Journal of the Meetings of the President and Masters of William and Mary College; Qrtly, 1893 Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Journal of the Meetings of the President and Masters of William and Mary College William Stith William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Papers, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Jul., 1893), pp. 50-57. JOURNAL OF THE MEETINGS OF THE PRESIDENT AND MASTERS OF WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE. (Continued) III [22 - This page in the MS is blank.] [23] At a meeting of the Presidt; & Masters of the College of William and Mary: Present, James Blair, Presidt Wm Dawson, J. Graeme, Thos Dawson, Mastrs. The Rev. Mr. Thos Robinson(1) being elected by the visitors & Governrs Master of the Grammar School and having entered on the said office on the 20th of October last, did this day Subscribe his as- sent to the Articles of the Church of England as in ___________ (1) This was probably Thomas Robinson, s. of John of Stuble Hall, Lancashire, Pleb. Queen's Coll. matric 30 June, 1738, aged 20; B. A., 1742. He married Edith Tyler, dau. of John Tyler of James City Co. and Elizabeth, his wife. Gov. Dinwiddie wrote in 1757, that "the Visitors of the College, and the Country in general, had been greatly dissatisfied with the behaviour of the Professor of Philosophy, [Richard Graham] & the Master of the Grammar School, not only on acount of Intemperance & Irregularity laid to their Charge, but also because they had married and contrary to all rule of seats of learning kept their wives, children & servants in College which must occasion much confusion and disturbances, &c." In a letter to the Bishop of London, Aug. 12, 1765, William Robinson, the Commissary, wrote that "Mr Graham, Mr Camm, Mr Robinson (since dead), Mr Jones, had suffered deprivation founded on malice and the most frivolous pretences." Perry's Hist. Collections, Virginia. Page 51. page [19] and did also take the oath de fideli administratione as in page [2]. Present: Thos Robinson, Master. Mr Wm Parks intending to open a book-seller's shop in this Town and having proposed to furnish the students of this College with such books at a reasonable price, as the Masters shall direct him to send for and likewise to take all the schoolbooks now in the College and pay 35 p cent on the sterling cost to make it currency, his proposals are unanimously agreed to. Upon complaint of two negroes runaway from Nottoway the meeting have desired Mr Thos Dawson & John Graeme and they have agreed to go to visit that Plantan to enquire into the Matters of Fact and to endeavour to put things to rights. [24] [25] At a meeting of the President and Masters of Willm & Mary Woll: Present: The Revend Mr William Dawson President The Revend Mr Thos Dawson. The Revend Mr Thos Robinson & John Graeme. After the Death of the Revdn Mr. Jas Blair, late Presidt(1) The Govrs & vistrs having elected the Revend Mr William Dawson(2) President. He qual _______________________ (1) Dr. Blair died April 18, 1742. For a sketch of him, see Quarterly, Vol. I, No. 2, p. 5; Sprague's History of the American Pulpit, Vol. V. See also White's National Cyclopedia of Biography. (2) "William Dawson was son of William of Aspatria, Cumberland, pleb. Queen's College matric 11 March, 1719-20, B. A. 22 Feb. 1724-25, M.A. 1728, D. D. by diploma to Feb. 1746-7, then President of Williams- burg College in Virginia." - Foster's Oxford Matruculations. He was Professor of Moral Philosophy from 1729, President and Commissary. He married Mary, daughter of William and Mary (Randolph) Stith, and had a son Page 52. ified himselfe according to the Statutes by subscribing his assent to the 39 articles of the Church of England in the words following: Ego Guil Dawson Praeses Collegii Guilielmi & Mariae in Virginia, Librum deReligionis articulis, in quos consensum est ab archiepiscopis & Epicopis utrinsq Provinciae, ac reliquo omni clero, in Synodo, Londinensi, An. 1562 