USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the end of the century : a history, Volume 2 > Part 54
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House, where Advertisements and Letters to the Author are taken in". The Gazette lived only about seven months, and copies in existence show that it was not issued regularly during that period. After various published complaints by the editor of lack of support, the last number was printed May 24, 1733.
The earliest of the imprints of James Franklin was a 16 mo. of seventeen pages. It is entitled "John Hammett's Vindication and Relation Newport Rhode Island. Printed and Sold by James Frank- lin 1727". Copies of this are extremely rare. Only one copy is known by collectors of Rhode Island imprints. Another of Franklin's products was "An Apology for the True Christian Divinity, as the same is Held Forth, and Preached, by the Peoples called in Scorn Quakers: &c. By Robert Barclay. The Sixth Edition in English. Newport, Rhode Island. Printed by James Franklin 1729." This is a 12 mo. of 574 printed pages.
Franklin's health failed and he died in February, 1735. His widow (Anna), his daughter, and later his son, who was also named James, continued the business and possibly attempted to revive the Gazette. While the elder James was publishing his paper he received a visit from his former apprentice, Benjamin, who returned to Philadelphia, taking with him his nephew, the younger James. There the latter learned the printing trade, which enabled him to take up the work in Newport, first as a partner with his mother. Books are in existence in the Redwood Library, Newport, bearing his imprint with date of 1752, and others with the imprint of "Widow Franklin".1 On the 19th day of June, 1758, this second James Franklin published the first number of the Newport Mercury, a font of type for the purpose hav- ing been presented him by his uncle, Benjamin; but his physical con- stitution seems to have been weak, and after gradually failing health he died, August 22, 1762. His mother again took up the business, but she soon committed it to Samuel Hall, with whom she formed a part- nership under the name of Franklin & Hall; this firm was dissolved in the following year. Hall continued the business in his name until 1768, when the establishment was sold to Solomon Southwick. He was a son of a fisherman and born in Newport. By his youthful intelligence he attracted the attention of Henry Collins, who was sup- posed to be wealthy, and who placed young Southwick in an academy in Philadelphia, maintained him through his period of study, and subsequently established him in mercantile business in Newport. In
1"Acts of his Majesty's Colony, etc., with Charter prefixed. Folio, pp. Charter 15. Table 15. 308. Newport. Widow Franklin. 1744". Also, "Acts of his Majesty's Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England in America. From Anno 1745 to Anno 1752. Folio, pp. 110. Newport, Rhode Island. Printed by J. Franklin, at the Printing Office under the School House."-Hammett's Contribution to the Bibliography and Liter- ature of Newport, p. 5.
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this enterprise he was not permanently successful, and when the Mer- cury was offered for sale he purchased it. Mr. Southwick was a pat- riot and a Whig. When the British entered Newport he buried his printing materials in the rear of the Kilburn house, on Broad street, barely escaped with his life on account of his outspoken loyalty to the patriot cause, and went to Albany, N. Y. In his absence the invaders dug up the press and type and published the Newport Gazette, which was printed and edited by John Howe. The first number of this paper bore date January 15, 1777, and it continued through 1778 and probably up to the time of the evacuation, October 25, 1779. Howe's office was in the Vaughan house, north side of the Parade, near Thames street. The Redwood Library contains a valued file of the paper from January, 1777, to January 15, 1778.
After the evacuation by the British Mr. Southwick returned, and on January 5, 1780, resumed the publication of the Mercury, in com- pany with Henry M. Barber (firm of Southwick & Barber). Mr. Southwick was sole proprietor again in 1787 and so continued until 1795, when ill health and financial embarrassment caused by the great depreciation of the currency, forced him to give up his business, and it passed wholly to Mr. Barber. Mr. Southwick died December 23, 1797.
The files of the Mercury show that from December 16, 1800, to August 19, 1809, Ann Barber was its publisher. L. Rousmaniere and William Barber then became owners and were succeeded, November 22, 1817, by W. & J. H. Barber. On November 6, 1841, J. H. Barber became sole owner, and was succeeded January 2, 1847, by the firm of .J. H. Barber & Son; they were followed by William Lee Barber, who died after three years at the head of the business, and it was sold to George C. Mason and F. A. Pratt ; they published the paper from February 22, 1851, to June 12, 1854, when it passed to the firm of Coggeshall & Pratt. This connection continued to April 3, 1858, when F. A. Pratt & Co. became the publishers and so continued to January 4, 1862. On November 16, 1872, the Mercury appeared under owner- ship and control of John P. Sanborn, the veteran publisher, who has ever since, during a period of about thirty years, directed the course of the paper. Mr. Sanborn is now the oldest editor of the oldest news- paper in the State of Rhode Island.
