Contradiction in the minutes of Falls
The presence in their vicinity, of an old schoolhouse which, moreover, needed repairs before it could be used, would indicate that a school had been there for a number of years. Taking fifteen years as a very moderate span for the life of the building, before it should need any considerable repairs we could state with a good degree of assurance that the school building had probably been built not later than 1715, and that the school dated back to that time at the very latest.[353] But at the next meeting this encounters a very dangerous obstruction. That meeting, referring to the request of the seventh month, second, speaks of “the request about having the old meetinghouse,” instead of, old schoolhouse.[354] It further mentions that it was desired for the purpose of a school.[355] From this it appears that the truth of our above conclusion depends upon the accuracy of the records for seventh month, second, 1730 and for eighth month, seventh, 1730. If the record of the first date is correct our conclusion is unfounded and the date for the first established school can probably be placed about 1730, or shortly thereafter.[356]
House for masters’ accommodation proposed in 1759
Property conveyed to trustees for use of schools
The records for the next thirty years reveal but little of the activities of the schools in Falls Monthly Meeting, though we are led to believe them in continuance, but perhaps not regularly. In 1759 the meeting had agreed to allow a house to be built on their grounds for the accommodation of a school master, but the house was not built there, since Mahlon Kirkbride had already purchased some adjoining ground on which there was a house built for that purpose.[357] The said Kirkbride offered to convey the same property to some Friends, in trust for the meeting, and Robert Lucas, Story Kirkbride, Mahlon Kirkbride, Jr., Jonathan Palmer, Jr., and Edward Bayly, Jr., were appointed to receive the conveyance. This is the first record of any permanent benefaction received. In 1783 the urgent Advices of the Yearly Meeting being brought to their attention,[358] a committee was appointed which reported the results of their investigation up to that time in the following manner.
Report of school committee
Ground purchased for use of school
Standing committee on education recommended; and visitation
We, the committee appointed, in the first month 1779 respecting the institution of schools for the instruction of our children in useful learning, having conferred together ... agree to report that we have divers times met and had this important matter under our ... consideration, and are desirous that this important subject and necessary care should meet with every proper encouragement and improvement; and we may inform the meeting that there have been several improvements made on the lot of ground lately purchased from Samuel Rhoads for the advantage of the school and benefit of the master, and that the committee have endeavored to encourage and pay for the schooling of such poor children as are in the limits of the school kept at or near this place whose parents are in low circumstances and are willing to accept thereof. We have likewise extended our consideration and views to the schools belonging to the other preparative meetings, and although the circumstances of things at present do not afford so promising and encouraging a prospect as we could desire, yet we are desirous that every proper encouragement may be afforded to promote the good and necessary work, therefore, we are free to propose to the meeting’s consideration that of having a standing committee appointed for this purpose by the monthly meeting, and that each preparative meeting should likewise appoint a committee for the like purpose that should have this important matter under their consideration in order to promote this so necessary care in their respective meetings; and that the said meeting’s committee should at proper and suitable times visit the several preparative meetings’ schools and unite with the said preparative meetings’ committees in affording and giving such help and assistance as to them from time to time may appear necessary in order to promote this so good and necessary a work and care. Signed at the desire and on behalf of the committee, by James Moon.[359]
Monthly meetings’ committee to join those of the preparatives