Midland Churches: A History of the Congregations on - General ...

paid out <strong>of</strong> his personal estate ; <strong>the</strong> interest on Lgoo to be paid to <strong>the</strong>
master, and that on g100 to be paid to a standing fund for repairs and
books. He also bequea<strong>the</strong>d to Thomas, John, and Samuel Read (whom
he appointed his executors), after <strong>the</strong> death <strong>of</strong> his wife [she died 1806,
G.E.E.] L300, to be vested in seven respectable persons regularly attending
Divine service in <strong>the</strong> new meeting-house, who were to apply <strong>the</strong> interest
<strong>of</strong> A200 towards <strong>the</strong> support <strong>of</strong> public worship <strong>the</strong>re ; <strong>of</strong> 650 towards <strong>the</strong>
support <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sunday Schools ; and <strong>of</strong> ,G50 towards instructing and training
poor children in <strong>the</strong> borough and foreign <strong>of</strong> Kidderminster, whe<strong>the</strong>r
parishioners or not, in piety, industry, and useful learning.
An early reference to <strong>the</strong> charity school, established very soon after
<strong>the</strong> foundation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> society, is that in <strong>the</strong> Church Book, when, on 26
December, 1786, it was resolved :--That <strong>the</strong> Cloathing shall be dark brown
and a red Cape for Boys, and dad broze~n ayzd red binding for <strong>the</strong> Girls, to be
ready against <strong>the</strong> Chario Sermon.
Pearsall, by certain regulations made, and entered in a book, and
signed by him, expressed his desire that, in <strong>the</strong> choice <strong>of</strong> a master, his
trustees should give a preference to one <strong>of</strong> an academical education among
Protestant dissenters, if such could conveniently be had. He limited <strong>the</strong>
number <strong>of</strong> scholars to 25, a preference always being given to <strong>the</strong> children
<strong>of</strong> dissenters, as his design was "to make this a proper Protestant dissent-
ing school, if it could be effected."
The first master <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> school, appointed evidently by Pearsall himself,
was <strong>the</strong> Rev. William Blake, who held <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice from 1795 to 1797,
when he left to succeed his fa<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same name, as minister <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
society worshipping in Hermitage Street, Crewkerne. He was educated
at Northampton Academy, 1790-1795, and died at Crewkerne on 18 Feb-
ruary, 1821. The next master was <strong>the</strong> Rev. Roger Ward, who had been
a student at Daventry Academy under Belsham, which he entered in 1782.
After completing his studies, he settled for two years with a society <strong>of</strong>
Protestant dissenters at Sherborne, in Dorsetshire. Thence he removed
to Blackburn, where he remained seven years. " In 1798," says his bio-
grapher* "he succeeded <strong>the</strong> late Rev. William Blake, as Master <strong>of</strong> Mr.
Pearsall's Grammar School, at Kidderminster, which he conducted with
*Monthly Repository, 1825, p. 499.
credit to himself as a man <strong>of</strong> learning, and was also, for about sixteen
years, minister <strong>of</strong> a small congregation at Bromsgrove." He died at Stour-
port, 24 July, 1825, zt. 60. He was a native <strong>of</strong> Walmsley, in Lancashire.
To him succeeded <strong>the</strong> Rev. Evan Jones (q.v.), minister at Bewdley. In
1833 he was reported by <strong>the</strong> Commissioners <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Inquiries Concerning
Charities as "<strong>the</strong> school master appointed by <strong>the</strong> trustees ; he teaches in
<strong>the</strong> foundation school such children as have previously been approved by
<strong>the</strong> trustees. They are admitted when able to read fluently, and are taught
writing, accounts, history, geography, surveying and mensuration, and, if
<strong>the</strong>ir parents require it, Latin and Greek. They are principally <strong>the</strong> sons
<strong>of</strong> tradesmen or persons employed as clerks or superintendents in <strong>the</strong>
different manufacturing establishments. They pay to <strong>the</strong> master one guinea
per an. ; for firing, &C., IS. per quarter ; and provide <strong>the</strong>ir own books and
stationery. The master is allowed to take a few scholars, for whom he
is paid, but he does not avail himself <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> privilege, nor does he exceed
<strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> 25 scholars, fixed by <strong>the</strong> founder."
The subsequent history and developments <strong>of</strong> this beneficial foundation,
and <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> excellent day schools, still carried on under <strong>the</strong> auspices <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> New Meeting, are left to be told by <strong>the</strong> future historian <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> society.
Cup (I), silver, plain bell, foot, 4ins. tall, one handle. On shoulder :-
P.
H. E.
On bell, opposite handle :-
London date letter, 1721-22.
N. M.
K.
Cup (I), silver, plain bell, foot, 4sins. tall, one handle.
opposite to handle :-
S. R.
Coat <strong>of</strong> Arms.
N. M.
K.
London date letter, 1726-27.
On bell,