Pelton's Private High School Students, 1852
- ahsvolunteer20
- Feb 1, 2021
- 15 min read
An earlier blog post discussed a private high school run by F. W. Pelton in the fall of 1852. An exhibition program revealed the names of students who participated in extra opportunities beyond what Acton's public schools provided that year. We researched the individuals and present brief notes below about them.
The Exhibition Participants
There are many names on Pelton’s 1852 Programme, but there were only a few that we could not track down. Perhaps those students were not residents of Acton; the school committee report of 1853 mentioned that some private school scholars in the past had come from out of town. (p. 5) In the rest of the cases, we found individuals who would have been between twelve and eighteen in the fall of 1852.
Among the sources we used were school committee reports; it is not surprising to find that young scholars who were enrolled in an extra school in the fall of 1852 were also commended for excellent attendance at the public schools.
As best we can reconstruct it, the following is our list of Pelton’s high school exhibition participants:
R. P. Bass (actually Boss)
Robert Prior Boss, Jr. was born on January 9, 1840 in Charlestown, MA and died in Acton only months after the Exhibition, on July 29-30, 1853. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery with his parents Capt. Robert P. Boss and Hannah Sampson.
For more information about the family, especially the father, see our blog post Searching for Captain Robert.
William H. Bass (actually Boss)
William Henry Boss was born about May 1842 in Charlestown, Mass. to Capt. Robert P. Boss and Hannah Sampson, brother of Robert, Jr.
Reported as neither absent nor tardy during the 1854 East School Winter Term in the school committee report.
For more information about William and the rest of the family, see our blog post Searching for Captain Robert.
During the Civil War, he enlisted in Company D, Third Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Heavy Artillery.
Acton Memorial Library’s Online Civil War archives has more information about William Boss and his Civil War service.
Arthur Harris Cowdry (Cowdrey)
Arthur H. Cowdrey was born on Jan. 17, 1836 to Acton’s doctor Harris Cowdrey and Abigail Davis. Harris Cowdrey was on the school committee before and after F. W. Pelton’s Acton teaching.
Arthur attended Lawrence Academy in 1852 and 1853, studied medicine at Berkshire Medical School, Harvard Medical School and Jefferson Medical School. Served in the Civil War and then practiced surgery and medicine in Stoneham.
Married Mary Walcott Emery on Feb. 16, 1859. Two daughters: Maud and Helen.
Acton Memorial Library’s online Civil War Archives has more information about Arthur H. Cowdrey and his Civil War service.
Miss Alice E. Davis
Alice Elizabeth Davis was the daughter of Luther Davis and Elizabeth Horne. She was born about 1840 in Acton. Birth record not found.
Reported as neither absent nor tardy in Winter Terms 1852 & 1853, East School
She never married; she seems to have kept house for her father in their home at 292 Great Road after her mother died. In 1880, she was keeping house for her brother. In 1920, she was next to his family in the census. She died in Acton on Jan. 31, 1929.
Eben Harlow Davis
Son of Ebenezer Davis and Susan Bradford. Born in Acton around 1839. Brother of Susan Augusta Davis, also on Pelton’s program. (Ebenezer Davis came onto the School Committee during F. W. Pelton’s teaching year.)
Reported as neither absent nor tardy in Winter Term 1853 and 1854 East School Winter Terms
Prepared for college at Kimball Union Academy and graduated from Dartmouth College, Class of 1861. Attended Harvard Law School for a year but had to teach to make ends meet. Made teaching his career.
In the 1865 census, he was a teacher, age 25, living with his parents Ebenezer and Susan Davis and sister Susan Augusta.
Married Elizabeth B. Tainter in Watertown, MA on June 30, 1868. Son: Robert.
Spent eight years as principal and superintendent in Nashua, NH, then several more as superintendent in Woburn, MA.
In 1884, Eben was elected superintendent of the Chelsea schools where his methods were apparently an acknowledged success. He also became a noted textbook writer.
Wife Elizabeth died Dec. 25, 1895. On July 5, 1897 in Boston, Eben married Esther D. Woodberry, (daughter of Charles & Esther). They divorced, and she remarried in 1908.
