Early Quaker education in Pennsylvania

by Thomas Woody

OTHER SCHOOLS IN PHILADELPHIA COUNTY

First school probably as early as 1710 or 1711

The date of the first school in Byberry has not been definitely determined, though it can surely be placed at a very early period in its history, as early as 1710 or 1711. Richard Brockden, who later taught school in Philadelphia,[297] was a teacher in the school at Byberry, for a minute of Abington monthly meeting states in the 4th month of the later year that “At this meeting Richard Brockden, late schoolmaster at Byberry, had a certificate granted him in order to go to England.”[298]

Greater activity near middle of century

This would indicate that the said Richard had been teaching at Byberry, and it is quite probable that he had, but it is not conclusive evidence that he did so. About the middle of the eighteenth century the Byberry Meeting became very active in schooling the children of poor Friends. This movement, it seems from all records found, was due in large measure to an apportionment received from a legacy left by William Carter to the charge of Abington Meeting, for the schooling of the children of Friends in poverty.[299] In 1755, it was:

... agreed that Horsham, Germantown, Byberry meetings shall have 40 shillings each for the ensuing year, and Oxford twenty shillings, Abington three pounds for the same time, (of the annuity left by William Carter) in order that the same may be employed in paying for the schooling of such children as the said meetings may think proper objects thereof if they find any, and the Friends of the said meeting are desired to see that the same be well applied and that the children who partake of the benefit thereof do go regularly to school.[300]

Donations under care of trustees, used for schooling poor

The money thus devised to the meeting was in the care of the committee appointed by the same, whose duty it was to receive requests and to investigate all cases where help was requested or found to be necessary. The accounts of the said committee were audited at a period when necessary by Friends appointed especially for that purpose.[301] This form of philanthropy became very popular here, as in other meetings, almost every meeting bearing forward a new record of it. In 1758 James Thorntown and Giles Knight reported that they had received of James Paul (treasurer of Abington Monthly Meeting) the sum of £6, part of the donation left for the poor children’s schooling, and had applied £2/5 of the same to that use, leaving a remainder of £3/15 in the hands of Knight.[302] In 1770 the records run in this manner:

It appears that Phillip Wells stands in need of some of the moneys that were given to the use of schooling poor Friends children; Thomas Townsend is therefore ordered to pay forty shillings of the money in his hands.[303]

Though very few references are made throughout the early period of the schools, it is quite certain from the nature of these reports on education of the poor that the schools were continued regularly. When the yearly meeting began to demand reports on the condition of the schools, there was no stir about the matter whatever, the first report being that those who have our school under care “report that it is in good order.”[304] The requests coming into the preparative meeting for information on schools, were referred to the standing school committee.[305]

Case of schools under standing committee

The standing committee performed all duties in connection with the school, with the exception of certain cases of difficulty, where it was necessary to call on the meeting for assistance, at which time that body coöperated with them through specially appointed committees.[306] The Byberry Preparative Meeting was, of course, not independent in this matter of school organization; their place was very much in accord with that suggested by a committee report to the various preparative meetings in 1790:

General plan for encouragement of better schools

We of the committee appointed to attend the preparative meetings with the extracts in order to spread the concern of our last yearly meeting, have attended to the appointment and taken into due consideration that part of them relating to schools, and being desirous to adopt it in so far as our present circumstances will admit, and in order to encourage any charitably disposed persons who may incline in their last will and testament or otherwise to give or bequeath something towards so laudable a purpose as to raise a certain fixed union for the support of schools, it is our desire that it may be safely counted to the care of the preparative meetings, he or she appointing, if they see fit, their own trustees and that Friends earnestly endeavor to provide for the schoolmasters a house lot, ground, etc., either purchasing or renting, whenever it may be necessary, and that our minds being deeply impressed with a sense that a guarded religious education of the rising youth is a matter of great importance it is our sense of judgment that Friends within the compass of this meeting should be pressingly urged to consider the necessity of employing conscientious and pious persons as schoolmasters, being members of a religious society and that the preparative meeting continue to appoint committees from time to time as occasion may require to have the care and oversight of such schools and that they visit the respective schools at least once in six weeks to see that good order be observed, and for the encouragement of the children in their learning, and render an account thereof to the preparative meeting once in six months. Signed the 28th of the 4th month, 1790.

By Samuel Gummere, Silas Walmsley, Thos. Walmsley,
John Townsend and Naylor Webster.[307]

In the month following the reception of these suggestions from the monthly meeting’s committee, the Byberry school trustees made the following report on the conditions of the schools, and the nature of their own activities.

Byberry report on schools

We, the trustees appointed by the meeting to have the care of the schools under the direction of the meeting, do inform, agreeable to our trust, we have several times met within the year past at the school in order to encourage the children in their learning, also to see that good order be kept by the master and children and we believe this a good measure complied with, and we further inform, that we have endeavored to comply with the intentions of the donor, by distributing the donations of William Carter, by schooling such children as we apprehended proper objects and have engaged as many as to take most of the money now in hand. (Clerk asked to give the committee a copy of the monthly meetings extracts that they comply with the regulations concerning schools.)[308]

Summary of a later report

The gist of their report six months thereafter is as follows:[309]

1. The trustees have met several times at the school in the last six months.

2. Afternoons are usually spent hearing the scholars read and in examining their learning.

3. The masters keep strictly the rules, which the trustees have laid down.

4. We believe the school is kept in good order.

School house to be enlarged

In 1792 it was considered necessary to enlarge the schoolhouse to make adequate facilities for the increasing number of children. The committee appointed on the subject decided there should be an addition of ten feet for the length; their suggestion was approved and a subscription begun to carry forward the work as speedily as could be done.[310] Thomas Walmsley was appointed to have oversight of the work.[311] The status of the school at the end of the century is stated in the report to Horsham Monthly Meeting, as follows:

School’s status at end of century

We have one school under the care of the meeting, to which our members send their children, except some Friends who live remote. It is supported by subscription; the tutor is a Friend and we believe endeavors to discharge the important trust committed to him. The children of such as are in straightened circumstances are schooled by donations left for that purpose—A committee appointed by the meeting frequently visits the said school and reports the state thereof.[312]