omnino comprobo; et omnes ac singulos articulos in ecdem contentu, (qui triginta novem citra ratificationem numerantur) Verbo Dei consentaneous esse agnosco. WILLIAM DAWSON. And then the Masters administered the oath de fideli &c to the President in the form following: Tu fidem dabis te munus Praesidis tibi comissum fideliter ad- ministraturum secundum statuta Collegii Ita Deus te adjuvet tactis sacrosanctis Christi evangeliis. [26] April 10, 1744. At a meeting of the President & Masters of William & Mary Coll: Present: The Reverd Mr Wm Dawson, Presdt, Mr John Graeme, Mr Thos Dawson, & Mr Thos Robinson, Masters. ________________________ who married --- Johnson of North Carolina, who had William Johnson Dawson, M.C. from that State, 1793-5. It appears also from Foster that Musgrave Dawson, son of William of Aspatria matriculated at Queen's College march 2, 1742-43, aged 20, and took his degree of B.A. in 1747. He came to Virginia and was minister of St. Mary's Parish. Caroline Co. What was the parentage of Hon John Dawson? born in 1762, gradu- ated at Harvard College in 1782, presidential elector 1793, member of the House of Delegates from Spotsylvania Co., 1787, of Congress 1797-1814, and died March 30. He was generally known as "Beau Dawson" from his note in the fashionable world. For notice of the Dawsons, see Wallace's Va. Hist. Mag. I p.40., White's National Cyclopedia of Biography. Page 53. Mr. Rosco Cole(1) is unanimously elected usher of the Gramr School in the room of Mr. William Yates, who has resigned. March 28, 1747. At a meeting of the President and Masters. Present: Mr. Wm Dawson, Prest, Mr Thomas Dawson, Mr Thos Robinson and Mr Preston(1), Masters. Mr John Dixson(2) is unanimously elected usher in the Room of Mr Roscow Cole, who has resigned. [Here a leaf is lost from the book] and administration of the sacraments and none other. III. That I allow the Book of Articles of Religion agreed upon by the Abps. of Bps. of both Provinces, and the whole Clergy in the covocation holden at London, in the year of our Lord God, one thousand five hundred sixty and two, and that I acknowledge all and every the articles therein contained, being in Number Nine and Thirty, besides the Ratification, to be agreeable to the word of God. William Stith, Aug. 14, 1752, Nov. 1, 1775, Thomas Dawson, Emmal Jones, Gronow Owen. Feb. 15, 1758, William Davis, I Richard Graham, do willingly & ex animo subscribe to these three articles above mentioned, & to all things that are contained in them. ___________________________ (1) Probably a son of William Cole, Jun., son of William Cole of the Council. In 1754, Minister of Warwick Parish, Warwick Co. Perry. (1) Mr. Preston, Prof. of Moral Philosophy and in 1754, minister of James City Parish. (2) Minister of Kingston Parish in 1754, and afterwards Professor of Divinity in William and Mary College. Page 54. He also took the Oath de fideli, &c. Present, Richard Graham(1) Unanimously agreed that Mrs Bryan's son-in-law finish the year; and that Mr and Mrs Crease succeed them at Lady's Day next. Augt 24, 1749. Present, Wm Dawson, Thos Dawson, Thos Robinson and Richard Graham. [30] I, John Camm, do willingly & Ex Animo subscribe to these three articles above mentioned & to all Things that are contained in them vide p. [28], [29]. He also took the oath de fideli, &c. [31] Aug. 14, 1752. At a meeting of the Masters. Present, Mr. Stith, Prt Mr Dawson, Mr Robinson, Mr Preston, Mr Graham and Mr Camm. After the Death of the Revd Dr Dawson, late President of the College, the visitors having elected the Revd Mr. Stith, A.M., President, He qualified himself according to the Statutes by subscribing his assent to the 39 articles of the Church of England in the words following: [Here follow the same oaths in Latin as wsre administered to President William Dawson, signed Gulielmus Stith.] At a meeting of ye President & Masters of William & Mary College, Sepr ye 14th, 1754, present, ____________________________ (1) Richard