Died Dec. 2, 1915 in Chelsea, MA, buried in Acton.
The Society has a collection of documents and photographs from this family.
N. Davis – Had male part in Uncle Tom’s Cabin. We were not able to identify this person.
Susan Augusta Davis
Daughter of Ebenezer Davis and Susan Bradford, born about 1838 in Acton. (Ebenezer Davis came onto the School Committee during F. W. Pelton’s teaching year.) Sister of Eben H. Davis.
Reported as neither absent nor tardy in Winter Term 1852, 1853 & 1854 East School
Taught in Acton schools.
Married Luther Conant, also a teacher, on Jan 21, 1869 in Acton. Children: Susan, Luther, Charlotte and Augustine.
Died in Acton 3 Feb. 1903.
Rev. Benjamin Dodge
Pastor, Congregational Orthodox Church, who had been installed Oct. 28, 1952, following the tenure of Rev. J. T. Woodbury
Born Maine
In the 1855 census in Acton, Rev. Dodge was in the household of Davis Parlin (and son Henry Davis Parlin, one of the Exhibition participants). Dodge family members were Rev. Benjamin’s wife Elizabeth and children Deforest Benjamin and Francilla Elizabeth.
Acton pastorate ended April 1855.
Cyrus Granvill(e) Dole
Born 30 July 1838 to Cyrus and Sarah Ann (Hodgman) Dole, in Acton Center.
Married at age 34 to Frances A. Gassett. Had two children, son Cyrus and daughter Augusta who married Chester B. Robbins.
He was a produce dealer and had a stall in the “New Faneuil Hall” for 54 years.
Lived for many years in Cambridge or Boston. In 1897, bought the house (487 Main St.) on the farm where he grew up, along with 40 acres, to use as a summer place. Put on a fireworks show for the town there on July 4, 1897.
Died in Acton on 22 Sep 1920, age 82.
Charlotte C. Faulkner
Born in Framingham on 8 June 1838, Charlotte Cornelia Faulkner, parents Winthrop E. & Martha Abigail Adams (Bixby) Faulkner. Nickname Lottie. Sister of Winthrop H. Faulkner.
1854 South School Winter Term – neither absent nor tardy
Taught in Acton schools for 17 years
Marriage (as Lottie C.) at age 37 to George F. Flagg on June 23, 1875 in Acton. (George was a mason, age 28, born in Concord). Charlotte was widowed after only a few years.
Death Record names Charlotte Clemens Flagg, died Dec. 30, 1909, age 71 years, 6 months, 22 days.
Winthrop Harrison Faulkner
Born Jan. 14, 1841. Son of Winthrop E. & Martha A. (Bixby) Faulkner, brother of Charlotte C.
1852 and 1854 South School Winter Terms – neither absent nor tardy
Married Caroline A. Page on Nov. 22, 1865 in Lowell, MA.
Died March 10, 1885 in Cambridge, MA, where he was a grocer.
See Acton Memorial Library’s Online Civil Archives for information about Winthrop H. Faulkner’s Civil War service and later life
Abigail Billings Fletcher
Abigail Billings Fletcher was born in on Dec. 25, 1834 in Acton to John & Clarissa Fletcher. (See our blog post about shoe manufacturer John Fletcher, his politics, business, and influence on Acton center.)
Abigail was reported as neither absent nor tardy in Winter Term 1853 Centre School (with F. W. Pelton, teacher)
Abigail Billings Fletcher married, at age 22, Henry Martin Smith of Worcester, age 26, on May 3, 1857 in Acton. It was his second marriage. He was the brother of another Pelton Exhibition student Carrie H. Smith. The Society owns glass plate photographs from this Smith family.
Benjamin Hapgood
With the caveat that Benjamin Hapgood was not a unique name in Acton, the most likely candidate is Benjamin, son of Simon and Mary (Fraser). In the 1850 census, he was age 16 and had attended school within the year. In 1855, he was listed as a farmer, still in Simon Hapgood’s household. Lived in vicinity of the households of Solomon Smith and Capt. Robert P. Boss, both of whose children also attended Pelton’s school.
