Early Quaker education in PennsylvaniaWoody, Thomas
History
Early Quaker education in Pennsylvania
Woody, Thomas
Education -- Pennsylvania -- History; Society of Friends -- Education -- History; Thesis (Ph. D.)
In 1792 the new overseers reported they had continued to visit the
school and inspect the learning of the children, which they did with
satisfaction, implying that all conditions were as desired.[709] In
the eleventh month four new members were appointed to the school
overseers;[710] as it is not stated that any had been released, we are
uncertain as to whether the number required had been increased or not;
quite likely they were appointed only for temporary assistance. In 1793
it was reported from the school overseers that Benjamin Lobb had agreed
to grant a lot of ground on the upper part of his plantation, to build a
schoolhouse upon; the overseers proposed that the expenses be defrayed by
subscription.[711] A subscription was started for the same, and Friends
desired to forward it, that the school might be begun.[712] The cost
of this school was estimated at £110.[713] It is not known just when
this school under Friends’ care was begun in Upper Darby but at various
stages these things are known about it. (1) On the 28th of the third
month, 1793, it was reported that Lobb had offered the ground, (2) the
cost of the building was estimated, fifth month, second, 1793, at £110,
(3) eighth month, twelfth, 1793, the Chester Quarterly Meeting received
the report that Darby was going to establish a school for Friends, (4)
in 1796 the committee of overseers reported, “our school has been kept
in good degree accordingly as desired by the yearly meeting,”[714] (5)
the committee of overseers still mention but one school under their care
and (6) eighth month, second, 1798, the school overseers report that the
schools are kept as recommended by the yearly meeting. It would appear
then that the school did not actually begin until some time between 1797
and 1798,[715] since all prior reports had recognized but one _school_.
Mr. Jordan states that in 1779 a deed set aside 24 perches of ground in
upper Darby on the Darby-Haverford Road for the use of schools.[716] This
seems to have no connection with the schools established by the meeting;
it was the first official deed for ground for schools, but many bequests
of great value had been made previously.[717] The text of the minutes
recording these bequests follows on a later page.
[Sidenote: The state of education in 1797 and]
The state of schools as reported by the committee in 1797 was as follows:
Our school has been kept since last accounts ... as recommended
by the Yearly Meeting; visited by the overseers and the
scholars learning inspected to a good degree of satisfaction.
There has been expended for schooling children of Friends and
others the sum of £12/10 and on settlement there appears a
balance in the treasurer’s hands of £6/15/5; the stock remains
the same as at last year. Signed ... Morris Truman, Isaac
Oakford, and John Hunt.[718]
[Sidenote: 1798]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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