THE FIRST YEAR OF PRINTING IN NEW-YORK May, 1693 to April, 1694 By Wilberforce Eames, LL.D., Litt.D. bibliographer of the Library i$i At New- York Printed by The New -Tor ^Public Library In the Tearig 28 Ex Safaris SEYMOUR DURST When you leave, please leave this book Because it has been said "Ever'thing comes t' him who waits Except a loaned book." Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library Gin of Seymour B. Durst Old York Library THE FIRST YEAR OF PRINTING IN NEW YORK * THE FIRST YEAR OF PRINTING IN NEW-YORK May, 1693 to April, 1694 By Wilberforce Eames, LL.D., Litt.D. bibliographer of the Library At New-York Printed by The New -Yor \Public Library In the Year 1928 oPfeff*- MS(p REPRINTED FEBRUARY 1926 FROM THE BULLETIN OF THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY OF JANUARY 1928 PRINTED AT THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY form p239 [ii-1-28 6c] THE CONDITIONS tOR NEW-PLANTERS V . * ft die. Territories of His ifOT^A H I QH N ES | • „ THE DUKE o* YORK r HE Purchlfes ire to be mide from the >*fi4» S*a»»»l and to be Recorded £ pj Sfe, before tbe c/.»«m«r. Tbe Purchafers ire not to pay fi* their liberty or pcachalinf to the the Purchafcrs are to fet c*t a Town, and Inhabit together. No Purchaser ftull at an; tin* cootract for himCdf with any Smkim, without coofiaor of bis ^ flociaies : or fpecial Warrant from the G rwraaar i TbcPurcKafen are free from all manner of AiTelTaaentsot Ram for fire years after tbeie Town-fix it let our, and when the fife jeara are expired, they Bull only be liahic to thv public* Ratta, and PiyrbraO accordMg W tt* TJatrxrl/T* »t* ^hOTiV fcW£ag&j» and Did* . A |] Lands thus Purcbafcd, and poffeft fhall remain to the Parchaiert, and their Hare*; aafree Lands to difpofe of at they pleaie. In all Territoriea of bit ROYAL HlGHNtS, Liberty of CoadcJaoce i* allowed, Provided fuch Liberty b not converted to IJrcnriniifnr.lt, or the duWbance of othem in the exercitc of the Prutcftanc Religion. Tbefeveral Townfhipt have liberty to make their peculiar Laws, and Deciding all (mall Causes wiihio tbemfclres. The Lands which 1 intend fhall be firft PUnted, are tbc/c upon the Wei fide of Ifvdftn -Rtvtr, at, or adjoyning to the S*fti, but if any number of men (utBcient for two or three, or more Towns, dull drfiie to plant upon toy other Lands they fbail have all due encouragement proportionable to their Quality, and undertakings. ■i > Evrry Townfbip is Obliged to pay their *JMi—flir, according to Tuch agreement a» thei (VuHnvke with bim, and no man to refute his Proportion, tbe ^timptr being elected ' y ihc M. for part of tbe Hon febokkii Inhabitants o! the /•»•, ^•'•''fcrTTf'TWtriTiip^ fmcLtke of aO their officers both Chjil, and Military, and 1 Ineo who fhaH take tbe Oatb of Allegiance to bis and are not Servants, or. [..ty-labrnrcis: but are admitted to enjoy Ttw>--I*"i are e^Lecmeii frcrmen of tbajurifdi&ioo, ■a cannot foi fat the fame without due procefi in Law. FIRST OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF NEW YORK THE FIRST YEAR OF PRINTING IN NEW YORK MAY, 1693 -APRIL, 1694 BY WILBERFORCE EAMES, LL.D., Litt.D. Bibliographer of the Library THE first official printing for the colony of New York was in May, 1665, when Governor Richard Nicolls "made a journey through the Woods to Boston, and returne back in a moneths tyme." While there, he had a broadside sheet printed at Cambridge by Samuel Green, with the title heading: "The \ \ Conditions for New Planters \ \ In the Territories of His Royal Highnes \ \ the \ \ Duke of York." The object of this publication was to induce people in New England to come into the colony of New York, and build a town on the west side of Hudson's river in Ulster county, near the Esopus creek. Writing to the Earl of Clarendon, on July 30, 1665, he says, "when I was last