 | BRITISH ISLANDS. The history of printing in America, with a biography of printers, and an account of newspapers ... |  |
JAMAICA.
A printing press was established on this island about
1720; and within one or two years after a newspaper was
published at Kingston.
This paper was published at Kingston as early as August,
1722, and as late as 1755, on a sheet of demy, folio; but
the exact time at which the publication commenced or
closed, I cannot ascertain.
The Journal was published weekly, on Saturday. In
1756, it was printed on a sheet of medium, folio, by
Woolhead; and, in 1761, by Woolhead, Gad and Bennett,
"Printers to the Hon. Council in Harbour-Street."
This Gazette made its appearance as early as 1745. In
1760, it was printed weekly, on Saturday, on medium,
folio. John Walker, one of the proprietors, died in 1786.
C. S. Woodham had a printing house in Kingston in
1756, and published an Almanac and Register annually.
The Intelligencer was first "printed at St. Jago de la
Vega,"[1]
about 1756, and was published weekly on Saturday.
In 1768, Lawry and Sherlock were the printers of
it, the size medium, folio. "Price per annum Thirty Shillings,
currency, and Two Pistoles sent by post to any part
of the island."
Advertiser.
The Chronicle first issued from the press May 29, 1773;
and was published weekly, on Saturday, "at Montego-Bay,"
by Sherlock & Co. The size was medium, folio. In 1781,
and from that time to 1806, it was printed by James Fannin;
who died in England in 1808.
This paper first came before the public in 1778. It was
published by Douglas & Aikman until 1784, when it was
"Printed by Alexander Aikman, Printer to the King's
Most Excellent Majesty, at the King's Printing-office in
Harbour-Street, Kingston." The royal arms were in the
centre of the title, and it was very handsomely printed on
a medium sheet, quarto.
I have mentioned this paper although the publication
commenced after 1775, in order to mark the devotion of it
to royalty; the printer was no republican. In May, 1786,
he advertised in The Royal Gazette, The Royal Almanack,
The Royal Register, and The Royal Sheet Almanack; "all
in Kingston."
David Douglas, a Scotchman, was manager of the American
theatre before the revolution;[2]
and after the commencement
of hostilities, he came to Jamaica. He was a
scholar, and a man of talents and integrity. Here he was
patronized hy the governor, and appointed with Aikman
printer to the king, in Jamaica, a lucrative office; he was
also appointed master in chancery, and commissioned as a
magistrate. It has been said, that in a few years he acquired,
with reputation, by these offices, a fortune of twenty-five
thousand pounds sterling. He died in Spanishtown
in 1786.
Columbus was created duke of St. Jago, and marquis of the island of
Jamaica.—St. Mery's Hist. of St. Domingo.
The revolutionary war closed the theatres on this part of the continent.
The players were few in number, and formed only two companies
under the management of Douglas and Hallam. Douglas was for some
years the principal manager both on the continent and in the West Indies.
In 1758, he, with his company, called The American Company of Comedians,
performed for the first time at New York in a sail loft, on Cruger's
wharf, to an audience said to have been very brilliant. The theatres before
1775, were temporary wooden buildings, little better than barns. The
first play publicly performed in New England, was by Douglas and his
company at Providence, Rhode Island, in 1762.
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