Chittenden

FISH, David

Vermont Historical Magazine, No XI, October 1867, p 838

David FISH, the most distinguished of the ancient Jericho [Chittenden County, 
Vermont] school masters, settled in town early; married the daughter of Mr. 
Timothy BROWN; taught school twenty-two winters in Jericho, and several 
winters in Essex [also in Chittenden County]. He was one of the "masters," 
authority based on the rod, he neither spared it nor spoiled the child; 
carried the ensign of office into school at the start and appealed to it 
powerfully, though, of course, not frequently. After he had resigned his 
vocation as superannuated he was repeatedly urged to "take the school," after 
some teacher had been "carried out" by the scholars. Mary incidents are 
still remembered of his bringing unruly schools to order after they had 
"revolved." In one of these, a large band of rawboned youngsters had 
conspired to "carry out" Master FISH, putting forward their "bully" and 
pledging to sustain him with "their lives, their fortunes and their sacred 
honors." The leader transgressed the "rules," was ordered to "take the 
floor," doff his coat and "stand up to the mark." So far he obeyed. That 
was part of the plan. For the rest he was to give blow for blow, and if 
necessary his comrades were to "pitch in." The blow came with a "twig of the 
wilderness" fit for an ox whip, and he attempted to return it with his "fists 
and feet, tooth and nail," but he dashed his jaw against Master FISH's fist 
and "was laid out." As he lay gasping, and his comrades, who were all 
standing "eager for fight," looked on aghast, the order came like thunder, 
"Sit down!" and order was restored for that school. The plan in another 
school was to put forward the largest girl in school. She rose and very 
politely asked, "Mr. TROUT, may I go out?" "Sit down," and business 
proceeded, but at the close of school for the day, the polite Miss was served 
with the beech like a refractory horse. The "boys" did not try it. The old 
master [David FISH] died in 1844, aged seventy-five, at the residence of his 
son and namesake, Hon. David FISH.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly