Full text of "Annals of public education in the State of New York, from 1626 to 1746"

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ANNALS

PUBLIC EDUCATION

With the respects of

DAJSTEL J. PKATT,

Assistant Secretary, etc.
BY DANIEL / PKATT, A. M., L l<&2

ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE BEGENTS 0V THE TOIVKB8ITY.

"BUNT HIC ETIAM 8UA PRiEMIA LATIDI.

ALBANY:
THE ARGUS COMPANY, PRINTERS.

1872.

ANNALS

PUBLIC EDUCATION

STATE OF NEW YORK,

From 1626 to 1746.

g
VO / -\

BY DANIEL J? PRATT, A. M., L '

ASSISTANT SBCRBTAHY OP THE HK6KNTS OF THB OlOVBBeiTT.

'STJNT HIC ETIAM 8DA PR<EMIA LATJDI.

ALBANY:
THB ABGUS COMPANY, PRINTERa

1872.

Entered, according to act of Congress, in the year eighteen hundred and seventy-one [January Iff],

BY DANIEL J. PRATT,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

STATE OF NEW YORK :

IN SENATE CHAMBER,

ALBANY, March 29, 1871.

Hesohed, That three hundred copies of the Annals of Public Education hi the
State of New York, for the period from 1626 to 1746, be printed for the use of the
Regents of the University, and two hundred copies for the use of the Senate.

By order,

HIRAM CALKINS,

Qterk.

PREFACE.

This volume is a collection of the official acts and historical records
relating to public education within this State during the Dutch and
a part of the English colonial periods, from 1626 to 1746, with such
editorial statements as have been deemed appropriate, and, to some
extent, necessary, to connect and explain the often fragmentary
original records. If hereafter practicable, this work will be con-
tinued to about the year 1800.

Much of the material of these Annals has been preserved only in
manuscript in the State archives ; other printed fragments are widely
scattered, and are not readily accessible in the absence of any cata-
logue or digest of authorities referring to this subject.

The results of the few attempts hitherto made in any portion of
this field have been carefully sought and freely used, with due
acknowledgment. Dunshee's " History of the School of the Reformed
Dutch Church in New York " has been of greater service than any
other single printed collection. That school having been the first,
and for some time the only public one within the colony, its history
is almost co-extensive with that of public education for a number
of years. The pre-eminence of this little work in its special field is
attested by the fact that it is almost the sole authority quoted, for
the colonial period, in Boese's " History of Education in the City of
New York." Valentine's Manual of the Corporation of New York,
for 1863, contains a sketch of " Schools and Schoolmasters in the
time of the Dutch," which includes some items not mentioned by
other authors. Occasional allusions to the subject of education occur
in O'Callaghan's History of New Netherland, Brodhead's History of
New York, and other works of like general character. A " Special
report on the present state of education in the United States and
other countries," by the late Superintendent of Public Instruction of
this State, published in 1867, devotes two pages to a cursory sketch
of its educational history during the colonial era.

The principal official source of information for the earlier por-
tion of the period included in the volume, is the "New York

iv PREFACE.

Historical Manuscripts," Dutch and English, in the office of the
Secretary of State, of which there are about 100 folio volumes.
The Dutch manuscripts were translated some fifty years since,
under State authority, by Francis Adrian Yan der Kemp, and are
now being re-translated by the eminent archivist, Dr. E. B. O'Calla-
ghan, under the title of " Becords of New Netherland." Of Yan
der Kemp's translation there are twenty-four volumes, which
are known among antiquarians as the "Albany Records." We
regret that most of the passages which we have had occasion to
quote, not having been reached by the new translator, must exhibit
the marked imperfections of style which characterize the Albany
Records. Dr. O'Callaghan has also prepared a full calendar and
index of the original manuscripts, a small edition of which has been
published. By the aid of this invaluable work, any special subject of
colonial history contained therein may be readily investigated. The
Documentary and the Colonial Histories of the State the former in
four and the latter in eleven quarto volumes, large editions of which
have been published contain copies of some of these manuscripts,
including a few referring to educational aifairs, especially among the
Indians. The corporation archives of New York city include a col-
lection known as the "New Amsterdam Records," an unpublished
translation of which, in seven volumes, was made some years since by
Dr. O'Callaghan. These records contain a few items in regard to the
schools of that city during the period of the Dutch administration.
The manuscript " Correspondence of the Classis of Amsterdam," pro-
cured in Holland, some years since, by Mr. Brodhead, to which occa-
sional reference is made by historians, throws additional light upon
this special subject.

Among other sources of information, for the period included in the
present volume (1626-1746), may be mentioned the printed journals
of the Legislative Council and Assembly, from 1691 onward ; the
colonial laws, most of which are found in the extant compilations,
though a number of obsolete ones of special historical interest have
been preserved only in their original manuscript form, in the office of
the Secretary of State ; O'Callaghan's " Register of New Nether-
land " and " Laws of New Netherland ;" Yalentine's Corporation
Manual of N. Y. City for a series of years ; the annual reports of the
" Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts ;" mis-
cellaneous works of research, including local histories, prominent
among which are Munsell's " Annals of Albany ;" facts communicated
in writing by several well-informed investigators, who have kindly

PREFACE. v

aided us in our researches ; and lastly, old newspapers, especially the
files of the New York Gazette, etc., as preserved in the Library of the
New York Historical Society. Specific references to these sources of
information will be made in connection with each quotation, it being
an important part of the present design to verify every statement, and
thus facilitate further investigation, in the hope that the materials for a
tolerably full history of education in the State may finally be secured.
If this work, with its proposed continuation, shall contribute to a bet-
ter understanding of the origin and growth of the present system of
education in the Empire State, the chief design of the undertaking
will be accomplished.

It is proper to add, that the greater part of the material embraced
in this volume was first published in the " Proceedings of the Univer-
sity Convocation of the State of New York", for the years 1868
and 1869.

The plates from which these " Annals " were first printed, were
destroyed by the great fire which occurred at "Weed, Parsons & Co.'s
printing establishment, in April, 1871. It thus became necessary,
in carrying out the foregoing order of the Senate, to reset the entire
work. A few errors and considerable new material having, mean-
while, come under the author's notice, he has availed himself of this
opportunity, at the cost of no little time and labor, to supply a
revised and enlarged edition of the original work ordered by the
Senate.

The author cannot forbear here to express, in a general way, his
indebtedness to the several gentlemen mentioned by name in the
body of the volume, who have aided in the collection of these
historical facts ; as well as to all those who have, in any way, encour-
aged him in tliis undertaking. Further information relative to either
the general or local history of education in this State, prior to 1800,
for any future editions of this work, and for its intended continuation
from 1746, will be thankfully received and duly acknowledged.

CONTENTS.

PAOB.
Preface i

CHAPTER I.

PTBST PEEIOD. PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE DUTCH (OK HOLLAND) COLONY OF
NEW NETHERLAND, 1626-1664 1

CHAPTER II.
SECOND PERIOD. PUBLIC EDUCATION EN THE COLONY OP NEW YORK, 1664-1784.

PART I.
From the Capitulation by the Dutch to the first legislative act for founding a

College, 1664-1746 57

Catalogue of Schoolmasters mentioned in this volume 149

PART n.
The founding of King's (afterwards Columbia) College [to be published hereafter].

PART in, ETC.
[To be published hereafter]

CHAPTER III.

THE POUNDING OP THE UNIVERSITY OP THE STATE OP NEW YORK, UNDER THE
ACTS OP 1784 AND 1787, AND THE FURTHER HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN THE
STATE TO THE YEAB 1800 [to be published hereafter].

A. 1ST N A. L S

PUBLIC EDUCATION

I 1ST C L TJ D I N G- THE C O JL, O N I TV L

CHAPTER I.

FIRST PERIOD.

PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE DUTCH (OR HOLLAND) COLONY OF
NEW NETHERLAND, 1626-1664.

The following extracts, from comparatively recent writers, illus-
trate the customs and policy of the Hollanders in regard to education
prior to and in connection with the settlement of New Netherland :

The Dutch were eminently a ... charitable, well educated
and moral people. . . . Neither the perils of war, nor the busy
pursuit of gain, nor the excitement of political strife, ever caused them
to neglect the duty of educating their offspring to enjoy that freedom
for which their fathers had fought. Schools were everywhere pro-
vided, at the public expense, with good schoolmasters, to instruct
the children of all classes in the usual branches of education ; and the
consistories of the churches took zealous care to have their youth
thoroughly taught the catechism and the articles of religion. 1

It was the custom, after the Reformation in Holland, to send out
with emigrants going to any of its colonies, however few in number,
a well-qualified schoolmaster, who was a member of the church, and
accredited, by his competence and piet_y, . to take charge of the
instruction of children and youth. During the absence or want of a
minister, he was bound to conduct public worship, by reading a ser-
mon, offering prayers, etc., on the Sabbath, and on other occasions.
With the earliest agricultural settlement of Manhattan island and its
vicinity, such a schoolmaster and voorleser [clerk or reader] was sent

1 Brodhead's History of New York, pp. 461-463.

2 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

out, and from the earliest period the school has continued to this
day. 1

Schools have always been in existence in New York since its set-
tlement by the Dutch. The founders of the colony brought with
them from Holland the institutions of their native land ; its industry,
its catholicity of spirit, its care for the religious and educational wel-
fare of the people.

" No other religion was to be publicly tolerated or allowed in New
Netherland, save that then taught and exercised by authority in the
Reformed Church of the United Provinces," for the inculcation of
which the [West India] Company promised to support and maintain
good and tit preachers, schoolmasters and comforters of the sick. 8

No principle was more deeply engraved on the heart of the Hol-
lander than that "the church and the school must be maintained." 4

The establishment of schools and the appointment of schoolmasters,
rested conjointly with the [West India] Company and the Classis of
Amsterdam ; and it is from this circumstance that much relating to
the early history of the school under consideration has been pre-
served. 5

When a school is spoken of under the Dutch administration, spe-
cial reference is invariably made to the official public school, sup-
ported by the authorities, and in connection with the established
[Reformed Dutch] Church, the schoolmasters whereof were appointed
by the West India Company. From the first organization of the
school, till the year 1808, when a special board of trustees was
appointed, the supervision and management of the school was in the
hands of the deacons. . . . No private school teachers .
could follow their calling without a license from the civil and ecclesi-
astical authorities. 6

1626. When a colonial government was organized, 1626, by
Kieft, 7 the first Director General, we find the place of a clergyman
supplied, to a certain extent, by Sebastian Jans Crol and Jan Huyck,
two " Krank-besoeckers," " Ziekentroosters," or " Comforters of the
Sick." . . . Exigency of circumstances, in a new settlement,
sometimes demanded that the exercise of the functions pertaining to
the offices of the minister, the schoolmaster, and the Krank-besoecker,
devolved upon the same individual ; so that we might with propriety
be justified in claiming the introduction of public education as early
as 1626 ; hut as the term schoolmaster is not. expressly applied to
either of the Krank-besoeckers, we will waive the position. 8

The earliest official act relating to public education in New Neth-
erland is contained in the so-called

1 Rev. Thomas De Witt, D. D., in his introduction to Dunshee's History of the
School of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in the City of New York, pp. 7, 8.
4 Supt. Rice's Special Report on the condition of Education, p. 77.
1 0'Callas;lwn's History of New Netherland, i, 220.
4 Strong's History of Flatbush, p. 108.

6 Dunshee, p. 25. ' This should have been Minuti.

Dunshee, p. 33. " Dunshee, pp. 27, 28.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 3

freedoms and Exemptions,

Granted by the West India Company to all Patroons, Masters or
Private Persons who will plant colonies in New Netherland,
7 June, 1629.

XXVII. The Patroons and colonists shall in particular, and in the
speediest manner, endeavor to find out ways and means whereby
they may supply a minister and schoolmaster, that thus the service
of God and zeal for religion may not grow cool and be neglected
among them, and they shall, for the first, procure a comforter of the
sick there. 1

This decree was reenacted in 1630, in the

New Project of Freedoms and Exemptions.

28. The Patroons shall also particularly exert themselves to find
speedy means to maintain a clergyman and schoolmaster, in order
that Divine service and zeal for religion maybe planted in that coun-
try ; and send, at first, a comforter for the sick thither. 2

The city of Amsterdam, some years later, undertook to provide
schoolhouses for new settlements, and provisionally to support school-
masters, as appears from the following :

Draft of Conditions offered by the city of Amsterdam to Emigrants
to New Netherland. No date : probably 1656.

Remarks of Directors of West India
4 Company.

To the end that the said colonists may Fiat. [Let it be done.]
gain their livelihood there safely, hon-
estly and prosperously, the city aforesaid
doth beforehand guarantee as follows :
# * * *

Said city shall cause to be erected Fiat.
about the market, or in a more conve-
nient place, a public building suitable for
Divine service : item, also a house for a
school, which can likewise be occupied
by the person who will hereafter be sex-
ton, psalm-setter and schoolmaster ; the
city shall, besides, have a house built for
the Minister.

The city aforesaid shall provisionally Fiat.
provide and pay the salary of a Minister
and schoolmaster, unless their High

1 N. Y. Col. Doc., ii, 557. O'Callaghan's Laws of New Netherland. p. 9.
a N. Y. Col. Doc., i,99.

4 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

Mightinesses or the Company think oth-
erwise. 1

########

Among the officials of that early period, we are especially inte-
rested in the schoolmasters, memorials of some of whom have been
preserved.

From all that has been discovered, the first schoolmaster in New
Amsterdam was Adam Roelansten. 2 . . . He was a resident of
this city as early at least as the year 1633, as appears from an affida-
vit made by him in 1638, setting forth certain misconduct which he
observed in one Greetje Reiuers, in the year 1633, at a place called
the Old Magazine. 3

Mr. Valentine says, he " probably had pursued this calling during
all the time of his residence," i. e., from 1633 to 1638, at which latter
date he removed to Renselaerswyck. Mr. Dunshee speaks with more
confidence upon this point, but fails to cite any additional authority ;
nor are we able to find Roelantsen's name in the list of officials to
which he refers in the following paragraph :

1633. In the enumeration of the [West India] Company's officials

. Everardus Bogardus is mentioned as officiating as minister

at Fort Amsterdam, and Adam Roelansden as the first schoolmaster.

Here, then, in accordance with the custom of the age, the usage of
the home government, and by charter stipulations, we have the intro-
duction of the first schoolmaster in Manhattan ; . . . and although
it is probable that at times the school was kept somewhat irregularly,
owing to the unsettled state of affairs arising from Indian depreda-
tions, and the hostile attitude and aggressions of the colonists in New
England, yet the records furnish direct and indisputable evidence of
the efforts made for its continuance and support. 4

Further particulars in regard to the life and character of Roelant-
sen, some of which, we regret to say, are quite discreditable to " the
first schoolmaster," are reserved for separate biographical notices of
schoolmasters, which it is proposed to introduce hereafter. It may,
however, be due to Roelantsen to add, that even Domine Bogardus
was accused of immorality and excess, and that the standard of public
virtue was not remarkably high at that time. Dr. O'Callaghan says :

The state of morals in New Amsterdam' was, at this period [1638],
by no means healthy, owing as well to the description of persons
which trade brought thither, as to the absence, in a great part, of an
agricultural population. 3

1 N. Y. Col. Doc., i, 619, 620. See, also, pp. 631, 636, 637, and O'Callaghan's Laws
of New Netherland, pp. 239, 240.

2 More properly spelled Roelantsen.

8 Valentine's Corporation Manual, 1863, p. 559. Albany Records (MS.), i, 52.
4 Dunshee, pp. 28, 29. Alb. Rec., i, 52,
5 O'Call, N. N.,i, 185,

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 5

Though " the mass of the people resident at the Manhattans were
unable or ill qualified either to read or write," 1 the value of education
seems to have been highly appreciated ; for we find that as early as
1642, it was customary, in marriage contracts, whenever the bride
was a widow having children, for the parties to " promise to bring up
the children decently, according to their ability, to provide them with
necessary clothing and food, to keep them at school, to let them learn
reading, writing and a good trade ;" to which was sometimes added,
"as honest parents ought and- are bound to do, and as they can
answer before God and men." 2

The first direct mention of a public tax for the support of schools
occurs in the

Proposed Articles for the Colonization and Trade of New Nether-
land. 1638.

8. Each householder and inhabitant shall bear such tax and public
charge as shall hereafter be considered proper for the maintenance of
clergymen, comforters for the sick, schoolmasters, and such like neces-
sary officers ; and the Director and Council there shall be written to
touching the form hereof, in order, on receiving further information
hereupon, it be rendered the least onerous and vexatious. 3

That a school was in contemplation in Beaverwyck (Albany), as early
as 1643, appears by the following extract from a letter written by Arendt
Van Curler to the Patroon of Renselaerswyck, dated June 16, 1643 :

As for the church, it is not yet contracted for, nor even begun.

. . . That which I intend to build this summer in the pine
grove will be 34 feet long by 19 feet wide. It will be large enough
for the first three or four years to preach in, and can afterwards
always serve for the residence of the sexton, or for a school. 4

The salaries proposed to be paid in those early times are exhibited
in the following

Report of the Board of Accounts in New Netherland. 1644. 5

Estimate of the Expenses which the [West India] Company would
have to bear in JSTew Netherland for the following persons, to be
rationed at their own expense :

1 director, whose monthly salary should be fl. 250,

to board himself, is yearly fl. 3 > 000

*****

1 clergyman, a fl. 120 per month 1 >440

1 schoolmaster, precentor and sexton, a fl. 30. ... 360

1 O'Call. N. N., i, 187.

- N. Y. Y. Hist. MSB., ii, 35, 51; iii, 70; iv, 20. O'Callaghan's MS. Records of
N. N., ii, 37, 48, 102, 127. 3 N. Y. Col. Doc., i, 112.

4 O'Call. N. N., i, 459. [From the Renselaerswyck MSS.l

N. Y. Col. Doc., i, 155.

6 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

A similar estimate, in 1661, is more liberal to the schoolmaster, as
compared with the director, though both are reduced to the smallest
possible amount :

One director, on a salary of 100 guilders per month, and board-
wages a year, 300 guilders.

******

One comforter of the sick, to act also as schoolmaster, 18 guilders
per month, and board-wages a year, 80 guilders. 1 [A florin and
guilder were each equivalent to about 40 cents, U. S. currency.]

The first effort to build a schoolhouse occurred, according to Mr.
Dunshee, as early as 1642, although the documentary evidence quoted
by him does not clearly establish the date. He says :

In 1642, the church on Broad street having become somewhat
dilapidated and reproachful in appearance, an effort was made to pro-
cure a new one, and at the same time was commenced the laudable
undertaking of building a schoolhouse with suitable accommodations
(p. 30).

Mr. Dunshee proceeds to quote from the Remonstrance of New
Netherland, made in 1649, which states that " the bowl has been
going around a long time for the purpose of collecting money for
erecting a schoolhouse ;" but this does not intimate that the " long
time " began in 1642. He also refers to Dr. O'Callaghan's account
of the building of the church in 1642 (Hist, of N. N., i, 260), which,
however, contains no allusion to a schoolhouse at that time. The
following statement of the condition of education in 1646, contains
the only allusion made by the learned Doctor, to a schoolhouse of
earlier date, his sole authority being, as he informs us, the " Remon-
strance of New Netherland," to which reference will hereafter be
made :

Though a college had been founded in Massachusetts some nine
years before, the authorities of New Netherland made little or no
effort, up to this time, to establish a common or primary school in
any part of this country. Some subscriptions had been entered into
by the commonalty, for the purpose of erecting a schoolhouse in New
Amsterdam, but these funds were also misappropriated, and this lauda-
ble undertaking failed in consequence. 2

This unfortunate condition of education, in common with other
public interests, seems to have resulted partly from the feebleness and
poverty of the colony, and partly from the dissentions which pre-
vailed during Director Kieft's administration.

" Where the shepherd errs the sheep go astray." Drunkenness

1 N. Y. Col. Doc., ii, 169. * O'Call. N. N., i, 396.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 7

and broils wer'e of frequent occurrence. The people were " without
discipline, and approaching to a savage state." " A fourth part of
the city of New Amsterdam consisted of grogshops and houses, where
nothing is to be got but tobacco and beer." Religion and education
felt the baneful effects of these evil influences. . . . Such was
the state of disorganization into which the public affairs had fallen. 1

In 1647, Director Kieft was superseded by Petrus Stuyvesant,
whose commission was dated at the Hague, July 28, 1646, and who
entered upon his duties May 27, 1647. The new Director General
undertook to reform the prevalent abuses, and for this purpose drew
up certain " propositions to the members in council assembled," dated
November 11, 1647. The fifth of these propositions, and the action
of the Council thereon, are recorded in parallel columns, according to
the usage of the times, as follows :

5thly. "Whereas, by want of pro- By the Council is decreed the

per place, no school has been kept same as on the 4th article above,

in three months, by which the [ Viz. : Decreed by the Council,

youth is spoiled, so is proposed, as this point particularly interests

where a convenient place may be the commonalty, to propose it to

adapted to keep the youth from the nine Tribunes, so that the

the street and under a strict sub- best means may be employed, at

ordination. 2 the smallest expenses of the com-
monalty.]

The statement that for " want of a proper place, no school had
been held in three months," must have reference to the public school
in connection with the church ; for one Jan Stevensen was actually
teaching at the time, and had been so doing for five years. 3

It thus appears that private schools had already been established in
New Amsterdam, although as before stated, no person could teach
without a license from the civil and ecclesiastical authorities.

The " Nine Tribunes," commonly called the " Nine Men," were
chosen by the Director General and Council from double that num-
ber of persons selected N by the people, to give their advice when
called on, and to assist in promoting the welfare of the commonalty,
as well as that of the country. 4 In accordance with the above recom-
mendation of the Council, the Director communicated his views to
the Nine Men in the following terms :

To the nine elected Tribunes, representing the Commonalty of
Manhattans, Breukelen, Amerfoort and Pavonia:

Dear Friends : A sudden and unhappy accident, and its following
pains prevent my assisting at your meeting and making proposals in

1 O'Call. N. N. , i. 395, 396. * Dnnsliee, p. 33.

1 Alb. Rec., vii, 106. 4 O'Call. N. N. , ii, 36, 37.

8 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

person as I intended, and concluding what means are the most advi-
sable to adopt for the common weal and can be employed with the
least grievance to our dear subjects.

* *****

3dly. Not less necessary than the former article is the building of
a new school and dwelling house for the schoolmaster, for the benefit
of the commonalty and the education of the youth. We are inclined
to bear personally and in behalf of the Company a reasonable pro-
portion, and continue to do so in the future, and promote this glorious
work. Meanwhile it is required to make some previous arrange-
ment to provide a convenient place during next winter, either in one
of the outhouses belonging to. the Attorney-General's Department, to
which I should give the preference, or any other convenient place, as
may be approved by the church wardens.

******

Done in haste, in our bedroom, on the 14 Nov., 1647.
(Signed) Yours and the commonalty's well willing,

P. STUYYESANT. 1

"We are unable to find any evidence that the Nine Men responded
favorably to this proposition, and it appears from subsequent events
that nothing was done by them.

In 1649, in consequence of disagreement between the Director and
the Nine 'Men, the latter, under the leadership of Adriaen Yan der
Donck, prepared a memorial to the States-General of Holland, to
which was annexed the so-called " Yertoogh " or " Remonstrance of
New Netherland," setting forth, among other things, " the reasons
and cause of the great decay of New Netherland," and " in what
manner New Netherland should be relieved." Among the " reasons"
enumerated, the following statement occurs :

The plate has been a long time passed around for a common school
which has been built with words, for, as yet, the first stone is not
laid ; some materials have only been provided. However, the money
given for the purpose hath all disappeared and is mostly spent, so
that it falls somewhat short ; and nothing permanent has as yet been
effected for this purpose. 2

Under the head, "In what manner New Netherland should be

relieved," we find the following :

******

. . . It is doubtful but Divine worship must be entirely inter-
mitted in consequence of the clergyman's departure, and the Com-
pany's inability. There ought to be also a public school provided
with at least two good teachers, so that the youth, in so wild a country,
where there are so many dissolute people, may, first of all, be well

1 Alb. Rec., vii, 107, 108. 2 N. Y. Col. Doc., i, 300.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 9

instructed and indoctrinated not only in reading and writing, but also
in the knowledge and fear of the Lord. Now, the school is kept very
irregularly, by this one or that, according to his fancy, as long as he
thinks proper. There ought to be, likewise, asylums for aged men,
for orphans, and similar institutions. 1

Cornelia van Tienhoven, Secretary to the Director and Council,
replies to this part of the Remonstrance :

Although the new schoolhouse, toward which the commonalty con-
tributed something, has not yet been built, it is not the Director, but
the church wardens, who have charge of the funds. The Director is
busy providing materials. Meanwhile a place has been selected for a
school, of which Jan Cornelissen has charge. The other teachers
keep school in hired houses, so that the youth are not in want of
schools to the extent of the circumstances of the country. 'Tis true
there is no Latin school nor academy ; if the commonalty require
such, they can apply for it and furnish the necessary funds.

Their High Mightinesses granted those duties to the
Company to facilitate garrisons, and the payment of the expenses
attendant thereupon, and not for building hospitals and orphan asy-
lums, churches and schoolhouses for the people.

If they [the people of New Netherland] are such patriots as they
appear to be, let them be leaders in generous contributions for such
laudable objects, and not complain when the Directors requested a
collection toward the erection of a church and a school. 2

The " other teachers " referred to by the Secretary, seem to have
been Jan Stevensen and Aryaen Jansen, accounts of whom as school-
masters are found from 1643 to 1649, but nowhere as connected with
the church school, of which this Jan Cornelissen was the second
teacher. 3

About this time Cornelissen, perhaps in consequence of the dissen-
sions which had arisen, and the neglect to provide a suitable place
for a school, signified his intention to resign ; whereupon, Director
Stuyvesant wrote to the Classis of Amsterdam "for a pious, well-
qualified and diligent schoolmaster," adding, that " nothing is of
greater importance than the right, early instruction of youth." 4

This application seems to have been referred by the Classis to the
Directors of the West India Company, from whose letters to Direc-
tor Stuyvesant we make the following extracts :

JAN. 27, 1649. We will make use of the first opportunity to sup-
ply you with a well-instructed schoolmaster ; and shall inform our-

1 N. Y. Col. Doc., i, 317.
N. Y. Col. Doc., i, 433, 424, 425, 431.

3 Dunshee, p. 35, who also quotes, N. Arast. Rec., v, 31, 150, 169.

4 Dunshee, p. 35. Brodhcad, i, 508. Cor. Cl. Amst.

10 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

selves about the person 1 living at Haerlem, whom your Honor recom-
mended. 2

FEB. 16, 1650. We appoint, at your request, a schoolmaster, who
shall also act as comforter of the sick. He is considered an honest
and pious man, and shall embark at the first opportunity. 3

APRIL 15, 1650. The schoolmaster for whom you solicited comes
in the same vessel with this letter. The Lord grant that he may for
a long time exemplify the favorable testimony which he carried with
him from here, to the edification of the youth. 4

Mr. Brodhead (p. 516) says the Classis of Amsterdam sent out
Verstius, and refers to a letter of January 10, 1650, which seems to
belong to the Correspondence of the Classis. This tends to confirm
the opinion that Verstius was the teacher referred to by Stuyvesant
and the "West India Company.

In the early part of 1650, Secretary van Tienhoven drew up a
paper entitled " Information relative to taking up land in New Neth-
erland, in the form of colonies or private bouweries" [farms], which
seems to have been intended for the use of the Directors of the West
India Company, to facilitate emigration to New Netherland. After
describing " those lands which are actually the most convenient and
the best, and ought to be occupied the earliest, where and how
located," he states " what description of people are best adapted for
agriculture in New Netherland, and to perform the most service and
return the most profit in the beginning ; and it is interesting to find
evidence of continued regard for education, and a recognition of its
practical utility in new settlements, in the fact that he includes as one
of the eleven classes of persons whose services are needed :

A clergyman, comforter of the sick, or precentor, who could also
act as schoolmaster. 5

We have already referred to the condition of morals as quite unfa-
vorable. The following letter from the Directors of the West India
Company to Stuyvesant, dated April 4, 1652, is interesting in this
connection :

In ship Romein is embarked as super-cargo a person named Fred-
rick Alkis, who has been a schoolmaster at Hoorn. He writes a
good hand, but we know little else of him. He is recommended to
us by a man of quality, and solicited that it might be permitted to
him to remain there if he should be pleased with the country, which
of course this college [meaning the Directors] could not reject,

1 This person seems to have been William Verstius. [Sometimes speUed Vfftffii*
and Vextens.]

2 Alb. Rec., iv, 17. * Alb. Bee., iv, 30.

3 Alb. Rec., iv,23. 6 N. Y. Col. Doc., i, 361.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 11

although it is against our usual practice ; but it is sometimes a diffi-
cult task to give a denial. If his conduct is as good as his pen, and a
schoolmaster wanted, his person might come into consideration,
although it might be in our opinion desirable to put him first to the
test ; as we have observed that your clime does not reform much the
manners of individuals, of which there is yet much less hope if the
chiefs of the administration set a bad example to others. In this
respect we received many complaints by those who return from New
Netherlands in respect of the Attorney-General, as of drunkenness and
other vices. If he might continue such a disorderly life, then we
shall be compelled to employ such means of restraint as we deem
expedient. 1

The committee of the States-General, to whom the "Remon-
strance " of 1649 had been referred, reported a " Provisional order
for the government, preservation and peopling of New Netherland,"
which contained the following article :

VI. New Netherland being now provided with only one clergy-
man, orders shall be given, forthwith, for the calling and support of
at least three more ; one to attend to divine service at Rensselaer's
colonie ; the second in and around the city of New Amsterdam ; and
the third in the distant settlements ; and the commonalty shall be
obliged to cause the youth to be instructed by good schoolmasters. 2

Owing to a strenuous resistance on the part of the Directors of the
West India Company to the " Provisional Order " as a whole, it
was not ratified by the States-General. The Directors themselves,
however, seem to have finally regarded the wishes of the remonstrants
in ivu'Ard to the appointment of "at least two good schoolmasters,"
since they wrote to the Director-General, on the 4th of April, 1652,
as follows :

We give our consent, above all this, that one public school may be
established, for which one schoolmaster would be sufficient, and he
mi^-ht be engaged aty250 annually. We recommend you Jan de la
Montague, whom we have provisionally favored with the appoint-
ment. Your Hon. may appropriate the City Tavern for this purpose,
if this is practicable. 3

[The City Tavern, subsequently named the Stadt Huys or City

Hall, stood on the corner of Pearl street and Coenties slip

The present site is known as 71 and 73 Pearl street. 4 For a view and
description of this ancient edifice, see Valentine's Manual, 1852, pp.
378, 403.]

The actual service of Montagne is established by the following
minute :

5 N. Y. Col. Doc., i, 389. O'Call. N. K, ii, 134. 3 Alb. Rec., iv, 68.

3 All). Roc., iv, 74. 4 DiuislR-f, p. oS.

12 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

On the petition of John Morice de la Montagne, the Director
General and Council command the Comptroller to pay the supplicant
three or four months of his wages. 1

The fact that this second school was commenced and carried on for
a brief period, is clearly established ; but the absence 6f any subse-
quent reference to it, leads to the strong inference that its existence
was of short duration. The principal school, however, was uninter-
ruptedly conducted by Vestens [Yerstius], from 1650 to 1655. 2

Having already seen that a school was in contemplation at Bever-
wyck in 1643, it is interesting to find that An dries Jansz. was
employed as teacher in 1650. 8 We infer from the statement in the
next paragraph, that his service was of short duration.

The offices of clergyman and schoolmaster were nominally united
in the person of Rev. Gideon Schaets, who was employed at Rens-
elaerswyck Colonie in 1652, in addition to his regular services as
clergyman of the colony, " to pay attention to the office of school-
master for old and young." 4 "Whether he actually officiated in this
capacity does not appear from any subsequent records which we have
seen.

In 1654, Yerstius had petitioned the Classis of Amsterdam for an
increase of salary, 5 which seems not to have been granted.

The following Council minute occurs under date of January 26,
1655:

William Yerstius, schoolmaster and chorister in this city, solicited
the Council by a petition, as he had completed his service ; and
whereas there were now several persons fully competent to acquit
themselves in this charge, that he might be favored with his dismis-
sion,, and permitted to return to Holland in the first ship.

On which petition was given the apostil, that it would be commu-
nicated to the Consistory and Ministers. 6

The final action on the petition of Yerstius for dismission was as
follows :

Whereas William Yestius, chorister and schoolmaster of this city,
hath several times earnestly solicited leave to depart for the Father-
land, so is his request granted him ; and in consequence thereof, have
the Noble Lords of the Supreme Council, with the consent of the
respected Consistory of this city, appointed Harmanus Yan Hoboocken
as chorister and schoolmaster of this city, at ^35 per month, and grlOO
annual expenditures ; who promises to conduct himself industriously

1 Alb. Rec., vi, 49. " O'Call. N. N., ii, 567. Brodhead, p. 538.

2 Dunshec, p. 40. R Dunshee, p. 37.
3 O'Call. N. N., ii, 161, 162. "Alb. Rec., x, 6.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 13

and faithfully, pursuant to the instructions already given, or hereafter
to be given.

Done in Am., N. N., 23 March, 1655.

(Signed) NICASIUS DE SILLE,
LA MONTAGNE. 1

Mr. Dunshee enumerates Verstius as the third, Montague as the
fourth, and Hoboocken as the fifth of the official schoolmasters in
New Amsterdam (p. 51).

The following entry occurs on the Council minutes for Aug. 11,
1655:

A petition being read of Harm an van Hoboocken, now the choris-
ter in this city, soliciting, as he is burthened with a wife and four
small children, without possessing any means for their sustenance,
that his salary may be paid to him monthly, or, at least, quarterly,
so is, after deliberation, given as apostil as long as the supplicant
remains in service, he may depend on the punctual payment of his
salary. 2

The records of the burgomasters and schepens of New Amster-
dam, for Feb. 21, 1656, contain this minute :

The schout having exhibited, in conformity to instructions from
the Hon ble Director General and Council, the request of the school-
master, Harman van Hoboocken, in court, they endorse

Said schoolmaster shall communicate to the burgomasters and
schepens what he is allowed by each child per quarter, pursuant to
instructions from the Lord General and Council, which being done,
further order shall be taken on petitioner's request. 3

In 1656, the first survey of the city was made, and it was ascer-
tained to possess 120 houses and 1,000 souls; and "the number of
children at the public school having greatly increased, further accom
modation was allowed to Hoboocken, the schoolmaster." 4 His school-
house having been burned partly down, 5 he addressed the following
application to the city magistrates :

To the Hon b!e Lords, Burgomasters and Schepens of the city of New
Amsterdam :

Harmen van Hoboken, schoolmaster of this city, respectfully
requests that your Honours, would be pleased to grant him the Hall
and the side room for the use of the school and as a dwelling, inas-
much as he, the petitioner, does not know how to manage for the
proper accommodation of the children during winter, for they much
require a place adapted for fire, and to be warmed, for which their
present tenement is wholly unfit. He, the petitioner, burthened with

1 Dunshee, p. 37. Alb. Rec., x, 29, 30 ; xxv, 133.

"Alb. Rec., x, 81. 4 O'Call. N. N., ii, 540. Brod., p. 623.

N. Amst. Rec., ii, 357. 6 Paulding's N. Amst, p. 40.

14 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

& wife and children, is greatly in need of a dwelling for them ; and
. . he anticipates great inconvenience, not knowing how to man-
age for the accommodation of the school children ; and if your
Hon r cannot iind any, he, the petitioner, requests your Hon rs to be
pleased to allow him the rent of the back room which Geurt Coerten
at present occupies, which he, pet r , would freely accept for the present,
as he is unable to pay so heavy a rent as a whole house amounts to.

He therefore applies to your Honors, expecting hereupon your
Honors favorable endorsement. Was subscribed,

Your Hon rs servant,

HAKM. YAN HOBOKEN.
Dated 4 Nov. 1656.

[Endorsement.]

Whereas the City Hall of this city, the hall and little room whereof
the petitioner now requests for a school and dwelling, is not at pre-
sent in repair, and is, moreover, required for other purposes, the same
cannot be allowed him, but in order that the youth, who are here
quite numerous, may have the means of instruction as far as possible,
and as the circumstances of the city permit, the petitioner, for want
of other lodgings, is allowed to rent the said house for a school, for
which one hundred guilders shall be paid him yearly on a c of the
city, for the present and until further order. Done in Court, this 4:
Nov., 1656, at Amsterdam in New Netherland. 1

From the following statement it would seem that the rebuilding of
the schoolhouse was indefinitely postponed :

The burning of the schoolhouse while the youth were " doing so
uncommon well," led to the revival of the question of procuring a
suitable edifice ; and the magistrates of the city, writing the 7th of
the following November to the West India Company, " assert that
the only revenue to the city was that arising from the excise of wines
and beers, and that this was needed for immediate expenses in repair-
ing the city wall, the schoeyinge, the city hall, the watch apartments,
the building of the schoolhouse, and for several other improvements,
and ask thereon the advice of the company." 2 It is not known what
answer was returned to this application, but one thing is certain, the
condition of the city finances was such, " the old debt made in the
time of the English troubles being yet unliquidated," that the school-
house was not built. 8

The excise tax, above referred to, had been imposed by the Direc-
tor-General and Council as early as 1644, 4 and again in 1647, to
provide means to carry on the public service. In 1653, the proceeds
of the excise being inadequate, the city of New Amsterdam, which
during the preceding year had been invested with municipal privi-

1 N. Amst. Rec., ii, 640, 641.

s In the same letter " the building of schools " is mentioned, in describing " what is
most urgent."
3 Dunshee, p. 42. N. Amst. Rec., ii, 637, 638. 4 Brod. N. Y., p. 394.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 15

leges, was called upon to redeem certain pledges made by the Burgo-
masters, which they agreed to fulfill, provided the entire proceeds of
the excise were relinquished to them. 1 After a long dispute a com-
promise was made, the Burgomasters proposing to support, at the
expense of the city, the following, among others :

Of the Ecdesiastique.

One of the Ministers ;

One precentor, being at the same time schoolmaster ;

One Dog-whipper. (N. B. Now called sexton.) 2

This seems to have been the first municipal provision for the sup-
port of schools in the colony. It proved, however, to be merely
nominal ; and as neither the clergymen, the schoolmaster, nor the
sexton were paid, the Director and Council reclaimed the excise in
1654, and farmed it out, paying from the proceeds a part, at least, of
the salaries then due. 3

About the same time (1654), municipal privileges were granted to
the Dutch towns on Long Island, and a superior District Court was
organized, with general authority to regulate roads, build churches,
establish schools, and make local laws, subject to the approval of the
Provincial government. This arrangement continued until 1661, 4
though we as yet find no evidence that any of the local schools here-
after mentioned were thus established.

The condition of education, in 1657, is set forth in the following
communication in regard to the state of the churches in New Neth-
erland, addressed to the Classis in Amsterdam :

******

So it stands in this province with our churches. It is to be added
that (to our knowledge) not one of all these places, whether Dutch
or English villages, hath a schoolmaster, except the Manhattans,
Beverwyck, and now one also at Fort Casmir on the South river ; and
though some parents would give their children some instruction, yet
they experience much difficulty, and nothing else is to be expected
than a ruined youth and a bewilderment of men's minds. Scarcely
any means can be seen to remedy this evil : 1, because some villages
are only in their first establishment, and whilst people come naked
and poor from Holland, they have not means tp provide a minister
and schoolmaster : 2, because there are few qualified persons in this
' country who can or will teach.

At Amsterdam, in N. Netherland. JOH. MEGAPOLENSIS.
August 5, 1657. SAMUEL DKISIUS. 5

1 0'Call. K N., ii, 23, 255. 4 Brod. N. Y., 580. O'Call. N. N., ii, 271.

4 Valentine's Man., 1848, p. 378. " N. Y. Doc. Hist, iii, 71 (4 ed.), 107 (8 ed).
' O'Call. N. N., ii, 298. Brod. N. Y., p. 590.

16 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

While the official schoolmasters were remunerated from the Gov-
ernment funds, we find Adriaen van Ilpendam, and others, institu-
ting law suits against individuals, for the payment of tuition, in
beavers and shillings. 1

The currency of New Amsterdam was in general composed of
Indian money, called wampum or seawant, and of the skins of ani-
mals, principally of the beaver.

. The seawant gradually depreciated in value, so that in
1659, sixteen guilders in seawant, at the stated rate of value, were
required in exchange for one beaver, of eight guilders value ; about
three dollars each. 2

The following is a copy of the court record in regard to two suits
brought by Ilpendam :

Ordinary Sessions in Fort Orange,

1 Sept., 1660.

Adriaen van Ilpendam, plaintiff, vs. Gillis Pietersen, def.
The plaintiff demands of the defendant payment of ten and a half
beaver and two shillings, for school money.
The defendant acknowledges the debt.

The court condemns the defendant to pay the plaintiff the demanded
beavers, and this within six weeks.

Adriaen van Ilpendam, plaintiff, vs. Peter Lockerman, def.
The plaintiff demands payment of two beavers for one year's school
money.

The defendant acknowledges the debt.

The court condemns the defendant [as above]. 3

The earliest observed mention of Evert Pietersen, the sixth regu-
lar schoolmaster in New Amsterdam, occurs in the following quota-
tion :

Extract from the letter of Evert Pietersen, comforter of the sick,
and schoolmaster in the Colonie established by this city, Amster-
dam, on the South [Delaware] River, in New Netherland, dated
10th August, 165T :
We arrived here at the South River, on the 25th April, and found

20 families there, mostly Swedes, not more than 5 or 6 families

-belonging to our nation.

******

1 already begin to keep school, and have 25 children, etc.

******

EYERT PIETERSEN. 4 .

During the winter of 1658-59, the colony at New Amstel, on the
Delaware, experienced great distress, so that in a few months, famine,

Dunshee, p. 39. 3 Alb. Rec., vi, 295.

2 Paulding, pp. 28, 30, 81. 4 N. Y. Col. Doc., ii, 17.

TN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 17

sickness and desertion had reduced the population to less than thirty
families. Several of those who left the colony came to New Amster-
dam, among whom was Evert Pietersen, who from the first had been
their schoolmaster. . Here, according to Mr. Dunshee, he was employed
by the Director General, either as a colleague with Hoboocken, or
as his locum tenens, while he was disqualified from teaching by sick-
ness. It appears, however, from the action of the city officials, and
from an " Order in Council," which Mr. Dunshee quotes at length,
that he was superseded by Pietersen, and was subsequently employed
in Stuyvesant's " bouwery " as far north as Twelfth street, Pietersen's
school being at the south end of the island. 1

FRIDAY AFTERNOON, 16 January, 1660 : In the City Hall.

Mr. Hermen van Hoboocke requests by petition that he may
receive an allowance from the city, as he is behindhand with the
building of the school, and for divers other reasons set forth in the
petition ; on which petition is apostilled :

Petitioner is allowed to receive his current year's salary, which
shall be paid him at a more convenient season, on an order of the
burgomasters on the Heer Treasurer, and his allowance is henceforth
abolished. 2

The following is the " Order in Council " above referred to, dated
Oct. 27, 1661 :

Whereas, Harman van Hoboocken, before schoolmaster and choris-
ter, was removed because another was sent to replace him [Pietersen],
by the Lords Directors and the Consistory, solicits to be employed
again in one or other manner in the Company's service, so is he
engaged as Adelborst [signifying a sergeant or something above a
common soldier], and allowed 10 guilders per month and 175^. for
board, from 27th Oct., 1661.

