University of Virginia Library

New York.

The first press in the colony was erected in that city,
in the year 1693.

William Bradford, the first who printed in Pennsylvania,
introduced the art into New York. He continued
his printing in Philadelphia until some time in the year
1693, when he set up a press in New York, and was appointed
printer to the government. The first book from

his press was a small folio volume of the laws of the colony,
bearing the date of that year. In the imprint he styles
himself "Printer to their Majesties," and directs to his
printing house, "at the Sign of the Bible."

In 1698, he printed "The Proceedings of His Excellency
Earle Bellemount, Governor of New York, and his council,
on the 8th of May 1698," one sheet folio. Imprint—"New
York, printed by William Bradford, printer to the King,
1698."

His imprint to "an account of the illegal trial of
Nicholas Bayard in 170½," is, "Printed by William Bradford
at Sign of the Bible New York, 1702."

In 1709, November 12, the general assembly of the
colony ordered, "that Mr. Bradford do print all the acts
of the general assembly of this colony now in force." A
warrant from the speaker, of the same date, "appoints and
orders William Bradford" to print the laws in conformity
to the resolve of the general assembly. The laws were
printed by him accordingly, and he completed them in the
year following, with this imprint. "Printed by William
Bradford, printer to the Queen's most excellent majesty
for the colony of New York, 1710."[3]

I have a pamphlet printed in that city in 1711, by "William
and Andrew Bradford," from which it appears that,
at that time, there was some connection in business between
Bradford and his son Andrew; but that concern could
have been only for a year or two, for Andrew, in 1712,
removed to Philadelphia.

Franklin[4] mentions that when he first visited New York
about 1723, William Bradford was a printer, and it appears
the only printer, in that city. Franklin applied to him for
work; Bradford having but little business could not employ
him; but he recommended him to his son, who then printed
in Philadelphia, and Franklin accordingly went there.

Franklin observes, thatBradford was the first who printed
in Pennsylvania, but had "quitted that province on account
of a quarrel with George Keith, the governor," etc. He
must have made a mistake; there had been no governor of
Pennsylvania by the name of George Keith. Sir William
Keith was appointed governor in 1717; but Bradford had
settled in New York twenty four years prior to that event.
There was a George Keith,[5] who has already been taken
notice of as a man of abilities, a schoolmaster, and preacher
among the quakers, and the author of several tracts in
their defence, which were printed by Bradford when he
resided in Philadelphia. This George Keith was violently
hostile to President Lloyd, who governed Pennsylvania in
the absence of the proprietor.[6] Bradford as has been stated
became interested in the quarrel, and he, with Keith and
others, seceded from the quakers, which eventually caused
Bradford's removal to New York.

Bradford continued to print for the government of New
York; and during thirty years was the only printer in the
province. On the 16th of October, 1725, he began the publication
of the first newspaper printed in that colony.

Bradford is characterized by Franklin as "a cunning old
fox." Be this as it may, he was very kind to Franklin
when the latter was a young and needy adventurer, as is
apparent from the account which Franklin himself gives
of their first and second interviews. He had two sons, Andrew
and William, and a daughter, all by his first wife; both
sons were brought up to printing. Andrew, who was
named after his grandfather Andrew Sowles, printer in
London, settled in Philadelphia. William not enjoying
health on land, soon after he became of age adopted the
life of a seaman. Tacey, his daughter, who was named
after her grandmother, the wife of Andrew Sowles, was
married to Mr. Hyat, who was several years sheriff of
Philadelphia county.

Bradford, having buried his first wife, married a widow
in the city of New York, of the name of Smith, who had
several children by her former husband. This marriage,
it has been said, was attended with no small injury to his
pecuniary interests. He continued his residence in the city,
and enjoyed a long life without experiencing sickness or
the usual infirmities of age. Several years before his death
he retired from business, and lived with his son William,
in Hanover square. As early as 1728, he owned a papermill
at Elizabethtown, New Jersey. When this mill was
built, I cannot determine; but probably it was the first that
was erected in New Jersey.

