Page:Account of the Boys' Charity School founded, in 1733, by Mrs. Katherine Bayley, in the city of Coventry.pdf/1



Charity Schools appear to have had their origin about the commencement of the 17th century, and for a period of about 200 years were the principal means of supplying education to the children of the poor. Their utility being manifest, we find the attention of the benevolentlydisposed very generally directed to their extension,and many were established during the first half of the last century in our large towns. Coventry is remarkably well off in these schools, five of which were established during and just before that period—one of them being the subject of this article. Katherine Bayley, of the parish of St. Michael, spinster, by will bearing date the 20th November, 1723, and proved at Lichfield on the 9th of April, 1731, left to the poor of St. Michael's £10 and to the poor of Trinity parish £5, to be distributed in bread. She also gave the sum of £600, and all the residue of her estate (after her debts, legacies, and funeral expenses were discharged) unto her executors and trustees in trust, to be by them laid out and applied for the educating and instructing of children in reading, writing, and casting accounts, and for such other charities, and in such manner as they, her said executors and trustees or survivors, in their or his discretion, should think most proper; and that they and the survivor of them might appoint trustees to see the charities by them settled faithfully and truly applied according to and in such manner as they, the said trustees or survivor, should agree to settle the same. Mrs. Bayley died on the 20th February, 1730, aged 52, and was buried by her own desire in Trinity Church (by the side of her father), where her stone (recently recut by order of the trustees) may be seen; the entire absence of any eulogistic epitaph thereon characterising the genuine charity that actuated the mind of the benevolent lady. Mr. Blythe and his co-executor appear to have lost no time in carrying into effect the intentions of the foundress, and, after the settlement of the affairs, "the orders for the government of the Charity School," as the original quaintly expresses it, were finally determined upon on the 24th of June, 1733, and the first children were admitted, 16 in number, half of whom were girls. This arrangement seems however to have been considered undesirable and unnecessary, a school for girls having been established only a short time before; and we find that after a few years the admission of girls entirely ceased, the number of boys being increased to 20. In the first balance sheet occurs the entry:—"Paid Mr. Hughes his bill,