Old New York : a journal relating to the history and antiquities of New York City, Vol. I, Part 1

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: New York : W. W. Pasko
Number of Pages: 932

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THE

CHICAUU

MDCIX -- MDCCCXC.

OLD NEW YORK

A JOURNAL RELATING TO THE

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

NEW YORK CITY.

W. W. PASKO. EDITOR.

V.I.

NEW YORK: W. W. PASKO. M PARK PLACE. 1890.

1753036

TABLE OF CONTENTS. -

PAGE -.

ANDERSON, DIARY OF DR. ALEXANDER 46. 85, 197, 233 ATTORNEYS OF THE SUPREME COURT IN 1789 127' BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES 185, 261

BOYHOOD, RAPELJE'S

204

BOY's REMINISCENCES, A

332. 440

CHRONOLOGY OF NEW YORK 276

CHURCHES IN NEW YORK, CONGREGATIONAL 2SS

CITY IN 1805, THE.

157

CLAIMS OF NICHOLAS JONES, THE

55. 136

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES IN NEW YORK 283

DE PEYSTER

395

DIARY, LONDON'S 224

DIARY OF DR. ALEXANDER ANDERSON

16. 85. 197. 233

DIARY OF PHILIP HONE 316

EAST INDIES, PASSPORT FOR THE 35.5 EDITOR'S NOTES 84

ENGLISHMAN'S VIEW, AN 12

ENGRAVINGS IN VALENTINE'S MANUAL. INDEX TO. 25. 105, 165

1 GLEANINGS FROM THE SURROGATE'S OFFICE 131. 176. 269. 417

HIONE. PHILIP, DIARY OF

_816

INDEX TO ENGRAVINGS IN VALENTINE'S MANUAL

25. 105. 185

INDUCTION OF THE REV. WILLIAM VESEY

101

INTRODUCTION OF METHODISM. 41

JONES, THE CLAIMS OF NICHOLAS

55. 130

LA FAYETTE. OB-EQUIES OF

369

LIVINGSTON, THE REV. JoUN HI

Table of Contents.

PAGES.

LOUDON'S DIARY 224

METHODISM, THE INTRODUCTION OF 41

MINOR PARAGRAPHS

142, 214, 291, 380, 447

NEW PUBLICATIONS

213, 290

NEWSPAPERS, EXTRACTS FROM EARLY

37, 357

NOTES, BIOGRAPHICAL 185, 261

NOTES, EDITOR'S 6-4

OBSEQUIES OF LA FAYETTE 369

OLDEN TIME, THE

371, 422

PARAGRAPHS, MINOR

142, 214, 291, 380, 447

PASSPORT FOR THE EAST INDIES

358

PRINTING IN NEW YORK, NOTES ON

1, 65, 145, 217, 345. 385

PRISONS OF THE REVOLUTION 297

PUBLICATIONS, NEW 213, 290

RAPELJE'S BOYHOOD 204

REMINISCENCES, A BOY'S 332. 440

REVOLUTION, PRISONS OF THE 207

ROOSEVELT, JACOBUS, WILL OF 360

STUYVESANT, THE WILL OF JUDITH

234

SUPREME COURT IN 1789, ATTORNEYS OF THE 12T

SURROGATE'S OFFICE. GLEANINGS FROM THE

131. 176. 269. 417

THEATRES IN 1525 AND 1526 11(

VALENTINE'S MANUAL, INDEX TO ENGRAVINGS IN 25, 105. 163

VISEY, WILLIAM. INDUCTION OF THE REV

401

WILL OF JACOBUS ROOSEVELT 300

WILL OF JUDITH STUYVESANT 234

OLD NEW YORK.

AUGUST, 1889.

NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF PRINTING IN NEW YORK.

