Headmasters of Lewisham Grammar School 1652-1894
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' , .'v •-:, -:*>;; ,,,-;;,: :: "• /!"••• •'1111 ' 1s , , '••. v,.../-•,...; • •,..;•; • .•••,:. , -. ©rammar 0tl)00l 1052 to Colfe'0 (Srammar Scbool, Xewiabam. Xist of Ibeafc The following list of Head Masters has been prepared as an appendix to the paper read'before this Society by Dr. Bramley, at the Grammar School, in June, 1888, on the Life and Times of the Rev. Abraham Colfe, vicar of Lewisham 1610 to 1657, and Founder of the School. It should be explained that the school possesses no registers or records that throw any light either on the Head Masters or their method of work, and the information in one or two instances might well be extended. I should, therefore, be glad of any notes on the subject which will amplify these short biographies of the men who have presided over Lewisham's oldest institution (next to the Parish Church) since its foundation by Mr. Colfe two and a half centuries ago. In the paper referred to above (which has been printed) will be found an account of the school and its founder; but it will not be out of place here to append the directions given by Mr. Colfe in his will for the election of the Head Master:— "Item, my will is that from the month of April, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty-Six, and thence forward only, Thirty Pounds of lawful money shall be paid every year, yearly, but of my estate, for teaching Thirty-One Youths or Male Children of the Laity, besides the Children of the Ministers incumbent, chosen out of all the Parishes of the Hundred of Black- heath freely, to a learned Scholar and exact Grammarian, who is sound in the true Religion, and testified and found to be of an honest, upright and godly life, and shall be examined and approved by Three of the chief Schoolmasters of Three of the chief Free Schools in and about the City of London, namely, at Westminster, at Paul's, and at Merchant Taylors' School; also by the President and Deans and Assistants of Sion College in London, and by the several Pastors and Ministers incumbent (being lawfully ordained ministers) of Greenwich, Deptford, Charlton, Woolwich, Eltham, Leigh and Lewisham in Kent, under the Hands of the whole, or at least Nine of them, of which number my earnest desire is that the Three chief Schoolmasters before-mentioned, the President of Sion College, the proper Pastors of Greenwich, Deptford, Leigh and Lewisham, being lawfully ordained ministers and nearest the Gram- mar School, shall set their hands that he is a very able and sufficient LIST OF THE HEAD MASTERS OF COLFE'S GRAMMAR SCHOOL, LEWISHAM. 5 Scholar to teach the Latin and Greek Tongues, both in Prose and to Abraham Colfe, "patrono suo hujusce Scholee fundatori." A copy Verse; and also able to teach the Hebrew, and so to make every exists in the school library, as also of " An Exposition of the Book way fitting Scholars to be sent to the University of Oxford and Cam- of the Prophet Isaiah,'! by W. Day, M.A., late Fellow of King's bridge, which Schoolmaster shall be chosen* by the Electors in the College, Cambridge; London 1654—probably the work of his strict manner after-mentioned to be the chief master of the Free brother. Grammar School of Lewisham, and who shall dwell in a House near Mr. Day's will was dated 25th September, 1663. He styles the School (both of them, through God's great mercy, already himself " Matthew Day, D.D., vicar of Staines in Middlesex." He finished, and the School first opened in June, in the year One wishes to be buried in the church of New Windsor. He leaves to Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty two, being four years past) upon his eldest son, Matthew Day, his scale ring; to his eldest daughter, the Right hand of the Hill going up from Lewisham to the Common Mary Day, all his late wife's apparel; and he mentions his second of Blackheath." daughter Elizabeth Day, his brother Mr. William Day, his mother The Lord of the Manor was also to have the privilege of nom- Mrs. Mary Day of New Windsor, and his late wife's father David inating " any learned Westminster Scholar that hath taken Degrees Stokes, D.D.