University of Virginia Library

Philadelphia.

This city was laid out, and the building of it begun by
its proprietor, in 1683. In less than six years after the
city was founded printing was practiced here.

William Bradford was the first printer who settled in
this colony. He was the son of William and Anne Bradford,
of Leicester, England, at which place he was born
in the year 1860.[1] He served his apprenticeship in London,
with Andrew Sowle, printer in Grace Church street, and
married his daughter Elizabeth. Sowle was intimately
acquainted with George Fox, a shoemaker of Nottingham,
and the founder of the English sect of quakers. Sowle
was one of this sect, and printed for the society. Bradford
adopted the principles of the quakers, and was among
the first emigrants from England to Pennsylvania in 1682,
and landed at the spot where Philadelphia was soon after
laid out before a house was built. The next year his wife
arrived.[2]

At what place he first settled is rather uncertain; but
it was, as he expresses it, "near Philadelphia." The
Swedes had begun a colony in Delaware as early as 1626,
and made a settlement at Chester, now a part of Pennsylvania.
The Dutch conquered the Swedes and attached
Delaware to the government of New York. By agreement
with the Duke of York, Penn, after his arrival, assumed
the government of Delaware, and united it, in matters of
legislation, with Pennsylvania. The general assembly
was holden at Cheater, and this borough became for a time
a place of consequence. It is probable that Bradford
resided there until Philadelphia assumed the appearance
of a city. He might, however, have set up his press at
Burlington, which is but eighteen miles distant from Philadelphia,
and was then the capital of New Jersey. The
first work printed by Bradford, which has reached us with
a date, is, "An Almanack for the year of the Christian
account 1687. Particularly respecting the Meridian and
Latitude of Burlington, but may indifferently serve all
places adjacent. By Daniel Leeds, Student in Agriculture.
Printed and sold by William Bradford, near Philadelphia
in Pennsilvania pro Anno 1687." This is a sheet almanac
in twelve compartments for the twelve months. The
year begins with March and ends with February, as was
usual in the seventeenth century. At the bottom of the
sheet are an explanation of the almanac, an account of
the eclipses for the year, courts and fairs at Burlington and
Philadelphia, and short rules in husbandry.[3]

It appears that at the time Bradford printed this
almanac he lived near Philadelphia, and Chester, as I
have said, was near this city.[4]

In 1689, Bradford lived in the city. I possess a quarto
pamphlet by George Keith, respecting the New England
churches, printed by Bradford in Philadelphia that year.

It is the oldest book I have seen printed in the city. I have
another pamphlet, of seventy-four pages, printed by him in
1690, entitled, "A Refutation of Three Opposers of Truth
by plain Evidence of the holy Scriptures, viz: Pardon Tillinghast,
B. Keech, and Cotton Mather; and a few Words
of a Letter to John Cotton. By George Keith."—Imprint
"Philadelphia, Printed and Sold by William Bradford
Anno 1690." I have another quarto pamphlet, of seventy-two

pages, written by George Keith, entitled: "A Serious
Appeal to all the more Sober, Impartial and Judicious
People of New England, to whose Hands this may come."
It is a vindication of the quakers from the attack of Cotton
Mather, etc. "Printed and Sold by William Bradford at
Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, in the year 1692."

In the year 1692, much contention prevailed among the
quakers in Philadelphia, and Bradford took an active part
in the quarrel. George Keith, by birth a Scotchman, a
man of good abilities and well educated, was surveyor
general in New Jersey; and the society of Friends in the
city employed him in 1689, as the superintendent of their
schools. Keith having attended to this duty nearly two
years became a public speaker in their religious assemblies;
but being, as the quakers asserted, of a turbulent and overbearing
spirit, he gave them much trouble. They forbade
him speaking as a teacher, or minister, in their meetings.
This, and some other irritating circumstances, caused a
division among the Friends, and the parties were violently
hostile to each other. Bradford was of the party which
was attached to Keith, and supported him; their opponents
were the majority. Among them were Lieutenant Governor
Lloyd, and most of the quaker magistrates. Keith
and Thomas Budd wrote against the majority, and Bradford
published their writings.

Keith was condemned in the city meetings, but appealed
to the general meeting of the Friends; and, in order that
his case might be generally known and understood, he
wrote an address to that body which he caused to be
printed, and copies of it to be dispersed among the Friends
previous to their general meeting. This conduct was
highly resented by his opponents. The address was denominated
seditious, and Bradford was arrested and imprisoned
for printing it. The sheriff seized a form
containing four quarto pages of the types of the address;

and also took into his custody a quantity of paper, and a
number of books, which were in Bradford's shop, with all
the copies of the address which he could find. The civil
authority took up the business; and, as Keith and Bradford
state the facts, they who persecuted them in the religious
assemblies condemned and imprisoned them by civil
process; the judges of the courts being the leading characters
in the meetings. Several of Keith's party were
apprehended and imprisoned with Bradford; and among
them, Thomas Budd, and John McComb. The offence of
the latter consisted in his having two copies of the address
which he gave to two friends in compliance with their
request.

The following was a warrant for committing Bradford
and MacComb:

Signed by Arthur Cook, and four others.

The day after the imprisonment of Bradford and his
friends, a "Private Sessions," as it was called, of the
county court, was holden by six justices, all quakers, who,
to put a better complexion on their proceedings, requested
the attendance of two magistrates who were not quakers.

This court assembled, it seems, for the purpose of convicting
Keith, Budd, and their connections, of seditious
conduct, and of condemning them without a hearing; but
the two magistrates who were not quakers, if we credit
Keith and Bradford, reprobated the measure, and refused
to have any concern in it, declaring that the whole transaction
was a mere dispute among the quakers respecting
their religion, in which the government had no concern.
They, however, advised that Keith, and others accused,
should be sent for, and allowed to defend themselves, and
affirmed that if any thing like sedition appeared in their
practice, they would join heart and hand in their prosecution.
To this the quaker magistrates would not consent,
and the others in consequence left the court. The court
then, as is stated in a pamphlet,[6] "proceeded in their
work, and as they judged George Keith in their spiritual
court, without all hearing or trial, so in like manner, they
prosecuted him in their temporal court without all hearing."
The pamphlet further states that "one of the judges
declared that the court could judge of matter of fact without
evidence, and therefore without more to do proclaimed
George Keith, by the common cryer, in the market place,
to be a seditious person, and an enemy to the king and
queen's government." [Appendix H.]

Bradford and MacComb, who had been imprisoned,
appeared at this court, and requested that they might be
brought to trial; pleading that it was very injurious to
them and their familes to remain in confinement. They
claimed, as free born English subjects, the rights secured
by Magna Charta, among which was the prompt administration
of justice; and Bradford, in particular, desired that
his trial might then take place, "because, not only his
person was restrained, but his working tools, and the paper
and books from his shop, were taken from him, and
without these he could not work and maintain his family."

At this court the following conversation took place
between the judges and the prisoners, all of whom were
quakers:

"Justice Cook.

What bold, impudent and confident
men are these to stand thus confidently before the Court?

"MacComb.

You may cause our hats to be taken off
if you please.

"Bradford.

We are here only to desire that which is the
right of every free born English subject, which is speedy
justice, and it is strange that that should be accounted
impudence, and we impudent fellows therefore, when we
have spoke nothing but words of truth and soberness, in
requesting that which is our right, and which we want;
it being greatly to our prejudice to be detained prisoners.

"Justice Cook.

If thou hadst been in England, thou
would have had thy back lashed before now.

"Bradford.

I do not know wherein I have broke any
law so as to incur any such punishment.

"Justice Jennings.

Thou art very ignorant in the law.
Does not thee know that there's a law that every printer
shall put his name to the books he prints, or his press is
forfeited?

"Bradford.

I know that there was such a law, and I
know when it expired.

"Justice Cook.

But it is revived again, and is in force
and without any regard to the matter of the book provides
that the printer shall put his name to the books he prints,
which thou hast not done."

The prisoners continued to press for a trial.

"Justice Cook.

A trial thou shall have, and that to
your cost, it may be.

"Justice Jennings.

A trial thou shalt have, but, for
some reason known to us, the court defers it to the next
sessions, and that is the answer we give, and no other you
shall have."

The trial was, accordingly, put over to the next term.
The only offence which appeared against MacComb was
his joining with Keith and his party, and disposing of two
copies of Keith's printed address to his quaker brethren.
For this he was not only imprisoned, but also deprived by
Lieutenant Governor Lloyd of a license to keep an ordinary,
or house of public entertainment, for which he had,
a few months before his confinement, paid the lieutenant
governor twelve pieces of eight, or three pounds twelve
shillings of the then currency.

At the next session of the court, on the 6th of the following
December, Bradford was placed at the bar. "The
presentment was read," the substance of which was, that
the 9th, 10th, llth and 12th articles of the pamphlet
called "An Appeal," had a tendency to weaken the hands
of the magistrates; and William Bradford was presented
as the printer of that seditious paper. The following proceedings
of the court are extracted from the pamphlet
above mentioned:

"Clark.

What say you William Bradford, are you
guilty as you stand presented, or not guilty?

"Bradford.

In the first place, I desire to know whether
I am clear of the mittimus, which differs from the presentment?

"The clerk and the attorney for the government read
and perused the mittimus and presentment, and finding
them to differ, said, that when William Bradford was
cleared according to law he was cleared of the mittimus.
Bradford insisted on knowing whether, on the issue of the
presentment, he was clear of the mittimus. After a long
debate on the subject, Bradford was told that he was clear
of the mittimus on the issue of the presentment.

"Bradford.

What law is the presentment founded on?

"Attorney for the Government.

It is grounded both on
statute and common law.

"Bradford.

Pray let me see that statute and common
law, else how shall I make my plea? Justice Cook told
us last court, that one reason why ye deferred our trial
then, was that we might have time to prepare ourselves
to answer it; but ye never let me have a copy of my presentment,
nor will ye now let me know what law ye prosecute
me upon.

"Attorney.

It's not usual to insert in indictments against
what statute the offence is, when it's against several statutes
and laws made.

"Justice White.

If thou wilt not plead guilty, or not
guilty, thou wilt lose thy opportunity of being tried by thy
country.

"The court then ordered the clerk to write down that
William Bradford refused to plead; which he did; but as
he was writing it down, Bradford desired they would not
take advantage against him, for he refused not to plead, but
only requested that which was greatly necessary in order
to his making his own defence. Several in the court requesting
on the prisoner's behalf that the court would not
take advantage against him, they admitted him to plead,
and he pleaded not guilty.