In the year 1693, New York, having then been under the dom- ination of the English for more than a quarter of a century, or since 1664, the population continually increasing, it was resolved by the authorities of this province to establish here a printing press, as the College at Cambridge had done, and as had been more lately attempted by the Quakers in Pennsylvania. The Council desired to have its aets and public papers legibly published, for the majority of the inhabitants were not of English blood and understood that language with difficulty, the legal customs also being much different from those to which they had been aceus- tomed : the only master of type and press in the whole shr- rounding country had quarreled with the ruling faction in Phila- delphia, where he then was, and was very desirous of removing to this city, while the Governor had a personal reason for extend- ing the favors of the province to any competent follower of Caxton who should take up his residence here. Col. Fletcher was a professional soldier, and during the preceding Winter. by his skillful conduet of a campaign on the frontier, had won praises not only from his fellow officers, but from the provincial levies and the Indians, who bad named him the " Great Swift Arrow." on account of the celerity which he had shown in reaching the scene of hostilities. But a colonial reputation was too limited. He was an English soldier and desired English ap- probation. Were there a printer in New York, an account

Notes on Printing in New York ..

of his expedition could be put in type and sent home to England, delighting his friends, preserving the fame of his deeds to posterity, and probably securing his further advance- ment. On this theory he acted. The Legislature, therefore, passed the requisite act, the press being immediately re- moved hither and set at work. One of its first productions, perhaps the very first. was a history of this campaign which is now entirely lost as an imprint of New York, but still survives in a reimpression made in London. Part of the object was gained. The Governor is remembered by posterity, but not for his exploits that Winter. They have passed into oblivion. What he is known for is on account of his efforts to plant the English Church, now called the Protestant Episcopal, upon this soil, and for the kindly hand he extended to Bradford, the printer.

Churchmen are at present agreed that his exertions to force Anglicanism upon this city and province were unwise and inju- rions. The Church grew very little faster than it would have done if left to itself. while its almost complete annihilation at the Revolution would probably not have occurred had it not been so closely identitied with the British crown and British au- thority. Col. Fletcher's merit at this day lies in his discovery of the Quaker printer. the encouragement he gave him to remove. and the solid foundation on which he placed the press during his administration. The workman who had been at the merey of the majority of a religions seet. and had been thrown by it into prison. was called here to be the first of a long line of printers, pub- lishers and editors multiplying fourfold in each generation. and preserving for all future time their thoughts and knowledge. The one occupation has now become a hundred. and the one work- man twenty thousand. Of all these was he the forerunner.

William Bradford was then thirty years of age. He was born in Leicestershire. England. on the 20th of May, 1663. It is probable his parents. William and Anne Bradford, were Quakers, for when he grew of a sufficient age they apprenticed their son to Andrew Sowle. printer in Grace Church street. London, who was a member of the Society of Friends, and did its printing. He was a man of eminence in the erafr. A life of him is extant contained in a volume called Piety Promoted, chiefly a deserip-

Notes on Printing in New York.

tion of the sufferings of the Quakers, which shows that he must have endured much for their faith." He was of about the same age as George Fox. the founder of the sect. and embraced its doctrines early, for his relatives and friends offered him great inducements if he would cease printing books advocating and justifying the tenets of Friends, which he refused. " His love for Truth," says the memoir, "and the desire that he had to be instrumental by his calling in spreading it, did not permit him to listen to any of these offers." It was during his apprenticeship that Bradford undoubtedly acquired those views on the freedom

The edition referred to by Mr. Wallace is that of 1389. This is in 1710, but is in French. In the preface it is stated that it is taken from the three collections of John Tomkins, three of John Field, and one of John Bel. I have not met these works, and consequently have made a translation from the one I do have. It is as follows :

Andrew Sowle, of London, received in his younger years the Truth, as the people that are called Quakers profess it. He became obedient to it, and delivered himself to its living power, which rendered him capable of meet- ing, with much lightness of heart. the various afflictions and persecutions with which he was exercised : for being a just and upright man. he was zealous for the propagation of Truth, to which he bore faithful witness, as well by his conduct as by his suffering>.

Being a printer by pad : b willingly engaged in the prode tion of books of Friends, at the time when his other friends and his relatives made great offers to advance him in the world. if he had been willing to stop: but his love for Truth, and the wish that he had to be instrumental by his trade in spreading it, did not permit him to listen to any of these offers. and he devoted himself willingly to serve it, even in the time of the heat of persecution, believing that it was his duty to act thus, although in it he hazarded not only the property with which God had blessed him, but also his life. being many successive years in continual danger in this respect : his house being often searched after he had printed some Friends books, and his materiais for printing, as his presses, type, and so on. also often pulled to pieces and carried away. This lasted many years in succession. During the term. although he made many losses, and his adversaries took away from him at a single time nearly a thousand reams of printed paper, he was not heard to complain ; but he said that he was very ghul to have

Notes on Printing in New York.

of the press that he afterwards so ably defended, and that were subsequently sustained by Zenger, when he too fell into difficulties.