On the morning of the day which closed his life, he
walked over a great part of the city. He died May 23,
1752, aged ninety two years. The New York Gazette
which announced his death on the Monday following, mentions,
"that he came to America seventy years ago; was

printer to the government upwards of fifty years, and was
a man of great sobriety and industry; a real friend to the
poor and needy, and kind and affable to all. His temperance
was exceedingly conspicuous; and he was almost a
stranger to sickness all his life. He had left off business
several years past, and being quite worn out with old age
and labor, his lamp of life went out for want of oil." He
was buried in Trinity churchyard, where his tombstone yet
remains. The inscription on this stone concludes thus.

"Here also lies the body of Elizabeth, wife to the said William Bradford,
who departed this life July 8, 1731, aged 68 years."

[See Philadelphia—Hist. of Newspapers.]

John Peter Zenger was established in New York as
early as 1726, and printed in Smith street. Afterwards,
in 1734, he removed "to Broad-Street near the upper End
of the Long Bridge." It appears that his business for
several years was confined to printing pamphlets for the
authors of them, and some small articles for himself.

In the latter part of the year 1733 he began the publication
of a newspaper. Until this time only one had been
printed in the city, and there was no other paper issued
from any press between Philadelphia and Boston.

Zenger's Journal soon assumed political features which
excited general attention in the colony; several writers in
this paper attacked the measures of government with a
boldness which was unusual in those days. Zenger was,
in consequence, arrested, confined in prison for several
months, debarred the use of pen, ink and paper, denied
the conversation of his friends, and finally tried upon a

charge of libellous publications in his Journal; but he was
acquitted by the jury, to the great mortification of the
officers of the government, and to the no less gratification
of the citizens.[7]

Zenger was poor.[8] Sometime after his commitment his
counsel moved that he might be admitted to bail; but the
court demanded bail which was deemed to be excessive.
Zenger was examined respecting his property; and he made
oath "that, his debts being paid, he was not worth forty
pounds, the tools of his trade and his wearing apparel excepted."
Notwithstanding this oath, the court "ordered
that he might be admitted to bail, himself in 400l. with
two sureties, each in 200l., and that he should be remanded
till he gave it. Zenger "knowing this sum to be ten times
the amount of what indemnity he could give to any person
to whom he might apply to be his bondsman, declined
to ask that favor of his friends, and submitted to further
confinement."

Zenger was a German. In one of his newspapers, published
during his imprisonment, he mentioned, that "tho'
he was a poor printer, he should remember that he had
good German blood in his veins."[9] He and Bradford
were, for a number of years, the only printers in New York,
and for a long time they carried on a paper war against
each other. In December, 1734, a writer in Bradford's
Gazette accused Zenger of publishing "pieces tending to

set the province in a flame, and to raise sedition and tumults;"
and deridingly upbraided him with being brought
to America at the expense of government, etc. Zenger,
in his Journal, refutes the charges of criminality brought
against him. He was then in confinement, and dates
" From my prison, December 20, 1734." Respecting his
being sent to America at the expense of the government,
he observes: "That I was brought over at the charitable
expense of the crown is the only truth that groaping
fumbler found when he studied that clumsy performance.—
I acknowledge it; thanks to Queen Anne, whose name I
mention with reverence, her bounty to me and my distress'd
country folks will be gratefully remembered," etc.
The writer in the Gazette had made some remarks on
Zenger's sword; and stated that the sheriff had no private
orders relative to his confinement. To these remarks
Zenger replied—"My sword was never intended to protect
me against a sworn officer in the discharge of his duty: But
since this scribbler must needs make himself merry with
it, I think it may not be amiss to tell my readers a serious
but true story. About eight weeks ago the Honorable
Francis Harrison [one of the council] came to my house,
and swore by the God that made him he would lay his
cane over me the first time he met me in the street, with
some other scurrilous expressions more fit to be uttered
by a drayman than a gentleman. Against such Assaults
my sword not only could but would have protected me,
and shall while I have it against any man that has impudence
enough to attempt any thing of that nature.—Vim
vi repellere licet. What private orders the sheriff had concerning
me are best known to himself. This I know that
from the time of my being appehended till the return of the
precept by virtue of which I was taken, I was deny'd the
use of pen, ink, and paper; alterations were purposely
made on my account, to put me into a place by myself,
where I was so strictly confined above fifty hours that my
wife might not speak to me but in presence of the subsheriff;
to say this was done without orders is lybelling
the sheriff, and I hope he will resent it."

