History of Swansea, Massachusetts, 1667-1917; - citizen hylbom blog

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History of Swansea
"that Mr. John Myles the present pastor of the church here
assembling be schoolmaster," or *'to have power to dispose the
same to an able schoolmaster dm:ing the said pastor's life."
The salary was to be "£40 in current country funds," but on
condition that Mr. Myles and his successor should accept whatever
the people would bestow in a weekly contribution for their
ministerial services. Mr. Myles accepted the proposition and
held his school in various parts of the town on successive
months, to suit the convenience of pupils. Thus he deserves
grateful remembrance not only as the first pastor but also as
the early schoolmaster and teacher of youth who laid the
foundation of the pubHc schools of Swansea.
After his death no mention is made of a school till 1698,
when Jonathan Bosworth was employed at £18, one fourth in
money and the rest in provisions at money prices. He was to
teach the first month in Wannamoisett Neck, the second in
New Meadow Neck, the third in Kickemuit, the fourth in the
Cole neighborhood, and fifth on Metapoiset, and so in succession.
Later, John Devotion was engaged at £12 and board and
£20 for feeding a horse, to keep a school in succession "in the
four quarters of the town. " In 1709 he engaged for six years,
and in 1715 for twenty years more. At this time it was voted
that he should "teach our youth to read Inglish and Lattin
and Wright & sifer as their may be occation. " He was to teach
five months each year, from October through February, the
first two months near his own dwelling, and the other three
in other parts of the town. His compensation was £17 10s. a
year, three pounds of which was to be paid for the use of the
schoolmaster's lot. Such were the beginnings of our public
schools.
Division of Inhabitants Into Ranks,
AND Division of Land
To the trustees of the town was also assigned the duty of
dividing the pubHc lands. The method of division was as undemocratic
as it was unprecedented. The men were divided
into three ranks, according to the judgment of the trustees as
to their standing. Promotions and degradations were made
from time to time by a committee appointed by the town. The
men of the first rank received three acres to two granted those
of the second and to one granted those in the third. The majority
were of the second rank, though more were of the third than
of the first. For ten years this ranking system was in force.
But it broke down when in 1681 the committee granted to five