"The jury were then called over, and attested; but
before they were attested, Bradford was asked if he had

any exceptions to make against any of them that were
returned for the jury.

"Bradford.

Yes, I have, and particularly against two
of them, Joseph Kirle and James Fox; for at the time when
I was committed to prison, Arthur Cook [one of the judges]
told me, that Joseph Kirle had said, that if the proceedings
of the magistrates were thus found fault with, that
they must not defend themselves against thieves and robbers,
merchants would be discouraged of coming here with
their vessels, &c.; and I except against James Fox, because
the first day after Babbit and his company were taken, I
being at Sam Carpenter's, there was Governor Lloyd,
James Fox, and several others, and in discourse concerning
the taking of the said privateers, James Fox greatly
blamed William Walker, because he found fault with
some justices that were quakers for commanding men,
and as it were pressing them to go against the said privateers;
and also James Fox joined with Thomas Lloyd
in saying he would mark them as enemies to the government
and well being of the province, who were neutral in
the case of going against Babbit and his crew; by which
instances I think it appears that these two persons have
prejudged the cause that is now to come before them.

"Joseph Kirle acknowledged that he had spoken such
words, and desired to be discharged; but the court would
not allow of the exceptions.

"Clerk.

These are no exceptions in law.

"Attorney.

Hast thou at any time heard them say
that thou printed that paper? for that is only what they
are to find.

"Bradford.

That is not only what they are to find,
they are to find also, whether this be a seditious paper or
not, and whether it does tend to the weakening of the
hands of the magistrates.

"Attorney.

No, that is matter of law, which the
jury is not to meddle with, but find whether William
Bradford printed it or not, and the bench is to judge
whether it be a seditious paper or not, for the law has
determined what is a breach of the peace, and the penalty,
which the bench only is to give judgment on.

"Justice Jennings.

You are only to try, whether William
Bradford printed it or not.

"Bradford.

This is wrong, for the jury are judges in
law as well as the matter of fact.

"The attorney again denied it; whereupon some of the
jury desired to know what they were to try, for they did
believe in their consciences, they were obliged to try and
find whether that paper was seditious, as well as whether
Bradford printed it; and some of them desired to be discharged.

"A great noise and confusion among the people.

"Some on the bench showing their willingness to allow
of Bradford's exceptions to the two jurors, Justice Cook
said, 'I will not allow of it; is there four of us of a mind?'
Then the attorney read the 9th, 10th, llth and 12th articles
of the said printed appeal, &c., and commented thereupon,
and then said, William Bradford is presented for printing
and publishing this seditious paper, whereof you of the
jury are to find him guilty, if it appears to you that he has
printed it.

"Bradford.

I desire you of the jury, and all men present
to take notice, that what is contained in this paper is
not seditious, but wholly relating to a religious difference,
and asserting the quakers' ancient principles, and it is not
laid down positive that they ought not to have proceeded
against the privateers, but laid down by the way of query
for the people called quakers to consider and resolve at
their yearly meeting, whether it was not a transgression

of the quakers' principles to hire and commissionate men
to fight?

"Justice Cook.

If it was intended for the yearly meeting
at Burlington, why was it published before the meeting?

"Bradford.

Because it might be perused and considered
of by Friends before the meeting, even as the bills that are
proposed to be passed into laws, they are promulgated a
certain number of days before the assembly meets, that
each may have opportunity to consider them.

"Then the attorney read the act[7] against printing any
book without the printer's name to them; and he said,
That was one act which they prosecuted William Bradford
upon.

"George Keith answered the attorney. 'It may be
observed the singular and extraordinary severity of those
justices, called quakers, who will pick out a statute made in
Old England, and prosecute a man upon it here, which might
ruin him and his family, though it's not certain whether
that act be in force; most of William Penn's and the
quakers' books were printed without the name of the printer
when that act was in force, and yet we never heard that any
printer in England was prosecuted for that; these here
because they cannot fix the matter to be any breach of the
peace they'll prosecute the printer for not putting his name
to what they suppose he printed.'

"Note. That all the time those persons were on trial,
the grand jury sat by them, overawing and threatening
them, when they spoke boldly in their own defence, and
one of the jury wrote down such words as they disliked,
signifying that they would present them. Justice Cook bid
them take notice of such and such words, thereby overawing
the prisoners, that they had not liberty to plead freely.
When Thomas Harris, at the request of the prisoners,

began to say something to the matter, they stopt him and
bid an officer take him away, and Arthur [justice] Cook
said that he should plead no more there.

"After a long pleading, D. Lloyd, their attorney, began
to summons up the matter to the jury, and concluded by
saying, it was evident William Bradford printed the seditious
paper, he being the printer in this place, and the
frame[8] on which it was printed was found in his house.

"Bradford.

I desire the jury and all present to take
notice, that there ought to be two evidences to prove the
matter of fact, but not one evidence has been brought in
this case.

"Justice Jennings.

The frame on which it was printed
is evidence enough.

"Bradford.

But where is the frame? There has no
frame been produced here; and if there had, it is no evidence,
unless you saw me print on it.

"Justice Jennings.

The jury shall have the frame with
them; it cannot well be brought here; and besides the
season is cold, and we are not to sit here to endanger our
health. You are minded to put tricks upon us.

"Bradford.

You of the jury, and all here present,
I desire you to take notice, that there has not one evidence
been brought to prove that I printed the sheet, called An
Appeal; and, whereas they say the frame is evidence which
the jury shall have; I say, the jury ought not to hear, or
have any evidence whatsoever, but in the presence of the
judges and prisoners.

"Yet this was nothing minded, but Sam [justice] Jennings
summoned up to the jury, what they were to do,
viz: to find, first, whether or not that paper, called the
Appeal, had not a tendency to the weakening the hands
of the magistrates, and the encouragement of wickedness?

Secondly, whether it did not tend to the disturbance of the
peace? and, thirdly, whether William Bradford did not
print it, without putting his name to it as the law requires?
The jury had a room provided for them, and the sheriff
caused the frame to be carried in to them for an evidence
that William Bradford printed the Appeal. The jury continued
about forty-eight hours together, and could not
agree; then they came into court to ask whether the law
did require two evidences to find a man guilty? To
answer this question, the attorney read a passage out of a
law book, that they were to find it by evidences, or on
their own knowledge, or otherwise; now, says the attorney,
this otherwise is the frame which you have, which is evidence
sufficient.

"Bradford.

The frame which they have is no evidence
for I have not seen it; and how do I, or the jury, know
that that which was carried in to them is mine?

"Bradford was interrupted; the jury were sent forth
again, and an officer commanded to keep them without meat,
drink, fire, or tobacco. In the afternoon the jury came
into the court again, and told, they were not like to agree;
whereupon the court discharged them.

"Bradford then said to the court, that seeing he had
been detained so long a prisoner, and his utensils with
which he should work had been so long kept from him,
he hoped now to have his utensils returned, and to be discharged
from his imprisonment.

"Justice Jennings.

No! Thou shalt not have thy
things again, nor be discharged; but I now let thee know
thou stand in the same capacity to answer next court, as
before.

"Next court being come, Bradford attended, and desired
to know, if the court would let him have his utensils, and
he be discharged?

"Justice Cook.

Thou shalt not have thy goods until
released by law.

"Bradford.

The law will not release them unless
executed.

"Justice Cook.

If thou wilt request a trial, thou may
have it.

"Whereupon Bradford queried, whether it be according
to law to seize men's goods, and imprison their persons,
and to detain them under the terror of a gaol, one six
months after another, and not bring them to trial unless
requested by the imprisoned? Whether, when a jury is
sworn, well and truly to try, and true deliverance make
between the proprietor and prisoner, it is not illegal to
absolve them from their oaths, dismiss them, and put the
cause to trial to another Jury?"[9]

Soon after this session of the court Bradford was by
some means released from his confinement. It is said,
that in the examination of the frame, the jury, not being
acquainted with reading backwards, attempted to raise it
from the plank on which it was placed, and to put it in a
more favorable situation for inspection; and that one of
them assisting with his cane, pushed against the bottom
of the types as the form was placed perpendicularly, when,
like magic, this evidence against Bradford instantly
vanished, the types fell from the frame, or chase as it is
termed by printers, formed a confused heap, and prevented
further investigation.[10]

Bradford having incurred the displeasure of the dominant
party in Pennsylvania, and receiving encouragement
to settle in New York, he, in 1693, removed to that city;
but it is supposed he had a concern in the press which
was continued in Philadelphia. [See New York.]

Reinier Jansen. At this distance of time, it cannot be
ascertained how long before or after 1699 Jansen printed
in Philadelphia; nor is it certain that he owned a press.
It has been supposed by some, that after William Bradford
differed and seceded from his quaker brethren who had
the principal concern in public affairs, they procured and
set up another press; and by others, that Jansen was either
an apprentice, or a journeyman to Bradford; that after
Bradford had removed to New York, in 1693, he left Jansen
to manage a press in Philadelphia; and that, for prudential
reasons, Jansen conducted the press in his own
name, and had a share in the profits of the business. Some
arrangement of this kind, probably, took place, and continued
during the minority of Andrew, the son of William
Bradford.

Whatever was the nature of this connection, it is certain
that there was little business for the press in Philadelphia,
excepting the disputes among the quakers; but there was
more employment for that in New York; and that the materials
of both the printing houses united would not have
formed a large apparatus.

I have met with only one book with Jansen's name in
the imprint. The title of that one, at large, is, "God's
Protecting Providence Man's surest Help and Defence in
the Times of the greatest difficulty and most Imminent
danger, Evidenced in the Remarkable Deliverance of Divers
Persons from the Devouring Waves of the Sea, amongst
which they Suffered Shipwreck. And also from the more
cruelly devouring jawes of the inhumane Canibals of
Florida. Faithfully related by one of the persons concerned
therein. Printed in Philadelphia by Reinier Jansen,
1699."

