New-York tribune., 1903-08-29
SCHOOLS OF GREAT AGE.
What Haze Gro1cn Up on the Hop
kiRS Foundations.


United States the Oldest is Harvard. the begin
ming Of which was made in 1896. In 1893
William and Mary College was established, at
Williamsburg Va. where school had previ-
ously existed. dating back 10 1917, forming the
first educational institution in this land which
has continued with serious interruption until
the present time 1t was just at the end of the
seventeenth century that the beginning of Yale
College was made at SaybrOok, Conn.
The Oldest Of the schools Of less than col
legiate rank in the United States is the Boston
Latin School. founded in 1886. a year before
Harvard College. It was in 1915 that the Rox-
bury Latin School, also in Massachusetts-Bay
Colony, was established and both continue
their good work under the original designa-
tions.
In the colony of Connecticut the first educa-
tional foundation of Importance and one that has
steadfastly persisted. is that based on the benef
cence of Edward Hopkins Esq, sometime Gov
ernor OF the colony who born in England
in 1900. He merchant in London, and
crossed the ocean to Boston in 1887. He pro-
ceeded to Hartford, where he soon became
man OF importance. rising TO the rank OF Gov
ernor in 1914, and serving each alternate year
for ten years. He then returned TO England,
where he was a member Of Parliament. His
will, bearing date 1867, bequeathed the resi-
due Of this estate ito give some announcement
in those foreign plantations for the breeding
up OF hopeful youths, both at the grammar
school and college, for the public service Of the
country in future times" A year before he had
written TO one of his associates; IF under
stand that a college is begun and like to be
carried on at New-Haven for the good of pos
terty, I shall give some encouragement there
unto" The residue OF his estate was intrusted
20 four trustees by the terms OF his viii, and
after several years Of litigation the two
viving trustees divided it as follows:
To the town Of Hartford f4O0; to the town
of New-Haven. 1912; TO the town of Hadley,
f35S, and to Harvard College, f1O0. This was
in 1864. and in the following year schoolhouse
was built from the fund in Hartford, and in 1898
It was incorporated as the Hartford Grammar
School, which since 1S47 has been united with
the Harvard High School, the salary of an in
structor in the classics being paid from the in
come Of the Hopkins fund.
That there had been a school before in Hart
ford is shown by the facts about John Higgin-
son, who was the first schoolmaster in Hart
ford. He the son of Francis Higgnson,
who came TO this country from England, bring
ing his son, John, thirteen years old, with him.
and pastor of the Salem church. He was
under contract with the Massachusetts, Bay
Colony, and, as he was in poor health, that
colony agreed in case of his death, TO support
his widow and family. The colony was then
English company, and, Mr.. Higginson dying in
n short time but not until after the colony had
transferred its business TO this country Governor
Winthrop and some eminent Of the colony
took upon themselves the education of the fam
sly, rather than TO establish the precedent of a
pension. John Higginson a remarkably
bright boy and at the age of nineteen was
made freeman. and soon was sent by Governor
Winthrop to his son. John Winthrop, in Say
brook, and was for four years chaplain of the
fort at the mouth of the river, where he held
important place in the colony. John Higginson
in Hartford a schoolmaster time
between 1886 and 1913 although the records do
not show prior to l643 that any special action
taken about it. the township having the
right To esta blsh schools. Mr.. Higginson writes:
"I was some time schooimaster in Hartford,
where / enjoyed the ministry of that godly man.
Mr.. Hooker. and Of Mr.. Stone" He afterward
was at Guiiford. where he married the daughter
Of the Rev Henry Whitfield, who built the old
stone house. and when Whitfield went to Eng
land 10 join the cause of Cromwell, with many
other ew-Englandere, Figginson pro-
NOTED from schoolmaster in Guilford to the pas
torate Of the church. In Hadley. Mass. the
school founded by the Hopkins bequest was
started in 1861 and was the recipient OF other
generous gifts. It became the Hopkins Academy
in 1916 The school building was burned in
tees of the fund offering TO pay the cost of sup
porting a high school curriculum, and this is still
maintained. the name Hopkins Academy being
retained.
At New-Haven the gift OF Governor Hopkins
was turned over to the general court in accord
with resolution of that body ito found
small college, such the day of small things
Will permit" In accepting 1t a resolution was
passed appropriating $50 to maintain gram
mar school, and, owing to the lack of interest
the plan 10 found a Hopkins College was aban-
doned. But il a nephew of the wife of
Governor Hopkins, Elihu Yale who founded the
Institution Of which New-Haven is most proud
But the Hopkins Grammar School remains close
by Yale University 10 carry forward the name
OF the earlier protector of an institution Of the
higher education in the City of Elms.
Governor Hopkins also left $500 of his
estate, his wife 10 have the of IL until
her death, for upholdng and promoting the
kingdom Of the Lord in those parts Of the
earth" At the time OF his wfes death in 1898
the trustees under her husbands will were
dead, and Harvard College brought suit in the
court or Chaneery TO recover this fund The
court held that there was such school and col
lege as set forth in the will, and trustees were
appointed TO purchase land in Massachusetts
Bay Colony, three-fourths of the income to be
Tor the students in divinity in the college and the
rest fer the grammar school at Cambridge. The
land was bought in 1715 and the place named
Hopkinton, and the income of the property
goes TO Harvard and the Cambridge High School
TO this day Governor Hopkins was described
by one Of his contemporaries as "a wise and up
right magistrate and q man of exemplary piety
and extensive charity
His wife. Ann Yale. was a stepdaughter Of
Governor Eaton, who wrote books and was de-
voted to reading She was deranged in her later
years, and Governor Winthrop, in his History
OF New-England," says Of her: IF she had not
Tneddled with such things as are proper to men,
whose minds are stronger. she had not lost her
wits"
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