 | CONNECTICUT. The history of printing in America, with a biography of printers, and an account of newspapers ... |  |
CONNECTICUT.
Newspapers were not printed in this colony until 1755,
and till this period there had been but one printing house
established in Connecticut.
The war with the French at this time, in which the
British colonies were deeply interested, increased the demand
for public journals, and occasioned the publication
of one in Connecticut. Before the commencement of the
revolutionary war, four newspapers were published in this
colony.
NEW HAVEN.
This paper made its appearance January 1, 1755. It was
printed on a half sheet of foolscap, in quarto; but occasionally
on a whole sheet of pot, folio, by James Parker &
Company; and was published weekly, on Friday. John
Holt was the editor, and the junior partner of the firm; he
conducted the Journal till 1760, when he removed to New
York, and Thomas Green was employed by the company
to conduct the Gazette.
By the establishment of postriders to the seat of the war
at the northward, and to several parts of the colony, the
Gazette had, for that time, a considerable circulation. The
when it was for a short time suspended, but afterwards revived
by Benjamin Mecom.
Mecom continued the Gazette, and added a cut to the
title—one which he had used in the title page of The New
England Magazine, published by him three or four months
in Boston. The device was a hand clasping a bunch of
flowers. He afterwards exchanged this for another, which
represented a globe placed on the head of a seraph, an eagle
with extended wings lighting with one claw on the globe,
holding in the other a book encircled by a glory; from the
book was suspended a pair of dividers. Motto, "Honor
Virtue Paratur." Another motto, extending the whole
width of the page, was added after the title, viz: "Those
who would give up Essential Liberty, to purchase a little
Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Imprint,
"Printed by Benjamin Mecom, at the Post-Office in
New-Haven." There were two columns in a page of this
paper, which was printed from long primer and pica types.
Holt, and Mecom his successor, appear to have been
attentive in making selections for the Gazette, which was
sometimes supplied with original essays on various subjects.
It was discontinued in 1767.
This paper was first published in October, 1767, soon
after the Gazette was discontinued. It was printed on a
pot sheet, folio, three columns in a page; types, long primer
and pica. A cut of a postman on horseback, copied from
The Boston Post-Boy, but badly engraved, divided the title.
It was published weekly, on Friday. Imprint, generally,
"Printed by Thomas and Samuel Green, near the College."
Some years after, the title was Connecticut Journal
to a crown sheet; but it was occasionally varied.
The Journal gained an establishment, and maintained
its ground against several other papers which have from
time to time appeared in New Haven. It continued to be
published by Thomas and Samuel Green, until February,
1799; Samuel then died, and the Journal was continued
till January, 1809, by Thomas Green & Son.[1]
It has lately
(1810) been enlarged to a sheet of royal, and the title altered
to The Connecticut Journal and Advertiser. In January,
1809, it was printed by Thomas Green & Co.[2]
In July of
the same year, Thomas Green retiring from business, the
new firm was dissolved, and the Journal published, on
Thursdays, "by Eli Hudson,[3]
successor to T. Green & Co."
Samuel Green died at New Haven, Feb., 1799, aged 46. His brother
Thomas died there also, May, 1812, aged 77. Thomas, Jr., died in May,
1825, aged 60.—M.
The company were Thomas Green, jun., and Thomas Collier. Collier
served his apprenticeship with his uncle Richard Draper, at Boston, and
was the publisher of a newspaper at Litchfield, in 1785, entitled, The
Weekly Monitor and American Advertiser.
In 1819 it would seem that Hudson had passed the Journal to other
hands, as he was in that year a journeyman in the office of the Connecticut
Herald. He was inefficient and dissipated. The Journal was published
until about 1834, by Newton & Peck, on whose hands it died, or was
merged in another concern.—M.
NEW LONDON.
The Summary was the second newspaper established in
that colony, and was first published August 8, 1758, by the
second Timothy Green. It was printed on a small half
sheet, and occasionally on a whole sheet, weekly; at first
on Tuesday, and afterwards on Friday. A small cut of the
colony arms was in the title. Green continued the Summary
and three weeks after his demise it was discontinued.[4]
This Gazette was substituted for the Summary, which it
immediately succeeded. It had a cut of the king's arms
in the title, and was first published November 1, 1763,[5]
by
Timothy Green, the third printer of this name in New
London. This paper was issued weekly, on Friday, on a
sheet of foolscap, folio, principally from a long primer type.
On the 17th of December, 1773, the title was altered to
The Connecticut Gazette. It was enlarged to a sheet of crown,
and afterwards to a sheet of larger size.
This paper outlived several which, since 1775, were published
in the same place; it uniformly defended the rights
of the country before our revolution, and supported federal
republican principles after the adoption of the constitution.[6]
Timothy Green, the first printer of the Gazette, in May,
Green, who continued its publication.
We learn from Miss Caulkins, that it was entitled The New London
Summary, or the Weekly Advertiser, with the Freshest Advices, Foreign and
Domestic. The colophon was, Printed by Thomas Green. It was a folio
sheet; the size of the page 8 × 12 inches, in two columns. A cut of the
colony seal, surmounted by an escutcheon of the town, a ship under full
sail, by way of crest. No. 1 was issued Aug. 8, 1758; the editor died Aug.
3, 1763, and the paper was discontinued.—M.
After the peace of Paris, in 1763, the trade of New London revived, and
the Gazette was printed on the 3d Nov. (Hist. New Lond., ed. 1860, p. 478).
The size was considerably increased, the print arranged in three columns,
and the price 3s. per annum. It changed owners often, the last Green
surrendering it in 1841, and in 1844 it was discontinued, after an existence
of more then 80 years. See Caulkins's Hist. New London, ed. 1860, p.
