USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the colonial history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. XII > Part 6
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It was printed on a crown sheet 15 x 19 inches in size, four pages, three
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NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS.
columns to the page. The arrangement of the title of the first number, and the publisher's salutatory, were as follows :
The Continental Journal And Weekly Advertiser.
May 30, 1776. [Numb. I.]
Boston : Printed By John Gill, In Queen-Street.
To The Public.
The Publisher has complied with the solicitation of his Friends, in proposing to furnish the public with a News-Paper of Intelligence every Thursday, provided it meets with their approbation and encouragement. He chooses to omit all pompous representations and promises, respecting his intended publications, and only engages his utmost fidelity in collecting and printing the newest and best accounts of things that can be obtained ; and will gratefully accept and insert any original pieces that are decent, and worthy the public notice.
Those who are willing to become his customers, may be supplied with his paper on the following Terms, viz,
("Each subscriber to pay eight shillings lawful money per year, (exclusive of postage,) one half to be paid at entrance, the other at the end of the first six months .- The custom- ers in town to have their papers left at their respective dwellings every Thursday .- Ad- vertisements inserted at the customary price, to be paid on receiving them-and none taken in after two o'clock on Wednesday, except in cases of necessity.
The partnership of Edes & Gill having been dissolved in April, 1775, and Edes continuing the publication of the Boston Gazette, Gill began this new paper. The Journal was well conducted, promptly publishing all im- portant documents, Federal or State, besides numerous original com- munications and selections from English papers. The whole of Robert- son's History of America was published during 1784-85. Numb. LXVII, Thursday, September 4, 1777, has the imprint-"Boston : Printed By John Gill, in Court-Street." Numb. CCCLI, Thursday, November 7, 1782, shows no change in the title or imprint, but has the motto appended : "ET The Entire Prosperity Of Every State Depends Upon The Discipline Of It's Armies. The King of Prussia." In 1785, Gill sold the Journal to J. D. Griffith, who continued it until near the close of 1787, and perhaps longer, although no number of later date is known.
John Gill was born in Charlestown, learned his trade as printer with Samuel Kneeland, and married one of Kneeland's daughters. He was a zealous patriot, industrious, constantly at work at the case or press, and was highly esteemed. He died August 25, 1785.
1776, June 19 (Wednesday)-The American Gazette ; Or,
clxv
HISTORY OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS.
the Constitutional Journal, at Salem, by John Rog- ers. Imprint-"Salem : Printed by J. Rogers."
The following shows the precise heading of the first number :
The
American or, Constitutional
An open journal, Fame,
an Indian,
Gazette ; the Journal.
a
Ship
Vol. I
under saii.
Numb. I.
EXTRAORDINARY
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 1776.
This "Extra" was printed on a half sheet folio, two pages. The device at the head of the paper, coarsely cut in wood, was that of an open journal, supported by two figures, one that of Fame, with a trumpet, and the other, an Indian with his bow and arrows. Beneath the volume was a ship under sail. The second number has the same arrangement of title, omitting the word "Extraordinary." This and the subsequent numbers were printed on a full sheet, four pages, 19 x 15 inches, three columns to the page. The colophon reads :-
Salem ; Massachusetts-Bay : Printed by J. Rogers at E. Russell's Printing-Office, Upper End of Main-Street : Where all persons may be supplied with this Paper at Eight Shillings per Annum, (exclusive of Postage.) Advertisements and Articles of Intelligence are gratefully received.
The Printing-Business, in its several Branches, still carried on as usual by said Russell.
Inasmuch as Rogers was only Russell's journeyman, and owned neither press nor type, Ezekiel Russell was doubtless the true proprietor. The paper failed to command public confidence and support, and was discon- ued in a few weeks. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Russell removed to Danvers, Mass., where he printed for a few years near the Bell Tavern, and then re- turned to Boston, where he continued in the printing business in a small way until his death, in September, 1796, at the age of 52 years.
1778, June 15 (Monday)-The Independent Ledger, And American Advertiser, at Boston, by Draper & Folsom.
The following shows the precise title of the first paper, together with the publishers' opening address :
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NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS.
Vol. I.]
The [Numb. I.
Independent Ledger, and American Advertiser.
Draper & Folsom's. ] Monday, June 15, 1778.
To the Public.
The desire many Gentlemen have expressed for this News-Paper, there being two on Thursday, has encouraged the Publishers to undertake it.
We engage that the Ledger shall be printed in a neat manner on a fair Type, and on as good Paper as any other work of the same kind is now done ; and better, if it can be prc- cured.
