506,672
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
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* † :-sº ºctory of Education in Isla, ºf ºright cºlºrrøm Coronia - (- -
. . . . . . . . e- 3--tº--- “Tº T Times `--~ ; -
V-1 º' * , , , - . . T--— - ~ - •
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. . . . * - Prepared by Dr. Jno. R. Purdie - . -
!- 4; Smithfield, September 1st, 1880 - - ----- * -
º * , - .." . - . - - +
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- To R. M. Morrison, Supt. Pub. Sohort s. - - . -
- - -
- --- N - • & -
- - In response to your request for any matter relating to
schools in Isle of Tight county from its settlement 1 offer . .
- ? - k - . -
- * the following facts based on record and tradition as evidence
º and my own personal knowledge which may aid in preparing your .
- . . . - - º - * - - - -
| 2- • - - St &T i8t ical report. - - - - - - - ;. - ---
The first school in the county of which I have read or
• - - - - - -
. *ard through other citizens was a Free school established in :
* * *ithfield soon after the town was incorporated by a benevolent
* ! redy of wealth -- the following are the most important facts_i –––
* - relating to its ors; and decline. . . - tº-
Arthur Smith possessed a large body of land in the
forks of Pagan Creek, a tributory of James *iver. The stream
-- for - - * - . - º
". . . was navigable/vessels drairing 10 feet and wharves had been -
ſ constructed at the present site of Smithfield many years be-, ,
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fore the town was by law established and a large export and -
- *::port * was then carried on by native and Scotch mer- - .
- - • - - - º º . .
• : ch ant Si. * - . . - º -
º - - **. ... ', - - . . -
º * . in the year 1752 Arthur Smith petitione; the Gen1. º
* * Assembly fºr an act to incorporate the town of Shithfield, s -
- - - - -- * - A –- --------- -
K- - - * , * ----- . - ºf - - * -
2 : which being passed he caused the land on which the store"
* - \ - \\ - - " . * - - - .* - º, .
S : : houses and "e2me dwellings were located to, be surveyed one laid -
- - %r . t - º - -- - - 2--" . / …” --- - - - - :
º off into lot gº and streets. The evidence is on record that ºf
* , /*-*** * # *- -- " - - - - - --
- * . A. N - --- !. - º S-'. * ... ." - - - - - .
f : “s---of.c sº Briézºg §ºte go Eyzabeth Sºlº ºffe ºf . . . ;
* - - ‘. \ Sº, ... / * jº- tº- **ś, ź. iſ - * f ſº - . . . ." : º
| - "-- - *. * - - - - Fº ** - || - i \ - -- - º- i - - - ** - • * i



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Arthur Smith for the sum of # 125 in her own right -- that
Elizabeth Smith prompted by benevolence & andesire for the dif-
fusion of knowledge conveyedi, that debt to Joseph Bridges,
Miles Casey & Rich. Kells in trust for the establishment of a
Free School in the town of Smithfield by deed bearing date
Jany. 6th 1753, with a special covenant that the principals
of the School should be always Clergymen of the Church of Eng-
land. A lot numbered 26 in the first plan of the town, on
which was a brick building 30 feet x 18 was purchased by the
trustees and fitted up for school pupposes.
The School was then opened, with the Rev. Reid, minis-
ter of the Point of Newport as the principal and its exercises
were continued until the political troubles which terminated
in the severence of the colonies from the Mother Country & of
the Established Church from any connection with the new States
of Virginia, sengerºuan-ent of the Special Covenant in
the deed impracticable, we may legitimately infer that the
Principals of this School during its practical continuence were
ministers of the point. vig.
What branches were taught, the number of pupila &c, &c
can only be matters of conjecture.
*
Of the schools in the County during the War of 1776 if *
any I have no information of any kind. Soon after the treaty
of peace was ratified, fºur gentlemen viz. Wm. Taylor, Thos.