Nota : Whereas the aforesaid Harman is a person of irreproacha-
ble life and conduct, so shall he be employed on the bouwery of the
Director General as schoolmaster and clerk [voorleser], with this con-
dition, that the Director General, whenever his service might be
wanted for the Company as adelborst, shall replace him by another
expert person. 3

From this date, until after the capitulation, there were two schools
under the care of the Consistory ; Pietersen's, at or near Fort
Amsterdam, and Hoboocken's, on the Bouwery. 4

The period of Pietersen's engagement is not definitely known ; but
on his return to Holland he petitioned the West India Company for

1 Dunshee, pp. 45, 47. f Alb. Rec., xix, 383.

N. Amst. Rec., Hi, 407, 408. * Dunshee, p. 47.

18 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

a permanent engagement, the Director General and magistrates
recommending his reappointment. 1

The Directors of the Company wrote to Stuyvesant, December 24,
1660:

We will consider the petition of Mr. Evert Pietersen, late school-
master and chorister in the colonie of the city, to be employed again
in the Company's service, and return thither with his wife, and
enquire here about his character, conduct and abilities, when we
shall communicate the result to your Honour. 2

Subsequently, the following letter, dated May 2, 1661, was received
by Governor Stuyvesant :

The Directors of the West India Company, Department of Amster-
dam, to the honorable, prudent, beloved, trusty Petrus Stuyvesant,
Director General and Council, make known :

Whereas, we have deemed it necessary to promote religious wor-
ship, and to read to the inhabitants the word of God, to exhort them,
to lead them in the ways of the Lord, and console the sick, that an
expert person was sent to New Netherland, in the city of New
Amsterdam, who at the same time should act there as chorister and
schoolmaster ; so it is, that we, upon the good report which we have
received about the person of Evert Pietersen, and confiding in his
abilities and experience in the aforesaid services, together on his
pious character and virtues, have, on your Honor's recommendation,
and that of the magistrates of the city of New Amsterdam, appointed
the aforesaid person as consoler of the sick, chorister and schoolmas-
ter, at New Amsterdam, in New Netherland, which charge he shall
fulfil there, and conduct himself in these with all diligence and
faithfulness ; also we expect that he shall give others a good example,
so as it becomes a pious and good consoler, clerk, chorister and
schoolmaster; regulating himself in conformity to the instructions
which he received here from the Consistory, and principally to the
instructions which he received from us, which he shall execute in
every point faithfully : Wherefore, we command all persons, without
distinction, to acknowledge the aforesaid Evert Pietersen as consoler,
clerk, chorister and schoolmaster in New Amsterdam, in New
Netherland, and not to molest, disturb or ridicule him in any of
these offices, but rather to offer him every assistance in ' their power,
and deliver him from every painful sensation, by which the will of
the Lord and our good intentions shall be accomplished.

Done by the Department of Amsterdam, on the 2d of May, XVIc
and sixty-one.

(Signed) ABRAM WILMERDONCX.

By order of the above,

C. YAN SEYENTER. 8

1 Dunshee, p. 48, O'CaH. N. N. , ii, 374, 388. Brod. N. Y., 652,653.

3 Alb. Kec., iv, 364, " Alb. Rec., viii, 331. Dunshee, p. 44.

72V THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 19

In a few days, another letter from the same source, dated May 9th,
1661, was received, in which Pietersen's salary is fixed, and instruc-
tions given with respect to the books he would need as krankbesoecker
(comforter of the sick) r 1

Honorable, prudent, beloved Faithful :

******

"We have engaged, on your Honor's recommendation and that of
the magistrates of the city of New Amsterdam, Mr. Evert Pietersen
as schoolmaster and clerk, upon a salary of ^36 per month [$15], and
<?125 [$52 + ] annually for his board, who is now embarked in the
ship The Gilded Beaver, 2 but not with his wife, whose indisposition,
as he said, prevented her departure. And whereas,, he solicited to
be supplied with some books and stationery, which would be of ser-
vice to him in that station, so did we resolve to send you a sufficient
quantity of these articles, as your Honor may see from the invoice.
Tour Honor ought not to place all these at his disposal at once, but
from time to time, when he may be in want of these, when his
account ought directly to be charged with its amount ; so, too, he
must be charged with all such books of which he may be in want as
a consoler of the sick, which he might have obtained from your
Honor, which afterward might be reimbursed to ^him, whenever he,
ceasing to serve in that capacity, might return these ; all these must
be valued at the invoice price. 3

This correspondence establishes Evert Pietersen as the sixth school-
master of the Keformed Dutch Church school. 4

The requirement that all teachers be licensed, seems to have been
duly observed and enforced, as appears by the following extracts from
the Council minutes and the New Amsterdam Records :

Andreas Hudde appeared before the Director General and Council,
and solicited a license to keep school, received for answer that the
Council shall ask upon his proposal the opinion of the Minister and
the Consistory. Done in New Amsterdam, 31 December, 1665. 5

On motion The Attorney-General is commanded, to go to the
house of Jacob Van Corler, who has, since some time, arrogated to
himself to keep school, and to warn him that Director General and
Council have deemed it proper to send him a supersedeas, till he
shall have solicited and obtained from the Director General and
Council an act in propria, forma. 19 February, 1658. 6

To the Rt. Hon ble Lords the Lord Director Genl. and Lords Coun-
cillors of N. Netherland ; .

Right Hon ble Lords The burgomasters and schepens of the city
of Amsterdam, in N. Netherland, represent . with all respect, that
some burghers and inhabitants of the abovenamed city have presented

1 Dunshee, p. 44. 4 Dunshee, p. 45.

N. Y. Doc. Hist, iii. 37 (4 ed,), 58 (8* ed.) 'Alb. Rec., ix, 309.

1 Alb. Rec., iv, 373. Alb. Rec. , xiv, U4.

20 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

a certain petition to this Court, whereof a copy is hereunto annexed,
remonstrating that your Honours were pleased to notify Jacob van
Corlaar, through the Ileer Fiscal Nicasius de Sille, not to keep any
school ; and as they, the petit nrs , find themselves greatly interested
thereby, as their children had forgot what the above named Jacob
van Corlaar had to their great satisfaction previously taught them in
reading, writing and cyphering, which was much more than any
other person, no one excepted ; therefore they request that the above
named Corlaar may be allowed again to keep school ; and although
the above named burgomasters and two schepens have spoken 'ver-
bally thereon to your Hon rs , and your Hon rs were not pleased to
allow it, for reasons thereunto moving your Hon rs , they therefore, in
consequence of the humble supplication of the burghers and inhabi-
tants aforesaid, again request that your Hon rs may be pleased to per-
mit the above named Corlaar again to keep school, which doing, we
remain your Hon rs subjects. The Burgomasters and Schepens.
In Amsterdam, in N. Netherland, the 5th March, 1658.

By order of the Burgom rs and Schepens of the city aforesaid.

JOANNES NEYIUS, See'y. 1

In Council, 19 March [1658].

Presented a petition of burgomasters and schepens of this city,
soliciting, that Jacob Yan Corlear, who, on the 19 February last, was
interdicted by the Director General and Council to keep school,
might be permitted it in the city. The apostill was

School-keeping and the appointment of schoolmasters depend abso-
lutely from the jus Patronatus in virtue of which Director General
and Council interdicted school-keeping to Jacob Yan Corlear, as hav-
ing arrogated it to himself without their orders, in which resolution
they do as yet persist. 2

Being presented a petition of Jacobus Yan Gorier, soliciting the
permission to keep school within this city, and to instruct children in
reading and writing.

For weighty reasons influencing the Director General and Council,
the apostill was nihil actum. 26 March, 1658. 3

A petition being presented of Jan Lubberts, soliciting, that he
might be permitted to keep school, to instruct in reading, writing
and arithmetic :

The apostill was :

The petition is granted, provided he conducts himself as such a
person ought to do. 30' July, 1 658. 4

To the Hon. Respectful, Yaliant Director General and Council

in K N. :

Shows with all due and submissive reverence Jan Juriaense Becker
your supplicant, that he, through the caprices of the unsteady For-

'N. Amst. Rec., iii, 87, 88. "Alb. Rec., xiv, 158.

'Alb. Rec., xiv, 151. " Alb. Rec., xiv, 318.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 21

tune since a short time not knowing why has been compelled to
become a tavern-keeper for which he nearly sacrificed all what he
possessed and whereas, the supplicant is apprehensive that many
difficulties, and even poverty is threatening him and his family So
is it, that the supplicant, imploring addresses himself to your Hon.,
soliciting most humbly, that it may please your Hon. to regard with
pity the supplicant, being an old Company's servant, and to employ
him as a writer in the service of the Company, either in the Esopus
here or anywhere else, where ever your Hon. might deem it proper
or if your Hon. cannot employ him at this time in their service that
then the supplicant might be permitted to keep school, to instruct
the youth in reading and writing, etc. Expecting a favorable apos-
till, he remains Your Hon. obedient ser't,

J. BECKER.
Done in Amsterdam, in N. Netherland, 15 Aug., 1660.

The apostill was: Fiat the keeping of a school. 16 August
[1660]. 1

To the Noble, great and Respected the Director General and Council

in N. Netherland :

Shows reverently, Johannes Van Gelder, a citizen and inhabitant
of this city, how that he, supplicant being tolerably well acquainted
with reading and writing, it has happened that several of the princi-
pal inhabitants of this city advised and encouraged him too to open
a public school, and consequently induced the supplicant who looks
out for a living in an honorable way to adopt their advice in the
hope that he shall execute this task to their satisfaction who shall
make use of his service but as this is not permitted, except that an
admission is previously obtained, so he addresses himself to your
Hon's, requesting their admission for this exercise viz keeping a
public school which doing, etc.

Your Honors' subject and servant,

JOHANNES YAN GELDER.

The apostill was : Fiat, quodpetitur. 21 September, 1662. 2

The foundation of the first academy and classical school, in the
city of New Amsterdam, has been ascribed 3 to a representation trans-
mitted to Holland, Sept. 19, 1658, as part of a petition of the burgo-
masters and schepens to the "West India Company, a copy of which
is hereafter given. "We find, however, an earlier document on this
subject, as follows *

The Directors of the West India Company to the Director General.

20 May, 1658 :
******

The Rev. Driesius mentioned to us more than once that it might,
in his opinion, be serviceable if a Latin school was established, in

1 Alb. Rec., xxiv, 374, 375. Pauldiug's N. Amst., 41. Dunshee, 52.

2 Alb. Rec., xx, 215.

22 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

which the youth might be instructed in which he was willing to
engage his service ; and whereas, we do not disapprove this plan, so
we thought its communication proper, that your Hon., if you con-
sidered it proper to make an experiment of such an establishment,
might advise us in what manner such an institution might be carried
into effect to the greatest advantage for the community, and with the
least expense to the Company. 1

The representation of the burgomasters and schepens, above
referred to, dated Sept. 19, 1658, was in the following words :

Right Hon ble , Wise, Prudent Lords and Patroons and Commissaries

of N. Netherland :
* * * * * *

Further, laying before your Hon rs the great augmentation of the
youth in the Province and place, which yearly increases more and
more, and finds itself now very numerous, and though many of them
can read and write, the burghers and inhabitants are nevertheless
inclined to have their children instructed in the most useful languages,
the chief of which is the Latin tongue ; and as there are no means
to do so here, the nearest being at Boston, in N. England, a great
distance from here*, and many of the burghers and inhabitants of this
place and neighborhood having neither the ability nor means to send
their children thither, we shall therefore again trouble your Hon r8 ,
and humbly request that your Hon r8 would be pleased to send us a
suitable person for master of a Latin school, in order that our child-
ren may be instructed in, and study such language, not doubting but
were such person here, many of the neighboring places would send
their children hither to be instructed in that tongue ; hoping that,
increasing from year to year, it may finally attain to an Academy,
whereby this place, arriving at great splendour, your Hon" shall have
the reward and praise, next to God the Lord who will grant his bless-
ing to it. On your Hon rs sending us a schoolmaster, we shall endeavor
to have constructed a suitable place or school. 2

The engagement of Alexander Carolus Curtius, as the first teacher
of the Latin school, is recorded in the following extract from the
Register of Resolutions of the Directors of the West Indian Com-
pany Department of Amsterdam, as communicated to the officials of
New Amsterdam :

THURSDAY the 10 April, 1659.

Appeared before the Directors, Alexander Carolus Curtius, before
a Professor in Lithuania, of whom mention is made in former min-
utes, who made an offer of his services, on which it was resolved to
engage him as schoolmaster in the Latin language, in New Nether-
land, on a salary of /500 annually, of which shall be advanced to him
a fourth, to provide himself with the necessary books, and moreover
he was presented by the Directors with one hundred guilders, which

1 Alb. Rec., iv, 268.
. "Paulding's K Amst., 41, 42. Dunshec, p. 52. N. Amst. Rec., iii, 233. -

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 23

he may employ in merchandise to be of service to him at his arrival
in N. Netherland.

When he arrives there, a proper spot for a garden and orchard shall
be given him by the Director General, while he is further permitted
to give private instruction, if it does not interfere with the office
which he has accepted. 1

The Directors wrote to the Director General, under date of April
25, 1659 :

Our earnest exertions to provide your city with a Latin schoolmas-
ter shall, we expect, be placed beyond doubt by the arrival of Alex-
ander Carolus Curtius, who was before a Professor in Lithuania,
whom we have engaged for this purpose, allowing him an annual
salary of /"500, . . . boarding included, besides one hundred
more as a gift, to purchase merchandise, of which he may dispose to
his advantage at his arrival, as you will see from the enclosed extract
of our resolutions, and the copy of our contract with him.

******

The books which the schoolmaster required to instruct the youth
in the Latin language, will not be made ready from the unexpected
departure of the vessels, wherefore this must be postponed to the
next opportunity. 2

The Latin schoolmaster was present at a meeting of the burgo-
masters in the City Hall, Friday, July 4, 1659 :

Alexander Carolus Curtius appears in Court, who is informed that
^200 are allowed him as a yearly present from the city ; an order on
the Treasurer is also handed him for ^50 over and above, which he
thankfully accepts ; but requests, as he has but few scholars as yet,
that his salary may be somewhat increased, as the beginning entails
great expense, saying, whenever he gets 25 to 30 children to the
school, he shall serve for less salary ; but refers it to the discretion of
the No : Magistrates. 3 '

The arrival of the Latin schoolmaster is also mentioned in a letter
from Stuyvesant and the Council, to the Directors, dated July 23,
1659:

The person of Alexander Carolus Curtius, whom your Hon.
engaged to instruct in the Latin language, arrived here. We hope
and confide that the community shall reap great benefits from it for
their children, for which we pray that a bountiful God may vouchsafe
his blessing. The state of this new institution shall be ere long com-
municated to your Hon. 4

The Directors wrote Stuyvesant, December 22, 1659 :

The complaints which have been made by the Latin schoolmaster
or rector shall, in our opinion, in great part be removed. Now

1 Alb. Rec.. viii, 201, 202. S N. Amst. Rec., iii, 378. Paulding's N. Amst., p. 42.
"All). Rec., iv, 303, 3U5. 4 Alb. Rec., xviii, 19, 2U.

24 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

henceforward the payment is made according to the value of Holland
currency. If to this sum is added that which he receives from his
pupils annually, then it would seem to be adequate for the sustenance
of a single individual more so as his salary from time to time
must be increased by the increase of the youth whose parents cannot
decently neglect to reward his endeavors which he bestows on the
instruction of their children. In this your Hon. ought to assist him,
and recommend him to the parents, as the circumstances of time
may permit. 1

The following is an extract from a letter of William Beeckman, at
that time Yice-Director of the colony on Delaware river, to Director
General Stuyvesant, dated New Amstel, March 15, 1660 :

Noble, Honorable, Kespectful, Wise and very Prudent Sir :

******

I kindly solicit that your Hon. will permit me when an opportu-
nity is offered to visit the Manhattans in May or June. I intend
to bring my two oldest boys to school. 2

It is presumed that Mr. Beeckman here refers to the Latin school
under consideration.

That Professor Curtius was also a physician, appears from the fol-
lowing extract of a letter from the Directors to Stuyvesant, dated
April 16, 1660 :

As we have been informed that Rector Curtius is practising physic,
and did solicit that we would provide him with an Herbarium, which
would be to him of great service, so we send him this book by the
present opportunity, which your Honour will deliver to him but
the book ought to remain the property of the Company so, too, the
books which have been lately transmitted. Tour Honour ought to
make a memorandum of all these articles, so that it may not be for-
gotten. 8 ,

Rector Curtius seems not, however, to have justified the anticipa-
tions formed in regard'to himself and the school. He soon became
involved in a petty, but protracted and unsuccessful lawsuit, as appears
from the following curious records of the Burgomasters' Court, com-
mencing Jan. 13, 1660 :

Capt. Jan Jacob, pltff. vs. Alexander Carolus Curtius, def. and Daniel
Tourneur, deft. Alexander default. Pltff. demands benefit of the
default.

Daniel Tourneur appearing, declares to have sold a hog for Capt.
Jacob to Alexander Carolus Curtius, for five beavers, and having
reed the hog, therefor saying and promising to give two beavers
down, and the remaining three at the end of the month.

1 Alb. Rec., iv, 325. 3 Alb. Rec., iv, 341, 342.

2 A-lb. Rec., xvii,48.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 25

Capt. Jacob says he hath attached the Galiot [hog?], requesting
that the attachment be declared valid.

The W : Court declare the attachment valid. 1

20 Jan. 1660.
Jan Jacobsen, pltff. vs. Alexander Carolus Curtius, def.

Pltff demands from def. five beavers for a hog, according to evi-
dence of Daniel Tonrneur, and the costs accrued thereon.

Def. offers an exception as not being amenable before this Court,
but before the Director General and Council ; says he purchased a
hog for two beavers and two blankets, and can prove so by Jan
Schriver, who, being called in, appears and declares that Dome.
Rector commissioned him to buy a hog for two blankets and two
beavers, and says that Daniel Tourneur, as authorized by Jan Jacobz.,
told him that Dome. Rector should have the hog for two beavers and
two blankets.

The W : Court order parties on both sides to summon their wit-
nesses against the next Court, to confront them with each other. 2

11 Feb., 1660.

Alexander Carolus Curtius appears in Court, requests that his wit-
nesses may be heard relative to the hogs in dispute with Capt. Jacob.

Jan Schryver appears as witness in Court, who is informed that
the Rector calls on him ; whereupon he declares that the hog in
question was bought for two beavers and two blankets ; offering to
confirm the same on oath.

And whereas, Capt. Jacob's witness has not been heard, Capt.
Jacob is ordered to summon Daniel Tourneur at the next Court day. 3

IT Feb., 1660.

Daniel Tourneur and Jan Schryver appearing in Court, are asked
about the sale of the hog which took place between Capt. Jacob and
the Rector Alexander Carolus Curtius.

Daniel Tourneur declares that, after many words of praising and
bidding, the hog was sold to Dome. Rector for five beavers, saying
that Capt. Jacob would not sell that hog less than five beavers, which
was told to the Rector ; to which the Rector answered, saying, in
God's name he had but two beavers, and he must wait for the other
three ; to which Capt. Jacob would hardly agree ; finally, througk
the mediation of Joannus Meulen, he let himself be persuaded ;
offeringto confirm the same on oath.

The W : Court gave the parties eight days respite to recollect
themselves, and if they have any proof, to bring it also in. 4

1 June, 1660. Deft [Curtius] default,

24 August, 1660.
Capt. Jan Jacobzen, pltff., vs. Alexander Carolus Cnrtius, deft, and

Danl. Tourneur as witness. Deft default.

Pltff produces certain written declaration of Daniel Tourneur
relative to the sale of the hogs in question, which the pltff sold to

'N. Amst. Rec., iv, 136. 3 N. Amst. Rec., iv, 182.

* N. Amst. Rec., iv, 143. 4 N. Amst. Rec., iv, 190, 191.

26 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

the deft, declaring, tinder offer of oath, that the same were sold for
five beavers ; and whereas Jan Schryver is also acquainted with the
purchase, he was ordered to be called, who, appearing, declares under
offer of oath, that the sale was for two beavers and two coverlets ;
and whereas both these offer to confirm their declaration by oath, the
"W : Court tendered the oath to Daniel Tourneur, who, having taken
the same, the deft was condemned to pay the plaintiff the five beavers
which he promised to pay for the hogs in question. 1

7 Sept., 1660.

Alexander Carolus Curtius appears in Court, acknowledging to
have received the judgment pronounced against him in the matter
between him and Capt. Jan Jacobz, saying for this time he submits
to the same. 2

Curtius was likewise at variance with the magistrates, as is indica-
ted by the following :

Extract from the Register of Resolutions adopted by the Hon ble Lord
Director Genl. and Council of New Netherland, on Tuesday, 25th
May, a. 1660.

* * * * * *

"Whereas the Hon ble Lord Director General and Burgomasters have
last year allowed and ordained the 'Heer Rector Carolus Curtius to
take six guilders per quarter, school money, for each boy, and Bur-
gomaster had, on these conditions, allowed him a yearly salary from
this city of two hundred guilders ; and whereas it has come to the
burgomasters' ears, that the Heer Rector, of his own pleasure,
takes one beaver per quarter from each boy, which is contrary to the
order, burgomasters do therefore hereby give him warning and notice
not to take any more than what is fixed upon by the Hon ble Lord
Director General and burgomasters, or through neglect thereof bur-
gomasters shall retain his yearly stipend which the Hr. Rector receives
from this city, and he shall receive no further allowance from this
city. Done Amsterdam, in N. Netherland, the 9th August, 1660. 3

i 12 July, 1661.

Alexander Carolus Curtius communicates in writing the offer of
his services, if this city will contribute to him six hundred guilders
a year in beavers, on condition of receiving no contribution from the
youth. "Whereupon serves as marginal order :

Burgomasters and schepens refer the petition to the Rt. Hon ble
Lord Director General and Council of New Netherland. 4

Still further, he was unpopular with his patrons :

. The parents complained of the want of proper discipline
among his pupils, " who beat each other and tore the clothes from
each other's backs." He retorted by saying, " his hands were tied, as
some of the parents forbade him punishing their children." The

1 N. Amst. Rec., iv, 295, 296. 3 N. Arnst. Rec., iii, 427, 428.

* N. Amst. Rec., iv, 315. 4 N. Amst. Rec., iv, 505.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 27

result was, the school changed rectors. Doctor Curtius returned to
Holland, and the Rev. ^Egidius Luyck, who had been brought over
specially to superintend the education of the Director General's sous,
became principal of the High School. 1

Director Stuyvesant wrote to the Directors of the "West India
Company at Amsterdam, July 21, 1661 :

# * * * * *
What Alexander Carolus Curtius, the Rector or Latin schoolmaster,

dismissed by your Honors, has remonstrated and requested of us on
his departure, your Honors can deduce from his annexed petition. 2
* * * * * *

No copy of this petition of Curtius seems to have been preserved,
nor do we find any later record concerning him.

"We are not aware that any town on Long Island had a school at an
earlier date than the one established at Midwout, now Flatbush.
A lot for a village schoolhouse was set apart by an

Ordinance of the Director General and Council of New Netherland,
authorizing the laying out of the village of Midwout. Passed 16

October, 1655.

* % * * * *

We, therefore,, do hereby authorize said magistrates, Stryker, liege-
man and Sioartwout, to lay out the aforesaid village according to the
exhibited plan ; provided that 5 a 6 lots be reserved for public build-
ings, such as for the Sheriff, the Minister, the Secretary, Schoolmas-
ter, Tillage Tavern and public Court House..

* ' * * ' * * *

Done in the Assembly of the Hon ble Director General and Council
of New Netherlands, holden in Fort Amsterdam. Dated as above. 3

The following document seems to refer to some of the aforesaid
lots :

To the Hon. Petrus Stuyvesant, and Members of Council in New

Netherland :

Remonstrate with all humility and due reverence the schepens of
the Court in Midwout how that they, remonstrants, often have peti-
tioned how necessary and how beneficial the four church lots would
be to the village Midwout and its inhabitants, and how much it
would relieve the burthens of the inhabitants when it pleased your
Hon. at length to give for an apostill that further written Miforma-
tion was required and in what manner it was intended that the
aforesaid church lots were to be administered.

Whereon we think it proper to communicate farther the following
information to your Hon., and to explain this somewhat farther. It

'Dunshee, p. 53. O'Call. N. K, ii, 546. Brocl., p. 694.

N. Y. Col. MSS., xiv, 296 (as translator! by Dr. O'Callaghan).

1 O'Call. Laws of N. N., p. 199. N. Y. Col. MSS., vi, 106.

28 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

should seem to us with submission to your Hon. better judgment,
that the best means were, by which the prosperity of the village of
Midwout and its inhabitants would be most efficaciously promoted
as we will take the liberty to explain more at large.

First, that 25 morgen 1 situated to the east with its appendages
migKii be employed to repair the church and keep it in a decent
order this is lying to the east of the plain and south of the road.

Secondly, the other 25 morgen lying too at the east side of the
market, and at the north side of the road, with its appurtenances
and privileges, to the maintenance of a school^ church service, etc.,
which, if it is approved and consented by your Honours, shall be

employed for these purposes.

# * # # * *

(Signed) JAN STRYCKER,

ADRIAEN HEGEMAN,

WILLEM JACOBSE YAN BOEREM.

By order of the Schepens of Midwout aforesaid.

PIETER TOOTEMAN, Secret, pro tern.

On this petition being read and considered, the following apostill
was given :

The two first points, with regard to the lots, are granted to the
supplicants so as they are favored with these, for those beneficial
purposes, as were explained by the supplicants.

X" *3 & & *X* *3

Done in the meeting of the Director General and Council, in Fort
Amsterdam, in 'New Netherland, on the 29 January, 1658. 2

That a school was actually established in Midwout as early as 1659,
appears from the following paragraph :

The early Dutch settlers . . . took measures for the educa-
tion of their children, and the maintenance of suitable schools. Among
the first records of the town, we find notice of the employment of
a schoolmaster. Much care seems to have been taken, not only in
the selection, but in the agreements formed with the teachers of their
children. The first schoolmaster of whom we have any knowledge,
was Adrian Hegeman, . . . one of the original proprietors of
the town. . . . He was the ancestor . . . probably of the
whole family of Hegemans, now living. He was engaged as school-
master from 1659 to 1671. '

From the records of the town, it appears that the schoolmaster
acted as town clerk ; and as the rates of tuition were low, previously
to the American revolution, the offices of sexton, and " foresinger,"
or chorister, of the church, were conferred upon him with a view to
increase his emoluments. 3

The same author gives further information relative to more recent
periods, which we reserve for future articles.

1 A mwrgen was about two acres. a Strong's Hist, of Flatbusb, pp. 108, 109.

2 Alb. Rec.,xiv, 73, 74, 75.

AY THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 29

The following document refers to a schoolmaster not mentioned in
Strong's History of Flatbush :

To the Director General and Council in N. Netherland :

We, the subscribers, remonstrate with submission that we thank-
fully received from our church a subsidy to the amount of /"4:15:10,
but there remain yet in arrears by Mr. Jacob N., surgeon .... /77

by our schoolmaster, Reinier 32

and yet by one barquier, Sander N 81

together /190

which we had flattered ourselves to pay of the remnants it is, how-
ever, so, that by want of payment, we must remain in want. So that
we are again compelled to address your Hons. and reverently to
solicit that we may be relieved from it. "Which doing, etc. 29
March, 1661. Midwout. In the name of our whole congregation.

JOEL THEO. POLHEMIUS,
JAN STRYCKER.

The following apostill was given : As soon [as] the state of the
treasury shall permit it then to the supplicant shall by the Com-
pany, in behalf of the church, be paid the half of the aforesaid sum
by the Receiver. 1

The second school on Long Island of which we find any record,
was established at the English settlement called Middleburg, now
Newtown.

After the death of Rev. John Moore, minister of Middleburg, in
1657, his family were left in quiet possession of the townhouse, the
only public building in the place, and which served, as occasion
required, the several purposes of a church, schoolhouse and parsonage.
After the lapse of four and one-half years, during which period the
town had been destitute of the public means of grace, the deficiency
was to be in part supplied by the services of a schoolmaster, and it
was expected that Mr. Doughty, who had married the widow of Mr.
Moore, would surrender the premises for the use of the new teacher.
He, however, objected to this, which gave rise to the following curi-
ous memorial, the original of which is in English, and illustrates the
antique handwriting and orthography of that period : 2

To the Hon. Lord Stuyvesant, Lord General off the New Nether-
lands, the humble petition of your Lordship's petitioners:

That whearas God hath beene pleased off laet years to deprive us
of Middleburrow, of Long Island, off the publyck meanes of grace
& salvation, and also of education of our children, in scholasticall
discipline, the way to true happinesse, but yet God in mercy of laet

1 Alb. Rec., xix, 95. J Biker's Annals of Newtown, pp. 46. 49, 52.

30 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

hath provided for us a helpe meete for the disciplyne of education of
our children, and by the same person helpe in the Sabath exercyses,
wee, therefore, who never gave nor consented to the giveinge off the
howsinge, and lands, buildt and fenced in, and alsoo dedicated for the
use off the publyck dispensation of Gods word unto us wee humbly
intreate your Honorable Lordshipe, that this our sayde schoolmaster,
Richard Mills by name, may bee by your Lordships order possessed
of the sayde housinge and lands for his use and ours alsoo, for our
childrens education and the Sabaths exercyse, the which God doeth
require, and we have neede for us and our children theroff ; as the
howsinge now stands, it is licke all to goe to reecke and ruyne, the
fences faellinge downe, the house and barne decayinge & wanteth
repayre, and Francis Dowtye doeth not repayre it, nor the towne, as
it stands betweene him and them, wil not repaire it, and by this
meanes is licke to come to nothing in a shorte time and soo wee and
your Lordship alsoo, by this meanes, shalle be disappointed ; therfore
our humble request is to your Lordshipp, is, that this our schoolmas-
ter, and at present our souls helpe in dispencinge God's word to us
and our children every e Lords day, may bee setteled in it, to injoye
it without any molestation, from Francis Doughty, or any of his, for
soo longe time our God shall bee pleased to continue him amongst us,
or to provyde another for us, thus knowinge that your Lordship is as
willinge, to further our soules good as well as our bodyes wee rest
your Lordships humble petitioners & loyal subjects. Was signed,
THOMAS HUNTE, MA&Y RYDER,

FRANCIS SWAYNE, JOHN BARCKER,
JAMES BRADISH, JOHN LAUSRIEN,

JAMES LAWRENSEN, THOMAS CORNISH,
NICOLAS CARTER, SAMUEL TOE.

This petition being presented to the Director General, Petrus
Stuyvesant, the following apostill was given upon it:

These presence doeth requiere and order Francys Doughty, and
whome it may concerne, to give and grannt a quyett possession unto
the present schoolmaster, Mr. Richard Mills, off the house and land,
beeinge with our knowledge consent and helpe, buildt for the pub-
lyck use off the ministery, & by that meanes it may nor cannot
bee given and transported for a privaet herrytadge ; provyded, if hee,
either his wyfe hath, to demaund any remaynder of meanes or wages
of her deceased husbande Mr. John Moor, laet minister of the
aforementioned towne it beeinge made and by these presence doeth
order the magestrates and inhabitants off the sayde towne to give
unto the heyrs, what is due to them. Actum Amst. in the N. N.
lands, this 18 th of February, 1661. Was signed,

P. STUYVESANT. 1

In compliance with this order the premises were vacated, and Mr.
Richard Mills, the first schoolmaster of Middleburg, entered upon
the duties of his vocation. 3

1 N. Y. Col. MSS., ix, 498, 499. Alb. Rec., xix, 13, 14. Biker's Annals, pp. 49, 50.
* Hiker's Annals, p. 50.

IN THE STATE OF NKW YORK. 31

The third of the Long Island schools seems 'to have been estab-
lished at Brooklyn. Mr. Stiles says :

The year 1661 will also be ever memorable in the history of
Brenckelen [Brooklyn] as having furnished to the good people their
first schoolmaster. On the 4th of July, 1661, the following petition
was presented :

" To the Eight Hon ble Director General and Council of New Nether-
land :

" The Schout and schepens of the Court of Breuckelen -espect-
fully represent, that they found it necessary that a court messenger
was required for the Schepens' Chamber, to be occasionally employed
in the village of Breuckelen and all around where he may be needed,
as well to serve summons, as also to conduct the service of the
church, arid to sing on Sundays ; to take charge of the school, dig
graves, etc., ring the bell, and perform whatever else may be required.
Therefore, the petitioners, with your Honors' approbation, have
thought proper to accept for so highly necessary an office, a suitable
person who is now come before them, one Carel van Beauvois, to
whom they have hereby appropriated the sum of fl 150, besides a
free dwelling ; and whereas, the petitioners are apprehensive that the
said C. v. Beauvois would not and cannot do the work for the sum
aforesaid, and the petitioners are not able to promise him any more,
therefore the petitioners, with all humble and proper reverence,
request your Honors to be pleased to lend them a helping hand, in
order thus to receive the needful assistance. Herewith, awaiting
your Honors' kind and favorable answer, and commending ourselves,
honorable, wise, prudent and most discreet gentlemen, to your favor,
we pray for your Honors God's protection, together with a happy
and prosperous administration unto salvation. Your Honors' ser-
vants and subjects, the Schout and schepens of the village aforesaid.
By order of the same.

"(Signed) ADRIAEN HEGEMAN, Secretary." 1

In answer to this petition, the Director and Council were graci-
ously pleased to say that they would " pay fifty guilders, in wampum,
annually, for the support of the precentor (voorsanger) and school-
master in the village of Breuckelen."

Carel de Beauvois, who was thus commissioned to fulfill the multi-
farious duties of court-messenger, bell-ringer, grave-digger, chorister,
reader, and schoolmaster of Breuckelen, is described by Riker as a
" highly respectable and well-educated French Protestant, who came
from Leyde'n, in Holland. . . . He arrived at Amsterdam, in the
ship Otter, February IT, 1659. . . . His literary merits and
acquaintance with the Dutch language soon acquired for him the
situation of a teacher ; " but in 1661, as we have seen, his duties were
enlarged by his appointment to the office of chorister and reader.
He afterward served as public secretary or town clerk, which office
he held until 1669. 2

1 N. Y. Col. MSB., ix, 678. Alb. Rec., xix, 194.

2 Stiles' Hist. Brooklyn, i, 116, 117.

A movement for the building of a schoolhouse in New Amsterdam
is indicated by the following petition, dated Feb. 2, 1662 :

To the Noble-great and Respected the Director General and Council

in N. Netherland.
Noble-great and Respected :

Shew with all due reverence to your Hon'e, the burgomasters of
this city, whereas they supplicants have resolved to construct a good
schoolhouse for the benefit of the inhabitants of this city for which-
is required a useful and proper and well situated lot and whereas,
such a lot, just behind the house and lot where Mr. Jacob Vaneranger
resides in the Brewer street opposite the house and lot of Johannis
de Peyster is existing, so is it that your supplicants solicit your Hon.
that it may please them to favor them with this lot viz broad along
the street 30 feet and further, in depth the half of its length, to
employ this gift for a similiar purpose.

Expecting hereon your Hon's favorable disposition, we are and
remain your Hon's humble supplicants, the burgomasters of this city
Amsterdam, in N. Netherland.

By order of the same, and signed

JOANNES NEYIUS, Secretary.

On this petition was given for apostill :

The Director General and Council deem it, for various reasons,
more proper that the schoolhouse be constructed on a part of the
present church yard. 1

There is no evidence . . . that the schoolhouse was built as
contemplated. 2

"We have already quoted a statement that ^Egidius Luyck suc-
ceeded Curtius in the rectorship of the Latin school. He arrived at
New Amsterdam in January, 1662, being then twenty-one years of
age. The following communication shows his original purpose in
coming, and why he was afterward employed in a wider sphere of
instruction. It will be borne in mind, in connection with these quo-
tations, that the barbarous English is due to the translator of the
" Albany Records " (Yan der Kemp), whose eminent learning obvi-
ously did not include the familiarity with the English language
requisite for a translator. As a teacher, minister and magistrate, Mr.
Luyck seems to have maintained a good reputation in New Amster-
dam for some twelve or more years, and it is quite reasonable to pre-
sume that his formal introduction in the following paragraphs fails to
do him literary justice :

To the Noble Lord the Director General and High Council in N.

Netherland :

Shews with all humble reverence, that whereas I, undersigned,
called for the private instruction of the Director General's children,

1 Alb. Rec., xx, 39. 9 Dunshee, p. 47.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 83

sometimes have by a few inhabitants here, who saw and heard the full
satisfaction be it said without the least arrogance of the aforesaid
Hon. Lord upon the good method of inculcating the first principles
of the Latin and Greek languages, as in writing, arithmetick, catechi-
sing, and honorwn morum praxis with respect to his children and
even by his Hon. seriously solicited to request that I might be
employed in the Rectoratum of this city and his Hon. fully
acquainted with the necessity of having the youth in a now rising
place and that several who in behalf of their children submitted
before to troubles and expenses under the former Doctor now
should be compelled to sacrifice all their prospects, or at a yet greater
expense send their children to the Patria.

So his Hon. deemed it proper to employ me for this end, promis-
ing that he would advise and recommend it to the Lord Directors
so that a salary might be allowed to me.

With this looking forward I remained satisfied, returned to the
school, and exerted every nerve so that the number of my disciples
was increased to 20 among whom were two from Virginia and two
from Fort Orange and ten or twelve more from the two aforesaid
places were expected, while other were intended to board with me.

But while I was waiting with patience for an answer from the
Directors, I nevertheless did not receive it, without knowing its cause.

I offer, notwithstanding, cheerfully to continue in my service, but
solicit most earnestly and humbly that the Director General, with his
High and Faithful Council, that it may please them to provide me
with a decent salary, so as I cannot doubt, it shall meet their appro-
bation, as well knowing that I cannot hire on the small payment
which is received from the disciples and as a laborer deserve his
wages and if I might obtain a favorable resolution, my ardour and
zeal to acquit myself well of my duty must be of course increased
by which I am encouraged to remain.

Your Hon. humble and obedient servant,

^EGIDIUS LUYCK.

Fort Amsterdam, in N. Netherland, 30 July, 1663.

The following apostill was given by a majority of votes :
The supplicant ought first to address himself to the College of the
Lords Directors of the Privileged West Indian Company, Depart-
ment of Amsterdam. Done at Fort Amsterdam, in IN. Ketherland,
9 Aug., 1663. 1

Advise of the Director General on the request of Rev. Luyck :
My advise on the request of the Rev. ^Egidius Luyck is, that I
condescend to acquiesce in the majority of votes. Nevertheless, being
of opinion that the instruction of the youth, with well regulated
schools, is not less serviceable or less required than even church ser-
vice that the many proofs, too, of the supplicant's piety, talents and
diligence in instructing children, and his more than common pro-
gresses which have been during five quarters of a year such, that
they far excel the instructions of the late rector, Alexander Carolus

'Alb. Rec.,xxi,257,258.

34 ANNALS OP PUBLIC EDUCATION

Curtius as will be attested by the ministers of the holy word of
God, and other competent judges to which ought to be added, that
such a plan is contributing effectually to increase the renown of this
place and school and really an actual advantage, so well for our
youth as for our inhabitants, as by example, the increase of the school
from Virginia and elsewhere for these and other reasons, partly
already explained in that petition, it would be my advice, that afore-
said ^Egidius Luyck, to encourage him in his service, ought to enjoy
the quality and salary, which the Lords Directors of the Privileged
West Indian Company, Department of Amsterdam, granted to the
first Latin schoolmaster, Alexander Carolus Curtius. If not abso-
lutely, at least with decent intercession and recommendation, under
the aforesaid Lords Directors. Done in Fort Amsterdam, in N.
Netherland, 9 Aug., 1663. 1

To the Noble, Great and Respectful the Director General and
Council in N. Netherland :

Gentlemen With due respect and gratitude embraces your Hons.
supplicant the apostill and address to the noble, great and respectful
Lords Directors, not doubting, your Hon. kind recommendations and
intercessions shall obtain the desired effect, while in the meantime
your Hons. supplicant finds himself once more compelled to address
your Hons. and to remonstrate with due respect, that what your
Hon. prudently referred to the College of the Noble Directors as
Lords and Patrons of this Province, was already performed and
requested in behalf of the supplicant, as evidently appears by the
letters received by the supplicant from his father and mother, show-
ing that the proposal of the Director General and Council should be
answered, and that the transactions of the Director General in this
case were approved, so that it but under correction, of your Hons.
wiser and further seeing judgment in the supplicant's humble
opinion in similar affairs, it would be fruitless to address themselves
de novo to the aforesaid Directors, in an affair already left by them
to the College of the Director General and Council, and of which the
circumstances and necessity must be better known to your Hons. than
to the aforesaid Directors without any farther orders or directions
about it. Therefore renews the supplicant his humble request, that
it may please your Hons. to appoint and confirm the supplicant, either
absolutely or provisionally, in the solicited Rectorate, with the
ordinary salary or to favor the supplicant with your Hons. favorable
recommendations to go -with the vessels now laying ready to sail-
on a short trip under God's guidance to the Fatherlande, to solicit
there in person, agreeably to your Hons. apostill, the desired appoint-
ment, with the salary annexed to it -so as the common proverb says
no better messenger than the man himself for which I solicit
your Hons. apostill in the margin.

Noble-great and Respectful my Lords,

Your humble and obedient servant,

^EGIDIUS LUYCK.

Fort Amst., in N. Netherland, 16 Aug., 1663. 2

' Alb. Bee., xxi, 259. " Alb. Rec., xxi, 269, 270.

/^ THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 35

To the Noble, Great and Respected, the Director General and Coun-
cil in N. Netherland :

N. G. and Respected ! Shew to your Hons. with all reverence,
the burgomasters of this city, Amsterdam, in N. Netherland, that
they have been informed as the Rev. JEgidius Luyck thus far
exerted himself to instruct the youth so from this place as from
other places, to learn the Latin language, in which, too, they have
made considerable progress, to the full satisfaction of their parents ;
and whereas the aforesaid Luyck, till this moment, remains ignorant
if any salary for his labours is intended by your Hons. to bestow
upon him so as he now is soliciting by his petition presented this
day ; and whereas, on your Hons.- recommendations, and our letters
last year written to the Directors, the aforesaid Rev. Luyck was
requested to act here as schoolmaster in the Latin language, in lieu
of the late Rector Curtius, on such a salary as should be allowed to
him by the Directors of which he has no information that any con-
clusive step was made, so is it that we, experiencing the good instruc-
tion and discipline of our youth, deem ourselves obliged humbly to
solicit your Hons. that it may please them to grant the supplicant a
favorable disposition on his written request with granting him such
a salary as your Hon. in their wisdom and discretion shall deem
proper. So that the supplicant's growing zeal to the detriment of
your Hons. and that of our children and the youth of this city with
that sent hither from other places may not be cooled but rather
daily may be increased to the renown and glory of this city by
our neighbors and other further remote places in the hope that this
our just request shall be maturely considered by your Hons., so that
your Hon. shall favor the aforesaid Luyck with an ordinary and com-
petent salary, by which we shall feel ourselves obliged, and remain
Your obedient subjects,

The Burgomasters of the city aforesaid.
By order of the same: JOANNES NEYIUS,

Secretary.

