The First Record Book
of the
Concord Academy
Listing of trustees, teachers, and students
Academical Year Ending June 1823
Concord, Essex County, Vermont
|
*** COPYRIGHT NOTICE ***
These listings may be freely used for personal
research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains
on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in
any format or presentation by other organizations or persons desiring to
use this material for profit or any form of presentation, without prior
written consent.
Copyright © 2002 Janice Boyko All Rights Reserved
|
Copied from The Caledonian Newspaper
issue of March 12, 1923
|
|
"Interesting find in Barton of Dr. Hall's Normal School Register"
|
|
Porter G. Perrin, who is connected with the department of English
at Middlebury College, has sent the Caledonian Record a most interesting
story of the discovery at Barton of the first register of the old
Concord Normal school. The article has a timely interest as well as
it is just 100 years ago that the school was established by that pioneer
educator, Dr. S. R. Hall. The Caledonian Record considers itself
fortunate in being able to present to its readers the following article.
March 11 is the exact centennial of the founding of Concord Academy,
the first normal school in America, which is to be publicly celebrated
next August. The title page of the first record book, recently
discovered, reads: The Columbian School was commenced March 11th, 1823
under the Superintendance and principally under the instruction of
Saml Read Hall. The following embraces the names and numbers of students
each term. (Oct 1923 ??), The name of this school was changed to Concord
Academy. |
The existence of this record book was unknown until two weeks ago
when Mrs. E. P. Flint of Barton, a granddaughter of Dr. Hall, was
giving some material for a sketch of her grandfather. The book,
which seemed one of the familiar account books with sheepskin back,
about six and a half by seven and a half inches, had been used as a
scrap book and scrawling book by children a good many years ago.
Most of the pages were covered by poems by Mrs. Ellen E. Phillips,
a daughter of Dr. Hall who wrote under the name "Ada J. Moore".
The youngsters had loyally written on the title page, "My Aunt
wrote all the pieces pasted in here and a lot more."
|
|
When these poems were steamed off the pages revealed a list of the
224 boys and girls who attended the Academy during its first three
years. These records occupy only a few pages. In the back of the
volume are some "Notes on Education" in Dr. Hall's handwriting.
These few notes are concerned with a definition of education,
dividing it under three heads, mental, moral and physical. They
are stiff and forbidding compared with the more personal lectures
which were to be published in 1829 as the "Lectures on School
Keeping", the first book on the profession of teaching printed in
America.
|
There are also several pages of personal accounts. There is the
account between Mr. Hall and Betsy Dean, his landlady. The price
of board in 1826 was $1.50 a week each for Mr. and Mrs. Hall.
Children's board was apparently a dollar a week, so that the statement
in an advertisement of the Academy in the Danville North Star for
May 20, 1923.--"Board obtained near the Schoolroom, on reasonable
terms", seems true, at least judged by our standards. The accounts
were kept in cash, and in kind and were balanced occasionally over
the signatures of both debtor and creditor: "Dec 20th, 1826 --Then
we the subscribed settled all accounts, both cash and common accounts
and found due to S. R. Hall, 15 cents. There is also due to said
Hall what he paid for the iron to make the sheetiron stove.----
S. R. Hall. Betsy Dean"
|
|
Occasionally Mr. Hall pays a creditor neighbor in tuition of a boy
or girl in his academy instead of in cash. He noted arrearages in
his church salary ($300.00 one half of which might be paid in grain).
In December, 1826, there was still a small amount due from 1824 and
a similar amount on 1825. The other side of this story is in the
records of the Congregational Society. The warrant for the annual
meeting in 1829 contains this item: "To see what measures the Society
will take to put the arrearages due to Rev. S. R. Hall in to such a
train that he can dispose of them towards paying his debts"
|
The records contain simply the names of the students who attended
Concord Academy (at first called The Columbian School and later
Essex County Grammar School) during its first nine terms 1823-1825.
The names of 224 different pupils are listed. The great majority
of the names occur but for one term, though some attended for three
or even four terms. This seems to show that the often heard phrase
indicating the extent of our ancestors' education - "and a term at
the academy" is literally true. The largest attendance, 69 is for
the fourth term, spring of 1824: and the smallest, 4, for summer of
the same year. The spring terms average 44, the summer 10, the fall
35. The small number of students being because most came from
farms and were needed at home during that season.
|
|
The names remind us forcibly of the changes which have taken place
in given names during the last hundred years. Jubel Harrington,
Coresanda Barnet, Jacinthia Page, Preserved Davison, Lovina Harrington,
Orange Heywood, Diantha May, Melissa Melinda, Wealthy Wood, Mindwell
Moulton, are specimens. Although this record is slight, it is the
most important document bearing on the history of the old normal
school, except perhaps, the trustees record book, which is really
too fragmentary to give much notion of the real nature of the
Academy. The old Danville North Star contains a few advertisement
and there are some statements written by Dr. Hall late in life.
