Secondary education began in Westmoreland County as early as 1653 when the county was formed from Northumberland County.
According to Bruce(1) the size of a plantation during the 17th century varied from 446 acres in 1650 to 628 acres in the latter half of the century. As the above information would imply the population was dispersed over large acres of the county. There is evidence to show that many private schools were established in the plantation era for the benefit of all these possessed of means to send their children to them.
Education was afforded by 1)private schools, 2)charity schools, 3)tutors. There was no public system prior to 1653, but the county courts and the church wardens of the different parishes were authorized and directed by the Legislature to bind out all of the poor children of parents who neglected them, with the requirement that they be taught by the masters reading, writing, and arithmetic(2).
Education progressed in Virginia in sprite of the statement by the then Govenor William Berkely:
In 1775 public education became mandatory in Virginia. Each parish was to have its' school.
William Hortan(3), in his will dated 1700, bequested a fund for the operation of free schools in Westmoreland County. The fund was to be controlled by the vestry. This fund was in operation in 1724.
In 1754, Mr. Archibald Campbell was the rector of Washington Parish, and also taught school. He is the well known teacher of James Madison, John Marshall, and Colonel Monroe(4). The church placed much emphasis upon the responsibility of the rectors for the teaching of the youth.
In the will(5)of Vincent Cox of Westmoreland are provisions for the education of his son and daughter. The daughter was to be provided with two years of schooling after her 10th year, and the son was to received tuition for one year after his 10th year. They were taught at home until they were 10.
Thomas Lee of Stratford in his will made in 1749-1750, requested the guardian of his six sons, all of whom were to become famous, to educated them as he saw fit, religiously and virtuosity, and if necessary to bind them to any trade or profession.
The will(6) of Gavin Corbin, of "Pekatone" Westmoreland 1760, requested that his only child, Martha Corbin, be given a "genteel education."
At about 1699, Henry Withhiff of Westmoreland County instructed his executors to purchase of Mrs. Ann Washington, two mulatto boys, probably his own children, the youngest of whom was to be put to school until he could read English(7).
The responsibility of apprenticing boys and girls, whose parents would not or could not make proper provisions for their training, was placed in 1672(8), upon the church wardens, who were to give an account of all such children annually to the orphans court. Not only were provisions made for the training of an orphan or poor child for a trade or art, but also for a formal education.
The weakness of the educational system of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries is readily seen. The rich planters had the advantage of tutors, and some sent their children abroad; the apprenticeship laws provided for the poor, but for that other great group, the middle class, no provisions were made.
We find that many of the sons of Westmoreland went to England for their education. Bruce(9) gives two reasons why parents were anxious to send their sons to England: first, because England afforded many more educational opportunities than did the colonies; secondly, because there were many influences, other than educational, which was desired for the boys development.
Of course there were a great number of boys and girls, children of wealthy plantation owners, who did not attend school in England. These children, who received their education entirely in Virginia, were indebted to private tutors to a large degree for their instruction. The tutors were obtained from different places. The tutor in the home of Nathanial Pope came directly from England. In 1652(10) Nicholas Haywood of London, sent Samuel Mothershead, as tutor to Nathanial Pope.
The Reverend Craig(11), a Scotch clergyman, was tutor for Francis Lightfoot Lee about 1770. The most famous of the tutors in Westmoreland and Virginia, was Philip Vickers Fithian, from Princeton University. He was the tutor in the home of Robert Carter of Nomini Hall.
It seems that Colonel John Ashton(12) built an addition in 1665 and 1667 to his home to be used as a schoolhouse that a tutor taught not only his children but most probably some of the neighbors children.
Bruce(13) says,
It is believed(14) that a Mr. Law, from Scotland, was the tutor in the home of John Augustine Washington of Bushfield, the younger brother of the future General Washington. This conclusion is from a statement by Philip Fithian(15)
John Peck(16) graduated from Princeton, 1774, and afterwards succeeded Fithian at Nomini Hall, as tutor. He subsequently married Ann Tasker, and settled in Richmond County.
Fithian tells something of the enrollment and curriculum in the following statements:
"We began school--The school consisted of eight---two of Mr Carters sons---one nephew---and five daughters. The eldest son is reading Salust; grammatical excercises, and Latin grammer. The second son is reading English grammer and reading English, and writing and cyphering in subtraction. The nephew is reading and writing as above; and cyphering in reduction. The eldest daughter is reading the Spector; writing; and beginning to cypher. The next is reading in the spelling book. And the last is beginning her letters(17).
November 4, 1773--
"Busy in school--Today the two eldest daughters , and second son attended the Dancing School".
Wednesday, November 10, 1773:
"Busy in school--The eldest daughter taken off by her teacher in music, Mr. Stadley, who was learning her to play the Forte--piano."
"Bob called Nancy a lyor(sic)--Ben came over with a message from Mr. Carter, that he desired me to correct Bob severly immediately---I recommended Diligence and good behavior, but I was obliged by Mr. Caters' request. I sent Harry for some whips. I took him by the hand and gave him four or five smart twigs; he cringed, and bawled, and promised peace among the children".