Farmed in Acton throughout his life. Apparently never married.
Died at age 86 years 3 months and 1 day in Acton on Feb. 28, 1920.
Calvin Harris
The 1850 census shows the household of Calvin and Harriet Harris with 14-year-old Calvin P. Harris. Harriet had only recently married Calvin Sr. It is possible that Calvin P. was born to Calvin and a previous wife, possibly Abby C. Putnam, in Arlington around 1836. We were not definitively able to connect that Calvin P. with the Pelton High School student.
Reported as neither absent nor tardy in Winter Term 1852 East School
Henry Hartwell
Henry was born in Acton to Timothy Hartwell and Lucinda Jones around 1836.
In the 1855 census, Henry Hartwell, a 20-year-old shoemaker, was living with Silas & Lucinda Jones.
Married in Acton on April 1, 1863, to Augusta H. Penniman, born Carlisle to Otis and Elizabeth.
Shoemaker until at least 1865, living in Acton.
By 1870, was working for the Fitchburg Railroad. Engineer Henry Hartwell (age 34) was living in West Acton with wife Augusta Hutchinson Hartwell (age 23) and three children Herman Otis., Bertha May, and Emma A.
In the 1870s, moved to Concord, where he was a railroad watchman in 1879, gateman in 1886, and a crossing tender in 1900. Additional Children: Herbert H. and Nettie Elizabeth.
He seems to have gone to Los Angeles (where his daughter lived) and died there in 1906.
Cyrus Hosmer
Born in Acton to Samuel Hosmer and Jerusha Barker probably April 9, 1834
In 1850 household of Samuel Hosmer (with step-mother Mary Conant and her children Mary E. and Charles F. Spaulding, both Pelton High School students). In 1855, Cyrus was listed in his own household with Mary Matilda Hosmer.
Occupation - in early adulthood, mast hoop maker like his father, later a mechanic or woodworker.
Married four times
Mary Matilda Brown, born in Stow to John Brown and Almira Chapin. Married April 22, 1855 in Stow, died Nov. 3, 1863. Children: Addie Sophia and John Franklin Hosmer.
Mary Esther Hutchins of Acton (born Westford c. 1835 to John & Lois), married on April 24, 1864. She died in Westford, MA on Nov. 4, 1869. Child Hattie Sargent Hosmer born and died 1869.
Lucy Maria Farrington, b. in Northborough, May 21, 1842 to Daniel and Mary Farrington, married in Lowell on April 19, 1870. Died in Lowell July 26, 1890. Child Wilbur Farrington Hosmer.
Martha Ann Lathrop on Sept. 15, 1891 in Boston. (She was a dressmaker, born in Coles County, Illinois c. 1840 to Rufus Lathrop and Ruth Shaw.) Died in Dracut, MA Feb. 24, 1908.
Apparently lived in Acton, Westford, and Lowell at various points.
Died Feb. 6, 1919 in Wakefield, MA where he had been living with his son Wilbur.
A C Miles (female part in Uncle Tom’s Cabin) – This may have been a typo. We were not able to pin down an A.C. Miles.
Annette E. Miles
Born in Littleton on Oct. 10, 1833 to physician John Murray Miles and Myra Kings (or possibly Taylor)
On Aug. 15, 1854, Annette married Martin J. Hubbard of Hopkinton, (a shoemaker, age 23, born Chesterfield NH son of Eben), probably in Groton on Aug 15, 1854. (It was Martin’s 2nd marriage, Annette’s first). Three children: Nellie A., Edward M. and Edgar S.
Martin, a Civil War veteran and policeman, died in Worcester in 1889. Annette lived in Worcester for a number of years, after which she moved in with her daughter in Wellesley, MA. Annette died in 1926.