Prince, Lawrence Baker& my great Grand father Geo. Purdie'
established a school in Smithfield and employed a teacher nated
- a. -
Gordon. Mr. Gordon was a Scotchman of £Kä/high order of clas-
sical and mathematical attainments but not led for bbsence of
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mind that caused him to commit many ludicrous freaks, Rome of
which have been handed down. . Rules were enacted and rigidly
enforced, viz. one rule the no. of pupils was restricted to
15. They also required daily. (except Sunday) morning and even-
ing response, with Saturday afternoon as a general holy day
contingent on good behavior. -
One of the terms in the contract was that the teacher
should board with his four employers alternately for three
months. The annual vacations were 2 days at Easter, Good Friday,
one day at Whitsuntide, 2 weeks from 15th Aug. and one week at
Christmas. - -
I received the above particulars from my father who
was a pupil from the inauguration of the School until he left
home for educational pupposes. in Geneva Switzerland. One of
the pupils was the late Judge B. Taylor of Norfolk.
This School was kept up during the life of Mr. Gordon.
The date of his death in Smithfield may be learned in the of.-
fice of the Clerk of the County Court between 1790 & 95 perhaps.
During the life of Mr. Gordon or after his death tra–
dition says the Rev. Henry Burgess a quondam Colonial Parson, -
opened a school in Smithfield which was closed in a short time,
consequent upon his acceptance of the position of Principal of
the *racia Acadamy a school of high order, near Berlin -
Southampton county. Several persons distinguished in fifter
life were prepared for college at that Acadamy. among them the
Ex President of U. S. win. H. Harrison.
"... **.
We learn from tradition that the next school in Smith-
field after the Rev. H. Burgess was under the management of a
teacher named Bowden. This name represents an old and high?y
respectable family of Isle of Wight before the county of South-
ampton was formed from a part of its original territory. More
than 100 years past, a Bowden, a near relation if not the old
teacher himself, was clerk of the old Isle of Žight Chappel,
a colonial home of Worship connected with the established
Church, which position he held at his assºrs: year previous.
some of his diredt descendants of the name are yet citizens of
the two Counties. Within my recollection Jno. Bowden was crier
of the courts of Isle of Wight, an office which he last held,
it being abolished or becoming obsolete about the date of his
death. The branches taught in this school, the No. of pupils
&c I did not learn or have forgotten but I presume the curri-
culum embraced only the elementary branches, the number of
pupils indefinite, the above was rec'd from the late Nathl.
Young who was a pupil of this school.
The presumption is legitimate that what was called old
field schools existed in many parts of the County before and
continuously after Mr. Smith's Free School was established, of
which however no account has reached me.
At what date the School of Mr. Bowden was closed I have .
nothing authentic. rt may have been open until Hamilton
Shields became the teacher of the town school about the year
1810. At least, not even tradition alludes to any between the
two.
Between the years 1808 • 1812 F. sºciae was the Prin-
cipal of a school in Smithfield, in which were taught not only
the Rudiments of education but the high branches Greek, Latin,
and Mathematics. Some of the distinguished men in this & the
adjacent Counties were prepared for college in this School.
Mr. Shields was a man of culture and learning, well qualified
to instruct. He commanded a volunteer Company of Rifles &
entering the service after war was declared in 1812 the school
was necessarily closed.
Soon after the sessation of hostilities he established
the Norfolk Beacon, which he edited until his death. From
some of the pupils of this school I have heard tragic statements
of his severe discipline, tyrannical government & cruel system
of corporal punishment. one who had felt his rod with painful
sensibility swore if his life was spared to be revenged if it
required 50 years to accomplish it. Altho Shields was an of—
ficial teacher of youth a scholar and a social companion yet he
was more highly distinguished for his excessive punishment of
the pupils for trivial faults or deficiencies. His being a
school of the highest order between Norfolk and Petersburg his
classes were large and filled from the Counties Southampton,
Nansemond, Surry, and Isle of Wight.
