Headstone rubbing of Master Moody

A Great Share from Sharon Slater, Manager of the Archives The Governor's Academy Archives

The grave rubbing shown in this photograph is that of the headstone of Samuel Moody, the first Preceptor of Dummer Charity School. Born in York, Maine in 1725, Moody received his education at Harvard College graduating in 1746. Upon the completion of his studies, Moody returned to York to teach at the local public grammar school. In 1756 he left the public grammar school to form his own school in the community. Moody’s reputation as a charismatic and energetic Latin and Greek scholar attracted the attention of the Trustees of the newly established Dummer Charity School. He was hired as Preceptor and on March 1, 1763, in the newly constructed Red School House, Moody began his first day of teaching at Dummer Charity School with twenty-eight students in attendance. The Red School House still stands today and is located at the entrance of the campus.

Master Moody influenced the lives of five hundred and twenty-six young men during his career at Dummer Charity School, the name changing to Dummer Academy after the school was incorporated in 1782. Many of his young scholars became leading citizens to the New Republic. He was instructor to Senator Rufus King, who was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and original signer of the Constitution. He taught Tobias Lear, who became private secretary to President George Washington as well as, Samuel Osgood, who was appointed as the first Postmaster General under Washington. Master Moody also instructed the naval hero, Commodore Edward Preble, Commander of the USS Constitution, and Samuel Phillips, the founder of Phillips Academy Andover in 1778.

Samuel Moody resigned his position at Dummer Academy 1790 and spent his remaining years traveling and visiting at the homes of friends and former students. Moody died on December 17, 1795 at the home of a former student, Dr. Samuel Tenney of Exeter, New Hampshire at the age of seventy. His was buried in York, Maine. The following is a transcription of his headstone inscription.

Integer vitae scelerisque purus
Here lies the remains
Of
SAMUEL MOODY, Esq
Preceptor of Dummer Academy
(The first Institution of the kind in Mass)
He left no child to mourn his sudden death
(for he died a Bachellor)
Yet his numerous Pupils in the U.S. will ever
retain a lively sense of the Sociability, Industry,
Integrity & Piety he possessed in an uncommon degree
as well as the disinterested, Zealous, faithful & useful
manner his discharged the duties of the Academy
for 30 years.
he died at Exeter 17 Dec 1795
AE 70
ADDED Sources on Family Genealogy by Melissa Berry Samuel Moody---Parents Rev Joseph Moody and Lucy White Moody

The Legend of Handkerchief Moody Gail Potter Mysterious New England, Yankee Books, 1971 
Maine Genealogy
From "A Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England: ... To which are Added Various Genealogical and Biographical Notes, Collected from Ancient Records, Manuscripts, and Printed Works." by John Farmer

Caleb Moody, son of William Moody, was born a. 1637, settled in Newbury, which he represented in 1677 and 1678. He d. 25 August, 1698 ae. 61. He had several children, of whom were Daniel and Samuel. Samuel, was b. 4 Jan. 1676, grad. at H. C. 1697, was ordained the minister of York, 20 Dec. 1700, d. 13 Nov. 1747. His son Joseph, b. 1700, grad. at H. C. 1718, was ordained over the 2d church in York 1732, dismissed 1741, d. 20 March, 1753, ae. 53. The celebrated master, Samuel Moody, H. C. 1746, for thirty years the preceptor of Dummer Academy, was son of Joseph, and d. at Exeter, 17 Dec. 1795, ae. 70, having never married.

