Matthew Whaley Elementary School

Matthew Whaley Elementary School is located in Williamsburg, Virginia. It is operated by the Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools (commonly called "WJCC"), which is a joint effort of the city and James City County. The school, a large, well-equipped brick building of simple design, was completed in 1931. It is located immediately adjacent to the restored Historic Area of Colonial Williamsburg.

History

The name revives that of the school founded in 1706 for the poor of Bruton Parish by Mary Whaley and provided with funds by her will in 1742, to 'eternalize the name of Matty's School by Matty's name forever.' Her son, Matty, died in 1705, at the age of nine.

The original 'Matty's Free School' occupied three frame buildings just outside town and continued 'the teaching of the neediest children of the Parish of Bruton in the art of reading, writing, and arithmetic' probably until the American Revolution, but without benefit of the legacy. Payment was refused by Mrs. Whaley's executor, and the suit dragged on for more than 120 years. In 1866 the College of William and Mary, as new trustees, received $8,470 and the following year opened the 'Grammar and Matty School' in Brafferton Hall.