USA > New York > New York City > Old New York : a journal relating to the history and antiquities of New York City, Vol. I > Part 30
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OLIVER MORHOUSE.
NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF PRINTING IN NEW YORK.
V.
The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel soon after em- ployed Bradford to print an edition of the Prayer Book in Mohawk. Of the six nations who composed the Iroquois con- federacy in the early part of the last century, the Mohawks and the Senecas, at the Eastern and Western ends, were the most pow- erful and the most warlike, although there was a great dispropor- tion between their numbers, the Senecas having by far the most warriors. Yet the Mohawks were to other peoples and countries the representatives of the confederacy. It was the Mohawks who were imitated by badly-behaved young men in London in the time of Addison ; it was the Mohawks who were most spoken of in France, in Massachusetts, in the Carolinas. They owed this prominence to their exceptional position. They were at the head of ship navigation on the Hudson ; they controlled the portages of the Mohawk, and no one could cross from Lake Champlain south without going through the land occupied by them. They were nearest alike to the Dutch, the English, and the French. Each was obliged to show consideration to them, and to study their condition. Moreover, there was at that time and for many years after a sincere desire among the residents of New England and the Middle Colonies to Christianize our Indian tribes, changing them from heathens, with barbarous rites, into civilized being>. relying upon the truths of the gospel. Robinson. the pastor of those pilgrims who first left Holland to settle in Plymouth. in a very touching letter written some little time afterwards, hoped that his follower, might have converted some before they killed any, and the exertions of Eliot, of Mayhew, and others are well known. This feeling was not confined to the zealots of New England. From France a long succession of priests labored with the Iro- quois and other Indians, almost from the time of the settlement in Quebec. Their success seemed to be greater than that of the
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Notes on Printing in New York.
New Englanders, as they had more flexibility, living among the Indians and being of them. The Churchmen of New York de- sired that the Prayer Book might be printed for the natives of our provinee, and the work was accordingly done after a lapse of time by Lawrence Claesse, interpreter to the Rev. William Andrews, missionary to the Indians. It comprises one hundred and nineteen pages, small quarto, with two title pages, one in Mohawk and the other in English. The date is 1715.
After this work was issued there seems to have been no very noteworthy book printed within the next ten years. The number of separate pieces became greater, and their size on an average was larger, but they never became ponderous volumes, nor are their contents such as would entice a modern reader to look at them. Many are polemical ; others are on questions the interest in which has long since died out. They are, however, valuable historically, as ahnost every one has some fact bearing npon our develop- ment, and very valuable bibliographically, as evidencing the prog- ress of printing and the polite arts. Within the past forty years there has been a rage for collecting the works from Bradford's press. Their scarcity. their quaintness, their connection with local incidents, have caused these books and broadsides to be held in great request by collectors. Twenty-five years ago a club was organized which bore Bradford's name, and it drew attention anew to him. Philadelphia joins with us in seeking for his works.
Very few copies of anything printed by Bradford in these earlier years survive, but it is probable we have at least a specimen of more than two-thirds. Our honses were wooden at that day, and fires were freqnent. Two of these conflagrations. those of 1776 and 1835, were as great in proportion to the size of the city as ahnost any that ever occurred. In these were destroyed many ancient relics. This colony occupied the position in America that the Low Countries do in Europe. Every war has devastated us. and we paid more dearly for our independence than any other State, with the exception, perhaps. of New Jersey. Not only are laws silent during war, but the most precious collections of art. of books, of enriosities. are dispersed. pillaged. or destroyed, both by the troops and the camp follower- and thieves that accompany them. Thus were valuable collections in Philadelphia and New
Notes on Printing in New York. 347
York taken away. Here the Society Library suffered much. The records of the city of New York during the Revolution were taken to England by their enstodian ; the archives of Brooklyn disappeared in like manner, and the loyalists that left here to go to Nova Scotia and Canada undoubtedly destroyed or carried away with them many of the most valuable books and papers which bore upon our early history. They could not sell them. The rapid increase of population here since the peace in 1783 has caused the town to be thrice rebuilt, each time the garrets and waste closets being emptied and the papers carried to the mill.
