USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the colonial history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. XII > Part 5
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In 1781, the Spy appeared with a new engraved title, Thomas's Massa- chusetts Spy: Or, The Worcester Gazette. At the end of the War of the Revolution, the paper was enlarged, each page containing five columns, and printed on new types. In March, 1786, the proprietor suddenly sus- pended publication and issued a few numbers of a periodical which he called The Worcester Magazine, which he intended as a substitute for the Spy, but the attempt was not successful. This scheme was said to be on account of a tax levied on newspapers by the Legislature of Massachu- setts. On April 2, 1788, the Spy re-appeared, with the following saluta- tory :-
The Printer has the happiness of once more presenting to the Publick, the Massachu- setts Spy, or the Worcester Gazette, which at length is restored to its Constitutional Liberty, (thanks to our present Legislature,) after a suspension of two years. Heaven grant that the FREEDOM of the PRESS, on which depends the FREEDOM of the PEOPLE, may, in the United States, ever be guarded with a watchful eye, and defended from Shackles of every form and shape, until the trump of the celestial messenger shall announce the final dissolution of all things.
The issue for Thursday, June 16, 1791, Vol. XX., No. 950, contains these mottoes under the heading : "The Liberty of the Press is essential to the Security of Freedom."-"La Liberté de la Press est essentielle au foutien de la Liberté Publique." [A motto in Greek twelve words. ]-"A facultate loquendi palam, vel scribendi, pendet Reipublicae Libertas." Imprint-"Printed at Worcester, (Massachusetts) by Isaiah Thomas, Printer, Bookseller and Stationer.
"Sold at his Bookstore, near the Courthouse, where Advertisements and Subscriptions for this Paper (which has a large Inland Circulation in this Commonwealth and the States of Newhampshire and Vermont) are received. The Price of this Paper is Nine Shillings per Annum, delivered at his Printingoffice or Bookstore, or for fifty two Newspapers ; a smaller Number of Papers at a Price proportionable. Advertisements not exceed- ing twelve Lines, are inserted three Weeks for Four Shillings, and con- tinued three Weeks longer for Two Shillings. Larger Advertisements at a proportionable Price. * Books bought or exchanged. Printing, in all
1 Ibid, p. 232.
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NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS.
its Variety, performed with Care, Neatness and Fidelity. * A large Assortment of Books and Stationary always for Sale.
66 Subscriptions and Advertisements for this Paper, are also received at said Thomas and Company's Bookstore, No. 45, Newbury Street, Bos- ton." The paper was now printed on a sheet 16}xIo4 inches, four columns to a page.
Various changes were subsequently made in the heading and in the numbering of the paper and of the volumes, so that it is difficult to make a satisfactory collation except by dates. The publishers were also changed frequently.
In May, 1792, the paper purported to be "Printed by Isaiah Thomas and Leonard Worcester ;" in 1793, "for Isaiah Thomas and Leonard Worces- ter, by Leonard Worcester ;" in 1794, "by Leonard Worcester, for Isaiah Thomas ;" in 1801, " by Isaiah Thomas, jun. for Isaiah Thomas & Son ;"" and afterwards, "by and for Isaiah Thomas, jun." The name of the senior never afterward appeared in connection with the ownership of the paper. About the year 1814, William Manning, of Boston, became the publisher of the Spy, "for Isaiah Thomas, jun." A few years after, the establishment was sold to John Milton Earle, by whom it was owned and published in 1850. In 1880 it was the oldest newspaper in Massachu- setts, and one of the most flourishing in the country.
Isaiah Thomas was born in Boston, January 19, 1749. He was the youngest of five children. When six years old he was apprenticed to Zacharias Fowle, a printer of ballads, tracts, handbills, etc. He was em- ployed in setting type, for which purpose he was placed on a bench eighteen inches high. He remained with Fowle eleven years, when he went to Halifax, where he remained seven months in the office of the Halifax Gazette, during which period he seems to have taken advantage of his master's absence to disregard the stamp act, which got the master, Anthony Henry, into serious trouble, and made it prudent for Thomas to leave the Province. He went to Portsmouth, N. H., in March, 1767, and worked some time in the printing office of Daniel Fowle, and Russell & Furber. In July he returned to Boston and worked several months with Zacharias Fowle. Afterwards he went to North Carolina, intending to start a printing office at Wilmington, but owing to various em- barrassing circumstances he gave up the idea and went on board a ship bound for the West Indies, intending to go thence to London. After ten days on board he changed his mind, and went to Charleston, S. C., where he worked for two years in a printing office. In 1770 he returned to Boston and went into partnership with his former master, Fowle. He was the senior partner in the house of Thomas & Andrews, in Boston, which carried on the business of printing and bookselling for many years.1 He was instrumental in starting many newspapers in New Eng-
1 Says Wansey, the " Wiltshire Clothier," who visited the United States in 1794: " I saw Thomas, the famous bookseller, whom Brissot celebrates as the Didot of the United
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HISTORY OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS.
