The First Graduating Class of the Williams School

The Williams School First Graduating Class - 1861

The Old Williams School

Walnut Street, Chelsea

Built in 1861

Destroyed in the 1908 fire.

It was fast approaching fifty years since Abbot Bassett graduated from the Old Williams School on July 23, 1861. Abbot a member of the first graduating class of the Williams School, could not remember the school building ever being called the Williams School. It was always referred to as the "Boys' Grammer School" and Abbot's diploma stated the same. There was only one other grammer school in the city at that time, the "Girls' Grammar School," which later became the Shurtleff School.

When the scheme for naming the schools was approved, the names of the tenant farmers of the Bellingham farms were chosen. Henry Howell Williams, for whom the Williams School was named, rented the whole of Noddle's Island for farming purposes. This was the farm that was raided and burned in the Battle of Chelsea Creek in May of 1775. In addition to Noddle's Island, Williams also conducted a dairy and poultry farm in Winnisimmet Village, which he called Howell Place. In 1800, Williams moved to Winnisimmet Village and took up residence in the mansion house erected by Samuel Watts, the original owner. The mansion was on the slope of a hill on the northerly side of Beacon Street between Pembroke and Tremont Street. This hill ran down to a beautiful sandy beach. On December 26, 1802, Henry Williams passed away. Williams' son Thomas, managed the Noddle Island farm until the East Boston Improvement Company took over the land ending a seventy year claim by the Williams family.

The Williams School opened in January 1861 and graduated it's first class the following July. Abbot said they were a very happy bunch of boys when they left the "red ark" on Maverick Street and entered the "palatial" edifice on Walnut Street where everything was clean and new and up to date. The big desks with the lifting covers were great for hiding actions from the teacher such as biting an apple or to crack peanuts. Mr. John P. Payson was the Master and as Abbot Bassett stated: "Mr. Payson was a master of the old-school type in the matter of discipline, and that means that he knew no other rule than of the active rattan." The students thought him unjust and unfair in many instances and with time never changed their opinion. Abbot admitted the man had many admirable qualities and as a teacher was remarkably talented. Master Payson tried to encourage the formation of a debating club after school, but the boys were anxious to get home to dinner and did not relish public speaking. Payson next tried "bean bags" but this was considered a girls' game. Finally, Payson began to teach the boys to sing, something only the girls were taught. This was the beginning of the idea that boys be taught singing in the Chelsea schools.

In the words of Abbot Bassett: "I don't believe it ever fell to the lot of many boys to have a more pathetic graduation than that which we had to go through. On Sunday July 21, 1861 the very disastrous battle of Bull Run occurred. The first big battle of the Civil War was a decided defeat for the Union Army. Chelsea Company H First Massachusetts Regiment was engaged in it and lost several men. The company was the first to go from this city and in it's ranks were sons, brothers, and husbands. Two days later on the twenty-third of July, and when the incomplete returns of the dead and wounded had been received, we gathered for our graduation exercises. Every person was in a state of suspense and dread fearing later news would bring further disaster. It should have been a time of rejoicing for the students, but it was a most mournful occasion."

The foregoing was adapted from a story by Abbot Bassett on the fiftieth anniversary of the first graduating class of the Old Williams School in 1861, of which he was a member. Abbot Bassett was the publisher of the Chelsea Public, a weekly newspaper and served as a member of the Chelsea School Board in the 1870's. Mr. Bassett was prominent in the League of American Wheelmen, an organization of bicycle enthusiasts in the late nineteenth century and served as its secretary for a number of years.

The Williams School First Graduating Class - 1861
	The Old Williams School Walnut Street, Chelsea Built in 1861 Destroyed in the 1908 fire.
It was fast approaching fifty years since Abbot Bassett graduated from the Old Williams School on July 23, 1861. Abbot a member of the first graduating class of the Williams School, could not remember the school building ever being called the Williams School. It was always referred to as the "Boys' Grammer School" and Abbot's diploma stated the same. There was only one other grammer school in the city at that time, the "Girls' Grammar School," which later became the Shurtleff School. When the scheme for naming the schools was approved, the names of the tenant farmers of the Bellingham farms were chosen. Henry Howell Williams, for whom the Williams School was named, rented the whole of Noddle's Island for farming purposes. This was the farm that was raided and burned in the Battle of Chelsea Creek in May of 1775. In addition to Noddle's Island, Williams also conducted a dairy and poultry farm in Winnisimmet Village, which he called Howell Place. In 1800, Williams moved to Winnisimmet Village and took up residence in the mansion house erected by Samuel Watts, the original owner. The mansion was on the slope of a hill on the northerly side of Beacon Street between Pembroke and Tremont Street. This hill ran down to a beautiful sandy beach. On December 26, 1802, Henry Williams passed away. Williams' son Thomas, managed the Noddle Island farm until the East Boston Improvement Company took over the land ending a seventy year claim by the Williams family. The Williams School opened in January 1861 and graduated it's first class the following July. Abbot said they were a very happy bunch of boys when they left the "red ark" on Maverick Street and entered the "palatial" edifice on Walnut Street where everything was clean and new and up to date. The big desks with the lifting covers were great for hiding actions from the teacher such as biting an apple or to crack peanuts. Mr. John P. Payson was the Master and as Abbot Bassett stated: "Mr. Payson was a master of the old-school type in the matter of discipline, and that means that he knew no other rule than of the active rattan." The students thought him unjust and unfair in many instances and with time never changed their opinion. Abbot admitted the man had many admirable qualities and as a teacher was remarkably talented. Master Payson tried to encourage the formation of a debating club after school, but the boys were anxious to get home to dinner and did not relish public speaking. Payson next tried "bean bags" but this was considered a girls' game. Finally, Payson began to teach the boys to sing, something only the girls were taught. This was the beginning of the idea that boys be taught singing in the Chelsea schools. In the words of Abbot Bassett: "I don't believe it ever fell to the lot of many boys to have a more pathetic graduation than that which we had to go through. On Sunday July 21, 1861 the very disastrous battle of Bull Run occurred. The first big battle of the Civil War was a decided defeat for the Union Army. Chelsea Company H First Massachusetts Regiment was engaged in it and lost several men. The company was the first to go from this city and in it's ranks were sons, brothers, and husbands. Two days later on the twenty-third of July, and when the incomplete returns of the dead and wounded had been received, we gathered for our graduation exercises. Every person was in a state of suspense and dread fearing later news would bring further disaster. It should have been a time of rejoicing for the students, but it was a most mournful occasion." The foregoing was adapted from a story by Abbot Bassett on the fiftieth anniversary of the first graduating class of the Old Williams School in 1861, of which he was a member. Abbot Bassett was the publisher of the Chelsea Public, a weekly newspaper and served as a member of the Chelsea School Board in the 1870's. Mr. Bassett was prominent in the League of American Wheelmen, an organization of bicycle enthusiasts in the late nineteenth century and served as its secretary for a number of years.