at Boston, I did engage a hundred famillyes to re- moove, and dispersed -printed papers for their Encouragement." A single copy of this broadside has survived, among the Winthrop papers presented to the Massachusetts Historical Society by Robert C. Winthrop, in March, 1 864, and is reproduced here in facsimile, through the courtesy of Mr. Julius H. Tuttle, the librarian. Another official work which Governor Nicolls desired to have printed was the code of laws for the colony, compiled "out of those of Boston, New- haven, Mary Land or Virginia," and first published by proclamation at Hempstead on Long Island, in March, 1665, generally known as the Duke of York's Laws. In his letter to the Earl of Clarendon, he mentioned his intention of having them reviewed and amended at the General Assizes to be held in September, and then forwarded to his Royal Highness for authen- tication, suggesting that "if they were printed and imediately sent over they would bee fully satisfactory to these parts, and of some consequence to his Majesties Interest, in relation to the other Collonies." Writing again on April 7, 1666, he stated that they had been remitted for confirmation, and that he hoped his Royal Highness would "dispatch this New body of Lawes in print without Alterations." They remained in manuscript, however, until printed for the New York Historical Society in 1811. [3] 4 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY An unsuccessful attempt to procure an official printer for the colony was made by the next governor, Francis Lovelace, who arrived at New York in March, 1668. This effort was mentioned by Lovelace in a letter to the Rev. Thomas James, minister of the church at Easthampton, who was preparing a catechism in the language of the Montauk Indians at the east end of Long Island. In this letter, dated from New York, November 19, 1668, he requested a fair transcript of the catechism, which he said he would send over to England and have quantities of them printed there, "though I am not out of hopes ere long to have a printer here of my owne, having already sent to Boston for one, but whether I shall speed or no I am uncertaine." No evidence has been found that the Indian catechism was ever printed. During the twenty-five years that elapsed before printing was actually introduced into New York, the attitude of the royal government was un- favorable to popular representation and to the liberty of the press. This feeling was expressed in the words of Sir William Berkeley, governor of Virginia, in 1671, replying to the inquiries of the lords' commissioners of foreign plantations, propounded to him in 1 670. In answering the 23d ques- tion, "What course is taken about the instructing the people within your government in the christian religion," etc., he replied: "The same course that is taken in England out of towns; every man according to his ability instructing his children. But, I thank God, there are no free schools nor printing, and I hope we shall not have these hundred years; for learning has brought disobedience, and heresy, and sects into the world, and printing has divulged them, and libels against the best government. God keep us from both!" When Sir Edmund Andros became governor, in 1674, the people of New York forwarded a petition to the king asking for the privilege of having an Assembly of Representatives, which request was refused with the remark, "What do they want with Assemblies? They have the Court of Quarter Sessions, presided over by the Governor j or, if this is not enough, they can appeal to me." However, on the appointment of the next governor, Colonel Thomas Dongan, in 1682, the royal instructions included an order for the election of a General Assembly of all the freeholders, which was to cooper- ate with the governor in establishing fit and necessary