Soon after the ratification of the treaty of Ghent a -
family consisting of a brother and three sisters immigrated to
Virginia from Ireland. In 1816 Jas. Witchell the male member .
of the family opened a school in the old part of the present .
residence of S. G. Boykin. His curriculum embraced the ancient
languages, Mathematica &c. &c. his oldest sister conducted the
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elementary department. He was highly educated for a professional -
teacher and an accomplished musician. For some reason, however
satisfactory to biaself doubtless Mitchell unexpectedly abandoned
his school late in 1816 and made his exit for parts unknown,
leaving his three sisters here. They married each a citizen of
the town, lived among us for years, two of them dying in this
county and the other in Richmond City. Some of their dexcendants
occupy at present very respectable social position, here, in
Richmond and in Baltimore. At that time my school days had not
commenced but I well remember that Mitchell's pupils were num-
erous, of ages from 10 to 20, in fact a large school for a
small country town.
Jan. 1st 1817 was the date of my first matriculation in
school being 6 years and 5 months old. True I had received a
rigid home schooling from my father, whose instruction of an
older sister and myself made us well acquainted with a small
I
Latin Grammar and able to read Caesar. Pardon me for a little
egotistical aside. When I entered school I could answer every
question in Ruddeman's Rudiments of the Latin Grammar, assured
entirely from oral instruction having never seen the book until
syntax was reached. -
I will also declare in my whole school life, I never
recited a lesson in English Grammar; the principles of grammar
I possess if any were derived from the Latin, Greek and French
& from association with those who spoke the English correctly.
My first teacher was Martin Dunn a recent Irish immigrant. He
was physically a Hercules, though peñº not a Soloman in
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wisdom nor an Arnold in 11terary culture. However he gathered
in his school a number of pupils from 10 to 20 years of age and
taught the small boys Reading Writing & Arithmetic, the larger
Greek, Latin Math. Dunn was fond of his cups and sometimes
excitable. His discipline was severe, the instruńent for
punishment being a stout leather one fixed on a wooden handle
about a foot long the free end divided into 9 heavy throngs £2-1
about a foot in length with knots in them. He kept the school
only 9 mos., his departure hastened perhaps by a violent
rupture with one of his patrons whose son a youth of 17 he had
slapped in the face. An impression is elear on my mind that
in 1816 the last year of Jas. Mitchell's school ana 1817 when
Mr. Dunn taught J C's. B. Whitehead kept a school in Smithfield
for teaching the English branches. His school was large and I
well remember the rivalry sometimes leading to quarrels and
fights between his boys and those of Mitchell and Dunn.
ºrs. James Deford (nee Mitchell) also taught small
children from the time her brother Jas. Mitchell left here,
until her death.
We must give Dunn some credit for having engaged a
substitute to fill his place in the 4th Quarter of the scho-
lastic year viz. Simon Patrick Walton another Irishman whose
classical attainments moral deportment and social qualities
justify the opinion that he was at least the equal of any
teacher in Smithfield before or since his time. In the Autumn
of 1817 after the arrival of S. P. Walton, some of the citizens
of the town and county inaugurated a company for the establish-
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ment of a high school in smithfield which was organized by the
election of Presd. Treas. Sec. Board of Trustees and the adop-
tion of rules and regulations for the gove?nce of the school.
It was orgained that the rules should be read by the pupils
alternately every Monday morning after school was called to
order, that the maximum number should be 20, that the fees (3
(from $30 to £40 per annum should be paid quarterly in advance.
A morning and afternoon session on fine days in each week: the
vacations to consist of Good Friday, Easter Monday and Tuesday,
Whitsunday, two weeks from 15th Aug. and December &c. &c. The
teaching of Mr. Walton in the 4th Quarter of 1817 befăg satis-
factory and his general conduct correct the school trustees
unanimously elected him Principal of the High school on ºf:
- lst fonday in Jan. 1818; the school was opened in the old part
of the dwelling now owned and occupied by C. B. Hayden under
the sole charge and management of S. P. walton. In 1818 the
patrons so highly approved of the manner in which Mr. Walton
conducted it and the success of his system for imparting know-
legge the School Company deemed it unnecessary to place him
longer under the supervision of Trustees: the Board was dis-
solved and the institution delivered to his individual man-
agement as a private mixed school, Under such rules as he
thought proper.
