A certain William Shaw had charge for almost a year and then in 1786 Tobias Lear, a native of New Hampshire and a graduate of Harvard, was employed.

It is supposed that some of the lessons were taught in the small circular building in the garden; Washington himself refers to it as "the house in the Upper Garden called the School house." Lear's duties were by no means all pedagogical and ultimately he became Washington's private secretary.

In Philadelphia he and his family lived in the presidential mansion.

Washington had for him "a particular friendship," an almost fatherly affection.

His interest in Lear's little son Lincoln was almost as great as he would have bestowed upon his own grandson.