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[17]
1641. Mr. Wethrall's name appears in a list of those to whom an assignment of ‘lotts’ was made.
In a general town meeting, 20: 11 mo. 1646, ‘it was agreed yt a Rate of £ 15 should be gathered of the Towne toward the Schole for this Yeare & the £ 5 yt Major Sedgwick is to pay this Year (for the Island) for the Schole, also the Towns pt of Mistick Ware for the Schole forever.’
Thus early we have mention of an income derived from rentals, bequests, etc., which were to grow into a very respectable school fund.
From time to time we shall have occasion to refer to this.
As far as we can now determine, the first mention of a schoolhouse was at a town meeting, held 1: 11 mo. 1648 (or, new style, January 11, 1649), when it was agreed that the seven selectmen should see about and order ‘a fitt place for a Schole house and it to bee sett up and built at the Towns Charge.’
The following month it was voted ‘to lay out for the Towne use upon the Windmill Hill a place for a Schole house and a place for the Scholmaisters house, and Mr. Francis Willoughby & Mr. Robert Hale were desired to lay them out.’
‘1: 3 mo. 1650.
It was agree by all ye Inhabitants of the Towne that the Towne would allow unto a Scholmaister (to be agreed with by the officers) by a rate made to that end to make up the rent for Lovell's Island £ 20 by the year, besides the Schollers pay. Agreed that a Schole house and a Watch Tower be erected on Windmill Hill & to be paid by a general rate & that Mr. Francis Willoughby, Mr. Ralph Mowsall, Mr. William Stilson & Mr. Robert Hale are chosen to agree with a convenient number of Carpenters that the work be carried on as speedily & frugally as may be.’
‘3: X mo. 1651.
The rate of the Towne gathered by the two constables Swett and Lowden of £ 53 about the Scholhouse & meeting house is brought in & the most of it disbursed to workmen as appears by accounts.’
Frothingham (page 5) makes the comment that the church and the schoolhouse stood side by side quietly diffusing their beneficent influences.
The poet Whittier, in the closing stanza of ‘Our State,’ expresses a similar idea:—
Somerville. Historical Society. , 1904.
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