The Newport Herald1 was the next newspaper published in that city, the first number appearing March 1, 1787. The avowed purpose of the Herald was opposition to paper money. The necessities arising from depression and the destruction of trade and credit, growing chicfly out of the war, had driven the Rhode Island Legislature to issue
1In Hammett's bibliography of Newport are reproduced two pages of the Herald (at pp. 109-10), and there are several numbers in existence.
in simport.
THE
NuMs. I.
NEWPORT
MERCURY;
OR,
THE .
Weekly
Advertife.',
With the frefhen Ad-
vices foreign and domeffic.
MONDAY, JUNE 39. 1758.
HE Advantage and Utility of # NEWS. PAPER.to the Public, isto obvion, that it requises litt'e to be faid to recommend a .Thing of the Kind. And us the Publication of a Papat in this Colony, has been leng with'd for, and frequently requeffed, 'tis propofed to publifh one weekly, oo every Monday, at the moderate Confideration of one Dollar a Year, fo long as the prefent Size of this Paper is'continued (or: Lantal Money or (Nid- Teoor equivalent) to each Subteriber.
AND the Public may be affor'd, that no Panty Difpotes will ever have a Place in This Paper .:. But in - Demut of' News, which in' this temare Part of the World may fome times reafonubly be. expatted, whatever may be prefented, which will promote the Interest ofthis Colony, and tend'to make as a more vistooui, a more fourifhing, aud a. more happy People, will chearfully be inferred ..
A? AND as al'the cadieft Advices which may be contain in other Papers, cannot at all Times be igfcited si toir witt be raken to collect from them. whit, many oppcar
- AND i molt appear unneceffary, to fay aoy Thing te- Jeting to the Admaorage which will accrue to the trading Part of.this Colony, in having the Benefit ofa public Paper to in- fest Advertisements, as the Example of our neighbouring Go- veramente, where Paper are publifh'd, isa convinciog Preot of its general Service in that Refpette
AND for the more expedition Conveyance of this Paper to the feve al Townsin hh Colony, this Method will be takro; to fend all the Papers belonging to each te- fpeCtive Town, with the Name of eich Subferber wrote there- on, under Cover, and diselled to fodie propet Parton, refiding where it will be attended with the leaf Difficulty tothe Inhs- bitants in receiving them, which they will be the bed Judge of; and & Paper will be fent gratis to every foch Perlou, for his Trouble and Care in delivering :hem.
ANDas every O'sjeCtion would willingly hemmov'd, which may arifo with sefpelt to this Paper, in ire firft Publication: Therefore, if it should be faid, that the Size is much fmallerthan thots at prefen: publith'd in PEliadelphia, New-York, and Bofor, leetit be emlider'd, that the Price is alfo lefs in Proportion, and that even ia thof large Pieces, with Provinces extenfree sud populous, the Papers publih'd amongft them, in their In "fancy cos;atn'd'no more than what might ho compriz?d in- half # Sheet ; but as the Number of Subicribers and Adver- tifements increas'd, thetr Papers were inlarg'd in Proportion." And ifit should likewife be faid, that bar is certain'd in this Paper, is forewhat 'ftale befois publifh'd-Ir muft be' ackoowindg'd, that with Refpelt to Arupert and Providence, who have the AMVBotage ot wvedy marly Intelligence, it will- undoubtedly be for .; brat this ovebt alforo be consider'd, that the lahabitants who rafide at a Distance from those two Towns, caonot have an Opportunity to be'fo immediately and pro- pedy acquainted sharewith.
AND the the Number of Subscribers, in the Commence. ment of this Paper, is fan from being adequate to the Expence and Trouble which must consequently be devoted to that Ser - vice : yet It is not doubted, but that. "the Inhabitants of this Colony will cheaifully promote in Undertaking of this Kind.
THERE was Reafun to believe, that this Paper won't, at this Time, have been introduc'd to the Public with caw
. Characters, as Part of a new Printing. Office from Laden, had been contracted for, by the Priorer hereof, principally for that Purpofe, which may daily be expected ; theratore is hop'd thefe will be difpens'd with till its Arrival.
