One Crowded Classroom

As mentioned in a recent blog post on the history of the East Acton school district, during the first decades of the nineteenth century, a one-room schoolhouse at the corner of today’s Great and Davis Roads served students from both North and East Acton.  The result, especially in the winter months when farm work was not expected of older students, would have been crowding and a teacher with very little time for individual grades, much less individual students’ needs.  Residents of East Acton campaigned for years to split the school.  We recently came across a March 6, 1828 listing of all the students in what was then called the “East” School District.  On it were the names and ages of 87 students, 48 “Masters” and 39 “Misses.”  At a time when censuses listed only heads of household, this is a particularly useful document.  In some cases, this is the only record we have found that shows a student’s presence in Acton. 

Given the age provided in the March 1828 list, some of the students were easy to find in the town’s published birth records.  Some, because of a common name or an age that does not quite match dates in the records, were not quite so clear and needed to be followed up in other records.  Baptisms were sometimes done well after birth, so the provided age was less helpful in identifying individuals in those records.  In some cases, we could not find the students in any other Acton records, so we had to search farther afield and try to work back to an Acton connection.

Below is an annotated list of the 87 scholars in the March 1828 East Acton School with the results of our research into their identity.  Overall, we found 42 whose name and age seem to match a person in Acton’s birth records and another seven whose age was somewhat off but who probably matched an Acton birth record.  For 16 students, we found no birth record in Acton or elsewhere, but we did find a church/baptismal record in Acton that is probably the right person. (Some were baptisms done several years after birth, and some of those were born elsewhere).  Research revealed five students whose later records reported an Acton birth, but there is no Acton birth or baptismal record.  We were able to find parents and a likely out-of-town birthplace for eight of the other students.  The remaining eleven remain elusive.

Barker

• Charlotte, age 8.  A “Clarissa” Barker was born Dec. 11, 1819 in Acton to Daniel & Rebecca Barker and married later, but we found no Charlotte and were unable to find her elsewhere

• Eliza, age 6.  We could not find identify Eliza from available records.

• Lewis, age 14.  A Lewis Barker, son of Reuben, was baptized in May 1822, but it we found no further information to indicate this was the same person.  This Lewis would have been eight at the time.

Billings

• Frederick R., age 4.  Not in Acton records but this is apparently the son of Ephraim (born Acton) and Eliza (Read) Billings, born in New Bedford where he was baptized as Frederick Read Billings on July 20, 1823.  This is the only record of his time in Acton; all others point to connections to New Bedford, Fall River, and coastal Rhode Island.

• George, age 6.  Not in Acton records but apparently this is also the son of Ephraim (born Acton) and Eliza (Read) Billings who spent most of his life in the Fall River area.  Baptized in August 1822 as George Washington Billings in New Bedford.

• James, age 19.  Acton Birth: James Brook (twin), son Ephraim & Easter, Sept. 7, 1808.

• James, age 5. Acton Birth: James Edward(s), son Jonathan & Rebecca, Jan. 2, 1823.

• Lois, age 7.  Acton Birth: Louis G. [sic], daughter of Jonathan & Rebecca, July 17, 1820.  Acton death: Miss Lois G. Billings in 1838, daughter of Jonathan and Rebecca (Hapgood) Billings.

• Luther, age 6. Acton Birth: son of Jonathan & Rebecca, Nov. 10, 1821.

• Polly H., age 17.  Probably Polly Hapgood Billings, child of Jonathan & Rebecca, baptized Aug. 4, 1816.

• Rebecca, age 10. Acton Birth: Rebeckah, dau. Jonathan 2d and Rebekah, Jan. 22, 1818

• Sophia, age 14. Probably Sophia, child of Jonathan & Rebecca, baptized Aug. 4, 1816.

• William, age 8.  Acton Birth: son Jonathan 2d & Rebekah, Apr. 26, 1819.

Brabrook

• Alfred, age 15.  Not in Acton records.  Research indicated that this is probably Alfred Brabrook, son of Joseph (who was born in Acton) & Sally (Adams) Brabrook.  According to his 1 Jan. 1898 death record in Taunton, MA, Alfred died at age 84 years, 8 months and 22 days, and he and his father were born in “Ashton, Mass.” (most likely meaning Acton).   He spent most of his life in the Taunton area and apparently worked for Reed & Barton for almost 50 years.  Joseph and Sally’s son George (Alfred’s brother) was born in Acton and also spent most of his life in Taunton, eventually becoming a partner in Reed & Barton.  Sister Sarah Eunice Brabrook also lived in Taunton. 

Conant

• Nahum, age 17.  Gravestone in Acton shows Nahum Conant, husband of Eliza A. with calculated birth of Oct. 2, 1810.  Apparently lived in Westford after marriage.  A Boston marriage record between Nahum Conant of Cambridge and Ann Elizaa Gilson of Boston was recorded 25 Nov. 1831 in Boston.