Amsterdam, in N. Netherland, 16 Aug., 1663. 1

The preceding petition being presented and read, the following
apostill was given :

The Director General and Council are, with the supplicants, of
opinion that the continuation and encouragement of the Latin school
is necessary and, as it is customary in our Fatherland, that such
persons by the cities which make use of them are engaged, so are
the supplicants authorized by this, to allow such a salary to the afore-
said Rev. Luyck as they shall deem reasonable of which salary
Director General an4 Council provisionally upon the approbation
of the Noble Directors shall pay the half. 16 Aug., 1663.

Nota : In virtue of this authorisation, the burgomasters agreed
with the Rev. ./Egidius Luyck, that he shall receive annually, in
seewant [wampum], a 8 fora st. thousand gl., [1,000 guilders =$400],
of which the Company shall pay the half. 2

' Alb. Rec., xxi, 271, 27?, a Alb. Rec., xxi, 273,

36 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

We are indebted to Henry Onderdonk, Jr., of Jamaica, L. I., for
the following item, with various others hereafter quoted :

Jonas Houldsworth was clerk of Hempstead, and schoolmaster, in
1662. He was also a teacher at Southampton, and, I think, at Hunt-
ington. His name may be seen in Thompson's L. I.

The employment of a schoolmaster in Bushwyck is recorded in the
Council minutes, under date of Dec. 20, 1663 :

Appeared in Council, the Commissaries of the village of Bush-
wyck, notifying how that they in their village were in great want of
a pei-son who would act as clerk (voorleser) and schoolmaster, to
instruct the youth ; and whereas 'there was proposed to them the
person of Boudewyn Maenhout, from Orampen de Lekf that they
had agreed with him, viz. : that he should officiate as clerk (voorleser),
and keep school for the instruction of the youth for which he should
receive /"400 in seawant, annually, besides free house rent they
solicited therefore, that this transaction might be approved by the
Director General and Council in N. Netherland, and that the Com-
pany would contribute annually something to facilitate the payment
of said salary.

Which being taken in consideration by the Director General and
Council in N. Netherland, the engagement of the person and the
agreement with the aforesaid Boudewyn Maenhout is hereby
approved, provided that he shall previously be examined by the Rev.
Ministers of this city, and if they deem him competent for the task,
then shall annually be paid by the Company, to render it more easy
to aforesaid village to pay that salary, to the aforesaid Boudewyn,
y25 heavy money.

Done in Fort Amsterdam, in N. Netherland, on the day as above. 2

The village of Bergen, now of New Jersey, but formerly included
within the limits of New Netherland, seems to have had a school as
early as 1661 or 1662, as appears from the following petition :
To the Director General and Council residing in N. Netherland :

Shew reverently, the Sheriff and Commissaries of the village of
Bergen, which they presume, is known to your Honours, that before
the election of the Commissaries, ye were solicited for Michiel Jan-
sen, deceased, to be favored with the appointment of a clerk (voorleser),
who should at the same time keep school, to instruct the youth, the
person of Engelbert Steenhuysen, who possessed the requisite abili-
ties, so is it that the Sheriff and Commissaries now a year past pro-
posed it to the community, who then approved it, and resolved to
engage him not only as clerk (voorleser), but with the express stipu-
lation that he, besides this function, was to keep school, which the
aforesaid Steenhuysen engaged to do, and did so daring five quarters

1 A village in the Province of Holland on the river de Lek ; there is another on
the Menzo. ( Van der Kemp.)
"Alb. Rec.,xx, 297.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 37

of a year for which was allowed him/ 1 250 in seawant, annually
besides some other stipulations besides the school-money so as
reason and equity shall demand Now is it so, that the aforesaid
Engelbert Steenhuysen, whereas he has a lot and house, and a double
farm, situated in. the jurisdiction of the village of Bergen, is, by the
complaints of the majority of the community, obliged, with the other
inhabitants, to provide for the sustenance of a soldier, by which the
aforesaid Engelbert Steenhuysen considers himself highly aggrieved,
and so resigned his office, pretending that a schoolmaster and clerk
ought to be exempted from all taxes and burthens of the village
which he says is the common practice through the whole Christian
world which, by the Sheriff and Commissaries, is understood can
only take place when such a clerk or schoolmaster does not possess
anything else but the school-wharf [lot] but by no means when as
a schoolmaster in possession of a house and lot, and a double farm
that he, in such a case, should pay nothing from his lot and lands
and the community at large is of the same opinion, as he receives his
salary as clerk, and not only is obliged to act well in his capacity as
clerk (voorleser), but even to look out and procure himself a proper
and convenient place to keep school, which he thus far neglected, and
pretends that the community must effect this, so that he may keep
his school in it. They cannot perceive how Engelbart Steenhuysen
can be permitted to resign his office, when he neglected to notify his
intention a half year before wherefore the supplicants address them-
selves to your Hon., humbly soliciting them to insinuate to the afore-
said Engelbart Steenhuysen to continue in his service this second
year and to decline, if the aforesaid Engelbart Steenhuysen is or is
not obliged, by his possession of a lot and farm, to provide in the
maintenance of a soldier, so well as the other inhabitants. Expecting
upon this your Hon. resolution, which doing, remain your Hon. s't.

TIELMAN VAN YLEECK.
CASPER STEINMETS.
17 December [1663.]

The Sheriff, Commissaries and Engelbart Steenhuysen, mentioned
in this petition, being summoned to appear before the Council, and
being heard, parties at length, after many discussions, agreed that
Engelbart Steenhuysen shall serve his time, agreeably to the contract
mentioned in said petition, so as he ought to do. 1

The employment of Johannis la Montagne, jun. (probably the per-
son who served in the City Tavern in 1662), as schoolmaster at (New)
Haerlem, is recorded as follows :

To the Noble, Great and Respected Lords, the Director General and
Council in New Netherland :

Gentlemen ! With reverence and due submission shew your noble,
great and respectful supplicants, subjects residing at N. Haerlem
. . . . having seen and experienced, from Sabbath to Sabbath,

1 Alb. Rec., xxi, 439, 440.

38 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

the small success of the public congregation, and fully believing that
better care might be taken of the interests of religion, and the whole
worship with more decency performed, if a clerk and schoolmaster
on a fixed salary could be engaged, so that the word of God might be
heard, an edifying sermon read, catechising introduced, and the sick be
visited, it seemed, therefore, to the supplicants of your Sons., whose
office is to attend to the common welfare and advantages of aforesaid
village . . . to be their duty to speak with the congregation on
this subject, and to endeavor to persuade Jean de la Montagne, an
inhabitant of that place, to save expence, that he would accept this
office by permission wherefore they deemed it proper to address
your Hon. as the patrons of the church of Jesus Christ, and humbly
. . . . to solicit that it might please them to consent, both to the
establishment of that office and the appointment of said person for
the benefit of the church of God, and the not less necessary instruc-
tion of the children but considering . . . their present utter
inability to provide a competent and decent salary, and that it was
not in their power to collect more for his sustenence than 24 schepel
corn, they are now most reverently soliciting that it may please your
Hon. agreeably to their usual discretion, to contribute something for
a decent salary and the better encouragement of

Your humble supplicants and subjects . . .

TEITRNEUR,

JOHANNES VERVEELEN.
This is I. P. the mark of JAN PIETEKS.
Done in N. Haerlem, 25 December, 1663. 1

[In Council], 10 January [1664].

Presented and read the preceding petition of the Commissaries of
N. Haerlem, and heard the verbal information of Mr. Johannis Ver-
veelen, now one of the Commissaries, that it is highly necessary that
some person be appointed there as schoolmaster and clerk, so is it,
that Director General and Council accept for this purpose the pro-
posed person of Johannis la Montagne, junior and that he may
officiate in both these offices with greater diligence, so shall be annu-
ally paid to him by the Company, the sum of fifty yl. at the rate of
the Company's treasury. 2

On the lYth day of March, the Director General and Council
issued an edict, requiring the practice of a custom long known in the
fatherland, ... to wit : " the public catechising of the children." 3

The first civil ordinance in New Amsterdam enjoining this prac-
tice, was as follows :

1 Alb. Rec., xxii, 9, 10. 3 Dunshee, p. 47.

"Alb. Rec., xxii, 11.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 39

Ordinance

Of the Director General and Council of New Netherland, for the
better and more careful instruction of youth in the principles of the
Christian religion. Passed 17 March, 1664.

Whereas, it is most highly necessary and most important that the
youth from childhood up be instructed not only in reading, writing
and arithmetic, but especially and chiefly in the principles and funda-
mentals of the Reformed religion, according to the lesson of that wise
King, Solomon Train up a child in the way he shall go, and when
he is old he will not depart from it so that in time such men may
proceed therefrom, as may be fit to serve their Fatherland as well in
the Church as in the State. This, then, being taken into particular
consideration by the Director General and Council of New Nether-
land, because the number of children is, through the merciful blessing
of the Lord, considerably increasing here, they have deemed it neces-
sary, in order that so useful and God-acceptable a work may be the more
effectually promoted, to recommend and command the Schoolmasters, 1
as we do hereby, that they shall appear in the Church, with the chil-
dren committed to their care and intrusted to them, on Wednesday
before the commencement of the Sermon, in order, after the conclu-
sion of Divine service, that each may, in the presence of the Reverend
Ministers and the Elders who may be present, examine his scholars as
to what they have committed to memory of the Christian command-
ments and Catechism, and what progress they have made ; after which
performance, the children shall be dismissed for that day, and allowed
a decent recreation.

Done, Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, dated as above. 2

The following extracts from the official records of Southampton,
L. I., have been furnished by Mr. William S. Pelletreau, of that town :

1663, Sept. 22. At a town meeting, "By ye major vote it is
ordered and concluded that Jonas Houldsworth shall have 35 lb8 . for
his schooling per annum, for the term of three years at least, and his
pay to be answerable to ye pay engaged to him by Hempstead, with
ye allowance of 12 days in the yeare for his oune particular occasions."

1664, Sept. 5. At a town meeting it is ordered that there shall be
a schoolhouse of 20 feet long and 15 feet wide, built at the town's
charge and finished fit for use before winter.

Mr. Pietersen, who was employed in 1661, as the sixth official
schoolmaster in New Amsterdam, continued to serve in that capacity
until at least 1668 or 1669. The following items are taken from the
New Amsterdam Records :

TUESDAY, 11 Octob., 1664. In the City Hall.
* * # * * *

Mr. Evert Pietersen, schoolmaster of this city, represents, as his
allowance from the Company is struck on , that burgomasters and

1 These were Pietersen and Hoboocken. Dunahee, p. 48.

*N. Y. Col. MSB., x, pt. iii, 101. O'Call. Laws of N. N., 461. Alb. Rec., xxii, 100.

40 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

schepens shall be pleased to keep him at the same allowance ; to wit :
^36 per month, ^125 for board, Hollands currency, free house for
school and residence, and free passage to Patria ; offering his service
and to continue the same.

Apostille : Petitioner shall have to be patient for the space of
eight days, when his petition shall be disposed of. 1

No attention seems to have been given to this petition at the time
designated, perhaps on account of the pending troubles, resulting,
a few days later, in the surrender of New Netherland to the English.
The Burgomasters' and Schepens' Court was continued, however, as
appears from the records thereof, until November 10, 1774. From
these records we copy further facts in regard to schools, as follows :

Sept. 19, 1665.

The petition of Mr. Evert Pietersen, schoolmaster and precentor of
this city, being read & considered, requesting that he may have some
proper fixed solarium, as he was heretofore paid his wages by the
Hon ble Company, and has been continued in his employment from
that time to the present.

Is apostilled as followeth : Whereas order shall be shortly made
relative to the salary of the ministers of this city, under which the
precentorship also comes, proper order shall then be made herein
likewise. 2

8 May, 1666.

Capt. Steynmets entering demands payment of a year's rent of his
house, hired to the city as a city school, due on the first of this month ;
amounting to the sum of ^260.

Petitioner is requested to wait yet a while, as there is at present no
money in the chest. 3

Feb. 16, 166|.

Evert Pietersen, schoolmaster and precentor, appearing and deliver-
ing an a c . of earned salary w ch he claims from the city, requests pay-
ment and further allowance for his future services : If not, says he
will leave.

Resolved to speak to the Governor hereupon. 4

SCHOOLMASTERS IN NEW NETHERLAND.

As the foregoing " Annals " have been arranged chiefly with
reference to the chronological order of the events narrated, we have
thus far oihitted many interesting personal facts which it is now pro-
posed to present in the form of biographical notices, the whole com-
prising (with the facts contained in the "Annals") all that we know
of the several schoolmasters of New Netherland.

1 N. Amst. Rec., v, 606. N. Amst. Rec., Ivi], 178.

'N. Amst. Rec., [vi], 73. 4 N. Amst. Rec., [vi], 436.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 41

OFFICIAL SCHOOLMASTERS.

ADAM ROELANTSEN, " The First Schoolmaster." 1633-1639.
Nothing is known of Roelantsen prior to 1633, except that he was
born about the year 1606, 1 and that he is several times mentioned as
" from Dockum," a city in the northern part of Holland, and once
as " van [from] Hamelwaard." There are a few documents in which
he is mentioned as " schoolmaster " or " late schoolmaster " in New
Amsterdam ; from all of which it is presumed that he followed this
vocation from 1633 to 1639. He is more frequently mentioned in
connection with court proceedings and business transations, at various
times between 1638 and 1653, after which latter date we find no
mention of the name Roelantsen. From the character of the suits,
some fifteen in number, in which he was engaged, sometimes as plain-
tiff and sometimes as defendant, with alternations of success and
defeat, we have reason to believe that he was at times imprudent and
passionate in his language, easily provoked to quarrel with his neigh-
bors, and guilty, in at least one instance, of unchaste demeanor. He
was also either plaintiff or defendant in at least five slander suits,
in one of which he was made to acknowledge that his antagonist
was an honest man, while in another both parties were fined thirty-
five stivers for the benefit of the poor. Three of these slander
suits were in 1638 and the early part of 1639, and may have been
the occasion of his abandonment of teaching, and of his temporary
emigration from New Amsterdam to the colonie of Renselaers-
wyck, where, in 1639, his name was enrolled as a settler. He soon
reappears at New Amsterdam, where he incurred a second fine
for slander, and also sued two of his neighbors ; one for a washing
bill, another for trespass in the case of damage done by cattle.
These events occurred in 1640 and 1641. In 1642, he employed a
carpenter to build a house according to a contract which is still on
record. He likewise executed the deed of a house and lot, evidently
of little value, as it was occupied at the time by the Company's
negroes. He was " weighmaster " in 1643, and obtained the patent
of a lot in New Amsterdam. The baptism of two of his children is
thus recorded :

Tryntje, June 2, 1641.
Daniel, Feb. 3, 1644. 2

Nothing further is recorded of him until 1646, when he was left
with four motherless children, for the management of whom, together

1 N. Y. Col. MSS., i, 50. Valentine's Manual, 1863, p. 800.

42 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

with the property of the late Mrs. Eoelantsen (Lyntje Martens), four
curators were appointed, one being " Jan Stevensen, schoolmaster."
In July of the same year he had two more law-suits, one of which
was for slander. During the months of August, September and Octo-
ber he seems to have visited Holland, and on his return was sued for
the passage money of himself and his son. His successful plea in
defence was, that he worked his passage as a sailor, and that his son
said the prayers. A contract for lumber, and the deed of a house and
lot on Manhattan Island, are recorded as business transactions of the
same autumn. On the 17th of December, he was convicted of adulte-
rous conduct, and sentenced to be publicly flogged, and then banished ;
but in consideration of his children and the wintry season, the execu-
tion of the sentence was postponed, and was not finally enforced. In
1647, " he was thrown out of the tavern by order of fiscal Van Dyck ;"
was appointed provost ; and gained his cause in an action for debt
against the sheriff of Breuckelen (Brooklyn). In 1649, one Jan Appel
was authorized by power of attorney to receive a lot of beavers from
Jan Flodder and Adam Roelansten. In 1653, he was a private in
the Burgher corps of New Amsterdam, and, like Curtius, closed his
record with a law-suit respecting pork. What further befell either
himself or his children does not appear.

The foregoing facts may be verified and more fully investigated by
reference to O'Callaghan's " Calendar of Dutch Manuscripts " and
" Register of New Netherland ;" the New Amsterdam Records, and
Yalentine's Manual for 1863, pp. 559-561.

JAN STEVENSEN. 1643-1648.

It has been supposed that Stevensen kept a private school, and
if so, he is probably the first one of this class of whom any record
occurs. The earliest mention of him, so far as we have observed,
is under date of July 3, 1643, at which time a patent was granted
to "Jan Stevensen, schoolmaster, of a lot north of Fort Amster-
dam, for a house and garden." 1 As already stated in connection
with Roelantsen, he was appointed one of the curators of Mrs.
Roelantsen's children and estate, March 9, 1646, being then desig-
nated as " schoolmaster." 2 On the 20th of July, 1647, a power of
attorney was given by "Jan Stevensen, schoolmaster, to Luycas
Smith, to receive certain moneys from the W. I. Company at Amster-
dam," 8 and on the 31st of August, 1646, a similar power was given
to Stevensen himself by one Schut, 4 from which we infer that he went

1 Cal. Dutch MSB., p. 367. 3 Gal. Dutch MSB., p. 38.

2 Cal. Dutch MSB., p. 99. 4 Cal. Dutch MSB., p. 42.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 43

to Holland about this time. This inference seems to be confirmed
by the fact that, on the 26th of October following, Peter van der
Linde was appointed clerk of the church (voorleser) vice Steven-
seii ;* and further, by a statement made on the 13th of August, 1649,
chat " Jan Stevensen, late schoolmaster at New Amsterdam, sold a
house and garden north of the fort." 2

In view of the foregoing facets, it seems almost certain that Steven-
sen was an official instead of & private schoolmaster, and that he is
the one referred to in Stuy vesant's communication to the " Nine Men,"
dated November 14, 1647 (see p. 7). If this be so, he probably
officiated during the long interval between Roelantsen and Cornelissen,
and is entitled to rank as the second official schoolmaster in New
Amsterdam.

JAN CORNELISSEN. 1G4(?)-1650.

Very little is positively known in regard to the life and character of
this schoolmaster, or the period of his service in this vocation. As a
family name, Cornelissen frequently occurs in the colonial records,
and there evidently were two or more of them bearing the Christian
name Jan. A carpenter by this name settled in Renselaerswyck in
1635, and was employed by Arendt van Curler to build a house in
1643. 3 This was doubtless a very different person from the school-
master, who was probably identical with one said to come " from
Hoorn," and who, in 1647, executed a power of attorney to a certain
person to receive money from his (Cornelissen's) guardian in Hol-
land. 4 Deeds of two lots in New Amsterdam, were given by the same
person, in the year!653. 5 In 1658, " Rutgert Jansen was beaten by
Jan Cornelissen, so that the blood flowed." It appeared in court that
abusive words passed between the parties, and both were fined ; Cor-
nelissen, twelve guilders, the other, six. 6 In 1660, Jan Cornelissen,
" the Zealander," had a law-suit with Pieter Janzen, about a road
across land sold to the former. 7 The next year (1661), Jan Cornel-
issen was appointed one of the three magistrates of Bushwyck, 8 and
in 1674, a person of the same name was plaintiff in a suit in New
Amsterdam, which ended in an amicable settlement. 9 It is possible
that all these facts, excepting that respecting " the carpenter," refer
to "the schoolmaster," though this cognomen is not associated with
the name in any of the records here cited.

1 Cal. Dutch MSS. , p. 121. e N. Amst. Rec., iii, 64, 65.

8 Cal. Dutch MSS., p. 21. 7 N. Amst. Rec., iv, 162, 194.

8 O'Call. Hist. N. N., i, 435, 458. 8 O'Call. N. N., ii, 430. Brod. N. Y., p.

4 Cal. Dutch MSS., p. 40. 698.

6 Cal. Dutch MSS., p. 377. 9 N. Amst. Rec., vii, 117.

44 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

It is proper to add, that, several members of other families seem to
have been christened " Jan Cornelissen," and that one such person, a
son of Cornelis Jansen, is referred to in the Index to the Calendar of
Dutch Manuscripts, and in the body of that work, under the name
Cornelissen.

WILLIAM YERSTIUS. 1650-1655.

Nothing appears on record in regard to Mr. Verstius, so far as we
have observed, beyond the facts stated in the foregoing "Annals "
(pp. 10, 12, 13).

JOHANNES DE LA MONTAGNE, JUN?, New Amsterdam^ 1652;

Ha&rlem, 1663.

Dr. Johannes de la Montagne, senior, was born in 1592, and came
to New Netherland in 163T. By his first wife, Rachel Monjour, he
had four children, of whom Johannes, or Jan, the subject of this
sketch, was the eldest. Jan was twice married ; first to Petronella
Pickoll, by whom he had a son named Yincent, who attained the
remarkable age of one hundred and sixteen years, and is the ancestor
of all the La Montagne family in these States; and afterwards to
Maria Vermilyea, whose three sons were named Abraham, Isaac and
Johannes. There were, therefore, three generations bearing the
characteristic name of Johannes [or Jan]. The second Jan, the
schoolmaster, known as "junior," was one of the pioneer settlers of
Haerlem, on Manhattan Island. 1 He also held the following offices
under the colonial government, in addition to that of schoolmaster :
clerk in bookkeeper's office, prior to 1655; farmer of the revenue
(tavern excise), New Amsterdam and Long Island, 1657-8; fire-
warden, New Amsterdam, 1658; schoutfiscal (sheriff), Haerlem,
1661 ; magistrate, Haerlem, 1662, 1663. 2 Judge Benson's " Memoir,"
read before the New York Historical Society in 1816, gives a num-
ber of interesting reminiscences of the family (pp. 32-34).

HABMEN VAN HOBOOCKEN. 1655-1664.

In addition to the facts already given, we have ascertained that
Hoboocken lost his wife about the year 1656 ; married Marritje Pie-
ters, a widow, Oct. 26, 1662, and that he had children baptized as
follows :

Emmetje, Feb. 12, 1655.
Johannes, Nov. 12, 1656.
Hendrickje, May 28, 1664. 8

1 O'Call. N. N., ii, 21. s Val. Man., 1862, p. 640 ; 1863, pp. 564, 834.

2 0'Call. Keg. N. N., pp. 26, 34, 41, 96, 97, 113.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 45

EVERT PlETEESEN. 1661-1668 (?).

We learn, in regard to Pietersen, that he was made executor of
Domine Welius, July 12, 1661, 1 and married Aillegond Joris, a
widow, for his second wife, June 16, 1669. 2 He resided on the south
side of Brewer (now Stone) street, 3 and his estate was assessed at
/2,000, in 1674. 4

ALEXANDER CAKOLUS CUKTIUS, First Latin Schoolmaster. 1659-1662.

We find nothing respecting Curtius, beyond the extended state-
ment in the foregoing "Annals " (pp. 22-27").

LUTCK, Second Latin Schoolmaster. 1662-1664.

^Egidius Luyck came to New Amsterdam in January, 1662, for
the purpose of instructing the sons of Director Stuyvesant. He was
then twenty-one years of age, and, though young, bore the title of
domine, or reverend ; but he was merely a theological student at that
time. Upon his arrival here, he took charge of the Latin school,
established three years before, and which had been up to this time
under the care of Alexander Carolus Curtius. At the time of the
capitulation, which occurred in October, 1664, he took the oath of
allegiance to the English. 5 In 1665 he visited Holland in company
with Director Stuyvesant, who went there to vindicate his course in
giving up New Amsterdam to the English without resistance, and
while there gave testimony at different times on the subject. Luyck
returned to New Amsterdam, 6 and in December, 1671, was invited to
perform service on Sabbath evenings, on account of the sickness of
Domine Drisius, he (Luyck) having already officiated several times
acceptably. 7 He was a burgomaster in 1674, and was possessed of
considerable property, being assessed at ^5,000 in a tax list dated
New Orange, 19th February, 1674, signed by himself, among others,
as one of the commissaries. 8 He was plaintiff in a law-suit about this
time, and obtained judgment for ^652, or j?158. 9

As burgomaster, he signed the articles of capitulation at the recap-
ture of the city in 1674. When, on the final restoration of the
colony to the English, the inhabitants were required to take the oath

1 N. Amst. Rec., iv, 558. 4 N. Y. Col. Doc., ii, 469.

a Val. Man., 1862, p. 618. T N. Amst. Rec., vi, 653.

8 Val. Hist, of N. Y., pp. 115, 120, 325. 8 Alb. Rec., xxii, 406 ; xxiii, 182, 183 ; see,

4 Alb. Rec., xxii, 406. also, xiv, 74.

' N. Y. Col. Doc. , iii, 75. N. Amst Rec., vii, 175, 220, 225, 229, 230.

46 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

of allegiance to the new government, Luyck, with others, refused to
do so, 1 and soon after left the country, finally, for the fatherland. 2

In December, 1663, Luyck was married to Judith Isendoorn, who
has generally been supposed to have been connected with the Stuy-
vesant family, but whom recent investigations prove to have been
only a namesake of another person thus connected. Domine Selyns,
who was gifted with considerable poetic talent, invoked the muses at
this marriage festival, which has been classed among the notable ones
of that early period. 8 We are indebted to a volume of the " Brad-
ford Club Series," entitled " Anthology of New Netherland," by the
Hon. Henry C. Murphy, for the following elegant version of Selyns'
Nuptial Song, which furnishes a pleasing episode to our narrative :

NUPTIAL SONG

FOR ^EGIDIUS LUYCK AND JUDITH VAN ISENDOORN, MARRIED THE SECOND DAY OF

CHRISTMAS.

AIR Christmas Night.

1. O, Christmas night ! day's light transcending ;
Who no beginning had or ending

Until He man became, was God.
Then He who ne'er before was human
Was born in Bethlehem of woman,

When nips the frost the verdant sod.

2. This richest babe comes poor in being,
More pearled within than to the seeing

With diadem and royal power ;
He takes no heed of greater places,
But that small spot alone embraces,

Where light illumes the midnight hour.

S. A maid remaining is the mother
Of our salvation- working author,

Who so defends us by his grace,
We either death or devil fear not,
For God in Him became incarnate,

And wrestles with that hellish race.

4. This Prince, do they desire to find him ?

They're worn-out swaddling clothes that bind him.

A manger, spread with hay, 's his bed.
His throne is higher than the highest,
Yet he among the cattle lieth.

What Him, to such a lot, has led ?

'N. Y. Col. Doc.,ii, 500.

1 Murphy's Anthology of N. N., (BRAD. Club Series), p. 171.

"Val. Man., 1862, p. 772.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 47

5. And as they bring this child before them,
Luyck conies and marries Isendooren,

Standing before this Christlike crib ;
, And finds when her consent is shewn,
Flesh of his -flesh, bone of his bone,
For Judith is his second rib.

6. Now seeks he God with chaste affection.
Who take before such crib direction,

Are better than this Bethlehem,
Which Christ no resting place will give ;
For they, the after-life, shall live

With Him in New Jerusalem. 1

Seljns' sportive fancy is well exhibited in a second poem in honor
of the same nuptial pair. On account of the length of this produc-
tion, we give only extracts therefrom :

BRIDAL TORCH

FOR REV. ^Eoroius LUYCK, RECTOR OP THE LATIN SCHOOL AT NEW AMSTERDAM,
AND JUDITH VAN ISENDOORN, LIGHTED SHORTLY AFTER THE ESOPUS MURDER
COMMITTED AT WILTWYCK, IN NEW NETHERLAND, BY THE INDIANS, IN THE
TEAR 1663.

How soon the flame of war the flame of love destroys !
For Mars comes wickedly, the innocent to injure ;

Nor does it Cupid please, who peace and love enjoys,
And starts, at sight of arms, to hide himself from danger.

*****

And had he not betimes unto his wings betaken,
They sure had killed or wounded him, or captive borne

For Indian chiefs to serve, or Indian forts to work in.
But quickly sat he on the mountains of Katskil,

And thus his woe bewailed : " Domestic joys ne'er bless you,

Till Hymen tends my loves, and wedlock serves my will."

* * * * *
With these and like complaints the rogue his time did spend,

And then flew back again, to town and hamlet hieing.
But where he flew nor bow nor arrow had to bend ;

And his vocation so with difficulty plying.
*****

The captives, now and then, as from the grave return ;
The savage monster's slain ; his wife and children vanish ;

His maize is all destroyed ; his fort burnt to the ground ;
His guns for booty ta'en ; his seewan fills our coifers.

*****

Oft through interpreters, for terms the Indians sue ;
The port of peace to gain they earnestly endeavor.

When Cupid hears of this, he comes with great ado
And asks, " Who has my bow? and wails, " Where is my quiver? "

* * * * *

1 Murphy's Anthology, pp. 133, 135.

48 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

They gave his weapons back, but made him no reply,
Seeking to hush his wrath by thus his arms restoring.

He quickly seizes them, and draws his bow on high,
As if he wished to pierce some special mark above him.

The fort, New Amsterdam, is now by all possessed ;
While Judith stands beneath, Luyck looks from the embrasure,

And ere they see or think, he shoots Luyck in the breast.
Nor does one shaft suffice his cov'nant-making pleasure. ,

" Where did he shoot ? where was 't he shot ? " inquire the folks.
Luyck speaks not, for he feels something his heart is boring.

As all look up at Luyck, so Judith upward looks.
He shoots a second time and pierces Isendooren.

This great commotion makes and causes, far and wide,
Reechoings of joy. While speaks he not, the cry

Resounds throughout the land : " Joy to the groom and bride,
Joy to the married pair, and joy eternally."

" Blessings a thousand fold, attend them both," they shout,
" In body and in soul, here and hereafter flowing.

Joy fill the house within : no sorrow lurk without :
Who gives us happiness, the same on them bestowing."

Now we, who from this rogue, do neither child of Mars,
Nor Venus understand, nor yet the ways of mortals,

Save what to wedlock leads and from uncleanness bars,
Wish them the best increase, and joy within their portals.

May this new married pair, peace and salvation know :
The budding hopes of Luyck and worth of Isendooren,

Develop more and more, and thus with time so grow,
They at the dying hour, the port of heaven may moor in. 1

RICHARD MILLS, Middleburgh (Newtown), L. 1. 1657(?>-1661.

In the foregoing " Annals," we have spoken of the school at Mid-
dleburgh as probably the second one established on Long Island. It
appears, however, from O'Callaghan's " Register of New Netherland "
(page 120), that Mr. Mills, the teacher of the school, officiated in the
place of the late minister, Rev. John Moore, as early as 1657 ; and it
is not improbable that his duties of schoolmaster were assumed at
that time. If this inference be correct, Mr. . Mills was probably the
first instead of the second schoolmaster on Long Island.

He removed to Westchester in 1661, where he became involved in
a civil disturbance, which led to his arrest and imprisonment. Mr.
Riker says :

Richard Mills, the late schoolmaster of Middleburgh, did much to
forward the revolt at "Westchester, 2 of which place he had become a
resident and the leading magistrate. Stuyvesant had him arrested,
and he remained in prison more than a month, but pleading with

1 Murphy's Anthology, pp. 137-147.

8 This was an attempt to throw off the Dutch authority.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 49

much importunity to be liberated, " being ancient and weakly," and
intending in September to sail for Virginia, the Council, on June
18, 1663, passed an order for his release, and he, some time after, left
the province. 1

Copies of two successive petitions by Mills for release from imprison-
ment, 'are given at length in " Bolton's History of Westchester
County," vol. ii, 167, 168. We have met with nothing further, illus-
trative of his early life or subsequent history.

ADRIAEN HEGEMAN, Midwout (Flatbush). 1659-1671.

Rev. Dr. Strong, in his History of Flatbush (p. 109), says of
Adriaen Hegeman : " He was one of the original proprietors of the
town, and was the owner of the farm lying immediately north of the
property now [1842] in the tenure of Mr. Isaac. Cortelyou. He was
the ancestor of the widow of the late Peter Lefferts, and probably of
the whole family of Hegemans now living. He was engaged as
schoolmaster from 1659 to 1671." It also appears that he was a
magistrate of Midwout as early as 1654, 2 was appointed sheriff in
1660, 3 officiated as secretary of schout and schepens' court of Breucke-
lyn in 1661, 4 and was schout, and member of a convention held at
Midwout, in 1664. 5 His widow, Cattelyna Hegeman, is mentioned as
applying to the Commanders and Honorable Council, in 1673, for
leave to proceed with immediate execution against debtors, which was
granted. 6

Dr. Strong mentions another Adriaen Hegeman, perhaps a son of
the former, as schoolmaster in Flatbush from 1719 to 1741, and also
mentions, in his reminiscences of the Revolution, that the British
" knocked out large port-holes in the house of Adriaen Hegeman
which stood on the spot where Mrs. Cynthia Lefferts is now [1842]
living." 6

CAEEL DE BEAUVOIS, Breuckelen (Brooklyn). 1661- (?)
A brief sketch of this person (the greater part of which, as quoted in
Stiles' History of Brooklyn, has been given on pages 185, 186), and
the genealogy of his descendants, will be found in Riker's Annals of
Newtown, pp. 406-410. "We only add the following record, from
which it appears that he originally intended to teach in New
Amsterdam :

1 Riker's Annals of Newtown, p. 59. * Ante, p. 131.

2 O'Call. Register of N. N'., pp. 76, 145. 6 N. Y. Col. Doc., ii, 602.

3 Stiles' Hist, of Brooklyn, i, 112. ? Strong's Hist, of Flatbush, pp. 110, 143

50 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

FRIDAY, 27th June, 1659. In the City Hall.
******

The undersigned persons appear in Court, requesting their Small
Burgher Right : Carel Beauvois, of Leiden, intending to keep school
here ; Puck Jensen van Oldenburgh ; Antony van Aalst, all of whom
have taken the Burgher oath. 1

ANDEIES VAN DEE Smrs, 2 Esopus (Kingston). 1658(?).

This person wrote to Director Stuy vesant, from Esopus, Sept. 28,

1658, as follows :

******

The inhabitants here are very desirous to retain me in the service
[of voorleser or reader], in order to explain the word of the law
according to my poor ability, and to catechise the children and instruct
them in reading and writing ; but inasmuch as mine Heer General
had spoken with them about a minister, they cannot engage me for a
term of years. Therefore it is my humble and respectful petition to
mine Heer General, that he would be pleased to assist me herein or
otherwise, so that I may by this means and the help of God get hon-
estly through the world. 3

******

"We find no mention of this application in the Council minutes, nor
any further evidence that he officiated as schoolmaster at Esopus.

AKENT EVEKTSEN MOLENAAR, New Amstel (Delaware}. 1661. 4
This person seems to have succeeded Evert Pietersen as school-
master at the above settlement.

ENGELBERT STEENHUYSEN, Bergen. 1661-1663(?).

REINIER, Midwout (Flafbush). 1661-{?).

JONAS HOULDSWORTH, Hempstead, 1662 ; Southampton, 1663-1 665(?) ;

Huntington (?) (?).

BOTJDEWYN MAENHOUT, Bushwyck. 1663-(?).

"We find nothing beyond the documents heretofore quoted, relative
to either of these schoolmasters.

ANDRIES JANSZ (JANSEN), Remelaerswyck. 1650.
Among the signers of the " Address of citizens of Albany to the
Earl of Bellomont," dated Aug. 24, 1700, 5 and on the list of free-
holders in Albany in 1701, 6 we find the name of Andries Jansz. His
child, Catryntje, was baptised Sept. 8, 1672. 7

' N. Amst. Rec., iii, 377.- & N. Y. Col. Doc., iv, 754.

1 0'Call. Reg. N. N., p. 132. 6 N. Y, Col. Doc., iv, 940.

3 N. Y. Col. MSB., xii, 89. 7 Val. Man.,'1863, p. 781.
* O'Call. Reg. N. N., p. 133.

/jv THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 51

JACOB JOOSTEN, Wiltwyck (Kingston). 1660-1665.
MATTYS CAPITO, Wiltwyck. 166(?).

We are indebted to Jonathan Hasbrouck, Esq., of Kerhonkson,
Ulster county, for the following facts :

Jacob Joosten, from " Raagh ande Mesel, 1 in Duyslant," came
down to Wiltwycke (Kingston), from Fort Orange, in the fall of
1660, and opened both a " day and night school." He held catecheti-
cal exercises twice a week. He was voorleezer (reader), and in the
organization of the first court, May, 1661, he was appointed messen-
ger or constable. He received from the bench two hundred guilders
in sewan per year, which probably covered his office in church, for the
court paid the church bills by a morgen taalen (land tax). At first
he did not have a day school during the summer season, but about
1664 and 1665, he kept one. He, however, kept up the night exer-
cises all the year, except during " oost tyd" (harvest time). He married
6th August, 1662, Ariaentje Beschuer, born in Welpe in Gelderland,
a widow of Marcus Leenderse, of Fort Orange. He died childless
about 1680, and left a small estate to Gerret Cornelissen, New Kerke.
I omitted in proper order to say, that he was discharged from office
because of disobedience, 1665. Wm. Montagne succeeded him in the
schoolroom, but that was under the English. The schoolroom was at
first in the shanty which served for guard-house, church and court-
room as well. The roof rested on a pole which laid in the crotch of
two trees. On the erection of a court-room and church in 1661, he
moved his school to it, and stayed in it until he " quit school." He was
paid by subscription of the patrons of his school, and received his pay
in beans, peas, oats, wheat, hops, etc.

Mattys Capito, secretary of the Esopus, taught a school at one time,
but I cannot learn when. He sued Hester Donsoeise for the school-
ing of her daughter, 1665.

PRIVATE SCHOOLMASTERS IN NEW AMSTERDAM.

ADRIAEN JANSEN VAN ILPENDAM. 1645-1660.
Mr. Valentine says :

For the year previous to his [Roelantsen's] banishment, one Arien
Jansen van Ilpendam settled here and opened school. 2 Having no
competitor after Roelantsen's banishment, 3 it is to be supposed that
Yan Ilpendam succeeded in making his pursuit profitable, inasmuch
as children were fast accumulating in the town. The terms of tui-
tion charged by this teacher were two beavers per annum.
We find, from various sources, that Yan Ilpendam taught several

1 Wesel, (?)

'Mr. Dunshee (p. 51) mentions two private schoolmasters, "Aryaen Jansen" and
" Adrian van Ilpendam," whom we conclude to be one and the same person, Adriaen
Jansen van Ilpendam.

3 We find no evidence that Roelantsen had been teaching for several years prior to
his banishment, i. e., from 1639 to 1646 ; nor, as we have already seen, was the sen-
tence ever enforced.

children, who afterwards were among the leading citizens in town.
He lived in this city and taught school during many subsequent years,
at least as late as in the year 1660. But of his ultimate history we
can ascertain nothing. It appears certain, however, that he left no
descendants in this colony. 1

We find, however, the following additional record in the "Abstract
of Patents," in the office of the Secretary of State, from which we
conclude that Ilpendam removed to Beverwyck (Albany) and lived
there a number of years :

May 21, 1667 To Adriaen Jansen van Ilpendam, to confirm a
conveyance to him, made March 14, 1658, by Jochem Wessels, of a
certain lot of ground lying in Beverwyck, at Albany. 2 * * *

"We have also quoted in the "Annals " (p. 16), a court record dated
at Fort Orange (Albany), in 1660, in relation to school money.

DAVID PKOVOOST. 1647 (?).

Dr. O'Callaghan, in his " Register of New Netherland," speaking
of the " Nine Men " (p. 55), says : " They held their sessions in
David Provoost's schoolroom ; " and on page 130, he mentions
Aryaen Jansen [Yan Ilpendam] and David Provoost, as school-mas-
ters in 1647.

Mr. Provoost was a prominent citizen of New Amsterdam, and
one of the " Nine Men," in 1652 ; but we find no other mention of
him as a schoolmaster.

In the list of baptisms in the Dutch Church, we find the names of
nine children of David Provoost. These baptisms occurred between
February 24, 1641, and March 26, 1656. 3 He died in 1656, leaving
his widow, Margaret Jellisen (or Qillisen), and several children who
afterwards became prominent citizens, and whose descendants are
now numerous in the State. 4

JOOST CAKELSE. 1649. 5

We find no original record of his service as a schoolmaster, but
learn that he took the oath of allegiance to the English at the capitu-
lation in 1664, 6 and that he had five children baptized between Sept.

15, 1658, and Oct. 14, 1666.'

' Valentine's Manual, 1863, p. 561. 5 O'Call. Reg. N. N., p. 130.

2 Abs. of Patents, p. 162. 6 N. Y. Col. Doc., iii, 75.

3 Valentine's Manual, 1863, p. 804. ' Val. Man., 1863, p. 750.

4 Valentine's Hist of N. Y., p. 143.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 53

HANS STETN. Licensed, 1652.

The following record occurs in the Council minutes for Sept. 2,
1652:

On the petition of Hans Steyn, soliciting permission to keep
school, granted. 1

It appears from an affidavit made Dec. 7, 1638, that he was, at that
time, a midshipman, twenty-four years of age. 2 He had a son, Lau-
rens, baptized Aug. 10, 1652 ; 3 was a deputy jailor, in 1664, residing,
for a period, in the city hall ; was taxed, in 1665, for the city defences ; 4
but soon returned to Holland, as appears from an affidavit made in
Amsterdam in 1666, in which his age is said to be "about forty-
seven." 5 It will be observed that there is a discrepancy of five years
in the above two statements, as to the age of Steyn, which is not
reconciled by reference to the original records.

ANDRIES HUDDE. Applied for a License, Dec. 31, 1654.
In December, 1654, this person, 'as already seen, applied fbr a
license to teach school, which application was referred to the minister
and consistory, but with what result does not appear ; though it is
assumed by Dunshee 6 and others, that it was granted, and that he is
therefore entitled to be classed among the private schoolmasters of
New Amsterdam. Hudde was born in Amsterdam, in 1608 ; camo
to this country in 1629, and married Geertruyd Boornstra^ widow of
Hendrick de Foreest. He was a member of the Director's Council
in 1633, 1636 and 1637 ; provincial secretary, in 163(?) ; commissary
of stores, in 1637 ; surveyor general, in 1642 ; commissary at Fort
Nassau, on the Delaware river, in 1645 and 1647 ; whence he after-
wards returned to New Amsterdam, and was again surveyor of New
Netherland, in 1654. In 1657, he returned to the settlements on the
Delaware, where he held various official positions, from 1655 to 1663.
During the latter year, while on his way to Maryland, he was seized
with a fever and died. 7

JACOBUS VAN CURLER. 1658.

This person was born about the year 1611, as appears by sundry
" declarations " in the Register of the Provincial Secretary, in which
the age of the deponent, as usual, was stated. He held various offices

1 Alb. Rec., vi, 3. Cal. Dutch MSB., p. 126. 6 N. Y. Col. Doc., ii, 475.

"Alb. Rec., i, 68. 6 Dunshee, p. 51.

3 Val. Man., 1863, p. 812. 'Valentine's Manual, 1863, p. 163.

4 Val. Hist, of N. Y., pp. 85, 316. O'Call. Reg. N. N. (See Index.)

54 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

in the colony, from 1633 to 1662. In 1658, as already seen, he
attempted to teach without a license, and having subsequently applied
for permission, was peremptorily refused upon what seem to have
been technical grounds (see p. 20).

The following marriage refers to the subject of this sketch :
Aug. 4, 1652. Jacob Coorlaar ; from Nietiercke.

Lysbeth van Hoogvelt, from Aernham. 1

JAN LUBBEKTSEN. 1658. *
Marriage record :

June 7, 1659. Jan Lubbertsen, from Edam.