It appears that Zenger was a good workman, and a
scholar; but not a correct printer of English. He had a
family, and two of his sons were his apprentices. He continued
in business till about August, 1746, when he died,
and was succeeded by his widow.

One of his daughters was mistress of a tavern in New
York in 1758, and her house was frequently resorted to
by printers who respected her father.

James Parker was born in Woodbridge, New Jersey,
and served his apprenticeship with William Bradford in
New York. He began business about the year 1742, when
Bradford quitted it. Bradford's New York Gazette being
discontinued, Parker established another newspaper of the
same title, with the addition of Post Boy.

Parker was well acquainted with printing, a neat workman,
and active in business.1 By the aid of partners, he
established a press at New Haven; and, conducted one in
New York, and another in Woodbridge. In 1752, he
began the publication of a periodical work, entitled, The
Reflector.[10] In January, 1753, Parker commenced a partnership
in New York with William Weyman, under the firm
of Parker & Weyman. Weyman managed the concerns
of the firm. They published several books, and printed
for government. Their newspaper was in good repute; it
had an extensive circulation, and they acquired property.[11]

Parker purchased the press and types which had been
owned by Zenger; and, in 1755, he opened a printing
house in New Haven, in partnership with John Holt.
During his connection with Weyman, Parker resided for
the greater part of his time at Woodbridge, and managed
the press in that place on his own account. In January,
1759, Parker and Weyman dissolved their partnership.
Parker continued the business a few weeks, and then assigned
it over to his nephew Samuel Parker. In July,
1760, James Parker resumed his printing house and newspaper
in New York. Holt, having closed his concerns at
New Haven, came to New York, and Parker and he
formed a partnership under the firm of James Parker &
Company. This partnership ended in April, 1762, when
Parker, who still resided in New Jersey, leased his newspaper
and printing house to Holt.

In 1766, Holt quitted the premises, and Parker again
resumed them, and carried on the business of the printing
house, in connection with his son, until a few months
before his death. He had long been an invalid. It was
his intention when he separated from Holt, to have resided
wholly in the city; but his declining health obliged him
to be a great part of his time at Woodbridge, and finally
to retire from business. In 1770, he closed all his earthly
concerns.[12] [See History of Newspapers, New Jersey.]

Catharine Zenger. She was the widow of John Peter
Zenger. Her printing house was "in Stone-street, near
Fort George. Catharine Zenger continued the printing
business, and The New York Weekly Journal, after her
husband's death in 1746. In December 1748, she resigned
her printing house to her son John Zenger; and, about
two years after, removed to "Golden-Hill, near Hermanus
Rutgers," where she sold pamphlets, etc.

Henry De Foreest was born in New York,[13] and served
his apprenticeship with either Bradford or Zenger, probably
with the latter. I can learn but little respecting him. In
1746, he published a newspaper, entitled, The New York
Evening Post. I cannot ascertain how long before or after
1746, this paper was published. But De Foreest was not
many years in business. He printed several pamphlets,
which I have seen advertised for sale by him in Zenger's
Journal; also, The Whole Book of Forms, and the Liturgy of
the Dutch Reformed Church, etc., an octavo volume of 216
pages.