Davies

• Sarah, no age given.  Without an age, it is hard to be sure. A hypothesis was Sarah Caroline Davis, daughter of Jonathan Billings Davis and Sally, born Nov. 11, 1820 and married John P. Priest, but that is only a guess. That family spelled its name as Davis and is associated with West Acton; more research would be needed.

Davis

• Charlotte, age 15.  Acton Birth: dau. of Ebenezer & Abigail, born Feb. 7, 1813 (aka Davies)

• Ebenezer, age 17.  Acton Birth: son of Ebenezer & Abigail, born Aug. 15, 1811.

Handley

• Emerline E., age 12.  Acton Birth: dau. of John & Lucy, born Feb. 29, 1816. Married Daniel Tuttle.

• Harriet P., age 6.  Acton Birth: dau. of John & Lucy, born Harriot Proctor Hendley, Oct. 27, 1821 (Church records say Oct. 29). Married Edward Tuttle.

• John, age 8.  Acton Birth: son of John & Lucy, born Aug. 4, 1819.

• Martha A., age 10.  Acton Birth: dau. of John & Lucy, b. Dec. 3, 1817.  Married Samuel Jones.

Hapgood

• Abraham, age 7.  No Acton birth record per se, but church records show an unnamed son of James was born July 8, 1820.  A family Bible confirmed that birth was Abram, son of James and Mary.

• Mary, age 6.  Acton records show two possible Mary Hapgoods: Mary [twin] dau. of Nath. & Rebecah, born May 26, 1821 or May 19 per church records OR __ Hapgood, dau. of James, b. Jan. 18, 1822 per church records, who a family Bible confirmed is Mary E., daughter of James & Mary, born Jan. 17, 1822, who married Elbridge Robbins of East Acton.  The second Mary is much more likely to have been an East Acton student.

• Simeon, age 5.  Acton Births: Simon, son of Simon & Mary, Jan. 19, 1823.

Harrington

• Phinehas, age 14.  Acton Birth: son of Edward & Polly, born Jan. 28, 1814.

Harris

• Daniel, age 14.  No birth record.  Church records show a Daniel, child of Joseph & Sybel, baptized Sept. 12, 1813.  That child’s Acton Jan. 11, 1889 death record gives his birthplace as Acton and his age as 76 years, 8 months and 11 days.  The calculated birthdate of April 30, 1812 should have made Daniel 15 in the school listing, but this is probably the same person who spent his life in Acton.

Hayward

• Luther, age 15.  Not in Acton births.  There was a Luther Hayward, son of John, never married, who died in 1867 with a calculated birth year of 1810, too early for this Luther’s age.  The 1850 and 1855 census in Acton also showed a Luther Hayward born c. 1810.  Perhaps the age reported in the school list was incorrect, or it was a different Luther Hayward.

Kendall

• Mary A., age 9.  Not in Acton records and no further identifying information was found.

Lamson

• Lucinda, age 16.  Probably shown in Acton births, Lucinda, dau. Ebene[zer] & Ruth, born Oct. 7, 1810, but the age should have been reported as 17 if the birth record is correct.

Melven

• Charles F., age 12.  No Acton birth record.  Safe to say this was Charles Farrar Melven, one of 5 children of Charles Melven & wife who were baptized in Acton on Sept. 23, 1823.  Concord birth Sept. 19, 1815 to Charles and Betsy Melven.  Charles’ brother James was born in Acton in 1826, confirming that the family was living in Acton in the 1820s.

• Eliza Ann, age 11.  No Acton birth record.  Eliza Ann, one of 5 children of Charles Melven & wife who were baptized in Acton on Sept. 23, 1823.  Concord birth March 20, 1816 to Charles & Betsy Melven.

• Mary H., age 9.  No Acton birth record.  Probably Mary Hayward Melven, one of 5 children of Charles Melven & wife who were baptized in Acton on Sept. 23, 1823 and born Concord Mary Heywood Melven on April 14, 1819.  (The age should have been 8 in March 1828, not 9, if the birth record is correct.)

Nichols/Nicols

• Edmond, age 9. No Acton birth record.  Apparently Edmund, one of 4 Nichols children (of Mr. Nichols & w.) baptized Sept. 20, 1823.   Research indicates that all were children of Edmund & Rhoda Nichols.  Rhoda was apparently an Acton Forbush descendant.  Rhoda was living with Edmund, George C. and Martha Nichols in Hollis, NH in 1850.  Edmund was a married farmer there in 1860, and widowed Rhoda and Martha were living with him.

