academy had "a good mathematical and philosophical (physics) apparatus, which most other institutions of the like kind in this State are destitute of." 76
76 P. 578.
In 1820, when Jones and Andrews had charge of the female academy they said they had "an extensive apparatus for Natural Philosophy and chemistry and an excellent Orrery" 77
77 P. 615.
and several pianos. 78
78 P. 616.
In 1826-7, when the female academy was in charge of
Page x
Elijah Brainerd, it was said to have "a Chemical and Philosophical Apparatus and a choice Cabinet of Minerals, selected by Professors Silliman, Smith, and Dr. Manson, of Yale College." 79
The Raleigh newspapers of this period give us a fairly good idea of what the school buildings of the Raleigh Academy were like. The first building, erected in 1802, was to be two stories high, pillared on brick or stone, forty feet long, twenty-four feet wide, with twelve feet pitch below and ten feet above, and a brick chimney at either end. There were to be two doors and eight windows of 18 panes each in the first story and ten windows of 18 panes each in the second story. The window panes were ten by twelve inches in the lower story and eight by ten inches in the upper story. there were to be two rooms twelve feet square cut off from one end of the upper story. The house was to be painted inside and out. 80
80 P. 388.
In the fall of 1807 it was announced that "on the first day of January next, the new building for the Female Department will be finished." 81
81 P. 404.
In 1808, it was said that "the Students of the Raleigh Academy, who are members of the Polemic Society have determined to establish among themselves a Circulating Library." 82
82 P. 407.
In 1810, the trustees of the Academy erected a home for their principal. This building was twenty-two by twenty-four feet, two stories high, and had a piazza. 83
83 P. 419.
In 1811, the trustees bought a second hand safe from the U. S. Internal Revenue Collector. 84
84 P. 424.
In 1813, the trustees "deemed it expedient from the great increase of students to erect a separate House for the Preparatory School." 85
85 P. 438.
In 1815, the Polemic Society Library and the Raleigh Subscription Library were united. 86
86 P. 444.
In 1815, the authorities of the Academy bought 90 shares of stock in the Bank of New Bern and several shares in the State Bank. 87
87 PP. 445-449.
An account of the school closing for 1815 said that "the experiments made by the Students in Chemistry did honor to Miss Nye." Evidently the Academy then had some kind of chemical apparatus. In 1817, the trustees insured two school buildings for $1,000 each, a one-story building used by the female department for $250, and a one-story building used by the preparatory (elementary) school for $500. 88
88 P. 451.
In 1819, the trustees spent $500 for a philosophical apparatus, to be selected by Prof. Mitchell, of Chapel Hill. 89
89 P. 455.
An advertisement of 1823 refers to the fact that the Academy has a number of ancient maps. In 1835, a visitor to the academy, then conducted by Johnson and Haywood, spoke of small children using the blackboard in solving problems in arithmetic. 90
In 1806, the Caswell Academy announced that it was "provided with an excellent pair of globes, a set of fine Maps, and some geometrical apparatus." 91
91 P. 20.
In 1807, John Henry Gault, a traveling teacher and braggart, claimed to have a pair of "New British Globes" for the use of his school. 92
92 P. 514.
The Salisbury Academy trustees, in 1807, said they had "procured for the accommodations of the students in a retired part of the town, a large and convenient pile of buildings, containing twelve
Page xi
rooms, of which nine are furnished with fire places." 93
93 P. 346.
In 1808, the Louisburg Male Academy was said to be "a pleasant building on the hill about one-fourth mile from the Village." 94
94 P. 89.
In 1810, the pupils of this academy gave a play "for the benefit of the Library lately established in that Institution." 95
The trustees in letting out the contract for the academy building at Smithfield in 1812 said that it was to be "22 feet by 40 feet two stories high, with such conveniences as is necessary for an academy." 96
96 P. 192.
The same year the trustees of Hyco Academy speak of the wood work of their "elegant brick building." 97
97 P. 25.
And the trustees of the Oxford Academy in 1812 refer with pride to "an elegant two-story Building, 50 feet long and 32 wide." 98
98 P. 132.
Tarboro erected a school building in 1813 which the trustees said was to be sixty feet by twenty-four feet and two stories high. 99
99 P. 77.
In 1814 the building of the Louisburg Female Academy was erected. The trustees specified that it was to be 30 feet by 20 feet and two stories high, with two chimneys, and painted outside. 100
100 P. 94.
In 1815, it was advertised that the Jamestown Female Seminary "School Room is furnished with a pair of Carey's Globes, a complete set of large Maps and one of the United States six feet square." 101
101 P. 170.
In 1818, the trustees of the Salisbury Academy say that "besides the large and elegant building on Academy Square, provided for the Males, a very convenient house has been prepared for the Young Ladies." 102
102 P. 349.
In 1820, the two academy buildings were described as being "about 40 or 50 feet long and two stories high," situated upon handsome sites and surrounded with pleasant groves of native growth." 103
The trustees of the Hillsboro Academy, in 1821, advertised that their new house was to be of brick and "large enough to contain about 150 students." 104
104 P. 283.
The same year Mrs. Robert L. Edmonds claimed that her school room at Wadesboro was "furnished with Maps and Globes equal to any in the United States" 105
105 P. 10.
which reminds us that the modern habit of boasting about our schools is not really modern in origin after all.
In 1822 Jones and Andrews conducted the Oxford Female Seminary. In one of their advertisements they declare that they "possess a better philosophical apparatus than most of our colleges." They also said they had "three excellent Piano Fortes" and that "the models for Drawing and Painting are numerous and good." 106
In 1824 a committee of the trustees of the Charlotte Male and Female Academies gave notice that they intended to erect two academy buildings. These buildings were to be "fifty feet long by thirty feet wide, two stories high, on a stone foundation." 107
107 P. 231.
There were to be two partition walls in each building. In 1824, the trustees of Lincolnton Female Academy "Resolved unanimously that the building be brick." This school was 40 feet long and 25 feet wide, two stories high, the pitch below being eleven feet and the pitch above ten feet. 108
Page xii
sills were made of good soapstone and cost sixty-two and a half cents a foot. 109
109 P. 203.
In 1825 the trustees authorized John Zimmerman "to contract for writing tables and seats for the Academy and to have three other tables made, one three feet square, and the other six feet long and four feet wide." 110
110 P. 205.
In 1827, a committee of the trustees was appointed "to purchase a sufficient quantity of calico to make a curtain in the Academy for the exhibition at the ensuing examination." 111
111 P. 211.
In 1828, Daniel Shuford was paid "for erecting a stage in the Female Academy." 112