Magdalena Theuris, from Voorsthuysen. 8
Baptisms :

Eight children, from Dec. 29, 1660, to Aug. 25, 1683. 4

JAN JURIAENSE BECKEK. Licensed, Aug. 16, 1660.

The earliest mention of Becker which we have seen, is under date
of August 24, 1656, at which time, as clerk of the church at Fort
Casimir on the South (Delaware) river, he petitioned for a salary,
which was granted. 5 In January, 1660, "William Beeckman, writing
from Altoona to Stuyvesant, states that Jan Jurianse Becker reads
the sermons on Sundays. 6 It appears from his petition, already
quoted, for a license to teach, that he was at that time keeping tavern,
and we find that he had then been convicted of selling liquor to the
Indians, and fined five hundred guilders for the oifence. 7 He, how-
ever, applied for a pardon, which was promptly granted 8 on the
ground that this was a common practice, as shown by the affidavit of
other parties. He seems finally to have removed to Albany, and to
have been an alderman in 1690-1692. 9

FJSANS CLAESSEN. 1660.
Mr. Valentine says :

" In 1660, Frans Claessen kept a private school in this city. He
died in 1662." 10

We find his name, however, on the list of inhabitants taxed for the
city defences, in 1665. 11 His child, Tymon, was baptized, September
26^ 1657. 12

1 Valentine's Manual, 1861, p. 645. " Alb. Rec., xxiv, 192.

51 O'Call. Reg. N. N., p. 131. " N. Y. Col. Doc., iii, 771, 772, 773 ; iv,

3 Val. Man., 1861, p. 649. 941.

4 Val. Man., 1863, p. 792. 10 Val. Man., 1863, p. 565.

5 Cal. Dutch MBS., p. 173. Val. Hist, of N. Y., p. 316.

6 Cal. Dutch MSB., p. 340. " Val. Man., 1863, p. 751.

7 Cal. Dutch MBS., pp. 209, 210.

/# THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 55

JOHANNES VAN GELDEB. Licensed, Sept. 21, 1662.

Marriage record :

May 19, 1686. Johannes Yan Gelder and Aefje Roos, bcth of
N. York. 1

Baptisms :

Five children, between Feb. 20, 1687, and Nov. 17, 1695. 2

From the foregoing view of educational affairs during the Dutch
colonial period, we infer that the existing system and condition of
education in this State is not th e growth merely of the present or of
the last preceding century, but that it owes its origin, in part, to the
character, customs and policy of our ancestors of New Netherland,
whose influence in the formation of social and State institutions by
no means ceased when the sceptre of authority was formally trans-
ferred to other hands. Viewed in this light, these " Annals of Edu-
cation in New Netherland " are to be regarded not as antiquities
of obsolete importance, but rather as constituting the first chapter in
the history of the system of public education established in this
State.

1 Val. Man., 1861, p. 666. * Val. Man.. 1863, p. 823.

CHAPTER II.

SECOND PERIOD.

PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE COLONY OP NEW YORK.

FROM THE CAPITULATION BY THE DUTCH, TO THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE ACT FOR
FOUNDING A COLLEGE. 1664-1746.

The establishment of English supremacy in New Netherland seems
to have occasioned, as one of its incidental fruits, the promulgation,
by Governor Nicolls, of an exclusive license to one John Shutte, to
teach an English school at Albany, then a rude frontier settlement,
though long since and now the capital of the State. It adds interest
to this brief and unpretending document, which, however, more than
almost any other of that era, embodies and declares a settled policy
in regard to educational affairs, adopted, we may suppose, from the
conquered Dutch themselves, to find it also entitled, by chronolo-
gical precedence, to the first place among our gleanings for the period
under consideration. This warrant for the exercise of a " little brief
authority " in the pedagogue's vocation, having served its original
purpose, has lain dormant in the archives of the State almost or quite
two centuries, and might not have been hitherto brought to light,
had not an enterprising local annalist (Mr. Munsell) recently trans-
ferred it to the printed page from which, as well as from the original
record, we are enabled to quote :

The Governor's license, granted unto John Shutte, for teaching of

the English tongue at Albany.

WHEREAS, the teaching of the English tongue is necessary in this
government ; I have, therefore, thought fitt to give license to John
Shutte to be the English Schoolmaster at Albany ; And, upon con-
dition that the said John Shutte shall not demand any more wages
from each Schollar than is given by the Dutch to their Dutch School-
masters, I have further granted to the said John Shutte that hee shall
bee the onely English Schoolmaster at Albany.

Given under my hand, at Fort James in New York, the 12th day
of October, 1665.*

KICH'D NICOLLS.

1 Munsell's Annals of Albany, iv, 16 ; Orders, Warrants and Letters (MS.), in
of Secretary of State, ii, 17.

58 ' ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

Our next quotation, of five years' later date, is from the records of
the succeeding administration of Governor Lovelace, and is almost
identical with the foregoing as to subject-matter, being also a license
to teach at Albany.

An order for Jan Jurians Bleecker [Beecker, or Becker] to be
schoolmaster at Albany.

WHEREAS, Jan Jeurians Beecker had a Graunt to keep y e Dutch
school at Albany for y e teaching of 'youth to read & to wryte y e
which was allowed of and confirmed to him by my predecessor Coll.
Richard Nicolls Notwithstanding which severall others not so capa-
ble do undertake y e like some particular tymes & seasons of y e yeare
when they have no other Imployment, where by y e Schollars remov-
ing from one Schoole to another do not onely give a great discourage-
ment to y e maister who makes it his businesse all y e yeare but also are
hindred & become y e more backwards in there learningffor y e reasons
aforesaid I have thought fitt that y e said Jan Jurians Beecker who is
esteemed very capable that way shall be y e allowed schoolmaster for
y e instructing of y e youth at Albany & partes adjacent he following
y* said Imployment Constantly & diligently & that no other be
admitted to interrupt him It being to be presumed that y e said
Beecker for y e youth and Jacob Joosten who is allowed of for y e
teaching of y e younger children are sufficient for that place.

Given under my hand at ffort James in New Torke this 16th day
of May, 1670. 1

Mr. Henry Onderdonk, Jr., has furnished the following items from
the official records of the town of Hempstead, Queens county :

1669. Houlding [Houldsworth ?] (first name not recorded),

schoolmaster, bought 3 quires white paper at 4>s. 6d. in Flushing.

1670. Peter Johnson schol? occurs in the Hempstead Records.

1670, May 1. Richard Gildersleeve is hired to be drummer for one
year at 25s. in corn, and town clerk at 40s. In case the expected
schoolmaster comes and is made town clerk, then Gildersleeve is to
be paid for the time he serveth.

Richard Charlton, schoolmaster, came in July.

Governor Lovelace seems, in one instance at least, to have approved
himself as an " exactor of righteousness," on the principle that " the
laborer is worthy of his hire," the documentary evidence whereof is
as follows :

An. Ord. made on behalf of M r . Charlton for getting in his money

from y e Towne of Hempstead, for teaching School there.
WHEKEAS, I am given to understand that y e major part of yo r
Towne did, at a Publick Meeting Contract w** Richard Charlton to

1 Munsell's Annals, iv, 15 ; Court of Assize Rec., ii, 536.

"Might not schol stand for scholasticus, schoolmaster? Another addition to his
name is " cordwainer." (H. O., Jr.)

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 59

keep a Schoole to Instruct y e Children & Youth there to write and
read, the w ch hee hath performed for the whole time of y e Contract,
yet diverse of the Towne, although they have received the Beneh'tt
thereof, doe refuse or too long delay the Payment contracted for ;
These are to require you to cause speedy Payment to bee made unto
him, according to your Contract, that Persons of that Calling bee not
discouraged, otherwise hee will have good Remedy against you at
Law to your greater Charge and Disparagement GIVEN under my
Hand at ffort JAMES, in New Yorke this 21th day of March 1671.

FRAN: LOVELACE.
To y 6 Justices of the Peace, Constable, (& Overseers at Hempstead. 1

During the temporary re-occupancy of the government of the
province by the Dutch, under Governor Colve, in 1673, an ordinance
was promulgated, from which the following extracts are taken :

ORDINANCE

Of the Governor General and Council of New Netherland, explaining
the Duties and Powers of the Schout and Schepens of Midwout,
Amesfoort, Breuckelen, New Utrecht, Gravesend and Bushwyck.
Passed 1 October, 1673.

[N. Y. Col. MSS., xxiii, 83.]

Art. 1. The Sheriff and Magistrates shall, each in his quality, take
care that the Reformed Christian Religion be maintained in con-
formity to the Synod of Dordrecht, without permitting any other
Sects attempting any thing contrary thereto.

#**#*#

9. The Sheriff and Schepens shall have power to conclude on
some ordinances for the welfare and peace of the inhabitants of their
district, such as laying Highways, setting off lands and gardens, and
in like manner, what appertains to agriculture, observance of the
Sabbath, erecting Churches, School-houses, or similar public works.

Item, against -fighting and wrestling, and such petty offenses,, pro-
vided such Ordinances are not contrary, but as far as possible, con-
formable to the Laws of our Fatherland and the Statutes of this
Province; and, therefore, all orders of any importance shall, before
publication, be presented to the Chief Magistrate, and his approval
thereof requested. 2

NOTE. Similar Instruction was sent to Flushing, Hemsted, Mid-
dieburgh, Jamaica, Oysterbay, Southampton, Southold, Seatalcot,
Himtington and East Hampton, on L. I., to Swanenburg, Hurley &
Marbletown, in the Esopus; to Elizabethtown, "Woodbridge, Shrews-
bury, Newarke, Bergen, Piscattaway and Middletown, behind Achter
Cul ; and to Staten Island and Westchester. 3

1 General Entries (MS.) in office of Sco'y of State, iv, 117 ; see also a, memorandum
in Omlerdonk's L. I., and N. Y., (Scrap-books in State Library), i, 102.

2 , 3 O'Callaghan's Laws of New Nethcrland, 476-480 ; K. Y. Doc. Hist, i, 426,
427(4ed.) ; 055-658 (8'ed.)

60 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

It does not appear, so far as we have seen, that any disagreement,
in regard to school matters, arose between the general and local
authorities, under the above ordinance or otherwise, except in the
town of Bergen (N. J.), which was then considered a part of New
Netherland. On this point, the following records speak for them-
selves :

At a Council holden in Fort Wm. Hendrick the 24th December, 1673.
Present Anthony Colve, Governor-General.

Cornells Steenwyck, Councillor.
* * * * * *

The Schout and Magistrates of the town of Bergen requesting that
the inhabitants of all the settlements dependent on them, of what
religious persuasion soever they may be, shall be bound to pay their
share towards the support of the Precentor and Schoolmaster, &c.,
which being taken into consideration by the Governor and Council,

It is ordered :

That all the said inhabitants, without any exception, shall, pursuant
to the resolution of the Magistrates of the town of Bergen, dated
18 th X ber , 1672, and subsequent confirmation, pay their share for the

support of said Precentor and Schoolmaster. 1

* * * *

It might be inferred from the last paragraph above, were other
evidences of the fact wanting, that the change of administration from
the Dutch to the English, and vice versa, for a brief period in 1673,
did not materially disturb or interfere with local officers and their
official duties.

At a Council, holden in Fort Willeim Hendrick, this 24 th May,
1674.
Present [as on Dec. 24, 1673, and]

Secretary Nicholaes Bayard, assumed Councillor.

* * * *

The Schout and Magistrates of the town of Bergen, complaining
by petition, that some of the inhabitants of their dependent hamlets,
in disparagement of the previous order of the Governor-General and
Council, dated the 24 X ber last, obstinately refuse to pay their quota
to the support of the Precentor and Schoolmaster.

Ordered :

The Governor-General and Council persist in their previous man-
date of the 24 th X ber last and order the Schout to proceed to imme-
diate execution against all unwilling debtors. 2

* * * *

At a Council held in Fort Willem Hendrick, 15 th June, 1674.
Present [as on May 24, 1674, and]

Fiscal Willem Knyff, as assumed Councillor.

* # # *

1 N. Y. Col. Doc., ii, 672. 3 N. Y. Col. Doc., ii, 714

/;v THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 01

On petition of Lourens Andries, and Joost van der Linde, agents
for the inhabitants of Mingagque and Pemrepogh, requesting to be
excused from contributing to the support of the schoolmaster at
Bergen, &c.

Ordered:

Copy hereof to be furnished the Magistrates of the town of Bergen
to answer the same. 1

* # # *

At a Court held in Fort Willem Hendrick, on the 5 th of July,
1674.

Present [as on May 24, 1674],

* * * *

The Governor and Council of New Netherland, having seen the
complaint of the town of Bergen against the inhabitants of the vil-
lages of Pemrepogh, Mingagquy, &c., and the answer given by them,
in regard to what the inhabitants of Pemrepogh and Mingagquy
aforesaid, owe for the support of the Schoolmaster, and precentor of
the town of Bergen, it is after due inquiry resolved and ordered, that
the inhabitants of Pemrepogh and Mingagquy, shall promptly pay
their share for the support aforesaid, on pain of proceeding against
them with immediate execution. 2

The foregoing action on the part of the Governor and Council
seems to have fully settled and confirmed the policy of the Dutch
administration in regard to free public schools supported solely by
taxation, and which, but for the re-conquest by the English, might,
perhaps, have continued without interruption to this day.

It seems from the next quotation that chivalrous martial exercises
received some attention in the young metropolis at this early period :

By the Governor.

WHEREAS, application [part of MS. destroyed] . . . me, I

do consent . . . p* Thomas Smith to admitt and teach any

Gentlemen or other firee Men the use or Exercise of Armes, for
which to meet at any fitt times and Places within this City, without
any Lett or Molestation: Comporting themselves as they ought.
GIVEN under my Hand in New York this 18th day of December,
1675.

To all Magistrates, Officers, or others whom it 'may Concern?

The zeal of certain constables of Long Island for the mental and
moral welfare of the people, as exhibited in the annexed petition,
may be commended as worthy of imitation by police oflBcers and
magistrates of the present day :

1 N. Y. Col. Doc., ii, 720. 3 N. Y. Col. MSS., xxv, 68.

1 N. Y. Col. Doc., ii, 730.

62 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

To y e Eight Hono rabl Edmond Andrqus Esq r . Governor Gen 11 of all
his Royall Highnes Territory in America & the Wo pp full his Maj ties
Justices of y e Board sitting in thy Honorable Court of Assizes this
4 th of Octo r , 1677.

The humble Desire of y e Constables of y e East & North Eideing on
Long Island :

To yo r Hono r & Wo pp most humbly Showeth it is Theire Desire :
That the maintenance and Encouragem* for y e Ministry may by

some way bee established & that such Encouragem* may bee that

theire may bee A Minister in each respective Towne that wants.

That theire may also bee some way established for the Maintenance

of A Schoolle-Ma r in each Towne. 1

Professor Jonathan Pearson, of Union College, translator and
editor of the " Early Records of the City and County of Albany, and
Colony of Rensselaerswyck (1656-1675)," has kindly funished several
items, as follows :

On the 4 th of April, 1676, Gerrit Swartt, Jan Becker and Arien
Appel were chosen Schoolmasters of Albany ; they were then to be
the sole Schoolmasters of the Village ; but shortly after, the same
year, Luykas Gerritse [Wyngaard] was also appointed Schoolmaster
because he was impotent in his hand?

(1.) Gerrit Swartt was appointed Sellout fiscal or sheriff of Rensse-
laerswyck in 1652. He was succeeded by Captain Salisbury in 1670. 8

(2.) Jan Jurriaense Becker [of whom a brief biographical sketch
has already been given in our "Annals" of New Netherland,
ante p. 54] was an inhabitant of Greenbush opposite Beverwyck, in
1663 ; afterwards notary public and schoolmaster at Beverwyck, and
" esteemed very capable that way, whilst Jacob Jooste Covelens was
allowed for y e teaching of y e younger children." He made his will
the 3 d of Aug., 1694, in which he speaks of son Johannes and
daughter Martina (wife of "Willem Hogan), who was made adminis-
tratrix of his estate Dec. 16 th , 1697.

(3.) Adriaen or [Arien] Janse Appel came from Leyden: in 1654,
he received a patent for a lot at Beverwyck, on condition that the
house to be erected thereon be not an ordinary tippling house, but an
Inn for travellers ; in 1656, he sued Marcelis Janse for the loss of an
anker of brandy by drawing it with violence through the streets ;
from 1676-86, he was one of the four schoolmasters of Albany.

He resided for a time at New Amsterdam. He had two sons,
Johannes and Willem, who at different times resided at Schenectady,
Albany and New York ; at the former place they were both wounded
by the French and Indians in their attack upon the village, Feb. 9 th ,
1690.

1 N. Y. Col. MSB., xxvi, 122. 3 O'Callaghan's Hist. N. Netherland, ii, 184.

* Albany City Magistrates' Proceedings (MS.), vol. i, in City Clerk's office.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 63

(4.) Luykas Gerritse [Wingaard] was by trade a baker, and in 1715
occupied the south corner of Broadway and State street. His wife
was Anna Janse Van Hoesen. They had five sous and one daughter.
He made his will Oct. 30 th , 1709.

We have been indebted to Rev. Dr. Strong's " History of Flatbush"
for a few items relating to the Dutch period ; and we now quote at
greater length from the same valuable little work, showing the cus-
toms of the olden time in regard to schools and schoolmasters :

From the records of the town [Flatbush], it appears that the
schoolmaster acted as Town Clerk, and as the rates of tuition
were low, previously to the American revolution, the offices of
sexton and " Foresinger," or chorister of the church, were
conferred upon him with a view to increase his emoluments. He
received all interment fees for infants and adults, according to a
scale of established prices, and for his services as chorister, he was
paid an annual salary by the consistory of the church. The choris-
ter, in addition to his duty of taking the lead in setting and singing
the Psalms and Hymns, was also required to ring the bell for all pub-
lic services, to read the commandments at the commencement of the
morning worship, and the Apostles' creed in the afternoon. These
latter services were all performed in the * Dutch language, and uni-
formly continued so until about the year 1790, at the time when Mr.
Gabriel Ellison, the first English schoolmaster, left the village.

The following is a list of the schoolmasters of the town of Flatbush,
from the year 1659 to the year 1802, when the village school was
removed into the Academy :

Adrian Hegeman from 1659 to 1671

Jacop Joosten " 1671 " 1673

Francays De Burynne [Bruynne] " 1673 " 1674

Michael Hainelle" " 1674 " 1675

Jan Gerrit Van Marckje [Marcken] " 1675 " 1680

Derick Storm " 1680 " 1681

Jan Tiebout 1681 "1682

Johannes Yan Eckkellen " 1682 " 1700

Johannes Schenck " 1700 " 1711

Jan Gancell " 1711 " 1719

Adrian Hegeman " 1719 " 1741

Jores Remsen " 1741 " 1762

Petrus Yan Steenburgh " 1762 " 1773

Anthony Welp " 1773 " 1776

Gabriel 'Ellison " 1776 " 1790

JohnRubell " 1790 "1793

Michael Schoonmaker " 1793 " 1798

Patrick Dillon " 1798 "

Patrick Noon " " 1802 1

1 Strong's Hist, of Flatbush, p. 100 el seq.

64 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

It appears, as already shown in connection with the Dutch period,
that one Reinier was schoolmaster in 1661 1 ; and we also find that a
patent for 1426 acres of land, in Flatbush, was granted March 21>
1677, to sundry persons, thirty-five in number, among whom was
" Rein Remse, the schoolmaster for the time being, in his official
capacity." 2 These two names, therefore, seem also entitled to a place
in the foregoing list of schoolmasters of Flatbush.

Hon. Teunis G. Bergen, of Bay Ridge, Kings county, has favored
us with the following statements in regard to some of the persons
mentioned in Dr. Strong's list :

Adriaen Hegeman, the first schoolmaster of Flatbush [of whom a
biographical sketch is given in the " Annals " of the Dutch period,
p. 49], was also, from 1670 to 1671, vendue master of the Dutch
towns of Kings county. . . . liegeman's descendants are as yet
numerous in Flatbush, and Kings county.

Francays d'Bruynne, schoolmaster prior to his settlement in Flat-
bush, owned Antony Jansen van Salee's patent of 100 morgen on
the extreme west end of Long Island, lying partly in New Utrecht
and partly in Gravesend.

Michil Hainelle, schoolmaster, owned a farm (as well as being a
schoolmaster).

Jan Gerritsen Yan Marcken, schoolmaster, finally quarrelled with
the church authorities and was dismissed. (Have somewhere among
my papers considerable relating to this quarrel.)

Schoolmasters Dirck Storm, Johannes Yan Ekelen and Johannes
Schenk's facsimiles of signature accompany this. From the facsimiles
you will see that Strong errs in the spelling of names. The spellings
I have given above are the correct ones.

******

" Know of no male descendants of De Bruynne, Hainelle, Yan
Marcken, Yan Ekelen or De Baene, in Kings county. Storm, Schenk
(now generally spelled Schenck), and De Beavois, of Brooklyn, have
numerous descendants in the county."

******

Know of no manuscript records on the subject except those you
have referred to.

******

Dr. Strong's narrative continues :

Specific and very particular agreements were made with the seve-
ral schoolmasters, which are entered at large upon the town records.
It may be interesting to present one or two of these, to show the
duties which these persons formerly were required to perform, and
the manner in which they were to instruct 1iie children. The fol-

1 Albany Records, xix, 95.

a Book of Patents (MS.), in office of Secretary of State, iv, 165.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 63

lowing is a translation of the agreement made with Johannes Van
Eckkelen, who commenced his duties as schoolmaster, in Flatbush, in
the year 1682 :

" Johannes Yan Eckkelen, a young man from New Albany, is
hereby called and accepted, on the first day of October, 1681, with
the advice and consent of the Honorable Magistrates, to perform the
duties heretofore required of Jan Thibaud, in manner following:
(1.) He shall serve the Church and School, according to the existing
ordinances, in the same manner as they have been heretofore per-
formed by the above named Jan Thibaud, and as hereunder written.
(2.) This contract shall take effect from the first day of October, Inst,
and continue to the first day of May next, for the purpose of making
a trial of each other in the meantime. (3.) For the performance of
the above duties, he shall be entitled to receive the sum of 234 guild-
ers, in grain, valued in Seewant, with the other privileges appertain-
ing to the calling during the time specified."

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT

WITH

JOHANNES VAN ECKKELEN,
Accepted Schoolmaster and Chorister of flaibush.

School Service. I. The school shall begin at eight o'clock, and go
out at eleven ; and in the afternoon shall begin at one o'clock and
end at four. The bell shall be rung when the school commences. 1

II. "When the school begins, one of the children shall read the
morning prayer, as it stands in the catechism, and close with the
prayer before dinner ; in the afternoon it shall begin with the prayer
after dinner, and end with the evening prayer. The evening school
shall begin with the Lord's prayer, and close by singing a psalm.

III. He shall instruct the children on every Wednesday and Satur-
day in the common prayers, and the questions and answers in the
catechism, to enable them to repeat them the better on Sunday before
the afternon service, or on Monday, when they shall be catechised
before the congregation. Upon all such occasions, the schoolmaster
shall be present, and shall require the children to be friendly in their
appearance, and encourage them to answer freely and distinctly.

IV. He shall be required to keep his school nine months in succes-
sion, from September to June, in each year, in case it should be con-
cluded upon to retain his services for a year or more, or without
limitation ; and he shall be required to be regulated by these articles,
and to perform the same duties which his predecessor, Jan Thibaud,
above named, was required to perform. In every particular therefore,
he shall be required to keep school, according to this seven months
agreement, and shall always be present himself.

1 The bell used on these occasions was the church beH. The practice of ringing
this bell at the opening of the school continued till the year 1794, when the second
church was taken down. The church bell was also used by the Academy for nearly
ten years. (Dr. Strong.)

66 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

Church Service. I. He shall keep the church clean, and ring the
bell three times before the people assemble to attend the preaching
and catechism. Also before the sermon is commenced, he shall read
a chapter out of the Holy Scriptures, and that between the second
and third ringing of the bell. After the third ringing he shall read
the ten commandments, and the twelve articles of our faith, and then
take the lead in singing. In the afternoon after the third ringing of
the bell, he shall read a short chapter, or one of the Psalms of David,
.1 ; the congregation are assembling, and before divine service com-
mences, shall introduce it, by the singing of a Psalm or Hylmn.

II. When the minister shall preach at Brooklin or New Utrecht, he
shall be required to read twice before the congregation, from the
book commonly used for that purpose. In the afternoon he shall
also read a sermon on the explanation of the catechism, according to
the usage and practice approved by the minister. The children as
usual, shall recite their questions arid answers out of the catechism,
on Sunday, and he shall instruct them therein. He, as chorister, shall
not be required to perform these duties, whenever divine service shall
be performed in Flatlands, as it would be unsuitable, and prevent
many from attending there.

III. For the administration of Holy Baptism, he shall provide a
basin with water, for which he shall be entitled to receive from the
parents, or witnesses, twelve styvers. He shall, at the expense of
the church, provide bread and wine, for the celebration of the Holy
Supper ; He shall be in duty bound promptly to furnish the minister
with the name of the child to be baptized, and with the names of
the parents and witnesses. And he shall also serve as messenger for
the consistory.

IV. He shall give the funeral invitations, dig the grave ; and toll
the bell, for which service he shall receive for a person of fifteen
years and upward, twelve guilders, and for one under that age, eight
guilders. If he should be required to give invitations beyond the
limits of the town, he shall be entitled to three additional guilders,
for the invitation of every other town, and if he should be required
to cross the river, and go to New York, he shall receive four guilders.

School Money. He shall receive from those who attend the day
school, for a speller or reader, three guilders a quarter, and for a
writer, four guilders. From those who attend evening school, for a
speller or reader, four guilders, and for a writer, six guilders shall be
given.

Salary. In addition to the above, his salary shall consist of four
hundred guilders, in grain, valued in Seewant, to be delivered at
Brooklyn Ferry, and for his services from October to May, as above
stated, a sum of two hundred and thirty-four guilders, in the same
kind, with the dwelling house, barn, pasture lot and meadows, to the
school appertaining. The same to take effect from the first day of
October, Instant.

Done and agreed upon in Consistory, under the inspection of the
Honorable Constable and Overseers, the 8th of October, 1682.

, /^ THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 67

CONSTABLE AND OVERSEERS. THE CONSISTORY.

CORNELIUS BERRIAN. CASPARUS VAN ZUREN, Minister.

RYNIER AERTSEN. ADRIAEN REYERSE.

JAN REMSEN. CORNELIUS BARENT VANDWYCK.

I agree to the above articles, and promise to perform them to the
best of my ability.

JOHANNES VAN ECKKELEN.

Mr. Henry Onderdonk, Jr., has furnished a newspaper copy of an
agreement with Jan Tiebout, similar to but not identical with Van
Eckelen's. He adds : " It has a misprint that I can't decipher. I
have underscored the line : fore-noon house rule"

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT with Jan Thobald or Tibout, employed
Schoolmaster and Reader for Flatbush, made on the 18th Dec.,
1681.

RELATING TO THE SCHOOL.

1. The school to begin at 8 o'clock and be dismissed at 11 in the
A. M. ; at 1 o'clock and dismissed at 4 in the p. M. The bell to be
rung by the Teacher at the opening of the school.

2. On the opening of the school in the A. M., one of the children
to read the morning prayer as contained in the catechism, and at its
closing the prayer before eating ; at the opening in the P. M., the
prayer after eating, and [at] its closing the evening prayer. The even-
ing school to begin with the Lord's prayer and to close with one of the
psalms of David.

3. He shall require the children in the evenings to learn the ordi-
nary prayers, together with the catechism, and on "Wednesdays and
Saturdays hear their recitations of the same ; also on Sundays prior
to the P. M. service, so that they may be prepared to recite on Mon-
days before the congregation, at which recitation he is to be present.
He must conduct himself orderly and soberly, and have patience with
the children, to the end that he may learn them as in duty bound.

RELATING TO CHURCH SERVICE.

1st. He shall keep the church clean, and ring the bell three times
to bring the congregation together for preaching or chatecising
on Sundays before service, to read a chapter in the Bible between the
second and third ringing ; after the third ringing to read the ten
commandments and the twelve articles of faith ; and to lead in all
the singing. In the afternoon, after the third ringing, to read a
short chapter out of the Psalms of David, while the congregation are
gathering together, so as to have them enter with a Christian song.

2nd. When the ministers turn is to preach at Brooklyn or New
Utrecht, he will be held to read twice ; the books to be used to be in
accordance with the forenoon house rule ; the preaching over, the
chatechism to be attended to in the afternoon, the children to be
gathered together and to answer from the Sunday lesson ; he will be

1 Strong's Hist, of Flatbush, pp. 110-114.

68 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

excused from the above service when the preaching is at Flatlands,
for then it will be unnecessary.

3. He shall invite the people to funerals, dig the grave, and ring
the bell, for which he shall be entitled to 12 guilders for persons of 15
years old and upwards, and 8 guilders for those under. When called
to act outside his town on Long Island, to be entitled to three guild-
ers in addition ; and when acting in New Ydrk or across the river 4
guilders.

Mr. Onderdonk's newspaper article further states :

Tibout was a successor of Jan G-erritsz Van Marken, the latter
being one of the early schoolmasters of Flatbush, and readers of the
4 Dutch towns, whose salary was 350 guilders. Gerritsz was dis-
charged for slandering Yan Zuuren the Minister, for frequenting the
tavern and neglecting the Church orders.

The yearly compensation of Tibout, the schoolmaster and reader,
was 400 guilders, zeewands value, in corn, delivered at the ferry in
Brooklyn ; he was also entitled to the use of the dwelling house pro-
vided for the teacher, about an acre of tillable land, a pasture field
and salt meadow lot belonging to the school.

The price of tuition was fixed at 3 guilders a quarter in the day
school, for reading and spelling ; including writing, 4 guilders ; in
the evening school, for reading and spelling, 4 guilders ; including
writing, 6 guilders. A guilder is 40 cents.

"We are likewise indebted to Mr. Onderdonk for the following
extracts from the account book of Jno. Bowne, of Flushing :

SCHOOL BILLS.

1680 f. Beckoned with Hugh and Elizabeth Cowperth-
waite and then left due about work [by him]
and schooling [by her] 1 1

Eeckoned with Elizabeth Cowperthwaite about
schooling and diet for children & rests due
her 17 6

More since for schooling 012

196

1683. Martha Johanna did begin school on a new acct, */, upon
an agreement for 30 weeks for schooling and what else,
which is paid for by a red petticoat 1 , bought of Jn
Broke.

' Money (coin or paper) was little used, but barter took its place.

/AT THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 69

T 4 T . Jn Arcut [Arsocot ?], Or.

By my promise for one year schooling] 1 1

By some writing done for me 10

For John, his last schooling, 4 months ...... 6 2

For William's children 12

For John, one quarter 4 6

2 13 8

1693 -V 3 -. Win. Eichardson's estate, Dr.

Paid to Jn Urquhart for the 3 boys school-
ing at 5s. each 15

By four weeks' diet for the 2 oldest sons, Wm.
and Thomas, and for John, 7 weeks, at 2s.
6d 1 17 6

More for schooling to Urquhart 8 9

The following memoranda were also furnished by Mr. Onderdonk :

1685. Goody Davis keeps school at Jamaica, in Jn Rodes' little
house which is to be removed for a shop.

Rachel Spencer taught school at Hempstead, died 1687.
1695. Isaac Selover was schoolmaster and foresinger at Flatlands.

The "Rachel Spencer" above mentioned seems to have been the
first schoolmistress on record in the province.

It having been repeatedly observed, in the annals of the Dutch
period, that all private schoolmasters were required to be duly
licensed by the civil and ecclesiastical authorities, we have occasion
now to remark that this requirement, in substance, was continued
and enforced by the English ; Governor Dongan, and at least three
of his successors, having been regularly instructed on this point, in
connection with other subjects. We quote as follows :

Instructions to Governor Dongan. Given at Wi/ndsor May 29 th ,

1-686.
******

38. And wee doe further direct that noe Schoolmaster bee hence-
forth permitted to come from England & to keep school within Our
Province of New York without the license of the said Archbishop of
Canterbury ; And that noe other person now there or that shall come
from other parts, bee admitted to keep school without your license
first had. 1

******

Similar instructions were given to Governor Sloughter, Jan. 31,
1689, 2 to the Earl of Bellomont, Aug. 31, 1697, 8 and to Governor
Hunter, Dec. 27th, 1709, 4 except that the Bishop of London, instead

1 N. Y. Col. Doc., iii, 372. N. Y. Col. Doc., iv, 288.

3 N. Y. Col. Doc., iii, 688 4 N. Y. Col. Doc., v, 185.

70 ANNALS OP PUBLIC EDUCATION

of the Archbishop of Canterbury, was named in each of these
cases.

In regard to this subject, Mr. Henry Onderdonk, Jr., has advised us
that " the licensing of schoolmasters originated in a law of Parlia-
ment, in England, who feared Popish priests and Jesuits might
assume the guise of teachers to disseminate their principles more
insidiously among unsuspecting pupils."

The " law of Parliament " thus referred to, seems to be that desig-
nated as 13 and 14 Car. II, c. 4, entitled "An act for th6 Uniformity
of public Prayers, and Administration of Sacraments, and other
Rites and Ceremonies ; and for establishing the Form of making,
ordaining, and consecrating Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, in the
Church of England" Section YIII of this act provides :

* * Every School-Master keeping any public or private school,
and every Person instructing or teaching any Youth in any House or
private Family as a Tutor or School-master, who upon the first Day
of May which shall be in the Year of our Lord God One thousand
six hundred sixty-two, or at any Time thereafter, shall be" Incumbent
or have Possession of any . . . School, or shall instruct or teach
any Youth as Tutor or School-master, shall . . . subscribe the
Declaration or Acknowledgment following, scilicet :

IX. [I, A. B., do declare, That it is not lawful upon any Pretence
whatsoever to take Arms against the King ; and that I do abhor that
traiterous Position of taking Arms by His Authority against His
Person, or against those that are commission ated by him] ; and that
I will conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England, as it is now
by Law established : And I do declare, That I do hold there lies no
Obligation upon me or on any other Person, from the Oath com-
monly called The Solemn League and Covenant, to endeavour any
Change or Alteration of Government either in Church or State ; and
that the same was in itself an unlawful Oath, and imposed upon the
Subjects of this Realm against the known Laws and Liberties of this
Kingdom.

XI. And if any School-master, or other Person, instructing or teach-
ing Youth in any private House or Family as a Tutor or School-mas-
ter, shall instruct or teach any Youth as a Tutor or School-master
before Licence obtained from his respective Archbishop, Bishop or
Ordinary of the Diocese, according to the Laws and Statutes of this
Realm (for which he shall pay twelve Pence only) and before such
Subscription and Acknowledgment made as aforesaid ; then every
such School-master and other, instructing and teaching as aforesaid,
shall for the first Offence suffer three Months Imprisonment without
Bail or Mainprize ; and for every second and other such Offence, shall

NOTE. The part included in brackets was abolished by 1 W. & M., sees. 1, c. 8, 11.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 71

suffer three Months Imprisonment without Bail or Mainprize, and
also forfeit to His Majesty the Sum of five Pounds : *

The act 19 Geo. Ill, c. 44, modified the provisions of the forego-
ing statute in favor of Protestant dissenters, as follows :

II. * * No Dissenting Minister, nor any other Protestant dis-
senting from the Church of England, who shall take the aforesaid
Oaths, and make and subscribe the above mentioned Declaration
against Popery, and the Declaration hereinbefore mentioned, shall be
prosecuted in any Court whatsoever, for teaching and instructing
Youth as a Tutor or Schoolmaster, any Law or Statute to the con-
trary notwithstanding.

The subject of education, like many other matters of vital import-
ance to the welfare of the people, is scarcely noticed by some
standard historians. We had confidently expected that Smith's cele-
brated " History of the late province of New York, from its Dis-
covery to the appointment of Governor Colden in 1762," would
contain frequent allusions which would be of service in the present
narrative ; but thus far, we find only an incidental mention of the
establishment of a Latin school, in the following paragraph :
# * * * * *

[1688.] While these things were transacting in Canada, a scene of
the greatest importance was opening at New York. A general dis-
affection to the government prevailed among the people. Papists
began to settle in the colony under the smiles of the governor [Don-
gan]. The collector of the revenues, and several principal officers,
threw off the mask, and openly avowed their attachment to the doc-
trines of Home. A Latin school was set up, and the teacher strongly
suspected for a Jesuit. 1

******

With reference to this Latin school, we find the following addi-
tional particulars brought to light by the researches of Mr. John M.
Shea:

Father Henry Harrison, S. J., was in N. York in 1685, and
returned to Ireland in 1690, and in Maryland in 1697. Father
Charles Gage, S. J., was also employed there in 1686 and 7. It is
very possible that these two last named may have been sent by Don-
gan to carry out his promise, and that one of them may have opened
the very suspicious Latin school, which Smith surmises was kept by
a Jesuit. 2

1 Smith's Hist, of N. Y. (N. Y. Hist. Soc., Ed., 1829), i., 90.
"N. Y. Doc. Hist., iii, 73 (4ed.); 110 (8ed.).

72 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

We find no further mention of this school, except in a letter dated
April 13, 1699, from the Earl of Bellomont, then governor of the

province, to the Lords of Trade, to wit. :

# # # # * *

Mr. Attorney Generall assures me that in Colonel Dongan's time,
he, to make his court to King James desired this Farm, . . .the
Governor's demesne called the King's farm, . . . might be appro-
priated to the maintenance of a Jesuit school ; but King James (bigot
tho' he was) refused, saying that he would not have his Governors
deprived of their conveniences. 1

According to Dr. Strong, 2 Johannes Yan Eckelen [Ekelen] officia-
ted as schoolmaster from 1682 to 1700, though it appears, from the
annexed documents, that his license was revoked in 1691, in favor of
Johannes Schenck [Schenk], whom Dr. Strong considers Van
Eckelen's successor from the year 1700 to 1711. Whether the order
of the council was not carried into effect, or whether the above
named author is in error in regard to these dates, does not appear.

To the honor ble Major Richard Ingoldsby, Comander in chief of their

Majesties Province of JSTew York<, &c.
The humble Request of Rodolphus Yarick, minister, and Joseph

Hegeman, elder of the dutch Church in flatbush,

Humbly showeth :

That in the late Rebellion Joannes Yan Eckelen the then clerk and
schoolmaster of flatbush hath always bin a very great zealot for the
faction of Leisler &c., as may appear to y r hon r y r self having taken
letters out of his pocket at the citty hall which he was carrying to
Leisler into the fort, and was very active in raising men in the
country to withstand their majesties forces.

Especially the afores d Joanes Yan Eckelen hath bin alwayes oppo-
sing the minister and church councel in their endeavors for support-
ing the Government for the Crown of England and inticing people
to the party of Leisler contrary to all their admonitions, publicly
defaming the afores d minister, setting the common people against
him, offering his service to drag him out of his house by violence to
a pretended court as also procuring the aprehension and fining of the
afures d elder for above thirty pounds because he endeavored to have
hindred their committing hostilities on the English towns on long
Island.

Upon thes considerations and others to long to rehearse, besides
other complaints as to his service in the afors d office, the church
councel did dismisse the afores d Joanes van Ekelen and did forbid
him more to officiate, but choose in his place one Joannes Schenck a
fitter person and wel affected to the present government,

Now y r petition 18 give y r honour to understand that s d Joaiies van
Ekelen hath clandestinely and without any of their knowledge pro-

1 N. Y. Col. Doc., iv., 490 f Hist, of Flatbush, p. 109.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 73

cured a licence from y r honour, whereby he again sets up school in
defyance of their church and accustomed priviledges, refusing to
obey the civil power but dayly affronting them whereby he drawes
many of the late faction to his side to the manifest Scandal of their
majesties present government and since it hath never bin accustomed
to have two Schoolmasters in that small town heretofore y r petition"
humbly pray y r honor that s d Joanes van Ekelen may be forbid farther
to teach school in flatbush and that y r honour would please to
authorize Joanes Schenck to be the onely schoolmaster there, for the
reasons above s d , and y r petition 1 " 8 shall ever pray for y r hon re health
and happinesse.

JOSEPH HEGEMAN, Elder. RODOLPHUS VARICK. 1

The foregoing petition bears no date, but was submitted to the
council Sept. 26, 1691, as appears from the following minute. The
petition is indorsed "granted," with which the council minute
agrees :

At a council held at ffort William Henry the 26th of September,
1691.
Present, [ * * etc.,]

* * * # * *

Upon Reading the Petition of Rodolphus Yarick & Others, setting
forth their want of an honest schoolmaster Recommending Johannes
Schenck as a person qualify ed & fitt for that Office in fflatbush
Ordered that sd Schenck be admitted the only schoolmaster of mat-
bush any former ord r or warrant to any oy r2 person whatsoever not-
withstanding. 3

x- * * * * *

Mr. Bergen, from whom we have already quoted, further states :

The first schoolmaster in New Utrecht of whom I have seen any
account, is Joost De Baene.

After Gov. Leisler's Execution, Domine Varick and Jacques Cor-
tleyou petitioned the Governor to have Joost De Baene retained as
teacher in New Utrecht ; JVIyndert Coerten having threatened to turn
him out of his place as schoolmaster and Reader or Prelector, because
he would not side with the Leisler party. Coerten's adherents finally
compelled De Baene to leave the place. From De Baene's serving
as clerk of the town from 1686 to 1698, it may fairly be inferred that
he taught the school during that period, and perhaps a short time
longer. Have seen no account of De Baene's successors.

The petition above referred to, of which the following is a copy,
is preserved among the manuscripts in the office of the Secretary of

N.T. CoLMSS., xxxviii, 4.

8 A curious abreviation for " otTier" which is explained by the fact that Ji was
formerly written somewhat like the lower part of long s ; so that th, as in " other "
came to be written (by omitting to cross the t and other contractions) very nearly
like y.

3 Council Minutes (MS., in office of Sec'y of State), vi, 55.

74 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

State. It bears no date, but was laid before the Council July 16,
1692.

To the Eight Honn ble Maj r Richard Ingoldsbey Esq r ., Command 1 " in
Chief of the Province of N. Yorke, and the honn b * e Councell.

The humble Petition of Jaques Cortlejouir Justice of the peace and
Rudolphns Yarick minister of the Gospel in Kings County,
Humble Shewith

That in the time of the Late disorders within y e Province one
Meyndert Coerten lately attainted of high Treason was marching with
some ill men from New Utregt towards the fort ag 81 the Kings forces,
under your honn 8 Command who then did threaten Joost De Baane
y e Schoolmaster & reader of said towne to turne him out of that
Imploy because he refused to side with them in theire Rebellion, and
although the said Justice and minister since that time have endea-
vored to hinder the same yet neverthelesse some of those ill affected
persons without any cause given, but in contempt of the authority,
have forced the said Joost de Baarie to forsake the place, altho y e land
out of which the Schoolmaster and Reader of y e Towne is maintained,
was given to the Towne, by the said Justice, out of his proper estate.

Wherefore the Petit have thought it their Duty to become hum-
ble Suppliants in the behalfe of y e Said Joost de Baane, humble offer-
ing to your honn re that it would tend much to y e peace & quiet of the
said Towne that your honn would be pleased to order, that y e Said
Joost d Baane be continued in the said Imploy as Schoolmaster &
Reader of the said Towne, and that he be allowed his Salary as for-
merly from the 14th of aprill last, Since which time he was Causeles
turned out.