Jacob Taylor. I have not met with any thing printed
by him, and doubt his having been a printer. As it appears
by the journals of the assembly that he was consulted about
printing the laws of the province in 1712, some persons
have been of opinion that at that time he printed in Philadelphia.
I can find no other evidence of this fact than
what appears in the following extracts from the journals
of the assembly of Pennsylvania, viz:

It was this circumstance, I am led to suppose, that induced
Andrew Bradford, who was connected with his
father in New York, to leave that city, and commence
printing in Philadelphia; for on the "twenty-fourth of the
ninth month," the assembly chose a committee, "to treat
with Jacob Taylor, and the other printers in town, about the
charge it will require to print the laws of this province, and
report the same to this house this afternoon." The printers

then in town[11] were doubtlessWilliam and Andrew Bradford
from New York, as it cannot be discovered that, at that
time, there were any other professors of the art nearer than
New London and Boston. It is possible that Jansen might
have been of the number, but it is believed that he died, or
had left Philadelphia, before this time. However this may
have been, the committee performed the service which was
required of them, and made their report in the after part of
that day. Seven persons were then immediately chosen, who
"with the speaker's assistance, were appointed trustees on
behalf of the province to employ one or more persons in
printing five hundred volumes of the laws thereof, and that
50 pounds of the province stock shall be paid by the treasurer
as money comes into his hands, (after paying 500l.
to the lieutenant governor, &c.), unto the said trustees,
towards defraying the charges aforesaid; and, that what
it amounts to more by a true account of the whole expense,
and due credit given for the sales made of the said books,
produced to the assembly for the time being, the same
shall be a debt chargeable on this province, to be paid out
of the public stock thereof."

As there would not be sufficient money in the treasurer's
hands for the use of printing the laws, after paying the 500l.
to the lieutenant governor, and the members of the assembly
for their services, it was, on the "seventh of the fourth
month, Ordered, That the trustees appointed to get the laws

printed may take up money at interest to defray the charges
thereof, which shall be allowed a debt upon this province,
to be discharged with the first public money that comes
to the treasurer's hands, after the aforesaid payments are
discharged, and that the note issued for the said fifty pounds
be made payable accordingly."

Notwithstanding all these preparatory measures for
printing the laws, the trustees did not proceed with the
business. On "the thirteenth of the eleventh month in
17l ⅔," the subject was again brought forward in the
assembly, and a committee of three persons was appointed,
"to treat with any printer, or other person or persons of
this city, about the charge and method of printing the said
laws, and bring their proposals in writing to this house."

On the "fifteenth of the eleventh month," the same
year," the committee appointed to treat, &c., brought in a
proposal in writing from Jacob Taylor, which was read, and
ordered to lie on the table." On the "third of the twelfth
month, a proposal from Andrew Bradford, printer, was
read and ordered to lie on the table." And on the tenth
of that month, another committee was chosen to contract
"with such printer as they shall think fit to print the
laws;" and were authorized to "employ such clerks as
they shall find necessary, to procure a correct copy of the
said laws for the press." The committee had power,
"where they shall observe any two or more laws of the
same tenor or effect, (unless they be supplementary to
each other) to omit such of them as shall appear to be
redundant, only taking care that their titles be printed."
Andrew Bradford was employed to print the laws; and, it
is probable that it was at this time he established himself
in Philadelphia.

Although the following extract from the journals of the
assembly relates to Bradford, I will insert it in this place
as it is the conclusion of the business respecting this

edition of the laws, which made a volume of one hundred
and eighty-four pages, folio, viz:

If Taylor was not a printer, it is not improbable that he
might be desirous to contract for printing the lawrs, with a
view of having the work executed in Boston, and making
a profit thereby. There was a Jacob Taylor, who for
about thirty years annually calculated an almanac, which
was published in Philadelphia, by Andrew Bradford; he
was probably the same person; he died in 1746. I can
learn nothing farther of him.

Andrew Bradford, was the son of William Bradford, who
first printed in Pennsylvania. He was born in Philadelphia,
went to New York with his father, and of him learned the
art of printing. When his minority ended, he was one
year the partner of his father. About the year 1712, he
returned to Philadelphia, and from that time to 1723, was
the only printer in the colony.

His printing house was "in Second street, at the sign
of the Bible." He sold pamphlets and school books, and
till 1730 frequently advertised other articles for sale, such
as whalebone, live geese feathers, pickled sturgeon, chocolate,
Spanish snuff, &c., and executed common binding.
He printed for the government, and published polemical
pamphlets, which, during many years, afforded employment

for the press wherever it was established. In 1732, he was
postmaster,[12] and, in 1735, became a considerable dealer in
books and stationery. December 22, 1719, Bradford published
the first newspaper printed in Pennsylvania, The
American Mercury. John Copson appears to have been a
partner in this publication for about two years.[13] In 1739,
his foster son, William, was his partner; this connection
lasted about eleven months, and ended in 1740.

When Franklin made his first visit to Philadelphia in
1723, a second printing house was opening by Keimer.
Franklin, although a journeyman in this rival printing
house, boarded some time with Bradford. It is evident
from Franklin's statement, that Bradford was not merely
civil, he was friendly to this young stranger; and, although
he had no employment for him, yet he made him welcome
to his house, "till something better should offer." When
mentioning Bradford, and his rival Keimer, Franklin observes,
they were both "destitute of every qualification
necessary to their profession." The first "was very illiterate,[14]
and the latter "ignorant of the world."

In 1738, Andrew Bradford purchased the house, in South
Front street, which was kept in possession of the family,
and long after occupied as a printing house by Thomas
Bradford, publisher of The True American, a daily newspaper.
He printed three or four Almanacs annually,[15] viz:

Jacob Taylor's, Titan Leeds's, John Jerman's, and William
Birkett's; these he published many years.

Bradford increased his property, and became easy in his
circumstances. He was postmaster; and retained the
office for several years after Franklin opened a third printing
house in Philadelphia. However correct Franklin's
opinion of him may be, it is certain that Bradford possessed,
in a considerable degree, the confidence and esteem of his
fellow citizens; as he was chosen one of the common
council of the city, and was in this office at the time of his
death.

In 1741, he published a periodical work, entitled, The
American Magazine, or Monthly View of the Political State of
the British Colonies. This work was soon discontinued.

His wife died in December, 1739; and, in 1740, he
married Cornelia Smith, a native of New York, who was
related to his father's second wife. He died November
23, 1742,[16] aged about fifty-six years; and was buried in
Christ church burying ground. On this occasion The
American Mercury appeared in mourning six weeks.

[See Newspapers—Philadelphia.]

Samuel Keimer was bred to printing in London, where
he married; and leaving his wife in England, he came to
this country and opened a printing house "in High street,
near the Market-House, at Philadelphia," in 1723. Until
that time Bradford was the only printer in the colony.
Keimer's printing materials consisted "of an old damaged
press, and a small cast of worn out English types, contained
in one pair of cases."[17] He soon made a small addition
to his types, which enabled him to print pamphlets,
and other small works. He was bred a compositor, and

like other European compositors, knew little of the management
of the press. When he wanted to use this small
printing apparatus, he had neither man nor boy to assist
him. His press was found to be deficient in some of its
parts, and it had not been put together. At this time
Franklin arrived in Philadelphia, and sought employment.
Keimer engaged him to put his press in order, and hired
him as a journeyman.

The first production of Keimer's press was an elegy of his
own on the death of Aquilla Rose, printer, a young man of
excellent character, secretary to the general assembly, and
the principal workman in Bradford's printing house.
Keimer was engaged on this elegy mentally and manually
when he first saw Franklin, who observes that Keimer was
a poet, but "could not be said to write in verse, for his
method was to set the lines in types as they flowed from
his muse."[18]

Soon after printing this elegy he published a small
pamphlet, which he called A Parable. This was said to be
the joint work of himself and Franklin. It gave offence to
the quakers, and produced the following advertisement in
The American Mercury, viz:

Keimer kept a small shop and sold blanks, and a few
other articles. Among other things, in July, 1724, bayberry
wax candles, and fine white Liverpool soap. He printed
pamphlets, and "rubbed along" for some time, till Franklin
left him. His business, thus far, had not been very productive
of profit; but, during the absence of Franklin, he
took a larger house, procured new types, opened a shop
which was well supplied with stationery, employed four or
five hands in his printing house, and improved his condition
in life. Franklin found Keimer in this situation when
he returned from England; and having been disappointed
in his expectations he again became a journeyman to his
former employer.

Among other small works printed by Keimer, was a
spurious edition of Jacob Taylor's Almanac for 1726, of
which all but the calculations were compiled and written
by Keimer. Taylor disowned the work in a long poetical
essay, not of the most delicate kind, which he published
in Bradford's paper, and it was soon after followed by an
advertisement of the following purport:

The following year he printed another Almanac for
1727, which he called Titan Leeds's, and sent a parcel of
them to Boston, New York, &c., for sale, where they met
a good market. The publication of this Almanac was
the cause of a quarrel between him and Bradford, who pronounced
it to be a forgery. Keimer made a contract with
the legislature of New Jersey, to print the money bills for
that province; and he sent Franklin with a press to Burlington
to execute this business; who, having accomplished
the job, returned to Philadelphia. He soon after quitted
the employment of Keimer, and, with a partner, opened
another printing house.

No friendship appeared to exist between Keimer and
Franklin, who soon became a powerful rival to Keimer,
whose affairs were in an embarrassed state. Franklin intended
to publish a newspaper, and kept, as he thought,
his intention secret, until he could make the necessary
preparation for the undertaking. The design, however,
came to the knowledge of Keimer, who immediately published
a prospectus of one which would speedily issue from
his own press; and, notwithstanding Franklin's endeavors
to prevent it, the paper made its appearance December 24,
1728. Franklin, being thus anticipated in the execution
of a favorite plan, under a borrowed signature ridiculed
Keimer and his paper in Bradford's Mercury; and by this
and other means, succeeded in counteracting the circulation
of the paper. Keimer soon found that he was unable to
continue his gazette. Franklin well knew his situation,
and offered to pay him a small sum, if he would resign the
paper to him. The offer was accepted.

Soon after this transaction, Keimer became inattentive
to business; and, in consequence, involved himself in debt
and was obliged to sell his stock and his printing materials
to satisfy his creditors; which having done, he went
to Barbadoes and settled there. Franklin mentions Keimer
as "having been one of the French prophets," and that" he
knew how to imitate their supernatural agitations."[19] He
characterizes him as "a perfect novice, and totally ignorant
of the world;" but, afterward observes, that "he was a
great knave at heart, that he possessed no particular religion,
but a little of all upon occasion." It does not appear
that he was destitute of all worldly knowledge, but he was
unfortunate. He might possibly have been more successful
in business, had not his exertions been counteracted by
those who in pecuniary concerns possessed more sagacity
than he did. [See West Indies.]