112 P. 214.
In 1836, a resolution of the board authorized "Mr. Johnson to procure for the Academy a pair of good globes when he visited the north." 113
Possibly the best equipped school building in the State prior to 1840 was the Fayetteville Academy building. In 1825 the trustees published the following description of it: "The main building and wing are three stories high, with a double Portico in front, and is surmounted with a beautiful Belfry--the length and breadth of the main building is about 65 by 45 feet, divided into large apartments, separated by large halls or passages through the center. They are sufficiently capacious to accommodate a school of 200 scholars and a family, and the lot is supplied from a Hydrant in the front yard with good and wholesome water." 114
In 1826 the Salem Boys' School had sufficient buildings to accommodate five teachers. 115
115 P. 82.
During this year the Oxford Female Seminary said that "we have received a chemical and Philosophical Apparatus; and now each recitation in Chemistry, Philosophy and Astronomy is accompanied with a Lecture and Experiments illustrating the principles of the sciences." 116
In 1827, the Hillsboro Female Seminary prided itself on the "possession of an excellent Philosophical and Chemical Apparatus and Mineralogical Cabinet." 117
117 P. 302.
A little later it was said that "a neat and well selected apparatus, together with a handsome cabinet of minerals facilitate the task of instruction in the several studies of chemistry, Natural Philosophy and Mineralogy." 118
In 1830, the Southern Female Classical Seminary said that Mrs. Hollister "will bring with her on her return from Philadelphia an additional Piano, so that the pupils in Music will have the use of two good Pianos." 119
In 1831, Berkley's Literary and Scientific Institution announced that it had "A small but well selected Cabinet of minerals," that it had "collections of flowers from the fields and gardens," that it also had "well executed engravings" on animal physiology and that the school was equipped with some apparatus for teaching chemistry. 120
For some years prior to 1833, unsuccessful attempts were made to establish an Episcopal school in North Carolina. In 1833, those who favored such a school met with enough success to secure funds to the amount of $5,000. 121
121 P. 536.
As a result, one stone building was erected on
Page xiii
the present site of St. Mary's school. In 1834, the trustees asked for proposals for the erection of another building "of the same dimensions and of similar materials to that they have recently caused to be built, viz., 56 by 36 feet, two stories high--walls of rough granite, and roof covered with tin." 122
122 P. 540.
These two buildings are still standing and form a part of the present equipment of St. Mary's School.
In 1835, the trustees of Leasburg Classical School described their school house as being built "of brick and situated in a beautiful grove of oaks." 123
123 P. 33.
At this time Jesse Rankin was principal of the Oxford Female Seminary. It was advertised that this school was "furnished with Globes, Maps, Pianos, a collection of Geological Specimens, and a Chemical Apparatus." 124
In 1837, the Northampton Academy had "an entirely new Mathematical and Philosophical Apparatus." 125
125 P. 277.
The Stony Hill Academy in Nash at this time advertised that "a small tax of 50 cents for privileges of the Students' Library" would be collected from all pupils of that school. 126
In 1838, the principal of Hemdon Academy in Franklin said that he had "a pair of globes for the use of Students in Geography, and apparatus to teach surveying practically." 127
127 P. 119.
The next year a visitor who attended the school closing of Asheboro Academy wrote that the house was "large enough to accommodate 60 Scholars, built and completely furnished off, with 12 large glass windows; and furnished too with necessary seats, tables, and a fine Piano." 128
128 P. 339.
This school had a woman teacher and the only fault the visitor found with her work was that she did not use the blackboard in teaching arithmetic. 129
129 P. 340.
Here was a village of less than 150 inhabitants, which had a school house large enough to accommodate 60 pupils, furnished with tables, chairs, black-boards, and a piano. There are many North Carolina school rooms in these modern times which would not compare favorably with that Asheboro school room of 75 years ago. And it may be added that the teacher of that school was trained at Mrs. Willard's Seminary, Troy, New York, then the best woman's school in the United States.
Qualifications of Teachers.--These documents, as I have already pointed out above in setting forth the influence of the University, show the educational qualifications of many of the teachers of this period of our history. In 1790, a number of Presbyterian preachers who were Princeton graduates were teaching school in this State. What is known of the work of these preachers and their schools before 1790 has often been written about, notably by Foote in the earlier days and later by Smith in his History of Education in North Carolina and by Weeks in his Beginnings of the Common School System in the South. Dr. Kemp P. Battle also has written of these early schools for the 1896-8 Report of the State Superintendent. There is little in the records gathered in this
Page xiv
volume which tells anything about the schools or their teachers from 1790 to 1800.
In 1793, these documents show that Thomas Pitt Irving was principal of the New Bern school. It is well known that he was a Princeton graduate of 1789 and that he taught at New Bern from 1790 to 1812. In 1794, Rev. Robert Tate was principal of the Wayne Academy. 130
130 P. 634.
He was a Presbyterian preacher and a college graduate. In 1794, Rev. David Kerr was principal of the Fayetteville Academy. 131
131 P. 60.
He was a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, and became head professor at Chapel Hill, when that school was opened in 1796. In 1801, Rev. John Robinson, another teacher and Presbyterian minister and college graduate, was principal of the Fayetteville Academy. 132
132 P. 60.
In 1802, Rev. Andrew Flinn, a North Carolina University graduate, succeeded Robinson at Fayetteville. 133
133 P. 62.
In 1809, Flinn was succeeded by Rev. Wm. L. Turner, another Presbyterian minister and college graduate, who was assisted by Miss Beze "from New York." 134
134 PP. 65-66.
In 1814, Rev. J. A. Turner, another Presbyterian minister, was the principal of this school. In 1802, the French language was taught in the Fayetteville Academy by "Mr. Memoral, a French Gentleman of talents," 135
135 P. 68.
and in 1823 by M. Laising, a native of France. 136
136 P. 70.
In 1838, the Fayetteville Female Academy was in charge of Miss S. Bostock, an "English Lady." 137
When the Raleigh Academy was established in 1800, German Guthrie, a teacher of note and experience, was made principal. 138
138 P. 388.
In 1804, he was succeeded by Rev. Marin Detargny, "late of Princeton College." 139
139 P. 390.
He in turn was succeeded the same year by Chesley Daniel, a graduate of the University of North Carolina. 140
140 P. 391.
In 1806, Mr. Daniel left the school and Rev. W. L. Turner, "late Professor of Languages in Washington Academy," at Lexington, Virginia, took the principalship 141
141 P. 396.
held temporarily by Aaron F. McGready. 142
142 P. 394.
Beginning in 1808, T. Sambourne and his wife, who came from Philadelphia, taught music, drawing and painting for a time in the Raleigh Academy. They had been educated in England. 143