The End of Leifer Packet, Coff. Haris; city arrived at Now- York frem Palmousb, bramzbt iba following fup Advices From Prince Ferdinand's Head Quarters at Munffer, April 3. The Cattle ol Vechte has furrendered by Capitulation within thefe few Day's, " Ir was befieged by a' Captata with a Detach -. meor of :150. Men from Bremen. The Garrifon coofitted of Companies; bur what will hardly be credited, is, that up- wildi.of. foo.Pieces of Caonon and Mortars were found in the . ₺
Loncher (in Germany) March 22. The King of Proffis, who arrived here the 1 7th, fer out the toth for Criffau, where the Head Quarters of his . Atthy . will be eftablifhed To- morrow
Dainuick ( Capkal of Regat Proffes, in the Kingdom of Poland) R& Upon Advice that a large Body of Pruffian Troops," 'refinitoteed tif the greateft Part of the Gairuton of Sietin, wat dicht -ou Tof the Ritiri; i oder igive ibem Bsnle, feveral Derachments of the lateet, that were left behind. tc- ceived Order to join the main Body of their Army. Five of fix Thoutand Ruffians have paffed the Viffula, and obferve the Motions of their Enemies. It does not yet frem to be de- cided whether the whole Army fhall croft the River.
Prague ( Capital of Bohemia) March 29. The Prudians pofh the Siege of Schweideirz with the utmoft Vigour, Maithal Daun being upon the March to relieve it ; and as the King in coming at the .Head of his Army to meet Marchal Daur, we expe& almost every Moment to hear the News of a bloody Battle.
Diefden, March 17." "Tis fill Grid, that the Motions of Maishal Keith tend to make an Javafion in Bohemia, in order to favour the Project which the King of Pruffie is going :0 cxccoro either againtt Bohemia or Moravia.
LONDON,
April 1. The laft Letters from Drefden day, that the Pinf- frans are already in Adion on every Side. Prince. Henry of Profthis alty againft the Army of Execution, and Marth il Keith has taken the Command of the Army in Pomerania against the Swedes and Ruffians.
The French having 'bern difappointed in their attempt to get thro' the thiaights of Gibraltar, by the preveoting the junDion of Du Quethe and De la Clue's "quadion, it is fandt the Brett fleet, confiftiog of ab thips of the line, affer \:1; manned with all the hands from the privateers, and the deh . ciency made up with land men, are determined to come out to favd' Cape Breton ; 'and if they meet Admiral Hawke. 10 artack him : and as' Adm, Hawke's feet confits of only about 17 fall, Several fhips have been fent to join him fiom Spiheal and Plymouth, to enable him to flop their voyage.
Admiralty-Office. April 11. Exra& of s letter from Admiral Osbaine to Mels fecictury of the mimiralty,' dared,on board his mile Prote, ar-fen, March 12+ 1753 ** On the 25th of laß month, hetwern Caps de Gatt and Carthagens, I fell in with ht. du Quefue, in the Foudroyant of Soi the Orpheus of 64, the Uniforme of 55, and the Pleisde of 24 guns, which werethe fonr fhips fent trom Tov. Jon to reinforce Id. de la Chie at Canbogena. Oatheir forer : my fquadron, they immediately diforvicd, Emi leeied coffei. ent cpuifes ; on which I detached fhipr. f.er each of iter .. whith with the main body of my fonabien I food off the bay · of Citthagena, to watch their fquideon these ; and about fiven Inthe evening, Capt. Stoer, in the Revenge of os, Coppour. il by Copt. Hughes in the Berwick of 64, and Last. Evans in
THE FIRST PAGE OF THE FIRST NUMBER OF THE FIRST NEWSPAPER
PUBLISHED IN NEWPORT. FROM THE ORIGINAL IN THE POSSESSION OF THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
*
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
paper currency until the amount exceeded £153,000, or $500,000. A combination of merchants and other tradesmen had been made to prevent the circulation of this medium, and violent party spirit was aroused. The Legislature cnacted laws to enforce the circulation of the depreciated currency at a certain fixed value. The Herald was established to oppose these measures, its motto being, "It is to contra- diction consequently to the liberty of the press, that physics, morality and politics owe their improvement". The Herald was printed by Peter Edes, Thames street, and survived until August, 1791.
Three other short-lived newspapers are to be credited to Newport before the close of that century. The first of these was the United States Chronicle; but the founding of this journal belongs to Provi- dence, where the first number was issued in January, 1784, under proprietorship of Bennett & Wheeler. It was published in Newport in 1791, where the editor was Henry Barber. The paper suspended in 1802.