The " Liberty of Unlicensed Printing " was as yet believed in by no one of authority. It was thought that the State must abdicate one of its most important functions if it should allow books to go forth that taught erroneously or that made statements of fact that were not pleasing to the magistrate>, and all of the religious seets that filled Christendom believed they were doing grievous wrong to the world if religions doctrines something to lose for the Truth, and that the Lord had made him worthy of suffering for it. This quiet resignation to the will of God once had the effect upon one of those who came to seize his effects to do all that he could with his associates to stop the seizure : and when he saw that he could not pre- vail upon them he went out. weeping. Another time that his adversaries came to take away his printing office, he was so resigned and so uudisturbed, in abandoning everything to his persecutors, that when they had finished their work, having seized everything, he put before them things to cat and drink. as he had often done in such cases, according to the commandment in Romans xii, 19, 20. to give meat and drink to our enemies ; and his good will so overtopped their evil that some of them went away sorrowful. But one of the principal persons, being filled with malice against the Truth, did not live a long time after, but died in a miserable condition.

As this sincere man met with great sufferings. he had also full experience of the goodness of God towards him, in several remarkable providential strokes, as once when he was taken in an assembly of the people who are called Quakers, and put in Newgate; and being examined by Sir Rich- ard Brown, the persecuting Mayor, who learned that he was a printer, and threatened to send him after his brother Twin, as he called him. This Twin was a man who had been executed at Smithfield some time before for hav- ing printed a book of treason. Sowie coolly answered hint. " Thou wilt not live to see it." The event justified the prediction, for Brown thed soon after.

After many exercises and proofs of various kinds, too long to recite. he was seized with a weakness of body at the beginning of Tenth month [December]. 1695, and on the 25th of the same month he became weaker and werker. During this time of weakness, his patience and resignation to the will of God were such that he was rarely heard to complain, but said that he was resigned to the will of God : and he often also said that he was founded upon nothing but Jesus Christ, the good Samaritan, upon whom all his regards were fixed.

George Whitehead and another friend having come to see him. he said to them that he had served the Truth faithfully, according to that which it had pleased the Lord to reveal unto him, and in that which he had done he had not sought for hinself, but sought for the honor of God. He often exhorted his family to faithfulness. and the young people to seek the Lord

Notes on Printing in New York.

of which they did not approve were to be promulgated to corrupt the minds of the common people. A defense of the highly impor- tant truth that freedom of opinion cannot be injurious could only come from those who were very much in the minority, or who were oppressed. Thus the Friends defended their acts by tracts and pamphlets from the beginning, and their principal printer was no doubt learned in all the points of the law which were in his favor, as he needed them all when he was called upon to defend

in the days of their youth. His reprimands to those who had done any wrong were so benign and so convincing that one of his servants said that he feared one of his rebukes more than the severest treatment of another. adding, " His end being in love to convince me that I have done that which is not right."

Late on the evening of his death William Penn came to see him, and found him composed in a sweet disposition of mind, for it really appeared as if he had no disease. He asked him how he was. He answered, with much light-heartedness, that his satisfaction and the prace of his spirit were great, and that he was waiting his change. After this Friend, who bad for many years known his industrions but innocent life. had had some discourse with him, he fell upon his knees and prayed the Lord to give Sowle the recompense of his labors, for by him many blessed truths had been introduced into the world. When the prayer was finished. Andrew showed his gratitude to William Penn for his love, and said to him that he was we'll content with his lot and the Truth of God that he had professed : that he had nothing to do but wait on the will of God till the change rune. The they separated with much love, Andrew giving him to understand the love that he had for all the Friends in Truth, and his nnion with them. He kept himself afterwards in expectancy of the hour of his taking off. having his senses clear and perfect to the end, which was about eight nielsk of the morning following at which time his wife came to his side to ask him how he did. He answered. "Oh. Jane! never such a good night as this."

And at the same minute he closed his eyes, and with a hyun of praise to God he offered his last breath and fell asleep, without uttering the last sich and without any change being perceived in his face. so easily and tranquilly ho quitted this world, in which he had had so many trials, and departed for his everlasting rest, with the other faithful servants of

He finished his days on the twenty-sixth of the Tenth month. in the year 1695, Bear eight o'clock in the morning, at his house in Holywell Lane in London, in the sixty-seventh year of his age.