John Zenger was the eldest son of John Peter Zenger,
and was taught printing by his father, who died before he
became of age, and he completed his apprenticeship with
his mother. His mother resigned her printing house to
him in 1748. He published a few pamphlets, and printed
blanks for his own sales; but it does not appear that his
press was employed in any thing of more consequence than
the newspaper, which was begun by his father, continued
by his mother, and now published by him. He printed
the Journal till January 1751. How long after that time he
remained in business, I cannot determine. His printing
house was "in Stone-Street." He printed with the types
that were used by his father, which, in 1750, appeared to
be much worn. His work is not so well executed as that
done by his father.

Hugh Gaine was born in Ireland. He served his apprenticeship
with James Macgee, printer in Belfast, by
whom Andrew Steuart, who has been mentioned as a
a printer in Philadelphia, was also taught printing. After

his arrival in New York he worked several years as a journey-man
to James Parker.

Gaine set up a press in New York, about the year 1750,
and in 1752 published a newspaper, entitled, The New
York Mercury. He was industrious and economical, and he
experienced the advantages which usually result from such
habits. Having acquired a small property, he took a house
in Hanover square, opened a book and stationery store,
and increased his printing, etc., until his business soon became
extensive and lucrative. He kept the stand in Hanover
square above forty years, where he published several
duodecimo and octavo volumes for his own sales, and a
number of pamphlets for himself and others. In 1764
and 1765 he printed for government, the Journal of the Votes
and Proceedings of the House of Assembly, from 1691 to 1765,
in two large folio volumes of one thousand pages each.
He continued to print and sell books until the close of a
long life.

Gaine's political creed, it seems, was to join the strongest
party. When the British troops were about to take possession
of New York in 1776, he left the city, and set up
his press at Newark; but soon after, in the belief that appearances
were against the ultimate success of the United
States, he privately withdrew from Newark, and returned
to New York. At the conclusion of the war, he petitioned
the state legislature for leave to remain in the city, and
having obtained permission, his press was employed in
book printing, etc., but his newspaper was discontinued
when the British army left.

Gaine was punctual in his dealings, of correct moral
habits, and respectable as a citizen. He began the world
a poor man, but by close application to successful business
through a long period of time, he acquired a large property.
He died April 25,1807, aged eighty-one years.[14] [See Hist.
of Newspapers.]

William Weyman, born in Pennsylvania, was the son
of an episcopal clergyman, who was rector of the church
in Oxford, county of Philadelphia. He served his apprenticeship
with William Bradford, in Philadelphia. He has
already been taken notice of as the partner of James Parker.
Parker was the proprietor of the newspaper published
by the company, and the owner of the printing materials.
They printed for the government six years; and, in the
various branches of their profession, did more business
than any other printers in the city. Weyman was the
principal manager of their press from the commencement
of their connection, and of course was well known to the
public. These circumstances rendered it easy for him to
form an establishment of his own.

The partnership of Parker and Weyman ended in 1759,
and Weyman, having provided himself with new types
and other necessary materials, opened a printing house;
and, in February of that year, introduced another newspaper
to the public, by the title of The New York Gazette.
It appears that Parker and Weyman were not on friendly
terms after they separated.

Weyman's business was principally confined to his newspaper,
and it yielded him only a maintenance. He died
July 18, 1768. His death was thus announced in the Mercury.
"Died at his house in this city, of a lingering illness,
which had for some time rendered him incapable of
business, Mr. William Weyman, for many years past a
printer of note."[15] [See Parker—Hist. of Newspapers.]