Augusta Sophia Miles
Augusta Sophia Miles born about 1836 in Littleton to Dr. John M. and Myra Miles
Reported as neither absent nor tardy in Winter Term 1853 Centre School (with F. W. Pelton, teacher)
1854 Centre School Winter Term – mentioned as tardy only once, “from necessity”
Married Silas Raymond Huse, (b. Brookfield VT, residence Waterbury VT, son of Eben B. and Sophronia R. Huse) on Oct. 1. 1857 in Acton. Apparently a double wedding with Luther R. Forbush (b. Acton to Abel & Susan Forbush, 32, hotel keeper, 2nd marriage) and Augusta’s sister Louisa Maria Miles (b. Littleton April 10, 1832, 1st marriage).
Edwin F. Parker
Edwin Francis Parker was living in the household of Asa and Eliza Parker in 1850 and 1855 (age 18) in Acton. By 1855 Edwin was listed as a farmer. Birth record not found for an Edwin or Francis Parker in Acton. Asa Parker died in Nov. 1855. In January 1856, Edwin F. Parker of Acton, son of Asa, requested that George G. Parker of Milford, MA be appointed his guardian.
May have been the full brother of George G. Parker (born in Acton to Asa and Ann Margaret Parker) who graduated from Union College in 1852 and settled in Milford, MA in 1856. The college may have been F. W. Pelton's connection to Acton.
An Edwin (middle initial possibly T.) Parker, a druggist born in Acton c. 1838 to Asa and Rachel Parker, married Amelia J. Aldrich of Milford, MA on May 1, 1861.
Asaph Parlin
Asaph Parlin Jr., son of Asaph and Sarah Farrar Sanderson, was born April 12, 1837 in Carlisle.
Farmer. Married Candace Marie Pike on Feb. 21, 1861, resided in Acton. Son: Gilman Henry.
Sister Mary Ann married Henry Davis Parlin, a distant cousin and fellow Pelton High School student. In 1910, after they were both widowed, Asaph and sister Mary Ann lived together. Asaph at that time was serving as school janitor.
Asaph died Oct. 11, 1922.
His home near the Town Hall and Memorial Library is now owned by the town of Acton.
H A Parlin – male part in Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
This could have been an error. We were not able to pin down an H. A. Parlin.
Henry Davis Parlin
Henry D. Parlin was born at Acton, Aug. 2, 1836 to Davis Parlin and his second wife Sarah Keyes.
Reported as neither absent nor tardy in the 1852 and 1854 Centre School Winter Terms.
Reported as neither absent nor tardy in Winter Term 1853 Centre School (with F. W. Pelton, teacher)
At age 23, Henry D. Parlin married Mary Ann Parlin, (daughter of Asaph Parlin, sister of classmate Asaph Parlin, and Henry’s 2nd cousin once removed. She was born in Westford but was living in Acton. Marriage in Acton on Nov. 17, 1859.
In 1870 and 1880 lived with Mary Ann in her father Asaph’s household; he was working on the farm.
Henry died Dec. 14, 1899 in Acton.
Served in the Civil War. See Acton Memorial Library’s Online Civil War Archives information about Henry D. Parlin.
Miss Mary Augusta Richardson
Mary Augusta Richardson, born July 3, 1840 in Acton to Charles F. Richardson and Mary Davis. Mary was a Hosmer descendant.
At age 19, Mary Richardson, married Nov. 24, 1859 Francis (Frank) Hosmer of Acton. Frank was age 24, a hoopmaker, born in Acton to Samuel and Jerusha Hosmer, brother of Pelton student Cyrus Hosmer and step-brother to Charles F. and Mary Elizabeth Spaulding, both also students at the Pelton school.
Mary died Aug. 4, 1926 in Acton.
Elbridge Jones Robbins
Son of Elbridge Robbins and Charlotte White, born in Acton, Oct. 1834
In the 1855 census, the family of Elbridge Robbins, age 44, included Elbridge Jones Robbins (age 20) and Luke Robbins (age 18)
At age 27, Elbridge J. Robbins (Produce Dealer) married Ellen Maria Ames on Feb. 13, 1862 in Acton. She died of tuberculosis on Sept. 25, 1875 in Acton.
Son Fred Linwood Robbins, George Laforest Robbins
o Married Lelia A. Farnum on Dec. 28, 1876 in Acton.
Son Chester B. Robbins
Farmer and cattle dealer in East Acton.