Romans viii, 18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in

Notes on Printing in New York.

himself in the courts. He had been oppressed ; he could not ac- tively resist, but he might passively do so. Bradford must have been well grounded in the doctrine of freedom, if Sowle's expe- rience was of any value. His house was often searched and his material, such as presses, type and other things, pulled to pieces and carried off. His losses were great. On one occasion nearly a thousand reams of printed paper were taken away, and smaller seizures happened frequently. In spite of these difficulties the old Quaker never lost his belief, continued his printing for the faithful, and died in full possession of his faculties. praising God to the last. This was in 1695, when he was sixty seven years of age .*

According to usual rules, Bradford would have been apprenticed in 1677, and have finished histime in 1684. But two years before

* Andrew Sowl left a daughter who was a printer. Her name was Tary, and concerning her John Dunton, the bookseller, writes in his " Life and Errors "':

" Mrs. Tacy Sowle is both a printer as well as a bookseller, and the daughter of one, and understands her trade very well, being a good com- positor herself. Her love and piety to her aged mother is eminently remarkable, even to that degree that she keeps herself ummarried for this only reason tas I have been informed. that it may not be out of her power to let her mother have always the chief command in her house. I have known this eminent Quaker for many years, have been generously treated at her house, and must do her the justice to say I believe her a conscientious person. If any blame me for being thus charitable. I cannot help it. for I cannot think it a piece of religion to anathematize from Christ all such as will not subscribe to every one of my articles, I do believe sincerity and holiness will carry us to heaven with any wind and with any name ; at least I have so much charity as to think all those persons go to heaven. whether they be Churchmen, Presbyterians, or Quakers, in whom I see so much goodness and virtue as is visible in the life and conversation of Mrs. Sowlo."

Her imprint appears before her father's death, in 1694, and is still visible in 1703. Dunton's book was published in 1705, and she was yet in business, But in 1700 the imprint is J. Sowle, and in 1326 it is the Assigns of J. Nowle, showing that this younger member of the family had fallen into adversity. All their books seem to be religious ones.

Andrew Sowle in 16 3 had either a house or a shop in Shoreditch. This appears by the imprint on Hohne's Map of Philadelphia, published in Lon- don. The consideration in which he was held by Penn and the Primi generally is shown by bis being selected to be a witness to one of the charters of Pennsylvania.

Notes on Printing in New York.

this latter date he came to America in company with William Penn, and doubtless with the full consent of his master. He was then two years older than Franklin was when that runaway trudged through the streets of Philadelphia, a loaf mider each arm. " They embarked at Deal," Mr. John William Wallace writes, " on the first of September. 1682. They were scarcely well upon the main when the horrid scourge of small pox broke out on board their little ship. Of one hundred persons who embarked thirty, incluid- ing the master, died at sea, and were committed to the deep. After two months and twenty-seven days of suffering and terror the blessed sight of land rewarded their endurance. Bradford and his surviving companions landed on the 28th November, 1682, at a small place called New Castle. below Philadelphia ; that city not having as yet been laid out nor a house then built. The ar- rival of the Welcome, which was the name of the ship, has been celebrated by commemorations in Philadelphia, and her list of passengers is with us considered a Battle Abbey Roll."

How long Bradford remained here is not known. We know that Philadelphia was then founded. the plan by which it was laid out being that followed by American and Australian cities to this day, and we can trace the course of William Penn, his fel- low traveler. But that of the boy is not so easily discovered. He was here in 1682, and in 16-5, being then in London. made preparations to return. It seems most probable that his stay on the banks of the Delaware was not long. Few houses had been built, there was no opportunity for business, so far. and there was some one waiting for him on the other side. Bradford followed the example of other good apprentices and married his master's daughter. Iler name was Elizabeth. But whether this marriage happened before his first voyage cannot be told with certainty. The only passage which bears upon the matter in any contempo- rary writing is that in which George Fox says that he was apprenticed to Sowle. " since married his daughter." Taken as it stand -. this would indicate that the marriage took place after the apprenticeship was finished. and after his first visit to Pen- sylvania. It is likely that he then took back with him Pem's letter to the Committee of the Free Society of Traders residing in London, which was printed by Andrew Soule in 16-8. being