laws. On the death of King Charles II, in February, 1685, the Duke of York became king as James II, and New York ceased to be a proprietary govern- THE FIRST YEAR OF PRINTING IN NEW YORK 5 ment. New instructions were therefore sent to Governor Dongan, dated May 29, 1686, among which is the following: "65. And for as much as great inconvenience may arise by the liberty of printing within our province of New York; you are to provide by all necessary Orders that noe person keep any press for printing, nor that any book, pamphlet or other matters whatsoever bee printed without your especial leave & license first obtained." Even after the revolution of 1688, the same instructions were given under William and Mary; and when Colonel Benjamin Fletcher was appointed governor, in March, 1692, he was required to exercise censorship over the printing-press. Governor Fletcher arrived in New York at the end of August, 1692, and was received with appropriate ceremonies by Mayor Abraham De Peyster, the Common Council, and the Council of the province. Among the first matters requiring his attention, the Assembly being then in session, were the passing of two acts to provide for the raising and paying of troops to defend the northern frontiers at Albany and Schenectady, against the-attacks of the French from Canada and their Indian allies. Early in October he made a visit to Albany to inspect the fortifications, and to organize the military de- fense in accordance with these acts. At the next Assembly, October 24 to November 14, 1692, he carried out another of his instructions by urging the unwilling representatives to pass an act for the settling and support of the ministry of the Church of England, which request he was obliged to repeat at the two following sessions before it was done, a year later. He did succeed, however, in having acts passed at this session for raising revenue to support the government, to establish Courts of Judicature, and to encourage a Post- Office. On Sunday night, February 12, 1693, Governor Fletcher was notified by a messenger from Ulster County, that 550 French and Indians had arrived within twenty miles of Schenectady to attack the frontiers. He immediately ordered out the city militia, selected 150 of the fittest men, and ordering 50 more from Kings County and 120 from Queens County to follow after, set sail in eight sloops up the Hudson on Tuesday afternoon the 14th, and not- withstanding much ice in the river, reached Albany on Friday morning the 1 7th. From there he at once pushed on to Schenectady, twenty miles away, where he arrived at 5 o'clock of the same day, it being "extream bad cold 6 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY snowy weather." Here he found that the enemy had retired, after burning three of the fortified Mohawk villages, and carrying away captive upwards of 130 Indian women and children ; and that they were being pursued along the Mohawk river by the militia from Albany under Major Peter Schuyler. After staying here four days, until the pursuers returned, they all marched back to Albany, where the governor remained until the 27th, when he re- embarked with his men for New York, arriving there on Thursday morning, March 2. The promptness of the governor in this expedition much enhanced his reputation. The Indians of the Five Nations conferred on him the name, Brother Cayenquirago, which signifies a great swift arrow, "because of his speedy arrival here, with so many men for their Relief." The mayor, alder- men and commonalty of Albany presented an address of thanks for his Ex- cellency's special care to that city, seated near 150 miles up in the country, that he should "within two days after notice received from hence, make that dispatch as to be here so suddainly with 300 men, and sufficient Provisions and Stores of War for our immediate Relief, which was more than ever could be expected in this Winter Season." And at the opening meeting of the next Assembly at New York, three weeks later, the House of Representatives voted special thanks "for his care of the Frontiers of this Province, by the great Dispatch he made in His Personal Appearance there, upon the late Invasion of the French." All this praise was gratifying to Governor Fletcher, and he desired to have a narrative of the details put in print. He therefore ordered Colonel Nicholas Bayard, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Lodowick and Major Peter Schuyler to supply him with written reports of what took place. It was necessary, also, to obtain a printer. To carry out this requirement, on the same day that the thanks of the Assembly were presented, Thursday, March 23, 1693, the fol- lowing resolution was passed by the governor and council, those present on the occasion, besides Fletcher, being Frederick Philipse, Stephen Van Cort- landt, Nicholas Bayard, Gabriel Minvielle, Chidley Brooke, William Nicolls, John Lawrence, and Caleb Heathcote: "It is resolved in Council that if a printer will come and settle in the City of Newyorke for the printing of our Acts of Assembly & publick papers he shall be allowed the summe of fourty pounds Current money of Newyorke per annum for his sallary & have the benefite of his printing besides what serves the publick." T l f »-3 sr J o o u K •a ~ -cc o 1 < fcl § 6 X u C < .s a. ci < ^ ■£ *" a .» ao Us l - J o O 3 1 V ■ 1 i - 1 Jl J 2 uSU -~ t jsi c i^; 5 .as o » s i'ES^a S = =i<3 8 2 =" tt - £ .""flu _ >.v - - * ~ -a .= -5 K B s 3-e s 2 f| § km 2| 5<-g = .= |?;^ §5-5 la's" a s -s e-S a g' SjS^iS I m».k'-.-§.s£<6<3 1-S3: < z (/) t/1 w « Ph Oh C3 « O b H < w K H [7~ c 1,5 o « c c < •5 o c rj C u CO ,8* IP < o H Z *j -- - ■ . - . 9*9 -E 5 i: !fes .3 °h u S B ' a a. ~<3 V c C 1 ^ . Cos « 2 a to 9?l*f 53154 5 5«l 2*6 2-= -£-=5 _ ■so 3 §",5 * £^ M J; 5-= ,3 « P SaJliIi sNi;^ § fc = S " <" ~ > 5 • 5 (5 Illlilfif.il « Co = V — ■ i- ,c c 5 S - a " S - - " c -s s el a •• lift Pig ' Jifl 1| » gt: 1-3 §'§ 8: ^ * S.s. 45 £° |3 -r: 5 " - 1 * J n c e * 3 ec/-=S*< - 5 " »•' IfJr ° 6 r.« . i> a. t«» u PC! "S — ~ - > •*■ 8 * 'o J 5? 2 « g .2 a a. 2 — a .a - ■ o -5 -£ c -S o is "H o ft* O a >. s. UmhMmMi 2 a g.a-34. ! » 6 U4- -I - C V c -. ^-4 a 8 5-5 U I ? S 5 3i 3-°. 2- yjs :;|»iew — a^; yr-a S : "*- .3 "B € it H S-Hi.- lis c i-S-S si = > = ^ < i; * o a S" 3 si; ' -w j" 3 = a 5 ? - v - -3 - ill ifpiihf&tifli ■OlS-J 5 - 5^ c > { « I K , - ■£ S * S -5 -» O - C r-> cl = ^ - ^- m O ! " /■ w -j 'J ^ n ^ u •« t o 1 3 id n ■ THE FIRST YEAR OF PRINTING IN NEW YORK 7 In the meantime William Bradford, printer in Philadelphia, having given offence to the magistrates by printing one of George Keith's contro- versial pieces, was arrested and brought before the Court of Quarter Sessions in September, 1 692, a quantity of his types and other printing utensils being seized and impounded at the same time. Pleading not guilty, he was held under nominal confinement for trial in December. The trial resulted in the jury's disagreement, and as Bradford failed to obtain release or return of his property on this occasion or at the next Court session in March, 1693, he ap- pealed directly to Governor Fletcher, who had been commissioned also gov- ernor of Pennsylvania. Under these circumstances there was no delay on his part in accepting the invitation for a printer, and among the bills signed by the governor on the adjournment of the Assembly, Monday, April 10th, was Bradford's appointment as Royal Printer at New York. Ten days later, in the Civil List compiled on April 20th, the entry appears, "Allowed to a printer," per annum, £40. On the 26th of April, Governor Fletcher went to Philadelphia, where he remained for six weeks. One of