Morning journal and courier., 1890-09-10

separate malntalnance Of educational prlv1- leges. The preliminary steps were taken at the annual town meeting December IA, 1795, by appointing the second Monday in the following October-1796- the time for the formation of such society.
 At this meeting, held October 10, Joseph Pierpont was moderator and Joshua Barnes system were:
 Philemon Blakesiee. District No. Eevs Ee; sacsif Rayi District No No Jonathan Futile tle....................Di District No Joshua Simmons. .D1strlct NO. Jared Goodyear. .D1strlc1 NO.
 At this meeting the boundaries of the various districts were inquired into lit tie, but it was deemed advisable to make no change. It was not until 1798 that 'sschool visitors" or ''overseers" were ap- pointed. The first board was made up of Solomon Futile, Joseph Foot. Joshua Mix, Oliver Blakeslee, Jonathan Futile and Elisha Chapman. It does not appear what the specific duties of these gentlemen and their successors were until 1906, when they met at the tavern of Jesse Andrews and chose "A Committee to Examine into the Qualification of the Instructors and t'Teachers of the Schools and sign their Certificates. Viz-Oliver Blakeslee, Jo- ! ssseph Foot, Joel Humaston, Hazard But they adjourned 'after agreeing which of the Visitors should Visit each of the schools twice in the season."
 In 1920 commission consisting of Joel Humaston, Joel Ray and Josiah Todd re- arranged the boundary lines between some of the districts, the same substantially be- l ing in force to-day.
 In 1S41 the Fifth district had become so reduced in numbers that it was difficult to l maintain school there, except tgreat ex- pense to it's patrons. A grant of $10 was therefore made by the society to assist l them. This vote was renewed annually until the school was finally abandoned. The first public examination of candi- dates for teachers was advised in 1850. At this time public hall had been opened (Academy). A meeting was also called in this same year "for the purpose of appro- priating portion of the local or school fund to procure a suitable place to hold meetings for the furtherance of the cause of education in said society,"" A grant of $12 was made ''for the purpose of defray- ing the expense of room, lights, etc., for meetings for public lectures for promoting the cause of education" Apparently this was the first move toward such an object ever attempted here. This grant was re- newed annually till 1855, when the pru- dential committee were authorized to ex- pend such sums as they thought would ''conduce to the promotion of education" :" In 1855 the School society came to an end and the powers heretofore vested in it were transferred to the various districts It maintained an existence for sixty years, and its records are complete from begin | ming to end. At one time and another it carried on it's rolls the best citizens in the community. It's annual meetings always | followed it's annual town meetings, gener- ally in the same place. Its chiefest sup porter and best friend in it's early days 1 appears to have been Oliver Blakeslee, who was closely identified with it's interests for twenty-five years and more. During this time he was it's clerk and frequently a "visitor." His career was such that it de- serves more than passing allusion.
 OLIVER BLAKEsLEE. 1 Oliver, better known in his day as "Mas- ter Blakeslee," was the son of Mathew Blakeslee and was born in North Haven about TAO. Both his father and himself
  cal society Church of England) at it's for nation here in 1759-60. (See number 30, this series.) Mathew Blakeslee became one of it's two first wardens and Oliver was it's first clerk He served as such in 1760-1-2 and as assistant clerk in 178S-93, inclusive; during this period he was collector and treasurer He was made a vestryman in 1768 and again in 1772-1778, inclusive, and third time in 1786-7-S. In addition to these duties he acted as one of the "Quire- sters," 1777-1780.
 His boyhood was Q period of indulgence and hard work. A large family and lean | larder in his fathers house made the crosses greater than the comforts. Tradi- l ton has it that the maternal hand, often perplexed by the wants of the hungry children around her, was wont to prepare in huge wooden bowl porridge of meal and the water in which any vegetables or meat had been cooked, and placing it on | the floor gave each child wooden spoon and unlimited freedom to help themselves. 1 Oliver was apprenticed ill early youth to one Squire Ward of Pond Hill, where he learned the trade of reed maker for the hand looms of those days. He became and it is supposed most of the reeds now I l of bygone day were made by him. He also became an expert weaver and taught 1 his daughters the same trade.
 1 He derived his title of "Master" from a l long career as district school teacher, having, tradition says, taught twenty-seven | winters and three summers. He vas 2 superior mathematician and taught theo. retical navigation to all who, desired. Further he was on accomplished land sur. l veyor, and received, unasked for, the ap pointment of county engineer from the general assembly of Connecticut. His cal culations in this branch were never ques toned, and in the division of estates, tht laying out of highways and the establish
 ing of boundary lines his work was es teemed faultless. His advice was adopted in the survey for Tomlinson's bridge a
 New Haven.
 | As schoolmaster he achieved wide pop
 ularity. Some of his methods of disci
 pline were decidedly original. One in
 stance will bear repeating. Having pc
 culiarly refractory case to deal with, ant
 ordinary means of punishment provini unfruitful, he announced loudly to thu
 transgressor his intention to "burn hi
 head off' unless reform set in at once
 The culprit, not exactly comprehendini
 how such an end could be reached, faile,
 to scare at the threat. Master Blakesle
 bound the hardened unbeliever fast to tn floor and winding @ rope of loose fla. about the victims neck set fire to tn loose ends Before the flames reached tn offenders flesh the latter felt so well satis l feed the scheme would prove success that he quailed and became afterwards al obedient and exemplary youth. Fron
 TITO to 1776 it was his practice to teacl . evening schools in winter.
 Excepting Dr. Trumbull and Solomo
 Blakeslee, no better penman was found l Indeed in some of his exercises he clearl
 excels both. There is extant bit of pape
 the size of a dime on which he wrote i
 1786 the Lords prayer in beautifully leg 1 ble letters. "Copies" used in the writin exercises in his schools were preserved 2
 beautiful specimens of quill penmanshiI MT. Blakeslee married Elizabeth Humasto
 May 8, 1762. His house stood near ths
 now owned by Harry Bradley. Here ws born @ large family and as their names al
 somewhat quaint we give them entire. Rh'
 da, Susanna, Ch1orona, Patta, Elam, Ner
 Reuel and Lucinda The latter was Dor
 August 12, 179O. Eight years thereaftt
 MT, Blakeslee sued for and obtained a d
 vorce from his wife, The cause for tn
 strange proceeding is unknown; the motht
 of twenty-six years standing and doze
 children was suddenly turned adrift an
 no one knows what became of her. Tn
 decree of separation was obtained in Jul,
 1798, and in the following March, 179
 Mr. Blakeslee married Mrs. Susanna Tu
 tle
 At the time of his divorce he conveye
 all his property (30 rods of land and
 small red housel to the selectmen of Il
 town for $250.00. The condition of tn | %Ia%% ha Gbo,,