In the newspapers of 1864..."

From the "Lowell Daily Courier", Saturday, January 23, 1864...

   TEACHERS WANTED. Mr. Mercer, of Seattle, Washington Territory, has been in our city to-day, almost wholly, we believe, for the purpose of procuring female teachers to go to Washington Territory. He has visited several of our teachers and public schools, and will arrange to meet those interested in his object at the vestry of the Unitarian Church on Tuesday evening next, at 7 1/2 o'clock. Mr. Mercer comes well endorsed; he has personally no more interest in the matter than other citizens of Washington Territory; but whatever he does is for the public good and not for himself. His object will be further presented at the meeting named above.

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From the "Lowell Daily Citizen & News", Saturday, January 23, 1864...

   WASHINGTON TERRITORY. A. S. Mercer, of Seattle, Washington who has been at the head of the Territorial University, is now on a visit among his friends in Groton, in this county, and on Tuesday evening next, at 7 1/2 o'clock, will meet such of the friends of education in this city as will assemble at the vestry of Rev. Mr. Hinckley's church. His chief object will be to represent the educational condition and wants of the territory, and to present inducements for the emigration of teachers to that country. he will also present a general view of the country in its material aspects.

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From the "Lowell Daily Courier", Tuesday, January 26, 1864...

   TEACHERS! We would remind all interested, that there is to be a meeting this evening at 7 1/2 o'clock at the vestry of Rev. Mr. Hinckley's Church, for consultation in relation to the application for teachers in Washington Territory.

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From the "Lowell Daily Citizen & News", Wednesday, January 27, 1864...

[list of churches]

All joint business was concurred in:
MR. MERCER of Washington Territory gave his promised address last evening to a fair audience in Rev. Mr. Hinckley's vestry. His account of this young and rising territory, scarcely in its teens, but full of ample resources, only awaiting development, was listened to with evident interest. Mr. M. has resided some three years on the borders of Puget's Sound. The people of that region are for the most part of eastern and New England origin. Government has made liberal provision for educational purposes by grants of land, and considerable progress has been made, but there is a great want of teachers, and it is Mr. Mercer's purpose about the middle of February to return with a company of recruits for this service, promising remunerative employment immediately on their arrival. Persons who are accepted will be required to pay their passage to San Francisco only. Beyond that point Mr. M. will be responsible for expenses. Several young ladies in Groton are already enroled for this enterprise, and it is reported that some in this city are favorably disposed. Mr. M. leaves for Groton to-day, but will visit our city again prior to his departure for the Pacific coast.
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From the "Lowell Daily Citizen & News", Saturday, March 12, 1864...
FOR THE WEST. Eight young ladies of this city, several of whom have served acceptably as teachers in our public schools, are to leave this afternoon for Washington Territory, where they are to find employment in teaching the young Western ideas "how to shoot." They go out under the charge of Mr. Mercer, who has been deputed by citizens of that infant territory to canvass New England in search of teachers. They are to sail from New York for Panama on Monday next—thence going to San Francisco, and from the latter place to Olympia, Washington Territory. The following are the names of the ladies forming the delegation from Lowell:
  Lizzie Ordway, Aurelia Coffin, Sarah Cheney, Antoinette J. Baker, Sarah Gallagher, Josephine Pearson, Ann Murphy and Georgianna Pearson.
  Mr. Daniel Pearson, father of two of the young ladies, goes with them on the journey, with the intention of founding for himself a home in the far West. We wish them success in their venturesome undertaking.
  Francis Carl, Thomas Duckles, David Vickery and A. L. Hinckley, all lately employed by the Lowell Company, leave the city this afternoon on a trip to California.

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From the "Lowell Daily Courier", Monday Evening, March 14, 1864...

   GONE TO  WASHINGTON TERRITORY.— Last Saturday afternoon, eight young ladies started from this city, under charge of Mr. Mercer, for Washington Territory, where they are to be employed as teachers. Their names are Antoinette J. Baker, Aurelia Coffin, Sarah Cheney, Sarah Gallagher, Ann Murphy, Lizzie Ordway, Josephine Pearson, Georgianna Pearson. Mr. Daniel Pearson, the father of the two last named, also goes with them, partially with the hope of restoring his health, which has been much impaired for some time past. Several of the ladies have heretofore been teachers in the public schools of this city. They will sail from New York to-day for Panama, thence to San Francisco, and thence, again, to Olympia.

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