The reputation for the instruction of youth acquired
by this school in its first year and the urgent applications
by parents and guardians for the admission of their sons and
wards, made it imperatively necessary to employ an assistant.
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In the 8 years following the Frincipal was assisted by never
more than one in any year the lst asst. being Jas. H. Jordan
for two years, then late Hon. Joel Holleman for like term,
then John O'Brien & perhaps others whom I have forgotten. The
duties of the assistant was confined to the female pupils &
such boys as learned only the English branches. The females
above ağded to were few in number never exceeding 3 or 4 in
a session but conclusive of the trust and confidence reposed
in the Principal by mothers as well as fathers. The high
standing of this school for its thorough educational training,
with the advantages of its location for health, economy in
Board &c attracted scholars from many of the southside counties
from Petersburg to Norfolk, a large portion of whom there in
rec "d their preparation for college. The reflection is sad
but true that of the very many educated by Mr. Walton only
myself and two others survive to tell of the pleasures anjoyed
and pain experienced in and around this ancient institution of
learning. ...
The aſsetpiºne of the school was neither cruel or very
Severe but the Rod was not spared when its use was essential
for order. Punishment was seldom administered for imperfect
recitations. I never rec'ò a whipping about a lesson but for
boyish mischief and violation of the mild rules I have with …
many others felt the strokes of "jºy Battan". While this
school was in operation I can bring to mind only the school
for small children of Mrs. Jane Deford. About the same time
Gideon Powell conducted an average country school in Red
Point some four miles from town. As there was no special
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school house in the town unoccupied dwellings Were rented as
opportunities offered among then the present dwellings of Capt.
Jas. F. Chalmers & Jr. Jno. R. Purdie for that purpose both of
which have since then been enlarged and otherwise much improved.
For the last four years of its operation the lower rooms of the
Smithfield Union Lodge No. 18 A.F. & M. Masons were occupied by
the school.
in 1825 to supply a great public deficiency books were
opened for subscription to a fund for purchasing a town lot &
*rēcting thereon an academy building. The enterprise succeeded
& in accordance with an invitation the subscribers get a ap-
pointed a committee to purchase and superintend the erection
of a building, of which o: Col. Willis H. Wordley was the
chairman. In due time a Board of Trustees, who by petition to
the Genl Assembly in the session of 1826 & 26 incorporated by
an act "to incorporate the trustees of the Smithfield Academy".
The Building Committee purchased a vacant lot No. — opposite
the present M. E. Church erected there on a two story brick
building & reported it would be fit for the purpose designed
by the beginning of the session on 1st of Oct. 1826.
At a meeting of the Trustees Theid in the summer of 1826
S. P. Walton and Rev. Wm. G. H. Jones Rector of Newport Parish
were nominated for the office of Principal of the Academy. Each -*
of those gentlemen had warm friends in the Board who for week
previous to the election had urgently presented the respective
claims of the two aspirants for the position to the citizens.
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The result of an animated and close contest was the
election of Mr. Walton "man proposes but God disposes" and in
this case it pleased Him to take from earthly labor this
faithful servant who although a member of the Church of Rome
we hope and trust has received the welcome of all sincere
Christians. The death of Mr. Walton occurred in Sept. 1826,
only a few weeks before the first session of the Smithfield
Academy was to have been opened, in tºtalang. He was a
"ripe" & good scholar" and an accoºlished musician. Under his
instruction the first Smithfield Band was prepared to perform
in public. several years before his death he had married Miss
Sarah Hedsden whom he left a widow but without children.
On the 15th Aug. of that year my preparatory schooling
terminated and my mind being diverted to studies in another
direction, I cannot say positively who was elected to fill a
vacancy but an inclined to think it was Mr. Walton's competi-
tor Rev. F. G. H. Jones. That he kept a school for several
years about that time in the Academy or elsewhere in the town
I can safely assert. From 1st Oct. 1826 to 1861 when the late
hostilities began the Academy continued in successful opera-
tion with occasional intermissions under several teachers
elected annually. A few of the Principals in the order of
their election I will dubiously mention Q. N. Stoddard, W. W.
Day, Jno. S. Stubbs, Clayton G. Coleman, Jas. R. Garlick now
a Rev. D. D. in the Baptist Church of Va., Geo. R. Atkinson,
- - Calºre."
late County Judge, R. H. Casey, Saml Moore of Goochland and
Mºurit of New Hampshire. Before Atkinson A. Bronson I
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think Albert J. Clark, who was a defeated candidate. When
Wm. W. Day was elected Principal of the resºłºś. a very
good private school with a academic curriculum, which COrl-
tinued in successful operation for several years. With or
soon after the opening of the Academy some marked changes were
made in the rules of the schools in Smithfield before that
time. Changes ganerally approved by Young America but perhaps
held in doubtful propriety by Old Fogies i.e. the number of
pupils had no fixed limit -- the daily sessions were reduced
to one only but that of 6 to 8 hours duration and last but
worst the annual vacation to 3 months. This is not an appro-
priate occasion for me' to express myself on the se points and
therefore I restrain my feelings. Until and during the tutor-
ship of R. M. ÇasÉy the rod was freely used in aid of die-
cipline. So far this sketch refers to male or mixed schools.
The first effort for the establishment of a first class school
for females only was made by the late Hon. A. Atkinson between
1825 and 1830. Mr. A. employed an accomplished Horthern lady
tiss Stillman as an instructiness of his daughter with per-
mission to receive a few other girls in the school to be ac-
co:Gºodated in his dwelling. For climatic reason this lady
returned to her northern home after a short adjourn of 12 or
18 months. Mr. Atkinson with the cooperation of other citizens º
with daughters of suitable ages for other than elementary
instruction invited ºffs. Julia Hayden a highly educated lady
of Connecticut, who accepted an invitation to settle in Smith-
field and establish a female school of a high order . Her
"... *s.
school commenced the year after Miss Stillman left Mr. Atkinson.
Before a description of this: school is given I will briefly mention
a boarding school for females on a small scale, that was opened
in Smithfield about 1820 by Mrs. Bernard, the wife of Rev. llen
R. Bernard of M. E. Church. It was moderately successful, one
or two of her pupils very estimable ladies º now living. Closed
by assº. Bernard after several years operation. Just before
Mrs. Bernard an elderly lady fºrs& Bradley kept a school for small
girls. - -
ºhen Mrs. Hayden's school was established the education of
females in this county comprised generally Reading, Writing and
Arithmetic to the Rule of Three and a little Grammar. **any were
not taught to read Bible or write their names. A few men of
wealth and good social position deemed it a duty to have théir
daughters instructed in the branches that are now considered
essential accomplishments. I do not remember a Governess or
private teacher in any family previous to Miss Stillman. Good
female schools in country and small towns were rare. There may
have been a tolerable female school in Korfolk and Petersburg:
which could not have been held in much repute as pupils from the
counties of Brunswick, Pr. George and Princess Ann were drawn
here by the extensive reputation of Mirs; Hayden's school. It mas
continued until age and physical infirmities compelled its sus-
pension. For 25 years it annually increased in public favor.
The boarding houses in smithfield were generally crowded and Some
of the private families gave accommodations to pupils. For some
years Miss H. Bénham assisted her sister in the duties of the
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school. Mrs. Hayden was remarkable for her system of thorough
instruction which many of our most accomplished ladies rec'd.
