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The Hertford Academy at
Murfreesboro
incorporated 1794 by the North Carolina General Assembly
Murfreesboro, NC
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Building, built in 1811, had first housed the
entire Academy, the boys were on the top floor.
This building had housed the high school for girls operated by Mrs. James Banks.
The Banks School grew out of the Hertford Academy incorporated by the NC General
Assembly in 1794. The Chowan Female Institute was housed in this building from
fall of 1848 until fall of 1852.
"The academy in Murfreesboro, established
by act of Assembly in 1794, rapidly grew into public favor. The Rev. Jonathan
Otis Freeman, D D first presided over its fortunes. He was an able divine and
highly distinguished as an educator. The late Edmond B Freeman for many years
the clerk of the Supreme Court at Raleigh was his son. The original trustees
were Capt. Hardy Murfree, Capt. Lewis Meredith, John Wheeler, Patrick Brown, and
others. They manifested the utmost liberality and interest in the school. The
town lot whereon Dr. William G Freeman now resides [1877], was purchased and a
large brick building erected for recitation halls. Accommodations as to food and
lodging for students from a distance, were had among the residents of the
village. There were both male and female departments: the upper story of the
Academy being used for the young men.
"In 1819 he was succeeded by Thomas O'Grady, a
man who typified both the good and bad traits of the inhabitants of his native
Island. He was like most Irishmen, full of generous impulses, but violent in
temper. A free use of the rod enforced diligence on the part of his pupils in
studying the classics that he loved. Woe to the luckless urchin who incurred his
resentment! Some yet living still remember the strength of his arm and the
severity of his chastisements. Not a few of them rejoiced when retribution came.
The redoubtable O'Grady one Saturday evening having ventured up into that part of
the village then known as Scuffle-town, and tested the quality of the whiskey to
be found therein, at last encountered his match. Drew Vinson of Canada was then
in his prime, and ready at any moment to stake his manhood against all comers.
He and O'Grady that evening fought a battle which rivalied in length and
ferocity the proudest achievements of the prize ring. The boys laughed and
rejoiced, and the dreadfully discomfited Irishman soon bade adieu to the scene
of his defeat and went to that land from whose bourne no traveler returns.
"The Murfreesbor Academy in 1822 was
under the charge of the Rev. James Douglass. Miss Harriet Sketchy, afterward
Mrs. James Banks, had charge of the female department. The school continued to
prosper and was the pride and ornament of the village. The grade of education in
Hertford County assumed a much higher cast than had been hitherto known in our
midst. Samuel I Johnston and Godwin C Moore were sent by their grandfather,
Godwin Cotten of Mulberry Grove, to the State University. John Wheeler of
Murfreesboro, sent his oldest son, John Hill Wheeler to Columbian College in
Washington City and his second son, Samuel J Wheeler to Union College in New
York. Richard W Johnston of the county was also in the same institution. David
Outlaw, Thomas J. Pugh, and Lewis Thompson of Bertie the same year matriculated
at Chapel Hill. Up to this time William Hardy Murfree alone of our citizens, had
enjoyed the full advantage of college education.
"In 1824 the pious and
devoted James Douglas succeeded in establishing a small Presbyterian Church in
the village of Murfreesboro,[ and O'Dwyer, in his diary of 1824, often speaks of
his able discourses on the Bible. ] but Calvanism has not thrived among our
people, for this body soon came to nought.
"Mrs. Harriet Banks purchased of John Wheeler the academy lot and
discontinued the male department. She became distinguished as a teacher and many
of the best and purest women of Eastern Carolina were her pupils. The male
school after Rev. James Douglass' rule fell to the charge of Rev. John Lamb
Pritchard, afterwards famous as a divine. This devoted and eloquent man was
succeeded by A T Ackerman, late Attorney-General of the United States
"1843 --- The Academy at Murfreesboro was under
the control of A T Ackerman, a young man from New England, who subsequently
removed to Georgia and rose to distinction. Having become prominent as a lawyer
he was a Confederate officer; and afterwards Attorney General of the United
States under Grant.
The male academy in Murfreesboro had been conducted by William H Manning, since
of Gates. Hertford never gained or lost a better citizen than Mr. Manning, who
still survives [1878] in undiminished usefulness. Edward Carter was his
successor and to his duties as teacher added the gift of an accomplished
musician. [John Wheeler Moore in Historical
Sketches of Hertford Co 1877]
This school was kept up until about twenty years ago with able
educators at its head. [Benjamin B Winborne "History
of Hertford County, NC" 1906]
Building now belongs to the Murfreesboro Historical Association.
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The Buckhorn Academy ca 1820
Como, Hertford Co, NC
--- In Manney's Neck dwelt Robert Nicholson the
originator of the excellent and ancient academy at Buckhorn. He opened this
school as early as 1820, and for many years conducted its exercise even after he
became wealthy by marriage. He was succeeded by a man named Dunbar, who presided
over its fortunes until the advent of Mr. Warner. The building used in
Nicholson's time was not located immediately at Buckhorn chapel but was in the
neighborhood.
1843 --- Mr Warner of Connecticut did not remain long at Buckhorn and
soon succeeded by John Kinberly of Brooklyn. The latter had married Caroline,
the only daughter of Tristran Capehart 
of
Murfreesboro. Mr. Kimberly won fame as a teacher and was elected a professor in
the University at Chapel Hill. Having lost his first wife he again married her
cousin Bettie, the daughter of Judge Manney of Nashville, Tennessee.
George W Neal upon leaving Chapel Hill succeeded John Kimberly in charge of
Buckhorn Academy. He soon made reputation as a teacher and was induced to go to
Franklinton on a similar mission. He was followed at Buckhorn by George A Brett,
under whose rule this long honored institution lost none of its fame. A weakness
of vision arrested his career as a teacher, and this pure and scholarly
gentleman has since passed his time upon his paternal acres. [John
Wheeler Moore in Historical Sketches of Hertford Co]
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Elm Grove ca 1860
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Painting of the Elm Grove
School for girls conducted by Mr Alfred Darden
at his plantation at Mapleton near Murfreesboro, NC
painting was by one of the students
1849 -- A W Darden
became the Stewart of Chowan B F I and discontinued his school at Elm Grove and
removed to Murfreesboro. Miss Mary Womble, afterwards Mrs. Abner Harrell, came
with him and accepted a place under Mr. M R Fory [the new president of Chowan]
and with Miss Haskell of the North and Misses Lucia Dwight of Elizabeth City and
Sally Ann Johnson from Greenville, constituted the new faculty. [Small pox had
broken out in the family of John W Harrell and caused such an alarm that the
institution was closed and the students and faculty of Chowan had all betook
themselves to their homes.]
1855 --- A W
Darden had resumed his female school at Elm Grove, where Miss Clara Womble
afterwards Mrs. W J Holley, presided with much acceptance. [John
Wheeler Moore in Historical Sketches of Hertford Co]
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Murfreesboro High School
built 1922
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restored by
the Murfreesboro Historical Association
now houses the Brady C Jefcoat Museum
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