143 P. 409.
In 1809, Mr. Turner went to the Fayetteville Academy and he was succeeded at Raleigh by Benjamin Rice, a graduate of Hampden Sydney College, Virginia. 144
144 P. 418.
In 1810, Rev. William McPheeters, of Virginia, took charge of the school and remained in the principalship for nearly 20 years. He was a Presbyterian minister, a college graduate, and a teacher of considerable ability. 145
145 PP. 419, 482.
Under his direction the Raleigh Academy enjoyed its greatest prosperity. At various times he had as his assistants such teachers as Josiah Crudup, 146
146 P. 428.
Rev. Benjamin Rice, 147
147 P. 430.
W. P. Mangum, 148
148 P. 432.
Miss Bosworth "from the State of New York," 149
149 P. 437.
Mr. Edmundson from Washington College, 150
150 P. 437.
Miss Nye "from the State of New York," 151
151 P. 444.
Stephen Frontis, "a native of France," 152
152 P. 452.
Rev. George W. Freeman, 153
Page xv
Wilson, 154
154 P. 458.
and Milton Barlow, "a graduate of one of the Northern Colleges from Connecticut." 155
In 1827, Rev. J. O. Freeman, another Presbyterian preacher and a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, succeeded McPheeters. 156
156 P. 485.
Freeman remained at the head of the school for nearly three years and was succeeded by Peter Le Messurier, 157
157 P. 496.
who had considerable reputation as a classical scholar and teacher. In 1831, James Grant who had recently graduated at the University was made principal. In 1834, Dr. McPheeters tried to revive the school and in a short time was succeeded by L. B. Johnson and Thomas B. Haywood. 158
158 PP. 491-503.
Haywood was a Chapel Hill graduate.
In 1835, Mrs. Hutchison (formerly Miss Nye) announced that she had recently "visited one of the most respectable Female Seminaries in the North, where she made herself familiar with the most popular methods of conducting such Institutes" as the Raleigh Female Academy. 159
159 P. 507.
In 1836, the Raleigh Male Academy was said to be in charge of Robert G. Allison, a graduate of the University. 160
160 P. 510.
W. G. Catlin was the last principal before 1840. 161
161 P. 511.
These documents tell us nothing about his qualifications as a teacher.
During this period the Pittsboro Academy was one of the leading schools in the State. In 1800, these records show that it was in charge of William Bingham. 162
162 P. 35.
Mr. Bingham was a graduate of the University of Glasgow. In 1801, its principal for a short time was a Mr. Poe, 163
163 P. 36.
who was succeeded by David Caldwell, Jr., and German Guthrie. Caldwell was the son of David Caldwell, the famous Guilford County teacher. In 1805, William Bingham returned to Pittsboro 164
164 P. 37.
and continued the school until 1812. In 1820, Jacob Gillett "from New York" became principal. 165 Three years later Rev.
165 P. 38.
Nathaniel H. Harris took the school. 166
166 P. 39.
In 1825 a Mr. Lalor taught there for a year, 167
167 P. 39.
followed by John D. Clancy, a graduate of the University. From 1831 to 1834, the school was conducted by Peter Le Messurier. 168
168 P. 40.
In 1838, J. M. Lovejoy, "a graduate and a first rate mathematician and linguist" took charge of the school. Lovejoy was said to be a native of Vermont. 169
Another one of the schools of this period which had more than local repute was the Hillsboro Academy. In 1801, Andrew Flinn, a graduate of the University was its principal. 170
170 P. 280.
In 1803, the principal was Thomas Barron, "from the University of Cambridge in Massachusetts." 171
171 P. 281.
In 1805, Richard Henderson, "late Professor in the University of North Carolina" 172
172 P. 281.
was principal. In 1812, William Bingham, who had taught at Pittsboro for a number of years, became principal of the academy. 173
173 P. 281.
He remained here for three years and then removed his school to Mt. Repose in Orange County. He was succeeded in 1815 by a Mr. Graham. 174
174 P. 282.
In 1818 John Witherspoon, a Presbyterian preacher and teacher, became principal. 175
175 P. 282.
He was succeeded, in
Page xvi
1822, by Rev. John Rodgers, another preacher and teacher. Rodgers remained at the head of the school, until January 1, 1827. 176
176 P. 286.
Both Witherspoon and Rodgers had considerable reputation as excellent teachers. When Mr. Rodgers left this school, he was succeeded by William J. Bingham, a son of William Bingham. The younger Bingham was a graduate of the University and remained the principal of the school until 1840, the last year covered by these documents. 177
177 PP. 286-293.
William J. Bingham's assistant teachers during these years were Edward Smith, J. C. Norwood, John A. Bingham, W. C. Sutton, John McAlister, A. H. Ray, and S. W. Hughes, all of them said to be well qualified teachers and college graduates.
It has been impossible to find any records which contain much more than tradition about many of these early schools and their teachers. The Warrenton school is no exception. In 1795, the principal of this school was said to be Marcus George, a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin. It is certain he was the principal in 1802, 178
178 P. 577.
and in 1807 179
179 P. 580.
and that he remained principal until 1810, when he was succeeded by William Crawford. 180
180 P. 580.
Crawford was evidently a man of some note as a teacher. In 1811, he was appointed to a position in the Federal government, 181
181 P. 580.
and was succeeded in 1812 by a Mr. Halbert. 182
182 P. 581.
Two years later the school was in charge of Mr. Morgan, "a graduate of Yale College." 183
183 P. 582.
For two years, 1818 to 1820, Charles A. Hill conducted the Academy, assisted by Rev. Ezekiel C. Whitman and James Kerr. 184
184 PP. 583-584.
Hill was a graduate of the University of North Carolina, a Methodist preacher and a good teacher. He also found time enough at a later date while living and teaching in Franklin County to be elected to the State Senate, where he was the author of the law which created the Literary Fund of 1825. He was also the leader of the opposition to lotteries in the Senate of 1826 and was no small factor in creating enough sentiment to do away with those gambling devices in aid of schools and churches. (See Coon's Beginnings of Public Education, pp. 281 and 230.) When Hill left the Academy, he taught a private school in Warrenton for a year and then moved to Franklin County. He was succeeded in the Academy by George W. Freeman. 185
185 PP. 584-585.
Mr. Freeman afterwards taught in the Academy at Raleigh and in the Episcopal school. Later on in his career he became Episcopal bishop of Arkansas. In 1823, James H. Otey, a graduate of the University, served the academy two years as principal. 186