Benjamin Franklin. A sketch of the early part of the
life of Franklin, as one of the printers in Boston, has
already been given. We left him, after his return from
England, employed for a second time in the printing
house of Keimer. Hugh Meredith was then an apprentice
in the same house, but his apprenticeship had nearly
expired. Dissentions took place between Keimer and
Franklin, and they parted. Franklin was about returning
to Boston; but Meredith persuaded him to remain in
Philadelphia. He represented to him that Keimer was
embarrassed in business and must soon fail; and observed
that this event would make an opening for Franklin, who
said he could not go into business for the want of capital.
Meredith proposed a connection, and mentioned that his
father, who had a high opinion of Franklin, would advance
whatever sum was necessary to establish them in business.

Franklin closed with the proposal. Meredith's father
approved of the partnership; and engaged with a merchant
in the city to send to England for a press and types.

Franklin, in consequence of this arrangement, compromised
his difference with Keimer and returned to his
employment. The agreement was kept secret, until the
printing apparatus arrived. At this time Meredith's indentures
expired; and he and Franklin immediately completed
articles of association. They took a house near the
market, set up their press, and began to use it under the
firm of Meredith & Franklin. Their first work was forty
sheets of foolscap, folio, of the History of the Quakers,
printed for the use of those of that sect who resided in or
near Philadelphia. Franklin daily completed at case the
work of a sheet and distributed the forms; Meredith did
the press work. The text was on a pica type, and the
notes, which were long, on smaller letter. After they had
been in business twelve months, they became, as has been
mentioned, the proprietors of Keimer's newspaper; and
were appointed printers to the general assembly. These
advantages resulted from the management of Franklin,
who soon after succeeded in his plan of supplanting Bradford
in the post office.

Before the complete revolution of two years, this partnership
was dissolved, and Franklin came into possession
of the whole business, which he conducted with skill and
reputation. By means of his industry and economy he
soon paid his debts, and began to accumulate property.
He opened a shop well filled with stationery, and did something
at bookbinding and bookselling. He annually published
Poor Richard's Almanack, which became celebrated;
likewise a neat pocket almanac; and in 1741, he commenced
the publication of a magazine, which was continued
six months. In 1741, he printed Cicero's Cato
Major on old Age, with numerous notes in octavo and

quarto. This work was translated by J. Logan of Philadelphia,
and is, probably, the very first translation of a
Latin classic, made and published in British America.[20] The Greek words were printed from Italic characters. After
this he became a considerable bookseller.

Franklin remained fifteen years without another partner,
but being much engaged in public life, he, in January
174 ⅞, entered into a connection with David Hall. The firm
was Franklin & Hall. At this time the Gazette had an
extensive circulation in Pennsylvania and in the neighboring
colonies, and the business of the printing house was
very lucrative. Hall took the sole management of the
concern; and, as I am well informed, Franklin received
£1,000. currency per annum, for a number of years, as a
relinquishment of his share of the profits of the business.
In 1765, Franklin sold out all his interest in the printing
house to Hall, and the partnership was dissolved February
1, 1766. Besides his connection with Hall, Franklin had
a copartnership with Anthony Ambruster,[21] the printer of
a newspaper in Philadelphia, in the German language.
This concern began in 1754 or 1755, and ended in 1758.

In 1780, he married the daughter of Mr. Read.[22] She was
the young woman whom he saw standing at the door of her
father's house, when he walked the streets of Philadelphia
with a roll of bread under each arm, while eating a third.

In 1753, Franklin was appointed a deputy postmaster
general for the colonies. In 1755, he received a commission
as colonel of a regiment of militia, and after the defeat of
General Braddock, he raised, by order of government, a
body of troops, and marched them to the western frontier,
then invaded by the enemy. He built a fort, and placed a
competent garrison in it, and then returned to Philadelphia.
In 1757 he was appointed agent for the province of Pennsylvania,
and in this capacity went to England, with a
petition to the king. He remained in England until 1762,
when he returned to Philadelphia. In 1764 he again went
to London as agent for the province. In 1766 he visited
Holland, and the next year went to France. While in
England, he was appointed agent for the province of Massachusetts
Bay. Soon after the commencement of the revolutionary
war he returned to America, and was employed
in her councils. In 1776 he was appointed to assist in the
negotiations at the court of France, and went to Paris for
that purpose; and in 1778 he concluded a treaty of alliance
between that cabinet and the United States of America.
In September, 1783, he, with Mr. Jay and Mr. Adams,
signed at Paris the articles of peace on the part of the
United States, with Mr. David Hartley on the part of Great
Britain. He afterward signed articles of amity and commerce
between this country and Sweden, and Prussia. In
1784 he returned to Philadelphia. In 1786 he was elected
president of the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania,
and was soon after chosen president of several distinguished
societies formed in Philadelphia, some of which had, by his
former exertions, been greatly aided in their establishment.

Franklin was celebrated as an electrician; but as my
principal object is only to take notice of him as a printer,
I must refer those who wish to be acquainted with him as
a philosopher, to his Life and Works.

His son, William, was postmaster in Philadelphia in
1754; clerk of the assembly of Pennsylvania in 1756;
appointed governor of New Jersey in 1762, and was in that
office when the revolutionary war began.

The following anecdote, which has been published on
both sides of the Atlantic, discovers the spirit with which
Franklin edited his paper, and marks his pointed dislike
of prostituting the press to purposes of defamation and
scurrility.

Soon after the establishment of his paper, a person
brought him a piece, which he requested him to publish
in the Pennsylvania Gazette. Franklin desired that the
piece might be left for his consideration until next day,
when he would give an answer. The person returned at
the time appointed, and received from Franklin this communication:
"I have perused your piece, and find it to be
scurrilous and defamatory. To determine whether I
should publish it or not, I went home in the evening, purchased
a two penny loaf at the baker's, and with water
from the pump made my supper; I then wrapped myself
up in my great coat, and laid down on the floor and slept
till morning, when, on another loaf and a mug of water, I
made my breakfast. From this regimen I feel no inconvenience
whatever. Finding I can live in this manner, I
have formed a determination never to prostitute my press
to the purposes of corruption, and abuse of this kind, for
the sake of gaining a more comfortable subsistence."[23]

The following facts will show that Franklin retained a
regard for the trade until the close of his life. In 1788,
about two years before his death, a number of printers and

booksellers met together in Philadelphia, to form some
regulations for the benefit of the trade. Bache, grandson
of Franklin, and myself, were of the number. After the
first meeting, I conversed with Dr. Franklin on the subject of
our convention. He approved the measures proposed,
and requested that the next meeting might be at his house,
as he was unable himself to go abroad. The meeting was
accordingly holden there; and although he was much
afflicted with pain, he voluntarily took minutes of the proceedings,
and appeared to be interested in them.[24] He evidently
had much at heart the success of his grandson,
who was then printing, at the recommendation of his
grandfather, an edition of the minor classics.

Franklin, after the commencement of the war, brought
from Europe a very valuable printing apparatus, which he
purchased in London. He also imported the materials of
a type foundery, which had been used in Paris. These
articles for a foundery, though extensive, did not prove
very valuable. He put the whole into the possession of
his grandson, Benjamin Franklin Bache, who for some
time carried on book printing, but eventually published a
newspaper well known by the name of The Aurora; and
made litttle use of the materials for the foundery.

In 1788, Franklin retired from public business. He
had, for several of the preceding years, been troubled with
a calculus, which increased to such a degree as, during a
few months preceding his death, to confine him to his bed.
In April, 1790, he was seized with an inflammation of the
breast, attended with a fever, which terminated his earthly
existence on the 19th of that month, at the age of eighty-five
years.[25] He left by will 1,000l. to the city of Philadelphia,

and the same sum to his native town Boston. These sums
were to be loaned annually to young mechanics of a certain
description in the manner and on the conditions by him
prescribed for one hundred years, a certain part of the proceeds
then to be applied to particular public uses, and the
other part again loaned for another hundred years, after
which the final amount to be appropriated for the benefit of
the public in the manner directed in his will. He bequeathed
to the Pennsylvania Hospital the old debts due to
him as a printer, stationer and postmaster previous to the
year 1757. The sums are small, and although numerous,
have produced little or nothing.

Long before his death, he wrote the following epitaph
upon himself:

Hugh Meredith was the son of a worthy and respectable
farmer. He was born in Pennsylvania, and bred to husbandry.

Having more taste for books than for agriculture, at the
age of thirty he came to Philadelphia, and bound himself for
several years as a pressman to Keimer. He was with him

when Franklin returned from his first voyage to London.
Franklin, being again employed in Keimer's office, became
intimate with Meredith. Their acquaintance produced
the copartnership of which an account has already been
given. Franklin mentions Meredith as "honest, sensible,
having some experience, and fond of reading, but addicted to
drinking." Meredith, the father, aware of this propensity
in his son, was the more ready to promote his connection
with Franklin, and readily helped them, in the hope that
Franklin, whom he knew to be temperate, "would cure
his son of the too free use of brandy." Franklin, however,
in, that attempt, did not succeed. He soon considered
Meredith as a dead weight, and was desirous to throw him
off, which he effected with ease.

Meredith was frank and ingenuous. He found that his
partner was dissatisfied, and discovered that he himself
was not well qualified to be a printer. His father, owing
to some recent disappointments, was not able to make the
last payment for the press and types, now become due to
the merchant who imported them. From these considerations,
Meredith was induced to propose a dissolution of
the partnership, and offered to relinquish his right in
the stock and business, on the moderate condition that
Franklin should take upon himself the debts of the company,
pay Meredith thirty pounds currency, and furnish
him with a new saddle. The offer was gladly embraced;
the necessary writings were immediately executed, and the
partnership was dissolved. Meredith received the thirty
pounds and the saddle, joined a number of his Pennsylvania
friends who were farmers, and with them went and
settled in North Carolina.

David Harry was born in Pennsylvania. His parents
were respectable, and his connections opulent. He served
an apprenticeship with Keimer, and had just completed it

when Keimer was obliged to sell his press and types.
Harry purchased them, and succeeded his master in business.
This took place about July, 1729.

Franklin, who had then separated from Meredith, was
fearful that in Harry he should find a powerful rival, and
was induced to propose a partnership to him. Harry rejected
the proposal with some disdain. Franklin observes,
that "Harry lived extravagantly, pursued amusements,
neglected business, and business neglected him." Before
the expiration of the year 1730, he followed his late master,
Keimer, to Barbadoes, and took with him his printing
materials.

In Barbadoes Harry began printing, and employed
Keimer as his journeyman. He had never acquired the
habit of industry, and Barbadoes was not a place calculated
to cure him of a dissipated course of life. In a few
months he became deeply involved in debt, and was induced
to sell his press and types to Keimer, who found friends
to assist him in the purchase. Harry returned to Pennsylvania,
and followed husbandry.

