Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Jacob Adams - Tombstone Tuesday


This tombstone is located at the Forest Hill Cemetery, Derry, New Hampshire.

honus cuius benevolentia
in exemplum transiit
To
the memory of
JACOB ADAMS
The liberal founder of
ADAMS FEMALE ACADEMY
the First endowed Literary
Institution, established in
New England for the especial
benefit of females.
Born Jan. 14, 1785
Died Aug. 10, 1822
Erected in grateful remembrance
by the Trustees at
A. F. A.

According to “The History of Londonderry”, by Reverend Edward L. Parker, page 122 - 3, “A female seminary was in consequence opened in the building originally erected for an academy.  In 1823, Mr. Jacob Adams, a gentleman without a family, deceased.  He bequeathed about four thousand of his property to endow a female academy, to be located within one hundred rods of the East Parish meeting house in Londonderry [note: now located in East Derry].  It was accordingly incorporated as the Adams Female Academy.  It was the first incorporated female academy in the State; and among the first in New England in which the course of studied was prescribed, and the classes arranged as in our collegiate institutions.”

Many young women were taught here, and one of the first teachers was Mary Lyon, who went on to found Wheaton College (Norton, Massachusetts) and the more famous Mount Holyoke College (South Hadley, Massachusetts).

Please see this link for a story about the Adams Female Academy in Derry:
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Copyright 2011, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

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