Mr. Brinley, of Hartford, Conn., whose unequalled collection
of early American publications, and critical knowledge
of them, are well known, kindly furnishes the following
memoranda, made by him in his copy of Mr.
Thomas's work:
"Job Howe, was a Bookseller, not mentioned by Thomas.
Example—Neglect of Supporting and Maintaining the Pure
Worship of God, * * * or The Cause of New
England's Scarcity, and Right Way to its Plenty. A Fast
Sermon at Roxbury July 26th, 1687 by James Allen, Teacher
to the first Gathered Church in Boston. 4to. Boston Printed
for Job How and John Allen, and are to be sold at Mr. Samuel
Green's, by the South Meeting House, 1687. Title, preface
1 leaf, & pp. 1–16.
How is not mentioned, and the earliest seen of John Allen
is in 1690.
The above sermon seems to be rare, as it is not in the
library of the Antiquarian Society, that of the Massachusetts
Historical Society, or the Prince Library. It was
'preached on a Solemn Fast Day occasioned by the afflictive
Providence of God in sending Worms and Catapillars,
which in some places, as God's great army, marched in numerous
Companies, and devoured all before them, both
Corn and Grass,' &c., &c. Preface.
Hezekiah Usher, Bookseller. Thomas 1652. Was in
business as early as 1650. Example. The Mystery of God
Incarnate, &c., &c., by Samuel Eaton. Printed for H. Usher
at Boston in New England 1650.
John Usher, Bookseller. Thomas 1672. Should be
1669. Example—God's Call to His People to Turn to Him,
in 11 Sermons at two Publick Fasting Dayes by John Davenport.
4to. Cambridge printed by S. G. and M. J. for John
Usher of Boston MDCLXIX.
John Ratcliffe, Bookseller. A good example of his
publications is a very rare book of which I do not trace
any copy: A Poem, Dedicated to the Memory of the Reverend
and Excellent Urian Oakes, late Pastor to Christ's Flock, and
Praesident of Harvard College in Cambridge; &c., &c., &c.
4to. Boston in New England. Printed for John Ratcliff, 1682.
Title, To the reader, 2 pages, pp. 1–16. (By Cotton Mather,)
a juvenile production, and not in any list of his
publications.
Benjamin Harris, Bookseller. Thomas 1690. He printed
in 1689 Massachusetts Charter. N. B.: This is the first
document in Hutchinson's volume of "Original Papers,"
and of which he says in a foot note that it never had been
printed.
Obadiah Gill, Bookseller. Thomas 1690. Should be
1685. Example—An Elegy on the Much-to-be-deplored Death
of that Never-to-be-forgotten Person, the Reverend Mr. Nathaniel
Collins, who after he had been many years a faithful Pastor to
the Church at Middletown of Connecticut in New England, about
the Forty-third year of his Age expired on 28th 10th month,
1684. (Texts &c.) Boston in New England. Printed by Richard
Pierce for Obadiah Gill—Anno Christi 1685.—16mo. (Title,
to the reader, 2 pages, pp. 20.) (By Cotton Mather) another
juvenile production, not in any list of his publications.
Among Printers some mention ought to be made of
Gregory Dexter, who joined Roger Williams in Rhode
Island. He had been a printer in London but never had
an opportunity to exercise his craft in this country, but
was in other respects a prominent man in that colony.
He was the printer of the original edition of Roger Williams's
Key into the Language of America. London. Printed
by Gregory Dexter, 1643. He
probably printed also
The
Bloody Tenent. London, 1644.
Printing in Maryland. Thomas says, first at Annapolis,
by Green, about 1726. Should be 1700. Example.
The Necessity of an Early Religion, being a Sermon Preached
the 5th of May before the Honorable Assembly of Maryland by
Thomas Bray, D. D. Annapolis, Printed by order of the
Assembly by Tho: Reading for Evan Jones, bookseller, anno
Domini 1700. Title, pp. 1–20. Also The Power of the
Gospel in the Conversion, of Sinners, in a Sermon Preach'd at
Annapolis, in Maryland, by George Keith M. A. July the 4th.
Printed and are to be sold by Thomas Reading, at the Sign of
the George. Anno Domini MDCCIII. (pp. 19.)"
We add from the Boston Evening Post of Aug. 14, 1749,
the name of OBADIAH COOKSON, who, in 1749, was "at the
Cross Pistols, in Fish Street, Boston." He sold a few
books, and many other articles.—H.
