The History and Antiquities of Boston

The History and Antiquities of Boston is a history of Boston and the surrounding area, written by Pishey Thompson and published on 23rd October 1856.

The full title of the book is "The History and Antiquities of Boston and the villages of Skirbeck, Fishtoft, Freiston, Butterwick, Benington, Leverton, Leake, and Wrangle; comprising the Hundred of Skirbeck, in the County of Lincoln. Including also a history of the East, West, and Wildmore Fens, and copious notices of the Holland or Haut Huntre Fen; a history of the River Witham; the biography of celebrated persons, natives of, or connected with, the neighbourhood; sketches of the geology, natural history, botany, and agriculture of the district; a very extensive collection of archaisms and provincial words, local dialect, phrases, proverbs, omens, superstitions, etc."

This page shows references made in "The History and Antiquities of Boston" to Boston Grammar School.

The Foundation of Boston Grammar School

Queen Mary, in the first year of her reign (1554), endowed the Corporation with the lands, &c., now called the Erection Lands, including the possession of the three then lately-dissolved Guilds of St. Mary, St. Peter, and St. Paul; and the Holy Trinity; in order that they might be the better able to support the bridge and port of Boston; both of which appear, from the words of her grant, to have been at that timein a deplorable state, and causing great charges in their daily reparation. This grant was also made to the Corporation for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a free Grammar-School in the town; and for the finding of two presbyters for the celebration of divine worship in the parish church, and for the maintenance of four beadsmen, "to pray there for ever, for the good and prosperous state of the Queen whilst living, and for her and her ancestors' souls after her decease."

The School in Wormgate

In Philip and Mary's grant to the Corporation (A.D. 1554-5), there is mention of "one house in which the Grammar School is held;" (it is there called "Scola Litteratoria in Wormgate.") this was situated at Wormgate End, "with a certain piece of ground near the same, within the same." This house is frequently mentioned in the Corporation Records. In 1570, it is said that Mr. Bonner purchased this house, paying 8l. for the fee simple thereof. The property, however, proved to be copyhold; and in December, 1572, a lease for ninety nine years was granted to him, renewable (no fine mentioned), he paying 1d. annual rent. In 1640, John Whiting, gentleman, held by lease, and used for a "mault-house," the house "sometime a grammar-school," at the further end of Wormgate, for 1d. rent. In 1680, it is called the "Old School House, corner of Wormgate, held by Mrs. Susan Sumpter."

When a Committee of the Corporation reported in 1778 respecting the old leases granted by the Corporation, they stated that the house then in tenure of widow Stanwell was "the old School House." ...

This house formerly stood open to the churchyard, all the buildings between it and the churchyard being comparatively modern. It is now reached by a narrow alley leading from the from near the south end of Wormgate on the west side, and is the property of John Goodbarne's heirs. We find the following entries in the roll of the Guild of Corpus Christi:-

1368. Magister Scolarum Boston, a member of the Guild
1400. Matilda Marfute, mistress of the school in Boston; a sister of the Guild
1445. Jacob Wake, lately master of the Grammar-school in Boston; a member of the Guild

We do not know with what institution these persons were connected; but they afford evidence of the existence of a grammar-school in Boston at a very early period.

According to Pishey Thompson's account the old School House was still standing in 1856, and he provides a picture of it. I do not know whether the house is still standing today - the houses in the area seem quite old, and the pub, formerly called the "Wormgate" was renamed a few years ago to "Goodbarn's Yard". I haven't compared the engraving of the old School House to the current buildings.

The School in South End

The lane leading to the Grammar School was formerly called the Grey Friar's Lane, and led directly to the Grey Friar's House. This establishment stood nearly north of the present Grammar School, a little more east... The mansion house of Hallgarth Manor was situated, according to an old survey of the Corporation property, between Bardyke on the east, the site of the present Grammar School on the west, the Grey Friars on the north, and the heirs of Christopher Cheyney on the south: it was standing in 1640, and rented for 40s. It appears to have been in a dilapidated condition as early as 1334, when it was stated to be worth nothing, except the two shops which were standing near the gate of the said messuage (the old entrance of the Mart Yard), which were rented during the fair time...

The Grammar School occupies part of the Hall-garth, standing immediately west of the old manor House; the present building was erected in 1567 and 1568, at the cost of 195l. 0s. 11d... The present school-house is a plain substantial brick building on a stone foundation, with stone quoins at the angles; a large square-headed window of five lights, with stone mullions and label, at the north end; and five windows, of three lights each, on each side, with stone mullions and label. The centre window on the west side being larger than the others, and contained in a rectangular projection from the main building, with an embatteled parapet. Over the door of the entrance porch, which was erected in 1850, is the following inscription:-

Hanc Scholam, primi et secundi Philippi et Mariae charta dotatam, anno autem Elizibethae nono conditam, Burgenses, quibus in tutelam venerant agri in prios usus Bostoniae dicati, Hoc Vestibulo augendam et intus denuo instruendam curaverunt,

A.D. MDCCCI,.
Georgio Edvino Pattenden, A.M., Archididascalo.
Johannes Rawson, Maior.	Jacobus Reynolds.	Thomas Small.
Johannes Caister.	Johannes Noble.	Ricardus H. Dawson
Thomas Smith.	Johannes Hobson.	Samuel Veall.
Carolus Wright.	Johannes H. Thomas.	Simpson G. Pape.

Over the entrance into the school-room is the following inscription:-

Ao 1567. - Reginae Elizabethae nono, Maior et Burgenses Bostoniae, uno et codem consensu puerorum institutionis gratia in piis litteris hanc aedificaverunt Scholam Gulielmo Ganocke stapulae mercatore et tunc Maiore existenti.

The school-room is spacious, airy, and lofty. The windows were formerly ornamented with stained glass, and contained the following arms:-

	( G. 2 lions passant or, a border arg.
Empaled.	(
	(Or, a chevron G. ---<it>Stafford</it>.
Arg. a fesse, and 3 martlets in chief, sa.
Or, on a chevron G. 3 martlets arg. between 3 fleurs de lis vert.

The number of scholars at present (1855) is ninety seven, who are educated under the regulations stated in the section on Schools, &c. There are many curious entries in the Corporation Records respecting this school, some of which will be found below.

In 1578, it was agreed "that a Dictionarye" shall be bought for the Scollers of the Free Scoole; and the same boke to be tyed in a cheyne, and set upon a deske in the scoole, whereunto any scoller may have accesse as occasion shall serve." In 1590, "convenient seats for the schoolmaster and the scholars to be placed in the church." In 1601, the Corporation purchased two dictionaries, one Greek, the other Latin, for the school. The school-master to keep the same for the use of the scholars. In 1640, the school is said to stand in the Hallgarth, with twenty four shops, the Grey Friars' land, north, the Hallgarth Manor-house, east, and the High Street, west. In 1642, the master had a house of 4l. per annum, rent-free. In 1662, the master received the following books for the use of the school. "A folio English Bible, a Scapula Lexicon, a large Calepinus Dictionary, Holyoaks's English Dictionary, large quarto, Homer's Iliad, and Tully's Six Orations. In 1680, the Grammar School and twenty-five shops are mentioned as being in the Mart Yard. In 1681, Mr. Edmund Boulter, citizen of London, presented the school with the following books:- Scapula's Lexicon, Cooper's Phrases, ERasmus' Adagies, Goldman's Dictionary, Coxford's Epithets in Introduction to the Grammar, Screvelius' Lexicon, Greek and Latin. In 1707, the Chamberlain was directed to provide a large bible for the use of the school.

The enclosure in which the Grammar School is situated was called the Mart Yard, and the great annual fair or mart was formerly, and for a very long period, held here... The Gate House to the Mart Yard was formerly situated near the site of the house now occupied by the master of the Grammar School; it was taken down in 1726, and in the succeeding year it was ordered, that, "the Mart Yard should be enclosed in front with a handsome brick wall, having a pair of handsome gates in the centre, with a wicket-gate in one of them." The last shops were taken down in 1758, and with them vanished the sole remaining memorial of the ancient purposes and uses of this enclosure. In 1767, it was ordered, "that the Mart Yard should not be rented to any person whatever;" and, in 1773, "that no soldiers should be allowed to exercise in the Mart Yard," it having been latterly used as the drill-ground for such soldiers as were quartered in the town. The front wall of the yard was removed when the house for the master of the Grammar School was erected in 1827. The town arms, at present placed over the entrance into the school-yard, were formerly attached to the centre of the screen in the church, which separated the part of the nave that contained the pews from the open portion at its west end. The "old chambers" used as a custom-house, about the end of the sixteenth century, formed part of a tenement which stood at the south-west corner of the Mart Yard. The Chantry House attached to the Guild of St. Mary, ... , formerly occupied the site of the house immediately south of that now occupied by the schoolmaster. An old plan of the town shows, that a lane formerly led from South End to Hussey Tower; it was situated near the north side of the enclosure now used as a bonding yard for timber.