Soul Effigy, Reverend Samuel Moody, Old York, Burying Ground 1747

DEBORAH, whom Winthrop calls "a wise and anciently religious woman," lived at Lynn in 1640, having purchased Mr. Humphrey's plantation. Mr. Savage [ii. Winthrop, 123] has more acquaintance with this lady, however slight it may be, than any one else. Mr. Coffin informs me that Sir Henry Moody, knight, is named in Salem records as her son. JOHN, Roxbury, was admitted freeman 1633. Winthrop, i. Hist. N. E. 106. Prince, ii. Annals, 96. JOSHUA, first minister of the first church in Portsmouth, was son of William Moody, and was b. in England, in 1633, grad. at H. C. 1653, commenced preaching at Portsmouth 1658; was ordained 1671; was at Boston, the assistant minister of the first church, from 23 May, 1684 to 1692; was invited to the presidency of H. C. which he declined; returned to his charge at Portsmouth, but d. while on a visit at Boston, 4 July, [Boston records say the 6] 1697, ae. 64. His son Samuel, H. C. 1689, was a preacher at NewCastle, N. H.; m. Esther Green, of Boston, 4 April, 1695, and had sons, Joshua, b. and d. 1696; Joshua, 2d, b. 31 Oct. 1697, probably grad. at H. C. 1716; Samuel, b. 29 Oct. 1699, was a magistrate, and d. at Brunswick, Me., Sept. 1758, ae. 59, and one daughter, Mary, all born at New-Castle. Both the Rev. Joshua Moody and his son Samuel wrote the name Moodey. SAMUEL, came to N. E. in 1635, went to Hartford, thence to Hadley with the first settlers. He had three sons, John, Samuel, and Ebenezer, and 3 daughters. John had five children, and d. in Hartford. Samuel d. at 80 years and Ebenezer at 83. Coffin. WILLIAM, came from Wales, [Tradition] as early as 1634, was admitted freeman 1635, and after a short residence in Ipswich, settled in Newbury, where he d. 25 Oct. 1673. He had three sons, Joshua and Caleb, already noticed, and Samuel, who m. Mary Cutting, 30 November, 1657, had sons, William, b. in 1661; John, b. in 1663; Samuel, b. 1671; Cutting, and probably others, one of whom was ancestor of Rev. Silas Moody, H. C. 1761, the minister of Arundel, Me., who d. in April, 1816. Twenty-five of the name of Moody had grad. at the N. E. colleges in 1826, most of whom have descended from William Moody. 

From The "The history of the state of Maine: from its first discovery, A. D. 1602, to the separation, A. D. 1820, inclusive, Volume 1" by William Durkee Williamson

Rev. Samuel Moody was born at Newbury, January 4, 1676, graduated at Harvard in 1697, and settled in the ministry at York in December, 1700.—His grandfather, William, emigrated from Wales to Newbury as early as 1634, and had three sons, Joshua, Samuel, and Caleb. Joshua, born in England, was the first minister of Portsmouth; and Caleb's son, Samuel, first above mentioned, was the second ordained minister of York. Rev. Joseph Moody, his son, settled in 1732, over the 2d Church in York, was the father of the celebrated master Samuel Moody, who was 30 years preceptor of Dummer Academy.
The Will of Samuel Moody

In the Name of God Amen.

   The Sixth Day of May One thousand Seven Hundred & Fifty six. I Samuel Moody of Fort George in Brunswick in the County of York Esq^r being weak in Body but of perfect Mind & Memory, Thanks be given to God, Therefore calling unto Mind the Mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die Do make & ordain this my last Will & Testament, that is to Say, principally & first of all, I give & recommend my Soul into the Hands of God that gave it, and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in decent Christian Burial at y^e Discretion of my Executor, Nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I Shall receive the Same again by the mighty Power of God; And as touching Such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life, I give demise & dispose of the Same in the following Manner & Form.
   Imp^r. I give & bequeath to my beloved Son Nathaniel Green Moody, one third part of my real Estate to be Set of to him in Quantity & Quality at y^e Discretion of my Executor.
   Item I give & Bequeath to my beloved Son Samuel Moody one third part of my Real Estate to be Set off to him in quantity & quality at y^e Discretion of my Executor
   Item. I give & bequeath to my beloved Son Joshua Moody one third part of my real Estate to be Set off to him in Quantity & Quality at the Discretion of my Executor.
   Item. I give & bequeath to my well beloved Wife Mary Moody, whom I likewise Constitute make & ordain my Sole Executrix of this my last Will & Testament all my personal Estate of what name or Nature Soever by her freely to be possessed and enjoyed.
   And I do hereby utterly disallow revoke & disannul all & every other former Testaments Wills Legacys and Bequests & Executors, by me in any ways before named willed & bequeathed, and confirming this & no other to be my last Will & Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand & Seal y^e Day & Year above written.

Signed Sealed published pronounced    & declared by ye Sd Saml Moody as    his last Will & Testament in ye    presence of us the Subscribers,                                                           David Dunning William Vincent,    Iohn Cotton

Probated 2 Oct. 1758 Source: Maine Wills, 1640-1760 (Portland, Me., 1887), p. 828, citing Probate Office, 10, 29.] Some other connections: Wayne Marshall Chase Archives The Selected Letters of Mary Moody Emerson  By Mary Moody Emerson Maine Archives http://www.ourstory.info/library/5-AFSIS/Fuess/school1.html 1713 Treaty of Portsmouth Edward Preble: A Naval Biography, 1761-1807  By Christopher McKee New England Life in the Eighteenth Century: Representative Biographies from Sibley's Harvard Graduates Clifford Kenyon Shipton Byfield Dartmouth Library