land, with the help of his former apprentices and others. He adopted the plan of spelling compound names of States and towns in one word, as Newengland, Newhampshire, Newhaven, but did not suceed in securing the general adoption of his scheme. He died at his residence in Worcester, April 4, 1831. He is best known as the author of the History of Printing, so freely used in this work. He accumulated a great collection of news- papers, which he used in his History, and then presented to the American Antiquarian Society, which he also endowed with his library, a fire proof building at Worcester, and a handsome sum of money.
1771, November 23 (Saturday)-The Censor, at Boston, by Ezekiel Russell.
It was printed on a small sheet, foolscap, folio, on an English type, on Saturdays. It was almost purely political, being devoted to the Royal cause. Lieut. Gov. Oliver, Dr. Benjamin Church, and other prominent men were among the contributors, but they made little or no impression on the public. As the Censor languished, its printer tried to make it more of a newspaper, and some of its last numbers had a separate half sheet, containing a few articles of news and some advertisements. The paper continued to fail, however, and was discontinued in April, 1772. Vol. I. contains 70 pp. ; Vol. II., pp. 71-86.
1773, December I (Saturday)-The Essex Journal and Merrimac Packet : Or, the Massachusetts and New Hampshire General Advertiser, at Newburyport, by Isaiah Thomas and Henry Walter Tinges.
This was the first newspaper established at Newburyport. It was printed on a crown sheet, folio, three columns to the page, equal in size to most of the papers then published in Boston. The arrangement of title, etc., was as follows :
Cut of an
Indian with
bow and arrow
The Essex Journal
Cut of
a ship
under sail.
in his hands.
and Merrimack Packet :
Or, the Massachusetts and New Hampshire General Advertiser.
Vol. I. Saturday, December 1, 1773. (No. I. Gratis)
States. He has a well furnished shop and good printing office. His newspaper is as well conducted as any European paper whatever. A great encourager to the liberal arts,"- Wansey, 52.
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In the colophon appears the imprint-"Newbury-Port : Printed by Isaiah Thomas and Henry-Walter Tinges, opposite to the Rev. Mr. Par- sons's Meeting-House .. Where Printing, in its various Branches, is per- formed in a neat Manner, on the most reasonable Terms, with the greatest Care and Dispatch."
The first article in the first number is an address to the Public, signed Isaiah Thomas, stating that,-"Many respectable Gentlemen, Friends to Literature, having expressed their earnest desire that a Printing-Office might be established in this populous Town, the Inhabitants in general being sensible of the great Want thereof, and the Patronage and Assist- ance they have kindly promised to give, has encouraged me to procure the necessary Apparatus for carrying on the Printing Business, and Opening here ; and animates me to hope that every Public Spirited Gentleman, in this and the Places adjacent, will promote so useful an Undertaking." This is followed by the conditions on which the paper was proposed to be published, and more than two columns of remarks on "the great utility of a Printing-Press," and the circulation of newspapers ; and an exposition of what the publishers considered to be their duty, and the principles by which they intended to govern their conduct. They promised, when po- litical disputes ran high, that readers might depend on hearing both sides of the question, "with the greatest impartiality."
In the following spring the day of publication was Wednesday. Thomas was the proprietor of the Journal, living in Boston, where he still pub- lished The Massachusetts Spy. Tinges, as a partner in the Journal, man- aged its business affairs. Before the expiration of a year, Thomas sold his interest in the Journal to Ezra Lunt, who, in the course of another year or two, sold to John Mycall ; who changed the name to The Essex Journal and New Hampshire Packet. The issue for Friday, April 12, 1776, Volume III, No. 119, has the imprint in the colophon :
"Newbury-Port : Printed by John Mycall, in King-Street, opposite the Rev. Mr. Parson's Meeting-House, where this Paper may be had at Six Shillings and Eight Pence per Annum, exclusive of Postage. Articles of Intelligence etc. are gratefully received, Printing and Book-Binding, in their various Branches, are performed in a neat manner on reasonable Terms, with Care and Dispatch."