• Esther A., age 11. No Acton birth record.  Apparently Esther Ann, one of 4 Nichols children baptized Sept. 20, 1823.  No other information found.

• George, age 7.  No Acton birth record.  Apparently George Clapp Nichols, one of 4 Nichols children baptized Sept. 20, 1823. Died abt. 1857, buried in Hollis, NH.

• Martha, no age given. No Acton birth record.  Apparently Martha, one of 4 Nichols children baptized Sept. 20, 1823.  Martha, daughter of Edmund and Rhoda (Forbush) Nichols, died 2 March 1901 in Hollis, NH; her death record gives a birthplace of Acton.

Noyes

• Amos, age 18.  No Acton birth record.  Probably Amos, ch. of Amos & Hannah, bp. June 17, 1810 (gravestone shows Amos Noyes, born 1809, husband of Lucy Hosmer).

Oliver

• Ephraim, age 17.  Acton birth: son of Joel & Esther, July 31, 1810.

• James, age 16.  No other Acton records.  No record of parents was found.  However, research found that when James Oliver enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1838 and re-enlisted in 1843, he gave his birthplace as Acton.  Subsequent vital records for his children consistently gave his birthplace as Acton, although his wife Elizabeth Martin’s stated birthplace varied.  James settled in Natick, had a large family, and apparently died in 1870.  James’ military service included being stationed at Fort McHenry, MD and in Mexico.  His son James H. died in service in a skirmish during the Civil War.

• John, age 13.  Published, transcribed town records show John Olivers, son of Fatima, born May 10, 1805, which does not fit with this 1828 listing.  However, going back to the handwritten records, the year could be interpreted either as 1805 or 1815 (the “1” having a slight loop).  Fatima also had a child named Easter only 7 months before the transcribed birth date of May 10, 1805; an 1815 date would therefore seem more likely.

• Keziah, age 10.  Acton Birth: child of Joel and Esther, June 25, 1817.

Parlin

• Samuel, age 20.  In Acton Birth Records, but for birth in another town: son of Warner & Lydia, Mar. 19, 1808, in Solon.  (Maine, a town with known Acton connections)

Peckens

• Fletcher, age 8.  No Acton records.  Research eventually showed all three Peckens to be children of Marcus and Sally (Fletcher) Peckens.   Marcus Peckins was listed in the 1830c in Acton with unnamed children whose ages would fit Fletcher, Harriet, and Rufus.  Fletcher Peckens was born South Chelmsford c. 1819 and died 11 May 1905 in Westford. 

• Harriet, age 14.  No other Acton records.  A Fletcher genealogy reports that she was the daughter of Marcus and Sally (Fletcher) Peckens and married Milo Shed.  Milo Shed’s 1834 Lowell, MA marriage record shows a spouse name of Harriet Perkins, not Peckins or Peckens.

• Rufus, age 15.  No other Acton records.  A Fletcher genealogy reports that he was the son of Marcus and Sally (Fletcher) Peckens.  Research did not find proof of what happened to him.

Procter

• Alonzo, age 17.  No Acton Records.  A Sept. 25, 1814 baptism of 4 children of William Proctor and wife, including an Alonzo, was found in Littleton’s religious records.  No further identifying information found.

Robbins

• Cyrus, age 18.  Acton Birth: son of George W. & Rebecca, Aug. 30, 1809.

• Elbridge, age 17.  Acton Birth: son of John & Sally, March 23, 1810.  Married Charlotte White & Mary E. Hapgood.

• Hannah, age 16.  Probable Acton Birth, Hannah Dinsmore Robbins, born 7 April 1811, dau. of George W. & Rebecah. It is possible that the record belonged instead to the other Hannah Robbins, but no information was found for a separate Hannah of nearly the same age.

• Hannah ?., age 17.  No information was found about this Hannah Robbins.

• Harriet, age 8.  Acton Birth: dau. of George W. & Rebecah, Apr. 24, 1819.

• Horace, age 5.  No Acton birth record.  However, records from his later life indicate this was Horace Tuttle Robbins, born c. 1824 in Acton to Benaiah and Mary Robbins.  He lived in Lowell, Lewiston, ME, Boston and elsewhere.  He married Lydia D. Dearborn, Anna E. Hutchinson, and Addie Adelia Stearns and had children Arianna P. (Robbins) Hunt and Hannibal Power Robbins.

• Ithamar, age 11.  Acton Birth: son of George W. & Rebecah, Sept. 5, 1817.

• John, age 14.  Probably John Densmore, son of Ebenezer & Lydia, b. Sept. 14, 1813.

• John, age 11.  This name was very common.  There was not enough information available to identify another John Robbins of the right age.

• Joseph, age 8.  No Acton birth record.  Possible son of Joseph & Charlotte Robbins, born Jan. 14, 182_, baptized Apr. 28, 1827.

