Ezekiel Cheever
Ezekiel Cheever was a notable schoolmaster in Colonial America, born in London in 1615 and later immigrating to Boston, Massachusetts, around 1637. He initially established a school in New Haven, Connecticut, where he taught many students, including the Puritan poet Michael Wigglesworth. Cheever authored a Latin instructional text that remained in print for nearly two centuries. His personal life included two marriages, first to Mary, with whom he had five children before her death in 1649, and later to Ellen Lathrop, with whom he had another five children. Cheever's educational career was distinguished, culminating in his role as the schoolmaster of the Boston Latin School from 1671 until his death in 1708. Many of his students advanced to Harvard College, including his sons, who became well-known ministers. Cheever's legacy also includes a connection to the Salem witch trials through his youngest son, who gained notoriety in Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible." He was buried in Boston, leaving behind a significant impact on education in the early American colonies.
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Ezekiel Cheever
Teacher
- Born: January 25, 1615
- Birthplace: London, England
- Died: August 21, 1708
- Place of death: Boston, Massachusetts
Biography
Ezekiel Cheever was a prominent schoolmaster in Colonial America. Cheever was born in London, England, in 1615, but made his way to Boston, Massachusetts, around 1637. His father, William Cheever, was a skinner, but Cheever received a classical education. Cheever promptly employed his considerable pedagogical skill upon arriving in the New Haven colony in Connecticut, where he opened a school in his home. The Puritan poet Michael Wigglesworth was an early student. Cheever may have written A Short Introduction to the Latin Tongue, For the Use of the Lower Forms in the Latin School while in New Haven. It remained in print through 1806.
Cheever married around 1638. He and his wife, Mary, had five children. She died in 1649. Also in 1649, Cheever was censured by his church, after he was accused by the church of flouting the congregation’s governing role. Cheever returned to England for a time. Upon returning to the colonies in 1650, Cheever settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts, where he served as schoolmaster until 1661.
Cheever married Ellen Lathrop in 1652. They had five children. Cheever also became schoolmaster in Charlestown. Cheever’s most prominent post, however, was schoolmaster of Boston Latin School, the oldest public school in the United States. Cheever lead Boston Latin from 1671 until the year he died, in 1708. Cheever wrote several religious essays, published in 1757 as Scripture Prophecies Explained.
Many of Cheever’s students went on to study at Harvard College, including all three of his sons who lived to adulthood. All three sons also became well-known ministers in colonial churches. Ellen Lathrop’s and Cheever’s youngest child, also named Ezekiel, achieved infamy when his role in the Salem witch trials of 1692 was immortalized in “The Crucible,” by Arthur Miller. Cheever was buried in Boston.