Tinges sold out his interest about six months after Mycall became the principal owner. The latter thereupon changed the title and arrange- ment of the heading as follows :
December 11, 1776 The No. 154
Essex Journal.
Newbury-Port : Printed by John Mycall, in Merrimack-Street.
With the issue for July 9, 1784, Mycall again changed the title to The
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HISTORY OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS.
Essex Journal and The Massachusetts and New Hampshire General Ad- vertiser, beginning a new series of numbering, with No. I. In the colo- phon was the imprint :
"Newbury-Port : Printed by John Mycall, in Fifth-Street, near to the Rev. Mr. Cary's Meeting-House, where this Paper may be entered for at Two shillings and three pence per Quarter, (exclusive of Postage) and where Advertisements and Articles of Intelligence are received, and all kinds of Printing performed expeditiously, and at a reasonable rate."
No. 129, Wednesday, December 20, 1786, is entitled "The Essex Journal and New Hampshire Packet," and the colophon states that it was "Printed by John Mycall, in Merrimack-Street, a little below the Ferry- Way." The number for July II, 1787, shows that William Hoyt was the publisher, but the issue for July 15, 1789, again bears the name of John Mycall as publisher, who continued the paper under the same name so late as No. 487, Wednesday, October 16, 1793, which states in the imprint that it was "Printed by John Mycall, in Water-street, a little below the Ferry-way, where this Paper may be entered for, at Two Shillings and Three Pence per Quarter (exclusive of Postage) and where Advertise- ments and Articles of Intelligence are received, and all kinds of Printing performed expeditiously, and at a reasonable rate." At this time, and for two or three years prior thereto, the paper was printed on a sheet 16} by Iog inches, four columns to a page. The writer has not been able to dis- cover any copy of the paper of later date than that just mentioned-Octo- ber 16, 1793.
"While Tinges was connected with this paper, it was well conducted," says Buckingham, "and was the channel, through which some able writers communicated with the public. After it fell into the hands of Mycall, the writers who had aided the former editor, seemed to abandon it altogether. The files in my possession, are very imperfect : and it is rare to meet with an editorial paragraph of any merit, or a communication worthy of notice."
Of those who were connected with the Journal as editors little is known. Thomas Tinges was a printer, and served his apprenticeship in part with Fleming, and the rest with Thomas. He was a native of Bos- ton, of Dutch parentage. From Newburyport he went to Baltimore, and thence to sea, and was not heard of afterward.
Ezra Lunt was a native of Newburyport, and was the proprietor of a line of stages, when he became a partner with Tinges. He knew nothing, previously, of the printing business, and probably acquired his knowledge of it during the short time he was connected with the Journal. During the Revolutionary war he entered the army, and afterwards removed to Marietta, Ohio.
John Mycall was not educated as a printer. He was born at Worces- ter, England ; was very ingenious, and kept a school in Newburyport before he purchased the Journal. He published the paper about eighteen
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years. Some years after he began printing, his office and its contents were destroyed by fire. With great energy he soon replaced his material with a very valuable printing outfit. On quitting journalism he bought and lived on a farm in the county of Worcester, whence he removed to Cambridge, where he died about the year 1826.
1774, January-The Royal American Magazine, or Univer- sal Repository of Instruction and Amusement, at Bos- ton, by Isaiah Thomas. Imprint-"Boston : Printed by and for Isaiah Thomas, near the Market."
A prospectus of this work appeared many months before the publication was undertaken, the delay being due to the disordered state of the public affairs and the consequent financial depression. The first number was issued at the close of January, 1774. It was printed on a large medium paper, in octavo, on a new handsome type. The type metal cut in the title page represented an Indian (America), seated on the ground, at her feet a quiver, her right hand resting on a bow; in her left hand the cal- umet of peace, which she offered to the Genius of Knowledge. The same causes which had operated to delay the publication of the magazine, hast- ened its discontinuance. Thomas published it about six months, and Joseph Greenleaf until March, 1775, when it ceased to exist. Thomas says it had a considerable list of subscribers. Vol. I., January-December, 1774, 80 , pp. (4), 240, (2), 235-272, (2), 283-480, 7, 19 plates. Vol. II., Janua- ry-March, 1775, 80 , pp. 105 (for 120), 3 plates. A partial reprint of Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts was published as an appendix to the magazine, pp. 1-152.
