Aldermanic School Laws

 

 The Common Primary Schools under the provisions of the "Aldermanic School Laws of 1796" were in operation, as were other schools of higher order. 

Joseph Martin's "Gazeteer of Virginia/' published at that time shows that schools of various grades existed generally throughout West Virginia. Of the many he mentions a few. 

 Evidence the following: At Martinsburg there was one male and one female academy and three common schools; at Wellsburg, one academy in which were taught the Greek and Latin languages, with three female and one male English school; at Barboursville, one common school; at Guyandotte, one primary school; at Anthony's Creek, three common schools; at Frankfort, two common schools, one for males and one for females; at Lewisburg, one academy and one common school; at Cold Stream Mill, one classical school; at Springfield, one Seminary in which were taught all the necessary branches of an English education; at Trout Run, one common school; at Bridgeport, one common school; at Clarksburg, one academy and two common schools; at Lewisport, one common school; at Pruntytown, one common school; at Shinnston, one common school; at Ripley, one common school; at Ravenswood, three common schools; at Charles Town, one academy and several other schools; at Harpers* Ferry, two academies — one male and one female — and two common schools; at Midd^pray, two common schools; at Charleston one academy and one infant school — kindergarten, the first in the State; at Buckhannon, schools taught in the winter; at Leading Creek, two common schools; at Weston, one common school; at Ballardsville, two schools in which were taught all the branches of an English education; at Point Pleasant, one common school; at Blacksville, one common school; at Glenville, one common school; at Polsley's Mills, one common school; at Morgantown, one academy, of two departments in which were taught the languages, painting, drawing, etc., and one common school; West Liberty, one academy and two common schools; at Huntersville, one school in which the ordinary branches of an English education were taught; at Brandonville one common school; at Beverly, one common school; at Middlebourne, one common school; at Parkersburg, three common schools.