Rev. Nathaniel Eaton

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Eaton

Nathaniel Eaton (born 17 September 1609 − 11 May 1674) was the first Headmaster of Harvard and builder of Harvard's first College, the Old College. Nathaniel was also the uncle of Samuel Eaton (one of the seven founding members and signatories of the Harvard Corporation by charter in 1650)

Reverend Nathaniel Eaton 1610-1674 First schoolmaster of Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Later became a clergyman.

Parents: 'Rev. Richard Eaton 1565-1616 Elizabeth Shepheard 1569-1636

Wives:

1. Name Unknown
2. Ann (Graves) Cotton, widow; daughter of Capt. Thomas Graves

Nathaniel Eaton's first wife and children, except for son Benoni, left New England to join Nathaniel in Virginia. Their ship disappeared without a trace, and they were never heard of again (c.1640)

Eaton served for several years as an assistant to the Anglican curate at Accomac, Virginia before returning to England, where he was appointed vicar of Bishop's Castle, Shropshire, in 1661 and rector of Bideford, Devon, in 1668.[15]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Eaton

Children with Ann Graves:

• Samuel
• Nathaniel
• Alexander

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Nathaniel Eaton was the first Principal of Harvard University. "Shortly before 6/19/1638, Nathaniel Eaton, first Master of the College, moved with his family from Charlestown into a house in the Yard. By September 17, he had already assembled and begun teaching the first freshman class of nine.

(The Harvard Guide: hno.harvard.edu/guide/students/stu6.html)

The Reverend Nathaniel Eaton was successor to William Cotton as Anglican rector to the Eastern Short of Virginia, and he was the second husband of Ann Graves Cotton.

• Society of the Descendants of Colonial Clergy

It is not generally known today, but conditions within America's first college, Harvard, were atrocious, unacceptable even to Puritan standards. The students were being whipped, and the school master, Nathaniel Eaton was "fitter to have been an officer in the inquisition or master of a house of correction, than an instructor of Christian youth." Mrs. Eaton fed the students sparse and unfit meals. Charges were made that the Eaton children put goat dung in the hasty pudding. Eaton was fired and school was suspended.

from: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=oldmankew...

References

1. https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I1634...