In a few instances two generations mother and daughter 76 re
educated in this distinguished institution. Mrs. Hayden married
a citizen of the town and her female Academy became a Boarding
school. Her terms for Tuition and Board were moderate indeed
when compared with the extravagant charges of similar schools of
the present day. Mºrss Hayden was followed by some excellent
teachers some of them her old scholars viz. Misses Victoria Wilson
and Lauretta Norsworthy, Miss Field and the Misses Kate, -- the
two latter were from New Hampshire most estimable ladies and
superior teachers and established a fine school in the town for
several-years, one of them married a gentleman of the county and
is teaching in the Public Schools of the county about five miles
from town. A question of grave importance suggest itself, have
the many sectarian High School (so called) which since the war
have been strewn broad-cast over Va., when viewed from the stand-
point of domestic economy, been a public benefit? Can other
answer be truthfully given, than that it is very doubtful if any
solid benefits have been generally derived from these so called
institutions of learning? When the heavy expenses incurred,
frequently beyond the means of the patrons are considered with
the passion for extravagance in dress, jewelry and costly dis-
play so often acquired —- the aversion to air physical employ–
ments and all mental occupations save the reading of novellettes
or other worse light literature —- the neglect of special domestic
duties and no preparation for household affairs -- unless playing
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the piano, dancing the German and knocking croquet balls can be
so classed -- when such habits as these, the legitimate heralds
of idleness proëigality and indifference to the prosperity of
our homes are implanted on the minds of maturing females: I ask
with trembling suspense can we expect them to become the mothers
of such men as filled the Confederate ranks in our late civil
revolt? This question demands a prompt reply -- its decision
is incumbent on the parents, guardians and public authorities
of the state. Rather than my daughter should be an Alumna of
some such colleges she should receive only the learning to be
obtained around the family hearth.'
When I was a boy Miss Cunningham afterwards the mother
of Rev. D. P. Wills had a female school with a few boarders in
... residence on the farm now owned by ſm. F. [Jez-Ala-2 The
ancient mansion Was OIn the site of the 2 dwellings near the
creek which were erected by Mr. Thos. Purdie in 1828 & 9. Miss
Cunningham I have heard was intelligent whether educated at
home or in what schools I cannot say. At least in future years
she was the teacher of her of children who were generally
considered fair scholars. Between the years 1840 & 60 there
were in Smithfield mixed schools for small children kept by
Miss Susan Voi... , Miss L. Drew, now Mrs. Langhorne, Mrs.
#artha An. . . , Miss E. P. Purdie, Miss Maria Morrison and Visses
Finney . . . , Miss Finney's school was suspended by late hos–
tilities in 1859. Since the war they have conducted a Female
Boarding School of an established general reputation in Suffolk.
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Schools in the county during the late War, as other int-
portant interests had to succumb to the calls for defense
A. Atkinson, a large part of whose life, then over "3 score years
and 10" have been devoted to professional labore & in the leg-
islative service of his state and United States, prompted by
motives of public beneficence as well as to secure mental em-
ployment, very kindly rec'd in his office as a school room, a
few small boys, whom he instructed until some better school was
established. Mr. Atkinson had no experience in teaching, an
entirely new occupation to him but as one of his patrons I can-
didly say he gave satisfaction to me & ## I think to all.
In 1862 or 63 Jas. B. Whitehead opened a male school at
his residence near town. From much experience in early life,
his was a good English school, generally consisting of 15 or 20
pupils. He was a man of strong mind"retentiša memory & exten-
sive reading, by common consent an oddity, he was a favored:
public functionary as constable and sheriff for many years and
was the guardian of those wards and the representative of more
estates (than any) citizen before him. After the surrender of the
confederates . . . Saml. 7. Goodson opened a classical male &
female school in Smithfield; its operation continued several
years during which time he was assisted by E. M. Morrison. In
1867 Mr. Goodson retired and moved to Richmond & Col. E. M. Mor-
rison became the Principal of this school & continued as such
until the adoption of the Pub. School system.
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Upon application of the Town Council, School trustees
and patrons of his school he was allowed by the State Board of
Education to teach this school when turned over to the Pub.
school system. It is now every alternate 5 months a graded
school with two teachers and of which he is Principal.
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