Click on the links in the left column for more information on individual schools.

School Section #1	Conway	Earliest confirmed date: 1817 Last building erected 1909. Closed 1966.	Hwy 33 west of Conway. Building has been demolished.
School Section #2	Sandhurst	Earliest confirmed date: 1817	Hwy 33 at Sandhurst Now a private residence.
School Section #3	Elm Beach	Shown on 1860 map. Last building erected 1873. Closed 1943.	Hwy 33 Still standing, privately owned
School Section #4	Parma	Shown on 1860 map. Closed 1958.	County Road 8. Building has been moved to another property. Now used as a garage.
School Section #5	Sillsville	Earliest confirmed date: 1845 Closed 1964	County Road 8. Building has been moved to another property, Now used as Machine Shed.
School Section #6	Hamburgh/Hawley	Earliest confirmed date: 1859. Burned/Closed 1964.	Burned down in 1964
School Section #7	Hayburn	Earliest confirmed date: 1842. Closed 1947.	South Shore Hay Bay Road. Now a private residence.
School Section #8 [original]	[not named, located on C3 Add., Lot 12]	Earliest confirmed date: 1842.	No remaining building.
School Section #8 [Union]	Union [with Ernestown]	[unconfirmed dates]	County Road #22 in Ernestown Township. Now a private residence.
Sandhurst Public School	Sandhurst	Built as a two-room school in 1958 and later extended. Closed 2011.	Highway 33. Now privately owned.

Early Records from Fredericksburgh Township

Up to 1857

It was not until 1857 that Fredericksburgh Township, or Third Town, was split into two separate townships; North Fredericksburgh and South Fredericksburgh.

This section includes information for the period up to 1857 (before the split.)

It has been recorded that a Mr. Jonathan Clarke taught a school in Fredericksburgh in 1786, but stayed in the area for only two years. This school may have been located on the south shore of the Napanee River, in an area later known as “Clarkesville.” If so, it would be one of the earliest schools opened in Ontario.

There are also reports of a school on Hay Bay, run by a Mr. McDougall. If so, this could have been in either Fredericksburgh or Adolphustown.

Schools Established in Fredericksburgh

Before 1816 -6

1817 -2

1818 -2

1819 -1

1820 -1

1822 -1

1824 -1

1825 -1

1830 -1

1831 -1

1837 -1

1841 -1

1845 -1

1822

William Campbell began teaching in Fredericksburgh in 1822 [exact school section unknown]

Teacher: William Campbell, W. Methodist, b. Ireland, Residence Marysburgh,

discontinued teaching due to age & Infirmity, age 71 in 1856

Taught in U.C. 30 years. Commenced in Ireland in 1809 and in Fredericksburgh U.C. in 1822 Taught 30 years and ceased 1856.

Superannuated Common School Teacher in Upper Canada for 1855

1830

Walter Hick began teaching in Fredericksburgh in 1830 [exact school section unknown]

Teacher: Walter Hick, Church of England, b. England, Residence Richmond,

discontinued teaching due to age & blindness, age 68 in 1856.

Commenced in Fredericksburgh in 1830 and taught in U.C. ever since.

Superannuated Common School Teacher in Upper Canada for 1855

1842

Report of the Standing Committee on Common Schools, Adopted by the District Council of the Midland District, at the May Session, 1842:

That the report and estimates of erecting certain school houses in Fredericksburgh, be accepted and we recommend that the following sums be assessed on the respective inhabitants accordingly, subject to the conditions mentioned in clause No. 19 of this report: _ School District No. 1 £10; No. 2 £7; No. 6, £50; No. 8, £47 10; No. 9 £50; No. 10, £50; No. 12, £42 10; No. 13. £50; No. 15, £45.

Upper Canada Herald July 26 1842

1844 Reminiscences of W.R. Bigg

“My next certificate in 1844 was from the School Superintendent of the ‘Midland District’ and covered his ‘School Circuit’ and was obtained without any examination whatever. I was teaching in Fredericksburgh, without any license beyond the request of the Trustees to await the advent of the School Superintendent, who was shortly expected and then he could examine me. After visiting my School and inspecting the state of the different classes, the Superintendent decided that it was unnecessary to examine me, remarking that the status of the pupils, coupled with the very favorable report which he had received from the Trustees, was sufficient evidence of my qualification and he handed me the usual legal certificate.

1850 Report of the Minister of Education

In Fredericksburgh, there are 16 schoolhouses; 14 frame and two log.

