History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

1701] FIRST SCHOOL-COMMITTEE—NEW COURT-HOUSE. 313
tioned that the shire-town sliould be either Northampton
or Had ley, as the General Court should see fit. ^ Both petitions
were dismissed in February, 176::^, and Northampton
did not attain the coveted honor till the second division of
the county was made in 1812.
Sabbath Wardens Either disordcr in the meeting-house inchosen.
creased considerably or there were not tith-
ing-men enough chosen to preserve order,
for in 1761, four men were selected especially to preserve
order in the meeting-house on Sunday. They were called
"Sabbath Wardens," and for about eighteen years were
chosen annually with other town officers. They were subsequently
ordered to procure badges of office similar to
those carried by tithing-men. In 1764, the town by vote,
required the tithing-men and wardens to sit by turns, in
some public place in the galleries, to prevent disturbances,
and to enforce the law for preserving order in the meetinghouse.
New School Proposed Towu scliools Were Overflowing with puover
Mill River.
pi]g^ j^^d it was determined in 1761 to
establish a new school on the south side
of Mill River. The selectmen were instructed first to take
the " Lickingwater " boys out of the town school, and if
one master could " advantageously instruct those that remained
in the English school, to set up a school on that
side of the river provided the Parents and Masters of the
boys there will procure a room and wood to support it.
Provision was also made that boys from other parts of the
town should be sent there. It is not probable that another
school was " set up" in South Street at this time. As was
the case two years before, no additional teachers seem to
have been employed, and it may be inferred that the
" Parents and Masters " were unwilling to provide a schoolroom
and fuel as well as pupils.
1 In discussing this subject, Col. Williams of Hatfield is said to have observed : —
"The people of Ilatfleld are industrious and thrivius. and to have the courts there
would injure their industry and thrift. Northanipton people are very religious and
the measure would be injurious to their religion, but Hadley has neither thrift nor
morality to be injured." Hadley was then and long afterwards greatly demoralized
by hard drinking.
"