The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-13
of the said Justices, minister and church
THE FIRST FREE SCHOOL.

waTders.
TIE FIRST FREE SCHOOL.
In the first volume Of Hennings statutes
we find the following act of the virginia
Assembly, passed March, 1912:
BE it enacted and confirmed upon con-
sideration had of the cody disposition
and good intent OF Benjamin Syms de-
ceased in founding by his last vii! ana
testament a free school in EliZabeth CITY
county Tor the encoura cement OF all oth-
crs in like pious performances; that the
said will and testament with all dona-
tons thkrein contained concerning inc
free school and the situation Thereon IN
the said county, and the land appeTtall'-
ing to the same shall be confirmed, ac-
ccrding TO the godly intent of the testator
without any alienation or conversion
thereof to any place or county.
In 1647, five wears after the school was
founded, we find the following mention
made of it in Forces Tracts:
81 may not forget to tell you we have
a free school with two hundred acres OF
land. Il fine house upon it, forty mich
kline and other accommodations. ms
benefactor deserveth perpetual mention.
Mr.. BENJAMIN Syns, worthy to be cfroni-
cIed''
soon after this gcnefaction OF Benja-
min Sylns it appears that another pa
triotfc citizen was encouraged in Ike
NOUS performance. On the 18th day OF
September. 1863, Thomas Eaton, OF SACK
River, in the county of Elizabeth City
for the maintenance of an ablee school-
master TO educate and teach the chi4drei
horn within said county of Elizabeth
City. granted five hundred acres CT lane.
two negroes, twelve cows two bulls,
twenty hogs, one bedStcad. a table, Il
cheese press, twelve milk trays, an IRON
Kettle containing about twelve gallons,
Dot rack and pot hooks, milk pals, water
tubs, etc.
a FAITHFUL TRUST.
The old record books of Elizabeth City
county now in existence show that from
tile time they were founded these Two
free schools with their separate endoW-
mCnts were maintained according to tie
intention of their founders until
tho 18th day of January, 1906, when an
act of assembly was passed incorporate
ing the two schools as one and authoriz-
ing the election of eleven trustees ds
a body corporate under the name and
STYLE of THE Trustees Of Syms' and
Ilaton's Free Schools" 1t is an interest
ing fact which should not be overlooked,
that before the two schools were con-
sclidated by act of assembly an inden-
ture was made on the 18th day OF July,
I76o between John Tabb, Robert Armis-
tead Cary Sclden, Charles Jennings,
John Tabb the younger, Starkey RoDla.
son, Geo. Wray, James Wallace, David
Nelson Curlc and Thomas Warrington,
trustees and governors of Syms' Free
School. in the county of Elizabeth City, of
the one part, and George Wythe, of the
other part This indenture witnesseth:
That the said trustees and governors
for and in consideration of the yearly
rent of thjrty-one pounds and five shil-
lings devised and granted unto the said
George Wythe all that tract or parcel
of land called and known by the name
Of the Syms' Free School land in the
Parish and county of Elizabeth City, eN-
cepting and reserving one acre at The
southwest corner thereof, unto the said
trustees and governors, together with
eleven head of black catIo belonging TO
the said lands"
BY the seventh clause of the said act
of consolidation the trustees were au-
thorized at any time hereafter, when in
the opinion of a majority of them 1t
Will be most conducive to the end con-
templated by the donors thereof to make
sale of the aforesaid land, together with
all the property of every description be-
longing or in any wise appcrtaining there
TO, upon such terms as they may deem
most advantageous, and invest the money
in such way as that the same shall con-
stitute a fund for the purpose of estab-
llSnliS an dcdQeiilS, OF SEMINARY, Oh leftiii-
ing in that county, which to them, or q
majority of them, shall seem most bene-
fetal and eligible, the same 10 be called
by such suitable and appropriate name
as may be adopted by them.
INTERESTING HISTORY.
AS a result of the passage of said act
of assembly, we find that at q. court held
in Elizabeth City county on the 18th day
of April, 1905. present George Booker,
Thomas Watts, John Cooper and Samuel
Watts, gentlemen justices, it was ordered
that the sheriff advertise according to
law that on the second Friday in June