A history of public education in Rhode Island, from 1636 to 1876 ... Comp. by authority of the Board of education, and ed. by Thomas B. Stockwell ...

442 WOONSOCKET.
I have been unable to ascertain whether or not Jonathan went to
" See."
Next comes a " Surrop " for the Rickets:
" One gill of Easworms, Petemorel Rotes, one handful of Rock leather, Low
Polepoce Rotes-Solomon's Seal Rotes,-Learge Polepode Rotes-Cunefry
Rotes-Hemlock Bark from the rote on the North side of the tree,"-and
SO on.
But they who are most in need of education, appreciate it least. Elisha Thornton, who was the young teacher to whom I have referred,
would have starved had he depended solely upon the patronage of his
neighbors. Nay, his very mental attainments caused him to be regarded
with suspicion and dread. His telescope and his globe, by which he illustrated the grand harmony of the universe, aroused the superstitious
fears of the ignorant boors in the vicinity to such an extent that they
expostulated with him for teaching the " Black art."
The Thornton Academy was located near the present village of Slatersville. The fame of this school was as extensive as it was well deserved,
and pupils came from distant regions to be mentally and morally enlightened by the great and good man who was its principal. Elisha
Thornton was at the head of this school for thirty years, the existence
of which was terminated about the beginning of the present century.
Elisha Thornton was born, according to his own account, the 30th ot
6th Month (0. S. August), 1747; according to the Quaker Memorial,
the 30th of 4th Month, (O. S. June), 1747; and according to the Records of the Town of Smithfield, June 30th, 1748. His father, Ebenezer Thornton, and his mother, Ruth Smith, were joined in marriage by
" William Arnold, of Smithfield, Esq.," October 7th and 8th, 1735.
Whether the lovers arrived at the house of the Hon. Justice of the
Peace on the midnight of October 7th, or whether it took two days to
perform the ceremony, I have been unable to ascertain. But I am sure
that it was imperatively necessary that the knot should have been
effectually tied, for previous to the technical formalities of their union,
they had been blessed with two children. Of his parents too little
cannot be said. They were careless and improvident in their manner
of living, and were spared the disgrace of dying in the poor house
through the love of their son.
At ten years of age Elishat had received two months schooling, and
was " placed abroad " to live. At twenty-three he joined the Quakers,
and three years afterwards became an Elder in the Society. In the
meantime (4th Month, 1st, 1773), he had married Anna, the daughter
of John Read, and commenced his Academy. The temperament, tastes