William Bradford Third, was the son of William
Bradford Junior, and grandson of the first William Bradford
who printed in Philadelphia. He was born in New
York. When very young, his uncle, Andrew Bradford,
who had no children, adopted and educated him as his son
and heir, and instructed him in the art of printing. When
he was about nineteen years of age, his affectionate foster
mother, the wife of Andrew, died, and some time after,
his foster father married Cornelia Smith, of New York.
She had an adopted niece, whom she was desirous that
William Bradford, the adopted nephew of her husband,
should marry when he became of age. William's affections
being engaged by another object, the plan was frustrated;
and, in consequence, she imbibeda settled prejudice

against him, and did not attempt to conceal it. She treated
him unkindly, and finally he was obliged to leave the
house of his foster father. She prevailed on her husband
to revoke the will which he had made in favor of William,
and to make one in her own favor. It has been said, that
her conduct in general was such as rendered her husband
very unhappy. William when about twenty years of age
became the partner of Andrew; but the wife caused this
partnership to be dissolved, after it had continued one
year. It began in December, 1739, and ended in December
1740.[26]

In 1741 Bradford went to England; visited his relations
there; returned in 1742 with printing materials and
a collection of books, and began business on the west side
of Second street, between Market and Chestnut streets.
In the same year he married the daughter of Thomas Budd
who was imprisoned with the first William Bradford in
1692. In December, 1742, he commenced the publication
of a newspaper, which was continued by him and his successors
until after the year 1800. In 1743, he removed to
the southeast corner of Blackhorse alley, where, at the
sign of the Bible, he printed and sold books.

In 1748 he was chosen lieutenant of a militia company,
and in 1756 was made captain.

In 1754 Bradford removed to the corner of Market and
Front streets, and there opened a house for the convenience
of the commercial part of the community, which
was called the London Coffee House. In 1762 he opened,
in company with a Mr. Kydd, a marine insurance office,
where much business was done. In 1766 he took his son
Thomas as a partner in the printing business. Their firm
was William & Thomas Bradford.[27]

Bradford was a warm advocate for, and a staunch defender
of the rights of his country. He was among the
first in the city to oppose the British stamp act, in 1765;
and he was equally hostile to the succeeding offensive
measures of the British ministry. He literally complied
with a resolve of the early revolutionists, "to risk life and
fortune for the preservation of the liberty of his country"
by taking arms in an early stage of the revolutionary war;
and, although he had reached the age at which the law
exempts men from military service, he encountered the
fatigues of a winter campaign, and did duty as a major of
militia in the memorable battle of Trenton. He shared
the honors of the day at Princeton, and returned colonel
of the regiment of which he went out major. He was at
Fort Mifflin when it was attacked by the Hessians; and
in several other engagements.[28]

A few days before the British troops took possession of
Philadelphia, Bradford was entrusted by Governor Wharton
with the command of the city, and the superintendence
of removing the stores. Having performed this duty,
he left the city as the enemy was entering it, and repaired
to Fort Mifflin, where he remained until that fortress
was evacuated. From that time Bradford remained
at Trenton until the British army left Philadelphia, when
he returned to the city, and reopened his printing house
and coffee room; but the customs and manners of the
citizens were changed, and he perceived that business had
found new channels. He returned from the hazards of
public service with a broken constitution and a shattered

fortune. He soon lost his affectionate wife. Age advanced
upon him with hasty steps, and a paralytic stroke
warned him of his approaching dissolution. After a few
more feeble attacks, he calmly yielded to the king of terrors.

After peace was established, he had consoled himself
under his misfortunes; and, in his most solitary hours, reflected
with pleasure, that he had done all in his power to
secure for his country a name among independent nations;
and he frequently said to his children, "though I bequeath
you no estate, I leave you in the enjoyment of liberty."
He was a very respectable printer.

He died September 25, 1791, aged 72. His body was
interred in the Presbyterian graveyard, in Arch street;
and his obsequies were attended by a large number of
citizens, and particularly by those who were the early and
steady friends of the revolution.

Bradford left three sons, and three daughters. His
eldest son, Thomas, has been mentioned as the partner of
his father. The second son, William, studied law, became
attorney general of the United States, and died August
25, 1793; Sehuyler, the third son, died in the East Indies.

Cornella Bradford was the second wife, and eventually
the widow of Andrew Bradford. She succeeded her husband
in the business of printing and bookselling in 1742.
About four months after his death, she took Warner as a
partner in the concerns of the printing house. The firm
was Isaiah Warner & Cornelia Bradford. This partnership
lasted only till October, 1744, when the widow resumed
the press, and continued printing until 1746, at which
time, or soon after, she retired from business. She died
in 1755. Her estate was settled by George Smith and
Cornelia his wife, who, on the llth of September of that
year, published an advertisement for that purpose in The
Pennsylvania Journal.

Isaiah Warner was born in Philadelphia, and served his
apprenticeship either with Bradford or Franklin. In 1742,
he opened, in Chestnut street, the fourth printing house in
that city; and published Jacob Taylor's Almanack, and
several small works, which appear to be well executed.
Soon after the death of Andrew Bradford, Warner entered
into partnership with his widow. This partnership ended
in the autumn of 1744. I have seen none of his printing
after that time, and cannot find any further account of him.
At the close of this year, three newspapers were printed
in Philadelphia, viz.: The Mercury, the Gazette, and the
Journal.

George Brintal. I am not sure that Brintal was a
printer. All that I can gather respecting him, is, that
when Warner's partnership with Cornelia Bradford ceased,
Brintal managed the concerns of her printing house; and
some time after had an interest in the publication of the
American Mercury. I have not found his name in the
imprint to that paper, of which I have files to 1746.

Joseph Crellius. In 1743, he lived in Market street,
but the same year removed to Arch street. He was a
German, and printed a newspaper weekly in his native
language. He kept an evening school, and taught the
English and German languages grammatically.

His was the first German newspaper published in Philadelphia.
I cannot learn how long it existed; but it was
certainly continued several years.

Godhart Armbruster. He was from Manheim, Germany,
where he served his apprenticeship to the printing
business. He came to Philadelphia in the year 1743, and
soon after began printing in the German language. In
1746, he advertised several small books from his press, to

be sold by him "at the German printing house in Race
street." About this time he began the publication of a
newspaper in German.

His brother, Anthony Armbruster, was for some time
connected with him; but the business appears to have
been conducted in the name of Godhart till 1752, when it
was carried on by Anthony. A few years after Godhart
returned to Europe, where he died.

David Hall has been mentioned as the partner of
Franklin. He was born in Scotland; and brought up a
printer in Edinburgh. From that place he went to London,
and worked in a printing house in which Strahan,
afterward a famous law printer to the king, was at that
time a journeyman. After Hall came to this country he
was eighteen years in partnership with Franklin; and, in
May, 1766, when that connection was dissolved, he formed
another with William Sellers, under the firm of Hall &
Sellers. Their business was lucrative; they printed for
government, and continued the Pennsylvania Gazette.
Besides printing, Hall, before, during, and after his partnership
with Franklin, conducted a book and stationery store
on a large scale, on his own account. Had he not been
connected with Franklin he might have been a formidable
rival to him in the business of printing and bookselling.
Hall & Sellers were the printers of the paper money issued
by congress during the revolutionary war.

He died December 24, 1772, aged fifty eight years.
Hall was well acquainted with the art of printing; and
was an industrious workman, of first rate abilities; a prudent
and impartial conductor of the Gazette; and a benevolent
and worthy man.

James Chattin printed in Philadelphia as early as 1752.
His printing house was "in Church-Alley, next door to

the Pipe." He was employed chiefly on pamphlets; and
was, I believe, a quaker. In 1755 he advertised his publications
at reduced prices, for sale "at the Newest Printing-Office
in Market Street, South Side of the Jersey
Market." In 1771 he informed the public that he had
long been out of employment; and that he proposed to do
business punctually, and with secresy, as a conveyancer
and bookkeeper, and had taken an office for that purpose
in Second street. After being several years a master
printer, he was reduced to the condition of a journeyman.

Anthony Armbruster was born in Manheim, in Germany
and was the brother of Gotthart, alias Godhart,
Armbruster, who has been mentioned as a printer of books
etc., in the German language, in Philadelphia. Anthony
left Germany and came to Philadelphia with his brother,
or arrived soon after him, about 1743. Whether he served
a part, or the whole of his apprenticeship in Germany, is
not known, but he was employed in the printing house of
his brother many years after his arrival. Although his
name did not at any time appear in copartnership with his
brother, they were thought to be connected together in
business from 1748 to 1753.

A society was formed in London for the benevolent
purpose of "promoting religious knowledge among the
German emigrants in Pennsylvania." I cannot ascertain
the exact time when this society was instituted, but it was,
probably, as early as 1740. A press for printing religious
tracts, school books, etc., in the German language, was, by
this society, established in Philadelphia. From the funds
of this society it is supposed Joseph Crellius received some
aid in printing a newspaper and some small school books
in the German language, in Philadelphia, as early as 1743.
Sower of Germantown, about this time, was assisted in

carrying through his press an edition of the German translation
of the Bible.

Crellius, in his publication of a German newspaper, was
followed by Godhart Armbruster, and he was succeeded by
his brother Anthony, all of whom, it is probable, were
printers to the society, and made use of their press. The
fact is substantiated as relates to Anthony Armbruster.[29]

In 1753 the business was conducted by him, and until
1756, in Third street. He there printed in German, The
History of the First Martyrs, 326 pages, 12mo. Also The True
Christian's Monument, with copper plates. Anthony understood
copper-plate as well as letter-press printing. The
latter he could perform, as was then fashionable, with two
colors, black and red. In this way he printed, for several
years, his German Almanac. Sower of Germantown, at
that time, printed his Almanac in like manner, but both
discontinued the practice about 1758.

Anthony Armbruster, in 1754, entered into a copartnership
with Benjamin Franklin, which continued till 1758.[30]
Part of the time Franklin was in England. In Anthony's
books is kept, from 1754 to 1758, an account current with
Benjamin Franklin, which relates to the German office.
Before, and for the first two or three years of the partnership
between Armbruster and Franklin, they were on very
intimate terms. Armbruster named one of his children
Benjamin Franklin, and on this occasion Franklin stood
its godfather. Armbruster failed in business while Franklin
was in England, and a general settlement of his printing

concern did not take place until after Franklin's return, in
1762. They then differed, and it seems were no longer
friends. Armbruster soon after, to ridicule Franklin, published
a caricature print, in which, within a group, Franklin
was conspicuously represented in a very ludicrous situation.