* and Prebend of Windsor. He had property at Langley in the University to stand in election with One or Two, or Three Marsh, co. Bucks. This will was proved i8th Nov., 1663 (P.C.C. more (to be nominated by the Wardens of the Leathersellers' Com- 129 Juxon). pany in London and by the Ministers of the Hundred of Blackheath)," Mr. Colfe in his will provided that, in the event of Mr. Day's and the donor's kindred were to have a prior claim. removal, " Mr. Peter Samwayest (one of Westminster School), if he These regulations were, in the main, complied with until the will, or any other very learned and godly school master," should be election of the present Head Master. By the new scheme, under chosen. which the school now exists, the Governors have an unfettered On the first vacancy occurring the choice fell on choice. I have to gratefully acknowledge the help accorded me by Dr. Bramley in drawing up this list of his predecessors, and especially II.—THE REV. MARMADUKE MILLINGTON, 1660-1677, his kindness in placing at my disposal the results of many hours' who succeeded Mr. Day in 1660. He was LL:B. of Magdalene searching amongst the muniments of the Worshipful Company of College, Cambridge, 1641. Leathersellers, to whom, for the permission given to search their In the Greenwich marriage register for 1667 occurs, under date records, the best thanks of the Society are due. of January i6th, the following: "Marmaduke" Millington, of Lewis- ham School, and Ann , of this Parish, widow." Lewisham, LELAND L. DUNCAN. He died in 1677, and was buried in the churchyard at Lewis- ham, administration of his effects being granted to Hannah, his The Grammar School was opened on loth June, 1652, the first widow, on I4th April 1677. Head Master, appointed by the Founder, being— Mrs. Millington died in 1682, and the following is an extract I.—THE REV. MATTHEW DAY, 1652-1660. of her will:— He was educated at Eton, from whence he became Fellow of King's " I Hannah Millington do make this my will, &c. My body to College, Cambridge, in 1630, B.A. 1633-4, M.A. 1637. In 1642, on be secretly interred. I appoint Mrs. Trotter widdow and Mr. John the presentation of Eton College, he became rector of Everdon, Newman of Lewisham in Kent, supravisors. To my nephew Wm. Northamptonshire, of which he was deprived by the Parliamentary Dighton and Elizabeth Dighton his sister and Hannah and Susan his Visitors in 1646. Mr. Colfe selected him to be the first head master sisters and to my nephew Lanier Gale and George Gale to every one of his new school in 1652, which office he held until the return of equal portions of my houses &c. in Backlane in East Greenwich. the King, when he was presented by Charles II to the vicarage of My plate and rings, &c., in equal portions to my sister Parr and my Staines, in Middlesex. He was admitted to the Prebend of Neasdon, sister Dighton and my sister Gale. My money between my sister in St. Paul's Cathedral, 2Sth August, 1660, on the presentation of Elizabeth Pair my sister Dighton and my sister Gale. To Mr. the Bishop of London, and in 1661 received the degree of S.T.P. He died in 1663, his vacancy in the Prebend being filled on loth of October, and at Staines oft 13* idem. * Colfe in his will mentions that he had lent to Doctor David Stoakes, of He was author of a little 8vo book of eighty pages—iraptitflohai, Eaton, a Greek and Syriac New Testament. This was duly returned, and is now sive excerpta in sex priores Homeri Iliados libros, 1652—dedicated in the School Library. t Mr. Samwayes was of Trinity College, Cambridge, and rector of Bedal and Wath, Yorkshire (p. 33, "Scholars of Westminster," by J. Welch). 6 LIST OF THE HEAD MASTERS OF COLFE'S GRAMMAR SCHOOL, LEWISHAM. 7 Mercer £20. Dated n March, 1681. Witnesses John Bickley, shire, exors., who with Madam Ball her godmother I make gardians Gertrude Bickley, Ales Dandreg."* of my said daughter. (Signed) Mary Newman. Wit. Thos. Wyatt, On i gth July, 1682, administration of the goods, &c., of Hanna Sarah Hemsted."* Millington, late of the parish of All Hallows in the Wall, London, Proved nth Feb., 1689-90, by Isaac Tucker, father, and widow, deceased, was granted to Elizabeth Pare, wife of John Pare, reservation to Isaac Tucker, brother, the other executor. sister of the deceased. PEDIGREE FROM WILLS, &c. me K.CV. j III.—THE REV. JOHN NEWMAN, 1677-1687, Rector of Great Wratting, Suffolk, living 1689 1662 to 1709, Was appointed headmaster in 1677, on the death of Mr. Millington. buried there 27 June, 1709 He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, B.A. 1672-3, M.A. 1676. 1 • II II Isaac Ann T. Arthur Sarah == Rev. John He married Mary, daughter of the Rev. Isaak Tucker, rector of Newman living Tucker of bapt. at Tucker Tucker Turner Great Wratting, Suffolk, and sister of Sarah, the wife of the Rev. living 1689 Ashby cum Great (Head- John Turner, who succeeded him in the headmastership. 1689 Fenby, Wratting master). - He died in 1687, and was buried at Lewisham.