Early Quaker education in Pennsylvania

by Thomas Woody

SCHOOLS AT EXETER MONTHLY MEETING

Youths meetings established 1758

Exeter Monthly Meeting, established 1737, being set off from Gwynedd Monthly,[328] did not have any schools under their jurisdiction at a very early date. The first indication that the subject of education was being seriously considered was about 1758 when youths’ meetings were established, two each year, one at Exeter and the other at Maiden Creek.[329] These youths’ meetings, sanctioned by the quarterly meeting,[330] and another at Robeson several years later,[331] were the first steps taken for education of youth, and controlled by the meeting. It is true, there was a school (day school) even at this time situated near Samuel Lea’s, as we learn from a chance reference,[332] but though it was attended by Friends children in part, it was neither controlled by them, nor under the monthly meeting. This condition lasted until the recommendations of the yearly meeting of 1777 and 1778 caused the monthly meeting to look into the educational situation.

Committee appointed on schools

A new committee to visit the preparatives

In accord with the recommendations concerning “the proper education of youth” published in these years, and sent out, the meeting at Exeter appointed Samuel Hughes, Abel Thomas, Benjamin Pearson, Mordecai Lee, James Thomas and John Scarlet to take the question under their consideration.[333] For two years and a half the substance of the reports of the above named committee and its successors, was to the effect that not much had been accomplished.[334] In 1781 the committee reported they had visited the preparative meetings (two of them), and recommended to them the careful consideration of the youths’ education, under good moral tutors.[335] A year later, the committee was released, having, according to reports, accomplished nothing.[336] Those delegates who attended the quarterly meeting in 1783, brought back new advices, and were directed to furnish each preparative meeting with a copy and request a report on school conditions among them; at the following monthly assembly more of the preparatives were ready to report.[337] Despairing of any report, unless of their own making, the monthly meeting appointed a committee of nine men to visit all the preparatives and report what they thought of their schools.[338] They produced the following statement.

Report of the committee

No school of Exeter Preparative

A school at Maiden Creek

School at Reading

School at Robeson

Most of the committee appointed two months ago to take into consideration and report the state of schools have given attention to the service; and divers of us have attended each of the preparative meetings belonging to this meeting and after a time of conference thereon, ’tis agreed to report, there is no school within the village of Exeter Preparative Meeting under the care of Friends; But we are of the mind that it is necessary that one be established there; and although work has been begun, yet we have but little expectation of its accomplishment in a short time;

That there is a ... school at Maiden Creek kept by Thomas Pearson, a Friend, who is at present engaged for a year, has 15 scholars entered for that time and 8 quarterly ditto scholars at the rate of 40/ per annum for each, which is under the direction of three overseers chosen by the employers. The school house built on a piece of ground belonging to a Friend which contains about five acres. There is likewise a school at Reading kept by Benjamin Parks and wife in their own house; they are members of the society and have about 50 scholars; such as spell at 7/6 and others at 10/ per quarter but is not under the direction of the meeting, nor are there any overseers chosen to superintend the same, yet we are of the mind a school established there under proper regulations and care of the monthly meeting, might be useful and deserves encouragement.

The schools within the verge of Robeson Monthly Meeting are kept by a person who inclines to go to our meetings, has about 20 scholars, amounting to about £34 per annum. Endeavors are also used to get a school established there upon a better plan and near the direction of the yearly meeting, but how far they may be successful is at present unknown. We do therefore recommend the whole to the notion of alleviation of the Monthly Meeting as a matter wherein friends are deeply interested.

Which we submit to the Meeting.

Amos Lee, Thomas Lightfoot, Samuel Hughes, Fannie Ambree, Owen Hughes, (which was approved by the Monthly Meeting, and decided that the substance be made a report to the Quarterly Meeting—The Committee to be continued to the service of Schools and report in the future).[339]

Maiden Creek secures land for school

Attempt to establish school at Reading

Maiden Creek was at this time (1784) making earnest efforts to meet the standards set by the general meeting. In the eleventh month they requested a number of persons to be named to whom they might give a deed of trust for the ground agreed upon for the use of their school.[340] Three were suggested and the deed and declaration of trust accordingly drawn up. Efforts in the meantime had been made towards establishing a school at Reading and a committee to conduct a subscription for that purpose named.[341] Help was solicited from the yearly meeting, but James Pemberton answered for that body that there was no money to be spared at the time, so Reading was advised to build such a house as their circumstances would permit.[342] Near the close of 1787 those having direct charge thereof made the following report of their progress:

Committee report on Reading school

We the committee appointed to have the school education of youth under care, have given close attention to a school proposed to be opened in a short time at Reading by Caleb Johnson, in a house now in building by Friends there, and nearly finished, which we are of the mind should be under particular care and direction of the monthly meeting; and that it may be well that a committee be thereby appointed to superintend and monthly to visit said school; we have also drawn up and agreed on certain rules to be observed and attended to by the employers, master and scholars concerned therein for the regulation and well ordering thereof: which we have ready for the examination and inspection of the monthly meeting if thought necessary. All which we submit thereto. Signed on behalf of the committee, Francis Parvin.... Which minute being read was allowed of and it was directed that a copy thereof be kept in open view in said school and that the original be lodged among the meeting papers; Benjamin Pearson, Samuel Jackson, John Mears, Francis Parvin, Johannes Lee, Jr., and James Iddings are appointed to have the said school under care and visit it once a month or oftener as necessity may require and report of their care. The former committee is continued.[343]

School discontinued

After the school had been in progress two years, Samuel Jackson reported that it “appeared to be in an increasing way”[344] but its prosperity was not to be long continued. In 1705 it was reported “discontinued,”[345] and no reason assigned for it excepting “the situation of the Friends there” which, taking into consideration the shortage of funds when it was begun, we may infer, had reference to the financial situation. The action of the monthly meeting in regard to it was left entirely to their own judgment.[346]