Thirty years after Bradford first came here there appeared in New York the most striking figure of our colonial years. Up to the time of the Revolution we had produced in these Western provinces but one man whose fame extended beyond the conti- nent of America. That was Benjamin Franklin, the philoso- pher, statesman, and author. When the Revolution began his fame had been growing for fifty years. In London, when he had hardly reached his majority, he attracted attention from Sir Hans Sloane for his asbestos purse, and from other distinguished gentlemen for his skill in swimming. On his return to America he soon became known as the most skillful printer of the Middle Colonies, the outspoken champion of the party which demanded that the colonists should receive the rights that Englishmen at home possessed, and the promoter of all benevolent and social enterprises which had for their object the amelioration of the con- dition of the people. For sixty years he thus strove for the wel- fare of Americans. But at the time when he touched the soil of New York he had quarreled with his brother James Franklin, in Boston, and had secretly left home to seek his fortunes elsewhere. When he reached here, a friendless boy of seventeen, after a three days' voyage, in October, 1723. he found New York with but one printing office, while in Boston there were several. There was no newspaper. In his narrative, written after he had become old and prosperous, he thus describes his adventures :
" My inclinations for the sea were by this time worne out, or I might now have gratify'd them. But, having a trade, and sup- posing myself a pretty good workman. I offer'd my service to the printer in the place, old Mr. William Bradford, who had been the
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Notes on Printing in New York.
first printer in Pennsylvania, but removed from thence upon the quarrel of George Keith. He could give me no employment, hav- ing little to do, and help enough already ; but says he, ' My son at Philadelphia has lately lost his principal hand, Aquila Rose, by death ; if yon go thither, I believe he may employ you.' Phila- delphia was 100 miles farther; I set out, however, in a boat for Amboy, leaving my chest and things to follow me round by sea." After describing his journey to Philadelphia and his first appear- ance there the story goes on :
" I made myself as tidy as I could, and went to Andrew Brad- ford the printer's. I found in the shop the old man, his father, whom I had seen in New York, and who, traveling on horseback, had got to Philadelphia before me. He introduc'd me to his son, who receiv'd me civilly, gave me a breakfast, but told me did not at present want a hand, being lately suppli'd with one; but there was another printer in town, lately set up, one Keimer, who, per- haps. might employ me ; if not, I should be welcome to lodge at his house, and he would give me a little work to do now and then, till fuller business should offer.
" The old gentleman said he would go with me to the new print- er : and when we found him, . Neighbor.' says Bradford. . I have brought to see von a young man of your business ; perhaps you may want such a one.' He ask'd me a few questions, put a coul- posing stick in my hand to see how I work'd, and said he would employ me soon, though he had just then nothing for me to do ; and taking old Bradford, whom he had never seen before. to be one of the town's people that had a good will for him, enter'd into a conversation on his present undertaking and prospects : while Bradford. not discovering that he was the other printer's father, on Keimer's saying he expected soon to get the greatest part of the business into his own hands, drew him on by artful questions and starting little doubts, to explain all his views, what interest he reli'd on, and in what manner he intended to proceed. I, who stood by and heard all. saw immediately that one of them was a crafty old sophister, and the other a mere novice. Brad- ford left me with Keimer, who was greatly surpris'd when I told him who the old man was."
From this statement very unfavorable opinions have long been
Notes on Printing in New York. 349
expressed in print concerning Bradford; but it must not be for- gotten that the only aceount of his dealings with Franklin we have is from the latter's pen. It exhibits the older printer in an unfavorable light, and as doing a thing which eannot be defend- ed by a man of honor. The future philosopher, however, profited by the fraud. It does not appear that the introduction of Frank- lin to Keimer was undertaken with the idea of spying out the latter's condition, but the disclosures eame up naturally, and then Bradford plied his questions.
Franklin and the Bradfords were long rivals in business, and in opposite parties in politics, and the remembrance of those early days were still with him in his old age. Franklin was a great man, but he never rose to the pitch of forgiving an enemy or a rival.
Bradford at this time was sixty years old. He had been in Ameriea for thirty-eight years. thirty being in New York eity. There he had aequired the confidence and respect of the citizens. He had been printer to all the successive administrations which followed Col. Fletcher's. and had received an annual stipend from them. At first, as has been stated, this was forty pounds a year, New York eurrency, which was depreciated slightly from sterling. In 1696 it was raised to sixty pounds. This did not prevent his asking for additional allowances when any special work was to be done. For instance. on the 15th of February. 1694. the follow- ing appeared upon the records :
" William Bradford having exhibited an aeeount of sundries printed by direction of his Excellency and Council for the use of the Government amounting to considerable value, which cannot be supported by his salary, the Board in consideration of his extraordinary services, and the printing of a book entitled ' Reasonable Considerations Offered to the Good People of Con- nectient, have corrected the said account and ordered a warrant issued for the payment of £30 to the said William Bradford."