4 – 18 x 24; 2 – 18 x 26; 1- 20 x 20; 2 – 20 x 22; 1 – 24 x 24; 1 – 24 x 26; 4 - 24 x 30.

7 in good repair; 9 in bad repair.

6 suitably furnished with desks etc.

1 furnished with privies

1 erected during the year

Number of large maps hung up – 19

Number in which blackboards are used – 13

Number of children between the ages of 5 & 16 – 1,003

Number of children of all ages on the roll – 691

Number of Indigent or non-paying pupils – 48

Total Number of Pupils – 691 (367 boys, 324 girls)

Average Attendance in Winter – 387 Pupils (Boys – 207 Girls – 180)

Average Attendance in Summer - 423 Pupils (Boys – 259 Girls – 164)

Teachers - 21 Total – (13 Male, 8 Female) 2 Male, 2 Female trained at Normal School

1850 Fredericksburgh Report

Edwin Mallory, Esq., Fredericksburgh:

“The School Act of 1849 having been found so complicated and inoperative, several of the schools were closed and the people became almost indifferent to education; but I am happy to add that the new School Law has given a fresh impetus to the people of this locality and some of the sections have already availed themselves of the noble provision made therein for establishing Free Schools. May the friends of literature and education never rest satisfied until Free Schools are established throughout the length and breadth of Canada.”

1852 Fredericksburgh Report

The Reverend John G. Bull, Fredericksburgh:

“I am happy to have it to state that the schools in this township are somewhat improved. There seems to be something of a spirit manifested on the subject of education. Our schools have all been in operation some part of the year; but our school system, notwithstanding the improvements that have been made for the last few years is not complete, nor will be so until we have free schools. We must have them before we shall be able to accomplish the end contemplated. There are persons who will oppose every thing not in accordance with their own sentiments, regardless of consequences; and hence the present system leaves room for much contention in various sections on the subject of taxation. Let the government tax and all will be right. I hope our present House of Assembly will take the subject into consideration and give us free schools. I think the country is prepared to receive and profit by them.”

Reports of the Local Superintendents in Upper Canada, Legislative Assembly

1853+

James Forrest [Documentary History of Education in Upper Canada]

"The first school, in which I taught was in the Township of North Fredericksburgh, County of Lennox. The building was of hewed pine logs, very well put together and plastered with mortar, so that it was very warm and comfortable. It was heated by a large box stove, and ventilated by means of sliding windows.

The desks for writing were fastened along two walls of the school room, and benches were used for the children to sit on. As a rule they were very uncomfortable, as the elbows of the children were nearly as high as their shoulders.

There were no maps and not even a blackboard until I had been there nearly a month, when the addition of one seemed to put new life into the school, and I never had a better lot of pupils during all my teaching. The people were poor, but very kind, and for salary I received nine dollars a month and my board.”

My second school, in South Fredericksburgh, was a frame building, 24 x 30 feet, with seats and desks as just described, but not quite so rough made. There was a small blackboard and a few maps. My wages were thirteen dollars a month and my board. The parents of the pupils were very kind to me.

My next school was about two miles east of the former one, and was a frame building of the old style, which, however, was replaced in 1866, by a very fine building, fitted up with modern seats and desks for two, a chair for the teacher, a blackboard, clock and maps. In the old school my wages were fourteen dollars per month, and board, as in the other schools; but after the new school house was built, I received three hundred dollars a year and boarded myself. This was after I returned from the Normal School in Toronto.

At the end of my term in the new school house, three of my pupils attended the County Board at Newburgh, and each obtained a Certificate, a Third, a Second and a First.

Again I taught in the Township of South Fredericksburgh, in a frame building about 24 x 36 feet, which was finished in good style and ventilated by a pipe running from the outside, under the floor to the centre just under the stove, and on which was placed a ventilator.

It was furnished with maps, a revolving globe, with the principal stars revolving around it. I was paid a salary of three hundred dollars a year.

My next school was in the same township as the last, and it was known as the worst school in the township. It was an old fashioned school like those already described, and the salary was also the same. The pupils were, however, quick to learn after I got them tamed and in working order.

Recorded at Mount Albert March 6^th, 1896

1853 Fredericksburgh Report

The Reverend John A. Mulock, Fredericksburgh:

“I feel great pleasure in stating that the interest manifested in education is on the increase in this township. The people are beginning to wake up. Much, however, remains to be done, before it will compare favorably with many other townships.”

