May 12, 1755, Mr. Phipps received ‘an order for £ 5 4s 9d, 1. m., for Mr. Jabez Whittemore keeping the school [Gardner Row?] without the Neck the year past.’ Doubtless this is the Jabez Whittemore who, in 1756 ‘was approbated as inn-holder at his house without the Neck, where his father lived.’
Mr. Francis's place on the board was filled by Henry Putnam, who, according to Wyman, was a new-comer from Danvers, and of the Israel Putnam stock. He continued in office for the next ten years, being elected for the last time: in 1764. During this decade he distributed for his district £ 8 3s of the town's money yearly. Wyman is doubtless in error when he says Mr. Putnam was teaching without the Neck in 1760.
During these same ten years Mr. Phipps had been followed, in turn, by James Fosdick, Captain John Hancock, and Joseph Lamson, the first of whom served for the year 1757-8, the second from 1758 to 1760, and the third for the remaining five years, when, along with Mr. Putnam, he disappeared from the board.
Among many entries at this time, perhaps the most interesting is the following: April 3, 1758. ‘Agreed to allow James Fosdick as one of the committee without the Neck for schoolmaster, benches, firewood, and house rent amounting to £ 6 lawful money, being his proportion.’ In 1760 these two schools were receiving about the same amount of the town's money, a little more than £ 7 each. The Milk Row school was receiving, through Mr. Kent, £ 10 6s.
We have not thought it necessary to give an extended reference to these gentlemen. Wyman devotes several pages to the Fosdicks. James Fosdick (1716-1784) was prominent in town affairs, and left a good estate. In his inventory we read of a mansion house, two shops, three acres or more, near Prospect Hill, etc. We have had occasion in a previous article to speak of a Mr. Hancock who was teaching in 1724 in the Stoneham precinct. According to Wyman, that was the Rev. John Hancock, later of Braintree, and father of Governor Hancock.