This record book discovered by chance, dates from the beginning of
the school and is its most intimate relic.
|
The following is the list of 224 names contained in the Concord
Academy record book, as accurately as the difficult handwriting and
unfamiliar names admit. Following each is the number of the term
or terms which the student attended. The first term began March 11, 1823,
the second on the "third Tuesday in June", the third in the fall of
1823, 4, 5, 6 were respectively the spring, summer and winter terms
of 1824, 7, 8, 9, of 1825. These names have more than passing
interest because there are many descendents of these students
living in the vicinity of St. Johnsbury today.
|
More info. on Dr. Samuel Read Hall click here
or here
|
Adams, John |
9 |
|
Johnson, Oren P. |
6 |
|
Adams, Mercy (Mary?) |
7 |
|
Kendell, Jerub (?) |
6 |
|
Allton, Abel |
4 |
|
Kellog, Jennet |
9 |
|
Alton, Oren |
4 |
|
Kellog, Johnson S. |
7 |
|
Babb (Balch?), Laura |
7 |
|
Kidder, Thomas |
7 |
|
Baily, Emiline |
7 |
|
Kimball, A. A. B. |
3 |
|
Barnard, Sullivan |
9 |
|
Kimball, Daniel F. |
6 |
|
Barnet, Ann Phelps |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
|
Kimball, John S. |
7 |
|
Barnet, Coresanda |
4 |
|
Kinne, Lorin |
3 |
|
Barnet, D. Emeline |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
|
Knapp, Hiram |
7 |
|
Barnet, John D. |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
|
Ladd, Daniel |
9 |
|
Bartlet, Charles L. |
9 |
|
Lawrence, Emily |
9 |
|
Benton, Reuben C. |
3, 4 |
|
Lawrence, Mary A. |
4 |
|
Bingham, Willard |
2, 3 |
|
Lewis, Calvin |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
|
Bishop, Elizabeth |
3, 4 |
|
Lewis, Truman |
9 |
|
Brackett, Ira |
9 |
|
Little, Emeline |
4 |
|
Brackett, William C. |
7 |
|
Low, Francis |
2, 3, 4 |
|
Brackett, ____ |
8 |
|
Mason, Martha |
1 |
|
Brockway, George |
8 |
|
Mason, Mary H. |
7 |
|
Brown, C. |
4 |
|
May, Belinda |
3 |
|
Cagery (?), Fanny |
1 |
|
May, Chauncey |
3, 4 |
|
Carpenter, Caroline D. |
7 |
|
May, Dennis |
9 |
|
Carpenter, Demiah W. |
3 |
|
May, Diantha |
4 |
|
Carpenter, Lucius |
3 |
|
May, Goram |
4 |
|
Chamberlane, Ephraim |
4 |
|
May, Lucy |
9 |
|
Chase, Elmore |
4 |
|
May, Mary Ann |
1, 3, 4 |
|
Cheny, Israel |
2, 3 |
|
May, Preston |
6 |
|
Clark, Almyra |
1, 3 |
|
May, Stephen A. |
4 |
|
Clark, Amanda |
1 |
|
May, William |
9 |
|
Clark, Ambrose |
3 |
|
M'Curdy, Richard |
8 |
|
Crane, Erastus |
7 |
|
Melinda, Melissa |
4 |
|
Cress (?), Emeline |
9 |
|
Melindy, Lucy |
3 |
|
Cutler, Henry S. |
1, 2, 3 |
|
Mellendy, Gardiner |
9 |
|
Cutler, Isaac H. |
1, 2, 3 |
|
Miles, Josiah |
9 |
|
Cutting, Hiram |
4 |
|
More, Edson |
9 |
|
Darling, Elisa R. |
4 |
|
Merrill, Luther C. |
7 or 8 |
|
Darling, Hines |
4 |
|
Morrison, Zilpha Lane (?) |
7 |
|
Dascomb, Elisa F. |
4 |
|
Morse, James |
5 |
|
Dascomb, George L. |
7 |
|
Morse, John |
7 |
|
Davis, Abigail |
9 |
|
Morse, Samuel |
1, 3 |
|
Davis, Arvilla F. |
4 |
|
Morse, Silas |
3 |
|
Davis, Pike |
9 |
|
Morse, Thriphena |
1 |
|
Dean, John H. |
9 |
|
Morton, Elmira |
1 |
|
Davis, Roswell S. |
6 |
|
Moulton, Lucy |
9 |
|
Davison, Amanda C. |
4 |
|
Moulton, Mindwell |
6 |
|
Davison, Preserved |
4 |
|
Newton, Somoman |
3 |