186 P. 585.
He then entered the Episcopal ministry and finally became bishop of Tennessee. After Mr. Otey, George P. Williams, "of Vermont," became principal for a year, 187
187 P. 586.
followed by M. D. Donnellan, in 1826. 188
188 P. 587.
In 1832, the principal was Thomas J. Vaiden. He said with hardly becoming modesty that any of the Latin and Greek books read by senior students of the University of this State and of Virginia might be read under his tuition. 189
Page xvii
Vaiden was succeeded by Solomon Lea, a recent graduate of the University. 190
Wherever the early Presbyterian ministers went they usually taught school as well as preached the gospel. In 1803, Rev. John Brown, assisted by David Dunlap, began an academic school at Wadesboro. 191
191 P. 2.
Brown had a long and successful career as a Presbyterian minister and teacher. In 1819, Rev. Robert L. Edmonds who always put the A.M. to his name was principal of the Wadesboro Academy. 192
192 P. 3.
Timothy Mason was his assistant. In 1821, Mrs. Edmonds began a female boarding school, assisted by Miss Haskins "from New York." Mrs. Edmonds claimed that she had had eight years experience as a teacher. 193
During this period Caswell County usually had a good classical school within its borders. The first one mentioned in these documents is the Caswell Academy of 1803. Rev. Hugh Shaw, a Presbyterian minister, was its principal and Bartlett Yancey, a young Chapel Hill graduate, was the assistant. 194
194 P. 19.
Yancey soon quit teaching and entered upon the practice of law, much after the fashion still followed by many who use teaching as a stepping stone to some other profession. It has so often been asserted by North Carolina writers that Yancey was the author of the Literary Fund Law of 1825, that I hesitate to utter a dissenting opinion. But the credit for the authorship of that law belongs to Charles A. Hill of Franklin, as I have said above.
After two years Mr. Shaw left the Caswell Academy and went to teach in the Hyco Academy, another Caswell County school. From 1805 to 1807, Sanders Donoho and James Bowles conducted the Caswell Academy with indifferent success. In 1807, John W. Caldwell, a son of the Guilford David Caldwell, took charge. He was advertised as "a profound linguist and a good teacher." 195
195 P. 20.
James Kerr was his assistant in 1810. 196
During the period covered by these documents Franklin County usually had a good school. In 1805, Matthew Dickinson, a Yale graduate, became principal of the Franklin Academy at Louisburg. For four years Dickinson conducted the school with much success. At one time these documents say that 20 young men left the University on account of the monitorial system then in vogue there and entered Dickinson's School. The fact that he advertised to teach almost all the high school and college subjects of the day is likely accounted for by this incident. I have found no evidence to substantiate the traditional statement that Dickinson aspired to have his school supersede the University. In 1807, Dickinson's assistant (Dickinson called him an usher) was Davis H. Mayhew, a Williams College graduate. On January 1, 1809, Dickinson began to practice law and was succeeded by Mayhew. 197
197 PP. 84-91.
In 1810, James Bogle became principal for two years. 198
198 P. 91.
The Raleigh Star said that Bogle was "a man of genius and an excellent Classical Scholar." 199
199 P. 92.
His assistant was Josiah Crudup, a future Baptist preacher and politician.
Page xviii
In 1812, Davis H. Mayhew again became principal, assisted by William Hillman, 200
200 P. 93.
probably a Harvard graduate. In 1816, John B. Bobbitt, a Chapel Hill man, became principal. 201
201 P. 95.
About this time Miss Harriet Partridge, "a lady from Massachusetts," assumed charge of the female academy. 202
202 P. 95.
In 1821, Fitch Wheeler, a Yale graduate, was principal of the male and Miss Ann Benedict, who had taught in Connecticut and New York City, was principal of the female academy. 203
203 P. 99.
For a short while in 1823, George Perry was principal of the male academy. 204
204 P. 99.
He was succeeded the same year by Addison H. White, another Yale graduate. 205
205 P. 100.
In 1824, Miss Mary Ramsey, "of New York," was principal of the female academy. 206
206 P. 100.
In 1825, Elijah Brewer, a graduate of Yale in 1824, became principal of the male school. 207
207 P. 101.
In 1828, Charles A. Hill, a graduate of the University and a former teacher at Warrenton and at Midway in Franklin, became principal of the male academy. 208
208 P. 102.
From 1831 to 1837, the male and female academies were in charge of John B. Bobbitt and Mrs. Bobbitt. Mr. Bobbitt was an experienced teacher and a scholar of considerable attainments. He was a graduate of the University. 209
Williamsboro, at this time in Granville County, was a neighborhood of cultured people. Its academy, in 1805, had John Hicks as its principal. 210
210 P. 121.
He taught school for a number of years and moved to Macon County. There seems to be no record of his education. He claimed to teach the usual subjects taught as preparation for college. In 1809, this school was in charge of James K. Burch and Benjamin Rice, of Hampden Sydney College. 211
211 P. 121.
From 1811 to 1815, Joel Strong, L. Holbrooks, and William Hillman who had taught at Louisburg, were principals. 212
212 PP. 122-123.
In 1815, Andrew Rhea, a college graduate and lately a professor at Chapel Hill, was principal. 213
213 PP. 123-124.
From 1822 to 1829 Alexander Wilson, "late of Belfast Ireland," was principal. 214
214 PP. 124-127.
Wilson later became a Presbyterian preacher and was made doctor of divinity by the University in 1839.
In 1805 Hyco (Hico) Academy in Caswell advertised Rev. Hugh Shaw, who had formerly taught at the Caswell Academy, as its principal and Rev. Thomas Cottrell, a Methodist preacher and a doctor of medicine, as his assistant. 215
215 P. 22.
In 1812, Abel Graham was principal and in 1814 L. Holbrooks. 216
216 PP. 24-25.
In 1818, John H. Hinton, who was educated at Chapel Hill and had taught in the preparatory school there, was principal. 217
217 P. 25.
In 1820, Mablon Kenyon, an A.M. "graduate of one of the Northern Colleges," became principal. 218
218 P. 26.
In 1822, Dabney Rainey was his assistant. 219
219 P. 27.
In 1834, Hyco announced that its principal was "a man who has enjoyed the advantages of a regular collegiate education." 220
From 1805 to 1837, there was a school of some pretensions in Wilkes. In 1805, this school was in charge of a Mr. Harrison, of South Carolina, evidently a college graduate. In 1810, Rev. Peter McMillan, a
Page xix
Presbyterian preacher and college graduate, was its principal. In 1828, another Presbyterian preacher was in charge, Rev. A. W. Gay. Finally the school was conducted, beginning in 1837, by Mr. and Mrs. Hall. 221
These documents contain very little about the schools of Edenton. They do tell us, however, that Rev. J. O. Freeman was teaching there in 1805, assisted by Messrs. Nye and Hilliard, who were recommended by "a number of respectable characters in the towns of Cambridge and Falmouth, in Massachusetts." 222
222 PP. 326-327.
Likely they were Harvard graduates.