And your Petit shall Ever Pray. 1

The record of the action of the Council is as follows :

At a Council held at ffort William Henry the 16th of July 1692,
******

Vpon reading of the Petition of Jaquis Cortilian [Corteljon] and
Rodolphus Yarick on behalf of Joost De Bane [Baene] schoolmaster
of New Utrecht in Ks County,

jResolved That A Lysence be granted unto the said Joost De Bane
to be schoolmaster of Is ew Ytrecht, and that he is intituled to and Ought
to receive the salary belonging to the Reader and school Master of
sd Towne from the 14th of Aprill last and the Justices be wrote to
and required to suffer none other to Officiate in the quality of a
schoolmaster in the sd Toune without a Lycense from the Govern-
ment nor in the quality of Reader but by the appointment of the
Minister. 2

******

We are indebted to Wm. S. Pelletreau, Esq., of Southampton, L. I.,
for the following statement :

1 N. Y. Col. MSB., xxxviii, 154. " Council Minutes (MS.), vi, 111.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 75

1694. Mr. John Moubray was engaged to teach a school from the
1st day of May till the 1st of November for 12 shillings per scholar.
He had 22 pupils. From that time there appears to have been a
school more or less regular until the present time. 1

The records of this town [Southampton, L. L] are the most perfect
of any in the State, and well repay examination.

Thus far, the licenses to teach school have uniformly been issued
by the authority of the Colonial officers ; but we now find one
granted by municipal authority, as early as January, 1700, at the

present capital of the State :

# # * # * *

Att a meeting of y e Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council held in

y e Citty Hall of Albany, y e 23d of January If f|
The request of Cornells Bogardus by y e mouth of Mr. Will m de
Meyer to be admitted a schoolmaster for y e Citty is taken into con-
sideration and unanimously doe graunt y e same, as also a freeman of
this Citty upon his arrival!. 2

During the same year (1TOO), Governor Bellomont proposed to
have some of the Indian children instructed at the public expense, as
appears from the annexed records :

Conference of the Earl of Bellomont with the Indians, at Albany,
August 29, 1TOO.

# # # # * *

The Earl of Belomont says upon the reply of the Five Nations
yesterday to his Lordship's propositions the day before, as follows :

* * * * * %

In answer to your desire of a Minister here in Albany, to instruct
you in the Christian religion, I am not only willing but glad to
gratify you therein, and I will engage Mr. Lydius the Minister of
this town to take paines with you and learn your language that he
may be the better able to serve you in the work of the gospell, and I
hope in a little time to have the Bible translated into your language
and to have some of your children taught to read, so that you may
have the comfort and edification of God's Word, which I am sure
will be hugely pleasing to you when your children are able to read it
to you. Now that I am upon this subject, I wish you would send
two or three Sachems sonns out of each Nation to be kept at School
at New York where I will take care to have them taught to write
and read both English and Indian, and they shall be well clothed and
dyeted at the King's charge and after three or four yeares that they
are perfect in their writing & reading they shall return home to you
and other boyes shall come in their places ; by which meanesyou will
always have those among you that will understand English and will
be serviceable to you upon many occasions. 8

* * * * * *

1 See, also, Howell's Hist, of Southampton, p. 141.

s Munsell's Annals, iv, 106. " N. Y. Col. Doc., iv, 734.

76 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

The following partial replies were given by Sadeganaktie, the
speaker at the next day's conference :

* * * * * *

As to that head relating to our children's being instructed to reade
and write English and Indian at New York, the Sachems that are
now on the hill are consulting about it, and wee will when wee are
all conveen'd together, return your Lordship our answer. 1
******

After a while a Message being come from the Hill from the other
Sachems of the Five Nations, and the Speaker sayd as follows :

* * * * * *

As to our children to be sent to New York to bee instructed to
read and write, wee answer that wee are not masters or disposers of
them ; that is a matter that relates to our wives, who are the sole dis-
posers of their children while they are under age. 2

"We have not observed any record as to the manner in which the
above proposition was received by the Indian women, or whether it
was actually communicated to them.

The earliest legislative act in behalf of education passed within the
colony of NeV York, if we mistake not, is that entitled " An Act
for Encouragement of a Grammar Free-School in the City of New
York," bearing date Nov. 27, 1702. This act expired seven years
later, by its own limitation, and having thus become obsolete before
any of the extant collections of laws were printed, only its title
appears in such standard compilations as Livingston and Smith's. 8
Indeed, we have failed to find a printed copy in the State Library or
elsewhere, and have been obliged to make our transcript from the
original copy of the act, as filed in the office of the Secretary of
State. The same remark applies to the several subsequent acts
passed prior to 1750.

AN ACT for encouragement of A Grammar Free-School in the City

of New York.

The Mayor, Aldermen and Comonalty of the City of New York
having Represented unto the General Assembly of this Province the
great Necessity there is of having a Free-School in the said City, for
the Educacon and Instruction of youth and male Children ; That
such Pious and Necessary work may receive due encouragement, Be
it Enacted by his Excellency the Governour and Council and Repre-
sentatives Convened in General Assembly, and by Authority of tlie
Same, that there shall be hereafter Elected, Chosen. Lycensed,

1 N. Y. Col. Doc., iv, 737. 3 See chap, cxx, p. 51.

2 N. Y. Col. Doc., iv, 738.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 77

Authorized, and appointed one able Skilfull and Orthodox person to
be School-Master ; for the Education and Instruction of youth and
Male Children of such Parents as are of ffrench and Dutch Extrac-
tion^ as well as of the English, may come and be Instructed in the
Languages or other Learning usually taught in Grammar Schools, And
for the Encouragement of such School-Master, Be it further Enacted
by the Authority aforesaid, That henceforward Annually there shall
be in the said City Assessed, Levyed, Collected and paid for the
space or term of seven years, the Sum of ffifty pounds Current money
of New York for the mainteinance of the said School-Master, which
said Sum of ffifty pounds shall be Assessed, Levyed, Collected and
paid by such persons, at such times, in such Manner and proportions,
and under such penaltyes Respectively as is provided for the Assess-
ing, Levying, Collecting and paying of the Sum of one hundred pounds
p. ann. for the Minister of New York, by an Act of Assembly
Intitutled, an Act for Settling a Ministry, and Eaising a Maintei-
nance for them in the City of New York, County of Richmond, West
Chester and Queens County, made in the fourth Year of Bang Wil-
liam and Queen Mary, Provided always, That such School-Master
shall, from time to time, as a Vacancy happens be Chosen and
Recomended by the Comon Council of the said City for the time
being in order to be Lycensed and approved by the Right Honble
the Bishop of London or the Governor or Comander in Chief of this
province for the time being any thing herein Contained to the con-
trary thereof in any ways notwithstanding.

City of New York, Die Jovis, 2h. P. M., ^ Nov., 1702 In
the first year of her Matys Reign.

House of Representatives for the Province of New York.
This Bill having been read three times, Resolved

This Bill do passe.
Py order of the House of Representatives,

W. NICOLL Speater
27th November, 1702

This Bill having been read three times is passed the Councill.

By order of Councill,

27th November 1702 B.. COZENS C of Council

I assent to this Bill Enacting it and ordering it to be enrolled

CORNBURY

[Endorsed] Die Jovis ^ Nov r 1702

This Bill having been read three times Is passed and Ordered
to be sent up to the Council for their concurrence.

GAB L. LUDLOW Jr. Cl

to ye Gener. Assembly.

The official history of the passage of the foregoing act, as derived
from the Journals of the General Assembly and the Council, is
deemed worthy of insertion in this place, as furnishing valuable
information relative to the men and the measures of that period, in con-

78 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

nection with the subject under consideration. In further justification
of these quotations (if any be needed), we adopt the language of the
Preface to the Assembly Journal itself, to wit :

Although the Votes and Proceedings of the General Assembly of
this Colony, may perhaps appear to some, as Matter of little Moment ;
the same were nevertheless regarded by the General Assembly, as a
thing of so much Consequence, that by a Resolution of the House on
the Eighth day of January, One Thousand Seven Hundred and
Sixty-two, they empowered me to get them reprinted.

******

ABRAHAM LOTT Jun r .
New York, September 1, 1764.

We may add that this set of Journals covers a period of about
seventy-five years, beginning with 1691, and makes two large folio
volumes, which were printed by Hugh Gaine ; also, that two volumes
of about the same size, containing the Journals of the Legislative
Council, for nearly the same period, were printed as lately as 1861,
by order of the Senate of this State. Certain deficiencies in the-
Assembly Journals have been restored only within a few years, after
much pains-taking on the part of Mr. George H. Moore, Librarian
of the New York Historical Society, from whom the State Library
has acquired a manuscript copy, through the Regents of the Uni-
versity. These volumes of Journals are a mine of information on all
matters connected with the legislation of the Colony, and it cannot
be amiss to bring to light, now and then, passages on special subjects,
which might not otherwise be seen by one in a thousand of the
people of this State. Besides, for historical purposes, the series of
agencies and events which culminate in the passage of an act, is
sometimes of greater interest and importance than the act itself;
just as, to borrow an illustration from Coleridge, " the history of a
word may be more instructive than that of a campaign."

In Governor Cornbury's Address to the General Assembly of the
Province of New York at the opening of the Session, at Jamaica,
Queens county, on the 20th day of Oct., 1702, he remarks :

There are some other Things, I think it my Duty to recommend
you, particularly "the preparing a good Bill, for the better reglating
the Militia of this Province, another for the erecting of public schools
in proper Places, another for appointing a convenient Number of fit
Persons, to examine and state the publick Accounts and Debts of
this Province ; "

to which recommendations he adds :

* * " these and all other Bills, which shall appear to be necessary

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORE. 79

to be passed Into Acts, for the good of this Country, and for the
Preservation and Encouragement of the people, shall always find a
ready Compliance from me."

The foregoing subjects were taken up, from time to time, by the
General Assembly, that of defense being first, finance second, and
education third, in the order of their consideration, though the last
was reached within ten days of the opening of the session. The
first record, as to action on this subject, is in the following terms :

Die Veneris, 1 8 ho. A. M. Oct. 30, 1702.

A motion being made, and the Question being put, whether there
should be erected a publick Free-School. It was carried in the
Affirmative.

Ordered, That Major Jackson, 2 do acquaint the Town of Hamp-
stead, that a publick Free-School is designed to be erected, and to
inquire of them, what Encouragement they will allow towards the
same, within the Bounds of that Township ; and that he make Keport
thereof to the House Friday next.

Die Veneris, 8 ho. A. M. Nov. 6, 1702.
* * # * *

Major Jackson, according to Order, reported from the Township
of Hampstead, at a general Town Meeting, for Encouragement of a
Free-School, to be erected in the Township, they do grant 100 Acres
of Land, with Conveniences of Watering near the East Meadow
Point, and also allow Liberty for Timber for Building, Fencing and
Firewood, with other Conveniences, to be had within the Township,
according to a Town Act ; to build a Free-School on the said 100
Acres of Land.

Die Mortis, 3 ho. P. M. Nov. 10, 1702.
*f * * * *

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the City
and County of New York, have Leave to bring in a Bill, to raise
Fifty Pounds per Annum, for a Free-School, and it was carried in
the Affirmative.

1 As this ancient method of indicating the day of the week has become nearly or
quite obsolete in this country, though still used in the British Parliament, we
append the Latin equivalents of the English names :

Sunday Die Solis.

Monday Die Luna.

Tuesday Die Martis.

Wednesday Die Mercury (ij=i).

Thursday Die Jovis.

Friday Die Veneris.

Saturday Die Sfibatu.

* John Jackson, a representative from Queens county.

80 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

Ordered, That Mr. French and Mr. De Lancey, 1 do prepare and
bring in a Bill accordingly.

******

Die Sabatii, 8 ho. A. M. Nov. 14, 1702.

Mr. French, presented to the House a Bill, entitled, An Act to
enable the Mayor, Alderman and Commonalty of the City of New-
York to raise Fifty Pounds per Annum, for seven Years, towards
maintaining a School Master, within the said City of New York.
Ordered, The Bill be read.

A Bill entitled, An Act [etc., as above], was read the first time.
Ordered, That the Bill be read the second Time.

******

f" v Die Mortis, 8 ho. A M. Nov. 17, 1702.
[At New York City, by adjournment from Jamaica.]
******

The Bill entitled, An Act to enable the Mayor [etc., as above], was
read the second Time.

Ordered, The Bill be committed to Mr French, Mr. Cortlandt?
Capt Garton* Mr. Abed* and Major Whiteheadf or any Three of them.
******

Die Joins, 8 ho. A. M. Nov. 19, 1702.
******

Mr. French, reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill, enti-
tled, An Act for Encouragement of an English Free-School, in the
City of New York, was committed, That they had considered the
same, and made some amendments ; which they had directed him to
report to the House, which was read and agreed to by the House.

Ordered, The Bill be engrossed with the amendments.

******

Dw Jovis, 2 ho. P. M. Nov. 19, 1702.

The Bill, entitled, An Act [etc., as last above quoted], was read the
third time,

Resolved, The Bill do pass.

Ordered, Mr. French and Major Whitehead, do carry up the Bill
to the Council, for their concurrence.

******
At a Councill held at ffort W m Henry, this 19 <A day of November,

1702.
PRESENT His Excellency, EDWAED Viscount CORNBURY, &c.,

SA : SH : BROUHTON, ) CALEB HEATHCOTE, Esq r

GERRARD BEEKMAN, > Esq rs JOHN BRIDGES, Do r of Laws.
RIP VAN DAM, )
******

1 Philip French and Stephen De Lancey, both representatives from the city and
county of New York.

8 Jacobus Cortlandt, of New York. 4 John Abeel, of Albany.

8 Thomas Gar ton, of Ulster. * Daniel Whitehead, of Queens.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 81

His Excellency layd before this board a Bill for Encouragement of
a Grammar Free Scbooll in the City of New York which was Dd to
him by members of the house of Representatives appointed to do the
same which was read the first and second time and comitted to the
members of this board or any three of them.

On the next day, the same members being present, with the excep-
tion of Mr. Beekman, and the addition of W m Smith :

Coll ~W m Smith Chairman of the Committee of the Councill to
whom the Bill for Encouragement of a Grammar Free Schooll
in the City of New York was Comitted by this board for Report
does humbly offer to his Excellency that upon perusall of that
part of his Excellencies Instructions relating to School masters within
this Colony In the words following : That no School master be per-
mitted to come from England and to keep a school within this pro-
vince without the License of the Right Reverend ' ffather in God,
Henry Lord Bishop of London and that no person now there or that
shall come from other parts be admitted to keep Schooll without your
Lycense first obteined We are humbly of opinion that his Excel-
lency ought not to passe the said Bill otherwise than is directed by
that Clause of his Excellencies Instruction and that it be Recom-
mended to the house of Representatives to make such amendments in
the said Bill as is agreeable thereunto And

Ordered, that Coll Hathcote do carry the same.

******

[In General Assembly.']

Die Martis, 2 ho. P. M. Nov. 24, 1702.

A Message from his Excellency and Council, by Col. Heathcote,
with the Bill, entitled, An Act [etc., as above.]

That his Excellency ought not to pass the said Bill, otherwise than
is directed by his Instructions, and that it be recommended to the
House of Representatives, to make such Amendments to the said
Bill, agreeable thereto.

After some Debate on the Message, the House ordered Mr. French
and Mr. Willet, 1 to return the said Bill to the Council, and acquaint
his Excellency, That the House had sent the Bill, for settling a Free
School, &c. to the Council, and that they may reject or amend the
Bill and send it down with the Amendments, and the House will
forthwith take the same into Consideration, and dispatch that and
other Matters, now before the House.

******

At a Councill, [etc.] Nov. 24 th , 1702.

Coll W m Smith Chairman of the Committee of the Councill to
whom the Bill for encouragement of a Grammar Free Schooll in the
City of New York was Recomitteddocs report to this honoble board.

William Willet of Westchester.
6

82 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

That all be left out after the words [Queen Mary] in the tenth line
of the second Sheet and instead thereof the following provisoe to be
Inserted Provided allwayes that such Schooll master if Chosen from
England then to be Licensed by the Right Reverend ffatiher in God
the Lord Bishop of London and approved of by the Gov r or Coman-
der in Chief of this province for the time being and in case any fitt
person shall be here found for the discharge of that duty as well as
upon any Vacancy that may hereafter happen upon the death absence
or disability of such Schooll master that then and in such case the
Comon Councill of the City of New York for the time being shall
and may Recomend to the Gov r or Comander in Chief of this pro-
vince for the time being such fitt person qualified as is aforesaid for
License and approbation Which is allwayes to be had and obteined
before such School master be Instituted to the Sallary aforesaid any
thing herein conteined to the Contrary thereof in any wise notwith-
standing.

Which Report being read and approved of The said Bill together
with the said amendments being read the third time is passed the
Councill and ordered to be sent down to the house of Representa-
tives for their Concurrence to the sd amend* and M r Attorney Gene-
ral ordered to carry the same Which was done.

[In General Assembly. ,]
Die Mercury, 8 ho. A. M. Nov. 25, 1702.

A Message from the Council, by Mr. Attorney General. That the
Council have agreed to the Bill, entitled [as above] with some
Amendments, to which they desire the Concurrence of this House,

JKesolved, A Conference be desired with the Council, upon the
Amendments of the said Bill.

Ordered, That Mr. French do go to the Council, and desire the
said Conference.

At a Councill [etc. on the same day]
* * * * * *

Phillip ffrench Esq r from the house of Representatives desires a
Conferrence with the Councill upon the amendments of the Bill for
Incouragement of a Grammar Free Schooll, &c.

The Gentl of the Councill did agree to the sd Conferrence, and
order that Coll W m Smith, Sampson Shelton Brougton Esq r and
Coll Caleb Heathcote do manage the same and that they meet the
Comittee of the house of Representatives in order thereunto this
afternoon between three and four of the Clock at the house of the sd
M r ffrench.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 83

[In General Assembly.'}

Die Mercury, 2 ho. P. M. Nov. 25, 1702.

A Message from the Council, acquainting this House, that they had
appointed a Conference at Four of the Clock this Afternoon, at the
House of Mr. Philip French.

To which the House agreed.

Ordered, That Mr. French, Capt. Coddrdngtonj- Col. HoweU? Capt.
Gar ton, Mr. De Lancey, and Major Whitehead, be, and are hereby
appointed by this House, to meet the Committee of Council, to
manage the conference on the subject Matter of that Message.

Die Jams, 2 ho. P. M. Nov. 26, 1702.

Mr. French reported from the Committee of this House, appointed
to be Managers of the Conference with the Committee of Council,
That they had met the Committee of Council, and concluded on the
Bill entitled, [as above] ; the Amendment to which being read, was
agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That Mr. De Lancey, do carry up to the Council, the
Bill for the Encouragement of an English Free-School, in the City
of New York, and the Bill for regulating of Slaves, and acquaint
them, this House had agreed to the Amendments to each Bill.

At a Council [etc. on the same day].

Coll W m Smith Chairman of the Comittee of the Councill
appointed to meet a Comittee of the house of Representatives on
the amendment to the Bill for Incouragm* of a Grammar Free Schooll
&c does report to his Excellency in Councill that the sd Comittee
have mett and have agreed to the amendment to the said Bill as fol-
loweth vizt : That Instead of the last provisoe made by the Council
as an amendm* to the sd Bill these following words be Inserted
[ Provided allwayes that such Schoollmaster shall from time to time
as a vacancy happens be Chosen and Recomended by the Comon
Councill of the said City for the time being in order to be Licensed
and approved by the Right honoble the Bishopp of London for the
time being or the Governor or Comander in Chief of this province
for the time being any thing herein Conteined to the Contraiy thereof
in any ways notwithstanding.]

Which was approved of and

Ordered, that the same be sent down to the house of Representa-
tives for their Concurrence to the sd Amendm* & that Rip van Dam
Esq do carry the same.

1 Thomas Ccxjdrington, of New York. ? Matthew Howell, of Suffolk.

84 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

At a Councitt, [etc.], this 27 th 9 ber 1702.

* * * *

Ordered, the Clerk of the Council do acquaint the House of Repre-
sentatives, to attend his Excellency in Council at Fort William Henry,
immediately.

Accordingly the Speaker, with the House, attended his Excellency
in Council, where his Excellency was pleased to give his Assent to
the several Bills following, viz :

* * # *

An Act for encouragement of a Grammar Free School in the City
of New York.

* * * *

Referring to the general legislation of the session and to the special
act under consideration, Lord Cornbury wrote to the Lords of Trade,
in December of the same year :

* * * #

The general Assembly of this Colony met ... on the 20 of
October last at Jamaica, and sat there till the 14 of November on
which day I did at the request of the House, adjourn them to New
York to meet there on the 16 of November (the sickness God be
praised quite over) there they continued their Sessions till the 27 of
November during which time they passed several Bills in number
fifteen of which I send your Lordships Transcripts under the Scale
of this Colony for your approbation and hope the Queen will be
pleased to approve of them.

* * * * * *
The 11 th for a free school I hope wants no recommendation. 1

* * * * * *

The following is a transcript of the Common Council Records of
the City of New York, for 1702, so far as they relate to the school
proposed to be established under the foregoing legislative act of that
year:

p.,, ^ Att a Common Council held att the Citty Hall of
w v v f ss - tne 8a id Citty on Monday the 23 d day of Decem-
ber Anno Dom 1702.

PRESENT Philip French Esq r Mayor

Samson Shelton Broughton Esq r Recorder

Jacobus V : Cortlandt )

John Corbett > Esq Aldermen

William Smith )

Jeremiah Tothil 1

Caleb Cooper A . ,

Bartholomew Laroux

Jan Hendrickse Brevort J

* * * # # * *

1 N. Y. Col. Doc., iv, 1004.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 85

WHEEEAS there is an act of Genferall Assembly of this Province
entituled an act for encouragement of a Grammar Free School in the
Citty of New Yorke. And Whereas this Court are of Opinion that
att this time, there is, not any person within this Citty (with whose
Conveniency it would be agreeable) proper and duely qualified to
take upon him the office of School Master of the said Citty but think
it nessessary that the want thereof be Recommended to the Right
Hon ble the Bishop of London to send over hither a person of good
learning of pious life and vertuous Conversation of English Extract
and of good and mild temper to be the said school master and in
Order thereunto itt is hereby Resolved nemine contra dicente that
this court doe Petition his Excellency the Lord Cornbury to Recom-
mend this affair in the name of this Corporation to his Lordship the
Bishop of London and that his Excellency will also be pleased to
Recommend the further Encouragement of the said free school to the
society for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts and likewise to
her Most Sacred Majesty that her Majesty will be most graciously
pleased to appropriate a parte of the farme commonly called the
Kings farme lying within this Citty for the further encouragement
of the said free school that M r Recorder' doe draw the said Petition
and that M r Mayor doe sign the same accordingly by Order of this
Court. 1

C'tt of ) ~^" tt; a ^ ommon Council held att the Citty Hall of
"NT v v \ ss> *k e sa id City on Fry day the 15 th day of Janu-
ary Anno Dom 1702

PRESENT [the same as Dec. 23, 1702, except Caleb Cooper
and Jan Hendrickse Brevort, and in addition Law
rence Reade, Alderman, and Robert Lurting,
Assistant.]

The following address to his Excellency was read and approved and
Ordered the same be signed by this Court and presented to his Excel-
lency and that the same be Recorded

To His EXCELLENCY Edward Yiscount Cornbury Cap* Gen 11 and Gov"
ernour in Chiefe of the Province of New Yorke and all the
Territories and Tracts of Land depending thereon in America
and vice admiral of the same &c :

The Humble Address of the Mayor Alderman and Com-
monalty of the Citty of New Yorke in Common Council
assembled,

MOST HUMBLY SHEWETH :

That the last session of the General Assembly of this Province
your Excellency having been pleased to give your assent to the passing
an act whereby this Corporation is Impowered to nominate and pre-
sent to your Excellency for your approbation a fitt and able person to
teach a publick free school within this Citty and to raise Moneys

1 Minutes of the N. Y. Common Council (MSS.), ii, 517.

towards the Maintainance of such'person, wee are become very solici-
tous which ways to apply our selves for the finding out one truly
qualified for that trust and duty much doubting that neither these
nor the neighboring countrys can supply us therewith to whose con-
veniency the same may be agreeable.

Wherefore that so good a worke may not suffer by delay nor fail of
its desired end Wee the said Mayor Alderman & Commonalty become
most humble Supplicants to your Excellency that you would be
pleased to help on the structure whose foundation you have already
laid in Representing our Want of a School Master with all the dim-
cult Circumstances thereof to the Right Reverend and no less
Honourable my Lord of London and in Requesting his fatherly Care
& Concern for us therein and by his Lordships means that of the
Society for propagating the Gospell in foreign parts in Order to our
being supplyd from thence with a person of good learning pious life
and vertuous Conversation of English Extract and mild temper to be
our said School Master and that your Excellency would be further
pleased to Recommend our affair and design of a free school aforesaid
unto her Majesties grace and favour and in our behalfe, most humbly
beseech her Majesty that some parte of the farme commonly called
the Kings farme within the Liberties of this Citty may be appropri-
ated for the farther and better Support and Maintainance of the said
School and School Master.

And wee your Excellencys most humble Supplicants aforesaid shall
ever pray, &c : l

* * * *

We find no record of the actual establishment of the school in
question, until the year 1704:. The Abstract of Proceedings of the
Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, for the
year 1704, contains the following statement, with evident reference
to this school :

A Latin Free school is likewise established at New York, by the
influence of His Ex. the Lord Cornbury, with 2 others [i. e., schools],
by which means sound Religion visibly gains ground there. There
are also Proposals going on for Building a College on the Queens new
Farm by subscription. 2

The foregoing statement in regard to the "Latin Free School,
. with 2 others," seems to have been derived from certain
paragraphs in " A summary Account," etc., prepared by Rector Wil-
liam Yesey, in October, 1704, to wit :

******

His Lordship hath also been highly instrumental in enacting a
law for establishing a Latin free school, and to endow it with a salary
of Fifty pound per annum, to which station his Lordship hath pre-

1 Minutes of the N. Y. Common Council (MSS.), ii, 519, 520.

2 Soc. for Prop, of Gospel, etc. ; Abs. of Proceedings, 1704-5, p. 26.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 87

ferred the ingenious Mr. George Muirson, who for some time dis-
charged that function with approbation & success.

Two other schools are likewise established in this City by his Excel-
lency's care. 1

Mr. Muirson was duly licensed to teach, in the following terms :

EDWAKD YISCOUNT COBNBURY Cap* Gen 11 and Govern 1 " in Chief of the
Province of New York New Jersey & of all the Territories and
tracts of Land depending thereon in America and vice admirall of
the same &c,

To M r George Muirson Greeting ,

I do hereby authorize and impower you to keep and teach school
w th in the Citty of New Y ork, and to instruct all Children w th whom
you shall be intrusted in the English Latin and Greek tongues or
Languages and also in the arts of writing and arithmetick. Y ou are
therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of a school-
master in ye said Citty and you are to receive and enjoy all such
priviledges and advantages as to the office and place of a Schoolmaster
doth or may belong whereof the Mayor all her maties Justices of
y e Peace and other officers w th in the said Citty are hereby required to
take notice and Govern themselves accordingly Given under my
hand and Seal att arms att ffort ann in New York this Twenty ffiftn
day of Aprill 1704

CORNBURY.
by his Excell cys command

Geo Clarke D Secy 2

The Governor also issued a warrant for the payment of Mr. Muir
son's salary :

[Seale] By his Excellency Edward Yiscount Cornbury[etc]

You are hereby Directed and required to pay or cause to be paid
unto Mr. George Muirson School Master of the City of New Yorke
the Sume of five and Twenty pounds for half a years Sallary Due and
Ending the second Tuesday in January next for which this shall be
your Sufficient "Warrant. Given under my hand and Seale att ffort
anne in New York this 20 th of October 1704

CORNBTJRY
To "William Peartree Esq r

Mayor of the City of New Yorke 3

Early in 1705, Mr. Muirson went to England to receive ordina-
tion, 4 and Mr. Andrew Clarke was appointed by the Common Council
as city schoolmaster. The record of his appointment is as follows :

1 Doc. Hist, of N. Y., iii, 113 (8 ed.) ; 75 (4 ed.)

2 Deeds (MS.), in office of Secretary of State, x, 5.

3 N. Y. Col. MSS. , 1, 19. Bolton's Hist, of the Church in West. Co. , 149.

88 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

p., f N Att a Common Council held att the City Hall of

-vj l "V i r t ss. the said City on Tuesday the 22 d day of January

Anno Dom 1705.
* # # *

The petition of Mr Andrew Clarke was read praying to be by this
Court appointed School Master of this City according to an act of
General Assembly of this Province entituled an act for Encourage-
ment of A Grammar free school in the City of New York, which
Petition being taken into the consideration of this Court and they
being well satisfyed of the Sobriety Learning and Integrity of the
said Andrew Clarke doo (nemine contra dicente) hereby nominate and
appoint the said M r Andrew Clarke school master of this City of New
York Pursuant to the said act. 1

We fail to find, among the meager files of the corporation for that
early period, the petition of Mr. Clarke, referred to in the above
council minute, and there seems to be no further official evidence that
he actually served under such appointment, except his license to teach,
dated August 14, 1705, 2 which is the same in form as that granted to
Mr. Muirson, as quoted above.

A brief narrative appears in certain historical works, evidently
based in the first instance upon the corporation records already quoted,
and thence adopted as standard by subsequent authors, which con-
cludes with the remark that " it was not until 1705 that the ^chool
was finally established!, and Andrew Clarke appointed master."

We regret that this narrative, which entirely overlooks Mr. Muir-
son's previous employment, does not go on to state where and how
" the school was established," how long and with what success it con-
tinued, etc. Possibly these details were regarded as too trivial for
insertion in the general history of the State, or of the city ; although
we rather conclude that the sources of information failed at this point.
The bare appointment of the schoolmaster seems to be the only
authenticated fact embraced in the narrative above quoted, and the
establishment of the school appears rather to be assumed from the
fact of such appointment, than substantiated by any official record.
We have been unable, on careful search at the New York city hall,
to find any warrant or order for the payment of Mr. Clarke's salary,
or any allusion, official or otherwise, to the existence of this school at
any later period. Under the provision of the statutes bearing upon
the subject, it was incumbent on the vestrymen of the parish to assess,

1 Minutes of the Common Council, iii, 69. a Deeds, x, 65.

"Mary L. Booth's History of the City of New York, p. 274 ; S. S. Randall's His-
tory of the State of New York, p. 51.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 89

collect and expend the money required for the support of the school-
master ; and but for the destruction of the early records of Trinity
church, 1 we might now be able to determine how long, if at all, Mr.
Clarke was continued in service. As it is, we are left in doubt
whether the act of 1702 was directly productive of any further educa-
tional fruit.

It is somewhat remarkable that Mr. Clarke's name does not appear
in a list of city schoolmasters, from 1695 to the Revolution, appended
to Yalentine's History of the City of New York ; although this can
hardly be regarded as valid evidence on the subject of his actual
employment, since the names of other well authenticated schoolmas-
ters are omitted, and no mention of the schools o the city occurs in
the body of the work. 2

The following extract from the Minutes of the Common Council,
indicates that Mr. Clarke subsequently engaged in the civil service
of the colony :

25 th October, 1712.

M r Andrew Clarke who was lately Elected Constable of the
South Ward personally Appeared before this Court and Acquainted
them that he Could not serve in that Office by reason he was
Imployed by the Receiver General of this Colony in Collecting
her Majesties quitt Rents, it is therefore Order'd that the said
Andrew Clarke do pay the fine for his said Refusal and that the
Mayor Issue his Warrant to the Alderman of the said Ward to Elect
another fitt person on Tuesday Next to serve in the said Office for
the year Ensueing.

Mr. Henry Onderdonk, Jr., says :

Andrew Clark lived in Jamaica and was Clerk of Common Pleas
of Queens Co., from 1723 to 1756.

A Dutch scholmaster seems to have been employed at Kinderhook
as early as 1702, as appears from the following

Certificate in favor of Mr. Van Vleck.

Kinderhook the 30th Novemb. Anno Domine 1702.

In the first year of the Reign of her Majesty ANNE, Queen of Eng-
land, Scotland, Ireland and France, Defender of the Faith, We the
undersigned inhabitants of Kinderhook patent acknowledge and
Declare that Paulus van Yleg during the whole of the time that he
hath resided here and since he was accepted as Precentor and school-

1 See the "Act for settling a Ministry," etc., passed Sept. 22, 1693, as referred to
in the foregoing act of 1702.

* We propose to insert Mr. Valentine's list in a subsequent part of our "Annals,"
with such additions as we may be able to make.

90 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

master of our Church hath truly comported himself to the Great con-
tent of our congregation.

******

YOHANNES VAN ALEN
COENBAST BOEGHGHABDT
ABEAM VAN ALSTYN
ZAMMEKT VAN

A certain Albany schoolmaster has, perhaps, no other memorial of
service in this capacity, than the following :

At a Common Councill held in y e Citty Hall of Albany this first of
May, 1703

******

Evert Ridder of the Citty of Albany makes his humble application
to the Mayor, Aldermen and Assistance to be permitted to teach
schoole in the Citty aforesaid, which request is taken into considera-
tion, and granted accordingly. 2

About this time (1703-7) several licenses to teach schools, in New
York city and elsewhere, were granted by his Excellency Lord Corn-
bury, in addition to those of George Muirson and Andrew Clarke,
already mentioned. Some of these licenses have been printed within
a few years, as mementoes of the olden time, but the most of them
we have found only in the manuscript volumes of Deeds, in the office
of the Secretary of State, where they were originally recorded. We
insert such as were issued prior to 1707, in chronological and consecu-
tive order :

EDWAED YISCOUNT COENBUEY [etc]

I doe hereby authorize and Impower you Andrew ffoucautt to teach
an English and ffrench School within the City of New York and to
instruct all Children where with you shall be intrusted fo[r] y e pur-
pose in the said Languages, as alsoe in y e art of Writeing Arethme-
tick &c. You are theref oi'e carefully and Diligently to discharge the
duty of a Schoolmaster in y e said City, and to receive and enjoy all
such privilledges and advantages as to the office and Place of a School-
master doth and may belong and appertain. Whereof y e Mayor all
her Maj tles Justices of the reace and other Officers within the said
City are hereby required to take notice and Govern themselves accord-
ingly and for soe doing this shall be your sufficient Warrant. Given
under my hand and scale att Arms att her Maj tieB fort in New York,
this thirteenth Day of September Anno Dom 1703

CORNBURY 3

1 Doc. Hist, of N. Y., iii, 894 (8 ed.) ; 539 (4 ed.) 3 Deeds, ix, 786.

3 MunsqU's Annals, iv, 177.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 91

Edward Yiscount Cornbury [etc].
To the Worthy M r Elias Neau,

Greeting Reposing speciall trust and Confidence in your ability
prudence and Integrity have nominated Constituted and appointed
and do hereby nominate Constitute and appoint you y e Sd Elias
Neau to be Catechist in the City of New Yorke and Do hereby give
and grant unto you full Licence and power to Catechise all Children
Indians Negroes and Other persons within y e Sd Citty. Given under
my hand and Seale att ffort Anne in New Yorke this twenty fourth
day of August 1704

CORNBURY 1
# * # *

According to the brief narrative furnished by Jonathan Hasbrouck,
Esq., of Kerhonkson, respecting early schools in Kingston, Ulster
county, and quoted in connection with our "Annals of Education in
New Netherland," Mr. William Montagne (or La Montague), who
seems to have been, at various times, secretary of the Esopus, and
sheriff of Ulster county, was also for a time schoolmaster at Kingston,
under the English. We have found, however, no earlier official record
of educational aifairs at Kingston than the following license to one
Stephen Gasheris, a letter from whom, dated July 4, 1715, relative to
a legal proceeding, is also on file in the office of the Secretary of
State: 3

Edward Vise*. Cornbury, G v Yice-Admiral &c,
To Stephen Gasheris Greeting

You are hereby Impowered & Lycensed to read y e service of
y e Dutch Church at Kingstown in y e County of Ulster from time to
time until! you receive further orders from me, and you are likewise
hereby Impowered & Lycensed to Keep a writing & reading school
at Kingstown aforea d untill you receive further orders from me to
y e contrary. Given under my hand at Kingstown this tenth day of
August in y e third year, &c, annoque, Dom. 1704 3

Edward Yiscount Cornbury [etc].
To M r Henry Lindley Greeting,

I do hereby authorize and impower you to Keep and Teach Schoole
w th in the Town of Jamaica in Queens County and to Instruct all
Children w th whom you shall be intrusted in the English and
Lattin Tongues or Languages and also in the art of Writing and
Arithmetic for and During my Pleasure Given under my hand and
Seale att Fort Anne in New Y orke this 18 th day of Aprill 1705

CORNBURY
By his Excel 8 Command
Geo: Clarke

1 Deeds, x, 27. N. Y. Col. MSS, xlix, 165.

8 N. Y. Col. MSS. , Ix, 15. Deeds, x, 48.

92 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

A license in the same form was issued to Mr. Alexander Baird, on
the 6th day of March, 1706, for the town of Heinpstead, in Queens
county. 1

Edw d Viscc 1 Cornbury [etc.]
To Elias Bon Repos Greeting,

You are hereby Impowered & Lycens'd to Keep School within
y e Town of New Rochel in y e County of West Chester & carefully
& diligently to Instruct y e Children under yo r Care & Tuition in
y e art of Reading & Writing during my pleasure. Given under my
hand & Seal at New York this 23 d day of June 1705 & in y e 4th
year of her Ma tyB Reign.

CORNBURY.
By his Excell. Command,

Will Anderson D. Se cry . 3

This license was renewed by Governor Hunter in the same words,
Dec. 12, 1712. 4

Alex' Baird, Teacher, 1707, had a pew in the Dutch Church at
Jamaica, also called " Alexander the Scotchman." I suppose he was
also a scrivener, as he was a witness to a will which he probably
wrote at Foster's Meadow, Hempstead, 1714. 8

Mr. John Wood was duly licensed by Lord Cornbury, Aug. 29,
1705, to keep a Dancing School within the City of New York during
the Governor's pleasure.

On the same day, Mr Prudent De La Fayole was authorized to
keep a French School within the said city. 5

Thomas Huddleston[e] was licensed on the 5th day of December,
1705, to teach the English language, writing and arithmetic in the
town of Jamaica, Queens Co. 6

The wordy plumage with which the diminutive body of the fol-
lowing license is winged on either side, in " spread eagle " style, is
somewhat peculiar :

By his Ex ly Edward Viscount Cornbury Captain Gen 1 & Gov r in chief
of the Provinces of New York & New Jersey and Territorys
Depending thereon in America and Vice admiral of the same &c.

To M r James Jeffray Greeting.

I do hereby authorize and Irnpower You to Keep and Teach School
within the city of New York and to Instruct all children with whom
you Shall be intrusted in the art of Writing and Arithmetick for and
During my Pleasure.

1 Deeds, x, 171. 4 Deeds, x, 326.

1 H. Onderdonk, Jr. e Deeds, x, 66.

3 Deeds, x, 65. T Deeds, x, 82.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 93

Given under my hand and Seal at ffort Anne in New Yorke this
Seventeenth day of Aprill in the fifth Year of the Reign of
our Sovereign Lady Anne, by the Grace of God of England,
Scotland, ffrance and Ireland Queen Defender of the faith
etc* Annoque Domini 1706

COENBUEY
By his Ex lyB Comand

GEO. CLAEKE, Secty. 1

Edward ffitz Gerald was also licensed, on the first day of May
next following, in nearly the same words, to teach school in West-
chester county. 2

Some years later, Allane Jarratt, afterwards well known as a sur-
veyor, etc., made the following application for a license to teach :

To his Excellency Eobert Hunter Esq r Capt. General and Governour
in Chief of the Provinces of New York New Jersey and Territo-
ries depending thereon in America and Vice Admiral of the same.

The Humble Petition of Allane Jarratt

Humbly Sheweth

That yo r Petitioner haveing by an experience and practice of the
Art of Navigation and other parts of the Mathemat 8 for the space of
fourteen yeares after an early education in the most usfullest parts
thereof acquired a competent Knowledge therein, and being sensible
how much the youth brought up in this citty are at a loss in goeing to
sea without a sufficient Instruction in writeing and Arithmetick and
in the Art of Navigation with other usefull parts of theMathematicks
that might be abundantly servicable to them in the discharge of their
dutyes at sea and haveing been desired by several persons to Instruct
them privately having now some leisure time but for avoiding pre-
sumption and offence

Your Petitioner Humbly beggs yo r Excellency's Lycence to teach
Writeing, Arithmetick, Navigation and other parts of the Mathe-
maticks, and yo r Petitioner as in Duty bound shall ever pray &c :

ALLANE JAEEATT 3

[Endorsed] 15 th July 1612.

This application was granted, in due form, as follows :

By his Excellency Eobert Hunter Esq r [etc.]

To Allane Jarratt Gent 1 Greeting :

Being assured of yo r experience and Knowledge in y e practice of
y e art of Navigation and of all parts of the Mathematics I doe
hereby authorize and Impower you to Teach writeing, arithmetick
Navigation and other parts of mathematicks to all such persons as
shall be desirous to be Instructed therein within this City or province
of New York for and during my pleasure Given under my hand

1 Deeds, x, 112 ; N. Y. Col. MSS., li, 111. N. Y. Col. MSS., Ivii, 190.
"Deeds, x, 114 ; N. Y. Teacher, vii, 273.

94 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

and Seale at fort Anne in New York y e ffourth day of July in y e
Eleaventh yeare of y e reigne of our Soveraigne Lady Anne by y e grace
of God of Great Brittaine ffrance and Ireland Queene Defender of y
ffaith &c, Annoqe Dm 1712

-P ,. T-, ,, . EO: HUNTER

I3y his Excellencies command

J WILEMAN D Secy x

Mr. Henry Onderdonk, Jr., has furnished the following memo-
randa relative to Friends' schools :

1703. A schoolmaster is deemed necessary for Flushing, <fec. Houses
to be built for Friends' use, &c.

1709. Thomas Makins, 2 schoolmaster at Flushing, signified his
willingness to bring Friends' children to the week day meeting, &c.

George Fox composed a spelling book to initiate children in the
doctrine of Friends. I have seen 2d edition, 1706. He shows the
propriety of Friends' names for the mouths, days of week, and use of
singular thee for plural you in addressing one person : all justified
by scripture. Its title page was thus: "An Instruction for right
Spelling, Reading & writing. [By Geo. Fox & Ellis Hooks.]
London, 1673." 12. It was reprinted, with additions, 1673, '83,
'91, '97, 1700.

Another edition : " Instructions for right Spelling and plain direc-
tions for reading and writing true English, &c., with several delight-
ful things very useful and necessary for young and old to learn ; by
G. F. & E. H., enlarged by A. S. London, printed and sold by T.
Sowle, 1706 :" reprinted, 8 d , 1726.

It may be remembered that mention of a movement for establish-
ing a Free School in the town of Hempstead was made in the
preceding quotations from the Journal of the Assembly, relative to
the passage of the free school act of 1702, though it does not appear
that the action proposed was carried into effect. Five years later, a
much smaller tract was voted for the use of the schoolmaster, though
this action was repealed during the same year, as appears from the
following record :

1707, Ap. 1. By major vote 4 acres in the town spot are voted for
the use of the town for to settle a schoolmaster upon for to teach
children, the land to be for the use of a school forever.