Notes on Printing in New York.

dated . Philadelphia, the 16th of the 6th moneth, call'd Angust, 1683." Nothing would be more natural than for Sowle, pereeiv- ing the attachment of his danghter to Bradford, to give him permission to go abroad to pick out a new home, nor for the apprentice to bring back with him such an account of the province as Penn desired to have printed. He had probably been known to the founder of Pennsylvania all his life. Sowle felt that the apprentice would be under good care, and would be able to see whether the place was really desirable. The written sheets were placed in type in the office of the Quaker printer, probably by Bradford's own hands, and the pamphlet* thus transported across the sea and printed remains, says Proud, " the best account. though only an imperfect sketch, of the original state of the Province, of its aborigines, and natural history. that is to be found in those times."-Proud's list of Pennsylvania. i. 246.

On his return hither he came with a press, type, and books. His wife was with him, and he likewise brought a letter from George Fox, the leader of his society. It is dated . London. 6 month [August]. 1685." and is addressed to many Quaker- by name, whose residences were in the two Jerseys. Pennsylvania. Maryland, and Rhode Island. It reads thus :

" DEAR FRIENDS : This is to let you know that a sober young man. Whose name is William Bradford, comes to Pennsylvania to set up the trade of printing Friends books. And let Friends know of it in Virginia, Carolina, Long Island, and Friends in Plymouth Patent and Boston. And what books you want he may supply you with ; or Answers against Apostates or wicked Professors books. He may furnish you with our Answers; for

" A Letter from William Poun, Proprietary and Gouvernour of Pennsylva- nia in America, to the Committee of the Free Society of Traders of that Province, reading in London, Containing a General Description of the Said Province, its Soil. Air. Water. Seasons, and Produce, ____ with an Account of the Natives or Aborigines, Their Language. Customs and Manners .... Of the first Planters, the Dutch, &r. and the present Condition and Settle- ment of the said Province, and Courts of Justice, de. To which is added. An Account of the City of Philadelphia Newly laid out. It- Situation, be- tween two Navigable Rivers, Delaware and Skulkift. With a Portraiture or Platform theroof, rlc. London, Andrew Sowle, 16%. Pp. 10. 4- 1 blank lead, or plan, folio.

Notes on Printing in New York.

he intends to keep a correspondence with Friends that are Sta- tioners or Printers here in England ; and so whatever books come out and are printed by Friends here they may send some of each sort over every year. So he settling to print at Philadelphia may serve all those countries, namely : Pennsylva- nia, East and West Jersey, Long Island, Boston, Winthrop's Country, Plymouth Patent, Pisbahan, Maryland, Virginia, and Carolina. And so you may do well to encourage him. Ile is a civil young man and convinced of truth. He was ap- prentice with our friend Andrew Sowle; since married his daughter. And so you may make an order that he shall not permit any Friends' books among you but what Friends in the Ministry do there approve of ; as they do here in England. And consider to settle what number cach meeting may take off. And I per- ceive he brings many Primers and new books. And what books you want you may send to him for ; if he have them not he can send to England for them. Aud so J desire Thomas Lloyd and the rest of the Magistrates above named to give him what encour- agement and assistance you can.

" So with my love to you all in the Holy Seed, Christ Jesus, who reigns over all, in whom you have all Life and Peace with God. Amen.

" GEORGE FOX."

Bradford reached Philadelphia early enough to bring out an Almanac for the next year, and it is probable immediately set about its production. Where his office was is a disputed point among Philadelphia antiquaries. I shall not enter into this, hay- ing no personal familiarity with the places named. but will sim- ply say that localities as far distant as Burlington, New Jersey. are suggested. In a work issued by him in 1686, " An Epistle from John Burnyeat to Friends in Pennsylvania." the imprint of Will- iam Bradford. " near Philadelphia," oceurs. This may have been within the present corporate limits of that city, and it may even have been within a mile of the present Independence Hall, which was then at a considerable distance from the little village along the banks of the Delaware. Wherever it was, the space re- quired was small. The stock he brought hither did not most

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Old New York : a journal relating to the history and antiquities of New York City, Vol. I, Part 1

Author: Publication date: 1889 Publisher: New York : W. W. Pasko Number of Pages: 932

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: New York : W. W. Pasko
Number of Pages: 932