Known to any child who sets hope upon the ideal day, the bothersome necessity of chores and school usually interfere with those best laid plans. In the rural locale of 18th century Hanover County, there were no public, or free schools as we have today in the United States. Parents who chose to educate their kids, could do so themselves, at home, or choose from area teachers or tutors who would charge a fee to educate students. The reality was, anyone could be a teacher if they could convince parents to pay. A teacher might educate in their own home, or several parents might gather together to hold classes in a single location, perhaps a centrally located farm.
In the July 1897 issue of William and Mary Quarterly, a feature was written on “Education In Colonial Virginia”. The article quoted Robert Beverley, who in 1705 wrote “…it was the habit of people of Virginia to join together and form little schools for the education of the children.” The publication also referenced Rev. Hugh Jones, and his 1722 work, “Present State of Virginia”. Jones observed, “In most parishes are schools, little houses, being built on purpose where are taught English and writing, etc.”[1] Samuel Meredith writes that it was in such a common school that Patrick learned the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic.[2] Near the age of ten, his father made the decision to teach him at home, and from that point forward, Patrick never attended another school outside his home.
[1] William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, July 1897, Vol. IV, No. 1, pg. 1
[2] George Morgan, The True Patrick Henry, (J.B. Lippincott Co., 1907) Col. Samuel Meredith Statement, pp. 431-434
Patrick Henry: His Life 