had large boards at the gable ends." "The inside of the walls and chamber above" was "well plastered and white washed." "A pair of suitable stairs" were "on one side of the chimney and a closet on the other.

This building was the first free school house in Queen Anne's County and was built by one John Salisbury, who was to be paid one hundred pounds therefor and to "use such timber and fire wood on said school as necessary." The persons who authorized the building of this house were appointed under an act of the Assembly passed in 1723 and were known as the Visitors of the Free School of Queen Anne's County.

The first visitors were Rev. Christopher Wilkenson, Richard Tilghman, Samuel Earle, Sr., William Turbut, Augustine Thompson, Edward Wright and Philemon Lloyd, and by law were made a body politic and given the power to appoint their successors in office, and to make all by-laws, be no ways contrary to the royal prerogative nor to the laws and statutes of England and Acts of Assembly of the province or to the canons and constitutions of the Church of England by law established."

The visitors of this school were the leading men of Queen Anne's County during the colonial period, and among the scholars were the forefathers of many of the prominent men since. Among the masters were several who gained world wide. distinction in their chosen walks of life.

To those therefore who are interested in the history of this State it will be well worth the while to study the history of this school as told by the minutes of the meetings of the visitors, which we are glad to say have been wonderfully well preserved.

The first meeting of the visitors was held on December 27th, 1723. Within a very short time thereafter a tract of land containing one hundred acres "situate on the south side of the mainroad that leads from Queenstown to Chester Mills" was purchased from one Richard Tilghman. It was on this tract of land that this school house described above was built.

Under the power conferred by the Act of the Assembly the visitors were to select the masters, "who were not allowed to grow tobacco on the school property, and were to be members of

the church of England and of pious and exemplary lives and capable of teaching well the grammar, good writing and the mathematics if such can conveniently be got." The first person, who attempted to fill the office, which required so many qualifications was David Davis. He was appointed on Jan. 16, 1724, and obliged "himself to teach ten scholars such as said visitors shall think fit, English, Latin, writing and Arithmetic, in consideration of the sum of 20 pounds current money of Maryland."

It seems that the visitors appointed from time to time a certain number, as they might think best, of children to be taught by the master. He was allowed, however, to take other scholars, whose parents and guardians had to pay a small tuition, which belonged to the master. In addition to this, he could try to eke out a precarious existence by cultivating the few acres of cleared land which belonged to the school farm. The scholars appointed by the visitors were known as "foundation scholars." Just how many of these there were it is impossible to tell, as we find reference to these scholars by name only twice. From these however, we gather the following names: "Edwin Griffin, son of William Griffin; Edward Brown, brother of John Brown; Nathan Wright, son of Katherine Wright, widoe; William Kent, son of Robert Kent; Weatthon Reed, son of Weatthon Reed; James Farraday, brother of John Farraday; Charles Emory, son of John Emory; Edward Tucker, son-in-law to Solomon Wright, Sr., Charles Wright, son-in-law to Mr. Robert Jones and Edward Downes, son of Charles Downes; Michael, son of Wm. Turbutt; Nathan, son of Mr. Edward Wright, high Sheriff of Queen Anne's County; William, the son of Wm. Handrett; Solomon Wright, the brother of Thomas Hynton Wright; Anne Lily Heath, daughter of Ann Heath.

Very early in the life of this school, difficulty was experienced in getting the foundation pupils to attend, for we find many notices to the parents and guardians of these pupils requiring them to show cause why the pupils were absent from school. Whether this was due to the lack of appreciation of education for itself, or on account of the social or political condition of the county, we cannot say. Possibly it may have been on account of

the hours for school and the close and careful attention given the scholars by the visitors. These gentlemen considered going to school a serious business and would allow nothing to interfere with it if they could possibly help. They required that the "hours of teaching from the 1st of April to the last of September be from 7 o'clock to 11 in the morning and from 1 o'clock to 5 in the evening and from the last of September to the 1st of April, from 8 o'clock to 11 in the morning and from 1 o'clock until 4 in the evening." We find no mention of vacations or holidays until May 19, 1775. At that time, it is ordered that the "vacation shall commence as follows: one week before Christmas and continue on the day after the 12th day; on the Thursday before Easter and Whitsuntide and continue one week after each and also half Saturday from 1st of May until 1st of November, and all Saturdays the first of the year and all Sundays in the year."