the first matters receiving his attention there, on April 27, was Bradford's petition. The printer was present at the examination and gave his testimony, after which his types and tools were ordered to be returned to him, and his freedom from the former arrest was assured. Bradford was then near thirty years of age, having been born on May 20, 1663, according to the statement in the Almanac of 1739. He had learned his trade in the London shop of Andrew Sowle, whose daughter Elizabeth he married before setting up his own press at Philadelphia, towards the end of the year 1685, and when he removed to New York, in 1693, his son Andrew was about seven years old. It was probably early in May before he got settled in his new home, at the Sign of the Bible, in New York, the location of which in Dock street has been commemorated by the placing of a tablet at No. 8 1 Pearl street. As the governor was busy with affairs in Penn- sylvania during the whole month, it is likely that the legislative printing was not started until after his return to New York, early in June. There is no way to determine with certainty the exact order in which the different pub- lications left the press, and the arrangement of titles which follows is more or less arbitrary. The earliest form of the imprint reads: Printed and Sold by William Bradford, Printer to King William and Queen Mary, at the City of New-York, 1693. In July or August, the words, At the Sign of the Bible, were first added. 8 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY SUMMARY 1. 2. May, 1693 New England's Spirit of Persecution, 1693. A Paraphrastical Exposition, 1693. June, 1693 3. Act for One Penny per Pound, Nov. 12, 1692. 4. Act against Pirates, Sept. 10. 1692, 1st issue. 5. Act against Pirates, Sept. 1 0, 1 692, 2d issue. 6. Act for raising £6000, April 10, 1693, 1st issue. 7. Act for raising £6000, April 1 0, 1 693, 2d issue. 8. Pennsylvania Act for One Penny per Pound, June 2, 1693. 9. Proclamation on the Lord's Day, April 29, 1693. 10. First license to Warner Wessels, etc., June 8, 1693. 1 1. The same in Dutch, June 8, 1693. 12. Second license to Warner Wessels, etc., June 8, 1693. 13. The Philadelphia Address, June 2, 1693. 14. Narrative of an Attempt by the French, March 22, 1693. 15. City Ordinance on dimensions of cask, July 10, 1693. 16. Journal of a Treaty with the Five Nations, July, 1693. 17. City Address to Gov. Fletcher, July 20, 1693. 1 8. Proclamation dissolving the Assembly, July 27, 1693. 19. Acts of Assembly, April, 1691, to April, 1692, pp. 1-52. 20. Proclamation against exporting provisions, Aug. 19, 1693. 21. Proclamation on erecting fire beacons, Aug. 25, 1693. July, 1693 July- August, 1693 August, 1693 September-October, 1693 22. 23. 24. Catalogue of Fees, Sept. 20, 1693. Exhortation concerning Negroes, Oct. 13, 1693. Proclamation to Connecticut, Oct. 28, 1693. I 1= 3 o o G C •-4 o OS u: PC E H c =8 U- - '8 F V3 Z * H v 3 "5b P £ u a -3 - a = SJi^-S-c o S .2 - $ - ° S - -,?3>i" SSwS'S'S 4 = =' = ■=.- ■£ ^ Lti ; f i>J P V. P _3 ^ -= .i .= ^ 5 < ; s - g-= £ _5 - a u 3 ? s {Km^iil^flJf'Rll s£ fa 6vS 8 Sif »•§ SHiSitfa aJj" e s s I ' ~s| 1= .•fl'Sytil.. n* S«i i02ii.8: fill fill t/3 W o < Q S -s a £ - , = ~ „ - 9 If I ■ O — V — 3 c ^: — ^ . w 3 »> — > — tc - o ED g g u c ft. - « " M . u u 2 = J 5 .5 §.2 ^ il^ielMlllltrl ill Hr ^ a e 8 S %ttt § 8 8 8 S § :~2 2 S 3 S°- -ttZ? S 8 8 8 o 8 8 8 8 8 It 1 - 3 ijll . t 1 i. i i. i «-;^-^s : - 1 1 : ; Ifiilliipll g-S 3 El IbJ 2 fcu, * C C 0 v- r u. - * h 5 s ■ E 2 . o V - s-a I * |» 5 o Id h-1 ♦— < O Q 4 a i <— • 5 V-> t C 5 . I .5 t 0 .154 el* < 1-1 c 0 _ 1 5 *- 2s -§ i' it 1 1 i 9 . i & si «3 if •A « 1 5 12 $4 .8 >- •a J « i "<3 UJ -5 n *1 M 0 5 **3 § I 1 o 4 ■a 3 a I a 1 4 i ~ " (! 8 » fife J] 5* -■5 ft .5 e - {-g THE FIRST YEAR OF PRINTING IN NEW YORK 9 November-December, 1693 25. Proclamation to Connecticut, Nov. 8, 1693. 