New overseers added temporarily
Schoolhouse to be built on Lobb lot by subscription
Not begun until 1797 or 1798
In 1792 the new overseers reported they had continued to visit the school and inspect the learning of the children, which they did with satisfaction, implying that all conditions were as desired.[709] In the eleventh month four new members were appointed to the school overseers;[710] as it is not stated that any had been released, we are uncertain as to whether the number required had been increased or not; quite likely they were appointed only for temporary assistance. In 1793 it was reported from the school overseers that Benjamin Lobb had agreed to grant a lot of ground on the upper part of his plantation, to build a schoolhouse upon; the overseers proposed that the expenses be defrayed by subscription.[711] A subscription was started for the same, and Friends desired to forward it, that the school might be begun.[712] The cost of this school was estimated at £110.[713] It is not known just when this school under Friends’ care was begun in Upper Darby but at various stages these things are known about it. (1) On the 28th of the third month, 1793, it was reported that Lobb had offered the ground, (2) the cost of the building was estimated, fifth month, second, 1793, at £110, (3) eighth month, twelfth, 1793, the Chester Quarterly Meeting received the report that Darby was going to establish a school for Friends, (4) in 1796 the committee of overseers reported, “our school has been kept in good degree accordingly as desired by the yearly meeting,”[714] (5) the committee of overseers still mention but one school under their care and (6) eighth month, second, 1798, the school overseers report that the schools are kept as recommended by the yearly meeting. It would appear then that the school did not actually begin until some time between 1797 and 1798,[715] since all prior reports had recognized but one school.
Mr. Jordan states that in 1779 a deed set aside 24 perches of ground in upper Darby on the Darby-Haverford Road for the use of schools.[716] This seems to have no connection with the schools established by the meeting; it was the first official deed for ground for schools, but many bequests of great value had been made previously.[717] The text of the minutes recording these bequests follows on a later page.
The state of education in 1797 and
The state of schools as reported by the committee in 1797 was as follows:
Our school has been kept since last accounts ... as recommended by the Yearly Meeting; visited by the overseers and the scholars learning inspected to a good degree of satisfaction. There has been expended for schooling children of Friends and others the sum of £12/10 and on settlement there appears a balance in the treasurer’s hands of £6/15/5; the stock remains the same as at last year. Signed ... Morris Truman, Isaac Oakford, and John Hunt.[718]
1798
As mentioned above, the second school in Upper Darby seems to have been put into operation by 1798. The committee’s report, summarized, is as the following.[719]