What Can We Learn About Pelham's Priory School for Girls from the 1870 Federal Census?

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The 1870 United States Census taken in the Town of Pelham reflects information about faculty, students, and workers who resided at the Priory School for Girls then conducted by sisters Anna and Adele Bolton in Bolton Priory which still stands at 7 Priory Lane, Pelham Manor, New York and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  What can we learn about the Priory School for Girls from the census data?

First, we must recognize the limitations of the data.  It reflects those who resided in Bolton Priory.  It is known that, over the years, some faculty members lived nearby (in New Rochelle, for example) and that there were so-called "day students" who did not reside in the Priory but nevertheless attended school there daily.  Additionally, in trying to assess where those reflected in the census data were from, the only geographical data provided reflects the birthplace of each.  While we may surmise that their homes remained in the states or countries of their births that, of course, might not always have been the case.  Still, the data provides rough information and some interesting insights about the faculty, students, and workers at Bolton Priory in 1870.

The census data reflects six faculty members, five "Domestic Servants," and forty seven students residing at the Priory.  The six resident faculty members were all women in 1870.  The youngest was 22 years old while the remainder ranged in edge from 31 to 40 years old.  The oldest was Anna Bolton (40 years old).  Three of the women (sisters Anna and Adele Bolton who ran the school at that time and Catherine Adams) were born in England.  The remaining three faculty members (Bonnie Riley, Lucy Garrigan, and Elizabeth Nelson) were born in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Alabama, respectively.

All five of the "Domestic Servants" were women.  Interestingly, four of the five -- like the Bolton sisters who ran the school -- were born in England (Mary Pierson, Rachael Baxter, Mary Cribb, and Anna Burke).  The fifth, Harriet Bryan, was born in Virginia.

Younger members of the Bolton Family were students, including the only boys who attended the school.  Thus, among the students taught at the school at the time were Robert Bolton, John Bolton, Annie Jay Bolton, Katy Bolton, and Nanette Bolton (who later became head mistress of the school and remained as such until the school closed and she departed for Europe twelve years later in 1882).  Accordingly, forty five of the students were girls and two were boys.  

Students at the Priory School for Girls ranged in age between eleven and nineteen years old.  The age breakdown of the forty seven students in 1870 was as follows:

11 Years Old:  3 Students
12 Years Old:  2 Students
13 Years Old:  7 Students
14 Years Old:  2 Students
15 Years Old:  10 Students
16 Years Old:  14 Students
17 Years Old:  2 Students
18 Years Old:  3 Students
19 Years Old:  4 Students

As one might expect, the largest number of students were born in, and likely remained residents of, New York (30 students, including the five Bolton family members who were students).  The remaining seventeen students were born in and, perhaps, still resided in the following fifteen states and two foreign nations:

Alabama:  1
Connecticut:  1
Maryland: 1
Massachusetts:  1
Ohio:  1
Pennsylvania:5
Rhode Island:  3
Virginia:  2

England:  1
Mexico:  1

In several instances (besides the Bolton children of course), students seemed to be related to one another -- perhaps siblings.  Two such students were Ann Vincent and Maria Vincent.  If related, the pair may have been twins because both were listed as 18 years old.  Other possibly related pairs included Gertrude Lefferts (13 years old) and Annie Lefferts (11 years old).  Another pair was Hattie Rop (13 years old) and Daisy Rop (11 years old).  

 

The Priory by William Rickerby Miller (1818-1893).

Watercolor on Paper, 1856, Showing the Terrace in Front

of the Home that Formed a "Promenade."  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The Priory by William Rickerby Miller (1818-1893).

Watercolor on Paper, 1856, Showing Front Entrance with

"1838" Formed by Bricks Set Into the Stone Above the

Doorway.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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Below is a transcription of some of the most significant data contained in all Priory School for Girls entries from the 1870 United States Census taken in the Town of Pelham.

Name	Age	Sex	Race	Occupation	Birthplace
Anna Bolton	40	F	White	Ladies Boarding School	England
Adele Bolton	36	F	White	Ladies Boarding School	England
Catherine Adams	30	F	White	Ladies Boarding School	England
Bonnie Riley	32	F	White	Ladies Boarding School	Georgia
Lucy Garrigan	31	F	White	Ladies Boarding School	Pennsylvania
Elizabeth Nelson	22	F	White	Ladies Boarding School	Alabama
Harriet Bryan	34	F	White	Domestic Servant	Virginia
Grace Pike	17	F	White	Attending School	Connecticut
Mary Marple	19	F	White	Attending School	Pennsylvania
Louisa Odin	16	F	White	Attending School	Pennsylvania
Florence Carter	16	F	White	Attending School	New York
Julia Garner	16	F	White	Attending School	New York
Mary Kam	15	F	White	Attending School	New York
Nettie Esteppe	15	F	White	Attending School	Ohio
Katy Gaygaum	19	F	White	Attending School	Alabama
Robert Bolton	14	M	White	Attending School	New York
John Bolton	13	M	White	Attending School	New York
Annie Jay Bolton	15	F	White	Attending School	New York
Katy Bolton	19	F	White	Attending School	New York
Nanette Bolton	15	F	White	Attending School	New York
Harriet Nelles	19	F	White	Attending School	Massachusetts
Annie Washington	15	F	White	Attending School	Virginia
Julia Bloodgood	11	F	White	Attending School	New York
Mary Warden	12	F	White	Attending School	Maryland
Amanda Simpson	16	F	White	Attending School	Virginia
Julia Shomaker	17	F	White	Attending School	Mexico
Ada Strong	16	F	White	Attending School	New York
Kate Seymour	15	F	White	Attending School	New York
Eva Smith	16	F	White	Attending School	New York
Louisa Johnson	15	F	White	Attending School	New York
Mary Hill	13	F	White	Attending School	England
Mary Pierson	51	F	White	Domestic Servant	England
Rachael Baxter	52	F	White	Domestic Servant	England
Mary Cribb	25	F	White	Domestic Servant	England
Ann Vincent	18	F	White	Attending School	New York
Maria Vincent	18	F	White	Attending School	New York
Anna Burke	46	F	White	Domestic Servant	England
Gertrude Lefferts	13	F	White	Attending School	New York
Nellie Bailey	13	F	White	Attending School	New York
Kate Van Nest	16	F	White	Attending School	New York
Lillie Pierce	16	F	White	Attending School	Rhode Island
Carrie Russell	16	F	White	Attending School	New York
Hattie Burgess	14	F	White	Attending School	New York
Virginia Gunth	13	F	White	Attending School	New York
Mary Bowers	15	F	White	Attending School	New York
Henrietta Temple	16	F	White	Attending School	New York
Clara Wooster	16	F	White	Attending School	Rhode Island
Clara Smith	18	F	White	Attending School	New York
Nellie Bradford	15	F	White	Attending School	Pennsylvania
Kate Crande	16	F	White	Attending School	New York
Eliza Tunis	13	F	White	Attending School	Pennsylvania
Annie Mairau	16	F	White	Attending School	Rhode Island
Elizabeth Chapman	15	F	White	Attending School	New York
Arabella Thayer	16	F	White	Attending School	New York
Hattie Rop	13	F	White	Attending School	New York
Daisy Rop	11	F	White	Attending School	New York
Dolly Worden	12	F	White	Attending School	Pennsylvania
Annie Lefferts	11	F	White	Attending School	New York

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