Anthony Armbruster's printing materials, in 1760, passed
into the hands of Lewis Weiss and Peter Miller, neither of
whom were printers. They were conveyancers, and both
Germans. They continued the German paper, and Anthony
was their printer during the short time they had the press.

In 1762 Anthony again obtained the press and types
which had been used by Weiss and Miller, or otherwise
procured a printing apparatus, for in July, that year, he
opened a printing house "at the upper end of Moravian
Alley." There he printed German school books, and some
small articles in English. Nicholas Hasselbaugh, it is said,
was for a short time the silent partner of Anthony. Whether
Anthony continued the publication of the German newspaper
in 1763, I cannot learn, but he published one in 1764,
when the press was removed to Arch street. Miller at the
same time advertised that "he has now set up a new printing
office in Moravian Alley, near the Brethren's church."
During the time he was in business, Anthony made several,
removals, and at one time he resided in Race street.

Armbruster again failed in business, and could not recover
his standing as a master printer. Again his press
and types went into other hands. He now became a journeyman,
and was employed for several years by printers in
the city; after which he was a pressman to Isaac Collins,
in Trenton, New Jersey. After remaining some considerable
time with Collins, he returned to Philadelphia, and
from thence went to Germantown, where he was again
employed as a journeyman. He was three times married.
His first wife was a good worker at press, and often assisted
her husband in that employment.

Anthony was naturally very superstitious, and after he
became a journeyman, he was, at times, under a species of
insanity. Many accounts are given of his extraordinary
conduct when he was afflicted with mental derangement.
Like many others, he believed that Blanchard and other
pirates had, in their time, hid money and other treasures
along the sea coast of the northern part of this continent,
and on the shores of the Delaware and other rivers. With,
a number of associates he spent much time in fruitless
searches after that which they could not find. He imagined
that he could, by a special charm, raise or lay the
devil; notwithstanding which he was often in great fear and
dread of a visit from his Satanic majesty. He believed in
witchcraft, and was in fear of attacks from witches. Like
Baron Swedenborg he apprehended that he had intercourse
with invisible spirits. Many stories are related of
him as evidence of his mental delusion.

He died at Germantown, July, 1796, at the age of seventy-nine
years, and was buried in the Dutch church burying
ground, in Fifth street, Philadelphia. He left several
children.

Weiss & Miller. Lewis Weiss and Peter Miller were
Germans. They were both conveyancers, and unacquainted
with printing. They appear to have been friends to Anthony
Armbruster, and in 1760, when he failed in business,
took his press and types, and employed him to conduct
the concerns of the printing house. The German Gazette
was continued, and the printing of that and other works,
done in their names, for about two years, when this connection
seems to have dissolved, and Armbruster again
began printing on his own account.

Whilst this partnership continued, they published the
German Almanack that had for many preceding years been
printed by Armbruster. The imprint to that for 1762 is,

in English, thus: "Printed and to be sold at the High
Dutch Printing-House, in Race street, and also sold by
Peter Miller, and by distant merchants." At the end of
this Almanac is an advertisement of "Peter Miller, in
Second street, at the sign of the hand and pen, where he
writes deeds, &c., agreeably to the latest forms." In 1762
"Lewis Weiss and Peter Miller" advertise "just published
and to be sold by them in Philadelphia, the charters
and acts," etc.

The same year William Bradford, David Hand, and
Lewis Weiss, advertised to take in subscriptions, at their
several places of abode, for an engraved plan of the
city and liberties of Philadelphia. In 1764, Armbruster
advertises his intention of printing "a new edition of
Backmeyer's English and Dutch Grammar," for which subscriptions
were received by himself, and several others
whose names are mentioned. Among them, is that of
Peter Miller, in Second street. This Peter Miller was
called a man of wit. He was for many years employed
by the city proprietors as a surveyor. He died of the
dropsy, in 1794, and was buried in the Quaker's burying
ground, between Third and Fourth streets.

Weiss & Miller, August 12, 1762, advertise" Charters
and Acts of Assembly from the first settlement of the province,
and collection of Laws that have been in force, etc.,
in 2 volumes, to be had either in folio or......price 40s.
bound. Published by Lewis Weiss and Peter Miller."

Andrew Steuart was born in Belfast, Ireland, and served
his apprenticeship with James Macgee, in that city. He
set up a press "in Lætitia-Court," Philadelphia, in 1758.
His business was confined to pamphlets, ballads, and small
jobs. He afterwards lived at the Bible-in-Heart in Second
street, between Market and Arch streets.

Steuart was not over nice as it respected the publications
of others. In 1762, he reprinted, immediately after its
first appearance from the press, Science, a Poem, by Francis
Hopkinson, Esq. This poem was published in quarto,
price 1s. 6d. by Dunlap, Hall, and others. Steuart's edition
was in 12mo. and he advertised it for sale "at three
pence single, one shilling per dozen, or six shillings a hundred,"
with this remark, that as his "object was to promote
the circulation of this excellent piece, he hoped that neither
the author or any one else would imagine that he intended to

—" Rob him of his gain,"

Or, that his design was

"To reap the labour'd harvest of his brain."

About the year 1764, Steuart went to "Wilmington, North
Carolina, with a press, and part of his types; and he left
the other part, and his book shop, in the care of Thomas
Macgee and his apprentice Joseph Crukshank. He never
returned. The business was continued in Philadelphia, in
his name, until he died. This event took place in 1769, at
Cape Fear.

He owned a lot of land in Spruce street, and had accumulated
other property. [See North Carolina.]

William Dunlap was a native of the north of Ireland.
He served his apprenticeship in Philadelphia, with William
Bradford. In 1754, he began printing at Lancaster; but
removed from thence to Philadelphia in 1757, and married
a relation of Mrs. Franklin, wife of Benjamin Franklin, in
consequence of which connection Franklin appointed him
postmaster.

He opened a printing house and bookstore in Market
street, and did considerable business as a printer, bookseller
and stationer, till 1765. His printing was correctly and

handsomely executed. He also engaged in the study of
divinity. In the year 1766, he sold off the principal part of
his stock in trade at auction, resigned the management of
his printing house to his nephew John Dunlap, as a partner,
and went to England. He obtained ordination in the
church of England, and returned to America in 1767; and
in 1768 became the rector of the parish of Stratton, in
King and Queen's county, Virginia.

He printed John Jerman's Almanack in 1757, and began the
publication of Father Abraham's Almanack, which he continued
annually. When he settled in Virginia, he resigned
his business and his printing materials to his nephew for
an ample consideration, to be paid by installments.

Henry Miller. A friend of his, well acquainted with his
history, has informed me his name was John Henry Miller;
but that he styled himself in the imprint to the books he
published in Philadelphia, Henry Miller only. He was
born in the principality of Waldeck on the Upper Rhine,
March 12, 1702, where his parents then resided. In 1715,
they returned to their native place, a town near Zurich, in
Switzerland, and took with them their son whom they apprenticed
to a printer in Basle. After his apprenticeship
he was at first employed in a printing house at Zurich,
but soon set up a press and published a newspaper. Quitting
business at Zurich, he traveled to Leipsic and Altona;
from thence to London; from London to Amsterdam; then
through France; and again to Germany and Holland. In
1741 he came to America, and was for sometime in Franklin's
printing house in Philadelphia. In 1742 he returned
to Europe; married there in 1743, and in 1744 opened a
printing house in Marienburg, Germany, and there published
a newspaper. His residence at Marienburg was not
of long continuance; as he again set out on his travels,
visited England a second, and Holland a third time, and

returned to Germany. In 1751 he came again to America,
and was concerned in a German printing house in Philadelphia
or Lancaster; but soon after was employed by
William Bradford. In 1754 he once more embarked for
Europe, where he remained until 1760, when he returned
to Philadelphia with new printing materials and opened a
printing house in Second street.

In 1762 he began the publication of a newspaper in the
German language, which he continued some years after
the revolutionary war ended. He published annually a
German almanac.

He printed school and some other books in the German,
and a few in the English language; and dealt considerably
as a bookseller. In 1771, his printing house was "in
Race Street, opposite Moravian Alley." In 1776, he completed
printing in six volumes, folio, The Votes, etc., of the
General assembly of Pennsylvania, passed in many of the
preceding years.

Miller was a good scholar and an excellent printer. He
corresponded with some literary characters in Germany
and Holland. In his religion he was a Moravian, and in
politics a whig. He was a warm advocate of American
liberty. He removed from Philadelphia at the time the
royal army took possession of the city in 1777. He left
his printing materials in his house. These were used by
the British in printing proclamations, etc. They carried
off part of them when they left Philadelphia. After they
evacuated the city, Miller returned to it, and resumed the
publication of his newspaper, etc.

On the 26th of May, 1779, he discontinued his public
journal, and at that time published a farewell address to
his readers. In that address he observed, that it was nearly
fifty years since he first published a newspaper in Switzerland;
that he had been obliged to continue business till
that time of life; that he was then approaching the age of

fourscore; but, that a man, when he arrives to his sixtieth
year, should commence his sabbath, or day of rest from
the cares and troubles of this life. In 1780, he resigned
business altogether; sold his printing materials, and retired
to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He died there March
31, 1782, aged eighty years. His wife died some years
before, at the same place. She was a well-bred woman;
spoke the French language fluently, and was an excellent
painter in water colors. In this employment she was for
some time engaged as a preceptress in Bethlehem. Miller
was noted as a pedestrian, and frequently went to Bethlehem,
fifty-three miles from Philadelphia, and returned on
foot. Having no family, he bequeathed, it is said, a part of
his property to Melchior Steiner, who had been his apprentice.

James Adams began printing in Philadelphia about the
year 1760; and, in 1761, he removed to Wilmington, Delaware.
[See Delaware.]

Thomas Bradford was the eldest son of William Bradford,
the second printer of that name in Philadelphia, and
was born on the 4th of May, 1745. Thomas's mother was
daughter of Thomas Budd, who sided with George Keith,
etc., in their opposition to Lieutenant Governor Lloyd and
his party, in the noted quarrel among the quakers in 1692.
Budd, at this time, was arrested and imprisoned with the
first William Bradford for writing and publishing against
the prevailing party of their quaker brethren. Thomas
was named after his father-in-law. He was for several
years in the college at Philadelphia; but in 1762, his father
took him from that seminary, and placed him in his printing
house; and in 1766, received him as a partner in business,
as has been before related. Their printing house
was then at the corner of Front and Market streets. The

father died in 1791; the son continued the business, and
published a daily paper in Philadelphia, till 1814.