The visitors considered it not only their duty to look after the mental welfare of the pupils but also the moral. Because one of the assistants "taught dancing two days a week in the school house which the visitors apprehend must necessarily tend to the hindrances of teaching reading, writing," &c.-they threatened to discharge the master.

Upon one occasion the "visitor observing the scholars shooting at marks with guns had them called together and admonished and ordered them not to bring guns to school again and also in their presence order the master to have strict attention to them during their playtime, and to punish any who shall be catched contrary to this order." At the same time "observing most of the scholars pronounce badly" they "order the master to be particularly attentive to make them express their words and syllables as distinct and clear as possible" and they "advise and admonish the scholars to use their utmost endeavors to break themselves of the bad habit which they have heretofore contracted in uttering their words in a thick confused manner."

Mr. Davis was master of the school for nearly three years when he was succeeded by Mr. William Killion, who was "capable of teaching writing, arithmetic and grammar so as to understand the Latin bible." He held this position until his death, which

occurred in 1737, at which time the visitors passed an order "in favor of widow Killion that her servant Thomas Davis, who was an usher to Mr. William Killion, continue to teach said school." Evidently the usher was an indentured servant.

The position of master was filled in rapid succession by Edward Killion, Patrick Hackett and Charles Peale. The latter was the father of the great American painter, Charles Wilson Peale, celebrated as a painter of portraits, among others one of Washington and as the founder of a museum of natural history in Philadelphia, which was the first of the kind in the United States. He left Queen Anne's County school to become the master of the Free School in Kent County.

On July 14, 1744, Hamilton Belle was admitted as master and remained until 1747, at which time the Register was ordered by the visitors to "send an advertisement of the school vacant to Mr. Green, printer in Annapolis to be put in the Maryland Gazette," which advertisement is in the following words, viz:

"Whereas there is a vacancy for a master in Queen Anne's County School, any person properly qualified upon applying to the visitors will meet with such encouragement as the law relating to free schools will support them in. Signed by order

Nathan Wright, Register."

In response to the advertisement Mr. Rolph Elston applied to be admitted as master "but being incapable of teaching navigation and surveying the visitors did not think proper to admit him." In a short time thereafter the position was filled by Thomas Johnson, who is "given a salary of twenty pounds current money and is promised an addition of ten pounds upon behaving well." Alexander Thompson followed Johnson and held the school until he died in 1752. From that time until 1755 the school was without a teacher. During this time a "Mr. Kerr offered himself as a master, but the visitors being of the opinion that he is not properly qualified refuse to admit him."

One "James Cosgrase also applied and his application was accepted but requested time to consider." He evidently did not

a

like the looks of things for he did not appear at the time appointed.

On February 1, 1755, Rev. Alexander Malcolm was admitted as master of the school, and remained such until May 5, 1759 when he was ignominiously deposed. During the incumbency of this gentleman the history of the school was a very stormy one. The visitors had their troubles as evidently did the scholars, for at one time there was only one pupil in the school.

Rev. Mr. Malcolm evidently had business in other parts of the province for the trouble between him and the visitors seems to have started by his continued absence and inattention to the school.

Shortly after he had been admitted as master he put Quinton Malcolm in charge of the school. This Mr. Malcolm was the dancing master and was the cause of the downfall of his father.

The history of the entire trouble is told fully in the minutes of the visitors. It is so quaintly and interestingly told that we can do nothing better than let them speak for themselves.

"The visitors finding that notwithstanding their resolution of the sixth day of August, 1756, that if the number of scholars which has hitherto been uncommonly small be not considerably increased by the end of the present year they shall look upon the continuing his present salary any longer as a mispending the public money, with which the Rev. Mr. Alexander Malcolm the master was then made acquainted. There is not at present nor has been for sometime past above one scholar belonging to the school, nor is there any probability there will be many more while he remains master, Thinks it their duty to dismiss the said Mr. Alexander Malcolm from being any longer master of this school as they are satisfied such his want of scholars must have proceeded from his not giving due attendance on the said school, or application to the instruction of the scholars; and of this the visitors informed the said master, but the said Mr. Alexander Malcolm alledging that he expects a considerable number of scholars very shortly the visitors think proper to permit him to remain as master until their next meeting on the fifth day of June next.

"July 15, 1758, The visitors in consequence of their resolution