John Holt was born in Virginia. He received a good
education, and was instructed in the business of a merchant.
He commenced his active life with commercial
concerns, which he followed for several years, during which
time he was elected mayor of Williamsburg, in his native
province. In his pursuits as a merchant he was unsuccessful,
and in consequence he left Virginia, came to New
York, and formed a connection with James Parker, who
was then about setting up a press in New Haven. Holt
went to New Haven, and conducted their affairs in that
place under the firm of James Parker & Company, as has
been related. After the business at New Haven was discontinued,
Holt, in the summer of 1760, returned to New
York, and there, as a partner, had the direction of Parker's
Gazette about two years. During the four succeeding
years he hired Parker's printing materials, and managed
The New York Gazette and Post-Boy, as his own concern.
In 1765, he kept a bookstore. In 1766, he left Parker's
printing house, opened another, and began the publication
of The New York Journal, in the October following,
and retained a large number of the subscribers to the
Gazette.

Holt was a man of ardent feelings, and a high churchman,
but a firm whig, a good writer, and a warm advocate
of the cause of his country. A short time before the
British army took possession of New York, he removed to
Esopus, and thence to Poughkeepsie, where he remained
and published his Journal during the war. He left at

New York a considerable part of his effects, which he
totally lost. Another portion of his property, which had
been sent to Danbury, was pillaged or burnt in that place
by a detachment of the British army; and a part of his
types, with his household furniture, etc., were destroyed
by the enemy at Esopus. In the autumn of 1783, he returned
to New York, and there continued the publication
of the Journal.

He was printer to the state during the war; aud his
widow, at his decease, was appointed to that office. Holt
was brother-in-law to William Hunter, printer at Williamsburgh,
who was deputy postmaster general with Franklin.
Soon after his death, his widow printed the following
memorial of him on cards, which she dispersed among her
friends and acquaintances, viz.

Samuel Parker was the nephew of James Parker, with
whom he served his apprenticeship. He was only seventeen
months in business which he did not manage to the
best advantage. He was, however, an expert workman.
His uncle assigned his printing house to him in February,
1759; but resumed it in July, 1760. Parker died at Wilmington,
North Carolina, previous to the revolution.

Samuel Farley came from Bristol, England. He was
the son of Felix Farley, formerly the proprietor and printer
of the Bristol Journal. He settled in New York in 1760,
and published a newspaper in 1761, when William Goddard
and Charles Crouch were his journeymen. In 1762,
his printing house was burnt, in which calamity most of
his printing materials were destroyed. Some time after
this event, he went to Georgia, and having passed through
the preparatory studies, he there commenced the practice
of law. He left Georgia about the year 1775. When he
died I cannot say.

James Robertson & Company had a printing house in
Broad street in 1768, and in 1769 removed to "the corner
of Beaver street, opposite to his Excellency Governor
Gage's." Robertson was the son of a printer in Scotland,
and, as has elsewhere been stated, went from thence to
Boston with John Fleming. When Robertson was in New
York, the firm of the company was altered to Alexander
& James Robertson, who were brothers, and royalists.
They published a newspaper; but after a trial of some
months it was discontinued; and they removed to Albany,
and printed a newspaper in that city. They afterwards, in
connection with John Trumbull, opened a printing house
in Norwich. The Robertsons returned to New York when
it was in possession of the royal army, in the time of the

war. On the establishment of peace, they removed to Shelburne,
Nova Scotia. [See Norwich.]

Samuel F. Parker, the son of James Parker, had an
interest in the printing house and business of his father in
New York several years before his father died. Not long
after the death of James Parker, Samuel leased his printing
house, with the apparatus and the Gazette, to Inslee &
Carr, and otherwise disposed of the press and types in
Woodbridge. Being infirm in health, he did but little business
at printing, after his father's death. In 1773, he, in
company with John Anderson, endeavored to reestablish
The Gazette and Post Boy, which had been discontinued by
Inslee & Carr, but did not succeed. He died some time
after.

Samuel Inslee & Anthony Carr were copartners,
and had for some time been in the printing house of James
Parker, with whom Carr served his apprenticeship. In
1770, soon after Parker died, they took his printing house
and materials on a lease from his son, and continued The
New York Gazette and Post Boy for more thantwo years,
but did little other printing. Inslee was afterwards employed
by Collins at Trenton, and died suddenly in his printing
house.