The partiality shown to Bradford by Fletcher was not con- tinued by his successor. He early offended the Earl of Bellomont. It has ever been the feeling of those in high office that the printer or the editor was a mere appendage to them, and that
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Notes on Printing in New York.
whatever whim or fancy should be believed in or acted on by the great official the conductor of the press must likewise have. But Bradford was of a different nature. In answer to a letter from the Lords of the Board of Trade asking for a map Bellomont replied :
" I am glad the map of the Province which I sent your Lordship pleases you. But as for a more correct book of the laws which you order me to send. 'tis not to be had. I sent for the printer and spoke to him about it, and he told me there was no remedy for it because he had nobody to correct the presse at the time he printed them."
Some little time after Bellomont had a conference with the Indians, some weighty points being discussed. Nothing but a sense of his duty would have kept him in the room where the red men were. The powwow lasted seven or eight days, giving the Governor the "greatest fatigue he ever underwent in his whole life." He was shut up " in a close chamber with fifty sachems. who besides the steneh of bear's grease with which they plenti- fully bedaubed themselves were continually either smoking tobacco or drinking drams of rum." Like Fletcher, he was de- sirous of sending home an account of his exploits. The printer. however, was not accessible to reason. Ile pretended to be sick and remained so for a long time. Had Bellomont understood him he would have told him that an extra allowance would be made covering the cost, and he would have had no difficulty. But he did not. and Bradford would not print at his own expense. Bellomont wrote about this to the Board of Trade. October 17th, 1700:
" My private conference beginning (page 15) and ending (page 23) is so call'd because I intended it should not be printed with the rest, but our printer being sick I can have neither printed ; and I think the less these things we transact with our Indians are made publick. the better 'tis for us."
A couple of weeks later the following memorandum was en- tered upon the Council minutes :
" 31 October, 1700.
" Whereas. Mr. Bradford, the Printer, hath wholly, for these four months past. neglected his duty in printing the proclama- tions and conferences when his Lordship was at Albany. his Ex-
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Notes on Printing in New York.
cellency had therefore thought fit to displace him from his office. And Mr. Abraham Gouverneur having, by reason of the want of said Printer, being employed by his Excellency to make several copies of his Lordship's said conference with the Indians, for his Lordship to send to the Ministers of State in England, it is therefore ordered, that Mr. Bradford be debarred from receiving any salary from the five and twentieth day of June last, and that a warrant issue for the payment of the sum of £3 12s. to the said Mr. Abraham Gouverneur for his said service."
The death of Lord Bellomont on the 5th of March, 1701, ended the dispute between the Governor and the printer. The next Governor, Lord Cornbury, did not take up the ground of his predecessor ; the warrants for his salary were paid, and in Novem- ber, 1702. it was ordered that fifteen pounds yearly be at onee added. making it seventy-five. He had petitioned for this increase. These sums were not very regularly paid, all public officials being obliged to wait more or less. In one case Dr. Moore found a. warrant drawn for him for $252 18, which could not have been very far from an entire year's receipts.
He became a vestryman of Trinity Church in 1703. With this organization he was connected soon after becoming a resident of New York, and he continued a communicant there till his death sixty years later. He was assigned a seat along with Dirk Van- denburgh, of whom history possesses no other record, in that year. In 1704 he. with Mr. Honan, was appointed to collect the contributions in the church for two months, and the same year, with Mr. Honan. Captain Lurting, and Captain Tothill, he was appointed to " importune all strangers' benevolence towards the church and steeple."
An achievement of his at about the time of Franklin's visit here is a copperplate map, correctly drawn, and well executed. It is called the Lyne Map, and it is certainly one of the earliest specimens of engraving on copper done in the present United States. Upon it, as Mr. Wallace remarks, a rope-walk is shown on Broadway above the Astor House, the street ending there. but being continued through the present Park row, late Chat- ham street. and the Bowery to Boston. He also began a paper mill at Elizabeth Town. The exact year is unknown, but it
352
Passport for the East Indies.
