Old St. Andrews

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Colonel Hatch and the Ministry

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St. Andrews Beacon, Aug. 17, 1918
Centennary of Charlotte County Grammar School, by M. N. Cockburn
. . . How interesting it would be if we tonight could read a list of the names who responded to Mr. Cassills' first roll call, on the opening of the Old Grammar school in 1818. Unfortunately there is no such record extant, and I have been able to ascertain their names of only a few who were his pupils during the twenty years that he was Head Master in that school, from 1818 to 1838.

During that period, however, the late Honourable Harris Hatch raised and educated a large family. There were five boys whose names I remember, from information given to me years ago by some of the older people. They were Harris, Wellington, Christopher, Edward, and Charles. Mr. Cassills took delight in telling of an incident that occurred in connection with the Hatch family, while the boys were in his school. Perhaps there is only one person living today who remembers hearing Mr. Cassills relate this tale, and that is Miss Jane Kaven, who now lives in Bocabec, who has seen ninety summers, and whose recollections of Mr. Cassills are still very distinct.

The honorable Mr. Hatch, was, of course, solicitous of the welfare and future of his boys, and in discussing their possibilities with Mr. Cassills, said he felt that Harris, Wellington, Christopher, and Edward were boys of strong intellect and would easily make their way in life; Charles, however he thought to be of weaker mental caliber, and he asked Mr. Cassills if he did not think he had better educate Charles for the Ministry.

Whether it was because of the views expressed by Mr. Cassills in reply to Mr. Hatch's inquiry or some entirely different cause, Mr. Charles Hatch never attained the sacred calling which was then his father's ambition.