There is still a remnant, in tradition of the Mart Yard, which is still the school-yard. In December each year, in the yard, the town clerk (in lieu of a town crier) proclaims the Beast Mart (Cattle Market), and the Mayor of Boston asks the Headmaster of the school to grant his students a "half holiday" (a half day off school). The holiday is granted.

It is interesting "that no soldiers should be allowed to exercise in the Mart Yard," especially given that the CCF (Combined Cadet Force) used to do exactly that on a weekly basis.

Masters and Ushers

The present Grammar School was endowed by Queen Mary, in the year 1554; but there appears to have been a grammar school existing in Boston when she made her grant to the Corporation; for one article therein is, "one house in which is kept a grammar-school." This house, "with its appurtenances," had formed "part of the possessions of the then lately dissolved Guild of St. Peter and St. Paul;" (there is a stronger evidence that it had belonged to the Guild of Corpus Christi.) and was situated at a place then called "Wormgate End." "Poe Julius' pardon," obtained by Thomas Cromwell in 1510, mentions a grammar-school established by the brethren of the Guild of the Blessed Mary: this could not be the one alluded to in the charter of Philip and Mary. We think it probable that the greater part of the Guilds had educational institutions attached to them, which, when the Guilds were dissolved, were discontinued for want of support.

"The house which the master of the school, supported by the Guild of St. Peter and St. Paul, occupied,was in Wormgate, adjoining the churchyard on the south, and the parsonage on the east, at a place called the 'North-church Stile.'" "This could not have been the same house in which the school was kept; for that was alienated in 1572." "But the house in which the schoolmaster resided was held by the Corporation in 1837, and rented by them to the trustees of Laughton's Charity."

There is no proof that ... (the first house mentioned above) ... was ever occupied by the master of any of the Guild schools. It was fitted up for the masters of the present Grammar School in 1582; and from that circumstance, probably, received the name of the Schoolmasters' House."

The present Grammar School was erected during the years 1567 and 1568, upon a portion of the Mart Yard, then called the Hall-garth: the expense of the building was 195l. 0s. 11d. There was not any house for the master until 1828 (The Corporation Records state, that, in 1628 the master dwelt in a house in the School Yard, which he rented of the Corporation.), when one was erected on another portion of the ancient Mart Yard, at an expense of 2007l. 12s., which was defrayed out of the Charity Fund. The Corporation appointed the masters, until the establishment of the Charity Trustees in 1836, and, by a resolution passed in 1746, required him to resign all ecclesiastical preferment demanding his personal attendance. The original salary was 20l. per annum, and was raised by successive allowances to 100l. In 1837, it was raised to 140l., but the master had to pay 40l. a-year rent for the new dwelling house. In 1850, the master's salary was fixed at 200l. per annum, and the dwelling-house rent-free. The usher's salary arises from the rental of the property left by Mr. Briggs in 1558, which now amounts to 127l. annually. There is also an English master, appointed by the head master, who receives a salary of 100l. per annum.

All boys, being bona fide inhabitants of Boston, are admissable into the school, where the scholars are instructed in Greek, Latin, French, German, mathematics, and every branch of a sound English education, upon payment in advance of a capitation-fee of fifteen shillings per quarter, without any extra charges. Skirbeck boys are admissable whenever there are not enough appropriate applicants from the Borough of Boston to fill up the vacancies in the school.

The under-master, or usher, is required to give instruction in the Scriptures and Catechism to the children of such parents as may desire it. The master and usher must be graduates of one of the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, or Durham, and members of the Established Church. The following is a list of the head masters from the foundation of the school to the present time:-

1567. Walter Woodroffe.	1663. Philip Ormstone.
1585. Peter Lilley.	1674. Thomas Palmer, M.A.
1588. Samuel Beadell, M.A.	1679. Edward Emerson.
1597. John Newall, A.B.	1680. Thomas Bennett.
1609. John Blackborne, M.A.	1687. Joseph Bell.
1613. Barjona Done.	1693. William Speed.
1616. John Skelton, M.A.	1697. Edward Kelsall, M.A.
1618. John Ward, M.A.	1702. Samuel Coddington.
1619. Thomas James.	1719. Thomas Coleburn.
1620. William Watson, M.A.	1726. John Rigby, M.A.
1627. Samuel Winter.	1732. Joseph Smith.
1630. William Goodwin.	1737. Matthew Robinson, M.A.
1631. George Atkinson.	1745. James Muscatt, M.A.
1639. Richard Cooper.	1758. Thomas Bateman, A.B.
1642. William King, M.A.	1769. W.S. Lewis.
1648. M. Millington, LL.B.	1769. Obidiah Bell, A.B.
1652. Eusebius Morton.	1790. John Banks, B.D. F.S.A.
1652. ----- Ashall.	1825. Thomas Homer, D.D.
1657. Richard Palfreyman.	1850. G. E. Pattenden, M.A.
1662. Johnathan Jepthcote, M.A.