As early as 1806, Guilford Academy was advertised with John W. Caldwell as principal. 223
223 P. 168.
In 1818, the school was conducted by Nathaniel H. Harris and James Kerr. 224
224 P. 168.
In 1819, Rev. William Paisley, a Presbyterian minister, became principal, assisted by his daughter and Iveson L. Brooks. 225
225 P. 168.
In 1821, Mr. Paisley was still principal, assisted by John W. Caldwell, Jonathan Worth and Miss Paisley. 226
226 PP. 169-170.
In 1828, the school was in charge of John D. Clancy, a graduate of the University. 227
227 P. 170.
The Jonathan Worth mentioned as a teacher in this school was the same Jonathan Worth who was afterwards governor of the State.
When Liberty Hall Academy which was chartered in 1778 was abandoned in 1780, it was removed to Salisbury. There is no authentic record of the Salisbury School prior to 1807. During that year, the trustees announced that they had secured Rev. John Brown, "some years at Wadesboro," to act as their principal teacher. 228
228 P. 346.
In 1818, the academy was in charge of Robert L. Edmonds, who was "educated in the University of Glasgow" and at Trinity College, Dublin. Mr. Edmonds was assisted by Miss Eliza Slater and Miss Mitchell, "two young ladies who have been procured from New York." Later on Miss Mary Ann Slater, a sister of Miss Eliza Slater, was also a teacher in the academy. 229
229 PP. 349-351.
Just as it often happens now, the women teachers of that day abandoned their school room duties and got married. The middle name of one of our present U. S. senators, whose home is at Salisbury, is Slater--Lee Slater Overman is his full name.
In 1821, Rev. Jonathan O. Freeman became principal of the Salisbury Academy. He was here when called to Raleigh to succeed Dr. McPheeters in 1827. In 1838, the Salisbury Female Academy was in charge of Mrs. Hutchison, formerly Miss Nye, who once taught at Raleigh. She was assisted by Miss Sarah Louise Nye of New York, a niece, by Miss Emma J. Baker and by Rev. Stephen Frontis, the "native of France" who formerly taught at Raleigh. 230
A number of other teachers are named in these records before 1810. Some of them, like Jacob Nelson 231
231 P. 343.
at Mt. Clio Academy and A. M. Rogers 232
232 P. 167.
at Greene Academy in 1807, are mentioned only once and nothing is known as to their antecedents. The Raleigh Star said that Jacob Mordecai, who conducted a female seminary at Warrenton from 1808 to 1815, was a man of education and taste. 233
233 P. 595.
In 1808, Rev. William
Page xx
Paisley was teaching at Hawfield Academy, in Orange County. 234
234 P. 295.
He was evidently a man of considerable ability as a teacher and also a man of collegiate training. In 1814, this school was in charge of John H. Pickard, 235
235 P. 296.
who taught the usual studies preparatory to college. In 1809, Pickard was the principal of the Sims Latin School and was said to be a graduate of the University of North Carolina. 236
Shortly after 1800, the Westrayville Academy was established. From 1809 to 1811, this school was in charge of John B. Bobbitt, a young graduate of the University, who was later to become one of the best known teachers in the State. 237
237 PP. 263-264.
In 1809, Rev. Joseph D. Kilpatrick, a Presbyterian preacher of Rowan, had charge of a school in that county which he called Kilpatrick's School. 238
238 P. 382.
Another Presbyterian preacher and teacher, Rev. George Newton, was principal of Union Hill Academy near Asheville in 1809, 239
239 P. 14.
while Rev. John Robinson was teaching at Poplar Tent in Cabarrus 240
240 P. 329.
and Rev. John M. Wilson at Rocky River. 241
In 1810, the Rev. James Thompson, of Virginia, was principal of the Washington Academy in Beaufort County. 242
242 P. 330
He was a Presbyterian preacher and a college graduate. The same year Murdoch McLean, a recent graduate of the University, began to teach at Laurel Hill in Robeson County. 243
243 P. 343.
About this time the Raleigh Register contained a notice of the death of Rev. Joseph Alexander, who had graduated at Princeton in 1760 and whom it calls one of the fathers of learning in the "Western Woods of Carolina." 244
During 1811, J. O. Freeman who was later on principal of the Salisbury Academy and of the Raleigh Academy, was teaching at Murfreesboro. 245
245 P. 328.
Daniel Adams who was formerly principal of an academy at Stratford, Connecticut, was principal of the Vine Hill Academy, Scotland Neck. 246
246 P. 175.
In 1812, Adams was succeeded by a Mr. Jones, of Connecticut. 247
247 P. 176.
Both Adams and Jones were probably Yale graduates. Rev. M. McMillan, a Presbyterian preacher and teacher, was principal of the Euphronian Academy in Moore County; 248
248 P. 327.
and Elijah Graves was teaching at Pleasant Grove in Granville County, in 1812. 249
249 P. 132.
Both of these teachers had collegiate training.
From 1813 to 1840, these papers give a fairly connected account of the schools and teachers in Granville, especially those located in Oxford. In 1813, Thomas H. Willie, who had been educated by Thomas P. Irving of Princeton in the New Bern Academy, was made principal of the Oxford Academy. 250
250 P. 132.
In 1815, Rev. James Thompson, a Presbyterian preacher and teacher, was principal and Mr. Willie was his assistant. 251
251 P. 133
In 1818, George W. Freeman, who has already been mentioned in connection with the Raleigh Academy, was principal for a year, assisted by Levi H. McLean, Lotan G. Watson, and Miss Bosworth. 252
252 P. 133.
From 1819 to 1822, a Mr. Bugbee and Ransom Hubbill were principals. 253
253 P. 134.
Their assistants were Miss Griswold, Miss Halcomb, Miss Mitchell and
Page xxi
Mr. Paschall. Misses Bosworth, Halcomb, Griswold and Mitchell were all educated "in the north." From 1822 to 1829, James D. Johnson, a Yale graduate, was principal. His assistants were Miss Mitchell, a Mr. Graham, who was a graduate of Washington College in Virginia, Miss Emma Stansbury, "a daughter of Rev. A. Stansbury, late of Albany," and Rev. Joseph Labaree, a Presbyterian minister and teacher. 254