Reports of the Local Superintendents in Upper Canada, Legislative Assembly

1854 Fredericksburgh Report

The Reverend John A. Mulock, Fredericksburgh:

“I regret to say that the interest felt on the subject of education in this township, is decidedly on the wane; and until the penalties imposed upon worthless trustees are made heavier than at present, the interests of education will languish. The mere loss of the amounts of legislative grant and municipal assessment (if required) of the trustees is disregarded; they pay it cheerfully and pocket money by their neglect, as their taxes for a school, in many cases, far exceed the amount that can be levied off them, if they close the school against the section. I rejoice to hear that measures are about to be adopted to require, as far as possible, parents and guardians to send their children to school. This is a move in the right direction and will be a blessed boon to the rising generation; but I would, with all deference, suggest that the trustees be first compelled to keep the schools open for at least nine months in the year and that should they fail to do so they be fined much more heavily than at present.”

Reports of the Local Superintendents in Upper Canada, Legislative Assembly

1855 Annual Report of Common Schools in Upper Canada

In Fredericksburgh, there are 19 schoolhouses; 1 brick, 15 frame, 3 log

Number of children between the ages of 5 & 16 – 883.

Number of children attending school – 737.

Pupils of other ages – 76.

Total number of children in school – 813 (448 boys, 365 girls).

Indigent Children – 16.

Number of Deaf and Dumb – 1.

Number of Blind – 1.

11 Schools have maps.

19 Schools have blackboards.

Teachers - 19 Total – (14 Male, 5 Female)

Percent of population unable to read or write – 22.

1856 Fredericksburgh Report

The Reverend John A. Mulock, Fredericksburgh:

“Education, I am happy to say, is making good progress in this township, as may be seen from the improved salaries of the teachers and the total absence of 3^rd class certificates. It is to be regretted however that in the majority of our school the voice of Prayer is never heard; the new regulation being in a great measure a dead letter. The desire for free schools is on the increase, which I conceive to be the strongest proof of progression in the right direction; and our old unsightly and unhealthy houses are giving place to good, creditable and well ventilated buildings.”

Reports of the Local Superintendents in Upper Canada, Legislative Assembly

Ad from January 24 1856

School Section not confirmed

1857 Local School Superintendent

The Rev. Robert Harding was appointed Local Superintendent of Schools for Fredericksburgh, in place of the Rev. Mr. Mulock, resigned.

December 12 1857, Daily British Whig

Early Records from South Fredericksburgh Township

After 1858

1858

The Reverend John Scott, Fredericksburgh North: “Before Fredericksburgh was divided into two Townships, the people were favoured with a valuable Library. At present a division has not been made of the books. The books were carefully covered and are now, I believe, in a good state of preservation. There is a great want of desire for self-improvement in the majority of the people. The pamphlet on School Architecture and the Annual Report were duly distributed, but I cannot as yet say much about their effects. The result will be seen when the old box school houses give place to more rational buildings. May the lungs of the children and the eyes of their parents soon enjoy the benefit of a change. We have a few school-houses that show a decided improvement on the old system. Doleful accounts come to me from the Trustees in the Hay Bay section of this Township about the state of things in their locality. They are sometimes at their wits’ end to know how to get the children into the school house and how to keep them there. The chance of getting a duck, a fish, or a red squirrel, is quite sufficient inducement to keep the boys away from Geography and Grammar and a rate of twenty-five cents will keep a whole family away a quarter of a year. Under these circumstances a uniform system of Free Schools is earnestly recommended. It would prevent a great deal of noisy altercation at school meetings and would be a great boon to the people. I am sorry that the Bible does not occupy a more prominent place in the training of our youth. In some places it is ignored and in others barely tolerated. This I presume is not what you desire. The sin of ignoring and neglecting God’s Holy word lies often at the door of the Teacher, the Trustees and the people. May the time soon come when the influence of the word of life will be felt in all our seminaries.

Reports of the Local Superintendents in Upper Canada 1859, Legislative Assembly

1875 Report on Lennox and Addington Schools by Frederick Burrows Esq.

In South Fredericksburgh two new schools were built between 1871 and 1874; one brick and one frame.

Location of South Fredericksburgh Schools as indicated on the 1860 Wallings’ Map

Until 1940, each school section was run by a separate board. In 1940, a single township board was formed to run all schools in the municipality.
The ‘New’ Public School Board in South Fredericksburgh 1940
January 24 1940, Kingston Whig Standard	January 26 1940, Kingston Whig Standard
June 26 1946, Napanee Beaver
South Fredericksburgh Public School Board 1964 (L-R): Ross Powell, Wilfred Haight, Marjorie Young, Walter F. Gilbert, Donald Hough William Myers (absent)