School Teachers of Early Maryland
by Robert Barnes
MSA SC 5300
Grew, Theophilus, (MSA SC5300-164), accepted the post of master
of the Kent Co. Free School in 1740. In Nov 1740 the Visitors of the Kent
County, MD, Free School advertised for an usher at the school. The usher
had to be single, a member of the Church of England, and qualified to teach
grammar. Applicants were to apply to the gentlemen visitors in Chestertown
or to Theophilus Grew in Philadelphia (Penna. Gaz. 6 Nov 1740).
In May 1742 Grew advertised he was seeking a single man to teach Latin
at the Kent County Free School (Penna. Gaz. 20 May 1742).
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Migration to Philadelphia: Grew was in Philadelphia by July 1734
when he advertised he taught mathematics at Second Street, over against
the Sign of the Bible (Pennsylvania Gazette, 25 July 1734; see also
26 Oct 1738). In Aug 1742 he advertised he intended to open school in Phialdelphia
about the middle of October (Penna. Gaz. 26 Aug 1742). In May 1751,
as Professor at the Academy in Philadelphia, he asked that observations
of the eclipse be sent to him (Penna. Gaz. 23 May 1751).
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Publications: As a student in the Mathematics,"
has compiled The Maryland Almanack for 1733, which William Parks and Edmund
Hall have printed and have for sale (AMG 2 feb 1732/3). Grew also
compiled an Almanack for 1735, which Parks has printed and now offers for
sale (AMG 22 Nov 1734). Grew published information on the eclipse in the
Pennsyvania Gazette of 3 Jan 1749.
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Other Activities: On 26 Feb 1728/9 Grew witnessed the will
of William Boarman of CH Co. (MWB 19:727). Living at Market St., he advertised
he would sell a shallop now at Mr. Powell's wharf (Penna Gazette
3 July 1740).
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Financial Difficulties: His goods had
been taken by attachment, and were to be sold (Penna. Gazette 12
March 1740; se also 25 Dec 1740).
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Sources: See Who Was Who in America, 1607-1896;
Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 16:375, 17;25-26,
24:252, 38:385-395; 65:12. See also the entry for Theophilus Grew in the
Dictionary
of American Biography.
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