December 6, 1784. ‘Voted that the school at the upper end of the town be placed at Mr. Samuel Swan's, he to board the master at six shillings per week, and find a room for the school.’
Voted to give Samuel Gardner five shillings a week to board Ruth Jones to December, 1785 (see Historic Leaves, Vol. III., p. 68).
December 14, 1785. ‘The school kept at Phebe Russell's received £ 8 8s.’
May 4, 1785. ‘Voted to give Coll. N. Hawkins for school kept at John Swan's £ 10 16s.’
In the warrant (February 28, 1785) for the coming town meeting, we find the following: ‘To know the minds of the town, what they will do with regard to two petitions presented by the people at the upper end of the town requesting that one or two schoolhouses may be built there.’ March 7 it was voted that two schools be built agreeably to, this petition. The committee appointed for this purpose were ‘Mr. Samuel Gardiner, Mr. William Whittemore, Coll. Nathaniel Hawkins, Lieut. Samuel Cutter, and Mr. Seth Wyman.’ These gentlemen seem to have attended promptly to their duty, for May 1, 1786, it was voted to allow Captain Cordis's account for building the schoolhouses without the Neck, £ 80. The following November Messrs. Whittemore and Philemon Russell were empowered to lay a floor, make seats, and lay a hearth at the Russell's school. We believe this was the first time in the history of Charlestown that a school building was designated, although unofficially, by the name of a person or family. A few references to these schools, though trifling, may not be out of place.
June 3, 1788, Mr. Russell receives an order for work at the school, £ 2 9s 10d, and Seth Wyman for wood, £ 1 12s. In October Mr. Whittemore's bill for work at the school amounted to £ 3 5s 6d. April 4, 1791, Mr. Russell's bill for cutting and carting wood to the school No.. 3 and repairs amounts to £ 2 19s. The next April, for furnishing three and one-half cords of wood to their respective schools, Mr. Russell receives £ 3 9s, and Mr. Wyman £ 4 4s. This makes the price of wood (delivered), in the time of our first president, from five to six dollarsper cord.
