Memorial The Reverend James Reed
MEMORIAL
THE REVEREND JAMES REED
FIRST RECTOR OF CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1753-1777. HE LED IN
ESTABLISHING A SCHOOL IN NEW BERN IN 1764 WHICH BY AN ACT OF
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN 1766 BECAME THE FIRST INCORPORATED SCHOOL
IN THE PROVINCE. THE FIRST SCHOOL BUILDING WAS COMPLETED IN 1768
ON THE CORNER OF NEW AND HANCOCK STREETS. THE SCHOOL WAS
REORGANIZED AFTER THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR IN 1784 AS THE NEW
BERN ACADEMY. THE PRESENT ACADEMY BUILDING, COMPLETED IN 1810 ON
THE ORIGINAL SITE, SERVED NEW BERN'S CHILDREN FOR MORE THAN 150
YEARS.
THE REVEREND MR. REED DIED IN 1777. HIS GRAVE IS LOCATED IN
CHRIST CHURCH CHURCHYARD BESIDE THE MIDDLE STREET FENCE.
THE GRAVE OF THOMAS TOMLINSON, 1732-1802, FIRST SCHOOLMASTER OF
THE FIRST SCHOOL, IS IN CEDAR GROVE CEMETERY ON THE LEFT OF THE
PATH AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE ON QUEEN STREET.