Mr. Watson resigned July 9, 1627, upon being appointed Minister of Horbling.

There appears to have been some difficulty in finding a schoolmaster, as Mr. Westland was sent to Cambridge, and Mr. Coney to Lincoln, in search for one. In 1637, 5l. additional was given to Mr. Atkinson, on account of his prerequisites having been diminished through the prevalence of the plague.

Adam Orgenson, Schoolmaster, died 16th April, 1645. If he were master of the Grammar School, his appointment is not recorded; he was, probably, usher.

Dr. Bloxam, Principal of Magdelen College, Oxford, says:- "I suspect this to have been a Philip Armstone, or Ormstone, or Ormston, or Ormstrong (for I find it spelt al these ways), who, being originally of Christ College, Cambridge, was brought to Oxford by the Puritanical Party in 1648, took his degree of B.A. at this college in 1649, and was made in the same year Ostiarius of our College School, which he resigned in 1651."

A "Philip Ormston (probably the same) succeeded Dr. Humphry Babington in his sequestered living of Keyworth, in Nottinghamshire. He conformed upon the King's return, and died possessed of the Rectory if Scremby, Lincolnshire." - Kennet's Register, p. 925.

A "Philip Ormston (probably the same) was also Vicar of Claxton, Co. Leicester, from 20th February, 1660, to 1665." - Nichols's Leicestershire.

Upon Mr. Palmer's resignation in 1679, it was resolved "that whoever hereinafter is elected Schoolmaster shall, whilst he continues in that office, not accept of any parsonage, curacy, or employment whatever, or preach without license obtained from the Mayor."

Mr. Kelsall was appointed vicar in 1702

In 1728, "Leave granted to Mr. Rigby to accept Leverton Rectory, upon his engaging to attend the School, and emply a curate at Leverton."

It was the custom during Mr. Rigby's superintendance of the school, for the scholars to perform a play at the breaking up for the Christmas holidays. The "Silent Woman" was performed in 1726, the "Cautious Coxcomb" in 1727, and "Phoedra and Hippolytus" in 1731. Original Prologues and Epilogues, written by Mr. Rigby, used to be recited upon these occasions. - Minutes if Spalding Gentlemen's Society.

Mr. Robinson was also Vicar of Kirton; he died at the early age of thirty-two, and was buried in Kirton Church.

Mr. Muscatt was Rector of Little Staughton, in Bedfordshire, and was intered there.

Mr. Lewis was elected June 30th, and resigned in September, 1769.

Mr. Bell was also Vicar of Frampton.

The title of usher appears to have been dropped at the date of this appointment, when the Rev. F. Firman, B.A., was elected second master; and Mr. J. F. Bazlinton, third, or English master.

The following is as correct a list of ushers to the Grammar School as we can gather from the Corporation Records:-

1576. Mr. Pike.	1635. Richard Cooper.
1586. James Harris, B.A.	1640. Theophilus Wellfit.
1592. William Hardcastle.	1640. Jeremy Collier.
1595. Anthony Brown.	1645. Christopher Pickard.
1598. Thomas Pearson.	1646. William Folkingham.
1604. Anthony Dixon.	1649. George Cragg.
1609. John Emneth.	1656. Leonard Palmer.
1612. Robert Brough.	1657. Solomon Waters.
1617. Anthony Dixon	1679. --- Watson.
1626. Samuel Winter.	1689. Richard Edwards.
1627. --- Wallis.	1691. Robert Wright.
1627. John Rayner.	1734. Thomas Loynham.
1629. Jeremy Vasin.	1752. Charles Myers.
1633. Samuel Kendall, B.A.

There was an usher appointed in 1567, but his name is not stated.

Mr. Harris's stipend was fixed at 10l.

In 1613, a committee, consisting of Dr. Baron, Rev. John Cotton, Mr. Ingoldeby, and Mr. Wooll, was appointed to examine Mr. Emnith, and report whether he be fit to exercise the office of usher in the school, and whether he will conform himself to the rules established by Mr. Done, the master thereof. Mr. Emneth resigned on the 25th November of this year, on account of ill-health, and had a gratuity of 15l. granted him.