This act was voted void, Oct. 20, 1707. 8

A later entry from the same source is as follows :

1709, Dec. 12. The school house is let to Isaac Jarmin for a year
xcept the leanto which is reserved for the use of the school at any
time when a schoolmaster presents for 4= 18, to be p d the church
wardens ; and if the town shall hire a schoolmaster, then he shall go
forth of said house at a quarter's warning. 4

1 Deeds, x, 319, 310.

" He was at Philadelphia, 1729, and wrote a Latin poem there (Descriptio Penn-
sylvania}}. H. Onderdonk, Jr.
8 4 Hempstead Records, D. , 238, as furnished by H. Onderdonk, Jr.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 95

It appears from a petition, dated August 1, 1711, as quoted in
Stiles' History of Brooklyn (vol. i, pp. 180, 181), that there was in
Flatbush " one howse & Lot of ground in the said Towne called the
school howse conteiuing Eight acres ;" also, in JFlatland " one howse
called the School howse with the land adjoyning Containing two
acres or thereabouts." { & s

Having now reached the date (1709) of the expiration, }fy its own
limitation, of the free-school act of 1702, it is in point to remark
that no effort seems to have been made to revive this act, nor,
indeed, to make like provision by law for the encouragement of
schools of any kind, for a period of more than twenty years, and
none whatever in behalf of primary education, during the remaining
colonial history of the State. Whether this suspension of legislative
patronage resulted from growing indifference on the part of public
men to the importance of primary education, we do not now propose
to consider ; we rather refer to this subject for the sake of introduc-
ing the notice of a new system of instruction which, under ecclesias-
tical supervision, seems to have in a measure superseded, for many
years, that hitherto provided by colonial and municipal authority.
"We refer to the venerable " Society for the Propagation of the Gos-
pel in Foreign Parts," which, as is well known, sent many mission
aries to this country and province, from its incorporation, in the yeai
1701, until nearly the period of the Revolution ; and which, also, at
the suggestion of Col. Caleb Heathcote, himself a member of the
Council at the time of the passage of the act of 1702 above quoted,
furnished a number of schoolmasters for various settlements of the
province, during a period of more than fifty years. The extracts
hereafter quoted from the official history and reports of the Society
will more fully exhibit the facts on this subject.

The organization of this beneficent Society may have been the
result, in part at least, of a suggestion made by the Rev. Dr. Bray, of
London, in an ordination sermon, entitled :

" Apostolic Charity, its Nature and Excellence considered, in a
Discourse upon Dan., 12.3. Preached at St. Paul's at the Ordination
of some Protestant Missionaries to be sent into the Plantations.
[December the 19th, 1697.] *

To which is prefixt, A General Yiew of the English Colonies in
America, with respect to Religion ; in order to show what Provision

1 This date is inserted in writing in the copy belonging to the Library of the N. T.
Historical Society.

96 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

is wanting for the Propagation of Christianity in those Parts. * *
By Thomas Bray, D. D. London, 1700."

* * * #

5. It will be further requisite to have free Schools erected at least
one in every county, for the Education of their Children : and it
would in a more especial manner, become the Professors of so Excel-
lent a Religion as ours, to have a Provision made in one or two
Schools at leastwise, in every Province, for the Instruction of half a
dozen Indian Youth, to be sent afterwards amongst their own People,
to civilize and convert them (p. 7, of the above.)

One of the first acts of the Society for the Propagation of the
pel, was to send to the English colonies on this continent a missionary
to make personal examination. The person selected was the Rev.
George Keith, whose journal relative to this tour is contained in the
"Collections of the Protestant Episcopal Society for the year 1841,"
from which volume we briefly quote :

After Mr. Keith came over and had made a survey of the field
before him, he, in conjunction with the few clergymen then in the
northern part of the country . . . made the following state-
ment, designed for the Venerable Society : *

An Account of the State of the Church in North America, lyy Mr.
George Keith and others. [Nov. 1702.]

# # # *

NEW YORK. There are some counties, five of which are inhabited
by Dutch, and those of Dutch extraction, viz. : Albany, Ulster,
Dutchess, Orange and King's County, in which the Church and
Church of England Schools have not yet been settled, but the Presence
of the present Governor of that Province, his Excellency the Lord
Cornbury, has mightily influenced many of the people of the said
counties to desire that Church of England Ministers and schoolmasters
may be sent amongst them, particularly Albany representatives have
desired his Lordship that an English Schoolmaster might be estab-
lished in that county, . . . this Province, though it hath a great
number of inhabitants, could never yet obtain a public legally Estab-

lished School.

# # # #

A provision is made by law for six ministers, . . . There is yet
no provision for Schoolmasters made by law, though by the zealous
recommendation of the Lord Cornbury to the general Assembly, a
legal maintenance is undoubtedly expected, and till then the Church
of England Schoolmaster in the county of New York as heretofore,
will be supported by tjie voluntary contributions of those whose
children are instructed by him ; notwithstanding it is humbly con-
ceived that an annual Pension for the support and further encourage-
ment of some Ministers and Schoolmasters in poor Towns will be
of great use and service to the Church.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 97

No School house yet erected in this Province.

# * * *

In all these Counties where the Church is established by the law
of this Province, the People generally are in a readiness to embrace
the Doctrines and Worship of the Church, and to Encourage Free
Schools. 1

# * * *

Col. Heathcote seems to have conceived a plan for the establish-
ment of schools throughout the province, having written to the Sec-
retary of the " Venerable Society," under date of April 10, 1704, as
follows :

* * I had once formed a projection for fixing schools in this coun-
try for the benefit of all the youths therein, in order to their being
trained up, not only in learning but in their tender years to ingraft
them in the Church, but the storm which was lately raised upon me
concerning church affairs, made me lay the thought of it aside for a
while. However, if God is pleased to spare my life a little longer, I
will, with His assistance, set it on foot, and hope it will be blessed
with its desired effect. 2

Under date of June 1, 1704, Col. Heathcote further writes :

* * I did in my last acquaint you that I would put forward a
school in "Westchester County, which I hope in a few months to
inform you I have done, having the promise of an extraordinary good
man for a school master, one who is not only very firm to the Church,
but I am sure will be indefatigable to instill those principles into the
youth and children, of whom the greatest hopes are, I believe. At
first setting out it will be attended with some difficulties, that I beg
the favor of you to move the Society, that they would be pleased
(until such time as we are able to carry it on without help) to give
us 16 a year, or what they shall think convenient towards maintain-
ing of the schoolmaster, 8

Mr. Bolton adds :

The school alluded to in the foregoing letter was soon after organ-
ized at Rye, and Mr. Joseph Cleator appointed schoolmaster by Col.
Heathcote. The Society also at once acted upon the request made
them, and granted the sum of 15 per annum for his maintenance. 4

The annual " Abstracts of Proceedings " of the Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel furnish much information relative to the
schools and schoolmasters under its care in this and other colonies ;
from which abstracts we shall make a few 'quotations, after having
given a condensed official narrative of its educational work in this
colony, for a series of years.

1 Coll. of P. E. Hist. Soc., for 1851, pp. xv-xvii.

"Bolton's Hist, of the P. E. Church in Westchester Co., pp. 28, 39.

"Idem, pp. 139, 140. 4 Idem, p. 140.

98 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

In the year 1730, the Secretary of the Society (David Humphreys,
D. D.) prepared " An Historical Account of the Incorporated
Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," from
which valuable work we quote at some length, prefacing the extracts
concerning schoolmasters with one on ministers ; the latter class
having been in some degree the means of introducing the former :

New- York Government is next; this worthy People shewed an
early Zeal for having the Church of England Worship established
among them. In the Year 1693, an Act was passed for settling the
Church of England Service in some Counties, and a Provision
appointed for 6 Ministers, one for the City of New- York, the Capi-
tal of the Country, and the rest for other principal Towns. But
this Act did not take Effect till about the year 1702, nor was the
Provision made thereby, or sufficient Maintenance for the Ministers
in the County Towns : These applied to the Society for Help ; par-
ticularly the Inhabitants of West-ehester, were very pressing for a
Minister. Earnest Memorials were sent from the Inhabitants of
New-Hochel, from those of Jamaica, and Hempsted, Towns in Long-
Island / from Statten-Island, and from Rye / and their Desires have
been compty'd with, and Missionaries sent to those Places. 1
* # * *,

In speaking of " Statten-Island,^ and the Rev. Mr. Mackenzie who
was sent thither as a missionary, in 1704, Dr. Humphreys remarks :

* * It was represented by Mr. Mackenzie, that the greatest Dis-
advantage to Religion, arose from the Want of English Schools in
that Island. The Children had no Education but the little they
received from their Parents, and that bound them up to their Parents
Language and Principles. Besides, there was such a Diversity of
Tongues, as English, French, and Dutch, which made it necessary to
settle a School there, more than in any other Place, in order to unite
the Growing Generation in their Language, as well as in their religi-
ous Principles.

The Society were sensible that nothing could be more convenient
than the opening of Schools in this Place. The whole Island was
divided into three Precincts, they appointed a Schoolmaster for each.
Mr. Brown taught School in the South Precinct, Mr. Dupuy in the
North, and Mr. Williamson in the West. Mr. Dupuy did not keep
School long: Mr. Potts succeeded him. Afterwards in the Year
1715, Mr. Taylor was appointed, and continues still [1728] teaching
School ; and several Accounts have been sent to the Society, that he
teaches above 40 Scholars, without any consideration but the Society's
Bounty ; that he instructs them in the Church-Catechism, with the
Explanation, teaches them to join in Publick Worship, and keeps
also a Night School for the Instruction of the Negroes, and such as
cannot be spared from then* Work in the Day time. 2

Humphreys' Historical Account, p. 55, "Idem, pp. 218, 319.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 99

Dr. Humphreys quotes a letter written to the Society, in 1712, by
the Justices of Richmond county, from which we copy these para-
graphs :

We, Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace, High Sheriff, Clerk, an.d
Commander in Chief, of her Majesty's Militia, in the County of
Richmond, as well as for ourselves, as in the Name, and at the Desire
of the other Inhabitants of the said County, Members of the Church
of England, return our Thanks, for supporting our worthy Pastor,
Mr. Mackenzie among us ; whose unblamable Life affords no Occasion
of Disparagement to his Function, nor Discredit to his Doctrine.

* * * *

You have added to the former, a fresh and late Instance of your
Bounty, in allowing a Support to a Schoolmaster, for the Instruction
of our Youth ; the deplorable want of which hath been a great Afflic-
tion to us. 1

* # . * *

In his description of Long Island and its affairs, Dr. Humphreys,
speaking of Rev. Mr. Thomas, says :

* * He wrote that there was a great want of Schools; the
younger People and Children were growing up in a miserable Igno-
rance, for "Want of being taught to read ; and he could not perform
one Part of his Pastoral Office, Catechizing, for "Want of a School-
master to teach the Children to read. The Society appointed Mr.
(jrildersleeve Schoolmaster there, in the year 1713, and allowed him a
Salary to teach the poorer Children Reading, Writing and the Rudi-
ments of Arithmetic. The Yestry of this Parish wrote the Society a
Letter on this Occasion, wherein they say : " Without your Bounty
and Charity, our poor Children would undoubtedly want all Educa-
tion ; our People are poor, and settled distantly from one another,
and unable to board out their Children." The Society sent Quanti-
ties of Paper for the Use of the School, Catechisms, and large num-
bers of Common-Prayer-Books, which proved of great Benefit to the
Younger People. The Youth was instructed, made their Responses
regularly at Church, and Divine Service was performed with more
Knowledge and Decency. 3

* * # *

The following summary statement is given by the same authority :

The Society have from their first Establishment, paid Salaries to
several Schoolmasters in this Government. Mr. GUderslieve at
Hempsted in Long Island, and Mr Taylor in Statten-Island, have>
been mentioned already. Mr, Jfuddlestone was appointed School-
master in New- Ywk City, in the Year 1709 ; he taught 40 poor
Children for the Society's Allowance only ; he publickly catechised
in the Steeple of Trinity Church on Sunday in the Afternoon, not

1 Humphreys' Efist. Acc't, pp. 230, 831, " Idem, pp. 234, 225.

100 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

only his own Scholars, but also the Children, Servants and Slaves of
the Inhabitants, and above 100 Persons usually attended him ; Certi-
ficates attested by the Mayor of New- York, were Annually sent to
the Society, certifying his doing such Service. He died in the Tear
1726 ; and his Son being desirous and capable of the Office, is
appointed now in his Room. Mr. Glover was appointed Schoolmas-
ter at Westchester in the Year 1714, and afterwards Mr. Forster ; he
teaches between 30 and 40 Children, Catechises on Saturday and Sun-
day, which is certified by the Minister and chief Inhabitants of that
Town. Mr. Cleator was settled Schoolmaster at Rye, in the Year
1704 ; he teaches about 50 Children to Read and Write, and instructs
them in the Catechism. And Mr. Denton hath been lately appointed
Schoolmaster at Oysterbay in Long-Island.

The Society have paid Salaries to Six Schoolmasters, besides a
Catechist, for the Slaves at New- York in this Government ; and have
sent Bibles, Common-Prayers, and other Books of Devotion or
Instruction, to the Number of 2220 Volumes, besides Catechisms,
and small Tracts which have been dispersed among the People by
the Missionaries, or among the Children by the Schoolmasters. 1

In a chapter of the same work, on the " Endeavors to Instruct the
Negroe Slaves," Dr. Humphreys says of the Society :

* * They opened a Catechising School for the Slaves at New-
York, in the Year 1704, in which City there were computed to be
about 1500 Negroe and Indian Slaves, and many of their Masters
well disposed to have them made Christians. The Society hoped
this Example set, might kindle a Zeal in some other good People, to
cany on this Work, which they were unable to effect ; and to erect
Schools for the Instruction of the Negroes, and employ Catechists to
teach them at appointed Times ; and that the Legislature in the
Colonies, would, by a Law, oblige all Slaves to attend for their
Instruction. The Society found soon, it was not easie to procure a
Person proper to be a Catechist. Mr. Elias Neau, a Layman, then
living in New- York City, as a Trader, was represented to be the
properest Person for that Office. He was by Nation a Frenchman,
had made a Confession of the Protestant Religion in France, for
which he had been confined several years in Prison, and seven Years
in the Gallies. When he got released, he went to New- York, and
traded there, and had the Character, from Persons of all Persuasions,
of a Man of Piety, of sober Deportment, and serious Life.

He accepted of the Offer of being Catechist ; and his former Suf-
ferings on the Account of his Religion, did, with great Advantage
recommend him to be a Teacher of the Christian Faith ; and his
Humility enabled him to bear with the many Inconveniences in
teaching those poor People. He entered upon his Office, in the year
1704, with great Diligence. At first he was obliged to go from
House to House, to instruct the Negroes, this was out of Measure

1 Humphreys' Hist. Acc't, pp. 228, 229.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 101

laborious ; afterwards he got Leave, that they should come to his
House; this was a considerable Relief. There were two Obstruc-
tions still ; the Time was much too short, and the Place was incon-
venient, . . . being the uppermost Floor in Mr. Neau's
House. * * *

This was a Work of great Pains and Humility ; Mr. Neau per-
formed it diligently ; discoursing familiarly with those poor People,
and laboring earnestly to accommodate his Discourse to their Capaci :
ties.

* * The Society had Accounts from Time to Time of Mr.
Neau's Diligence and good Success ; particularly one very ample Testi-
monial signed by the Governor of the Country (Robert Ifunter Esq ;)
the Council, the Mayor, and Recorder of Jtfew-York, and the two
Chief Justices ; Mr. Neau persevered with the same

Diligence, till the Year 1722, in which he died, much regretted by
all who knew his Labours. Mr. Huddlestone, then School master in
New- York, did for some Time supply his Place, and used to teach
the Negroes, in the Church Steeple, every Sunday before Sermon,
and at his own House after Sermon. In a little Time the Society
sent the Reverend Mr. Wetmore to be Catechist there, and received
Accounts of his discharging his Duty diligently. . . . He after-
wards desired to be appointed Missionary at Rye in that Government
and the Society complyed with his Request, . . . The Society . .
sent the Reverend Mr. Golgan in 1726, to be Catechist there. *

The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts,
as early as 1710, made efforts to evangelize the Five Nations, and
also to furnish them the means of elementary education. The pro-
gress and results of their attempts in this direction are given in the
following extracts from Dr. Humphreys' narrative :

* * # #

A Committee met, and it was agreed there, and afterward by the
Society at a general Meeting, that two Missionaries should be sent to
the Mohock and Oncydes Indians ; with a Salary of 150Z Sterling
each, together with an Interpreter and Schoolmaster, to teach the
young Indians. *

Mr. Andrews was appointed Missionary among the Mohocks, and
Mr. Clausen, who had been several Years employed as Interpreter by
the Government of New- York, in Transactions with the Indians,
was received as Interpreter to Mr. Andrews, and Mr. Oliver wag
made Schoolmaster. Mr. Andrews was particularly directed by the
Society to use all possible Means to persuade'the Indians to let their
Children learn English, and the Schoolmaster was to make it his
whole Business to teach them. The Society were now in good Hopes
this Attempt would prove successful, since Her Majesty [Queen
Anne] was so graciously pleased to provide for the Security of the

1 Humphreys' Hist. Acc't, pp. 236-239, 243-245.

102 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

Missionary by building a Fort just by the Mohocks Castle, to which
the men and Children might easily resort to be instructed.
* * * *

The Schoolmaster Mr. Oliver opened his School. The Indians at
first sent many of their Children, he began to teach them English,
the parents obstinately refused to have them taught English. All
possible Endeavors were used to persuade them ; they still persisted.
Mr. Andrews sent this Account to the Society, and rather than quite
break with the Indians, the Schoolmaster and Interpreter began to
teach the Children a little in Indian. The Society were forced to
comply with the Indians Obstinacy. They procured an Impression
of Hornbooks and Primmers in Indian for the Children, sent them
great Numbers, as also leathern Inkhorns, Penknives, a Quantity of
Paper of several Sorts, and several other little Necessaries. The
Children were now taught in Indian, and were treated with great
Kindness, no Correction dared to be used, for the Parents were so
fond of their Children, and valued Learning so little, they thought it
not worth gaining, at the least displeasing of their Children. To
engage them farther to learn, Mr. Andrews used to give the Children
who came to School, Victuals, and some small Utensils for their
Parents. The Children used often to come for the Sake of getting
Victuals ; for the Indians are frequently drove to great Extremities,
on Account of their making little or no Provision beforehand. The
Children had a good natural Capacity, and an Aptness for Learning.
Many of them begun to read, and some to write. This Method of
giving them Victuals engaged the Parents to send them, for some
time, to School.

In the mean Time, Mr. Andrews proceeded to instruct the grown
Indians by Help of the Interpreter, in some of the chief Articles of
Faith and Rules of Life. . . . The Society, since they could
by no Means prevail on the Indians to learn English, neither young
nor old, laboured to get some good Translations made, of Parts of the
Scripture at least, into the Indian Language. . . . The
Society were very much assisted in this by Mr. Freeman* a very
worthy Calmnist Minister. He had been five Years Minister at
Schenectady to a Dutch Congregation, and had been employed by the
Earl of Bellamont in the year 1700, to convert the Indians. He had
a good Knowledge of the Dialect of the Mohocks, which is under-
stood by all the Iroquois, who reach near 400 Miles beyond Albany.
The Society applied to him for any proper Papers wrote in that Lan-
guage, which he might have. . . . He very frankly gave
the Society a Copy of these Translations, which were sent to Mr.
Andrews for his Help, and they were a great Help to him. He used
frequently to read some of these to the Indians, and they could com-
prehend well enough by his reading. But the Society were desirous
some Part of the Scripture might be printed in Indian, and the
Copies given to the Indians, and they taught at least to read that.

1 Bernardus Freeman, minister of the Reformed Dutch Church, Schenectady, and
after 17<H, of Flatbush, L. I. (H. Onderdonk, Jr.)

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. ] 03

Accordingly the Morning and Evening Prayer, the Litany, the
Church Catechism, Family-Prayers, and several Chapters of the Old
and New Testament, were printed at New- York; the Copies were
sent to Mr. Andrews, and he gave them to such of the Indians as
knew anything of Letters. *

In a short time, the Indians grew weary of Instruction, the Men
grown, would go out in Bodies a hunting for several Months, and
forget all they had been taught ; and the young Boys when they grew
up, were taken out by their Fathers to hunt, and so lost all they had

ot. This roving Life utterly destroyed all the Missionary and
choolmaster's Labours.

Mr. Andrews wrote several Accounts more in 1718, that all his
Labours proved ineffectual, the Indians would not send their Chil-
dren to School, and no Body came to the Chapel ; that the four other
^Nations of the Iroquois, as they came by the Mohocks Castle, insulted
and threatened him, that the Interpreter and Schoolmaster perceived
all their Labour was lost, and that they were frequently in Danger of
their Lives if they went out of the Fort. The Society received these
Accounts with much Dissatisfaction, as being extremely contrary to
what their good Desires had made them hope. However, they were
so unwilling to abandon this wretched People to themselves, that
they would not dismiss Mr. Andrews from his Mission upon his own
Representation of his ill Success. They wrote to the Governor of
New York, Robert Hunter Esq ; acquainted him with the Accounts
they had received, and requested the Favour of his Excellency, to
cause an Inquiry to be made, whether Mr. Andrews Labours were so
fruitless among the Indians, and submitted it to his Judgment to dis-
miss Mr. Andrews, if they should be found so. The Accounts trans-
mitted hither were found true upon Examination, and Mr. Andrews
left that miserable Race of Men. 1

The following specimen quotations from the Society's annual
" Abstracts of Proceedings," are also of interest in this connection :

* The Inhabitants and Freeholders in the Town of Rye and
Mamaroneck, in the Province of New York, become humble Suppli-
cants to the Lord Bishop of London, that Mr. Joseph Cleator, whose
Affairs required his attendance in England, might obtain such an
Allowance from the Society, as with what they were able to give
him might encourage his Return among them, to teach School for
the Instruction of their Children 2 * *

* * They have allowed a Salary to Mr. Cleator a School-Master
at Rye in the Province of New York?

* * * *

IV. Besides the Missionaries (with whom the Society has liberally
provided several of Her Majesty's Colonies, even beyond the narrow

1 Humphreys' Hist. Acc't, pp. 294, 295, 299-305, 310, 311.

'Account of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, * * 1706,
p. 65.
3 Idem, pp. 36, 37.

104 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

Bounds of their Income) there has been a great Demand upon them
for Catechists and School-Masters to Instruct not only the Servants
and Slaves (who have hitherto lived as without God in the World) but
also the Children of the Planters, especially the poorer sort, in Read-
ing, Writing and the Principles of the Christian Religion, as Taught
and Professed in the Church of England ; but the Narrowness of their
fund having obliged the Society to send but few of these, a worthy mem-
ber of their body, Colonel Heathcote of New York, has suggested an
expedient of maintaining a great many more School-Masters, at the
easy rate of Five or Six Pounds per annum, which the Society has
most readily embraced, and referred it to the Governor himself, and
the Missionaries of that Province, to put the proposal into Practice. 1

* * # #

Of the two persons recommended for Staten Island, in the following
extract, Dr. Humphreys' " Historical Account " mentions Mr. Brown
only ; and we have seen no other notice of Mr. Drewit :

* * Mr. Mackenzy, the Society's Missionary in Staten Island in
the Province of New York, having informed them how much they
wanted School-Masters, to instruct the children of the English, Dutch
and French, in the said Island, and having recommended Mr. Adam
Brown, and Mr. Benjamin Drewit, for that Purpose, the Society
made choice of them both ; and in the City of New York, they have
given a little Pension to Mr. William Huddleston, the chief School-
Master there, upon condition that he shall Teach 40 poor children
gratis, after the same manner as they are instructed in our Charity
Schools here in England?

* * * *

One of the greatest Cares incumbent on the Society for this last
Year, has been to encourage the Instruction and better Education of
Children and Youth, as well Indian as English, to breed them to
Civility and good Conscience, in the Knowledge of Letters, and the
Principles and Practice of Christian Religion ; to which purpose they
retain'd and rewarded such Teachers and Masters as they found there
capable and willing to be Amployed ; and sent over others, with Books,
and Salaries sufficient for them. 3 * *

* * * *

V. As to Catechists or >&?A00-masters, the Society have, as their
Ability would permit, answered many Demands upon them on that
Head also, . . . By continuing Mr. William Iiuddleston* s Salary
of Wiper Ann. for his care of the School at New York, (the Mainte-
nance of which was before uncertain and precarious) ; By granting
Wiper annum each to Mr. Francis Williamson, and Mr. John de
Puy,'for their Pains in the School-way at Staten Island, so satisfac-
tory to the worthy Missionary there, the Reverend Mr. dEneus
Mackenzy, and so beneficial to the People as appears by an Address

1 Abs. of Proc. of Soc. for Prop, of Gospel, 1710-11, p. 28.
a Idem, p. 32.
1 Idem, p. 48.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 105

of the Justices of Richmond County, dated June 13, 1712, and by
coining to a unanimous resolution, that Three more should be forth-
with allow'd the Society's Pay, as Chatechists or School-masters ; one
for the town of Hampstead in Long Island, at 10Z per Annum, upon
the Request of Mr. John Thomas, Missionary there, who represents
the Children thereof, for want of Letters and Education, as wild,
uncultivated and unimproved, as the soil was when their Fore-
fathers first had it. A Second, at the Request of the Reverend
Mr. Bridge, Minister of Rye, for the Service of two places in
that Parish, distant from his Church, where several children want
Instruction, who shall be allow'd 5Z per Annum each, on a certificate
that they have taught 30 such, the Bible, the Catechism, and the Use of
the Liturgy : . .To render this Branch of the Society's

Care, which relates to the Education ^Catechumens, and the Supply
of Missionaries more effectual, it has been promised, in former
Accounts, that the worthy Colonel HeaihcoaCs Proposal, of easie
Ways for maintaining Charity-Schools in America, by an Allowance
of 5 or 61 a year to each ; . . . should be respectively improv'd,
when the Society should be in circumstances j 1

* # * *

The Society have received also a letter from Mr. Thomas Huddle-
stone, Schoolmaster at New York, acquainting with the condition
of his School, and inclosing a certificate from the Mayor of New
York of the number of his Scholars, and of his Diligence in his
School, whereby it appear'd that he teaches 40 poor Children for the
Society's Allowance only, which being then but fifteen Pound per
Annum, the Society have for his encouragement increased his Salary
to twenty Pound per Annum : and upon his representing to the
Society the great Want of Books for the poor Children, they have
sent him twelve Bibles with the Common Prayer, twelve Testa-
ments, twelve Psalters, twelve Expositions of the Catechism, and
twelve Primers. 2

* * * *

From Mr. Hudlestone, Schoolmaster at New York, That he teaches
fifty poor children on the Society's Bounty to read and write, and
instructs them in the Church Catechism, many of which are now fit
for any Trade ; and as they go off, his number is always kept up,
poor People daily coming to see if there is any vacancy to admit
their Children, being not able themselves to pay for their Learning. 3

The following extracts belong to a period subsequent to that

embraced in Dr. Humphreys' Historical Account :

* * * *

* * The Society also have received an Account from Mr. Beaslyf
Schoolmaster at Albany, in the Province of New York, That he

1 Aba. of Proc., etc., 1712-18, pp. 40, 41. 'Abs. of Proo., etc., 1728-9, p. 45.

s Abs. of Proc., etc., 1725-6, p. 41.

' 4 Seems to have been afterwards a Missionary and Schoolmaster at " St. Jdhrts
Town in New Foundland," the name being given as "Peosfey." (Abs. of Proc. etc.,
1747-8, p. 35.)

106 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

hath lately instructed 8 Negroes, viz. : 6 Adults and 2 Children, who
have been baptized by the Reverend Mr. Miln, the Society's Mis-
sionary at Aloany. 1

# # * *

The Reverend Mr. Colgan, Minister at Jamaica, on Long Island,
writes Octob. 11, 1737, . . . Mr. Colgan hath sent likewise a
Certificate of the good conduct of Mr. Willett, the Society's School-
master there ; thatf he is of an exemplary life and Conversation, and
teaches School with Diligence : The Number of his Scholars being
forty-three, of whom twenty-three are taught gratis by the Society's
Bounty. 2

* * Mr. Noxon, the Schoolmaster, writes from New York,
August 6, 1738, That he hath upwards of fifty poor Children, whom
he teaches to read, write and cypher upon the Society's Charity ; and
brings to Trinity Church, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Holy Days,
to be catechised. He adds, there is great want of Common Prayer-
Books and Psalters : And the Reverend Mr. Commissary Vesey, by
a letter of Aug. 10, 1738, attests, that Mr. Noxon is diligent in his
office, and of a good Life and Conversation : 3

The efforts in behalf of the Indians, which were abandoned in
1718, were subsequently renewed with more favorable results :
* * * #

However, the Society mindful of the Apostolical Advice, not to be
weary in weU-doing, resolved to make another attempt ;
and on August 30th, 1736, Mr. Barclay wrote from the same place
[fort Hunter], that the Indians continued to attend devoutly every
Lord's-day, and understood him perfectly well, he having made him-
self Master of the Pronunciation of their Language, which was very
difficult, the Words being many of them as long as Sentences with a
great rumbling Sound : and that he taught 40 young Mohocks to
read, and write, most of whom made good progress ; and he kept a
Catechetical School in the Evenings, at which both old and young
attended. 4

* * Mr. Barclay intreats the Society, if it can by any means
be afforded, to appoint an Indian Schoolmaster to teach their youth
to read their own Language, there being several Indians well quali-
fied for that office ; the Society hath directed Mr. Barclay to appoint
one" of them to it, with the approbation of Lieutenant-Grovernor
Clarice, and of the Commissioners for Indian Affairs there. 5 * *

* * He [Mr. Barclay] hath appointed, with the Consent and
Approbation of the Lieutenant-Governor Clarke, and the Commis-
sioners for Indian Affairs, Mohock Schoolmasters at their two Towns,
viz. : Cornelius a Sachem at the lower, and one Daniel at the upper
Town, who are both very diligent and teach the young Mohocks with
surprising success. 6

1 Abs. of Proc., etc., 1732-3, p. 48. 4 Abs. of Proc., etc., 1739-40, pp. 69, 71.

Abs. of Proc., ete., 1738-9, pp. 54, 55. Abs. of Proc., etc., 1740-41, pp. 62, 63
Abs. of Proc., etc., 1738-9, pp. 55, 56. 8 Abs. of Proc., etc., 1742-3, pp. 46, 47.

77v THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 107

It will appear from the list of Schoolmasters hereafter given, that
teachers for the Indians were maintained by the Society, for about a
quarter of a century from this period.

We add a few more items relative to the English Schools, prior to
1T46:

Mr. Taylor, the Society's Schoolmaster at Staten Island
being dead, the Society upon a Petition and Recommendation from
the Reverend Mr. Arnold their Missionary, and from the Church
wardens and vestry of the Church of Staten Island, of Mr. Andrew
Wright, as a Person of Good Morals, and a constant Communicant,
and well qualified to teach, hath appointed him School master there
to instruct the poor white, and black children also, if any such are
brought to him, gratis, in the Principles of Christianity, and to read
the Bible and the Common-prayer Book.

And Mr. Commissary Vesey, together with Mr. Colgan the Society's
Missionary at Jamaica on Long Island, having recommended Mr.
John Moore, who hath had his Education in Yale College in New
Haven, and designs to offer himself a candidate for Holy Orders
when the Society shall encourage him to come to England for them
as the person most proper in the mean time to succeed to the vacant
school at Jamaica, the Society hath condescended thereto, and if his
Behaviour shall deserve it, will hereafter take farther Notice of him. 1
* # * *

And as the maintenance of a learned and orthodox Clergy abroad,
though the principal, is not the only Intent of this Corporation,
but they are also to make such other Provision as shall be found
necessary for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts : The
Society have done all in their Power to encourage the setting up of
Schools, that the rising Generation may be brought up in the Nur-
ture and Fear of the Lord, and they give Salaries to three Cate-
chists and twelve Schoolmasters for this purpose. 2

STANDING ORDERS OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE

GOSPEL IN FOREIGN PARTS.

* * * *

VIII. Orders relating to the Schoolmasters.

I. That no person be admitted a Schoolmaster, till he bring Certi-
ficates, with respect to the Particulars following :

1. The Age of the Person.

2. His condition of Life, whether Single, or Married.

3. His Temper.

4. His Prudence.

5. His Learning.

6. His sober and pious Conversation.

7. His Zeal for the Christian Religion, and Diligence in his Calling.

I Abs. of Proc., etc., 1742-3, pp. 47, 48.

II Dr. Bearcroft's Sermon before the Society, Feb. 15, 1744-45, p. 16.

108 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

8. His affection to the present G-overnment.

9. His Conformity to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church
of England.

H. That no Person be sent, as a Schoolmaster by the Society, till
he has been try'd and approv'd by Three Members, appointed by the
Society or Committee, who shall testify, by "Word or Writing, his
Ability to teach Reading, Writing, and the Catechism of the Church
of England, and such Exposition thereof, as the Society shall order.

III. That no Testimonials shall be allow'd of, but such as are signed
by the respective Minister of the Parish where any such Schoolmas-
ter sent over to the Plantations, last lived ; and where that is not
practicable, by some other Persons of Credit and Note, three at least,
of the Communion of the Church of England, (whereof one to be a
Clergyman) and such, as shall be well known to some of the Members
of the Society.

IV. That no Testimonials, or Certificates shall be allowed of for
any Schoolmaster, without first consulting the Persons, who are said
to have signed such Testimonials or Certificates.

V. That all Schoolmasters, in Matters, which they desire should
be laid before the Society, do correspond only with the President, or
Secretary of the Society.

VI. That in order to the Keeping a due Correspondence with the
Secretary, the Society's Schoolmasters do take a Receipt of the Mas-
ter of the Ship (if it can be obtained) for every Letter they send to
the Society, mentioning the Day and Year, when they delivered the
same ; And, that they keep copies of the Letters and Papers trans-
mitted to the Society, sending Duplicates by the next Conveyance,
and therewith a Copy of the Receipt for their original Letters ; And
also, that if the Place of their Residence be not a Sea-Port they send
such Letters to one of their Brethren who resides, at such Sea-Port,
desiring him to forward the same by the first Opportunity, taking the
like Receipt : And lastly, that they give an Account of the Time, and
the Ship's Name, by which they receive any Letter from the Society.

VII. That the School-masters, who are received into the Society's
Service before the Seasons of Spring and Autumn yearly, and do not
proceed on their Voyage to the Place appointed them within the
respective Seasons, be dismiss'd the Service of the Society.

VIII. That if any School-master, in the Service of the Society,
shall return from the Plantations, without Leave first had from the
Society, such School-master shall receive no further Allowance from
the Time, he shall leave his Service there.

IX. That all School -masters sent over to the Plantations by the
Society, (being married Men) be oblig'd to take their Wives with
them, unless they c-an offer such reasons, as shall induce the Society
to dispense therewith.

X. That the Salary of every School-master, who is not dismissed
the Service for some Misdemeanor, shall continue one Year, and no
longer, after the Society have resolv'd at their Board to dismiss such
Person from their Service.

XI. That the Salaries of the Society's School-masters be paid only

IN IRE STATE OF NEW YORK. 109

by Bill of Exchange, to be by them drawn upon the Treasurers from
Time to Time, as such Salaries shall become due. 1

INSTRUCTIONS FOE SCHOOLMASTERS EMPLOYED BY THE SOCIETY, ETC.

I. That they well consider the End for which they are employed
by the Society, viz. The instructing and disposing Children to believe
and live as Christians.

II. In order to this End, that they teach them to read trnely and
distinctly, that they may be capable of reading the Holy Scriptures,
and other pious and useful Books, for informing their Understand-
ings and regulating their Manners.

ill. That they instruct them thoroughly in the Church-Catechism ;
teach them first to read it distinctly and exactly, then to learn it per-
fectly by Heart ; endeavoring to make them understand the Sense and
Meaning of it, by the Help of such Expositions, as the Society shall
send over.

IV. That they teach them to Write a plain and legible Hand, in
order to the fitting them for useful Employments ; with as much
Arithmetick, as shall be necessary to the same Purpose.

Y. That they be industrious, and give constant Attendance at
proper School-Hours.

VI. That they daily use, Morning and Evening, the Prayers com-
posed for their Use in this Collection with their Scholars in the
School, and teach them the Prayers and Graces composed for their
Use at Home.

YIL That they oblige their Scholars to be constant at Church on
the Lords-Day Morning and Afternoon, and at all other Times of
Publick "Worship ; that they cause them to carry their Bibles and
Prayer Books with them, instructing them how to use them there,
and how to demean themselves in the several Parts of Worship ; that
they be there present with them, taking Care of their reverent and
decent Behavior, and examine them afterwards, as to what they have
heard and learn'd.

VIII. That when any of their Scholars are fit for it, they recom-
mend them to the Minister of the Parish, to be publickly Catechized
in the Church.

IX. That they take especial Care of their Manners, both in their
Schools, and out of them ; warning them seriously of those Vices to
which Children are most liable; teaching them to abhor Lying and
Falsehood, and to avoid all Sorts of Evil-speaking ; to love truth and
Honesty ; to be Modest, Gentle, Well-behav'd, Just and Affable, and
Courteous to all, their Companions ; respectful to their Superiors,
particularly towards all that minister in holy Things, and especially
to the Minister of their Parish ; and all this from a Sense and Fear

1 Coll. of Papers printed by order of the Society, etc., 1741, pp. 38-40.

These "Orders" were first issued as early as 1706, but they did not comprise
paragraphs VI, VII, and XI, of 1741, and did include the following, as Tf VHI,
which was omitted in 1741 :

" VIII. That no School-master be sent in the Society's Service till he be Episcopally
Ordained Deacon ; and that he have a Salary not under Thirty Pounds per Annum.

See Coll. of Papers, etc., 1706 (in N. Y. Hist. Soc. library), p. 69.

110 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

of Almighty God ; endeavoring to bring them in their tender Years
to that Sense of Religion, which may render it the constant Principle
of their Lives and Actions.

X. That they use all kind and gentle Methods in the Government
of their Scholars, that they may be lov'd, as well as fear'd by them ;
and that when Correction is necessary, they make the Children to
understand, that it is given them out of kindness, for their Good,
bringing them to a Sense of their Fault, as well as of their Punish-
ment.

XI. That they frequently consult with the Minister of the Parish,
in which they dwell, about the Methods of managing their Schools,
and be ready to be advised by him.

XII. That they do, in their whole Conversation, shew themselves
Examples of Piety and Yirtue to their Scholars, and to all, with
whom they shall converse.

XIII. That they be ready, as they have Opportunity, to teach and
instruct the Indians and Negroes, and their Children.

XIV. That they send to the Secretary of the Society, once in every
six Months, an Account of the State of their respective Schools, the
Number of their Scholars, with the Methods and Success of their
Teaching.

NOTTTIA SCHOLASTICA ; or an Account 'to be sent every Six Months to
the Society by each Schoolmaster, concerning the State of their
respective Schools.

1. Attendance daily given,

2. Number of Children taught in the School,

3. Number of Children baptized in the Church ofJEngland,

4. Number of Indian and Negroe Children,

5. Number of Children born of Dissenting Parents, ....

6. Other Schools in or near the Place,

7. Of what Denomination,

8. Other Employments of the Schoolmaster,

The Account to be attested by the Missionary (if any upon the
Spot) and by some of the Principal Inabitants. 1

The following is a list of the Schoolmasters and Catechists employed
by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, in the Province of
New York, from 1704 to 1782, with their respective salaries, and the
number of scholars instructed, as compiled from the annual " Abstracts
of Proceedings :"

'Coll. of Papers printed by order of the Society, etc., 1706, pp. 33-35, and 1741,
pp. 20-22.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

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IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 115

As an appropriate finale to this list of early teachers, we quote two
paragraphs from Rev. Dr. Berrian's Historical Sketch of Trinity
Church, published in 1847 :

There is nothing with which I have been so much struck and
impressed, in the investigation of the early history of this Parish, as
the zeal, the earnestness, and devotedness of the schoolmasters and
catechists of that day. The former appear to have been selected from
among the laity with great caution and care, and to have been per-
sons of respectability and worth. The latter were occasionally lay-
men, but more commonly such as were preparing for holy orders, or
who had actually received them. Some of these were men of liberal
education, who in the commencement of their professional life were
full of promise, and who ended it with respect and honour. But they
all seem to have entered with the same spirit upon their humble
labours, and to have prosecuted them with a patience, an interest,
and a blessed result, which put ours to shame at the present day.
Intellectual was not then, to the extent that it is now, separated from
religious improvement, but both went hand in hand throughout
the week. The whole of early life was, in a certain measure, devoted
to Christian instruction, and not merely reserved for the scanty inter-
vals between the hours of worship on the Lord's Day.

It is delightful to observe, in the annual reports of the schoolmas-
ters and catechists to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel,
with what cheerfulness and industry they appear to have labored in
their useful but lowly employment; with what particularity each
addition to the number of scholars or catechumens, from year to year,
is pointed out ; with what pleasure each change for the better, in the
spiritual condition of the negro or Indian slaves, is noticed; with
what hopefulness and interest they look forward to their advance-
ment in Christian knowledge, and how sincerely they rejoice at their
growth in Grace. 1

"We are indebted to Rev. Charles "W. Baird, of Rye, Westch ester
Co., author of a valuable history of that township, -for the fol-
lowing summary statement, in advance of the publication of his work,
relative to the early schools of that locality :

Rye belonged to Connecticut until 1683. Under the old laws of
that colony, every town of 50 householders was required " to appoint
one to teach children to read and write." The population scarcely
reached the figure previous to the year mentioned. Any efforts
therefore in favour of education were voluntary. At a town meeting,
April 22, 1690, a committee was chosen " to procure a minister, and
if possible a schoolmaster" Nothing further appears on the subject
till Jan. 29, 1711, when the Proprietors voted to "build a school
house upon their owne charge." It was agreed that " any person or
persons that will bear his or theire proportion of moneys in building
the schoole house, shall have an equall privilege of the said house for

1 Berrian's Historical Sketch of Trinity Church, New York, pp. 86, 87.

116 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

schooling with the Proprietors." This school appears to have been
held where the village school stood, near the Episcopal church, until
some thirty or forty years ago.

About this time there were other schools in different parts of
the town. In 1716, we hear of "a travelling woman who came
out of y e Jerseys, who kept school at several places in Rye parish."
"As to schools," writes the Rev. James Wetmore in 1728, " there
are several poor ones in different parts of the parish. Where a number
of families live near together, they hire a man and woman at a cheap
rate, subscribing every one what they will allow. Some masters get
20 per annum and their diet ; but there is no public provision at all
for a school in this parish."

The Society in England "for the Propagation of the Gospel in
Foreign Parts," supported a schoolmaster at Rye, from 1707, till the
period of the Revolution. The first schoolmaster was Mr. Joseph
Cleator, 1707-1 732. 1 In 1714, a Mr. Huddlestone was also engaged,
under the Society's care, in teaching in some parts of the parish of
Rye, which included the towns of Bedford, Mamaroneck and Rye
Rye itself at that time comprehending Harrison and the White Plains.

From 1734 to 1745, Mr. Flint I) wight taught a school, under the
same auspices, at the White Plains. At Rye, Mr. Cleator was suc-
ceeded in 1733 by Mr. Samuel Purdy, who continued till 1749, when
he removed to the White Plains, where he died in 1753. Timothy
Wetmore- succeeded him at Rye till 1769, when his brother James
took the school, but gave it up at the outbreak of the Revolution.

