History of Education in Freehold Township

The earliest recorded school was the Mattisonia Grammar School, which was established on July 23, 1767. An unrecorded deed, dated May 25, 1753, which is said to be in the possession of the Old Tennent Church, states that Aaron Mattison of Freehold gave to the Trustees of the Presbyterian Church of Monmouth County a plot of ground "for a consideration of two shillings, six pence current lawful money of the Province of New York." An original deed for a "great deal of land sold" is recorded in the Courthouse in Freehold in Book of E of Deeds on page 55, and was apparently sold to Arrie Marteson by John Reid on November 25, 1707, for ten pounds four shillings. It adjoined land belonging to Benjamin Allen and Captain Anderson known as Clear Brook, which ran through a meadow near the church during the Revolution. John Reid had purchased the land from the Indians on July 25, 1696. Some of this same land came into the hands of David Rhea, John Henderson, and Samuel Ker, together they gave the land for a consideration of one shilling to the Trustees of the Presbyterian Church.

The site of the Mattisonia Grammar School was somewhere in the vicinity of Old Tennent Church-probably on church property. It is not known how long the school was in operation; however, the Rev. Charles McKnight’s sons, Charles and Richard were educated there. They, with others, from the area became prominent in the War for Independence. Also noted was that Dr. Nathaniel Scudder, was one of the three men responsible for the school. Dr. Scudder was born in Freehold Township in 1733 and lived in Freehold most of his life. He was a graduate of Princeton College in 1751. He later became one of the trustees of the college. He became a physician and settled at Monmouth Courthouse. It is said his house, which was of eighteenth century architecture, stood where the Freehold Borough Municipal Building and the Railroad Station are today. He was an ardent patriot, writing many articles against the tyranny of England. He gave up his practice and became a colonel in the First Regiment of Monmouth during the Revolution. He was a member of the Legislature for several years, and in 1776 was speaker of the House. In 1777 he was chosen a member of Congress. He designed the Articles of Confederation. In June, 1778, during a short recess in Congress he came home and was present at the Battle of Monmouth. He was shot in 1781 near Shrewsbury, while helping General David Forman repel one of the many incursions by the enemy. He was buried with honors in Old Tennent Churchyard.