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Penn History

Penn in the 18th Century Charity School Charity School Faculty

This exhibit was researched, written and created by Mary D. McConaghy, Michael Silberman, and Irina Kalashnikova in 2004 as part of the celebration of Benjamin Franklin's 300th birthday.

Arranged chronologically by first year of teaching:

Charity School for Girls

  • Mrs. Frances Holwell, Mistress, 1753-1760
  • Mrs. Mary Middleton, Mistress, 1761-1762
  • Mrs. Sarah Gardiner, Mistress, 1762-1779
  • Mrs. John Heffernan, Mistress, 1779-1782
  • Mrs. Martha Davis, Mistress, 1782-1791
  • Mrs. Mary Robinson, Mistress, 1791-1796
  • Mrs. Mary Burke, Mistress, 1796-1800

Charity School for Boys

  • George Price, Master, 1751-May of 1754
    • Patrick Carrol, Assistant, 1752
    • John Ormsby, Assistant, 1752
    • A. Dun, Assistant
    • Andrew Morton, Assistant, 1753-1755
  • Andrew Morton, Master, 1755-1758
    • William Ayres, Assistant, 1755-1759
  • William Ayers, Master, 1759-1767
    • Samuel Campbell, Assistant, 1759-1760
    • Richard Harrison, Assistant, 1760
    • John Carithers, Assistant, 1766
  • John Carithers, Master, 1767-1776
    • William Griffin, Assistant, 1767
    • John Kirke, Assistant, 1774
  • William Oliphant, Master, 1776-1778
  • William Stanley, Master, 1778-1779
  • William Oliphant, Master, 1779-1790
  • John Ramsey, Master, 1790-1798
  • J. Ewing, Master, 1800-1801