1774, July 1 .- The Salem Gazette and Newbury and Mar- blehead Advertiser, at Salem, by Ezekiel Russell, from Boston. Imprint-"Salem: Printed by E. Russell, at the New Printing. Office, in Ruck-street, near the State House."1
It was printed on a crown sheet, folio, 15 x 19 inches, on an old long primer type, weekly, on Friday. The head line of the paper announced that it was "A Weekly, Political, Commercial and Entertaining Paper- Influenced neither by Court or Country," but the country decided that it was influenced by the court. The editor was suspected of bias in favor of the British, probably on account of his previous course in Boston; the cir- culation was confined to a few customers in Salem and the neighboring towns, who were inadequate to its support, and the paper ended in about a year.
1 Meaning the court house,
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HISTORY OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS.
1776, September 19-Independent Chronicle : And the Uni- versal Advertiser, at Boston, by Powars & Willis.
As already stated in connection with the history of The Essex Gazette (see August 2, 1768), the New England Chronicle, printed by Samuel Hall, was sold by him, June 13, 1776, to Powars & Willis, who, in as- suming charge of the paper, published a statement of their purpose, as follows :
As we shall, besides inserting all the most material advices, both foreign and domestic, endeavor to select such pieces of speculation as will best tend to encourage virtue and good order in society, and particularly such as may inspire all orders of men with a true spirit of resolution and heroism, in support of our invaluable rights and liberties, we hope to be favored with the custom of all the late and present subscribers of this paper. They may be assured, that the character it has hitherto sustained in exposing, condemning, and execrating the jesuitical and infernal machinations of Tories and tyrants, and in render- ing praise and honor to the manly and virtuous supporters of the glorious cause of America, we shall, with assiduity and zeal, endeavor to preserve.
In September, 1776, the new owners changed the title of the paper to Independent Chronicle and Universal Advertiser, and inserted in the head- ing a cut representing a soldier with a sword in his right hand, in his left a scroll inscribed "Independence," with a scroll above his head with the words "Appeal to Heaven," the whole enclosed within an elaborate border. Samuel Adams, John Hancock, the Rev. William Gordon, and other prominent Whigs were among the contributors to the Chronicle, and John Green was financially interested. In December, 1779, it appears that Powars had left the paper, which was published by Willis alone until the first of January, 1784, when he sold it to Thomas Adams and John Nourse. The new owners published a very short address to the public, soliciting a continuance "of such speculations as shall be adapted to pro- mote the liberty of our country, and the general welfare of mankind." They believed that to be consistent in this course it was their duty to oppose the Society of the Cincinnati, and suggested the desirability of the institution being checked or suppressed by the Legislature. In 1784, Adams & Nourse were appointed printers to the General Court, and the Chronicle became the official organ of the government. They adopted a · new device representing the arms of the Commonwealth, with the senti- ment beneath, "Ense petit placidam sub Libertate Quietem." At the same time the motto "Truth its guide, Liberty its object," was adopted for the paper and continued as long as the Chronicle was published. In January, 1790, Nourse died, and Adams continued the publication of the Chronicle as sole editor and proprietor until 1793, when he formed a part- nership with Isaac Larkin. From this time the Chronicle was published twice a week, on Monday and Thursday, being the second semi-weekly paper published in New England.
Larkin was born in Charlestown and learned the trade of printer. "His character," says Buckingham, "was that of an amiable and intelli-
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NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS.
gent gentleman, a good printer and a faithful friend." He died in Dec- ember, 1797, and Adams was again left as the sole publisher. For ve- hemently opposing the alien and sedition laws of 1798, Adams was in- dicted, but died before the case came to trial. Having been long ill, he sold his interest in the Chronicle on May I, 1799, to James White, a re- spectable and well known book seller, whose store was in the same build- ing with the Chronicle office. Capt. Thomas Adams died a few days after. In announcing his death, the Chronicle of May 16, 1799, says :
The character of Mr. Adams, notwithstanding the malignity of party spirit, could never be impeached. His honor and integrity, benevolence and affability, as a citizen and friend, were never called in question by the most implacable of his enemies. Some, who had ex- perienced his charity, may have demonstrated their ingratitude by their subsequent con- duct, but, as a Christian and a brother, he forgave them. During his confinement, he ever expressed his warm attachment to the liberties of his country. The principles advocated in the Chronicle he often dwelt upon with the most pleasing satisfaction, and seemed to feel a consolation in his dying moments, that his Press had been devoted to the propaga- tion of those sentiments, which had a tendency to promote the blessings of peace and in- dependence.