|
Dean, Edward R. |
7 |
|
Neyel, Isaac |
6 |
|
Dean, Elizabeth |
7 |
|
Newell, Selim |
8 |
|
Dean, Harriet S. |
7 |
|
Nichols, Asa C. |
4 |
|
Dellesser (?), William |
7 |
|
Oaks, Emily |
2 |
|
Dennison, Anda C. |
7 |
|
Oaks, Phebe |
2 |
|
Dennison, Nancy C. |
7 |
|
Orcutt, Alice R. |
3, 4 |
|
Doyle, Arrabella |
7 |
|
Paddleford, Isaac |
3 |
|
Drew, Cyrus H. |
4 |
|
Page, Caleb |
9 |
|
Drew, Eliza |
2, 3 |
|
Page, Henry |
4 |
|
Edgel, Moses Stedman |
2, 3 |
|
Page, Jacinthia |
4 |
|
Emery, Cinthia |
3 |
|
Parsons, Holland R. |
9 |
|
Farr, Gilman |
9 |
|
Peabody, Mariah |
7 |
|
Fay, Benjamin |
9 |
|
Peck, George C. |
9 |
|
Fellows, William |
9 |
|
Peck, William |
4 |
|
Fisher, Curtis |
6 |
|
Pike, Lois |
2 |
|
Fletcher, Almira |
4 |
|
Pike, Luther |
8 |
|
Fletcher, Charles B. |
1, 2, 3 |
|
Plumley, John |
9 |
|
Fletcher, Eliot B. |
5 |
|
Plumley, Lovica |
4 |
|
Fletcher, Phebe |
7 |
|
Plumley, Saml |
9 |
|
Freeman, Caroline |
4 |
|
Rankin, Henry |
9 |
|
French, Ezra B. |
9 |
|
Rich, Alzo (?) |
2, 3, 4 |
|
Fry, Ebenser |
4 |
|
Richardson, Isaac |
4 |
|
Fry, Nancy |
1, 4 |
|
Richardson, Jonathan |
4 |
|
Gage, Nelson |
7 |
|
Richardson, Luther |
3 |
|
Gibbs, Elijah |
1, 3 |
|
Rix, Guy C. |
3 |
|
Goss, Milo G. |
6 |
|
Robins, Douglas |
6 |
|
Graves, Elisa |
4, 5, 6 |
|
Russell, John F. |
4 |
|
Graves, Nathan J. |
1, 3 |
|
Sanborn, Alfred |
4 |
|
Graves, C. Wesley |
9 |
|
Shorbun (?), Drusilla |
4 |
|
Gregory, Charles F. |
3, 4 |
|
Smith, Adeline |
7 |
|
Hadly, Sally |
3 |
|
Smith, Jacob |
9 |
|
Hadly, William |
3 |
|
Smith (?), Moses B. |
9 |
|
Hall, Elisa |
4 |
|
Snow, Asa |
8 |
|
Hall, William B. |
4 |
|
Spalding, Betsey B. |
3, 4 |
|
Hancock, Hartford |
9 |
|
Spalding, Caroline |
1, 3, 4 |
|
Harrington, Jubel |
5 |
|
Spalding, Eppingham W. |
1, 3, 4 |
|
Harrington, Lovina |
7 |
|
Spencer, Mary C. |
7 |
|
Harris, Roxana |
7 |
|
Stanford, Timothy A. |
2, 3, 4 |
|
Harvey, Alden |
9 |
|
Stockwell, Mary |
7 |
|
Haskell, John E. |
4 |
|
Stoddard, Jonathan |
6 |
|
Heywood, William |
3 |
|
Stone, Frederick |
6 |
|
Heath, Alice |
3 |
|
Streeter, Phebe |
4 |
|
Heath, Lyman |
3 |
|
Sutherland, David Jr. |
7 |
|
Heywood, Mary Ann |
9 |
|
Swinerton, Hannah Hall |
2 |
|
Heywood, Orange |
7 |
|
Taggard, Adeline |
3 |
|
Hibbard, Asa |
3 |
|
Taggard, Mary |
1 |
|
Hibbard, Deal F. |
7 |
|
Thayer, Nancy |
9 |
|
Hibbard, Electa |
1, 3, 4 |
|
Turner, Lydia |
4 |
|
Hibbard, Harry |
4 |
|
Turner, Oliver |
6 |
|
Hibbard, Milla C. |
4 |
|
Tuttle, Sarah |
9 |
|
Hibbard, William C. |
3, 4 |
|
Wallis, Elmira H. |
4 |
|
Hill, Cynthia |
4 |
|
Walter, Abba |
7 |
|
Hill, Martha |
4 |
|
Wetherbee, Georgeanna |
2, 4 |
|
Hill, Mary |
4 |
|
Wheeler, Eben M. |
7 |
|
Hill, Moses |
1 |
|
Whiting, Zera (?) |
|
|
Hill, Roxana |
4 |
|
Whitten, David |
6 |
|
Holton, Adolphus |
4 |
|
Wilder, Otis |
9 |
|
Holton, Joseph F. |
4 |
|
Williams, Franklin B. |
7 |
|
Hudson, Sarah |
9 |
|
Williams, William |
2 |
|
Ide, Jacob |
7 |
|
Wood, Stephen (?) |
7 |
|
Ide, Olive |
3 |
|
Wood, Wealthy |
1 |
|
Jeudevine, Alden E. |
2, 3, 4 |
|
Write, Laura |
8 |
|
Jeudevine, Harvey |
7 |
|
Wyers (?), Mariah |
6 |
|
Jewet, Calvin |
4 |
|
Wyman, Roxana |
6 |
|
Johnson, Benjamin |
9 |
|
Young, John |
7 |
|