We mean not to raise and deceive the expectations of the Public, by pompous preten- sions ; but we dare to promise that we will spare no pains or cost to procure the freshest advices from Europe and all parts of America, which we will deliver to the Public in a faithful manner and a clear arrangement ; doing everything in our power to render this Paper both useful and entertaining.
In executing this design we are kindly encouraged to expect the occasional assistance of some Gentlemen of judgement and taste, and flatter ourselves we shall be able to render this paper as acceptable to the Public, as any other of the kind.
We are young beginners, and hope for the candor and countenance of the Community, more especially as new attempts of this sort are often of public advantage, by exciting an emulation in the Publishers.
The price of the Ledger will not exceed that of any other News-Paper in this Town .- Viz. Forty-two Shillings, L. M. per year, one half to be paid at the time of subscribing and the other half at the expiration of the first six months .- This being an inevitable cus- tom, we are persuaded that the subscribers will readily comply with it, for the better en- abling the Publishers to go on with such a work.
This Paper will be continued regularly every Monday, and immediately sent to the Customers residing in town at their respective dwellings, and forwarded to those in the country by the first conveyance.
Advertisements being of use to the trading and busy part of the community, due care shall be taken to have them inserted in a conspicuous and correct manner at reasonable prices.
Draper and Folsom.
Massachusetts-State: Boston : Printed (Price only Forty-Two Shillings, L. M. per Annum) by Draper and Folsom, at their Printing-Office, at the Corner of Winter-Street, where Subscriptions, Advertisements, Articles and Letters Of Intelligence, are gratefully received .- - - All manner of Printing performed at the most reasonable Rates.
The paper was published on a sheet 143 x 19 inches, four pages, three columns to a page. Numb. 6, Monday, July 25, 1778, shows an elaborate device in the center of the title, representing a heart illuminated by a can- dle within, and a chain upon the outside clasped by thirteen extended hands ; beneath, the motto "All Hands with One Enflamed and Enlight- ened Heart." The title and motto underwent slight verbal and typo- graphical alterations from time to time. The place of publication was changed October 1, 1781, to "On the South side of the Market." Numb.
HISTORY OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS.
clxvii
306, Vol. VI., Monday, December 8, 1783, has the imprint-"John W. Folsom's, On the West side of the Market." It will be observed that Draper had retired from the paper. The following shows the title, etc., of a later number, which was printed on a sheet slightly larger than at first, there being four pages, each page 153 by 9} inches, four columns to the page :
The
Independent And
American
An Archway ornamented with
13 stars, with an angel flying, blowing a trumpet.
Number 324. Ledger The
Advertiser.
Boston : (Commonwealth of Massachusetts) Printed and Published By John West Folsom, On the West side of the Market.
1784.] Monday March 29, [Price Six Pence.
Subscriptions for this Paper, at Nine Shillings per Annum, (exclusive of Postage) are taken in by the Publisher, on the West side the Market ; by whom Essays, Letters of Intelligence, &c. are thankfully received. - -Advertisements of a moderate Length, are inserted the first three Weeks for One Dollar, and for every continuance after, One Third of a Dollar .- - Long ones in Proportion.
Number 388, Monday, June 20, 1785, was printed in Fore-Street ; Number 391, in Ann-Street ; Number 403, Monday, October 3, 1785, "At the Corner of Ann-Street ;" Number 457, Monday, October 16, 1786, was printed on a sheet 15 by 193 inches, four pages, three columns to a page, by John West Folsom, at the corner of Ann-Street. This is the last num- ber known of the paper.
The publishers gave very little of their own composition, but inserted judicious selections and many original communications of merit.
1781, January 2-The Salem Gazette and General Adver- tiser, at Salem, by Mrs. Mary Crouch.
This paper was printed on a crown sheet, weekly, at fifty cents a quar- ter. The printing office was at the corner of Derby and Hardy Streets. In 1780, Mrs. Mary Crouch, widow of Charles Crouch, a printer in Charleston, S. C., removed to Salem with her press and types, and on December 6, 1780, issued a prospectus in the name of "Mary Crouch and Company," for the publication of The Salem Gazette and General Adver- tiser. For this purpose they announced "an elegant assortment of types and printing materials," and stated their purpose to relate such matters as
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NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS.
should refer "to the safety and welfare of the United States, to the Liber- ties and Independence of which the Salem Gazette will be very sacredly devoted." The paper was more miscellaneous than its predecessors had been. It commenced the publication of stories, tales, and other enter- taining articles. Mrs. Crouch exhibited spirit and enterprise, but was unable to succeed with the paper, which lasted only nine months, thirty- four numbers being issued, closing October II, 1781. She assigned as reasons for the stoppage "the want of sufficient assistance, and the impos- sibility of obtaining house room for herself and family to reside near her business." Mrs. Crouch afterwards removed to Providence, R. I., her native place.
