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Mary
Thrasher’s School Diary was originally published by the Rehoboth
Historical Commission.
©
2007, Catherine Potter
Reprinted
here with permission
Mary
Thrasher's School Diary - Page 1
Mary
Thrasher Diary - Page 1 2
3
Mary’s
Diary
In
the year 1875, a 13-year-old Rehoboth girl took up her pencil and began a
record of her daily life. In a small book, 2 1/2” by 3 1/2”, brown
and faded, we can see what a part of her life was like. The girl, Mary
E. Thrasher, was a student in a one room schoolhouse, Perry School. The
diary covers the dates of December 29, 1875 to February 4 1876. This
booklet contains Mary’s diary, copied exactly as she wrote it.
Who was Mary Thrasher?
Mary
was born in 1862 to parents George H. Thrasher and his second wife,
Eliza Lincoln Thrasher. Mary had three sisters; Carrie, Luella, and
Estella. She grew up in the family homestead.
We
know that Mary left Rehoboth and moved to Rutland, Massachusetts. In
1910, she was a matron in the Rutland Sanatorium. This was the first
tuberculosis hospital in the country , started in 1878. After this we
have not found any records about her life. If she ever married or moved
out of state, we have been unable to discover it. We are indebted to her
for the record she left of the life and times of a Rehoboth scholar.
Teaching in a one-room Schoolhouse
Mary
attended the Perry School, District #4. It was located near the corner
of Tremont Street and Agricultural Avenue. It had probably been
constructed in the 1830s and was an old building by this time. Mary’s
teacher was Cleora Perry. Cleora graduated from the Bridgewater Normal
School in 1875 at the age of 18. This was probably her first teaching
position.
Mary
and Cleora were cousins through their common ancestor, Jasiel Perry,
born in 1688. Mary was from his son David’s line. Cleora was from his
son Jasiel’s line. Cleora was born in Rehoboth on September 21, 1857,
the daughter of Ira and Emily (Reed) Perry. Her younger brother, Arthur,
was one of her students. The name of her future husband, Walter Bliss,
is also mentioned in Mary’s diary. Cleora went on to teach at the
Harris and Stevens Schools and also in Attleboro until 1883. On April
19, 1883 she married Walter Bliss. They had three children: Richard,
Mildred and Warren.
Discovering the Diary
The
diary was found by Ralph and Cathy Potter in 1981 when they dismantled
the old Perry-Thrasher homestead. The diary was tucked in a dusty, dirty
box of old papers. The box was put aside while work on dismantling the
house continued. As time permitted, they went through the old box. Along
with the diary, the box contained old business receipts, and books from
the Irons Church, which had stood across the street on Park Street. But
who put the diary in that box of papers and books so many years ago, and
why did they feel it was important enough to save? We will never know.
But we’re thankful that they did, and that he Potters found this tiny
book, which gives us an ever-so-brief glimpse into the everyday life of
a Rehoboth girl in 1875.
Perry-Thrasher Homestead
The
homestead had been in Mary’s family since it was purchased by David
Perry from Obediah Betty in the year 1741. David was the great-grandson
of Anthony Perry, one of the early settlers of Rehoboth. Anthony was a
very active member of the town and a Representative to the General
Court. He had six children. His son, Samuel, married Mary Millard and
they had seven children. Samuel and Mary’s son, Jasiel, born a 6,
1682, married Rebekah Peck Willmarth. They had eight children. Their
third child, David, born August 16, 1719 purchased the homestead in
1741; He was Mary’s great-grandfather. David married Margaret Dwyer
and they had nine children born in the family homestead. Their third
child, David, born January 27, 1748, married Sarah Short. David was a
Revolutionary War veteran in Captain Bliss’ company with Colonel
Timothy Walker’s 22nd Regiment. In 1796 the homestead was
turned over to their son David. Their daughter, Rhonda, born May 19,
1796, married Simmons Thrasher. The homestead was conveyed to them in
1825. The farm was large by that time, stretching North into Attleboro
and East to Smith Street. Mary’s father, George, son of Rhonda and
Simmons Thrasher, was born at the homestead in 1826. George was a Civil
War veteran having served as a Sergeant in the 58th
Massachusetts volunteers.
The
Perry-Thrasher homestead was sold out of the family’s hands after
almost 200 years with the death of Edith Perry. After it was sold it
became a Real Estate office for some time and then sold again to be used
as a private home. By the time the Potters purchased the house, it had
been condemned. The Potters moved it to Reservoir Avenue where it was
restored and rebuilt. Many items found during the process have shed
light on the Perry and Thrasher families during the 200-plus years that
they lived in the old homestead. When the homestead was rebuilt it
became a homestead for the Potter family. With its many old doors,
windows and fireplaces, this wonderful house enfolds its inhabitants
with a warm, comfortable feeling. Cathy and Ralph and their four
children have enjoyed this as their home for many years.
continued
on page 2
Mary
Thrasher Diary - Page 1 2
3
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