Ebenezer Rhoades, a young man who served an apprenticeship with Samuel Hall, and who had been employed as foreman by Thomas Adams during his sickness, was engaged as the editor and printer of the Chronicle for the new proprietor, Mr. White. The latter retired from the paper in May, 1800, when he announced that he had sold the paper to Ebenezer Rhoades and Abijah Adams. The new proprietors announced that truth was still to be the guide of the paper and liberty its object, and added : "Every departure from truth is pernicious. Impartiality should be a per- petual attribute of the press. Neither fear on the one side, nor the hope of reward on the other, should intimidate or influence its inquiries. It should neither be bribed to lavish unmerited applause, nor menaced into silence. The usefulness of periodical publications depends upon their steady adherence to rectitude. The moment corrupt or foreign considera- tions are suffered to bias or stain their pages, they become injurious to the general interests of society." .
Edward Eveleth Powars, the senior partner in the firm of Powars & Willis, was a native of Boston or Charlestown. After he left the Chroni- cle he was connected with several other papers, but gained neither fame nor wealth in their publication. He subsequently became a journeyman printer, and afterwards held some minor political office. At a later period he was a traveling book seller, and died on one of his expeditions in the Western States, about ISIO.
Nathaniel Willis, the partner of Powars, was a native of Boston, where he learned his trade as printer with Green & Russell. Further mentions of him will be found in the history of the press of Ohio and West Virginia. He was the father of Nathaniel Willis, the publisher of the Boston Re- corder for many years, and the grandfather of Nathaniel P. Willis, well known in the last generation as a popular writer of prose and verse,
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HISTORY OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS.
Abijah Adams was a native of Boston, where he learned the tailor's trade. He was the senior editor of the Chronicle for ten or twelve years, and died May 18, 1817, aged sixty-two years. The Chronicle said of him : "Mr. Adams, in domestic life, was exemplary; in his friendship undeviat- ing ; and as a member of society possessed those amiable qualities which must ever endear him to the memory of his fellow-citizens. He was ever desirous to conduct his paper with that propriety, which the tongue of cal- umny cannot depreciate, though often aimed to detract." The issue for Thursday, May 29, 1817 (Vol. XLIX., No. 3768), announces that : "The Copartnership heretofore existing under the firm name of Adams & Rhoades, is dissolved by the death of the senior Partner." Elsewhere in the same sheet the public were informed that in May, 1817, Ebenezer Rhoades and the heirs of Abijah Adams had sold the Chronicle to Davis C. Ballard (a son of Mrs. Adams by a previous marriage), and Edmund Wright, junior, publishers and editors of the Boston Patriot, who consolidated it with the latter, and the two papers were thenceforth published as a daily, under the title of Independent Chronicle and Boston Patriot, until the absorption of both in the Boston Daily Advertiser in Dec- ember, 1831.
Ebenezer Rhoades was a native of Boston, a son of Jacob Rhoades, a ship builder. He learned his trade as printer with Samuel Hall. Says Buckingham: "Though connected with a paper which often poured out gall and wormwood on its political opponents his deportment in private life was remarkable for its suavity and gentleness ; and in his social inter- course he knew no difference between a Republican and a Federalist." He died in August, 1819.
The writer just quoted declares that the Chronicle was indebted mainly to Benjamin Austin, Jun., for its success. He was born in Boston in the year 1752, where he was apprenticed to his uncles, the Waldos, prominent merchants. As early as 1768, when but sixteen years of age, he began writing for the newspapers, advocating independence with an energy and ability that surprised Samuel Adams and other eminent patriots. His contributions to the Chronicle, beginning about 1784, were entirely gratui- tous. For twenty years, at least, hardly a number of the Chronicle was issued that did not contain something from the pen of Mr. Austin. He died May 4, 1820.
The Chronicle was an ardent Republican paper, supporting the policy of Thomas Jefferson, and the War of 1812.
1776, May 30-Continental Fournal and Weekly Advertiser, at Boston, by John Gill. Motto-"The entire prosperity of every State depends upon the disci- pline of its Armies. King of Prussia."
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