The Rhode Island Museum was published in Newport about six months, beginning in July, 1794, and closing in the following Decem- ber. This was followed by the issue, on April 15, 1798, of The Weekly Companion and Commercial Centinel, by Oliver Farnsworth, "Printer to the Honorable General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island". The first number appeared under direction of Oliver and Havila Farnsworth, but from April 6, 1799, the former was alone in the business. The paper suspended after about one year, and its owners soon afterward published The Guardian of Liberty for a time; the first number was issued September 25, 1800. At about the same date was founded the Rhode Island Republican ; this also was published by Oliver Farnsworth, "near the Coffee House", on Thames street. This journal had a longer career. Its editor, in 1841, printed the statement that the first issue was dated October 5, 1801, but the editor of the Newport Bibliography, by reckoning back from numbers now at hand, finds the date as first above given, a few days only before the date of the first number of The Guardian of Liberty. The latter paper was short-lived and probably was merged with the Republican, the motto of which was, "An indissoluble Union of the States is essential to their liberty and existence"-a fact that had to be proven a half century later in the carnage of civil war. The origi- nal Republican lived about two years; but another journal bearing the same title was started on March 22, 1809, by William Simons. The older one of that name is not mentioned by him in his early issues and seems to have passed out of memory. His office was at No. 5 Mill street. On July 23, 1812, the day of publication was changed from Wednesday to Thursday, but on April 13,1814, was again made Wednes- day. The Republican was successful; it made the editorial claim of being actuated "by a zeal that knows no bounds, and governed by
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principles which have no ends but the public welfare". We cannot wonder that the paper survived. Mr. Simons continued as publisher until 1825, when Atkinson & Read (James Atkinson, Wni. Read), bought the establishment and continued the business to 1830. Mr. Read was then alone two years and in 1832 sold to Francis B. Peck- ham, in whose name it stood until August, 1833. Then A. B. Peckham appears as publisher until December of the same year, when Francis B. Peckham again assumed ownership, and in October, 1836, sold to Callender & Tilley. Mr. Callender was a bookseller and Mr. Tilley a practical printer. The last issue of the Republican bears the date April 21, 1841, and in its place the same firm published the Rhode Islander, the first number of which was dated May 4, of that year. This was a non-political journal and aimed to fill its columns with clean family reading.
The Anti-Masonic movement had a memorable existence in this State and threatened to gain permanent political control. The party that was born of that movement, like all leading and ambitious politi- cal organizations, needed newspaper "organs", as they are called. One of these was the Anti-Masonic Rhode Islander, the startling motto of which was, "Thou shalt do no murder". The first number was dated November 4, 1829; in No. 28 the publication day is given as Wednesday and the office location, 178 Thames street. Allen & Fol- som were the publishers. Dr. Benjamin Case, who was a very radical anti-mason, was the editor, and he waged a wordy warfare in his columns during the life of the party. A file of this journal was for- merly in possession of St. John's lodge of Masons, but it has disap- peared.
The next newspaper established in Newport bore the resounding title, Freedmen's Advocate and the Impartial Inquirer, which began October 1, 1830, with William Cutter, editor and proprietor, "four doors north of the Custom House, Thames street". The paper was devoted to advocacy of the principles which led to the election of Andrew Jackson to the presidency of the United States ; but personal- ities and political abuse soon occupied most of its columns, and it sus- pended after a short career.
On the 7th of April, 1830, James Atkinson issued the first number of the Herald of the Times. In 1846 the name was changed to the Herald of the Times and Rhode Islander, and from August 12, 1847, was published by S. S. Eastman, who sold it to Cranston & Norman in January, 1849, together with the Daily Herald, issued from the same office. The latter was consolidated later with the Daily News, and the Herald of the Times, shorn of its sub-title, was continued until the sale of the News in 1856, as noticed further on.
On the 27th of September, 1834, William Barber & Sons issued the first number of the Rhode Island Gazette, as what they
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
called the new series of the Gazette that was established in 1732, as . before noticed. This paper was started mainly on account of differ- cnccs between its owners and those of the Mercury; the matter was soon settled and the paper stopped.
The Newport Daily News was established May 4, 1846, by Orin F. Jackson, who came from Massachusetts for the purpose. The new daily was successful from the beginning and was continued by its founder until Septembr, 1848, when he sold it to William H. Crans- ton, under whose management it became a fearless, able and popular modern newspaper. On January 1, 1849, George H. Norman, who had previously been financially interested in the business, was admitted as a partner. The treatment of local affairs in its columns was made conspicuous and their merits and demerits received courageous and untrammeled treatment, while the prominent features of affairs of more extended public interest were made the subjects of able edito- rials. In 1856 the News was sold to a company who employed John Hobart as editor and under whose name the paper was published. Less than a year later it was sold to George T. Hammond, who con- tinued it until 1866, when L. D. Davis and Rev. Micah J. Talbot became the owners. In the following year T. T. Pitman purchased Mr. Talbot's interest, and the firm of Davis & Pitman continued as publishers up to 1887, the former acting as editor and the latter as business manager. In that year Mr. Pitman became sole owner and has continued so to the present time. Among the assistant editors during this period were John P. Sanborn, now the veteran editor of the Mercury, Fred P. Powers, J. E. Chamberlain and Fred M. Ham- mett.