James Rivington, was from London. He was bred a
bookseller,[16] and as such went extensively into business in

that city. No man in the trade was better acquainted with
it than he. He possessed good talents, polite manners,
was well informed, and acquired so much property as to
be able to keep a carriage. He formed an acquaintance
with many of the nobility, which led him into a dissipated
and expensive course of life. Rivington became fond of
amusements, and regularly attended the horse races at
Newmarket; at one of which he lost so much money as
to conceive himself to be ruined. He was, therefore, induced
to persuade one of his principal creditors to take
out a commission of bankruptcy against him. After due
examination into his affairs, his creditor assured him that
it was unneccessary, as he possessed property more than
sufficient to pay all demands against him. Rivington,
however, persisted in his request, and went through the
process required by the bankrupt act. He eventually paid
twenty shillings in the pound, and had something left.[17]

This event determined Rivington to remove to America,
where he arrived in 1760, and settled as a bookseller in
Philadelphia. The year following he left his business in
Philadelphia with a partner by the name of Brown, and
went to New York, opened a bookstore at the "Lower
end of Wall street,"[18] and made that city his place of residence.
In 1762, he commenced bookselling in Boston,
by an agent, William Miller, who the same year became
his partner, but died in 1765; and, in consequence, the
bookstore in Boston was discontinued.

After some years he failed; but very speedily settling
his affairs, he recommenced business, which he confined
to New York. He eventually adopted printing; and in
April, 1773, published a newspaper, which was soon devoted

to the royal cause. Rivington printed several books
for his own sales, among which was Cooke's Voyage, in two
volumes 12mo., and dealt largely as a bookseller and stationer.
He knew how to get money, and knew as well how
to spend it; being facetious, companionable, and still fond
of high living; but, like a man acquainted with the world,
he distinguished the guests who were his best customers.
Rivington, in his Gazette, fought the Rebels, a term of
which he made very frequent use while he entertained the
opinion that the Americans would be subjected by the
British arms; but, when he despaired of this event, and
believed that Great Britain would, herself, acknowledge
the independence of the United States, he deemed it prudent
to conciliate the minds of some of the leading Americans.
To this end, it is said, he sent out of the city
such communications as he knew would be interesting
to the commanders of the American army, and he ventured
to remain in New York when the British troops
evacuated it, at the conclusion of the war. Rivington, in
consequence of his peace offerings, was protected from the
chastisement he might otherwise have received on the
part of those whom he had personally abused in his paper;
among whom were several officers of the American army.[19]
Rivington, at this period, quitted printing; and discontinued
his Gazette, which failed for want of customers to
support it; but he uninterruptedly, and to a large extent,
traded in books and stationery several years after the
establishment of peace. He finally failed again, and being
advanced in years, closed his business, and soon after his
life. He died at the age of seventy-eight years, in July,
1802.[20]

It is but justice to add, that Rivington, for some time,
conducted his Gazette with such moderation and impartiality
as did him honor. To the other qualities of a
gentleman he added benevolence, vivacity, and with the
exceptions already mentioned, punctuality in his business.
Interest often produces a change of opinion, and the causes
which induced Rivington to support the measures of the
British cabinet were sufficiently apparent. And the visit
made to him by a party of men from Connecticut, who

destroyed his press, etc., as will be hereafter related, doubtless
tended to prejudice his mind against the American
cause; and prompted him, after he was appointed printer
to the king, and placed under the protection of the royal
army, boldly, and without disguise, to carry his resentment
beyond the bounds of truth and justice. [See Newspapers,
New York.]

