Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1912-06-06
HOW WILLIAM and MARY CAME
BY The HISTORIC MATTEY SCHOOL.
ENDOWED BY MRS. WHALEY FOR The CHILDREN Of
BRUTON PARISH IN MEMORY OF Her SON

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buildings in Williamsburg is the
"Mattsy" school. as originally called
and by which name alone It is known
by Older residents. but known to the
present generation as the Model
School. there are very few here who
are acquainted with its origin. The
story of the 'Mattey" school is ad-
mirsbly told by DR.. Lyon G. Tyler.
president of William and Mary Col
lege. in a little pamphlet printed
some years ago.
Il is the general opinion that this
building car be used only for the
purposes designed by Mrs Whaley.
for the education of the children of
Bruton Parish. and that any attempt
y use it for other purposes. say as
an academy for the education of
young men not residents of the par
ish. would be illegal and could be
prevented by law. However, since
the college and not the church. has
been made the legal custodian OF the
original fund, this contention is more
than likly groundless. That part Of
Mrs. Whaley's viii relating to the
fund for the establishing of the
school in memory of her little son.
whose dust lies in old Bruton church
yard. is quoted at the end of DR..
Tyler's narrative. he says:
The viii of Mrs. whaley. dated
February 10. 1912; proved Feb
ruary 1, 1928. which gave the
schoolhouse. its aPpurtenances, and
land to the minister and church
waTdens of the parish of Bruton, to
teach the neediest children OF the
same parish who shall be offered in
the art of reading. writing. and arith-
mstick."
Some doubts occurring to the ex-
ecutor about the execution of the
will. it was referred to Sir Dudley
Ryder. the kings attorney-general
in England. who held that the
English statute requiring one years
registration of writings for charities
did not apply to Virginia, which was
not mentioned; that the various leg
acies. including this charity. we're
good in law; but that the safest thing
for the executor, James Francevs,
to do was to have an amicable suit
instituted.
After this, Mr.. Frsnceys received
a letter from Mr.. Richard Ambles,
Of Yorktown in Virginia. dated June
8, l744. in which he wrote: II am
apt TO think the donation will not be
applied to its intention-rsthert to the
repairs of the church & expense of
the parish than to the instruction of
poor children. Something of the
kind has already been limited"
Then began suit which for pro-
crastination threw Jarndyce and
Jarndyce into the shade. Franceys
declaring that he could not safely
pay the money till the said accounts
were established by a decree in
Virginia. William Bowden, the At
tcrney General of Virginia. at the
relatioa of Thomas Dawson, TIE
minister of Bruton, John Blair and
Thomas Jones. the churchwardsns,
Peyton Randolph. Thos. Cobbs,
Henry Tyler. Mathew Pierce, Lewis
Burwell. Benjamin Waller. William
Parkes. John Gusts. and James
Wray. filed bill for that purpose
in the General Court. and on IA
Oct. l74o. that cosrt decreed that
Mann Page. the heir-at-law. should
convey the fee-simple estate of the
lands. with the house and appurte-
nsnces in the bill mentioned. unto
the rslators. and thatJsmss Franeeys
pay 70 them The personal pyppsrty