1781, October 18 (Thursday)-The Salem Gazette, at Salem, by Samuel Hall.
The arrangement, etc., of the title of the first number was as follows : [Vol. I.]
THE [Numb. I.]
SALEM GAZETTE.
Thursday, October 18, 1781.
Printed And Published By Samuel Hall, Near The Court-House.
The paper was printed on a sheet 14} by 19 inches, four pages, the printed matter on each page being 93 by 83 inches in area, three columns to a page. Hall had returned from Boston, and probably bought Mrs. Crouch's materials. The Gazette as published by him was of the general character of his previous paper. Numb. 130, Vol. III., Thursday, April 8, 1784, has the same imprint as the first number, but it shows an enlarge- ment of the paper, which was now printed on a sheet 162 by 21 inches in size, four pages, four columns to a page. Numb. 132, Vol. III., Tues- day, April 20, 1784, has a device in the center of the heading representing three female figures taking hold of hands, those on the outside having bouquets of flowers. Beneath this emblem is the motto : "Patra Liberata Felix Esto Perpetua." The issue for July 27, 1784, contains the following announcement :
(" The price of this Paper is gs. per ann .- Advertisements of 10 lines, in this type, or those not exceeding a square, (that is, of a length equal to the breadth of the column) are inserted, the first three weeks, for 6s. and for each week afterwards at Is. 6d .- Long ones are inserted in the same proportion.
Numb. 185, Vol. IV., has the motto under the title : "The Liberty of the Press is Essential to the Security of Freedom in a State ; It Ought Not, Therefore, To Be Restrained In This Commonwealth .- Constitution of Massachusetts."
The Legislature, by act July 2, 1785, had imposed a tax of sixpence on each advertisement of twelve lines, or less, and one shilling on those of
HISTORY OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS. clxix
twenty lines or less, and so on in proportion, the tax being imposed to aid in liquidating the war debt incurred during the Revolution. The con- tracted circulation of the paper, and the great expense attending its publi- cation in Salem, Mr. Hall said, rendered this burdensome tax upon its ad- vertising columns insupportable. The expense of procuring intelligence from Boston alone was so great that to defray it he would gladly have given more than half the profits of all the newspapers circulated in Salem. Accordingly, with Numb. 215, November 22, 1785, the publication of the Salem Gazette was discontinued by Hall, who removed his establishment to Boston, and with the issue for November 28, 1785, Numb. 216, Vol. V., changed the name to The Massachusetts Gazette. A continuation of the history of the paper will be found under that date.
In the last number published at Salem, the device in the heading of the paper shows a change : three figures, one bearing a horn of plenty, one holding a spear and a lion's head, and the third holding an olive branch, with the same motto as in the former cut.
1781, October 27 (est.)-The American Herald : And The General Advertiser, at Boston, by Edward E. Powars.
It will be remembered that Powars, who had been associated with Na- thaniel Willis in the publication of the Independent Chronicle, withdrew from that paper in the latter part of 1779. The newspaper fever was too strong in him to permit of his permanent retirement from the profession, and he therefore started this new paper. The writer has been unable to discover the existence of any copies of the paper earlier than January 19, 1784. The precise title of that issue is given herewith :
[Vol. III.]
THE
[Number CXVII. ]
AMERICAN
And GENERAL
Picture of a man on horse back blowing a trumpet.
HERALD :
The
ADVERTISER.
Monday,
January 19, 1784.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts : Printed And Published By The Foot Of the
Boston : Edward E. Powars, State House.
This number was printed on a sheet 34 x 21} inches, four pages, four columns to a page, the printed matter on each page being 15} x 92 inches.
clxx
NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS.
The issue for January 26, 1784, has the same heading as above, with the following added : "The Post Comes Tiring On ; And Not A Man Of Them Brings Other News Than They Have Learned Of Me. Shake- spear." No. 128, Vol. III., Monday, April 5, 1784, has the imprint : "E" Boston : Printed and Published By Edward E. Powars." No. 131, Monday, April 26, 1784, has the imprint-" Boston : Printed and Pub- lished By Powars And Willis," showing a renewal of the old partnership between the former publishers of the Independent Chronicle. In August, 1788, the paper was removed to Worcester, where it was continued as The American Herald and Worcester Recorder. (See 1788, August 21.)