Robert Hodge was born in Scotland, served his apprenticeship
with a printer in Edinburgh, and, when out of his
time, went to London, where he worked as a journeyman
two years. In 1770, he came to America, and was
employed in the printing house of John Dunlap, in Philadelphia.
Hodge was industrious, prudent, and a good
workman. He became acquainted with a young printer
possessing similar qualifications. By their industry and
economy they soon acquired sufficient property to purchase
printing materials. With these, in 1772, they began business
in Baltimore, where they intended to have published
a newspaper; but, not meeting with the encouragement
they expected, before the end of the year they left Baltimore,
and settled in New York. Here they opened a
printing house in Maiden lane, and commenced business
under the firm of Hodge & Shober. Their partnership
continued for more than two years. Early in 1775, Hodge
sold his part of the press and types to his partner, and they
separated.

During their partnership they printed the greater part
of an edition of Josephus's Works, in four volumes octavo,
for a bookseller in Philadelphia. But it appearing in the
event, that he was not able to support the expense of the
whole of the edition through the press, Hodge completed
the impression. On the approach of the British troops,
who in 1776 took the city, Hodge removed into the country,
but could not take with him all his books; he left in the

city one half of them in sheets, and those he lost. He remained
in the country in the state of New York for a year
or two, when he went to Boston, and there, in connection
with others, opened a printing house.

When peace was restored to the country, he returned to
New York, and began the business of a bookseller. Soon
after he entered into partnership with two other booksellers,
who were his countrymen, and they opened a printing
house of which he had the management. This company
continued in business for more than three years. During
this period, Hodge's dwelling house and bookstore were
consumed by fire, by which unfortunate event he lost a
considerable part of his property; and, soon after, the partnership
was dissolved.

Hodge continued the business of a bookseller for several
subsequent years; he then sold his stock in trade, purchased
an estate in Brooklyn, on Long Island, to which he
retired. He died in August, 1813, aged 67 years.

Frederick Shober was born in Germany, but served an
apprenticeship with Anthony Armbruster, a German printer,
in Philadelphia. He worked as a journeyman for two or
three years, was attentive to business, and very prudent.
In 1772, he entered into partnership with Robert Hodge,
and they opened a printing house in Baltimore. They
remained in Baltimore a few months, and then removed
to New York. In 1775, they closed the concerns of the
company. Shober purchased the property of Hodge in the
printing house, aud sold it to Samuel Loudon, who became
his partner. The name of the company was, Shober &
Loudon. The confusion into which business of every kind
was thrown by the commencement of hostilities alarmed
Shober; and, before the close of the year 1775, he sold
his right in the printing materials to Loudon, retired to
the country, purchased a farm, engaged in the business of

agriculture, and never resumed printing. He died about
1806, at, or near, Shrewsbury in New Jersey.

Samuel Loudon, was born in Ireland, and settled in
New York some years before the revolution as a ship
chandler. In 1775, he purchased a part of the printing
materials owned by Shober; in company with whom he
began printing. They were but a few months together
before Shober judged it prudent, from the existing situation
of public affairs, to leave New York, and retire to a farm.
Loudon purchased the remainder of the printing materials,
and opened a printing house "in Water street, between
the Coffee house and the Old Slip."

Loudon was decidedly a whig, and in the first week in
January, 1776, published a newspaper devoted to the cause
of the country. A short time before the British army took
possession of the city, in 1776, he removed with his press
to Fishkill, and there published The New York Packet until
the establishment of peace; when he returned to the city,
and remained in business long after.

Loudon printed a few books, and kept a book store; he
was an elder in "the Scotch Seceder church." He died
at Middletown Point, New Jersey, February 24, 1813,
aged eighty-six years.

John Anderson, was the partner of Samuel F. Parker
in 1773; and, having made an unsuccessful attempt to revive
Parker's New York Gazette, they separated; after which
Anderson opened a printing house "on Beekman's-Slip;"
and issued some inconsiderable articles from his press. In
1775, he published a small newspaper.

I have been informed that he was from Scotland.