654–5.—M.
In 1797, Charles Holt began to publish a paper in New London, called
The Bee. So fully did the Greens possess the ground, that it was seriously
inquired of Mr. Holt if he had obtained permission of them to publish a
paper there. Holt removed to Hudson, N. Y., in 1802.—M.
HARTFORD.
This was the third newspaper established in the colony.
It was first published in December, 1764,[7]
by Thomas
Tuesday, until 1767. Green then took as a partner Ebenezer
Watson, and removed to New Haven. Watson
managed the Courant for two years, under the firm name
of Green & Watson, after which Watson became its proprietor.
The paper was for a number of years printed
with a much worn long primer type, occasionally intermixed
with columns and half columns of old pica. About
the year 1773, it was enlarged to a crown sheet; a coarse
cut of the king's arms was inserted in the title, to which
was added, "Containing the freshest and most important
Advices, both Foreign and Domestic." The Courant was
afterwards printed on a new type, when it made a more
respectable appearance. The king's arms were discarded,
and the arms of Connecticut took their place in the title,
which was now altered to The Connecticut Courant and
Hartford Weekly Intelligencer: Containing, &c. Imprint:
"Printed and published by Ebenezer Watson, near the
Great-Bridge."
After the British troops gained possession of New York,
and the newspapers on the side of the country in that place
were discontinued, and the printers of them dispersed, the
Courant became of much consequence; its circulation rapidly
increased; and, for some time, the number of copies
printed weekly was equal to, if not greater, than that of
any other paper then printed on the continent.
Watson, the publisher, died in September, 1777, and the
Courant was continued by his widow and George Goodwin,
under the firm of Watson & Goodwin, until March, 1779.
Barzillai Hudson[8]
married the widow of Watson, and
became the partner of Goodwin in March, 1779; and, from
that time to the present (1810), the Courant has been published
the latter of whom has the management of the press.[10]
From the commencement of the war, in 1775, many respectable
writers occasionally furnished this paper with political
essays in favor of measures adopted by the country in the
time of the great contest; and in defence of those since
pursued by the federal administration.
A fac-simile of the first Courant was published, in 1864, which is dated
Monday, October 29, 1764. It appears to have been a prospectus number,
unknown to Mr. Thomas. It was issued as Number 00, and is dated
"Hartford: Printed by Thomas Green, at the Heart and Crown, near the
North Meeting House." The following is the editor's address:
"Hartford, October 29th, 1764."
"Of all the Arts which have been introduc'd amongst Mankind, for the
civilizing Human-Nature, and rendering Life agreeable and happy, none
appear of greater Advantage than that of Printing: for hereby the greatest
Genius's of all Ages, and Nations, live and speak for the Benefit of future
Generations.—Was it not for the Press, we should be left almost intirely
ignorant of all those noble Sentiments which the Antients were endow'd
with. By this Art, Men are brought acquainted with each other, though
never so remote, as to Age or Situation; it lays open to View, the Manners,
Genius and Policy of all Nations and Countries and faithfully transmits
them to Posterity.—But not to insist upon the Usefulness of this
Art in general, which must be obvious to every One, whose Thoughts are
the least extensive. The Benefit of a Weekly Paper, must in particular
have its Advantages, as it is the Channel which conveys the History of
the present Times to every Part of the World. The Articles of News
from the different Papers (which we shall receive every Saturday, from
the neighboring Provinces) that shall appear to us, to be most authentic
and interesting shall always be carefully inserted; and great Care will
be taken to collect from Time to Time all domestic Occurrences, that are
worthy the Notice of the Publick; for which, we shall always be obliged
to any of our Correspondents, within whose Knowledge they may happen.
The CONNECTICUT COURANT, (a Specimen of which, the Publick
are now presented with) will, on due Encouragement be continued every
Monday, beginning on Monday, the 19th of November, next: Which Encouragement
we hope to deserve, by a constant Endeavour to render this
Paper, useful and entertaining, not only as a Channel for News, but assisting
to all Those who may have Occasion to make use of it as an
Advertiser."
This paper is still (1872) in successful career, being published daily,
and weekly; the latter issue is stated at 9000 copies.—M.
Mr. Hudson died July 31, 1823, aged 82; at which time he was the
senior proprietor of the Courant.—M.
Mr. Goodwin was yet hale and active when I knew him in Hartford,
in 1829, and for more than twelve years afterwards, was still in the habit,
although no longer a partner in the concern, of walking to the printing
office daily, and setting up paragraphs in type, to gratify long established
habit. He died May 14, 1844, aged 88. In 1842, an old gentleman called
at the office of the Courant, who stated that he was in his 86th year, and
that he had been a subscriber to the paper sixty-five years.—M.
NORWICH.
and Rhode Island Weekly Advertiser.
The publication of the Packet began in October, 1773.
It was handsomely printed with a new long primer type,
on a sheet of crown paper, weekly, on Thursday.[11]
"Norwich
Packet" was engraved in large German text, and the
title was divided by a large cut of a ship under sail. Imprint,
"Norwich: Printed by Alexander Robertson, James
Robertson & John Trumbull, at the Printing-Office near
the Court-House, at Six Shillings and Eight Pence per
Annum. Advertisements, &c., are thankfully received for
with Care, Fidelity, and Expedition."
The packet was continued by this company until June,
1776; Trumbull then became the sole publisher, and continued
it with various alterations in the title, size, and appearance,
until he died, in 1802. After his decease, it was
printed for his widow, Lucy Trumbull, but under a new title,
viz: The Connecticut Centinel. The Centinel in fact was a
new paper, established on the foundation of the Packet.
| CONNECTICUT. The history of printing in America, with a biography of printers, and an account of newspapers ... | |