Historic leaves, volume 2, April, 1903 - January, 1904

Also agreed, April 26, 1682, with Xtopher Goodwin, Jun., ‘to doe the mason worke belonging to ye new schoolhouse, viz., to build ye Chimnie & underpin ye house, to fill the walls with clay & brick, and to point the roof with lime, he finding all materialls belonging to it, as brick, stone, & Lime, etc., etc. Sd Goodwin is to have ye stone & brick of ye old house, & for so doing his worke substantially he is to receive five pounds, one-half money, the other Townespay.’

This new building, built in part, perhaps, from the material of the old, probably stood on or near the same spot as its predecessor, which had done service since 1651. Fifteen years after its erection, 1666, it was ‘much out of repair,’ but, thanks to Master Cheever's urging, it was made to do service sixteen years longer. Frothingham, page 185, makes a mistake when he says this new building was only twelve feet square, and ‘Somerville, Past and Present,’ has copied the error.

April 3, 1684. ‘Agreed with Michael Long to inspect the Youth on the Lord's Day & other times of Religious Worship for 25 shillings and 15 shillings in towne pay for one year.’ From this decrease in salary, may we infer that the duties were growing less arduous?

Mr. Phipps' successor was Mr. Samuel Myles (Miles) who, July 17, 1684, entered upon his labors as master ‘of the Free School of this Towne.’ The following contract is dated August 11 of that year—

‘Agreed with Mr. Samuel Miles, schoolmaster, to pay unto him £ 50 per annum for his faithful performing of that place. By Teaching & p'r'fating Youth that are committed to him, wh. sum is to be payd quarterly, the one-half in money, and the other in corn at money price. Likewise to allow him 5 pounds per year for house rent, to be payd in Towne pay, which agreement is to continue for one year.’

December 6, 1686. ‘Mr. Samuel Phipps, as Town Treasurer, is empowered to lay out the 25 pounds money belonging to the Free School, Provided he take sufficient security therefor.’

From Sibley's ‘Harvard Graduates’ we learn that the Rev. Samuel Miles was the son of Rev. John Miles, a Baptist preacher,