254 PP. 135-146.
In 1829, the Oxford Academy was in charge of Silas C. Lindsly, a graduate of Princeton. He continued principal for some three years 255
255 P. 146.
and was succeeded by James H. Wilkes, in 1832. In 1838, A. Hart and T. Higgins were principals. Mr. Hart was said to be a "gentleman of considerable attainments in classical and scientific knowledge, acquired in England, Italy and France," while Mr. Higgins was described as "a graduate of an European College." 256
256 P. 147.
At the end of the year 1838, David F. Robertson, a native of Scotland and educated in that country, came to teach at Oxford. He had been a teacher in the Academy at Albany, New York. 257
257 PP. 148-149.
The next year Thomas H. Willie returned to Oxford and succeeded Robertson. 258
For two years, 1822-4, Jones and Andrews who had formerly taught at Warrenton, conducted what they called the Oxford Seminary. On leaving Oxford, Mr. Jones became professor in the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, and was later superintendent of the U. S. Patent Office and professor of chemistry in the medical department of Columbian College, Washington, D. C. 259
259 P. 154.
From 1826 to 1830, the Oxford Seminary was in charge of Rev. Joseph Labaree, assisted by Rev. Thomas Skelton and wife of Massachusetts and Miss Hannah Kennedy a teacher who had come South to assist Jones and Andrews. 260
260 PP. 154-157.
During the years 1830-32, Rev. E. Hollister and wife conducted the Seminary. They had Miss E. Humphrey as their assistant. She had taught in the Moravian school at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, before coming to Oxford. 261
261 PP. 157-159.
In 1835, Rev. Jesse Rankin, a Presbyterian preacher and teacher, took charge of the Seminary. 262
262 P. 160.
In 1839, Rankin was succeeded by Anderson G. Hughes and Anne E. Hughes, but these documents say nothing as to their previous professional training or experience. 263
In 1815, Duncan McLaurin, "late of South Carolina," was teaching at Laurel Hill, in Robeson County. he was denominated by the board of trustees as "that eminent teacher." 264
264 P. 344.
The same year William E. Webb, "formerly Progfessor of Languages in the University of this State," was conducting the Union Academy in Halifax; 265
265 PP. 178-179.
and Robert Hall, another University graduate and former teacher at Raleigh, was principal of the Tarboro Academy. 266
In 1818, Austin A. Hersey, "a graduate of Dartmouth University," took charge of the school at Hookerton in Greene County; 267
267 P. 167.
and James A. Craig, a University of North Carolina graduate, began to teach in the Wayne Academy. 268
268 P. 635.
This year Rev. Wm. Bingham began to teach at Mt. Repose in Orange, succeeded there by his son W. J. Bingham in
Page xxii
1826 and by W. P. Forrest in 1829. 269
269 PP. 296-298.
It was in 1819 that Rev. Elijah Graves and his wife announced the beginning of their school at Long Meadows in Orange. Mr. Graves had a long and honorable career as a teacher and Presbyterian preacher. 270
270 P. 298.
The year 1819 also marked the opening of the Milton Female Seminary under the principalship of Abner W. Clopton, assisted by the Misses Thomas, who had been educated in New York. 271
In 1819, John H. Hassam, a traveling teacher of English Grammar, came to Raleigh from New Hampshire and opened his Private Academy. Hassam professed to be able to teach "a correct and practical knowledge of English Grammar and Punctuation in twenty-four lectures of two hours each." Soon after his arrival, he associated himself with George W. Freeman. In three years Hassam had blossomed out as a lawyer and the owner of a farm of 150 acres. The Private Academy seems not to have lasted longer than three years, though all the subjects preparatory to college were taught. 272
From 1818 to 1821, Rev. Thomas Cottrell, the Methodist minister, and his wife conducted the Shocco Female Academy in Halifax. 273
273 P. 604.
After the Cottrells left, this school was conducted for a year by the Rev. Rufus Wiley and his son and daughter. In 1822, Shocco was in charge of Philip Wiley and Mrs. Mary Lucas, widow of the Raleigh lawyer, Alexander Lucas. 274
Beginning in 1819, the Warrenton Female Seminary was managed by Jones and Andrews. They succeeded J. Mordecai. Their school flourished for about three years. 275
275 PP. 612-618
From 1822 to 1824 Achilles Plunkett, J. D. Plunkett, Mrs. Plunkett and their associates conducted the school. 276
276 PP. 618-620.
From 1825 to 1826, E. and C. C. Brainerd, of Massachusetts, were principals. C. C. Brainerd died in 1826 and his place was taken by John Kendrick, of Dartmouth College. In 1829 the school went back into the hands of Mrs. Plunkett who conducted it until 1834, 277
277 PP. 626-627.
when she was succeeded by Mrs. Harriet J. Allen, 278
278 P. 627.
who had been educated in New York State.
Beginning in 1820, Rev. John Mushat conducted the school at Statesville for two years. 279
279 P. 187.
Mushat was a Presbyterian preacher and had the reputation of being an excellent teacher. The same year that Mushat began his Statesville school saw the beginnings of a number of other schools, all in charge of graduates of the State University, viz., Charles A. Hill's private school at Warrenton, 280
280 P. 628.
James F. Martin's academy at Madison, 281
281 P. 345.
James A. Craig's Chapel Hill Academy, 282
282 P. 299.
and Thomas G. Stone's school at Hilliardston in Nash County. 283
283 P. 264
In 1820, the Lawrenceville Male Academy was announced to begin on January 1, 1821, "under the care of a Gentleman from the North, whose name we have not yet learned from our agent." The Female Academy at the same place was under the care of Mrs. Terrell, "late of Connecticut." 284
Page xxiii
Some time before 1820, there were schools for boys and girls at Lincolnton. These records show that by 1820, the academies at that place were organized. From 1820 to 1822, Joseph E. Bell, "late of Union Seminary in Tennessee," 285
285 P. 196.
was principal. Mr. Bell was at that time a Lutheran preacher. he later on entered the Presbyterian ministry. He was a man of considerable scholarship, but he was finally forced to leave the ministry and teaching because of conduct unbecoming his profession. In 1822, Rev. John Mushat became principal of the Lincolnton schools. He was assisted by Nathaniel N. Smith. 286
286 P. 197.
Both were men of good scholarship, being college graduates, as was the successor of Mr. Smith, James J. Watson. 287
287 P. 200.
In 1824, Allen D. Metcalf, "a graduate of Hampden Sydney College" 288
288 P. 200.
became the successor of Mushat. He remained only a year and was succeeded by Nathaniel N. Smith and Samuel P. Simpson. Mr. Simpson soon abandoned teaching and entered upon the practice of medicine. 289