The number of children attending the Society's school at different
periods is stated as follows :

In 1719, Mr. Cleator taught 50 pupils. In 1736, Mr. Dwight
taught 46, and Mr. Purdy 41. In 1776, Mr. Wetmore's school num-
bered 71.

As to the kind of instruction, we learn from John Adams, who
visited the place in 1774, that it was purely elementary. " They
have a school for writing and cyphering, but no grammar school."

There was a school-house on Rye Neck, or Budd's Neck, as it was
then called, as early as 1739 ; and one in the neighbourhood of Saw-
pit, now Port Chester, a few years before the Revolution. Little is
known about them.

The " travelling woman who came out of y e Jerseys and kept school
at several places in Rye Parish," is the second school mistress in the
Province of whom we have any record, Rachel Spencer having been
the first. 2 At a much later period, the girls in Mr. Hildreth's school,
at N, T. city, " in the afternoon learned to write, being the rest of the
day under the care of a school mistress employed by the Vestry," by
whom they were " taught needlework." 3

1 It will be observed that Mr. Baird's statistics differ in a few cases from those con-
tained in the foregoing tabular list of schoolmasters in Westchester Co. The local
annalist may be more generally correct, though some of the Prop. Soc. Reports
geem not to have been consulted by him ; while others have not been accessible to us.

* Ante, p. 69.

* Abs. of Proc., etc., 1763-3, p. 77; 1764-5, p. 73,

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 1] 7

In connection with the foregoing sketch of schools established and
sustained in the interest of the Church of England, it is appro-
priate to insert a statement kindly furnished by Mr. Henry Onder-
donk, Jr., relative to both the English and the Dutch primers for
the instruction of children in those early days :

Religion was the leading idea in Dutch (as well as English) teach-
ing. I have a Dutch Primer, or A. B. C. Book, as it is called,
(Amsterdam), similar to our New England Primer. It has a large
rooster on one page, and a picture of a Dutch school on the other.
The master has a cap on his head and a bunch of twigs in his hand.
The class stands before him and other boys are seated at their desks.
After a very little spelling, succeeds the Lord's Prayer, Creed, Deca-
logue, Morning and Evening Prayer, Grace before and after meat.
.The instruction is altogether religious, which feature (I suppose) is
retained in our Catholic schools to this day.

* * * *

The Episcopalians also had their Primer corresponding to the
Dutch and New England Primers. I have one (once the property
of Rev. Thos. Poyer, 1709-30, of this place) [Jamaica, L. I.] adapted
for children. The prayer, etc., have the long words all divided into
syllables, thus : Com-mand-ment.

Replying to an inquiry relative to the early schools of Queens
county, Mr. Onderdonk says:

Our county (Queens) was settled from Kings, from 1670, or there-
abouts, to 1720. So there could not have been any Dutch schools at
the early date you require, except in some Dutch neighborhoods.
Under the English Government, private or subscription schools were to
be found all over the country. In some neighborhoods Dutch wastaught.

In the same communication, Mr. Onderdonk incidentally refers to
an early schoolmaster at Flat Lands, Kings county, of whom we have
seen no other notice. He says :

I have an old school bill in Dutch, 1708, written by Isaac Selover
in a beautiful hand. He was teacher at Flatlands in 1695 and onward.

The following is a copy of the school bill referred to, and a transla-
tion of the same (with an added remark in brackets), by Mr. Onderdonk :

1708. Jacobus Montfort hebben ter school geweest vanden 4'Meij
den 4' Julij is 2 maanden | nu' vanden 2 Sep r tot den 2 Octobg is
een maant samen 3 manden

Comt / 10 gl
I. SELOOVEE

Schoolm r

(Translation).

1708. Jacobus Montfort hath been to school from May 4th to July
4th, which is 2 months [staid home probably to help his father in

118 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

harvest time, July and August] now, from the 2 d Sept. to the 2 d
Octob r is one month, altogether 3 months

Comes to 10 guilders.

I. SELOYER,

Schoolm'.
Mr. Onderdonk further states :

Georgius Sheriosby 1 ( ? ) writes his name, 1721, in an old volume
of Sermons as " Schoolmaster on Cow Neck." Should perhaps be
" Thoresby," as that is a true English name.

James Loquart kept school at Jamaica, in 1722 ; Thomas Temple, 2
and William Rock, in 1731 ; Thomas Lynstead, at Oyster Bay, and
elsewhere, in 1723.

Of the schools founded and for a time sustained by the " Venerable
Society," one at least has been continued without interruption until
the present time, viz. : the so-called " Trinity School," of New Tork
city. We cannot better exhibit its early history and condition than
by quoting from Rev. Dr. McYickar's Discourse, delivered Dec. 20,
1859, at the celebration of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniver-
sary of the School ; premising, however, that in the light of the fore-
going Annals, Trinity School is hardly entitled to be called "the
earliest of its [N. Y. city's] schools in the English tongue;" the
Grammar Free School, for example, having already closed its career 3
at the time when Trinity School claims to have been founded :

The antiquity of Trinity School (if such a term may be used in our
land of yesterday) deepens further the interest with which this city
at least should regard it ; for it was the earliest of its schools in the
English tongue, as well as the earliest that taught its children the
doctrines and worship of the Church, in one of whose Sanctuaries we
are now assembled ; a school that goes back to within one hundred
years of the first discovery of our noble river, to within thirty years
of the origin of the city's name, a name then the badge of recent
conquest, now of world-wide fame, NEW YORK. It goes back to the
very infancy of our great metropolis, when its streets could be counted
on the fingers of a single hand ; when its bounds had scarce trans-
cended the favorite swamp of its original Dutch settlers ; when its
population was but that of a village, less than five thousand; its com-
merce that of a country store-keeper, exporting raw produce to the
amount of eight thousand pounds (sterling). It is a school whose
antiquity goes beyond the age of every educational institution
throughout our wide-spread land, with the exception of three among
its thousand, viz. : Harvard College, founded A. D. 1636, William
and Mary College, in 1691, and Yale College, in the year 1700. Let
us then pay to Trinity School the reverence at least due to age.

1 There is a provoking uncertainty about the letters. I write it as was copied by a
friend ; but I add a fac-simile. The original is in the possession of Mr. Clarkson,
Clermont, N. Y.

2 Mr. Temple subsequently taught at Hempstead. See ante, p. 111.
1 Ante, pp. 76-89.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 119

Its beginnings, however, were as hnmble as the intellectual needs
it came to satisfy. To teach the poor without charge; to instruct
Dutch children in the English tongue, and to train up all in the nur-
ture and admonition of the Lord, with its secular teaching, carried on
in some rented room for the reception of its obligated forty scholars,
and its religious instruction, including Church Psalmody, given in
the porch of Trinity Church, then but recently erected ; or rather, as
the original report has it, " in the steeple " of the church (a term,
however, not to be literally interpreted, inasmuch as its catechumens
often amounted to the number of two hundred); these were the
simple and lowly, yet blessed labors of the early teachers and cate-
chists of Trinity School ; carried on under the sanction and general
guidance of the Venerable Society in England for " Promoting the
Gospel in Foreign Parts," by whom its teachers and catechists were
appointed upon recommendation from the Vestry, with the primitive
salary of from ten to fifteen pounds (sterling) ; and under the obliga-
tion of instructing for the same at least forty scholars, the Society
supplying them also by occasional gifts with Bibles and Prayer-books
for the school and for distribution. All else for the needs of the
School, as well as for the support of its teachers, rested upon Trinity
Church, by whose care these primitive salaries were from the first at
least doubled, though attaching to their appointment incidental
duties ; while to both teacher and catechist position in society was
further given by annually electing them members of the vestry, its
first incumbents having held such position, one for nine, the other
for fourteen years, until the period of their death ; all which details,
touching Trinity Church, are here given, not as diminishing in aught
the liberality or zeal of the Venerable Society to whose bounty and
care, not the School only, but the whole Church, was so deeply
indebted ; but in justice to a Corporation which thus early began the
patronage of education in our Church and City, and which it this' day
becomes the earliest recipient of its bounty thankfully to record.
How small, too, at this time were its own means of support, may be
judged from the rental of its recent endowment, then, as now, its
only property, the King's Farm, amounting to but 35 New York
currency. ... Of the long list of teachers and catechists thus
appointed from the year 1T09, to the period of separation of the
colonies from the mother country, I name but the first of each, viz. :
William Huddlestone, " teacher," of whom little is recorded beyond
his laboring " faithfully and successfully " in his fourteen years
incumbency, and as being followed in it by his son. Of the first
"catechist," however, Elias Nan [Neau] by name, more may be said;
. as bringing home the Church and its services to the love and
affection of all classes, to the children, to the common people, to the
negro slaves, and even to the native Indians, who still swarmed in
the town. The memory of these early teachers is indeed past ; but
their example remains, bringing a blessing, we may trust, on the
School's present labors. * *

In 1748, Trinity Church erected a building for the School's accom-
modation on ground contiguous to the church. This being destroyed
by fire at the very moment of its completion, ... a second

120 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

structure was with difficulty, through want of means, erected, and
that only by aid of liberal gifts brought forth by its misfortune.
Up to the year 1776, the School continued under the joint
patronage and care of the Venerable Society and Trinity. Church, its
support resting mainly upon the latter. Upon the breaking out
of that contest among brethren, its doors were for a time closed, its
teachers scattered ; and, in the subsequent great fire that desolated
our city, the school-house shared the fate of its only patron, and was
laid in ashes. But with the close of that contest came a new era in
its history ; Trinity School becoming legally and by name, what in
truth and practice it had long been, the School of Trinity Church,
and a commodious building erected for its accommodation. 1

The following paragraph, containing an allusion to Samson Occom,
noted as a preacher, and as the author of the hymn, " Awaked by
Sinai's awful sound," etc., is appropriate in this connection :

In 1741, the Society for Propagating the Christian Keligion among
the Indians of New England [Society for the Propagation of the Gos-
pel in Foreign Parts], . . . appointed the Rev'd Azariah Horton
a missionary among the Montauketts. . . . Subsequently, there
were a number of Indian preachers and teachers among them ; but the
most distinguished was Sampson Ocum [Samson Occom], a Mohegan,
who *was born in 1723, and educated in Connecticut by Mr. Whee-
lock and Mr. Pomeroy. He opened a school on Montauk in 1755,
and also preached there from that date until 1761. 2 * *

The importance and steady continuance of the educational work
carried on by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, have
induced us to present the whole of this subject consecutively, and to
defer for the time being our notice of contemporary teachers and
schools. "We now recur to the date at which the special narrative
just referred to commenced, to gather up what still remains of edu-
cational interest for so much of the same period as precedes the year
1746, the general limit, as to time, of the present chapter.

A colony of Palatines having settled, in 1710, upon a portion of the
Livingston Manor, a school-house was erected soon after, as appears
by the following record :

I acknowledge to hav. Received of Robert Livingston 40 Boards
for y e School house in y e paletyeyn town called Queensberry 8 & desire
s d Livingston to send for y e s d use 30 Boards now to Compleat y e
School house.

dated this 18 Jany 1711

JOH. FE. HJETEK, Min. 4

1 One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of Trinity School, pp. 14-17.

2 Gardiner's Chronicles of Easthampton, pp. 70, 71.

3 One of the four Palatine villages established about the year 1710, and collectively
known as the " East Camp." These villages were within the limits of the present
town of Germantown, Columbia county.

4 Doc. Hist, of N. Y., Hi, 668 (8 ed. ); 400 (4 ed.).

IN THE STATE OF NEW YOKK* 121

The existence of the first English school west of Albany, of which
we have seen any mention, has been recently declared, as follows :

* * Schenectady had its first school in the English tongue in
1710. 1 *

No reference to original records is given in support of this state-
ment, and nothing further has come under our notice to substantiate it.

The following petition preserves the name of a schoolmaster, who
might otherwise, perhaps, be unknown at this time :

To His Excellency Robert Hunter Esq r Capt. Generall and Govern-,
our in Cheife of y e Province of New York New Jersey and Terri-
tories thereon depending in America and Vice Admirall of y e
same &e.

The humble Petition of Anthony Gleane [Glead 2 ] of fflushing in
Queens County Blacksmith Dec'd (sic)

SHEWETH

That one James Battersby, late of fflushing aforesaid Schoolmaster
Dece d lately Dyed Intestate there being in his life time and y e time
of his Decease Considerably Indebted to yo r Petitioner for Lodging
and otherwise and having noe relation in these parts Your petitioner
was at y e expence of his fifunerall and y e said Deceased have some
small estate in Goods & Chattells within this Province tho' hardly
soe much as yo r Petitioner beleives to Reimburse what is due to yo r
Petitioner from y e said Intestate.

Your Petitioner therefore most humbly prays yo r Excellency will
be pleased to Grant him Letters of Administration of y e Estate of y e
said Dece'd within this province as principle Creditor of y e said
Intestate.

And yo r Petitioner shall ever pray &c

ANTHONY GLEANE

New York 12 th August 1715.

I direct Letters of Administration to be granted of y e said Intes-
tate's Estates to y e petitioner according to y e prayer of y e said
Petition

RO. HUNTER 3

It appears from the annexed quotation, that a Latin school was
once established in the city of New York, under the care of Mr.
David Jamison, who was also subsequently Clerk of the Council,
Secretary and Attorney-General of the Province, Chief Justice of
New Jersey, etc. :

1 Sup't Rice's Special Report on the Condition of Education, 1867, p. 78.

3 H. Onderdonk, Jr.

' N. Y. Col. MSS., Ix, 36.

122 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

Governor Hunter to the Lords of Trade.

New York Oct r 2 d 1716.
* * * #

Mr. David Jamison is the same person mentioned in the extracts
of the Earl of Bellomonts letter to your Board, tho' much different in
his character and conduct from what he is represented there to be.
. The real truth is this M r Jamison after a liberal education
at schools and Colleges in Scotland from some discontent the preju-
dice of education or the folly and heat of youth, or all of them
together, took occasion to join himself to that multitude which in the
end of King Charles y e seconds reign, were called by the name of
sweet singers. . . . He was in company with others of that
sort when taken prisoner by a party of the Kings forces.
One Lockhart who had a ship boun[d] for America was ordered by
the Govern* to go to the house where they were kept, and know of
them whether they would voluntarily go on board with him for
America. . . . being arrived here the minister of the Fort M r
Clarke paid M r Jamisons passage, and the chief men in the place
reimbursed M r Clarke and set him to teach a lattin school, which he
attended for some time with great industry and success, but finding
that incouragement but small, he entred himself into the Secretary's

office. 1

# * # #

"We have failed, after considerable search, to find any other allusion
to this Latin School, and can only infer from the last sentence of the
above extract, in connection with the fact that Mr. Jamison was
Clerk of the Council as early as 1693, 2 that it was established as early
as about the year 1690.

The following fragments, gleaned from the town records of Hemp-
stead, L. L, may be regarded as one brief chapter in the school his-
tory of that locality, which seems entitled to the credit of having the
third school, in the order of time, on Long Island. The first para-
graph properly belongs to the Dutch period, and might have been
inserted on page 36, ante :

Education was not neglected by the settlers [of Hempstead] ; for
we find that the town (in 1658) devoted the fines from unlicensed
dram-sellers to the schooling of poor orphans.

Richard Gildersleeve, who gave place to Richard Charlton in 1670,
succeeded Jonas Houldsworth, who taught in 1662.

In 1702, the town voted 100 acres of land for a free school ; also
timber for building, fencing and firewood.

In 1707, four acres of land, west of the meeting house pond, were
granted to " settle a school master upon for to teach our children
the land to be for the use and privilege of a school forever." 3

1 N. Y. Col. Doc., v, 478.

2 N. Y. Col. Doc., Hi, 227.

3 Onderdonk's Hist. Sketch of Ancient Agriculture, etc., in Hempstead (included in
26th Ann. Rep. of Queens Co. Agri. Soc.), p. 63.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 123

1722, April 3. By major vote a 3 acre lot that was granted for a
school is now given to justice Tredwell. Thos. Gildersleeve, School-
master, protests against this vote.

1732, April 4. To Benj. Valentine is given all the timber left
about the school house. The bricks left are to be allowed for the
Parsonage chimneys and house. The town schoolhouse lot is let to
Col. Jno. Treadwell for 27* the present year.

1737, April 5. By major vote Rev. Robt. Jenny has the privilege
of enclosing and using the schoolhouse lot till the Town shall have
occasion of it for a school or schoolmaster. 1

The annexed advertisements, copied from early volumes of the New
York Gazette, the first newspaper published in the Colony of New
York, are probably the earliest specimens of this method of recruiting
scholars (now so extensively relied upon), employed within the limits
of this State :

On the 15th of September next, at the Custom House in this
City (where a convenient Room is fitted up) James Lyde designs
to Teach in the Evenings (during the Winter) Arithmetic^, in
all its parts, Geometry, Trigonometry, Navigation, Surveying,
Guaging, Algebra, and sundry other parts of Mathematical Learning,
Whoever inclines to be instructed in any of the said Parts of Mathe-
matical Knowledge, may agree with the said James Lyde at the
House of William Bradford in the City of New York. [New York
Gazette, Numb. 254 2 , Aug. 31 to Sept. 7, 1730.] *

At the house of George Brown ell, near the Custom-House, are
taught Reading, Writing, Cyphering, Merchants Accounts, Latin,
Greek, dec., also Dancing, Plain-work, Flourishing, Imbroidery,
and various Sorts of Works. Any persons may be taught as private
as they please. [New York Gazette, Numb. 295 4 , June 14, to June
21, 1731.]

EDward Gatehouse, Writing Master, hereby gives Notice, That
many or the greater part of his scholars being sick of the Small Pox,
he takes this Opportunity, on an Extraordinary Occasion to go into
the Country, and in ten days intends to be back to attend his School.
[New York Gazette, Numb. 311 2 , Oct. 4 to Oct. 11, 1731.]

Grammar. Writing, Arithmetic Vulgar < Decimal, Taught by
William Thurston, /School-Master in New York, dwelling at the Cor-
ner-House by Koenties Market, over against the Skotch Arms. [New-
York Gazette, Numb. 35S 4 , Aug. 28 to Sept. 4, 1732.]

This is to give Notice, That over against the Sign of the black
Horse in Smith-Street, near the old Dutch Church, is carefully taught
the French and Spanish Languages, after the best Method that is
now practized in Great Britain, which for the encouragement of
those who intend to learn the same, is taught for 20s. per Quarter.

Note, that the said Person teaches Reading, Writing and Arith-

1 Hempstead Records, as furnished by H. Onderdonk, Jr.

" The superior figure affixed to the number of the newspaper, indicates the page on
which the school notice occurs.

lj4 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

metick, at very reasonable Terms, which is per Quarter for Readers,
5s, for Writers 8s. for Cipherers 12. [New York Gazette, Numb.
511, 4 Aug. 4 to Aug. 11, 1735.]

NOTICE, That the /Subscriber, late from Old England, intends (as
soon as the Weather is warmer and proper Encouragement be given)

To teach Writing i/n all its Hands, Arithmetic^ and Latin, (as
also to teach the Grammar SchoUars twice a Day Writing, gratis.)

Whoever is witting to encourage him vn, so commendable a Work,
and so requisite in this flourishing City, may, at Mr. Wood Fur-
inan's in Wall-street, agree with on that subject,

CHARLES JOHNSTON.

[New-York Weekly Post-Boy, Numb. 59 4 , March 5, 1743-4
(Parker).]

Similar advertisements of later dates are reserved for a subsequent
chapter.

The establishment, in 1732, of " a public school to teach Latin,
Greek and Mathematics, in the City of New York," under authority
of an act of the General Assembly of the Province, may be regarded
as an event of considerable interest in the history of public education
in this Colony ; though, like the Grammar Free School of 1702-9, it
seems to have flourished during a period of only about seven years.
Both the schools referred to may have been vitally, if not formally,
connected with the repeated proposals and attempts, beginning as
early as 1703, to found a college in this Province ; though of this
there seems to be no official evidence. Having consulted several his-
torical sketches of Columbia (formerly King's) College, for founding
which legislative provision began to be made in 1746, we find no
statement or suggestion that this earliest New York college had for
its germ any pre-existing school whatever. Still, we can hardly
doubt that there was some vital relation between the various move-
ments, however spasmodic and disconnected, which gave corporate
existence, first to two temporary institutions of the academic grade?
and finally to a permanent college.

Since writing the foregoing paragraph, we are gratified to find our
inference on this point confirmed by the late Hon. Benjamin F. But-
ler, who, in an anniversary address delivered before the Albany Insti-
tute, in 1830, refers to Mr. Malcolm's school, and remarks that it " is
said to have formed the germ of Columbia College." * He cites, as
authority for this statement, Smith's History of New York, which
speaks of the movement for founding a College as " a project early in
the eye of the patrons of the public school, formerly trusted to the

1 Albany Institute Transactions, i, 179.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 1 25

care of Mr. Malcolm, favored by the pupils of that institution now
rising to manhood, and forced by a general spirit of emulation on
discovering the sundry advantages our youth had acquired by an
academical education in Great Britain and Ireland, but chiefly at the
neighboring Colleges of New England." 1

The official history of the passage of the above mentioned act of
1732, is an appropriate preface to the act itself:

\In General Assembly.]

Die Martis 9 ho. A. M. Oct. 3, 1732.

The Petition of sundry Gentlemen, and others, whose Names are
thereunto subscribed, was presented to the House, and read, praying
the Permission of this House, for bringing in a Bill to establish a
perpetual Support for a Master, to teach Latin and Greek.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for encouraging a
public School, to teach Latin, Greek, Arithmetick, and the Mathe-
maticks, in the City of New- York ; and that for the Encouragement
of a School Master for that Purpose', the unappropriated Money, to
rise by the Act for licensing Hawkers and Pedlars, until the first Day
of December, 1737, be applied for that End ; and that the said City
make up the Income of that Fund annually, during that Time, to
the Sum of Pounds ; and that in Consideration thereof,

the said School Master shall be obliged to teach gratis, the Number

of Children.

**##

Die Jovis, 9 ho. A. M. Oct. 5, 1732.

Mr. DeLancey (according to Leave) presented to the House, a Bill,
entitled, An Act, to encourage a publick School, in the City of New-
York, for teaching Latin, Greek and Mathematicks ; which was

read the first Time, and ordered to be read a second Time.

* * *

Die Martis, 9 ho. A. M. Oct. 10, 1732.

* * * *

The Bill, entitled, An Act, to encourage a public School [etc., as
above] ; was read the second Time, and committed to a Committee

of the whole House.

**<*

Die Jovis, Sho.AM. Oct. 12, 1732.

Mr. Garritsen reported from the Committee of the whole House,
to whom was refered, the Bill, entitled, [as above] ; That they had
gone through the Bill, and made several Amendments, and added
several Clauses thereto, which they had directed him to report to the
House ; which were read, and agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That the Bill with the Amendments and Clauses be

ingrossed.

* * * *

1 Smith's Hist, of N. Y. (Hist Soc. cd. 1829), ii, 93.

126 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

Die Jovis, 3 ho. P. M. Oct. 12, 1732.

The engrossed Bill, entitled, [as above] ; was read the third Time.
Resol/ved, That the Bill do pass.

Ordered, That Major Rensselaer do carry the Bill to the Council,
and desire their Concurrence thereto.

At a Councitt held at ffort George in New York, the 13^ day of

October, 1732.

A Message from the Assembly by Major Yan Rensselaer with the
Bill Entitled, An Act to encourage a publick School -in the City of
New York for teaching Latin, Greek and Mathematics and desiring
the Concurrence of this Board thereto.

Ordered, that the said Bill be read

Then the said Bill was read the 1st time &

Ordered a second reading.

Post Meridiem.

The Bill entitled, An Act [etc., as above] was read a second
time and committed to the Gentlemen of the Councill or any five of
them

October Utti, 1732.
# # # #

M r Harrison Chairman of the Committee (to whom the Bill
Entitled, An Act [etc., as above] was committed) reported from the
said Committee that they were ready to make their report thereof
when this Board wo'd please to receive the Same.

Ordered, that the said report be made immediately

Then M r Harrison in his place reported from the Said Committee
that they had gone through the said Bill without any amendments

Which report was agreed to & approved of by the Board

Ordered, that the said Bill be read the third time

Then the said Bill was read the third time and past without any
amendments

Ordered, that M r Harrison do acquaint the House of Representa-
tives therewith

\In General Assembly^

Die Sabatii, 9 ho. A. M. Oct. 14, 1732.
A Message from the Council, by Mr. Harrison, that they had

agreed to the Bill, entitled, [as above] ; without any Amendments.
* * * #

[On the same day, His Excellency, Governor Cosby, gave his
assent to this and other Bills.]

The annexed copy of the aforesaid act, is a transcript from the
original manuscript in the office of the Secretary of State, as we have
been unable to find it in print :

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 127

AN ACT to encourage a PUBLIC SCHOOL in the City of New York for
teaching Latin, Greek and Mathematicks.

Whereas, good Learning is not only a very great Accomplishment
but the properest Means to attain knowledge, Improve the Mind,
Morality and good Manners, and to make Men better, wiser and
more useful to their Country as well as to themselves.

And Whereas, the City and Colony of New York, abounds with
Youths of a Genius not Inferior to other Countries, it must undoubt-
edly be a Loss to the Public and a Misfortune to such Youths if they
are destitute of the Opportunity to improve their Capacities by a
Liberal Education. 1

And Wli&reas, the Mayor and Aldermen and a great Number of
the principal Inhabitants of the said City of New York have by
their petition to the General Assembly set forth that One M r . Alex-
ander Malcolm has by keeping of a private School within the said
City given a satisfactory proof of his Abilities to teach Latin Greek
and the Mathematics ; But as the Income of that School does at pre-
sent fall short of a comfortable Support for himself and his Family
They humbly pray he may have a suitable Encouragement to keep a
public School amongst us under such Regulations and Restrictions as.
may answer that End.

And alike? the not rightly applying of a temporary Salary hereto-
fore allowed for a Free School, has been the chief Cause that an
Encouragement for the like Purpose has ever since been neglected;
But in as much as the present Circumstances afford a better Prospect,
and to the End our Youth may not be deprived of the Benefits
before mentioned, Be it Enacted by his Excellency the Governour the
Council and the General Assembly, And it is hereby enacted by the
Authority of the same That there shall be one Public School estab-
lished and kept in the City of New York to teach Latin, Greek and
all the Parts of Mathematicks from the First Day of December next
ensuing to the First Day of December which will be in the year One
Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Seven, and that the above
named Alexander Malcolm shall be Master thereof during that Time
under the Regulations and Restrictions, and for the Reward and
Encouragement herein after mentioned.

Be it further Enacted by the same Authority that the above
named School Master or the School Master of such School for the
Time being, shall for and in Consideration of the Encouragement
hereinafter mentioned, be and hereby is obleged during the Time
aforesaid to provide at his own Cost and Charge in the said City of
New York a proper and convenient House or Room, and therein dur-
ing the Time and Term aforesaid (Sundays and the usual Holydays
only excepted) to teach Gratis and without any further or other
Reward or Consideration from any Person whatever than what is
allowed to him by this Act, in the best Manner he is able, the Latin

1 Governor De Witt Clinton, in his discourse before the alumni of Columbia
College, in 1827, refers to this preamble as a proof that at that early period it
was thought necessary to vindicate our country from the aspersions of foreigners.
See a foot note of Mr. Butler's Discourse, already quoted in Alb. Inst. Trans., i, 179.

]28 ANNALS OF PUHLIC EDUCATION

and Greek Languages, Arithmetic, and all the other Branches of the
Mathematicks, or in such of them as the said School Master shall be
ordered and directed by the Persons hereinafter vested with the
power to give sneh Orders and Directions the Number of Twenty
Youths in the Proportion following, that is to say

For the City and County of New York, Ten. For the City and
County of Albany, Two. For Kings County, One. For Queens
County, One. For Suffolk County, One. For Westchester County,
One. For Bichmond County, One. For Orange County, One. For
Ulster County, One ; and for Dutchess County One.

Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that the Youths
so to be taught are to be recommended in Manner following, that is
to say ; For the Cities and Counties of New York and Albany, by
the Respective Mayors, Recorders and Aldermen thereof. And for
the several Counties by the Justices at the General Sessions of the
Peace to be held for those Counties respectively. And in such
Recommendations under their Hands they are respectively to certify
the Name and Names of such Youth, their age (which is not to be
under Fourteen Years) and that they have been well instructed in
Reading and Writing of English. . And in such Certificate is to be
added a Command to the Schoolmaster for the Time being, to receive
such Youth as a Scholar ; who is accordingly to receive them in his
School and to teach him or them in such Manner as he by such Cer-
tificate or Order shall be directed. And the Persons aforesaid are
hereby impowered and directed not only to grant such Certificates
and Orders Gratis, But in like Manner from Time to Time to supply
such Vacancies, as shall or may happen in the said School in the said
Number of Youths by Death or otherwise during the Continuance of
the said Act.

And be it Enacted by the same Authority that if the said
M r . Malcolm or the School Master for the Time being shall
at any Time during the Term aforesaid refuse to receive or
teach the Youths sent to him for that Purpose in the Manner above
mentioned, it shall absolutely barr him of the Reward by this Act
allowed to him Provided the Number of such Youths do not exceed
the Number herein before limited : Nor shall it be deemed a Default
in him if either of the said Cities or any of the said Counties shall at
any Time recommend or send a less Number than they hereby have a
Right to do.

And to the End the School hereby intended may be duely and
orderly kept and the aforesaid Scholars well instructed Be it further
Enacted by the same Authority that the Justices of the Supreme
Court, The Rector of Trinity Church and the Mayor, Recorder and
Aldermen of the City of New York for the Time being or the Major
Part of them shall be and hereby are impowered constituted and
appointed Visitors of the said School for the Term aforesaid and
vested with a Power to remove the Master for the Time being for
Misbehaviour or Neglect of his Duty and upon his Remove to elect
appoint and establish another in his Place; as also whenever the
Master's Place is void by any other Means whatsoever during the
Term aforesaid the Visitors aforesaid or the Major Part of them are

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 129

hereby further authorized and empowered to elect appoint and
establish a Master in such Place so become void ; And the Master so
by them elected appointed and established shall be entitled to the
Salary or Reward hereby intended for the Master aforesaid.

Provided and Be it Enacted by the same Authority that the before
named Alexander Malcolm hereby appointed Master of the said Pub-
lic School shall not be removed during the Term aforesaid except for
Misbehaviour or Neglect of his Duty in the keeping of the said
School or in teaching of the Youth in Manner aforesaid.

And that the said M r . Malcolm, or the School Master for the Time
being of the Public School before mentioned may be ennabled to
provide a proper School and be encouraged to teach the said Number
of Youth in Manner as aforesaid Be it Enacted by the same Authority
that after the Money already appropriated in and by an Act Entitled
An Act for reviving an Act Entitled An Act for Licencing Hawkers
and Pedlars within this Colony and for paying the Sum of Sixty-
Pounds unto Richard Bradley Esq r passed this present Session shall
be paid and discharged out of that Fund ; All the Residue of the
Money that shall arise from thence forward until the First Day of
December which will be in the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred
and Thirty Seven by Virtue of the said Act shall be and hereby is
applied for and towards the Encouragement of such School Master as
aforesaid. And for the orderly and effectual paying of the same to
him, The Treasurer of this Colony shall be and hereby is enjoined
yearly and every Year during the Continuance of the said Act to
state an Account of that Fund deducting out of the Money that has
already arisen or may arise thereby Six Pence in the Pound for his
receiving and paying the same, as likewise what by the said Act and
a former Act he has been directed to pay out of the same : Which
Account so stated he is hereby further enjoined annually between the
First and the Tenth Day 01 December to deliver unto his Excel-
lency the Governour who is thereupon requested to issue Warrants
in Council for so much as by such Account shall appear to be in the
Treasury by Virtue of that Fund payable to the said M r Malcolm, or
to the Schoolmaster for the time being : Which Warrants the said
Treasurer is hereby likewise directed from Time to Time to pay and
discharge out of the said Fund accordingly.

And for a further Encouragement to the said School Master or the
School Master for the Time being Be it Enacted by the Authority
aforesaid That over and above the Sum or Sums of Money annually
to be raised in the City of New York, by Virtue of an Act Entitled
an Act for settling a Ministry and raising a Maintenance for them in
the City of New York Counties of Richmond Westchester and
Queens County passed in the Fourth Year of King William and
Queen Mary there shall at the same Time in the same Manner and
by the same persons be assessed levyed and collected and yearly
paid to the Treasurer of the said City during the Continuance of this
Act the Sum of Fourty Pounds Currant Money of this Colony besides
the Charge of collecting and paying the same, For which Sum so to
be annually paid during the said Term the Mayor of the said City
for the Time being in Common Council convened is yearly to^, issue
9

130 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

Warrants for the same on the said City Treasurer payable Quarterly
to the above named M r Malcolm or the School Master for the Time
being. And the said Mayor, the said Treasurer and all Persons who
are to assess levy and collect the above mentioned Tax for the Minis-
ter and Poor are hereby strictly charged and commanded to act con-
formable to the true Intent and Meaning of this Clause.

Always Provided and Be it further Enacted by the same Author-
ity that whenever the Fund of Hawkers and Pedlars shall during the
Term aforesaid happen to exceed the Sum of Fourty Pounds per
Annum such Overplus shall remain in the Treasury, so Nevertheless
as that the said Sallary for the whole Five Years out of the said Fund
does not fall short of the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds any Thing
herein to the contrary thereof notwithstanding.

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That this
act shall be deemed a public Act and accepted as such in all Courts
and by all Officers within this Colony.

City of New York, Die Jovis, 12th October 1782,
New York Oct 14th 1732 In the Sixth Year of his Majesties Reign

I assent to this bill Generall Assembly for the Colony of New York,

enacting the same & This bill having been Read three times

order it to be enrolled Resolved That the bill do Pass

W. COSBY. By order of the Generall Assembly

A. D. PHILIPSE Speaker

Die Jovis 12 Oct 1732 This Bill being Passed Ordered, That
Maj Van Rensselaer do carry the Bill to the Council & desire their
concurrence thereto.

G. LUDLOW Clk

1732, Oct 13 th read the first time and ordered a second reading
P. M. read a second time and committed.

14 th reported by M r . Harrison without amendt read y e third time
& past M r . Harrison to acquaint y e house therewith.

FREDK MORRIS

The following newspaper announcements are, for the present at
least, our only sources of information relative to the internal man-
agement of Mr. Malcolm's School :

Alexander Malcolm, Master of the Grammar-School in the City of
New York, desires to represent to the Publick, the great Disadvan-
tages to Education, by Scholars who are meer beginners in Latin,
dropping into a School at different and uncertain times ; The Conse-
quence of which is, that a Teacher can take charge of but very few,
since one or two in the same Form of Lesson, take up as much
time as a dozen, (which is the present case of the School) or he
must make very slow and tedious Work of it, if there be many.
Then again, On the Scholars parr [part], this Circumstance make
their Coming both unpleasant, and consequently lingering, for
want of Companions of their Studies ; and less successful, lor want
of that Emulation among Scholars in the same Form, which is a great
Spur^to their Application. Upon these Considerations it is, that in

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 131

all well regulated Schools, there are certain stated Times, at which
only Beginners in Latin are received to school. As the Public
School in this place begins to thrive, and 'tis hoped, will do so more and
more, from a growing Sense of the value of Education, and the very
apt Genius of your Youth, with the successful Progress many
have already made (for which an Appeal to proper Judges would be
gladly submitted to) Mr. Malcolm does therefore hope, the Publick
will look upon it as a Proposal made for the benefit of their Children,
That there be a stated time for entering such as are to begin ; and
tho' once a year, as the most reasonable, is the Method of the best
Schools in our Mother Country (whom we will not, sure, be ashamed
of for a Pattern) ahd [and] will be absolutely necessary when this
School grows Numerous ; yet in the meantime he proposes, Twice a
year, r oiz. the Months of February and August, in which he will
receive meer Beginners in Latin. And as he has laid this Proposal
before the Yisitors of the School, and the same is approved of and
consented to by them, he Resolves to take none but within these
Times (excepting such as are fit to joyn some of the Forms that are
in the School.)

As the Continuance of this Advertisement for a sufficient Time,
will give due Information of this useful and necessary Rule, so
no body can be baulked or disappointed but through their own fault,
and will therefore have no reason to complain of it, Whoever then
have Children fit, and designed for the School, will be pleased to
consider this in time, and contribute what's so easily in their power
to bring the Publick Education upon an orderly and advantageous
footing.

There having been some Complaints, That the younger Scholars at
this School are in hazard of losing their Writing, through the loss of
Time and Diversion, occasioned by their going from one School to
another. Mr. Malcolm acquaints the Publick, That he has appointed
a convenient hour every day, in which he Teaches Writing to such
of his Latin Scholars as think fit to employ him.

At the said School are Taught all the Branches of the Mathematics,
Geometry, Algebra, Geography, Navigation, and Merchants Book-
keeping after the most Perfect manner. [New-York Gazette, Numb.
480 2 , Dec. 30 to Jan. 7, 1734.]

Some Persons Having been Disapprehended, because of their hav-
ing either forgot, or never seen the Advertisement that was formerly
made upon settling the Time of receiving into the Publick Grammar
School established in. the City of New Xork, such S[c]holars as are
now Beginners. The Publick is hereby again Informed That there
are two Time a year apponted for Receiving such Scholars, Viz,
The Months of August and February, such Schollars as are fit for
any of the Classes will be received at any time. [New- York Gazette,
Numb. 560 4 , July 18 to 25, 1736.]

The foregoing act of Oct. 14, 1732, having expired by its own
limitation, on the 1st day of December, 1737, an act embodying the
same general provisions, but limited to the term of one year from the

132

ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

same date, was passed by the General Assembly. A strenuous oppo-
sition to the bill, while pending in the General Assembly, is indicated
by the fact that the ayes and noes on two substantive motions in the
committee of the whole are entered upon the Journal, and that one
of these motions, that for continuing the appropriation from the
Hawkers and Pedlars' Fund, prevailed by a majority of but one
vote ; the other, authorizing New York city to assume its share of
the pecuniary burden, gained a majority of seven.

The Journal record is as follows (omitting routine items suffi-
ciently indicated by memoranda annexed to the act as hereafter
given) :

[In General Assembly. .]

Die Marti*, 3 ho. P. M. Oct. 18, 173T.

# * # *

Simon Johnson, Esq ; moved for Leave to bring in a Bill to con-
tinue an Act of the General Assembly of this Colony, entitled, An
Act, to encourage a public School in the City and County of New
York, for teaching Latin, Greek, and Mathematicks.

Ordered,, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill accordingly.

* * * *

Die Mercurij, 3 ho. P. M. Nov. 30, 1737.

The House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House,
upon the Bill, entitled, [as above] ; after some Time spent therein,

A Motion was made, by David Jones, Esq ; and the Question was
put, whether Mr. Malcolm, the Latin School Master, be allowed
Forty Pounds, per Ann. out of the Moneys to arise, by Virtue of the
Act, for licensing Hawkers and Pedlers within this Colony.

For the Affirmative.
Col. Matthews,
Oapt. Livingston,
Mr. Abraham Lot,
James Alexander, Esq;
Mr. Speaker [Lewis Morris, Jr.],
Col. Schuyler,
Capt. Winne,
Capt. Brat,
Johannis Lot) Esq ;
Mr. Verplank,
Col. Philipse [Frederick],
Col. Morris [Lewis Morris, Sen.],
Col. Rensselaer.

For the Negative.
Adolph Philipse, Esq ;
Col. Beekman,
David Jones, Esq :
John Walter, Esq ;
Col. Hicks,
Col. Chambers,
Mr. Tur Boss,
John Lecount, Esq ;
Mr. Hardenbergh,
David Pierson,
Major Platt,
Major Matt.

It's carried in the Affirmative.

A motion was made, and the Question was put, whether Mr. Mal-
colm, the Latin School Master, be allowed Forty Pounds, per Ann.
from the City of New York.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 133

For the Affirmative. For the Negative.

[The same as on the former motion, [The same as on the former

except Mr. Abraham Lot,] ; also, motion, except David

Mr. Hardenbergh,, Jones, Esq; Col.

Col. Hicks, Hicks; Mr. Harden-

Da/oid Jones, Esq ; ~bergh; and David

David Pierson. Pierson] ; also, Mr.

Abraham Lot.

It's carried in the Affirmative.

A motion was made, and the Question was put, whether Mr. Mal-
colm's Salary be continued for a longer Time than one Year ?
It's carried in the Negative.

# * * #

Die Jovis, 3 ho. P. M. Dec. 1, 1737

* # * *

The House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House,
upon the Bill, entitled, [as above] ; after some Time spent therein,
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair ; and Simon Johnson, Esq ; reported
from the Committee, That they had gone through the Bill, altered
the Title, made several Amendments, and added several Clauses
thereto ; which they had directed him to report, when the House will
please receive the same.

Ordered, That the Report be now received.

Simon Johnson, Esq ; accordingly reported the Amendments and
Clauses, which the Committee had made to the Bill, and which they
had directed him to report to the House ; and he read the Report in
his Place, and afterwards delivered the Bill, with the Amendments
and Clauses in at the Table; where the same was again read, and
agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments and Clauses be

ingrossed.

#***

The following copy of the act under consideration, which is nearly
identical in its recitals and provisions with that of Oct. 14, 1732, is a
transcript of the original manuscript in the Office of the Secretary
of State :

AN ACT for the further Encouragement of a Public School in the
City of New York for Teaching Lattin Greek & Mathematics

Whereas an Act of the General Assembly of this Colony Passed
in the Sixth year of his present Majisties Reign Intituled an Act to
Encourage a Public School in the City of New York for Teaching
Lattin Greek and Mathematics is Expired by its own Limitation.

And whereas a Liberal Education is not only a very great Accom-
plishment but the Properest means to attain to knowledge Improve
the mind Morality & good Manners and to make men Better wiser
and more usef ull to their Country, as well as to themselves

Ani whereas the City and Colony of New York abounds with
youths of a Genius not Inferiour to other Countries, it must undoubt-
edly be a Loss to the Publick and a Misfortune to such youths if they

134 / ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

are destitute of the opportunity to Improve their Capacities by Edu-
cation

And whereas M r . Alexander Malcolm the Present publick School
Master has given Satisfactory proof of his abilities to Teach Lattin
Greek & the Mathematicks, But as the Income of that School Falls
Short of a comfortable Support for himself & Family. It is there-
fore conceived reasonable that a Suitable Encouragement Should be
given and Provided by the Publick,' under such Regulations &
Restrictions as may Effectually answer the good Ends & Purposes
thereby proposed.

Be it therefore Enacted by his Honour the Lieutenant Governour
the Council and the General Assembly, and it is hereby Enacted by
the Authority of the Same, that there shall be one Publick School
Established and kept in the City of New York to Teach Lattin
Greek and all the Parts of the Mathematicks from the first day of
December in this present year one thousand Seven hundred & thirty
Seven, to the first Day of December then next ensuing, and that
the above named Alexander Malcolm shall be the Master thereof
During that time under the Regulations & Restrictions & for the
rewards and encouragement hereinafter & in an act Intituled an
Act for Licencing Hawkers & Pedlars within this Colony is Men-
tioned.