Last night I took Bob--to my room, after having in the course of the day corrected him thrice, and reasoned with him concerning the improproperty of his behaviour---
Bob this morning begged me to learn him Latin: his reason he tells me is that yesterday Mrs. Taylor told him he must have either of her daughters, unless he knows Latin he urged me strong that I put him some lessons for leisure hours.
Our bells for school and play house are at present under good regulation. The children came as soon as they rise and are Drest(sic) which is unusually about seven. The bell rings at eight for breakfast, at nine it rings for two purposes; for children to enter school, and for the gardeners, carpenters, and other workers to come to breakfast....at twelve it rings for the school playhouse.. At two it rings for us to dine, and the workmen. At the last bell is at three for school and for the workmen to go to labour. I dismiss them by my watch at half after five.
I found it necessary to flogg Bob and Harry on account of lying in bed, after I came into school.
The school house is 45 feet long from the east to west and 27 feet long from the North to South. It has five well furnished, convenient rooms, three below stairs and two above. It is built of brick, a story and a half high with dormant windows. In each room is a fire. The large room below stairs we keep our school, the other two rooms below which are smaller are allowed to Mr. Randolph the clerk; the room above the school room Ben and I live in; the other room above the stairs belongs to Harry and Bob.
Another means for the instruction of the youth in the eighteenth century, which was no doubt common in Westmoreland County, was the "Old Field" school. According to Maddox(18) the term "Old Field" has reference to the practice of allowing long cultivated fields to lie idle for a period to "sweeten".
(C)rude schoolhouses often appeared from the cleared, but unused, land and took the name from their location. Of course, there was no one type of schoolhouse and equipment.
It was innocent of the simplest laws of sanitation, but perhaps, no worse is their respect than many of the early twentieth century schools. Beyond (c)rude benches facing the walls and high desk for the teacher, there were no uneccessary furnishings.
George Washington is said to have attended one of these "old field" schools. Having no longer the benefits of his fathers instruction at home(17) and the scope of tuition of Hobby(an "old field" school teacher in King George County), being too limited for the growing wants of his pupil, George was now sent to reside with Augustine, at Bridge Creek near Oak Grove and enjoyed the benefits of a superior school in that neighborhood, kept by a Mr. Williams.
During the beginning of the Academies they were nurtured by the denominational interest, but as they grew they became non-sectarian. These schools had --- patronage and received financial aid by the Literary Fund. Children of indigent parents were admitted free of tuition. Washington Academy was the outstanding school of Westmoreland County during the early period.
The Washington Academy was situated about two miles from Oak Grove on the Leedstown Highway.
The Academy was incorporated by an act of the General Assembly, March 11, 1834. Washington Academy was so operated that it meet the needs of the people of that vacinity.
It received aid from the Literary Fund, making it possible for worthy indigent pupils to be in attendance. The curriculum providing the elementary and high branches was suited to all ages. The academy met the requirements of a normal school and thus was able to send out pupils who were prepared to teach. For a decade this academy was a potent factor in Westmoreland County in the development of the culture and the extension of education. Washington Academy received aid from the Literary Fund during to years 1837, 1838, 1839, 1841, 1843, and 1844. The total amount received was $1,105(18).
On the 6th of November 1844, arrangements were made with James L. Cox for the purchase of the academy property, including buildings and land(19).
The Washington Academy building is a tall two-story building with a shallow basement under the entire house. During the academy days the basement was unfinished and was probably used for a storage room. On the first floor there are three large rooms which in the days of the academy were used for class rooms. On the second floor there were four rooms for the teachers. In addition to the main building there were domitories, a kitchen, and a dining room(20).
Since its institutional days the Academy property changed hands many times. It was first purchased from the board of trustees by the executor of James L. Cox estate(21). It was then purchased by Henry T. Garnett(22). In 1867 it was purchased by the Hepburn family in whose possesion the place remained until 1890(23). Since that time it has been in the Flemer family. "Ingleside", as the Academy is now called, is the home of the Flemers.
By 1905, the public high schools had overshadowed the old academy.
This school was founded in 1885 for the purpose of preparing boys for business and college. The school was located at "Claymont" near Oak Grove. Dr. Richard Washington, the owner of "Claymont" was the principal. Board and tuition were $150.00 for the term. These home schools were common to Westmoreland County. Mrs. Thomas Brown operated a similar boarding school at "Buena Vista" near Hague between 1890 and 1903. Her two daughters Miss Sarah Lee Brown and Miss Ida Brown were the teachers. Miss Hannah Trowbrige was the teacher at "Linden".
Randolph Institute was a boarding school at "Roxbury" near Oak Grove. In an advertisement in the "Northern Neck News"(24) Miss Holly E. Hungerford, the principle, gave the name of the Right Reverend A. M. Randolph as a reference. This fact gave credence to the school being named for Bishop Randolph. Some of the teachers were Miss Garnet Fendleton, and Miss Sally Neal. The school continued to operate after 1894 but under other names.
