University of Virginia Library

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

The printing for this colony was executed in Boston,
Massachusetts, until 1756. Only two printing houses were
opened in New Hampshire before the year 1775, and one of
these had for several years been shut. The productions of
the press were few: the largest work printed was the laws
of the province.

Portsmouth.

Although this place was the capital of the colony, and
had been settled a long time, yet no means had been used
to introduce printing into it until about the year 1755,
when several of the influential inhabitants exerted themselves
for this purpose; and, in the year following, the press
was established there, at which was executed the first printing
done in New Hampshire.

Daniel Fowle, who had been arrested and imprisoned
in Boston, on a charge of having published a libel against
the government of Massachusetts, was, as has been stated,
solicited by several gentlemen in Portsmouth, and afterwards
encouraged by the government, to set up a press in
that town. He accordingly removed from Boston to Portsmouth
in July, 1756, and soon after published a newspaper.
Fowle did but little at book printing; it being his principal
business to publish the newspaper. He was appointed
printer to the government; and the laws, &c., were issued
from his press.

In September, 1764, he took his nephew Robert Fowle
as his partner. The firm of the company was Daniel &
Robert Fowle. They remained together until 1774, when
they separated, and Robert soon after removed to Exeter.

Daniel Fowle continued in business until his death, but

did not acquire much property. He married into a very
respectable family in Boston, some years before he removed
from that town, but had no children. He received
the commission of a magistrate a short time after he settled
at Portsmouth. He was a correct printer and industrious.
He was mild in his disposition, agreeable in his
manners, liberal in his sentiments, and attached to the cause
of his country. He died in June, 1787, aged 72 years.
[See Boston—Hist. Newsp.]

Thomas Furber was born in Portsmouth, and served
his apprenticeship with Daniel Fowle. Some zealous whigs,
who thought the Fowles were too timid in the cause of
liberty, or their press too much under the influence of the
officers of the crown, encouraged Furber to set up a second
press in the province. He in consequence opened a printing
house in Portsmouth, toward the end of 1764, and soon
after published a newspaper. In 1765, he received as a
partner Ezekiel Russell. Their firm was Furber & Russell.
Excepting the newspaper, they printed only a few
hand-bills and blanks. The company became embarrassed,
and in less than a year its concerns terminated, and the
partnership was dissolved. Upon the dissolution of the
firm, the press and types were purchased by the Fowles.
Furber became their journeyman, and Russell went to
Boston.

Furber had been taught plain binding, and undertook
to connect it with printing. Although he was not very
skillful, either as a printer or as a binder, he began the
world under favorable circumstances; and, had he been
attentive to his affairs, he might have been successful.
He was good natured and friendly, but naturally indolent;
and, like too many others, gave himself up to the enjoyment
of a companion, when he should have been attending to his
business. He died in Baltimore, at the house of William

Goddard, who had employed him for a long time and
shown him much friendship. He left a widow and several
children.

Exeter.

A difference in the political sentiments of D. and R.
Fowle, printers and copartners at Portsmouth, was the
cause of their separation in 1774; and probably the reason
of the establishment of a press in Exeter.

Robert Fowle was the son of John Fowle, who was
several years a silent partner with Rogers & Fowle in Boston,
and afterwards an Episcopal clergyman at Norwalk in
Connecticut. He served his apprenticeship with his uncle,
at Portsmouth; and when of age became his partner, as
has been mentioned. This copartnership being ended they
divided their printing materials. Robert, who was neither
a skillful nor a correct printer, took the press and types
which had been used by Furber, and settled at Exeter.
He did some work for the old government, and, in 1775,
some for the new. He made several attempts to establish
a newspaper, and in 1776 began one, which he published
more than a year.

The new paper currency of New Hampshire had been
printed by Fowle, and it was counterfeited; and suspicion
rested on him as having been concerned in this criminal
act. He was a royalist, and fled within the British lines
in New York. By this step the suspicion, which might
not have been well founded, was confirmed. Thus ended
the typographical career of Robert Fowle. With other
refugees from the United States, he was placed upon the
British pension list. Some time after the establishment
of peace, he returned to this country, married the widow
of his younger brother, who had succeeded him at Exeter,
and resided in New Hampshire until he died. Robert
Fowle had very respectable connections.