University of Virginia Library

Burlington.

Some suppose that William Bradford introduced printing
into that city before the settlement of Philadelphia; but that
opinion is so far from being certain it is not even probable.

Isaac Collins, was a native of Delaware. His parents
were from England, and died in early life. He served his
apprenticeship, until he was twenty years of age, with
James Adams, at Wilmington. He then went, by the consent
of Adams, who had but little business, and finished
his apprenticeship with William Rind at Williamsburg,
Virginia. When of age, he was employed by Goddard
and others in Philadelphia; and for his extraordinary
attention to business, received twenty-five per cent. more
wages than other journeymen in the same printing house.
For a short time he was the partner of Joseph Crukshank,
in that city.

By the death of James Parker, there was an opening for
the settlement of a printer in that colony. Collins embraced
the opportunity; and, being supplied with a press,
types, etc., by his late partner, he removed to, and began
business in Burlington in 1770, and resided there for
several years after the commencement of the war. In 1770
he was appointed printer to the government, or, "to the
King's Most Excellent Majesty," as appears from the imprint
of proclamations, etc., which issued from his press.
In 1777 he began a newspaper.

He afterwards removed to Trenton, and there prosecuted
his business for a number of years. He continued to be
printer to the state, and at Trenton he printed a handsome
and very correct quarto edition of the Bible; also, an edition

in octavo of the New Testament; and several other
books.

Collins was of the society of Friends, and was a correct
and neat printer. He received much assistance from the
quakers in printing the Bible, particularly from those in
Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York. He subsequently
removed to New York, there set up his press, and
continued active in book printing for some years. His
parents dying when he was very young, he had nothing on
which he could depend for his advancement in life, but his
own exertions. After an attention to business for thirty-five
years, he was enabled to retire and enjoy, in the society
of his friends, the reward of his industry. He brought up,
and educated in a reputable manner, a large family, and
had a son a printer in New York. He died in March, 1817,
in Burlington aged 71 years.

[See Newspapers.]