Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 2.

‘[p. 29] from Maiden road to the shipyards and river, one hundred feet, southerly on land of Daniel Copeland twenty six rods ten links, easterly on land of Richard Hall one hundred feet, northerly on land of said Hall twenty six rods ten links to the lane aforesaid.’ This land in accordance with the vote of the town was sold with the building upon it to Hezekiah Blanchard for six hundred dollars. The record of the deed bears date April 11, 1800. The opinions of the town were divided fairly evenly, for in true ‘dog-in-the-manger’ style it was voted again, March 2, 1807, ‘That the Town will not enlarge the old school house,’ then ‘to reconsider the former vote for not enlarging the school house.’ ‘Voted That a Committee of five be chosen to report at the April meeting what will be best to do with the school house.’ ‘Voted To reconsider the above vote and that they will have the school house enlarged.’ ‘Voted To choose a Committee to enlarge the school house of three, to proceed to make the enlargement without Delay.’ Nathaniel Hall, Nathan Wait, Ebenezer Hall were chosen the committee. Then, having reached this conclusion, another permanent improvement was decided upon, ‘to have a well dug in a suitable place for the use of the school,’ and the above committee were ‘to dig a well and Fix a pump in the same with a Bason chained on.’ May 11 of the same year it was voted ‘to have an assistant employed in the Town School to be provided by the school committee as they may think proper.’ Then, having decided to be good-natured, they further voted to rebuild the forms and benches in the old school-house and make it comfortable for the old teacher and the new.

Samuel Weed, of Amesbury, Harvard, 1800, was the teacher at this time, his service extending from Feb. 3, 1806, to Aug. 24, 1807. Abijah Kendall began his work in the school July 27, 1807, and was probably the assistant authorized by vote of May 11. Mr. Weed received one hundred dollars a quarter and board, and Mr. Kendall