289 P. 200.
From 1826 to 1829, Miss Maria Allen had charge of the girls' school. 290
290 P. 206.
She was educated in New York State and left teaching to get married in 1829 when she was succeeded by her sister, Miss Harriet Allen. 291
291 PP. 216-217.
In 1832, Miss Amelia Thompson, another teacher from the North, succeeded Miss Allen. 292
292 P. 218.
Two years later, 1834, the boys' school was in charge of George W. Morrow, a graduate of the University. 293
293 P. 220.
These records close this period of the history of the Lincolnton schools with the announcement that Miss Abigail Mason, of Pennsylvania, would take charge of the girls' school in 1841. 294
When the Smithfield Academy was begun in February, 1820, the trustees said that it would be in charge of Robert Brevard Poor, who "graduated at Cambridge (Mass.) lastAugust." 295
295 P. 194.
In 1827, this school was conducted by A. W. Gav, who later taught in Wilkesboro, and Miss R. D. Salmon. 296
296 P. 194.
Mr. Gay was a Presbyterian minister and Miss Salmon was a graduate of one of the New York seminaries. In 1828, this academy had for its principal, J. Warnock, "a graduate of Glasgow University." 297
297 P. 195.
Seven years later William Broome was the teacher of this school. 298
298 P. 195.
Nothing is recorded as to his previous education.
From 1820 to 1837, there was a school of some pretensions at Farmwell Grove in Halifax County. 299
299 P. 179.
The first teacher mentioned was Levi H. McLean. In 1824, Thomas Bragg, "a graduate of our University," was the teacher. After two years he was succeeded by John J. Wyche, another University graduate. In 1827, this school was conducted by J. Judge.
In 1821, Rev. John Williamson had a school at Hopewell in Mecklenburg County. 300
300 P. 230.
Mr. Williamson was a Presbyterian preacher and a college bred man. From 1822 to 1828, Charles A. Hill taught at Midway in Franklin County. 301
301 PP. 107-113.
In 1822, Rev. Chauncey Eddy, another Presbyterian minister, began a school at Morganton. He was assisted by Mrs. Eddy and by Miss Parkman. After two years the
Page xxiv
school was in charge of Alexander E. Wilson, "a graduate from the State University." 302
302 PP. 16-17.
Miss Parkman was one of the numerous North Carolina teachers of this period who had been educated in one of the northern schools. The same year that Mr. Eddy began to teach at Morganton the trustees of the Littleton Select School announced that "the Male Department will be conducted by a young gentleman from N. York, who has received his education in Yale College." 303
303 P. 631.
From 1822 to 1824, Rev. Thomas Cottrell, his wife, and his son Benjamin Cottrell began a school at Shady Grove in Warren County. 304
In 1823, George W. Freeman began the Episcopal School at Raleigh. 305
305 P. 535.
For ten years this school met with indifferent success. In 1833, J. D. Hooper became principal. 306
306 P. 536.
During this year buildings were erected and the next year the school was put in charge of Joseph G. Cogswell, Joseph H. Saunders and J. D. Hooper. 307
307 P. 537.
After a year Cogswell left. 308
308 PP. 545-548.
In 1837, Rev. M. A. Curtis became principal for two years. 309
309 P. 547.
Mr. Curtis was succeeded in 1839 by John A. Backhouse and Edwin Geer. 310
310 P. 549.
Hooper and Saunders were graduates of the University. Mr. Cogswell became professor in the University of South Carolina and finally was librarian of the Astor Library in New York City. Mr. Curtis was a man of considerable learning, especially in the realm of natural science. Of the other teachers of this school, I have found out nothing as to their previous education.
Between 1820 and 1830, there are a number of teachers and schools mentioned in these papers for short periods. An example is Hooper's Select Classical School at Fayetteville in 1824, of which William Hooper, "late a professor in the University," was principal. 311
311 P. 72.
In this class belongs the Tarboro Academy of 1824. At that time a Mr. Griswold resigned as principal and was succeeded by Eugene Farnan, "a native of Ireland." 312
312 P. 77.
Other examples are the following: Bertie Union Academy of 1825 under John D. Tate; 313
313 P. 325.
the Charlotte Female Academy of 1825-28 under Rev. Thomas Cottrell, 314
314 PP. 232-240.
and the Charlotte Male Academy of 1826, in charge of the Rev. Allen D. Metcalf, A.B.; 315
315 P. 233.
Rev. John Witherspoon's Boarding School at Hillsboro from 1826 to 1830; 316
316 P. 310.
Walter S. Pharr's Sugar Creek Academy of 1827; 317
317 P. 241.
Rev. P. J. Sparrow's school at Buffalo in Lincoln County during the year 1827; 318
318 P. 226.
Robert Tinnin's Shiloh Academy of 1827, in Granville; 319
319 P. 163.
the Spring Grove Academy of 1827 in Franklin under Mr. Guernsey, "a graduate of a Northern College," and Edward G. Benners; 320
320 P. 114.
the Nashville Academy of 1827 in charge of Rev. John Armstrong, a graduate of Columbian College, Washington, D. C.; 321
321 P. 266.
Rev. R. H. Chapman's Classical School of 1828 at Center Church in Iredell; 322
322 P. 191.
Thomas G. Stone's Mount Welcome Academy of 1828 in Franklin; 323
323 P. 115.
Absalom K. Barr's Lexington Academy of 1828, 324
324 P. 328.
H. R. Hall's Ebenezer Academy of 1829 in Iredell; 325
325 P. 190.
and George W. Morrow's Bethlehem School of 1829 in Orange. 326
Page xxv
Raleigh and Wake County had a number of schools begun before 1830, which had more or less success. In 1823, James Pheelan at Wake Forest Academy was preparing students for the University, 327
327 P. 532.
and J. E. Lumsden in his private school at Raleigh also advertised that he would prepare pupils to enter the same college. 328
328 P. 534.
Mr. Lumsden and his wife continued to teach the remaining seventeen years covered by these documents. When the Raleigh Academy, in 1827, had lost some of its former vigor and popularity, Timothy E. Dwight, a graduate of Yale, opened in Raleigh what he called Dwight's Select School. 329
329 P. 554.
But the career of this school was short-lived. Even Dr. William McPheeters' attempt to establish in Raleigh a Female Boarding School in 1827 seems to have finally met with failure after six years of experiment. 330
330 PP. 555-556.
One of the assistants in this school was Miss M. C. Street, "an experienced Preceptress from the North." 331
331 P. 556.
In 1829, James Logan advertised that he prepared boys for the University at Pleasant Spring Academy in Wake County. 332
332 P. 560.
At the same time J. H. Wilkes was principal at Pomona Academy, also in Wake. 333
333 P. 552.
This school was later taught by William B. Strain, 334
334 P. 553.
already referred to as a University graduate, and by the same Mr. Higgins who formerly taught in the Oxford Academy. 335
335 P. 554.
Beginning in 1829 the Wake Forest Pleasant Grove Academy in Wake County seems to have had a continuous existence. 336
336 PP. 557-559.
This school was first in charge of Daniel W. Kerr and his wife. Dr. Battle says Kerr was a good teacher. The other teachers here were Edward T. Fowlkes, who taught English grammar in seven weeks, Miss Eliza W. Bobbitt, and Miss Martha R. Richardson, "a young lady from the North."
