History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

390 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1685-1689.
struct children and youtli in Learning and so be able to instruct such
children as their parents desire to bring vp to Learning to fit y" for the
coUedge that so they may be fit y'' Service of god in the church or otherwise
in the publick voted to giue twenty poimds out of the Towne
Stock this to Be beside what may be raised on the Scholers w^ shall
come to be Taught by him And ordered the Selectmen now to be
chosen to procure one that may be suitable for the service Aboue expressed
for the year insuing."
Undoubtedly tlie selectmen carried out the above vote,
but unfortunately left no record by which the name of the
first grammar school teacher of Northampton can be iden-
tified. In April, 1694, a vote was passed in reference to
paying Mr. Stevens and Timothy Edwards for teaching
school. It is probable that these persons were the grammar
school teachers. Timothy Edwards^ was the son of Richard
Edwards of Windsor, Ct. , and father of Rev. Jonathan
Edwards.
Clark and Parsons'
Samuel Clarke aud Johu and Joseph Par-
^i''^- sons were the owners of a grist and saw mill
on Mill River, situated nearly opposite the
^y present site of the Hoe Shop, in 1685. This grist mill was
the one built in 1677, on the west side of the river, and to
which a road was laid soon after. When the mill became
somewhat dilapidated, and was in great need of repairs, in
1688, Joseph Parsons and William Clarke had liberty to
build a new mill. A new dam was erected, and the " mill
newly set up" in 1689. When the mill was first built, a
bridge was put across the river, but probably high water
had carried it away, or it had become unfit for use. Consequently
a new highway was laid to the renovated mill in
1689. This highway was on the west side of the river and
wholly on land belonging to the mill owners. The crossing
was near the present West Street bridge, and the road followed
the river bank to the mills. Both of them were on
the same side of the river, the saw mill farthest down the
stream. This grant seems to have been made to Lieut.
William Clarke and Joseph Parsons, but Samuel, son of
1 Timothy Edwards " graduated at Harvard College in 1691, and received the same
day the degree of A. B. in the morning and of A. M. in the afternoon, an uncommon
marli of respect paid to his great profleieucy iu learning." He married Esther, daughter
of Rev. Solomon Stoddard.—Clark's Antiquities and Historicals of Northamp-
ton, p. 216.