Thomas Bradford was the great grandson of William
Bradford, who first printed in Pennsylvania, and who was
one of the first settlers of the colony.

William Sellers, the partner of David Hall, was from
England, and served his apprenticeship in London. He
began business about 1764, and kept a book and stationery
store "in Arch Street, between Second and Third
Street." On the death of David Hall, his sons, William
and David, became the partners of Sellers. The firm of
Hall & Sellers was continued, and printing executed, as
usual, at the old stand in Market street.[31] Sellers was a
correct and experienced printer, a good citizen, well known,
and as well respected.

He died February, 1804, aged seventy-nine years.

William Goddard has already been mentioned as a
printer at Providence. He opened a printing house in
Philadelphia, November, 1766. There he entered into
partnership with two men of eminence in their line, Joseph
Galloway, by profession a lawyer, speaker of the house
of assembly, and afterwards a delegate to congress, and
Thomas Wharton the elder, a merchant of the sect of
quakers; both men of large property and great influence.
They were to supply a capital to carry on business extensively,
and each of them to own a quarter part of the
printing materials, and to draw a proportional part of the
profits. Goddard was to pay for and to own half of the
materials, to manage the concerns of the printing house
in his own name, and to draw one half of the proceeds of

trade. The last clause in the contract between the parties,
was, from the political character of Galloway and
Wharton, thought to be singular; it was as follows,
viz.: "In case Benjamin Franklin, Esq., [then in England]
on his return to Philadelphia, should incline to become
a partner in the business, he shall be admitted as
such; and in that case, the shares, parts and proportions
of the expense, charges and profits aforesaid, shall be as
follows, viz., two ninths thereof shall belong to Joseph
Galloway, two ninths thereof to Thomas Wharton, two
ninths to Benjamin Franklin, and three ninths thereof to
William Goddard." Galloway and Wharton were strongly
attached to the measures of the British ministry, but cautious
of expressing their opinions. The firm printed for
the assembly of Pennsylvania, and published a newspaper,
The Pennsylvania Chronicle, which for some time bore the
appearance of impartiality; but at length Mr. Dickinson,
author of the celebrated Farmer's Letters, and several
other reputable characters on the side of the country,
were violently attacked and abused. Galloway and others,
behind the curtain, wrote, and Goddard,[32] who was tied to
the pursestrings of his partners, was compelled to publish
as they directed. Difficulties soon arose, from various
causes, between the members of this partnership. Goddard
was dissatisfied with the power which Galloway and
Wharton arrogated over him, and they were displeased
with his management of the paper, and other concerns of
the firm. He stated, in a pamphlet entitled The Partnership,
which he published after their separation, that
they threatened to ruin him, if he did not follow their directions,
and accede to their proposal to admit another
partner into the firm, viz., Benjamin Towne, then a journeyman
printer. This intended partner Goddard knew
was to be a spy upon his actions, and a check upon his
management of the concerns of the company; but he was
obliged to submit and receive him in November, 1769.
The firm of the company was now Goddard & Towne.
In July, 1770, their disagreement grew to a rupture; and
after a connection of about nine months with Towne, they
separated.

A state of hostility ensued, and newspapers, handbills,
and pamphlets were filled with the ebullitions of their animosity.
Goddard endeavored to prevent the reelection of
Galloway to a seat in the house of assembly, but failed;
for although Galloway did not succeed in the county of
Philadelphia, he obtained his election in the county of
Bucks. His real political character was not then known,
and his influence continued to be greater than Goddard
could counteract, although he fought like a veteran. Goddard
was unable to answer the demands of the creditors of
the company, who were urged to press him for payment;
and he became embarrassed, but was enabled to leave the
city honorably in 1773, and go to Baltimore, where he
hoped to obtain business more lucrative, and a residence
more tranquil. He succeeded in gaining many valuable
friends in Maryland and the states adjacent.

Goddard's partners, Galloway, Wharton, and Towne,
after the establishment of independence, were all proscribed
as enemies to the country, by the legislature of Pennsylvania.[33]
[See Proidence—Baltimore—Newspapers.]

John Dunlap was born in the north of Ireland. He was
the nephew of William Dunlap, by whom he was taught

printing in Philadelphia. When William went to England
to take orders for the church, in 1766, he left the
management of his printing house to his nephew, who, in
his own name, conducted the business for their joint benefit.
Book printing had been their object; but, after the
uncle was settled in the church at Virginia, he resigned the
printing house and its concerns to John, who purchased
the printing materials and printed on his own account, and
established a newspaper. His printing house was "on the
south side of the Jersey Market." In 1778 congress
appointed Dunlap to print their journals, and for five years
he continued to be their printer. He retired from business
in 1795, with a handsome fortune and a good
reputation. He received from government, as payment
for printing, several lots of land in Philadelphia. This
land when it came into his possession was valued at only
a few hundred pounds, Pennsylvania currency; but the
great increase of buildings soon made it more valuable,
and in 1809 he sold one square, extending from Market to
Chestnut street, and from Eleventh to Twelfth street, for
more than one hundred thousand dollars.

Dunlap executed his printing in a neat and correct manner.
It is said that, whilst he conducted a newspaper, he
never inserted a paragraph which wounded the feelings of
an individual! After the war commenced, in 1775, he was
appointed a captain of a company of horse in the city
militia. In 1808 he resigned his commission.

Dunlap died, in Philadelphia, November 27, 1812, of
apoplexy, aged sixty five. His funeral was attended by
the field, staff and commissioned officers of the first brigade,
first division, of Pennsylvania militia, the troop of horse of
which he was formerly commander, and by a large concourse
of other citizens.

Benjamin Mecom has been mentioned as a printer in
Antigua, Boston, and New Haven. He removed from Connecticut,
and opened a printing house in Philadelphia, in
1768. He attempted a small periodical work, which, will
be mentioned with the newspapers and magazines published
in that city. Afterwards he was in the printing house of
Goddard in Philadelphia, and, in 1774, he left the city,
and was employed by Isaac Collins, at Burlington, New
Jersey, where he closed his typographical career. He lived
some time in Salem county, and finished his earthly pilgrimage
soon after the beginning of the revolutionary war.

Mecom, though singular in his manners, and deficient
in the art of managing business to profit, was a man of
ingenuity and integrity; and as a printer he was correct
and skillful. He was the first person in this country, as
far as I know, who attempted stereotype printing. He
actually cast plates for several pages of the New Testament
and made considerable progress towards the completion of
them, but he never effected it.

Robert Bell was born in Glasgow, Scotland, where he
was brought up to book-binding. He then went to Berwick-upon-Tweed,
and worked sometime at that business; after
which he removed to Dublin and commenced bookseller,
and had an extensive trade; but in a few years failed. He
married in Dublin, and was for some time the partner of
George Alexander Stevens, of facetious memory.

He came to America about the year 1767, and established
himself first as a book auctioneer, and afterwards
as a bookseller, in Philadelphia. In 1772, he published
Blackstone's Commentaries in four volumes octavo; in which
undertaking he was supported by a liberal subscription.
He had before published Robertson's Charles Fifth. These
two works may be considered as the first fruits of a spirit
of enterprise in book printing in that city. Soon after the

publication of Blackstone's Commentaries, opened a printing
house in Third street, where the Union library had
lately been kept, and printed several other works of less
magnitude.

Bell was the publisher of the celebrated pamphlet entitled
Common Sense, written by Thomas Paine. He employed
Paine some time afterwards as a clerk, etc. When
Common Sense was committed to the press, there was a
scarcity of paper; and all the broken quires of paper in
Bell's warehouse were collected and culled for the first impression.
The work had a very rapid sale, went through
several editions in Philadelphia, and was republished in
all parts of United America.

After the war took place, Bell became celebrated as a
book auctioneer; and as such was known from Virginia
to New Hampshire. He disposed, in that way, of his
"jewels and diamonds," in New York, Boston, Baltimore,
Norfolk, etc.[34] He was a thorough bookseller, punctual
and fair in his dealings; and, as a companion, he was
sensible, social and witty.

He left Philadelphia in 1784, with an intention to visit
Charleston, South Carolina, where he had sent a quantity
of books to sell at auction; but on his way was taken sick
at Richmond, Virginia, and died there September 23,
1784, aged nearly sixty years.

Joseph Crukshank was born in Philadelphia, and
served an apprenticeship with Andrew Steuart. He was
one of the society of Friends, and printed books for them
as well as for his own sales. He opened a printing house
in 1769, and soon after a book and stationery store, in
Third street, near Market street, in company with Isaac

Collins. Their firm was Crukshank & Collins. The
partnership continued only one year, when it was dissolved,
and Collins removed to Burlington.

Crukshank took a good stand in Market street, and
traded very considerably. In 1772, he printed for Bell
Blackstone's Commentaries in four volumes octavo; also
several other works of importance. Fair in his dealings,
punctual in his payments, and amiable in his manners, he
was greatly esteemed by his fellow citizens.

William Evitt, was born in Pennsylvania, and served
an apprenticeship with Andrew Steuart. In 1770, he
printed "at the Bible-in-Heart, Strawberry-Alley," with
the press and types which had been Steuart's, which he
purchased. He issued proposals for publishing weekly,
on Saturday evening, a newspaper, to be entitled. The
Pennsylvania Evening Post. This paper never made its
appearance; but one of the same title was, afterwards, published
by Benjamin Towne.

I can find no other particulars of Evitt which will be
creditable to the trade. He was, for a time, a journeyman;
and, afterwards, became a soldier in the American
army, and died in the service of his country.

William Hall & David Hall Junior, were the sons of
David Hall, and were taught printing by their father.
After his death, in 1772, they became the partners of
Sellers; and the firm of Hall & Sellers was continued
until the death of Sellers. The business was then for several
years managed in the names of William & David Hall.
It was, afterwards, transferred to William Hall Junior.
William Hall Senior, was for several successive years, a
member of the Pennsylvania legislature.

James Humphreys Junior, was the son of James Humphreys,
a conveyancer, etc. He was born in Philadelphia,
received an education at the college in that city, and was
there placed under the care of an uncle, to study physic; but
disliking the profession, he became an apprentice to William
Bradford, and was by him taught printing. Supplied
with good printing materials, he began business "at the
lower corner of Black-horse Alley, in Front Street," and
in January, 1775, he published a newspaper.

Humphreys printed several books before the commencement
of the revolutionary war, and among them were
Sterne's Works in five volumes, duodecimo, Wettenhall's Greek
Grammar, corrected for the use of the college in Philadelphia;
and afterwards, Strictures, on Paine's Common Sense.
Two editions of the last work, consisting of several thousand
copies each, were sold in a few months.