In connection with the Daily News is published the Newport Jour- nal, weekly, which was founded August 3, 1867, by Davis & Pitman. Its columns are largely compiled from the daily issues, and it has a widely extended country circulation.
The Newport Enterprise, which was devoted chiefly to the advocacy of temperance principles, was started March 1, 1886, as a semi- monthly, by B. W. Pearce, a veteran newspaper man. The paper was during its career a conservative and interesting supporter of general morality and during a number of years was fairly supported. It was discontinued in September, 1897.
A large amount of intelligent effort has been put forth in Newport for the preservation in periodicals of valuable historical and genealog- ical material. In July, 1880, Henry E. Turner, assisted by R. Ham- mett Tilley, librarian of the Newport Historical Society, began pub- lishing a quarterly, called the Newport Historical Magazine. In 1884 the title was changed to The Rhode Island Historical Magazine, and Mr. Tilley became sole editor; it was continued to April, 1887. In January, 1891, he began the publication of the Magazine of New Eng-
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land History, which was discontinued in October, 1893. In these publications the editor placed in permanent form a large quantity of historical and genealogical matter which had accumulated and was liable to loss or destruction.
John P. Sanborn and Frank G. Harris began the publication of an eight-page daily paper on June 7, 1886, called the Season. Its title indicates its purpose. On the 16th of June, 1888, appeared the first number of the Daily Observer and the Season, with Frank G. Harris, proprietor and editor. In that year this paper supported the candi- dates of the Republican party. It continued until 1894, when it was absorbed by the Herald.
A religious paper named the Trinity Church Messenger was pub- lished monthly for some years by Rev. G. J. Magill, pastor of that church. The first number was dated May, 1886.
The Naval Apprentice made its first appearance in May, 1901. It is issued from the Newport Training Station for the benefit of all naval apprentices.
The first number of the Newport Daily Herald appeared on March 23, 1892, under the business management of the Herald Publishing Company, and with Horace B. Allen, editor. In the same month the publishers of the Democrat in Providence removed that paper to Newport, where it was issued during a few months as a weekly edition of the Herald. Mr. Allen continued to edit the Herald until May 4, 1892, and was followed in succession by C. T. Hammond, Matthew Hale, J. H. B. Robinson, William Pangborn, John Worthington, A. O'D. Taylor, and Horatio C. Wood, the present editor. The business managers of the paper since it was founded have been F. W. Greene, Charles Crandall, A. O'D. Taylor and Horatio C. Wood. The Herald is an independent Republican journal and has met with deserved suc- cess. The plant is a complete one, including type-setting machines and fast presses. Only the daily issue is now published.
The Newport Union is a weekly summer paper devoted to the inter- ests of colored people. It was established in July, 1901, by F. T. Small.
The list of Newport newspapers and magazines that ended their existence after periods of greater or lesser length is not so long as might be expected in a city which had its first journal more than a century and a half ago. The following brief notes cover all, or nearly all, that have been issued in the city :
A child's paper called The Gleaner was founded by George C. Mason, August 11, 1849; it was an illustrated weekly and only one number was issued. The same man began the publication of the New- port Daily Advertiser, November 16, 1849, soon sold it to James Atkin- son, who continued it daily a short time and in January, 1850, began the issue of the Newport Weekly Advertiser, the last number of the
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daily having the date April 1, 1850. After the death of Mr. Atkinson, in 1879, the paper was published irregularly by his sons until 1882, when it was purchased by Remington Ward and six months later dis- continued.
The Ocean Wave was a temperance paper, published a short time in 1849 by T. F. Ash, jr. The Real Estate Record appeared February 15, 1872, and ten so-called monthly issues were published by Davis & Pitman. In February, 1873, the title was changed to The Seaside Reeord, and it was continued to the elose of that year. The Newport Real Estate Record was begun as a weekly by Forsyth & Derby, in December, 1882, and subsequently was in control of other firms of real estate dealers. The Casino Bulletin, the summer official organ of the Casino, was started as a daily in 1882, by J. T. Cowdery.
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