See Acton Memorial Library’s Online Civil War Archives information about Elbridge J. Robbins
Luke Robbins
Born in Acton Sept. 3, 1837 to Elbridge and Charlotte (White) Robbins. Brother of Elbridge J. Robbins.
In the 1855 census, he (age 18) and his brother Elbridge Jones Robbins (age 20) were both listed in the family of Elbridge Robbins, age 44.
Served in the Civil War in the Navy, killed in action in Galveston, Texas on May 24, 1865.
See Acton Memorial Library’s Online Civil War Archives information about Luke Robbins
Luke Jones Robbins
Born in Acton Sept. 6, 1836 to Luther Robbins and Lucinda Jones
Worked as a carpenter. Served in the Civil War.
Married three times
Anne Elizabeth Clough, born Saco, ME, c. 1835-1838, daughter of Sarah. Married Dec 14, 1856, probably in Holliston, MA where both were living. Died Sept. 29, 1865 in Acton.
Mary Warren Blodgett, born in Acton July 10, 1843 to Jonas and Ann (Piper) Blodgett. Married Feb. 3, 1867 in Acton. Died Nov. 28, 1876 in Acton.
Sons: Horace Herbert Robbins, Harry G. Robbins.
Julia Anna Barrett, born Stoddard, NH c. 1842 to Levi & Julia Barrett. Married Feb. 25, 1877 in Acton.
Died Feb. 8, 1912 in Acton.
See Acton Memorial Library’s Online Civil War Archives information about Luke J. Robbins
F. Russel (male part in Uncle Tom’s cabin) – No further information has been uncovered.
Caroline Hayward Smith
Carrie Hayward Smith was born in Acton on Sept. 19, 1836 to Solomon Smith & Catherine E. Faulkner.
Reported as neither absent nor tardy in Winter Terms 1852, 1853 and 1854 East School
Married pencil manufacturer Horace Hosmer on April 30, 1868 in Acton. (He was age 37, born Concord to Joseph & Lydia (Davis) Hosmer, his 2nd marriage.) Carrie’s brother Henry also went into the pencil manufacturing business.
Child: Emily Bertha Hosmer
Carrie died of chronic Epilepsy on March 2, 1900 in Acton.
Charles Francis Spaulding
Born about 1837 to Charles and Mary (Conant) Spaulding
In the 1850 census, he was living with his mother Mary and stepfather Samuel Hosmer (Mast Hoop Maker). Also in the household were his sister Mary E. Spaulding and Cyrus Hosmer, apprentice, both Pelton High School students.
Reported as neither absent nor tardy in Winter Term 1853 Centre School (with F. W. Pelton, teacher)
In the 1855 census, Charles Francis Spaulding, student, was still in the household of Samuel and Mary Conant Spaulding Hosmer, along with his sister Mary Elizabeth Spaulding
Charles died Dec. 12, 1859 in Acton of Consumption. He was listed as a student, aged 22.
C. H. Spaulding – A male part in Uncle Tom’s Cabin
No other information available. Possibly a typo.
Miss Mary Elizabeth Spaulding
Born c. 1840 (possibly on March 26) in Brighton or Cambridgeport, MA to Charles Hastings Spaulding and Mary Conant, sister of Charles Francis Spaulding.
In the 1850 census, she was living with mother Mary and stepfather Samuel Hosmer (Mast Hoop Maker). Also in the household were her brother Charles F. Spaulding, Cyrus Hosmer, apprentice, and Francis “Frank” Hosmer.
Reported as neither absent nor tardy in Winter Term 1853 Centre School (with F. W. Pelton, teacher) and in the 1853 Summer Centre School
Married William H. Teele, an Acton farmer, on July 31, 1856 in Concord, MA (?) at age 16. (See his entry below.) Ten children.
Descendants have donated various items from the Teele family to the Society.
Died May 3, 1908 in Acton.
Family of Mary (Spaulding) and William H. Teele (seated, 2nd and 4th from the right, respectively) William H. Teel (Teele)
Born about 1837 in Charlestown or Somerville, MA to Jonathan W. Teele and Emeline Learned.