1782, May 14 (est.)-The Massachusetts Gazette, Or The Springfield and Northampton Weekly Advertiser, at Springfield, by Babcock & Haswell.
The paper was printed on a sheet 14 x 19 inches, four pages, three columns to a page, the printed matter on each page being 123 x 8} inches. The following shows the arrangement and imprint of the earliest number known :
The
Massachusetts Gazette,
Or The
Springfield and Northampton
Weekly Advertiser.
'Tis not in Mortals to Command Success-But we'll do More- We'll Deserve It.
[Vol. I.]
Tuesday, July 16, 1782.
[No. IO.]
* Springfield : [Commonwealth of Massachusetts.] Printed and Pub- lished by Babcock & Haswell, at their Printing-Office, a few Rods south of the Court-House, where Printing in its various Branches is performed, with Neatness, Accuracy, and the greatest Dispatch.
No. 17, Vol. I., Tuesday, December 3, 1782, shows a change in the title to The Massachusetts Gazette Or The General Advertiser. The issue for Tuesday, May 20, 1783, No. 54, of Vol. II., states that the paper was published by Elisha Babcock, at the same office as formerly ; it was now printed on better paper, with greater typographical neatness. Anthony Haswell, his partner, had gone to Vermont about this time, where he pub- lished a Republican paper for several years. No. 85, Vol. II., Tuesday, December 23, 1783, states that the paper was "Printed by Elisha
clxxi
HISTORY OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS.
Babcock, At his Office next Door South of the Court-House, 1 where Print- ing is carried on in its various Branches." In the Spring of 1784, Mr. Babcock sold out to Brooks & Russell, and removed to Hartford, Conn., where he commenced the publication of The American Mercury, July 12, 1784. (See page 36.)
Elisha Babcock was born in Milton, and was by trade a paper maker.
Some account of Anthony Haswell will be found in the history of Ver- mont newspapers.
John Russell, of the firm of Brooks & Russell, was an elder brother of the famous Boston editor, Major Benjamin Russell.
On January I, 1785, the name of The Massachusetts Gazette was changed to Hampshire Herald and Weekly Advertiser. In June, 1785, John Rus- sell was the sole publisher. In August, 1786, the publishers were Steb. bins and Russell. The paper was discontinued January 1, 1787.
1783 .- Massachusetts Register and United States Calendar, at Boston, by Mein & Fleming.
An annual, 12mo .; it was continued by Mills & Hix, and at a later day was revived by Thomas Fleet, Jun., and John Fleet.
1783 .- September 6 (Saturday)-Massachusetts Herald, or Worcester Fournal, at Worcester, "by Isaiah Thomas, at his office near the Courthouse."
Only four numbers were issued-for September 6, 13, 20 and 27, 1783.2
1783, October-The Boston Magazine, at Boston, by Nor- man & White.
This was an octavo magazine. The issue for December, 1783, contains three plates : No. I-"An elegant Frontispiece ;" No. II-"Description of the tomb of Madame Langham ;" No. III-"A Song set to Music." The imprint was-"Boston : Printed and Published by Norman & White, at their Office in Marshall's Lane, near the Boston Stone." Pp. 40, two columns to a page.
February, 1784 .- This was " Printed by Norman, White and Freeman." The part for July, 1784, was "Printed and Sold by Greenleaf and Free- man, at their Printing-Office, North side of the Market, Where Subscrip- tions continue to be taken in."
1 Near the corner of Main and Sanford streets.
2 Reminiscences of Worcester, from the earliest period, etc., by Caleb A. Wall, Wor- cester, 1877, 320-21. This paper is not mentioned by Thomas in his History of Printing.
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NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS.
Vol. I. has the title :
THE BOSTON MAGAZINE, for the year 1784 ; Including the Month's of Nov. and Dec. 1783.
Containing, A Collection of Instructive & Entertaining Essays, in the various branches of useful and, polite Literature ; together with, Foreign & Domestic Occurrences, Anecdotes, Observations on the Weather, &c. &c. Volume I. Boston
Printed and Published by Greenleaf and Freeman, North side the Market.
Pp. 635, including six pages of general index ; also, a map of Boston and a "Geographical Gazetteer of the Towns in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts," pp. 16.
February, 1785-"Boston : Printed and Published by Greenleaf and Freeman, At their Printing-Office, North side of the Market, Where Sub- scriptions continue to be taken in." Octavo, Pp. 46. June, 1785, pp. 42. July, 1785, No. XXI., pp. 48. December, 1785-" Boston : Printed and Published by Edmund Freeman, At his Printing-Office, North side of the Town Dock, Where Subscriptions continue to be taken in ;" pp. 40.