Humphreys having acted as clerk in the court of chancery,
and, as a qualification, taken the oath of allegiance
to the British king; he, on that account, refused to bear
arms in favor of his country, and against the government
of England; and was, in consequence, denounced as a tory.
His paper, it has been said, was under the influence of the
British government, and he was several times in the hands
of the people. He had done no injury to the individuals
who were dissatisfied with his political opinions, and
from them he received no essential abuse. Among the
whigs he had good friends, one of whom was Doctor Rittenhouse,
a literary character well known in our country.

Benjamin Towne, who began the publication of The
Evening Post, a rival paper, was not friendly to Humphreys,
and published a number of pieces calculated to excite the
popular resentment against him. November 16, 1776,
Humphreys was attacked by a writer in Towne's paper
under the signature of A Tory. Not knowing what might
be the consequence of these assaults, in those times of

commotion, Humphreys discontinued his paper, quitted
business, and went into the country. At the very time
Towne published these pieces, Humphreys had loaned
him the paper on which The Evening Post was published,
without any prospect of payment.

Humphreys, thus driven from Philadelphia, remained
in the country till the British army approached the city;
and then returned and remained there while it was possessed
by the British troops; with whom he again left the
city, accompanied the army to New York, and there continued
as a merchant until the establishment of peace.
He then went to England, procured a supply of good
printing materials, and after some time went to Nova
Scotia, and opened a printing house in Shelburne, and
published a newspaper called The Nova Scotia Packet. Not
meeting with sufficient encouragement, the Packet was
discontinued; he closed his printing and employed himself
as a merchant at Shelburne; in this situation he remained
until 1797, when, having suffered loss by French
privateers, he again returned to Philadelphia, and there
opened a printing house. From that time till he died he
was employed in book printing, and a number of valuable
works have come from his press. He was a good and accurate
printer, and a worthy citizen. He died February
10, 1810, aged sixty-three years.

His sons, who succeeded to their father's business, relinquished
it in 1812, and the stock was disposed of at
auction. Several of his daughters were good compositors,
and often worked at the case.

Benjamin Towne was born in Lincolnshire, and brought
up to printing in England. He was first a journeyman to
Goddard, and then his partner. He purchased the right
which Galloway and Wharton had in the printing house
managed by Goddard. This partnership did not continue

a year, but ended in 1770. In 1774, Towne opened a printing
house on his own account.

James Humphreys had proposed to publish a newspaper,
professedly impartial. Towne immediately issued
a proposal for another paper. It was supposed that Humphreys's
paper would be in the British interest. Towne
took opposite ground. Both papers appeared before the
public in January, 1775. Suspicion was soon excited
against Humphreys's Ledger, and was kept awake by the
publications in Towne's Evening Post. In less than two
years Towne succeeded in obliging Humphreys to discontinue
the Ledger; and, through fear of popular resentment,
to leave the city.

Towne remained a whig until the British army took
possession of Philadelphia; he then became a royalist.
At that time Humphreys returned and renewed the Ledger.
Towne continued The Evening Post. There was this
difference between Humphreys and Towne: the first possessed
a candid mind, and was apparently guided by
moral principle; Towne appeared to be artful, and governed
by self interest. When the British troops evacuated
the city, Humphreys went with them. Towne, although
proscribed by the state government for joining the royal
standard, remained; and again adopted the language of a
whig; but his conduct gained no friends among the loyalists,
and it lost him the confidence of those who had been
his patrons. But he was permitted, without molestation,
to pursue his business, and I believe he continued his
paper, which was handsomely executed, till 1782.

When congress first met in Philadelphia, after the British
army evacuated it, Doctor Witherspoon, who was then
a member, went into the bookstore of Aitken, where he
met with Towne. After some conversation, Towne requested
the doctor to furnish him with intelligence and

essays for the Evening Post, as he formerly had done. The
doctor refused, and told him that it would be very improper
for a member of congress to hold intercourse with a
man who was proscribed by law; but he added, "if you
make your peace with the country first, I will then assist
you." "How shall I do it, doctor?" "Why," answered
the doctor, "write and publish a piece acknowledging
your fault, professing repentance, and asking forgiveness."
"But what shall I say?" The doctor gave some hints;
upon which Towne said, "Doctor, you write expcditiously
and to the purpose; I will thank you to write something
for me, and I will publish it." "Will you? then I will
do it," replied the doctor. The doctor applied to Aitken
for paper and ink, and immediately wrote, "The humble
Confession Recantation and Apology of Benjamin Towne,"
etc. It was an excellent production, and humorously ironical;
but Towne refused to comply with his promise to
publish, because the doctor would not allow him to omit
some sentences in it. It, however, made its appearance,
some time after, in several newspapers; and, passing for
the genuine work of Towne, raised his reputation as a
writer. When Doctor Witherspoon's works were published,
this recantation was among them. Appendix H.

Towne was not deficient in intellect and was a decent
workman. He was a bon vivant, but he did not possess the
art of accumulating and retaining wealth. He died July
8, 1793.

Robert Aitken was born at Dalkeith, in Scotland, and
served a regular apprenticeship with a bookbinder in
Edinburgh. He came to Philadelphia, as a bookseller, in
1769; returned to Scotland the same year, came back to
Philadelphia in 1771, and followed the business of bookselling
and binding, both before and after the revolution.
In 1774, he became a printer. In 1775, he published a

magazine, and in 1782, an edition of the Bible, small duodecimo,
on a brevier type. This edition, said to be the first
printed in America, which is, however, a mistake,[35] was
recommended to the public by congress, as a pious and
laudable undertaking in the existing state of the country.
A copy of this resolve of congress is printed at the end of
the Old Testament. Imprint—"Philadelphia, Printed
and sold by R. Aitken, at Pope's head, above the Coffee
House in Market street, MDCCLXXXII."

After the revolutionary war he printed several valuable
works. Among them were the first three volumes, in
quarto, of The Transactions of the American Philosophical Society.
He had a son bred to printing, who was some time
his partner.

Aitken died in July, 1802, aged sixty-eight years. For
thirty-one years he had been a citizen of Philadelphia.
He was industrious and frugal. His printing was neat and
correct. In his dealings he was punctual, and he acquired
the respect of those who became acquainted with him.

Jane Aitken, his daughter, continued his business. She
had in 1810 a printing house in Philadelphia; and printed
Thompson's Translation of the Bible, in four volumes, octavo.
The printing was well and handsomely executed. She
obtained much reputation by the productions which issued
from her press.

Story & Humphreys. Enoch Story, the elder, and
Daniel Humphreys, were copartners. They began printing
"in Norris's alley, near Front Street," in 1775. The
well known Joseph Galloway, once the partner of Goddard,
in order to promote his political views, is said to have
procured the materials of a printing house for Story, who
took Humphreys, not then engaged in business, into partnership.
Their chief employment was a newspaper, which

they had published but a few months when their printing
house and materials were burnt, and their partnership
was in consequence dissolved. Story was bred a merchant,
but was unfortunate in mercantile affairs, and unsuccessful
in other business.

Daniel Humphreys, son of Joshua Humphreys, served
his time with William Bradford, and was a fellow apprentice
with James Humphreys; but they were not related.
Daniel, some time after his misfortune by fire, opened
another printing house; and from June, 1783, to July, 1784,
was a partner of Ebenezer Oswald in the publication of the
Independent Gazetteer; and afterwards began another newspaper,
which he published several years. The typography
of this paper was neatly executed. He had a printing
house in Philadelphia till 1811; was noted as a good proof
reader, and in this business was often employed. He died
June 12,1812.

Enoch Story, the younger, was the kinsman of Enoch
Story, who was the partner of Daniel Humphreys. He served
his apprenticeship with William Hall, and began business
at Baltimore. In 1775, and for some time after, he was a
job printer in Strawberry alley, Philadelphia. He died in
Baltimore.

John Douglas Macdougall, printed in Chestnut street,
in Philadelphia, in 1775, and probably before that time.
He was not, I believe, long or largely in trade. He was
born in Ireland, and had, previously to engaging in business
in this city, worked in the printing house of John
Waterman, Providence, Rhode Island. He died in New
York, August, 1787.

Samuel Dellap, printed several small works, which he
sold at his shop "in Front street, between Market and

Arch streets," in 1771, and after. About the year 1792, he
sold books by auction in an outhouse belonging to the
Black Horse Tavern, in Market street, north side, between
Fourth and Fifth streets. In this place he died of the
yellow fever in 1793, aged about fifty-three years.

He went frequently to New York, where he advertised
his publications, and collected old books; these he sold at
auction in Philadelphia.

Melchior Steiner and Charles Cist. Steiner was born
in Switzerland. He was the son of the Rev. John Conrad
Steiner, who came to Philadelphia, and was, for some time,
pastor of the Dutch Presbyterian church in Race street.
He served his apprenticeship with Henry Miller, and succeeded
him in business. Cist was born in St. Petersburgh,
Russia, where he received a good education, and was brought
up a druggist and apothecary, and afterwards studied physic.
He came to America in 1769, and engaged with
Henry Miller as a translator of English into German; by
continuing in the employment of Miller several years he
acquired a considerable knowledge of printing. These
two entered into partnership under the firm of Steiner &
Cist. They executed book and job work, in both the German
and English languages, "in Second street, at the
corner of Coat's alley." This copartnership was of short
continuance. Not long after the commencement of the
revolutionary war, they published a newspaper in the German
language; but, for want of sufficient encouragement,
it was discontinued in April, 1776.

They left Philadelphia when the British army approached
it; and returned when it was evacuated in 1778. In
1779 they published a German newspaper. In 1781 they
dissolved their copartnership. Steiner continued the paper
three or four years, but by neglecting business, became
poor. Cist pursued it prudently, and acquired eonsiderable

property. When, the seat of government was removed
to Washington, Cist carried his press there, remained with
it several years, and built two or three houses in that city.

Cist died near Bethlehem, December 1, 1805, and was
buried in the Moravian churchyard, in that place.

Steiner ceased to be a master printer, and became a
clerk in a public office, in 1794. He died in Washington
in the winter of 1807, aged about fifty years.

In 1810 there were in the county and in the city of
Philadelphia, fifty-one printing houses, one hundred and
fifty-three printing presses, and seven paper mills.[36]

The first press established west of the Allegany, was in
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1786, by John Scull, under
the patronage of Judge Brackenridge.