Married Mary Elizabeth Spaulding (see her entry above). Ten children, eight of whom lived to adulthood.
Farmed and had ice business for many years in West Acton. Sold to the Boston market.
Lived in Acton 70+ years. Died in Acton on Jan. 2, 1923.
Miss Angelia Tuttle
Born May 30, 1838 in Acton Center to Joseph W. Tuttle and Henrietta Jones. Their family lived briefly in Shirley and Leominster after her birth, then came back to Acton Center and South Acton.
According to a reminiscence at Jenks Library, Angelia attended school for a time in Cambridge, probably after the 1852 school.
Also according to the reminiscence, she married Edward Nelson Robbins at #38 Sheafe Street in Boston on Nov. 12, 1857, although Acton’s vital records indicated that she married him Nov. 13, 1857 in Acton. He was born in Acton, the son of Tilly and Joanna Robbins. Children: Nettie and Clifford Warren Robbins.
During the 1860s and 18780s, the family moved a number of times, living in South Acton, Boston, and Chelsea, MA and Keene, NH in 1870-1872. Spent late 1870s-1898 in South Acton.
Husband Edward died in 1898. Angelia spent time in Waltham and South Acton after that.
Died Oct. 14, 1932 in Waltham, MA.
H Tuttle (female part in Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
We were not able to determine who this person was.
Mary Maria Tuttle
Born in Acton, MA c. Jan. 1837 to Charles and Maria Hildreth Tuttle. In the 1850 census, her family was listed immediately after the Asaph Parlin family.
Reported as neither absent nor tardy in Winter Term 1853 Centre School (with F. W. Pelton, teacher)
1854 Centre School Winter Term – mentioned as tardy only once, “from necessity”
In 1860, Mary M. Tuttle, 23, was living with her parents and working as a teacher.
On Aug. 1, 1862 in Thetford, VT, married Thomas N. Chase whose career included teaching at Atlanta University.
Died Rockingham, VT on April 24, 1900 at age 63 years, 3 months, and 6 days. Birthplace given as Acton, MA.
Miss Sophia Taylor Tuttle
Sophia Taylor Tuttle was born in Acton on Aug. 14, 1839 to Francis Tuttle and Harriet Wetherbee, the youngest of 12 children. In 1846, her family moved to the house now home to the Acton Historical Society.
Working at her brother James Tuttle’s store in South Acton, she met Andrew Thomas Haynes, a trader, whom she married on Dec. 25, 1862. The marriage would have taken place at the Society’s “Hosmer” House.
The couple lived briefly in Springfield, MA and then settled in North Sudbury where Thomas died of Tuberculosis on July 13, 1866.
Sophia moved back to Acton and lived in her siblings’ households in South Acton for the rest of her life.
Sophia died Mar. 23, 1924 in Acton. She was buried with her husband in Sudbury, MA.
Miss Clara Wetherby (Wetherbee)
Born 16 Sept. 1839 in Acton to Daniel Wetherbee and Clarissa Jones
1854 East School Winter Term – neither absent nor tardy
Listed as a former student in Catalogue of the Teachers and Pupils of the Concord School, as of June 1, 1860. This was a private school (49 Sudbury Road) run by Franklin Benjamin Sanborn, a Harvard graduate and friend of Ralph Waldo Emerson. It was in existence ~1857-1862.
Married 11 Sept. 1866 to Joseph R. Bassett in Acton. Three (known) children: Minnie G., Blanche M., and Eva C.
Died Acton 31 July 1892 of anemia in Acton.
Obviously, our synopses of the lives of the participants in Pelton’s exhibition are brief, but it is clear that his students had a variety of life experiences in later years. Some stayed in Acton, while others found opportunities elsewhere. They faced the tumultuous 1850s and 1860s in which the issues that were discussed in the Exhibition eventually led to the Civil War. Despite their different life circumstances, all were probably, as Eben H. Davis said, “opened to new lines of thought” as a result of their time in Pelton’s High School.
We would like to acknowledge Elizabeth Conant (1929 - 2013) whose years of work at Jenks Library are still yielding insights for us and whose helpful notes on Pelton’s Programme got us started on this project.
