Claiborne County MSGenWeb Project - Brashear Female Academy

BRASHEAR ACADEMY

According to Henry S. Brashear in The Brashear-Brashears Family, Eden Brashear, in his will recorded in Claiborne County, Mississippi, left a sum of money to establish Brashear Academy at Port Gibson. He is buried on the bluff at Grand Gulf, and a handsome monument is erected to his memory there.

Mrs. Katie M. Headly in her Claiborne County, Mississippi: The Promised Land, states that “Among the schools to open in Port Gibson in the 1850’s was the Brashear Female Academy, which was erected in 1857.” A Miss Marvin served as the first principal, and the school continued until the Civil War.

From the Weekly Southern Reveille, June 13, 1857:

Brashear Female Academy

Miss M. Marvin, Principal

Miss S. M. Warner, Assistant Teacher in English, Latin, Drawing, Painting, etc.

Miss M. Shalk, Teacher in Music, French, German and Spanish

Miss Marvin takes this method of informing the public that the next session of her school will commence on Wednesday the 1^st of October in the above named academy, which is now in the course of erection in the rear of the Presbyterian Church.

The principal finds it necessary to open a house for the accommodation of herself and teachers, which will enable her to board a limited number of pupils. The scholastic year will be divided into sessions of twenty weeks each. Instructions will be given in English, German, Spanish, and the Latin Language. Music upon Piano, Guitar, Organ, also Drawing, Painting, and Needlework taught.

Port Gibson, Aug. 17, 1856

1860 U. S. CENSUS – CLAIBORNE COUNTY , MISSISSIPPI

FACULTY AND STUDENTS BOARDING AT BRASHEAR ACADEMY

Aug. 3, 1860, Port Gibson, Mississippi, Roll 580. pages 505-506

NAME	Occupation	Age	Place of Birth	Sex
Geo. G. Butler	Teacher	32	Pennsylvania	M
A. J. Butler	Teacher	29	Dist. of Columbia	F
E. J. Fitzhugh	Teacher	25	England	M
E. A. Fitzhugh	Teacher	22	England	F
A. Schiverdeman	Teacher	30	Switzerland	F
K. Watroos	Teacher	22	Ohio	F
A. Montmercy	Teacher	45	England	F
A. Butler		16	Virginia	F
E. H. Butler		12	Virginia	F
M. E. Brown		17	Louisiana	F
E. J. Hubbard		13	Mississippi	F
S. A. McRae		17	Louisiana	F
Irene McRae		13	Louisiana	F
Kate McNeill		12	Mississippi	F
E. M. Merit		17	Mississippi	F
A. S. Newell		18	Louisiana	F
L. A. Newell		10	Louisiana	F
M. E. Stansbery		15	Mississippi	F
J. N. Tompkins		12	Mississippi	F
Ella Bland		17	Mississippi	F
F. A. Beck		16	Mississippi	F
E. Davenport		17	Mississippi	F
A. M. Davenport		15	Mississippi	F
Eveline Muir		10	Mississippi	F
L. H. Wade		12	Mississippi	F
Ellie A. Young		13	Mississippi	F

Submitted by Sue B. Moore, sbmoore@swbell.net