We have recently received some excellent research from Ushaw College, County Durham where the sons of Donald McNeill (2) attended for schooling in the 1870's.
Thank you to Peter Seed, Mathew Watson and Claire Marsland of Ushaw College for researching this information and sharing it with us.
Donald and John arrived at Ushaw on 15th August 1874
Donald aged 18, dob 3rd September 1856
John aged 15, dob 1st March 1959
Both promoted to higher class on 16th January 1876, both ‘left and did not return’ vacation summer 1976.
Henry arrived at Ushaw 21st September 1876
Aged 13, dob 2nd February 1863
Promoted to higher class on 18th January 1879. ‘Left and did not return’ vacation summer 1879
Peter arrived at Ushaw 20th September 1878
Aged 12, dob 19th September 1866. ‘Left, with valid cause’ 26th July 1880
As you can see they weren’t here long, two school years each. Although Donald and John moved up a class, none of the boys moved much beyond the basic classes ‘Rudimentorum’ but would receive a high quality of education whilst they were here. Donald came first in Geometry and second in Latin and Greek in 1875 exams, Henry was consistently first or second in Latin throughout his time here. Otherwise all four boys were in middle positions in class exams for all subjects.
I found the exam results in one of our ‘Reading-up’ books. These were lists of the class positions for each subject, and are beautifully illustrated by boys skilled in art. At the end of each term, boys would wait outside the main hall of the College. Inside, before the President, senior staff and senior students, a lector read out the names in descending order for each subject and boys entered when their names were called, leaving the boy who came last waiting outside to face the ordeal of coming in last. This practice lasted until the 1960’s!
What was life like at Ushaw?
Very strict and well ordered. Rise at 6.00 (Junior boys 6.30) Meditation, Mass, Morning Prayers, Breakfast (7.45)Study, Break, Classes until 1.00, Lunch, visit to Blessed Sacrament, Classes, Games, Study, Rosary and readings (7.00) Meal (7.30) 1.5 hour break, evening prayers 9.15 (Juniors 8.30) Lights out 10.00 (Juniors 9.00)
Meals were taken in silence, and boys listened to readings, theology but also other subjects. Sign language was used to communicate during meals-pass the salt etc.
Classes for juniors were Christian Doctrine, Latin, French, English, Maths, English History, Biblical History, Geography, Natural Sciences, Elecution and Gymnastics, with Greek added later.
They were given ‘play days’ for special occasions-feast days, visits of dignitaries, national events etc.
Football, cricket golf and other sports were played, as well as ‘Cat’-a game similar to rounders or baseball, which is thought to have come to the college from Douai, (The College was original founder there in the time of Queen Elizabeth because of persectution of Catholics in England). Unlike rounders, Cat was quite a dangerous game. Boys carved their own cat-sticks from local wood and the balls were home made too and rock-hard, covered with pitch and tape.
The Ushaw Magazine provides glimpses of life at the College and details notable events for staff and students, even after they have left the college. I only found one entry for McNeill. It noted, in 1898, the untimely death of John McNeil ‘one of four brothers at Ushaw’ who died, alongside one other person, when their canoe capsized in Lake Winnipegosis, Manitoba, Canada.