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Rev. Daniel Russell, son of Richard, in his will, 26 December, 1678, bequeathed to the town of Charlestown ‘for the free school, if it is effected in a year's time, 95 acres wood.’
May 8, 1723.
We may judge something of the school fund at this time from the following: Of the £ 60 for the schoolmaster, £ 20 was voted from the town treasury.
‘The rent of Lovell's Is. £ 15; rent of ye school lott £ 5; the interest of £ 300 & part of ye Lynn farm £ 20, to make up the remainder.’
April 6, 1724. ‘Mr. Joseph Stimson, gramer school master resigned.’
This reverend gentleman was the son of Andrew Stimson, Jr., of Cambridge, where he was born February 7, 1700, and graduated from the college in the class of 1720.
He became the pastor of the Second church of Malden, and died there March 28, 1752.
Through his mother, Abigail Sweetser, he was a cousin to his successor, the next schoolmaster of Charlestown.
The following year, 1725, the custom is revived of paying a man ‘for looking after the boys on the Lord's Day.’
Robert Trevett is allowed twenty shillings the first quarter for such service, to begin 8 November, 1726-7, ‘To Robert Trevett £ 4 for last year looking after the boys.’
The same amount is appropriated the year following.
Stray items of expense are interesting: 1724, ‘Paid for bell to the schoolhouse £ 2. 10. 0.
Richard Miller's bill for work at ye school, &c., &c., £ 1. 5. 4.
John Sprague £ 4. 5. 0.
for a weather cock & mending the school bell.’
June 15, 1724, Mr. Seth Sweetser was chosen school master.
‘Mr. John Foye, Mr. Henry Phillips, Thomas Greaves, Esq., Mr. Daniel Russell & Deac.
Jonathan Kettle were appointed a committee to apply themselves to ye ministers, as the law directs, for their approbation of Mr. Seth Sweetser, jr., for a grammer school master.
His salary is £ 75 to begin 7 July.’
Viewed by the light of later years, this entry has a significance which it would be hard to estimate.
For more than a generation we are to follow the history of the Charlestown school, which thus long was under the guidance of this worthy gentleman.
The amount appropriated for Mr. Sweetser's salary grew year by year.
But the apparent increase, it must be remembered,
Somerville. Historical Society. , 1905.
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