Graham, Prof. Mathematics. After 20 years residence in Virginia he returned to Oxford of which he was a fellow - Perry. Page 55. Ye Revd Mr Stith, President, Mr Dawson, Mr Robinson, Mr Preston & Mr Graham, ye following Orders were unanimously agreed to. 1. Ordered yt no scholar belonging to any school in the College, of wt Age, Rank, or Quality, soever, do keep any race Horse, at ye College, in ye Town - ar any where in the neighborhood - yt they be not any way concerned in making races, or in backing, or abetting, those made by others, and yt all Race Horses, kept in ye neighborhood of ye College & belonging to any of ye scholars, be immediately dispatched & sent off, & never again brought back, and all this under Pain of ye severest Adnimadversion and Punishment. 2. Ordered - yt no scholar belonging to ye College of wt Age, Rank, or Quality, soever, or wheresoever residing, within, or without ye College, do presume to appear playing or Betting, at ye Billiard or other gaming Tables, or be any way concern'd in keeping or fighting cocks under Pain of ye like severe Animadversion or Punishment. 3. Ordered, yt no Scholar, belonging to ye College do frequent, or be seen, in ye Ordinaries, in or about ye Town except they be sent for by their Relations, or other near friends. 4. And for ye more effectual Prevention of these & the like Ir- regularities, It is ordered, yt no Scholar of wt Age, Rank or Quality soever residing within ye Bounds of ye College, do presume to go out of ye said Bounds particularly towards the mill pond with out ye express Leave of this respective Master, or Tutor, first had & obtained; & in case of ye Absence of his proper master then of ye Presidnet, or of some other Master, at yt Time in College; And yt under Pain of an immediate certain & severe Animadversion & Punishment. Page 56. 5. Ordered, yt no Scholar do bring or cause to be brought any Cards or Dice, or other Implement of Gaming - yt ye having Cards or Dice, in Possession, within ye Bounds of ye College, shall be deemed & adjudged a conviction, ipso Facto, of ye crime of gaming. And yt every scholar, so detected, shall be proceeded with & punished accordingly. 6. Ordered, yt no scholar of wt Age, Rank, or Quality soever, do think, or behave himself, as if he were subject to none, but his own proper Master & not under ye controul & command of ye President, & other Masters; but let all pay a general & ready Obedience to ye President & every other Master. 7. And to ye End, yt no Person may pretend Ignorance of ye foregoing Orders & Regulations, but yt all may readily & obediently conform them- selves thereto; it is Ordered, yt they be fairly transcribed & yt a clear & legible copy of ym to be posted up in every School of ye College. WILLIAM STITH. Jan. ye 14th, 1754. At a meeting of ye President & Masters of W. & M. College. Present: Ye Revd W. Stith, President; Mr Dawson, Mr Robinson, Mr Preston & Mr Graham. Resolved, yt Will Preston be appointed Clerk to ye Meeting & yt he be allowed ye yearly Salary of ten Pounds. Resolved, yt Mr Dawson be desired to write to Mrs Clayton(1) & enquire, if she will accept of ye Place of House-Keeper to the College, at present vacant by ye Resignation of Mrs Gough. __________________________________ (1) Sister to Rev. William Dawson, deceased. She married 2dly, Gronow Owen, who was Professor of the Grammar School. Page 57. Resolved, yt a Person be appointed to hear such Boys as shall be recommended by their Parents, or Guardians a chapter in the Bible every School-Day at 12 o'clock & yt he have ye yearly salary of one Pistole for each Boy so recommended. Resolved, yt Mr Jones, ye Usher of ye College, be appointed to hear such Boys. It was proposed by ye President yt ye Bursar be obliged to give Security according to Statute. But upon a Question: Whether ye present Bursar, a sworn Master, shall be obliged to give security & yet not receive 5 per cent. wch is equally directed by ye same statute? It passed in ye negative. WILLIAM STITH.