26. Proclamation relating to deserters, Nov. 13, 1693. 27. Account of several Passages, Oct., 1693. 28. Proclamation dissolving the Assembly, Nov. 16, 1693. 29. Acts of Assembly, Aug., 1692, to Sept., 1693, pp. 53 ff. 30. Almanac for 1694. January-February, 1694 31. The Laws and Acts, 1694, Nos. 19 and 29 completed. 32. City Ordinance for a Battery, Jan. 25, 1694. 33. Some Seasonable Considerations for Connecticut, 1694. March-April, 1694 34. Proclamation for a Fast, March 3, 1694. 35. Acts of Assembly, March, 1694, pp. 85-92. 36. Keith's Truth Advanced, 1694. Date Uncertain 37. Lancaster's Queries to the Quakers, fragment. 38. Catechism for Children, fragment. [No. 1.] New-England's Spirit of Persecution || Transmitted To | Pennsilvania, 1 1 And the Pretended Quaker found Persecuting the True | Christian-Quaker, 1 1 in the 1 1 Tryal 1 1 of 1 1 Peter Boss, George Keith, Thomas Budd, 1 1 and William Bradford, 1 1 At the Sessions held at Philadelphia the Nineth, Tenth and 1 1 Twelfth Days of December, 1 692. Giving an Account | of the most Arbitrary Procedure of that Court. || Printed in the Year 1693. || Quarto, pp. title reverse blank, and 1—38. Sheetmarks A, B, C, E, and F in fours, counting the title as F4. No sheetmark D. This seems to be the joint production of George Keith and Thomas Budd, including Bradford's own account of the trial. As it mentions the next Court Session of March, 1693, it could hardly have been printed before May. The book was reprinted in London the same year, with license dated October 19, 1693, and the title, "The Tryals of Peter Boss, George Keith, Thomas Budd, and William Bradford," etc. Mr. Hildeburn has called attention to the obliteration by pen and ink in some copies of a sentence on page 7 and two on page 8, and that in the London edition those places were left blank. Both editions are in The New York Public Library, the former being without the obliterations. A copy in the library of the Ameri- can Antiquarian Society, which lacks the title, has a manuscript note at the foot of page 1: "Printed by William Bradford and perhaps the first book printed at New York." 10 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY [No. 2.] A Paraphrastical Exposition || on a || Letter || From a Gentle- man in 1 1 Philadelphia 1 1 To his Friend in 1 1 Boston 1 1 Concerning a certain Person who com- 1 1 pared himself to Mordecai. 1 1 Printed in the Year 1 693. 1 1 Quarto, pp. 8. No sheetmark. By John Philly or Phillips, the former spelling appearing in "New-England's Spirit of Persecution," page 23, and the latter in the Minutes of the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, held 7th Mo. 1693, according to Hildeburn. It consists of twenty four-line stanzas, giving "A Paraphrastical Parrallel betwixt Haman & Mr. ," preceded by an acrostical "Proe- mium" spelling out the name of SAMUEL JENNINGS, who presided at the Bradford trial, and depicting him as an unjust judge. Description and information from the original owned by Dr. A. S. W. Rosenbach, formerly in the possession of James G. Barnwell, of Philadelphia. A complete photostat of it is in The New York Public Library. No other copy is known. [No. 3.] An Act for Granting to their Majesties the Rate of | j One Penny per Pound upon all the Real and Per- 1 1 sonal Estates within this Province of New- York, 1 1 &c. To be allowed unto his Excellency the Go- 1 1 vernour, for the Care of the Province, November || the 12th, 1692. || [No imprint.] Folio, pp. 1-4. Sheetmark A. This act differs from the other separate acts and those in the law book in having the title printed in roman type instead of italic. For that reason it is placed before the others, with the presumption that it may have been the first one printed, early in June. Described from the Lenox copy in The New York Public Library. [No. 4.] Province of New- York, ss. 1 1 Anno Regni Gulielmi & Marias, | Regis & Reginas, 1 1 Anglias, Scotia;, Francia; & Hibernias, 1 1 Quinto. 