The general image of an illiterate population in Colonial VA does not necessarily reflect those of Scotch-Irish descendants who settled in pre-Revolutionary Augusta/Botetourt/Rockbridge Co. Remember, one of the main points Knox and his followers espoused in Scotland was the importance of literacy for everyone. Angela Ruley, "The Scotch-Irish were strong believers in education, as they felt people should read God’s word and interpret it themselves. Teachers were sought out, quite often in the form of indentured servants. One room schools began to spring up on many plantations. Eventually, [1749] Augusta Academy was founded...[near Lexington, VA.] James G. Leyburn, The Scotch-Irish, "Whereever the Scotch-Irish went, schools were almost certain to follow churches among the first institutions to be formed. . .. Knox's desire to have schools in every prarish for the general education of the people was wholeheartedly accepted as an ideal that must be achieved.... (even for the lowborn) it was still necessary to read the Bible and the catechisms... This tradition was engrained in the Ulstermen who came to America and it was expected that schools would be established in every community that could possible support them The biggest difficulty was the shortage of ministers. A practical substitute was devised in many communities where an indentured servant could be found for teaching; and the entire neighborhood contributing to his support. Lacking any kind of teachers, mothers taught their own and neighbor children in their homes. Zeal for education was such that despite difficulties, it could be expected of a Scotch-Irish community that, if it had a minister, it also had a school for its children." This attitude about education probably explains why most (49) members of one company of Major Rowland's Botetourt Militia signed their own names to a 1781 petition to the governor. One man was a sergeant, but the others all privates. Major Rowland, by the way, was born in Augusta/Botetourt Co. in 1741 and was homeschooled by his mother. His family was unable to send him to Augusta Academy. Joanne Frostfreedet@aol.com wrote: Joanne wrote, >>Before the Revolution and after, the majority of officers in both the militia and the "Continentals" were able to read and write, as is evidenced by the records they kept.<< Literacy was probably a factor in the officers' having been chosen. In the original muster and payrolls I've seen, as many Lieutenants and Ensigns signed the documents (where signed at all) as Captains. The upper ranks were generally from wealthier families and had access to education, which during the Revolutionary War and before was not paid for by tax dollars and not available to all except to the extent a relative or generous neighbor was able and willing to supply it. I haven't seen indenture agreements until after the Rev. War period that include that the child was to be taught to read, write and to do arithmetic "to the rule of three." While commissioned officers were of course in the minority, nonetheless I've found relatives whose ability to write surprised me. Yet these, too, are in the minority in the 18th century and earlier. Good hunting, Judy List Mom for the AMERICAN-REVOLUTION mailing list: Diana Boothe philsbarbie1@arkansasfamilies.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We have archives! Search for your AMERICAN-REVOLUTION information here..... http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=AMERICAN-REVOLUTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check out other genealogy resources on the net at John Fuller's most helpful site http://www.rootsweb.com/~jfuller/gen_mail.html ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to AMERICAN-REVOLUTION-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message --------------------------------- Sponsored Link For just $24.99/mo., Vonage offers unlimited local and long- distance calling. Sign up now.

Irish Prominent in the Colonies. Many early Irish settlers occupied the highest and most important offices in State and National affairs. Many of the earliest judges were Irish aand many excelled in medicine, science and literature, they assisted largely in laying the foundation for the future development of the United States Nine of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were Irish Born Irishmen or of Irish descent. Source"Ireland's Important anad Heroric Part in America's Independence and Development" by Rev. Frank L. Reynolds Ann Keegan ----- Original Message ----- From: "qvarizona" <qvarizona@yahoo.com> To: <american-revolution@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, November 06, 2006 2:10 PM Subject: Re: [AMERICAN-REVOLUTION] Captain--militia, civilian,tax assessment districts and literacy > The general image of an illiterate population in Colonial VA does not > necessarily reflect those of Scotch-Irish descendants who settled in > pre-Revolutionary Augusta/Botetourt/Rockbridge Co. Remember, one of the > main points Knox and his followers espoused in Scotland was the importance > of literacy for everyone. > > Angela Ruley, "The Scotch-Irish were strong believers in education, as > they felt people should read God's word and interpret it themselves. > Teachers were sought out, quite often in the form of indentured servants. > One room schools began to spring up on many plantations. Eventually, > [1749] Augusta Academy was founded...[near Lexington, VA.] > > James G. Leyburn, The Scotch-Irish, "Whereever the Scotch-Irish went, > schools were almost certain to follow churches among the first > institutions to be formed. . .. Knox's desire to have schools in every > prarish for the general education of the people was wholeheartedly > accepted as an ideal that must be achieved.... (even for the lowborn) it > was still necessary to read the Bible and the catechisms... This tradition > was engrained in the Ulstermen who came to America and it was expected > that schools would be established in every community that could possible > support them The biggest difficulty was the shortage of ministers. A > practical substitute was devised in many communities where an indentured > servant could be found for teaching; and the entire neighborhood > contributing to his support. Lacking any kind of teachers, mothers taught > their own and neighbor children in their homes. Zeal for education was > such that despite difficulties, it could be expected of a > Scotch-Irish community that, if it had a minister, it also had a school > for its children." > > This attitude about education probably explains why most (49) members of > one company of Major Rowland's Botetourt Militia signed their own names > to a 1781 petition to the governor. One man was a sergeant, but the > others all privates. Major Rowland, by the way, was born in > Augusta/Botetourt Co. in 1741 and was homeschooled by his mother. His > family was unable to send him to Augusta Academy. > > Joanne > > Frostfreedet@aol.com wrote: > Joanne wrote, > >>>Before the Revolution and after, the majority of officers in both the > militia and the "Continentals" were able to read and write, as is > evidenced by the > records they kept.<< > > Literacy was probably a factor in the officers' having been chosen. In the > original muster and payrolls I've seen, as many Lieutenants and Ensigns > signed > the documents (where signed at all) as Captains. The upper ranks were > generally from wealthier families and had access to education, which > during the > Revolutionary War and before was not paid for by tax dollars and not > available to > all except to the extent a relative or generous neighbor was able and > willing > to supply it. I haven't seen indenture agreements until after the Rev. War > period that include that the child was to be taught to read, write and to > do > arithmetic "to the rule of three." > > While commissioned officers were of course in the minority, nonetheless > I've > found relatives whose ability to write surprised me. Yet these, too, are > in > the minority in the 18th century and earlier. > > Good hunting, > Judy > List Mom for the AMERICAN-REVOLUTION mailing list: > Diana Boothe philsbarbie1@arkansasfamilies.net > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > We have archives! Search for your AMERICAN-REVOLUTION information > here..... > http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=AMERICAN-REVOLUTION > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Check out other genealogy resources on the net at John Fuller's most > helpful site http://www.rootsweb.com/~jfuller/gen_mail.html > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > AMERICAN-REVOLUTION-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > --------------------------------- > Sponsored Link > > For just $24.99/mo., Vonage offers unlimited local and long- distance > calling. Sign up now. > List Mom for the AMERICAN-REVOLUTION mailing list: > Diana Boothe philsbarbie1@arkansasfamilies.net > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > We have archives! Search for your AMERICAN-REVOLUTION information > here..... > http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=AMERICAN-REVOLUTION > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Check out other genealogy resources on the net at John Fuller's most > helpful site http://www.rootsweb.com/~jfuller/gen_mail.html > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > AMERICAN-REVOLUTION-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >