Ezekiel Cheever
Encyclopedia
Ezekiel Cheever was a schoolmaster
, and the author
of "probably the earliest American school book", Accidence, A Short Introduction to the Latin Tongue. Upon his death, it was said that "New England
[had] never known a better teacher." He has been called "the chief representative of the colonial
schoolmaster".
, Massachusetts
in June 1637. Not much later, he went to New Haven, Connecticut
and taught school. In 1650, Cheever moved the family back to Massachusetts.
On December 29, 1670, Cheever was invited to become Head Master of the Boston Latin School
. In all, Cheever taught for seventy years, the last thirty-eight of them as master of the Boston Grammar School
.
Noted Reverend Cotton Mather
gave the sermon at his funeral.
. Ezekiel and Mary had six children. Their daughter, Elizabeth, was grandmother of Ezekiel Goldthwait. Their son, Rev Samuel, graduated from Harvard in 1659. Mary died on January 20, 1649.
On November 18, 1652, Ezekiel married Ellen Lathrop who was the sister of Capt Thomas Lathrop, a casualty during King Philip's war
. Ezekiel and Ellen had five children. Their son, Rev Thomas, graduated from Harvard in 1677. Their son, Ezekiel Cheever, was a resident at Salem Village during the time of the Witch Trials
.
and Samuel Sewall
.
Ezekiel Cheever School
was named in his honor.
Schoolmaster
A schoolmaster, or simply master, once referred to a male school teacher. This usage survives in British public schools, but is generally obsolete elsewhere.The teacher in charge of a school is the headmaster...
, and the author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of "probably the earliest American school book", Accidence, A Short Introduction to the Latin Tongue. Upon his death, it was said that "New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
[had] never known a better teacher." He has been called "the chief representative of the colonial
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
schoolmaster".
Biography
Cheever came to BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in June 1637. Not much later, he went to New Haven, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and taught school. In 1650, Cheever moved the family back to Massachusetts.
On December 29, 1670, Cheever was invited to become Head Master of the Boston Latin School
Boston Latin School
The Boston Latin School is a public exam school founded on April 23, 1635, in Boston, Massachusetts. It is both the first public school and oldest existing school in the United States....
. In all, Cheever taught for seventy years, the last thirty-eight of them as master of the Boston Grammar School
Boston Grammar School
The Boston Grammar School is a selective grammar school and sixth form college for boys aged 11 to 18 and girls attending the sixth form aged 16–18 located in Boston, Lincolnshire, England....
.
Noted Reverend Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather, FRS was a socially and politically influential New England Puritan minister, prolific author and pamphleteer; he is often remembered for his role in the Salem witch trials...
gave the sermon at his funeral.
Family
In 1638, Cheever married Mary Culverwell, his first wife. She was the daughter of Ezekiel Culverwell, niece of Nathaniel Culverwell and cousin of William GougeWilliam Gouge
William Gouge was an English clergyman and author. He was a minister and preacher at St Ann Blackfriars for 45 years, from 1608, and a member of the Westminster Assembly from 1643.-Life:...
. Ezekiel and Mary had six children. Their daughter, Elizabeth, was grandmother of Ezekiel Goldthwait. Their son, Rev Samuel, graduated from Harvard in 1659. Mary died on January 20, 1649.
On November 18, 1652, Ezekiel married Ellen Lathrop who was the sister of Capt Thomas Lathrop, a casualty during King Philip's war
Muttawmp
Muttawmp was a sachem of the Nipmuc Indians in the middle of 17th century, originally based in Quaboag. He participated in King Philip's War...
. Ezekiel and Ellen had five children. Their son, Rev Thomas, graduated from Harvard in 1677. Their son, Ezekiel Cheever, was a resident at Salem Village during the time of the Witch Trials
Salem witch trials
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings before county court trials to prosecute people accused of witchcraft in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Middlesex in colonial Massachusetts, between February 1692 and May 1693...
.
Legacy
Cheever's notable pupils included Cotton MatherCotton Mather
Cotton Mather, FRS was a socially and politically influential New England Puritan minister, prolific author and pamphleteer; he is often remembered for his role in the Salem witch trials...
and Samuel Sewall
Samuel Sewall
Samuel Sewall was a Massachusetts judge, best known for his involvement in the Salem witch trials, for which he later apologized, and his essay The Selling of Joseph , which criticized slavery.-Biography:...
.
Ezekiel Cheever School
Ezekiel Cheever School
Ezekiel Cheever School was a school located on Lombard St. in the Fair Haven neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut, USA. The school opened in 1896 and remained as late as 1967. It was named for schoolteacher Ezekiel Cheever....
was named in his honor.