1 1 An ACT for Restraining and Punishing Privateers || and Pyrates. || [No im- print.] Folio, pp. 1—3. Sheetmark A. First issue of the act, passed September 10, 1692. The form of the heading not being satis- factory, it was changed to read as in No. 5. It is placed here in the list because the corrected form of the heading agrees with the heading of No. 6, which has the sheetmark B, and there- fore must come later. Probably printed in June. Described from the Lenox copy in The New York Public Library. [No. 5.] Anno Regni Gulielmi & Marias, || Regis & Reginas, [| Anglias, Scotias, Francias & Hibernias, 1 1 Quinto. 1 1 On the Tenth Day of September, 1692. in the || Fifth Year of their Majesties Reign this Act passed || at the City of New- York. 1 1 An ACT for Restraining and Punishing Privateers | and Pyrates. 1 1 [No imprint.] Folio, pp. 1—3. Sheetmark A. Second issue, with a change in the heading, leaving out the first line of No. 4, and adding three lines giving the date of enactment. No other alteration was made, the rest of the act being from the same setting of type in both issues. Described from the Van Schaack-Vanderpoel copy in the Huntington Library. A photostat reproduction is in The New York Public Library. «| | V 1 •* - -2: o #i Mil r -' C 0 •! . H i & i S 9 £ 9 a S t 8 B| = 5 ri i ; l.rf'jl 8 S pall j.5 3'?^ 6 U > 2 8 ;■§, 5 *> g jj-l a IS g e s Ji Et*SoSjV-5gfl U e 4J isi ss-» s-s *i 8 ; s J -^a ;|-3 .- -= -•V ffS<« ffa" sis E S'lJ l2ST»-9^ if* ..Si* »•« 6 -Is =,5* t 5 ~ > a > £ E f .= c SS s I fo E.a B-a-S s- 1 fc^s B . ,r « H l t - j= ; - - t5 - !i = i ™ M ill Ml THE FIRST YEAR OF PRINTING IN NEW YORK 11 [No. 6.] Anno Regni Gulielmi & Marias, || Regis & Reginas, || Anglias, Scotias, Francias & Hibernias, 1 1 Quinto. 1 1 The 1 Oth of April, Anno Domini 1694. 1 1 An Act for raising six Thousand Pound for the payment 1 1 of three Hundred Volunteers, and their Officers, to 1 1 be imployed in the Re-inf orce- ment of the Frontiers of 1 1 this Province at Albany, from the first of May 1 1 next, to the first of May then next following, in 1 1 the Year of our Lord 1694. | [Colophon:] Printed and Sold by William Bradford, Printer to King William and \ \ Queen Mary, at the City of New-York, 1 693. 1 1 Folio, pp. (6), not paged. Sheetmark B. First issue of the act of April 10, 1693, with the wrong year date (1694 instead of 1693) at the end of the fifth line. The error must have been noticed and corrected before many copies were printed. The fact that this has the sheetmark B shows that it is later than the preceding numbers. It is probably the earliest piece with a full New York imprint. Probably printed in June. Described from the Van Schaack-Vanderpoel copy in the Huntington Library. A reproduction in photostat is in The New York Public Library. [No. 7.] Anno Regni Gulielmi & Marias, |l Regis & Reginas, || Angliae, Scotias, Franciae & Hibernian, 1 1 Quinto. 1 1 The 1 Oth of April, Anno Domini 1693. 1 1 An Act [etc., as in No. 6, with the same colophon, number of pages and sheetmark] . Second issue of the earliest publication with a full New York imprint, and with the year date in the fifth line correctly printed 1693. Otherwise there is no difference between the two issues, both being from the same setting of type. Described from the Lenox copy in The New York Public Library. [No. 8.] Anno Regni Gulielmi & Marias, || Regis & Reginas, || Anglias, Scotias, Francias & Hibernias, || Quinto. || An ACT for granting to King William and Queen 1 1 Mary the Rate of One Penny per Pound upon the | clear Value of all the Real and Personal Estates, 1 1 and Six Shillings per Head upon such as are