I give, devise and bequeath to George Miller, the son of my cousin George Miller, my house and lot of Ground situated in the Province aforesaid (commonly called Blue Hill) with the appurtenances to hold by him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Upon special trust and confidence, nevertheless and to and for the use, intent and purpose hereinafter expressed, mentioned and declared, and moreover for the use of the society of Protestants, commonly called Quakers, of and belonging to the Monthly Meeting of Chester for the erecting one or more houses for the teaching and instructing youth therein, and all necessary conveniences thereto belonging under and subject to the rules and regulations and orders of the said meeting for the time being forever.
Item, I give and bequeath to my Friend Jacob Minshall, all the rest and residue of my estate in trust for the use of a school which may at times be kept at or near my lot of ground above mentioned, subject to the direction of the Chester Monthly Meeting.[681]
Legacy from Thomas Evans
The meeting’s schools also received a considerable assistance through a legacy of £50 left by Thomas Evans for the establishment and support of a school within the verge of Chester Monthly.[682] He makes it clear in his bequest that he has been influenced to do this by the recommendations of the yearly meeting, the influence of which has been instanced in many cases before this one.
Not only to the advancement of education and enlightenment by means of schools alone did Friends of the Chester Meeting lend their encouragement. In a minute of 1689 we find an interesting reference to assistance proposed for the encouragement of printing in Philadelphia.
Printing encouraged by the meeting
The business proposed to the Friends of Philadelphia concerning allowing William Bradford, the printer, £40 by the year to encourage him to continue in the art and practise of Printing. This meeting approving the said proposal, orders for Darby Monthly Meeting John Blunston and Joshua Fearne and for Chester Monthly Meeting Caleb Pusey, Randall Vernon and for Chichester Monthly Jacob Chandler and John Mendenhall to take subscription according to proposal.[683]
An early attention to education reported by the quarterly meeting
We have noticed that there appeared to be very little in the records of the monthly meeting until about 1770 and that they contained little of educational interest before that time. The records of the Quarterly Meeting of Chester (later known as Concord) are, however, full of suggestions which indicate that educational interests had their attention much before that date, though they were not under a perfected organization. As early as 1732 advances were made for the care and instruction of poor children which would fit them to earn a living. We may mention the financial assistance promised by Joseph Mead in that year.