• Lois, age 6.  Possible Acton birth record: Lois, dau. of Abel & Mary, born Dec. 5, 1820, but the age would be off 1 year.  Gravestone of Lois Robbins, wife of John Grimes, indicates a birth year of 1821.

• Lucy, age 14. Acton Birth: dau. of John & Sally, June 4, 1813.  Married Rev. W. F. Wheeler.

• Lydia, age 15. Acton Birth: dau. of Ebenezer & Lydia, July 4, 1812.

• Mary, age 15.  No Acton birth record, but possibly Mary, child of George & Mary, baptized May 10, 1812.

• Mary, age 8.  Acton Birth: dau. Abel & Mary, Feb. 19, 1819.  Married Luke Smith.

• Uriah, age 13. No Acton records.  No positive identifying information found.

• Warren, age 15.  Acton Birth: son of George W. & Rebecah, May 6, 1813. [Married Lucy B.]

Smith

• Albert S., age 5.  Acton Birth: Albert Soloman, son of Soloman 2d and Catherine E., April 14, 1822. [Other records give the middle name as Solomon or Hayward, father as Solomon].

• Luke, age 15.  No Acton birth record.  An Acton death record states that Luke Smith was born in Acton to Solomon Smith and Lucy Nutting.  He served in the Civil War and lived in Acton.  He married Mary Robbins.  His gravestone gives his birth as Feb. 22, 1813.

Taylor

• Sophia, age 7.  Acton Birth: dau. Silas & Sophia, March 8, 1821.

Tufts

• Eliza Ann, age 10.  No Acton records and no birth record elsewhere.  However, after identifying Hannah Tufts, Eliza Ann was found to have married for the first time in 1865 at age 47; the record revealed that she was born in West Cambridge to Stephen & Lucy (Frost) Tufts. 

• Hannah, age 4.  No birth record found in Acton or elsewhere.  However, this seems to be Miss Hannah M. Tufts of Acton who filed a marriage intention with Luther B. White, apparently June 1, 1845.  (See Luther White entry.)  Hannah M. (Tufts) White’s death record gave her birthplace as Arlington and her father as Stephen Tufts.  Stephen died in Arlington in 1826, leaving widow Lucy (Frost).  Widow Lucy then married Thomas Thorp of Acton, explaining her daughters’ presence in the “East” Acton school district in 1828.  Thomas Thorp’s 1830 census entry shows young females in his Acton household who were consistent with Hannah and Eliza Ann’s ages.

Wetherbee

• Daniel, age 13.  Acton Birth: son of Edward & Susanna, Aug. 18, 1814.

• Edward, age 17. Acton Birth: son of Edward & Susanna, June 21, 1810.

• Harriet, age 9. Acton Birth: dau. of Edward & Susanna, Feb. 14, 1819.  Married Winthrop F. White.

• Oliver, age 14.  Possible Acton birth record, Oliver, son of Oliver & Polly, June 14, 1816, but the age would be off by 2 years.

• Sophia, age 11. Acton Birth: dau. of Edward & Susanna, March 11, 1817.

• Susan, age 16. Acton Birth: Susanna, dau. of Edward & Susanna, March 28, 1812.  Married Abraham M. White

Wheeler

• Aaron, age 6. Acton Birth: son of Reuben & Rhoda, July 15, 1821 (church record says July 18)

• Elmira, age 13.  Acton Birth: Almira R., dau. Reuben & Rhoda, March 17, 1814.

• Nancy, age 17.  No Acton birth record, probable baptism on July 12, 1812, child of Phineas & Hannah.

• Reuben, age 8.  Acton Birth: son of Reuben & Rhoda, Dec. 6, 1819.

• Sarah, age 10. Acton Birth: Sarah D., dau. of Reuben & Rhoda, Sept. 19, 1817.

• Timothy, age 20. Acton Birth: son of Lt. Phinehas & Hannah, Apr. 3, 1807.

• Winthrop P or F?, age 13.  No Acton birth record, probable baptism on June 11, 1815 as Winthrop Faulkner Wheeler, child of Phineas & Hannah.

White

• Abraham, age 16.  Acton Birth: Abraham M., son of John & Charlotte, Aug. 22, 1812. Married Susan Wetherbee.

• Charlotte, age 14.  Acton Birth: dau. John & Charlotte, May 1, 1814.  Married Elbridge Robbins.

• Luther, age 4. Possible Acton birth Luther B., son of John & Charlotte, July 26, 1822, but age would be off one year.

• Winthrop F., age 11.  Acton Birth: son of John & Charlotte, Sept 10, 1817.  Married Harriet Wetherbee.

Wright

• Ruth, age 5 (or 6).  Not in Acton records, and no further identifying information found.