Mr. Dixon resigned in 1626, "having grown aged, weak, and blind;" and, "having been very serviceable in the town, had an annuity of 4l. granted him."

Mr. Vasin was afterwards rector of Skirbeck, and died January 7th, 1679.

Mr. Wright retired in 1733; he had his salaryof 30l. secured to him for life, on account of his long services; he died in 1735.

Mr. Loynham was Vicar of Frampton, and died 1752, aged forty.

After the death of Mr. Myers, the ushers appear to have been appointed by the masters, as there is no record of their election by the Corporation.

The Board of Charity Trustees

The Board of Charity Trustees, under whose direction the management of the Erection Estates and other charity funds have been placed since the passage of the Municipal Reform bill, was nominated by a master in the Chancery, and confirmed by the Lord Chancellor in 1836, and held its first meeting on the 11th of November in that year. It was not, however, until June 1850 that a plan for conducting these charities, more in unison with the desires and intentions of the donors, was finally arranged and brought into operation. The draft of this plan was agreed to by the trustees in 1849, and referred by the Lord Chancellor to a master in Chancery, who reported it with amendments, which were agreedto by the trustees; and the "scheme" so amended and adopted was confirmed by the Lord Chancellor, and brought into operation, as above stated, in June 1850.

This scheme recites that the income then received from the Erection Estate granted by Philip and Mary, and from other sources, amounted to 2011l. annually, and directed the following annual appropriations:-

	£.	s.	d.	£.	s.	d.
To the Vicar of Boston, as first presbyter, under the grant of Philip and Mary	266	13	4
To the Lecturer, as second presbyter	250	0
To the Mayor's chaplain, on the foundation of Henry Fox	120	0	0
	==	=	=	636	12	4
To the Master of the Grammar School, under the grant of Philip and Mary	200	0	0
To the second master, on the foundation of R. Briggs	120	0	0
To the English master, out of the Erection Funds	100	0	0
Retiring pension to a former master	80	0	0
	==	=	=	500	0	0
To four Queen's beadsmen, 10s. per week each, under the grant of Philip and Mary	104	0	0
To four choral beadsmen, on the foundation of R. Briggs, 15l. each	60	0	0
To ten common beadsmen, who receive at pre- sent 8s. per week each, on the foundations of Richard Briggs, Ann Carr, and Agnes Fox	208	0	0
	==	=	=	372	0	0
				==	=	=
Total Appropriations			£	1508	13	4

There is also 5l. each paid annually to the poor of Boston, Skirbeck, Fishtoft, and Benyngton.

The amount of repairs, salaries, law-expenses, land-tax, insurance, out-rents, drainage tax, &c., paid annually upon the entire estate, is about 500l.

The following summary of the annual receipts and expenditures of the Trust exhibits its affairs under another arrangement:-

		Income.			Appropriations.
		£.	s.	d.	£.	s.	d.
Grant of Philip and Mary		1440	0	0	1000	13	4
H. Fox's bequest (Mayor's chaplain)		121	0	0	120	0	0
Rd. Briggs' bequest	(usher)	127	0	0	120	0	0
"	(poor of four parishes)	23	0	0	20	0	0
"	and Ann Carr's and Agnes Fox's, for beadsmen	300	0	0	268	0	0
		===	=	=	===	=	=
	£	2011	0	0	1528	13	4

The ten common beadsmen are to have their weekly stipend (now 8s.) raised to 10s. whenever the funds appropriated to their use will permit such an increase; their pay, however, is never to exceed that amount. Any surplus which may remain after paying the ten beadsmen 10s. per week each, is to be appropriated to the establishment of additional beadsmen at the same weekly stipend. After the death of the present retired master of the Grammar School, the pension which he received (80l. per annum) is to be appropriated to the establishment of two exhibitions of 40l. a-year each, for two scholars of the Boston Grammar School, at Cambridge, Ocford, or Durham; the trustees making selection from the scholars of at least two years' standing, who may be reported worthy such reward.

The New South Class-Room

A class-room was erected in 1856 at the southern end of the school. Being exactly similar in dimensions and in architectural details to the entrance-porch at the northern end, it renders the building more uniform, and materially improves its appearance, whilst it greatly facilitates the scholastic arrangements of the institution. The class-room was erected by the Charity Trustees at a total cost of about 160l.