was some time before 1730. "In 1724," declares Mr. Wallace, " being then sixty-one years old, and contemplating, no doubt, the establishment which he perfected in the next year of a newspaper in this city. he sought to acquire from the Legislature of this province a monopoly of the new art, which he proposed to intro- duce here. The project was favorably received, and passed the Legislature. It seemed, too, to be in a fair way of successful accomplishment. but on a final voting of the bill in Council, as the provincial minutes show, on the 16th of July, by a small majority perhaps, it was carried in the negative." A local history says that in 1728 a building was purchased by William Bradford in Eliza- beth Town, which he converted into a paper mill. and that in 1730 and 1731 he was a resident of that place, which is less than a dozen miles from New York. This was the first mill in this neighbor- hood. and preceded any in this city by forty years. The first mill was that near Philadelphia, and, so far as I am informed, so was the second in the colonies. The capital required was small, almost none of the present machinery being known. The product, if we may judge of it by the pages of the New York Gazette, was a strong and durable paper. but of dark color, and with many spots. showing that the rags had not been very thoroughly bleached nor sorted.
PASSPORT FOR THE EAST INDIES.
In the year 1773 Governor Tryon issued a passport to William Moore, then about to visit his brother John in the East Indies. It was for the purpose of identifying him in relation to an in- Heritance, and is far different in form from any passport or certifi- cate of identification issued in these days. William Moore returned, and for services in the Revolution became a captain. When the celebration of the adoption of the Constitution of the United States by the State of New York took place in this city in July, 1788. Captain Moore rode at the head of the procession, next after the band. as Columbus. He was clad in a suit of purple velvet. Ile died in Eastchester in 1795. and is buried in St. Paul's Church there. John Moore, his brother, died at sea, after the war, on his return from the East Indies.
353
Passport for the East Indies.
His Excellency William Tryon Esq., Captain General and Gov- ernor in Chief in and over the province of New York and the Territories Depending thereon in America Chancellor and Vice Admiral of the Same.
To all to whom these presents Shall Come Greeting; Know Ye, That Whitehead Hicks Esq : is mayor of the City of New York and one of his Majesty's Justices of peace for the Said City and County of New York. And that Due Faith and Credit is and ought to be Given to his Certificate and Seal of mayoralty, which are hereunto annexed.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Caused the Great Seal of the said province of New York to be affixed, at Fort George in the City of New York the [L. s.] Sixth day of November one thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Three. and in the Fourteenth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King George the Third.
WM. TRYON.
City of New York ss. To all to whom these Presents shall Come ; Whitehead Ilicks Esq. mayor of the City of New York Doth Hereby Certify That on the day of the Date hereof. Perso- nally came and appeared before me, Christopher Miller, Abraham Schenck and Mary Jones, the Deponents named in the Several affidavits hereunto annexed. being Persons well known and Worthy of good Credit, and by Solemn Oath which the said Deponents then Severally took before me upon the Holy Evan- gelists of Almighty God Did Solemnly and Sincerely Declare Testify & depose to be True, the Several matters and Thing- mentioned and Contained in the said Several affidavits annexed.
In Faith and Testimony whereof I the said Mayor have Caused the Seal of Office of mayoralty of the said City of New York to be hereunto put and affixed in New York in North America, and the affidavits above Referred to. [1 .. s.] To be hereunto also annexed. Dated in New York the Thirtieth day of October. in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Three. Note the date Both was first wrote on erazure.
WHITEHEAD HICKS. By order of the Mavor
Aror. V. CORTLANDT.
35-4
Passport for the East Indies.
City of New York ss : Christopher Miller of the City of - New York, married, aged Thirty seven Years, being duly Sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, Deposeth and Saith That he knew and was well acquainted with Lewis, John, and William Moore, the Reputed Children of Lewis Moore and Margaret his wife of Rocky Ilill in the Province of East New Jersey in North America .- That Lewis Moore the Father died in the year One Thousand Seven hundred and thirty Seven, at Rocky Hill aforesaid, as this Deponent hath Understood and verily believes to be True. And the Deponent further Saith that he was acquainted with Margaret the mother of the aforesaid Lewis, John and William Moore, Who after the Deeease of her husband the aforesaid Lewis Moore intermarried with one Thomas How as this Deponent hath understood and verily believes to be true. And that the said Margaret is now deceased as the deponent hath been informed and believes. And the Deponent further Saith, That he was particularly acquainted with the Children of the aforesaid Lewis Moore and Margaret his Wife, by name Lewis, John and William, during their infancy. That they the afore- said Lewis, John and William Children of the said Lewis Moore and Margaret his Wife, were School fellows with him the Depo- nent and that they the said Lewis, John and William Moore were always Esteemed and Reputed to be brothers. And the Depo- nent further Saith. That Lewis Moore one of the said Brothers. died some years ago, as this Deponent hath understood and be- lieves and that John Moore, one other of the Said Brothers, is now living in the East Indies, as this Deponent hath been informed and verily believes to be True-and that William Moore the other brother is now alive in the City of New York, and present with him the Deponent. And that the said William Moore intends Shortly to leave the said City of New York to go to the East Indies to hi- brother John as the said William Moore informs this Deponent, and Which this Deponent verily believes to be True. -- And further this Deponent Saith Not.