And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid that the above
named School Master or the School Master of such School for the
time being Shall for & in Consideration of the Reward & Encourage-
ment hereinafter and in the last mentioned Act be and hereby is
obliged during the time aforesaid to provide at his own Cost &
Charge in the City of New York a proper & Convenient House or
Room & therein during the time and Term aforesaid (Sundays and
the usual Holy days only excepted) To teach Gratis, and without any
farther reward or consideration from any Person whatsoever than
what is allowed to him by this Act in the best manner He is able,
the Lattin & Greek Languages, arithmetick & all other Branches of
the Mathematicks, or in such of them as the Said School Master shall
be ordered & Directed by the Persons hereinafter vested with the
Power to give such orders & Directions the number of Twenty
youths in the Proportion following that is to say-
For the City & County of New York Ten, For the City and
County of Albany Two, For Kings County, one For Queens County
one, For Suffolk County one For West Chester one, For Richmond
one For Orange County one, For Ulster County one, & For Dutchess
County one.

And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid that the
youths so to be Taught are to be recommended in manner following.
That is to say For the Cities & Counties of New York & Albany, by
the respective Mayors, Recorders & Aldermen thereof, and for the
Several Counties by the Justices at the General Sessions of the Peace
to be held for those Counties respectively and in Such Recommenda-
tions under their hands, They are respectively to certifie the name
ife names of such youth or youths his and their age (which is not to
be under nine years) and that They have been well Instructed in

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 135

reading & writting of English & in such certificate is to be added a
Command to the School Master for the time being to receive Such
youth or youths as a Scholar or Scholars who is accordingly to
receive him or them into his School, and to Teach him or them in
Such manner, as he by Such Certificate or Order shall be directed
and the Persons aforesaid are hereby Impowered and Directed not
only to Grant Such Certificates & orders Gratis But in like manner
from time to time to Supply Such Vacancies as shall or may happen
in the Said School in the Said Number of Youths, by Death or
otherwise during the Continuance of this Act.

And be it Enacted by the Same authority, that if the Said M r .
Malcolm or the School Master for the time being Shall at any time
during the Term aforesaid, Refuse to Receive or Teach the Youths
Sent to him for that Purpose, in the manner above mentioned, It
shall absolutely Barr him of the reward by this act allowed to him,
Provided the number of Such Youths do not exceed the number
herein before Limited, nor shall it be deemed a default in him, if the
said Cities or Counties Shall at any time Recommend or send a Less
number than They hereby have a Right to do. And to the end the
School hereby Intended, may be duly & orderly kept, and the afore-
said scholars well Instructed

Be it further Enacted by the Same authority, That the Justices of
the Supream Court, the Rector of Trinity Church, and the Mayor
Recorder & aldermen of the City of New York for the time being or "
the Major part of Them, Shall be & hereby are Impowered consti-
tuted and appointed Visitors of the Said School for the Term afore-
said, and Vested with a Power to remove the Master for the Time
being for Misbehaviour or Neglect of his Duty, and upon his removal
to Elect Appoint & Establish another in his Place, as also whenever
the Masters Place is void by -any other means whatsoever during the
term aforesaid, the Visitors aforesaid or the Major part of them are
hereby further authorized & Impowered to Elect appoint & Establish
a Master in such Place so become void, and the Master so by them
Elected, Appointed & Established, Shall be Intituled to such Propor-
tion of the Salary or Reward during the time of his Service as the
Master aforesaid have been, had he continued.

Provided and be it Enacted by the Same authority that the before
named Alexandar Malcolm hereby appointed master of the said Pub-
lic School Shall not be removed during the term aforesaid, Except for
Misbehaviour or Neglect of his Duty in the keeping of the Said School
or in teaching of the Youths in manner aforesaid.

And for the further Encouragement of the Said School Master or
the School Master for the time being

Be it Enacted by the authority aforesaid, that over and above the
Sum or Sums of Money annually to be raised in the City of New
York by Virtue of an act Intituled an act for Settling a Ministry and
raising a Maintenance for them in the City of New York, Counties
of Richmond, West Chester & Queens County, Passed in the fourth
year of King William & Queen Mary, There Shall at the same time
in the Same Manner & by the Same Persons be assessed Levyed and
Collected & Paid to the Treasurer of the Said City, during the con-

136 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

tinuance of this act the Sura of Forty Pounds Currant Money of this
Colony, besides the Charge of Collecting & Paying the Same, For
which Sum so to be paid during the Said Time, tlie Mayor of the
Said City, for the time being, in Common Council Convened is to
Issue Warrants for the Same, on the City Treasurer Payable Quar-
terly to the above named Mr. Malcolm or the School Master for the
time being, and the Said Mayor the Said Treasurer, and all Persons
who are to Assess Levy and Collect the above mentioned Tax for the
Minister & Poor are hereby Strictly Charged & Commanded to act
Conformable to the true Intent & meaning of this Clause.

And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid that this act,
Shall be Deemed a Public act and accepted as Such in all courts, &
by all officers within this Colony.

City of New York Die Sabati 3 d December 1737.
In the Eleventh Year of his Ma'tys reign General Assembly for
the Colony of New York This Bill having been read three times
Resolved that this Bill do Pass.

LEWIS MORRIS Jun r Speaker.

New York December the 16 th 1737

I Assent to this Bill enacting the same and order it to be enrolled.

GEO CLARKE

[Endorsed] " Die Sabati 3 d Decembe r 1737.

" This Bill being Passed

" Ordered That Capt Winne do carry the Bill to the council &
" desire their concurrence thereto LUDLOW Cl

[In Council.]

" 1737 Deer. 6 th read the 1 st time aud ord a 2 d reading. 7 th read
" a 2 d time & remitted 8 th reported by M r . Horsmanden without
"amendment & ordered a 3 d reading 9 th read 3 d time & passed

On the day of the final passage of the foregoing act by the Coun-
cil (ten days prior to its approval by the acting Governor), a petition
from Mr. Malcolm, for relief, in respect to a deficiency in the fund
set apart for a moiety of his salary, was presented to the General
Assembly, and adverse action was taken thereon, as appears by the
following extract from the Journal :

[In General Assembly.]

Die Mcvrtis, 3 ho. P. M. Dec. 6, 1737.
# * * *

A Petition of Alexander Malcolm, was presented to the House,
and read, setting forth, That by Virtue of an Act of General
Assembly, passed in the Year 1732, he was intitled to Eighty
Pounds, per Annum, for five Years ; whereof Forty Pounds yearly,
was laid upon the Fund of the Pedlers License, and that by Failure
of said Fund, there is now a Deficiency unpaid to him of One Hun-
dred and Fifteen Pounds, Two Shillings and Six-pence, therefore

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 187

humbly prays this honourable House will order the Payment of said
Deficiency, and relieve him from the Difficulty of so great a Disap-
pointment.

And a Debate arising thereupon,

A Motion was made, and the Question was put, whether the afore-
said One Hundred and Fifteen Pounds, Two Shillings and Six-pence,
be a Debt due from this Colony ?

For the Affirmative. For the Negative.

Simon Johnson, Esq ; Col. Schuyler, did not vote.

James Alexander, Esq ; Col. Chambers,

Capt. Livingston, David Jones, Esq ;

Col. Morris, John Walter, Esq;

Capt. Winne, Mr. Hardenbergh,

Col. Rensselaer, Jacobus Turboss, Esq ;

Mr. Verplanck. Major Mott,

John Leco^^nt, Esq ;
Johannis Lot, Esq ;
Mr. Abraham Lot.
Col. Hicks,
Col. Matthews,
Mr. Peirsen,
Major Platt,
Adolphe Philipse, Esq,
Col. Beekman,
Capt. Bratt,

It's carried in the Negative.

A Motion was made, and the Question was put, whether the Peti-
tion be rejected ?

For the Affirmative. For the Negative.

[The members voting for the [The members voting for the Affir-
Negative, on the former mative on the former motion] ;

motion.] also, Col. Schuyler.

It's carried in the Affirmative.

Ordered, That the said Petition be rejected accordingly.

Governor Clarke's views on this subject are indicated by the follow-
ing extracts from a letter to the Lords of Trade :

New York June 2, 1738.
My Lords

I do myself the honor to send to your Lord p8 the Acts of Assem-
bly passed last Session. ... I beg leave to mention the titles of
the Acts, and to make such remarks on them as I presume to hope

may give your Lordships satisfaction.

* * * *

N 21. An Act for the further encouragement of a publick school

[etc].

N 22. An Act to restrain Hawkers and Pedlars [etc.]
Being confident that publick schools for the education of yonth will

always find countenance from your Lordships I will lay the last two

138 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

Bills before you without any further remarks in their favour ; I wish
the Assembly had made the reward greater than it is like to be, from
the last of tnese Bills, that money was apply'd before, to the like
use but fell short of the sum intended, nor could the School master
get any redress tho he petition'd for it or got some of his friends to
move the house in his behalf; it is not likely it will bring in more
now however the master having at present no other way of living is

obliged to submit.

###*

GEO: CLARKE. 1

Mr. Malcolm subsequently renewed his petition for the same
object, with probably deserved success :

[In General Assembly.]

Die Jovis, 3 ho. P. M. Oct. 16, 1740.

The Memorial and Petition of Alexander Malcolm, was presented
to the House, and read, setting forth, That the General Assembly of
this Colony, the 9th of August 1Y32, taking into Consideration, the
great Use and Value of Education and Learning, with the proper
Means thereof in this Country, and the Necessity of publick Schools,
passed a Bill, establishing a publick School in the City of New- York,
for the Space of five Tears, for teaching the Latin and Greek Lan-
guages and Mathematicks, and appointed your Petitioner Master
thereof, allowing a yearly Salary of Eighty Pounds Currency, viz.
Forty Pounds, to be paid by a Tax raised on the City of New- York ;
and Forty Pounds, to be paid out of the Money arising from the
Fund of Pedlers and Hawkers ; but at the Expiration of the said five
Years, that Fund was deficient One Hundred and Eleven Pounds,
Two Shillings and Six-pence, of the Salary to be paid out of it, for
the whole Time ; whereupon the Promises considered of a faithful
discharge of a laborious and important Service "to the Country, the
said Petitioner relies upon the Justice and Equity of the honourable
House, for such a Relief, as is agreeable to the Nature of the Case.

A Motion was made, and the Question was put, whether Mr. Mal-
colm,, had according to the Act, entitled, An Act, to encourage a pub-
lic School in this City of New- York, for teaching Latin, Greek and
Mathematicks ; an equitable Demand for Arrearages set forth by
his Petition ? It was carried in the Affirmative, in Manner follow-
ing, to wit.

For the Affirmative. For the Negative.

Col. Morris, Mr. Nicol,

Col. Schuyler, Mr. Lecount,

Col. Moore, Mr. Gale,

Col. Philipse, Mr. Turboss,

Mr. Purdy, Mr. Pierson,

Capt. Winne, Mr. Hardenbergh,

Mr. Bradt, Mr. Abraham Lott,

1 N. Y. Col. Doc., vi, 117-119.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 139

For the Affirmative. For the Negative.

Col. JRensselaer, Mr. Cornel,

Mr. Ludlow, Mr. Jones,

Mr. Stilwell,
Col. Lott,
Capt. Livingston,

Col. Beekman,

Mr. Clarkson,

A comparison of this vote with that of Dec. 6, 1737, on the same
question, shows that of fifteen members present on both occasions,
three, viz., Mr. Bradt, Col. Lott and Col. Beekman, changed their
votes in favor of the petitioner, and that among the old members he
thus secured a majority of two. The members voting - only on the
latter occasion stood six affirmative to three negative, making a total
majority of five in favor of discharging the amount claimed by the
worthy schoolmaster, who seems, however, to have lost the use of his
money for at least three years.

The General Assembly at once formally confirmed the foregqing
vote by the adoption of the following resolution and order :

Resolved, That said Arrears be discharged by the Act, entitled,
An Act, to restrain Hawkers and Pedlers within this Colony, from
selling without Licence.

Ordered, That Col. Beekman and Col. Morris, prepare and bring
in a Bill, to pay unto the Rev. Mr. Malcolm, the Sum of One Hun-
dred and Eleven Pounds, Seven Shillings and Sixpence, out of the

Funds for licensing Hawkers and Pedlers.

* * * *

Die Veneris, 9 ho. A. M. Oct. 17, 1740.

Col. Morris (according to Order) presented to the House, a Bill,
entitled, An Act, to pay unto the ttev. Mr. Alexander Malcolm, the
Sum of One Hundred and Eleven Pounds, Seven Shillings and Six-
pence, out of the Funds for licensing Hawkers and Pedlers / which

was read the first Time, and ordered a second Heading.

* * *

This bill was duly enacted into a law, of which the following is a
copy, from the original manuscript on file in the office of the Secre-
tary of State :

AN ACT to pay to the Reverend Mister Alexander Malcolm, The Sum
of One Hundred and Eleven pounds, Seven Shillings and six pence,
cut of the fund therein mentioned.

WHEREAS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY by an ACT passed in the Sixth
Year of his present Majestyes Reign Entituled AN ACT to Encour-
age a publick School in the City of New York for Teaching Latin,
Greek and Mathematicks ; which act was to Continue and be offeree
for five Years, in which act among other things it is enacted, that

140 AifNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

Alexander Malcolm shall be the Schoolmaster of the Said Publick
School, and as Reward for that Service it is by the Said Act provided
and enacted, That out of the fund of Hawkers and pedlars he shall
Receive a Sum for the Said five Tears not less than Two hundred
pounds ; and the act for Licencing hawkers and pedlars not bringing
in Sufficient to discharge the Said Sum of Two hundred pounds and
the General Assembly conceiving, That the part of the Two hundred
pounds that remains Yet Unpaid to the Said Alexander Malcolm, is
a just debt due from this Colony ; and it appearing by the Treas-
urer's accounts that there is Still Unpaid, The Sum of One hundred
Eleven pounds Seven Shillings and Six pence

Be it therefore Enacted by his honour The Lieutenant Governour
The Council and the General Assembly and it is hereby Enacted by
the authority of the Same, That out of the Monies arisen and to
arise by an Act Entituled, an Act to restrain Hawkers and pedlars
within this Colony from Selling without Licence, passed in the
Thirteenth Year of his Majesties Reign, The Treasurer Shall pay to
the said Alexander Malcolm or Order the Sum of One hundred
Eleven pounds Seven Shillings and six pence In manner following,
That is to Say Ten dayes after the publication of this Act all the
Money already in the Treasury, arisen by the aforesaid Act of Hawk-
ers and pedlars, and so every six Months thereafter Until the whole
sum of one hundred Eleven pounds Seven Shillings and Six pence is
paid, and his Receipts Shall be to the said Treasurer a Sufficient dis-
charge for so much Money

New York Nov r 23 1740 City of New York Die Lunse

I assent to this Bill enacting the 20 th October 1740.

Same and order it to be enrolled In the Fourteenth year of His

GEO CLARKE Matys reign General Assembly

for the Colony of New York This

[Endorsed] AN ACT to Pay the bill having been read Three times
Reverend M r Alexander Malcolm Resolved, This bill do Pass.
the Sum of 111 : 7s : d6 out of the D PHILIPSE Speaker.

Fund therein Mentioned.

Die Luna 20 th Octo. 1740
This bill being Passed

Ordered

That M r Verplank & M r Clarkson

do carry this Bill to the Council and desire their Concurence thereto.

GEO. DUNCAN Cl.

P. M : 1740. October 23 d : read 1 st time & ordered a-second reading.
P. M : 27 th read a second time & committed reported by M r Hors-
manden w th out amendm* & ordered a third reading
29 th read the third time & passed

It does not appear, unless from the act itself, in what specific way
Mr. Malcolm became possessed of that portion of his salary, payable
from the "Hawkers and Pedlars' Fund;" but we have full informa-
tion so far as relates to the portion paid by the corporation of N. Y.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 141

city, viz., by quarterly Warrants on the Treasurer, issued by the
Mayor, on the order of the Common Council, as appears from theii
Minutes. The following is a copy of the first order of the Common
Council, relative to this subject, dated June 8, 1733 :

Ordered that the Mayor Issue his Warrant to the Treasurer to pay
unto M r Alexander Malcolm the Public Schoolmaster of this City or
Order the Sum of ten pounds curr* Money of this Colony out of the
Moneys in his hands Raised by vertue of an act of General Assembly
of this Colony made in the sixth year of his present Majestys Reign
entitled AN ACT to encourage a Publick School in the City of New
York for Teachirig Latin, Greek and Mathematicks, it being in full
of one Quarter of a years Reward or Sallary due to the said Alex-
ander Malcolm and ending the first day of this Instant June. 1

* * # *

Similar orders were given at regular intervals, for a period of ser-
vice ending Dec. 1, 1738, at which time the second act providing for
the support of the school expired by its own limitation. From this
time we hear nothing further concerning either the school or the
school master, except Mr. Butler's statement that the act of 1737
" was not afterwards renewed ; but the school was again continued,
and is said to have formed the germ of Columbia College." 2

But for the grievances set forth in the annexed petition, it is doubt-
ful whether the petitioner would have been known to us as one of
the schoolmasters of his time :

To His Excellency George Clark Esq r Lieut* Governor of the Prov-
ince of New York &c.
The Humble Petition of Walter Hetherington

May it Please your Excellency to Know that I your Petitioner
have of Late been a School-master at the Ferry and thanks be to
God have given Satisfaction to most persons in the Education of
their Children till by the Instigation of others they did Last May
procure another to set up the profession in Oposition to me, and Last
week two of my Neighbors viz* John Stockford and Samuel Hopson
Butchers having some Difference together the said John Stockford
Cursing and Swearing in a most horrid Manner your Petitioner inter-
cepted thinking to be a Mediator of peace and he immediately us'd
me in the Like manner Swearing revenge against me and without
farther provocation as by Sufficient Evidence may appear rashly
applied to Christopher Codwsse Essq r (a person very much animated
against me) in the Nature of asking his advice who told him to come
the next Day and the said Codwise being then in a Hurry to come
over to New York told him to come to him at Night but ere
the said Codwise return'd which was about Ten o'clock the said

1 Minutes of the Common Council (MS.), iv, 303.
"Alb. Inst. Trans., i, 178, 179.

142 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

John Stockford and his Family was in Bed. But the said Cod-
wise sent to call him to him to M rs Counsell's at the Ferry House
and he called him aside and advis'd him to Swear the peace
against your Petitioner and that he was in Danger of his Life
and if he would come to his house the next Morning he would
give him his Oath with advice. Your Petit 1 " 8 Wife (We living
under the same Roof) overheard the said Stockford declare to
his Wife at his return from Mr. Codwise and he accordingly went
the next Morning and took his Oath Whereupon the said Codwise
Issued out a Warrant against your Petitioner who being a Native of
England and unacquainted with the Laws and Customs of this Colony
have since kept out of their Way But now your Petitioner is informed
that he the said Codwise hath granted a Warrant of Contempt ;
Whereupon your Petit 1 " was ad vis d to make his application to Sam-
uel Garitson Esq r the Late Judge of the Sessions for the County who
will'd me to Draw a Petition to your Excellency Wherefore your
Petitioner most Humbly beseecheth your Excellency out of your Great
Compassion and Goodness to allay the Great Troubles I have met
with and am Like to be Plung'd into by the Unmerciful hands I have
to deal with Your Petitioner not being in a Capacity to Contest
with them in Law Your Petitioners Wife together with two Small
Children being now destitute of Relief She hath been with the said
Codwise and told him she intended This who imperiously replied
, you Do you Tantalize me with the Governour whereby I
Leave it to your Excellency's Consideration what will become of me
and my poor Family without some Mitigation from your Excellency
for your Petitioner who beggs leave to Subscribe himself your
Excellency's

Most Obedient Humble Servant

W. HETHERINGTON
Endorsed^

Petition of Walter Hetherington agt Christopher Codwise. 9
Aug 81 1739 Copy of this to Mr. Codwise. 1

It having been previously shown that during the Dutch adminis-
tration all persons were restrained from teaching school without official
license, and that the early English Governors were also instructed to
enforce a like requirement, it remains to add, that this regulation
seems to have fallen into disuse during Governor Hunter's adminis-
tration, the latest license we have seen being that issued by him to
Allane Jarratt, in 1712, as heretofore given. Whether this came to
be regarded as an arbitrary requirement, which could not well be
enforced in a province rapidly advancing toward free institutions, or
whether some other consideration prevailed with the crown and its
officers, we do not propose to inquire ; but barely allude to the fact
above stated, for the sake of remarking that no legislative act to that

1 N. Y. Col. MSB., Ixxii, 120.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 143

effect was ever passed in this Province, and that a bill introduced in
the Council for the purpose of reviving this restriction, seems to have
been dropped in the committee of the whole, as appears from the
following record :

[In Council.']

Monday, February the Vltli, 1745, P. M.

* * * *

The Hono ble Archibald Kennedy moved for leave to bring in a Bill
" to Restrain all Dancing Masters Schoolmasters or Teachers of Youth
in any Art or Science from Teaching without License & taking the
oaths"

Ordered, that Leave be given accordingly

Pursuant whereto a Bill was presented to the Council Entituled,
"An Act to restrain " [etc., as above]

Then the said Bill was read the I 8t time &

Ordered a second reading

* * * *

Tuesday, February the 18th, 1745, P. M.

* # * *

Then the said Bill [entitled as above] was read the 2 d time &

Ordered to be committed : [but seems never to have been reported

upon.]

* *

The establishment of " the first grammar school in the State west
of Albany," is supposed (in the absence of original records) to have
occurred at 'Cherry Valley, as early as 1743 or 1744. The event is
thus chronicled by a local historian, the Hon. ~Wm. ~W. Campbell :

Mr. [Rev. Samuel] Dunlop, having received a classical education,
opened a school for the instruction of boys, who came from the set-
tlements upon the Mohawk, and from Schenectady and Albany. It
is worthy of remark, that this was the first grammar school in the
State west of Albany. The boys were received into his house, and
constituted a part of his family. The extreme simplicity of the
times may be learned from the fact that they often went into the
fields, and there recited their lessons as they followed their instructor
about while engaged in his usual avocations upon his farm ; several
individuals along the Mohawk, who were afterwards conspicuous in
the Revolution, thus received the first rudiments of their education. 1

Judge Campbell informs us that " the Freys and Yateses, of the
Mohawk Valley, were educated by Mr. Dunlop, before the revolu-
tionary war ; " and that " all the local records perished when Cherry
Valley was destroyed."

For some further account of the life of Rev. Sam'l Dunlop, see

1 Campbell's Annals of Tryon County, pp. 23, 24. See, also, Proceedings of the
Albany Institute, i, 189.

144 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

Campbell's Annals, pp. 21, 22, 97, 99, 112, 113 ; also a letter from
Mr. D. to Sir Wm. Johnson, dated Cherry Valley, Dec. 25, 1763,
soliciting protection for that town from the Indians. 1

The " School of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, in the
City of New York," of which we had considerable to say in connec-
tion with the "Annals of Education in New Netherland" is scarcely
mentioned in the extant records of the period embraced in the present
chapter, though it will hereafter claim a larger share of notice. For
the present, we barely quote a few paragraphs from Dunshee's His-
tory of this School :

RECAPITULATION [of Ch. in.]

The disseveration of the Dutch Church from the Colonial Govern-
ment, the absence of Consistorial records, and there being no news-
papers as yet established, the information respecting the School for
several years after the Capitulation [1664] is necessarily very limited;
but, identified with the Dutch Church as an institution of long
cherished inheritance, she could not dispense with it, without the
violation of principles and feelings totally incompatible with her con-
stitution and aims.

* # * *

1665. Evert Pietersen, who was appointed in 1661, continued to
teach at least one year after the Capitulation.

1705. Upon the existence of a vacancy, Lord Cornbury claimed
the right of appointing the schoolmaster, notwithstanding the clause
in the incorporation-act of William III (1696,) reserving this right
to the ministers and Consistory. This claim led to a meeting of the
Great Consistory, who determined to preserve their chartered privi-
leges inviolate.

1726. Barent De Foreest, schoolmaster.

1743. Huybert Yan "Wagenen, previously appointed, kept the
School, corner of Marketfield and Broad streets (1746). He was
chorister for the Old and New Churches, alternately. Resigned, 1749.
. Neither the date of Barent De Foreest's resignation, nor
of Mr. Van Wagenen's appointment as schoolmaster, can be now
definitely ascertained. *

The population having extended "far up town," the deacons
opened a school in Cortlandt street, of which Abraham Delanoy was
appointed teacher. He commenced with ten Scholars, receiving from
Consistory, in quarterly payments, the amount of money and fire-
wood which Mr. Van Wagenen received for the same number. The
catechetical instruction in the Garden Street Church was attended to
by Mr. Van Wagenen, and in the Middle Church by Mr. Delanoy. 2

* * * *

The attention of Consistory having been engrossed for some time
with other subjects of paramount importance, we find no direct refer-

1 Sir Win. Johnson MSS. (N. Y. State Library), viii, 63.
'Dunshee's History of the School, etc., pp. 58, 73, 74.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 145

ence to the School in their records until the year 1743 ; when com-
mences a series of minutes, from which we are able to furnish a full
and uninterrupted chain of interesting facts, respecting the size and
progress of the school, with a complete list of the Schoolmasters up
to the present day. 1

It appears from Hon. Henry P. Hedges' " Two Hundredth Anni-
versary Address at East Hampton, L. I.," that that town was settled
about 1650, and that among the early associates of the first settlers
was one Charles Barnes, who was the first schoolmaster, the date of
whose period of service is not stated, (pp. 4, 5.) It is further stated
that the "Town Meeting" or "General Court" provided school
teachers, and made regulations for the education of the youth, and
that the salary of the schoolmaster was 33 per annum. Idem, p. 10.

Mr. Hedges and his relative, Dr. John C. Hedges, have made
recent search, at our request, among the town records of East Hamp-
ton, but they fail to find anything further on this subject, or even
the originals referred to in the aforesaid anniversary address.

A recently published volume of "Chronicles of Easthampton," by
David Gardiner, gives somewhat fuller information in regard to Charles
Barnes, and the general condition of education in that town, though
the original authorities are not cited. We quote extracts as follows :

One of the greatest cares of the settlers after providing for their
families a comfortable establishment, was the erection of a school
house, and the engagement of teachers. At first the teacher received
30 sterling a year, and to induce a general attendance at school of
the children of the settlement, a small part only of the whole charge
was fixed upon the scholars, and the residue collected by a general
tax upon the inhabitants. Charles Barnes, one of the first settlers,
was for a number of years the instructor. He was the son of William
Barnes, a gentleman of East winch, in the County of Norfolk, Eng-
land, who died in 1663, leaving him a portion of his estate. Barnes
was succeeded by James Holdworth in '73, and he by Peter Benson,
of the West Riding of Yorkshire, on Long Island, who was employed
at the increased salary of 50 sterling a year. In 1682, the school
consisted of twenty-nine scholars.

The great importance of education and the necessity of competent
teachers, was a subject which had very seriously occupied the minds
of the magistrates ; and their efforts, seconded by those of the inhabi-
tants, had been sedulously and successfully devoted to the mainte-
nance of a sufficient school. These efforts, which for a series of years
were sustained at the charge of the town, gave such impulse to the
desire of instruction, that the school house was seldom vacant. The
standard of education was not at this period very high, but it was at
least equal to that which prevailed over a great part of the country,

1 Dunshec's History of the School, etc., p. 58.
10

146 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

and fully sufficient for the transaction of business in the ordinary
concerns of life. Limited as their sources of knowledge were, it was
through them that this small community became, as the public records
abundantly attest them to have been, so well acquainted with their
political rights and so watchful in sustaining them. So deeply
impressed were they with the importance of education to the pros-
perity of the colony, so sensibly did they feel that the efforts of their
little community were altogether inadequate to provide even within
its own small circle the proper means of intellectual improvement,
that the people of this town, as early as 1678, called the attention of
the established government to the importance of providing capable
teachers. A resolution in the following words was proposed and
adopted in that year, at a public meeting of the inhabitants. " It
was agreed by a majority vote to refer the necessary employment of
teachers, to the right honorable, the governor, and Court of Assizes."
No public provisions, however, appear to have been made. 1

* * As early as 1711, and in the following years, when a classi-
cal education was not easily obtained, and the number of graduates
at the few colleges then established was very limited, Harvard and
Tale numbered several from this town [Easthampton] in the list of
their students and graduates. . . . The schools of the town con-
tinued to be a subject of special interest, and in 1784, an academy for
classical instruction was erected, being the first instituted under the
State. 2

We are under further obligation to Dr. O'Callaghan for the follow-
ing items, from the proof sheets of the "Proceedings of the Com-
mon Council of the City of New York " (the MS. Copy of which has
already been cited as the "New Amsterdam Records"), in course of
publication under his supervision :

[City- of New York ; In Common Council]

[Month and day not recorded], 1676.
* * # #

To the "Worshippfull y e Deputy May r & Aldermen of the Citty of
New Yorke

THE Ilumble Peticon of Ebenezer Kirtland Sheweth That yo r Peti-
tioner is informed y* yo r worshipps are desirous to Erect and maintaine
a School for y e Educatinge and instructinge of Youth either in Read-
inge Writinge Arithmetick Lattin or Greeke Yo r Petitioner sup-
posing himseife to bee a Person fitt to vnd r take and Discharge such
an Employ to y* End addressed himseife to his Hono r the Gouerno r for

his good Likeinge therein who hath signified y e same to your Peti-
coner & ord r ed him to make his addresses to yo r worrpps to be y e
Mast r of the said Schooll

1 Gardiner's Chronicles of Eastbampton, pp. 41, 42.
a Idem, pp. 42, 43.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 147

Your Peticion r therefore humbly Prays yo r Worrpps (if w* Terms
your Petition 1 " bath Pposed may be allowed of) that he may be
forthw th Confirmed in y e s d Employ as Schooll Mast r &c, he beinge
willinge to Engage himselfe for y e space of two Tears
And y r Petition r shall Euer Pray &c.

To The Worshipfull the Mayo r and Alldermen of this Citty of New

Torke
The humble Peticon of Mathew Hiller.

Humbly Showeth : That whereas yo r Petion r haueing (by his
hono r the Gouernor) consent and with the approbation of this wor-
shipfu 11 Cou rt beene Seruiceable to this Citty all moste two yeares &
hath Indeau r d the Instruction of Children of what age or sex so euer
to there Parents Satesf action : Yet not with standing some Com-
plaintes haue beene made (unmerited) to your Worships which yowr
Petetion r und r standing made application to his hon r informing him
the occation of sume neglects which was the greate wants of a Con-
venient howse wherein yowr Petion 1 might settle and not bee trubled
with soe often RemovaUs which I question not butt will bee taken in
to Consideration but yo r Petion r und r standing of an obstruction by a
Person Lately arriued here who Indeau the Circumventing of
yow r Petioner and Reape the f ruite of his Labours of which Likewise
your Petion r hath fully Informed his hon r who is by y r Petion rs hum-
ble Request Pleased to Leaue the Ordering of a Scoole and maste r to
yow r Worships Pleasure giueing yo r Petion 1 hopes and Encourage-
ment that by y r Worships wisdome things may bee better Regulated

Yowr Petetion rs humble Request is hee may bee establisht in his
Imploy in which with the helpe of god hee doub to not satisfaction to
yo r Worships

And hee shall for Euer Pray &c.

Citty of New Yorke Att a Meettinge the 25 th Day of August
1676

* * # *

YPON the Peticons of Ebenezer Kirtland and Matthew Hilliard to
be Schoollmasters of this Citty &c Itt is thought fitt and is hereby
ordered y* Matthew Hillyer Continue in y e same hee behaueinge
himselfe for y e future better then y e time Past And instead of 12 lb
per Annum accordinge to former Order is only to have A Roome
Provided for him

23 d November, 1697.

The Petition of M r David Yilant being read desireing he may
keep school in the publick Citty Hall as has been formerly Granted
to him by the preceeding Mayor & Aldermen &c : is Refer'd to the
Mayor to doe therein as he shall see Cause.

12 th June, 1714.

Order'd that this Corporation do Petition the General Assembly
for Leave to bring in a Bill to Enable this Corporation to Raise
Money for Repairing the publick Gaols, Keeping a sufficient Bell-

148 PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

mans Watch in the Room and Stead of A Constables Watch pro-
viding fire and Candle for them Maintaining a publick schoolmaster
for teaching the poor to read & write Defraying the Expence of
Executing of felons, Maintainance of A Publick Whipper and Other
publick & Nessessary Charge not Exceeding one hundred and fifty
pounds in one year and that the Mayor sign the Petition by Order
of this Court and deliver it Accordingly.

9 th April, 1720.

Order'd the Mayor Issue his Warr* to the Treasurer to pay to M r .
William Huddleston the sum of Ten pounds Curr* Money of this
Province as a present of this Corporation for his Teaching severall
poor Children to Read within this City. And Order'd that this be
not brought into President.

14 th October 1731.

Order'd the Mayor Issue his warrant to the Treasurer to pay to
Mrs Sarah Huddleston widow or Order the sum of Eight pounds
Current Money of New York as a Gratification for the trouble and
Care she and her late Son Thomas Huddleston deceased have taken
in teaching several poor children of this Corporation to Read and
Write and Instructing them in the Principles of Religion, over and
above the number allowed by the Yenerable society for the propaga-
tion of the Gospel in foreign parts.

Having collated these " Annals " thus far, with as much thorough-
ness as our opportunities for research would allow, we now make a
second pause, at the close of the year 1745 ; hoping hereafter to
resume the narrative, beginning with the legislation of 1746, under
which a moderate sum was raised " for the advancement of learning,
and the founding of a College " : this being the first material aid
provided for the institution which was chartered by the Crown, in
1754, as KING'S, and by the State, in 1784, as COLUMBIA COLLEGE.

CATALOGUE

OF SCHOOLMASTERS MENTIONED IN THIS VOLUME.

PAGE.

Alkis, Frederick, from Hoorn 10

Appel, Arien, [or Adrian Janse] Albany 62

Auchmuty, Rev. Samuel, New York city 113

Avery, John, Rye 114

Baene, Joost de, New Utrecht. 64,73, 74

Baird, Alexander, Hempstead 92

Barnes, Charles, East Hampton 145

Barrington, , Stolen Island 113

Bartowe, Basil, Westchester 114

Beasly [Peasley], -, Albany 105, 111

Beavois [Beauvois], Carel de, Brooklyn 31, 49, 50, 64

Becker, Jan Juriaense, Albany, New Amsterdam 20, 54, 58, 62

Beecker, see Becker 58

Bennet, Cornelius, Canajoharie 112

Bettershy, James, Flushing 121

Bleecker, see Becker 58

Bogardus, Cornelis, Albany 75

Bon Repos, Elias, New Rochelle 92

Bowne, John, Flushing 68

Brown, Adam, Staten Island (south precinct) 98, 104, 113

Brownell, George, New York city 123

Bruynne, Francays de, Flatbush 63, 64

Bull, Amos, New York city 113

Capito, Mattys, WUtwyck (Kingston) 51

Carelse, Joost, New Amsterdam 52

Carhart, John, Rye 114

Charlton, Richard, Hempstead .58, 122

Charlton, Rev. , New York city 113

Clarke, Andrew, New York city 87, 88, 89, 90

Clarke, Daniel, Westchester 114

Classen, Frans, New Amsterdam .... 54

Cleator, Joseph, Rye 97, 100, 103, 114, 116

Clogan, Rev. Thomas, New York city 101, 118

Cornelissen, Jan, New Amsterdam 9, 43, 44

Cornelius (Indian Sachem), Fort Hunter (Lower Mohock Town) 106, 112

Covelens, Jacob Jooste (see Joosten), Albany. 62

Curler [Gorier, Corlaar, Corlear], Jacobus van, New Amsterdam 19, 20, 53

Curtius, Alexander Carolus, New Amsterdam.. 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 32, 34, 35, 42, 45
Daniel (Indian), Canajoharie ( Upper Mohock Town) 106, 111

150 CATALOGUE OF SCHOOLMASTERS.

PAGE.

Davies, , Southampton Ill

Davis, Goody, Jamaica 69

Delanoy, Abraham, New York city 144

Denton, , Oyster Say 100, 111

De Puy, John, Staten Island 104, 113

Dillon, Patrick, Flatbush 63

Drewit, Benjamin, Staten Island 104, 113

Dunlop, Rev. Samuel, Cherry Valley 143

Dupuy, , Staten Island 98

Dwight, Flint, North Castle, Eye and White Plains 114, 116

Egberts, , Staten Island 113

Ekelen [Eckkelen], Johannes Van, Flatbush 63, 64, 65, 67, 72, 73

Ellison, Gabriel, Flatbush 63

Fayole, Prudent de la, New York city 92

ffltz Gerald, Edward, Westchester county 93

flbucautt, Andrew, New York city 90

Foreest, Barent de, New York city 144

Forster, William, Westchester 100, 114

Gage, Father Charles, S. J., (Latin teacher ?), New York city 71

Gancell, Jan, Flatbush 63

Gasheris, Stephen, Kingston 91

Gatehouse, Edward, New York city 123

Gelder, Johannes van, New Amsterdam 21, 55

Gerritse [ Wyngaard], Luykas, Albany 62, 63

Gerritsz, see Marken 68

Gildersleeve, Richard, Hempstead 122

Gildersleeve, Thomas, Hempstead 99, 111, 123

Glover Charles, Westchester 100, 114

Gott, , Westchester 114

Hainelle, Michael, Flatbush 63, 64

Hall, , Canajoharie 112

Harrison, Father Henry, S. J., (Latin teacher ?), New York city 71

Hegeman, Adrian, Flatbush, Midwout 28, 49, 63, 64

Hetherington, Walter, New York city 141, 142

Hildreth, Thomas, New York city 112, 116

Hiller, Matthew, New York city 147

Hoboocken, Harman van, New Amsterdam 12, 13, 14, 17, 39, 44

Houlding [Houldsworth (?) ], Hempstead 58

Houldsworth, Jonas, Hempstead, Southampton, Huntington (?) 36, 39, 50, 122

Hudde, Andries, New Amsterdam 19, 53

Huddlestone, , New York city and Rye 116

Huddlestone [Huddleston], Thomas, New York city, Jamaica ... 92, 99, 101, 105, 112

114, 148

Huddlestone, William, New York city 104, 112, 148

Lpendam, Adriaen Jansen van, New Amsterdam 16, 51, 52

Jamison, David, New York city 121, 122

Jansen, Aryaen (Arien), see Ilpendam, New Amsterdam 9, 51

Jansz (Jansen), Andries, Beverwyck 12, 50

Jarratt, Allane, New York city and province 93, 142

Jeflray, James, New York city 92

CATALOGUE OF SCHOOLMASTERS. J.51

PAGE.

Johnson, Peter, " schol." (?), Hempstead 58

Johnston, Charles, New York city 124

Jones, , Miles Square 113

Joosten [Covelens], Jacob, Albany, Flatbush, WUtwyck (Kingston) 51, 58, 6$

Keeble, , Oyster Bay , Ill

Kirtland, Ebenezer, New York city 146, 147

Kneeland, , Flushing and Huntington Ill

Leaky [Lealey], William, South of Hempstead Ill

Leffert, William, South of Hempstead Ill

Lindley, Henry, Jamaica 91

Loquart, James, Jamaica 118

Lubbertsen [Lubberts], Jan, New Amsterdam 20, 54

Luyck, ^Egidius, New Amsterdam 32, 83, 34, 35, 45, 46, 47, 48

Lyde, James, New York city 123

Lynstead, Thomas, Oyster Bay 118

M'Leland, Colin, CanajoTiarie 112

Maenhout, Boudewyn, Bushwyck ; 36, 50

Makins, Thomas, Flushing 94

Malcolm, Alexander, New York city. . . 124, 125, 127, 128, 129, 130, 181, 132, 133, 134

135, 136, 138, 139, 140, 141

Marcken [Marckje], Jan Gerritsen van, Flatbush 63, 64, 68

Miller, Benjamin, Staten Island, West Precinct 113

Mills, Richard, Middleburgh 30, 48, 49

Molenaar, Arent Evertsen, New Amstel (Del.) 50

Montagne, Johannes de la, New Amsterdam, Harlem (New) 11, 12, 13, 37, 38, 44

Montagne, William, Kingston 91

Moore, John, Jamaica 107, 111

Moubray, John, Southampton 75

Muirson, George, New York city 87, 90

Neau [Nau], Elias, New York city 91, 100, 101, 113, 119

Noon, Patrick, Flatbush 63

Noxon, Thomas, New York city 106, 112

Occom, Samson, Montauk 120

Oliver, , Mohock country 101, 102, 111

Paulus (Indian), CanajoTiarie 112

Paulus, Petrus (Indian), Canajoharie 112.

Peasley, , see Beasly 105

Pietersen, Evert, New Amsterdam, South (Delaware) river, 16, 17, 18, 19, 39, 40,45, 144

Potts, , Staten Island 98

Price, , Staten Island 113

Provoost, David, New Amsterdam 52

Purdy, Samuel, Rye 114, 116

Rand, John, Rye 114

Reinier, , Flatbush 29, 50, 64

Remse, Rem, Flatbush 64

Remsen, Jores, Flatbush 63

Ridder, Evert, Albany '. . . . 90

Rock, William, Jamaica 118

Roelansten, Adam, New Amsterdam 4, 41, 42, 43, 51

Rubell, John, Flatbush 63

152 . CATALOGUE OF SCHOOLMASTERS.

PAGE.

Schaets, Rev. Gideon, Renselaerswyck 12

Schenk [Schenck], Johannes, Flatbush 63, 64, 72, 73

Schoolmasters referred to, but not by name. . 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 22, 27, 39

60, 61, 62, 64, 69, 70, 71, 73, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 85, 86, 94, 96, 97, 99, 100, 104, 105

107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 114, 115, 117, 119, 122, 123, 125, 143, 148

Schoonmaker, Michael, Flatbush 63

Seabury, Nathaniel, Westchester 114

Seabury, Samuel, Jr., Huntington Ill

Selover, Isaac, Flatlands : 69, 117, 118

Sheriosby, Georgius, Cow Neck , . . , 118

Shutte, John, Albany. 57

Sluys, Andries van der, Es&pus (Kingston) 60

Smith, Thomas, New York city 61

Spencer, Rachel, Hempstead , 69, 116

Steenburgh, Petrus van, Flatbush -. 63

Steenhuysen, Engelbert, Bergen (N. J.) 36, 37, 50

Stevensen, Jan, New Amsterdam 7, 9, 42, 43

Steyn, Hans, New Amsterdam 53

Storm, Derick, Flatbush 63, 64

Sturgeon, William, B. A., Rye 114

Swartt, Gerrit, Albany , 62

Taylor, , Staten Island 98,99, 107, 113

Temple, Thomas, Hempstead, Jamaica Ill, 118

Thoresby, see Sheriosby 118

Thurston, William, New York city 123

Tiebout [Thibaud], Jan, Flatbush , 63, 65, 67, 68

" Traveling Woman out of y e Jerseys," Rye 116

Verstius [Vestius, Vestens], William, New Amsterdam 12, 13, 44

Vilant, David, New York city 147

Vleck [Vleg], Paulus van, Kinderhook. ....... 89

Wagenen, Huybert van, New York city , 144

Wall, Edward, JoJinstown 112

Watts, , Staten Island 113

Welp, Anthony, Flatiwsh 63

Wetmore, James, Rye 114, 116\

Wetmore, Rev. James, New York city 101, 113

Wetmore, Timothy, Rye '. 114, 116

Willett, , Jamaica 106, 111

Williamson, Francis, Staten Island 98, 104, 113

Wood, John, New York city 92

Wright, Andrew, Staten Island 107, 113

Wyngaard, see Gerritse 62, 63

Youngs, George, Westchester 114

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