Vol. III., 1786, has the imprint: "Boston : Printed and Published by Edmund Freeman, North Side Of The State-House."
The number for January, 1786, was "Printed and Published by Ed- mund Freeman, At his Printing-Office, North Side of the Town Dock, Where Subscriptions continue to be taken in."
The volume for 1786 contains pp. 451, including index, 3 pp .; also a map of Boston, and 90 pp. describing the same.
The magazine was discontinued in 1786.
A newspaper entitled The Boston Magazine was begun at Boston, October 26, 1855, Saturday Evening, printed on a sheet 124x21 inches, four pages, three columns to the page, by Belcher & Armstrong, at two dollars per annum.
1784, March 24 .- The Massachusetts Centinel, And The Republican Journal, at Boston, by Benjamin Rus- sell, semi-weekly. Motto-"Uninfluenced by Party,
HISTORY OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS. clxxiii
We Aim to be Just." Imprint-" Published by Warden & Russell, at their Office in Marlborough Street. Twelve Shillings Per Annum."
The paper was printed on a half sheet of demy paper, four pages quarto, three columns to a page. The type was pica and long primer. Under the title was a cut representing a figure seated on a table, writing on a tablet ; under the table a pair of scales evenly balanced, and be - low the scales a star. The title, including the cut, occupied nearly a third of the first page. In November, 1783, having worked some time as a journeyman for Isaiah Thomas, Russell decided to start a newspaper of his own, and with a letter of credit in his pocket, he traveled on foot from Boston to New York, intending to buy the printing apparatus of a Tory print- er who was about to suspend his business in that city. He was eight days walking from Boston to New York, and arrived in the latter city on the morning of November 25th, just as the British were evacuating the city. In the meantime the press and types which he had intended to purchase had been sent to Halifax by their owner. Disappointed, but not dis- heartened, he returned to Boston, where he succeeded in procuring some type and immediately issued a proposal for the publication of the Massa- chusetts Centinel. He associated with himself William Warden as the senior editor. The following address occupied most of the first page of the paper :
A Free uninfluenced Newspaper.
To the candid Public.
When the benign and cheering influence of the cherub Peace is daily spreading her delectable blessings over this New World :- When arts and sciences, (its ever attending guests) the foster-parents of liberty, are dispelling the gloomy atmosphere of war, and enlightening mankind with liberality of sentiment, every vehicle propitious to the design should be put in motion, and every exertion strained to second the undertaking.
The liberty of the press is the surest bulwark of the people's rights : A privilege to man- kind which tyrannical monarchs have beheld with horror, and often attempted to annihi- late. Superstition and ignorance have dissipated into obscurity, as the balmy rays of this institution have shed their benignity over the civilized world: In short, its utility is so well known and experienced by the freemen of these United States, that it would be pass- ng an ill compliment on the judgement were we to enter into lengthy panegyrics on its usefulness.
These considerations-an inclination to be useful in the business we profess-and a desire to obtain a competency for our support, have induced us to lay before a candid and judicious public, the following proposals for publishing, every Wednesday and Saturday, The
MASSACHUSETTS CENTINEL And The REPUBLICAN JOURNAL.
Conditions.
I. This paper shall be printed with a legible type, on good paper, to contain four quarto pages, demi.
clxxiv NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS.
II. The price of this paper (will) be Twelve Shillings, the year, one quarter to be paid on subscribing. If agreeable to the custom in the cities of London, New-York and Phila- delphia, the subscriber should choose to pay per number, the price will be Two Pence.
III. The papers in the town of Boston, shall be delivered to the subscribers as early as possible on publication days.
IV. Advertisements shall be inserted at as low a price as is demanded by any of their brethren in the art, and continued, if desired, in Six Numbers.
V. Gentlemen in the country may be supplied with this paper at the above price, (post- age excepted) which is cheaper than any other papers, if the advantage of receiving them twice in the week is considered.
The publishers engage to use every effort to obtain, and the most scrutinous circum- spection in collecting whatever may be thought of public utility, or private amusement ; Variety shall be courted in all its shapes, in the importance of political information-in the sprightliness of mirth-in the playful levity of imagination-in the just severity of satire-in the vivacity of ridicule-in the luxuriance of poetry-and in the simplicity of truth. We shall examine the regulations of office with candor-approve with pleasure- or condemn with boldness. Uninfluenced by party, we aim only to b: just.
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