There seems to have been a good school in Pitt County as early as 1800. The first record of the school in these documents in dated 1828, when George Stokes, a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, was the principal. 337
337 P. 334.
He was succeeded by William A. Walker in 1831, who taught the usual subjects preparatory to college. In 1835, Mrs. Saffery was principal of the Greenville Female Seminary. She advertised that she followed the system of Mrs. Willard in her school at Troy, New York; and that she had resided nine years in Paris and vicinity. 338
Possibly one of the best girls' schools of this period was the school conducted by William M. Green and his assistants at Hillsboro from 1825 to 1840. 339 Mr. Green was a graduate of the University and after 1838 a professor in that institution. In later years he became the Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Mississippi. His principal assistants were Miss Lavinia Brainerd and Miss Maria L. Spear. Both were educated in the best schools for women in the North. In 1839, Miss Spear said she followed the methods of the Common School Union.
It would be an incomplete picture of the schools of this period to imagine that they all taught Latin, Greek and the other college preparatory studies. As early as 1802, A. Wills began "a cheap English
Page xxvi
school" in Raleigh. The term was three months at twenty shillings a quarter. He said he would wait until fall for his pay and would take produce for tuition. 340
340 P. 512.
In 1809, Wills said he would accept brandy in payment of board at $50 a year and tuition at 10 a year. 341
341 P. 512.
Later on he said he would take pay in old corn, tallow, and other produce; and that he wanted to hire a young man to keep a bar. 342
342 P. 513.
In 1807 John H. Gault taught an English school in Wake County. Gault said he declined to teach Latin and Greek. He claimed to lay great stress on reading, speaking, accent, cadence and spelling. He indulged in much high sounding talk about the progress of his pupils. 343
These papers give us only a glimpse of the school of the negro John Chavis, who taught in Raleigh in 1808. Chavis was said to be a man of some education and a Presbyterian preacher. His Raleigh school was evidently a primary or an elementary school of small pretensions. At first he taught "children of colour" along with white children. But this plan evidently gave offense to some. So Chavis announced that he would "open an Evening School for the purpose of instructing Children of Colour, as he intends, for the accommodation of some of his employers, to exclude Children of Colour from his Day School." 344
In 1809, the Raleigh Register, speaking of the death of William Holland, said that Holland was a native of England, that he was an English school teacher of good qualifications, of correct manners, and that he wrote a beautiful hand. 345
345 P. 515.
In 1814, the same paper contained a death notice of Norman Campbell, "a respectable old schoolmaster who had taught for a number of years with general satisfaction, in different parts of the county." 346
In 1813, B. Nichols advertised that he would teach writing in fifteen exercises of two hours each. 347
347 P. 516.
In 1815, Mrs. George Mumford, "recluse," had a school in Rowan. 348
348 P. 383.
At the same time Thomas L. Ragsdale was conducting what he called his Juvenile Academy in Wake. 349
349 P. 520.
After a number of years service as teachers at Warrenton and other places, Sarah and William Falkener died in 1819. They were natives of England and the Raleigh Register said they were the pioneers of female education in this section. 350
From 1820 to 1830 Mr. and Mrs. J. Marling taught drawing and painting in Raleigh. 351
351 P. 526.
In 1820, Harvey James Bryan conducted a Saturday singing school in the Raleigh Methodist church. 352
352 P. 526.
The same year T. McQueen taught "a highly improved System of Stenography in Raleigh." 353
353 P. 517.
Two years later T. Mason taught stenography in 15 lessons and Hebrew in 30 lessons to such persons in Raleigh as desired his services. 354
354 P. 527.
Anthony G. Glynn, who formerly taught in the Raleigh Academy announced, in 1822 the opening of his Athenaeum in the capital city. He claimed that his health would not permit him to practice law vigorously, so he opened his school to teach the English branches with special attention to graceful reading and speaking. He also said that he would not resort to corporal punishment. 355
Page xxvii
From 1811 to 1835, these documents show us that the school at Salem was usually trying to avoid having so many pupils. During these years this school was in charge of such scholars and teachers as Abraham Steiner, Benjamin Reichel, Jacob Van Vleck, Andrew Benade, and John C. Jacobson. 356
From 1830 to 1840, there were a number of teachers employed in various schools, whose qualifications have already been referred to. In 1831, John J. Wyche was at Midway in Franklin, 357
357 P. 113.
Mrs. Frances Bowen was conducting a private school in Raleigh, 358
358 P. 566.
and Daniel W. Kerr was in charge of Kerr's Select School in Raleigh. 359
359 P. 561.
In 1832, John Y. Hicks was teaching in the Nashville Academy 360
360 P. 267.
and Cowles M. Vaiden was at Woodville Academy in Wake. 361
361 P. 567.
In 1833, Vaiden was conducting Vaiden's Seminary at Warrenton 362
362 P. 632.
and Benjamin Sumner was beginning to teach at Arcadia Academy in Person. 363
363 P. 331.
In 1835, William H. Owen was at the Leasburg Classical School in Caswell. 364
364 P. 32.
In 1837, Daniel W. Kerr was teaching at Mt. Pleasant in Orange. 365
365 P. 317.
In 1838, Alban Hart was teaching in the Shocco Classical Seminary. 366
366 P. 632.
From 1830 to 1839, Peter Le Messurier taught his Classical and English school in Raleigh. 367
367 P. 567.
In 1839, William B. Otis was conducting the Raleigh Classical School. 368
368 P. 570.
From 1836 to 1839, John Y. Hicks was principal of the Hemdon Academy in Franklin. 369
369 P. 116.
From 1834 to 1839, J. H. Perry, Robert S. Anderson, William C. Sutton, and William P. Forrest taught at various places in Granville. 370
From 1830 to 1840 these records disclose a number of traveling teachers of special subjects. Nothing is said of these except what they said of themselves. Such teachers were A. McLaurin and D. Easton who taught writing schools in 1830, 371
371 PP. 517-518.
A. D. Smith who claimed in 1831 to teach a new system of his own which made "bad writers to write an elegant hand in two or three days,"