Manners and Customs in Colonial Days 101 



matter of education for their children a very important one; 

 and it was met by the employment of a schoolmaster by 

 families living within a convenient distance of the schoolhouse, 

 or of the residence of one of the inhabitants used for the 

 purpose, each family paying in proportion to the number of 

 children sent. The schoolmaster was frequently the minister, 

 who added to his small stipend by giving instruction in the 

 three "R's" and in the rudiments of the humanities. 



The Reverend John Peter Tetard, commonly known as 

 "Dominie Tetard," was born in Switzerland and graduated 

 from the University of Lausanne. He preached to French 

 congregations at Charleston, S. C. and in the city of New York, 

 and, after his removal to Kingsbridge, at Fordham church. 

 In 1772, he opened a French boarding-school at Kingsbridge, 

 on the height overlooking the present railroad station, which is 

 called after him, Tetard 's Hill. Here he taught not only the 

 French language, but "the most useful sciences, such as 

 geography, the doctrine of the spheres, ancient and modern 

 history, etc." 



In Rivington's Gazette of February 23, 1775, there appears 

 the following advertisement : 



"To the Public, Samuel Seabury, M.A., Rector of the Parish 

 of Westchester, hath opened a School in that Town, and 

 offers his Services to prepare young Gentlemen for the 

 College, the Compting-House, or any genteel Business for 

 which Parents or Guardians may design them. . . . Board 

 (Washing included) may be had in unexceptionable Families, 

 at about twenty Pounds per Ann. and the Tuition will be at 

 six Pounds, New York Currency, and eight Shillings for 

 Fire- wood." 



In fact, the home churches that sent ministers to the colony 

 intended that they should not only preach the gospel, but 