CHRIS MILLER.
Sworn the 30th day of October 1773 Before me
WINTEHEAD HICKS Mayor
Passport for the East Indies. 355
City of New York ss : Abraham Schenck of the City of New York Merchant, aged Fifty three Years, being duly Sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, Deposeth and Saith. That he was formerly acquainted with Margaret How of Milstone, Somer- set County and province of East New Jersey in North America. That the Deponent always Understood and verily believes to be true, that the said Margaret How was first intermarried with Lewis Moore who lived at Rocky Hill in the Province of East New Jer- sey aforesaid, and after his Death the said Margaret intermarried with Thomas How of Milstone aforesaid, as he the Deponent hath been informed and believes And the Deponent further Saith that he knew the three Children of the said Lewis Moore and Margaret his Wife, towit, Lewis. John & William; That Lewis, one of the Children of the said Lewis Moore and Margaret his Wife, died Some Years ago, as this Deponent hath understood and verily believes to be true, and that John one other of the Children of the said Lewis & Margaret, is living in the East Indies, as this Deponent hath often been informed and believes. And that William one other of the Children of the said Lewis and Margaret, is now alive in the City of New York, and Present with him the Deponent. And that the said William Shortly intends for the East Indies. to Pay a Visit to his brother John, as he the said William hath informed the Deponent-and the Deponent Further Saith that the said Lewis, John and William. the Children of the said Lewis and Margaret. were always Esteemed, Deemed and Reputed the lawful begotten Children of the said Lewis and Margaret, and that they were always Reputed and known to be brothers, and the Children of the aforesaid Lewis Moore and Margaret his Wife ; and further this Deponent Saith Not
ABRM SCHENCK Sworn the 30th day of October 1773 Before me WHITEHEAD HICKS. Mayor
City of New York ss. Mary Jones at present in the City of New York widow aged Forty five years, being Sworn on the Holy Evangelists of almighty God Deporeth and Saith, That She was well acquainted with Lewis Moore and Margaret his wife of Rocky Hill in the province of East new Jersey in North america ;
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Passport for the East Indies.
and That She was also well acquainted With the Children of the said Lewis and, Margaret, Towit .- Lewis, John and William. That the said Lewis Moore the ffather Died in or about the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and thirty Seven, at Rocky Hill aforesaid-and That Margaret his widow, Sometime thereafter intermarried with one Thomas How of milstone in the County of Somerset and province of East new Jersey aforesaid. And that the said Margaret is Since Deceased. And the Depon- ent further Saith That Lewis Moore one of the Children of the said Lewis and Margret is also Deceased and that John one other of the Children of the said Lewis and Margaret left North America about Twenty three years ago and Went to the East Indies, where he now Resides as appears by Letters from the said John to her the Deponent. And that William one other of the Children of the said Lewis and Margaret, is now alive in the City of New York, and present with her the Deponent and that the said William intends Shortly to leave the said City of New York ' to go to his brother John in the East Indies, as he the said William hath informed this Deponent. and which this Deponent verily believes to be true : and the Deponent further on her Oath Saith that during the life time of the said Lewis and Margaret the Father and Mother of the said Lewis, John and William, She the Deponent, was very frequently in the house of the Said Lewis and Margaret, and very often Saw them there with their Children the aforesaid Lewis. John and William and that the aforesaid Lewis and Margaret the Parents ever acknowledged by all their Conduct and behaviour That the aforesaid Lewis. John and William were their Children, and that they often Expressed in the hearing of this Deponent the utmost Parental tenderness for their Welfare and Happiness. And this Deponent further Saith that she is positively Certain that the said Lewis, John and William were brothers and the Esteemed Children of the afore- said Lewis and Margaret, and further this Deponent Saith Not MARY JONES.
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