not 1 1 otherwise rated by this Act. To be imployed by the || Governour of this Province of Pennsilvania and || Territories thereof, for the Time being, towards || the Support of this Government. | [No imprint.] Folio, pp. (4), unpaged. No sheetmark. The act was passed on June 2, 1693, and probably printed during the same month. De- scribed from the Lenox original in The New York Public Library. It is also in the Charle- magne Tower collection at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. [No. 9.] By His Excellency || Benjamin Fletcher, Captain General and Governour in Chief of the Province 1 1 of New- York, Province of Penn- silvania, Country of New-Castle and || Territories and Tracts of Land 12 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY depending thereon, in America, and Vice- || Admiral of the same. || A PROCLAMATION || Whereas our Soveraign Lord and Lady William and Mary, . . . 1 1 . . . 1 1 . . . have thought fit to take Their Province of Penn- 1 1 silvania, and Country of New-Castle, &c. into Their Immediate Care and | Government, and . . . 1 1 Commissionated and Appointed Me Their Captain General and Governour in 1 1 Chief . . . 1 1 . . . 1 1 . . . 1 1 . . . I do hereby strictly prohibit the 1 1 Breaking of the LORDS DAY, all Prophane Swearing, Curs- ing, Drunkenness, 1 1 Idleness and unlawful Gaming . . . 1 1 . . . 1 1 . . . 1 1 . . . | . . . 1 1 . . . 1 1 . . . Given under my Hand at Philadelphia the 29th day of April, 1 693. 1 1 in the Fifth Year of Their Majesties Reign. 1 1 Ben. Fletcher. 1 1 God Save King William & Queen Mary. | [No imprint.] Folio, broadside. This is placed here among the publications printed in June, after Governor Fletcher re- turned to New York. It is possible, however, that it may have been printed in Philadelphia, just before Bradford removed to New York. The description is from a photostat of the original in the Library of Congress, to which it was given by Mr. Stuyvesant Fish of New York about 1911. It was formerly owned by Prof. Charles Edward Anthon, who about 1850 resided on Staten Island, and died at Bremen, Germany, June 7, 1883. Information received from Mr. Fish. No other copy is known. [No. 1 0.] Benjamin Fletcher Captain General and Governour in [ | Chief of the Province of New-York, Province of 1 1 Pennsilvania, and Country of New-Castle, and the 1 1 Territories and Tracts of Land depending thereon in 1 1 America. 1 1 To all Officers and Ministers Ecclesiastical and Civil through- 1 1 out the Provinces and Territories under my Government. 1 1 Whereas I am credibly informed that the Son of Warner Wessels, and 1 1 Husband of Antie Christians, Inhabitants and Sailers of the City of || New- York, following their lawfull Occupation, were taken into Salley, 1 1 where they are now in miserable Slavery, under the Power of the Infidell, . . . | [etc., 29 more lines.] || Given under my Hand and Seal at Fort William Henry the 8th Day of || June, 1693. || Ben Fletcher. || Printed by William Bradford, Printer to King William C5? Queen Mary \ \ at the City of New-York, Anno 1693. || Folio, broadside. A circular letter or license, authorizing the collection of money to redeem the captives, and designating the proper persons to receive it. Sallee is a seaport town of Morocco, on the Medi- terranean. The only known original of this broadside is in the New York State Library at Albany. Description from a photostat reproduction in The New York Public Library. [No. 11.] Benjamin Fletcher, Capiteyn Generael, en opper-Gover- | neur van de Provintie van Nieuw-Yorke, de Provintie 1 1 van Pennsylvania, en't Landtschap van Nieuw-Casteel, 1 1 ende Terratorien en Landeryen, daer THE FIRST YEAR OF PRINTING IN NEW YORK 13 toe belhorende || in America. || Aen alle Officieren, ende Bedienaers, soo Kerkelyke, als Burgerlyke door de gantsche 1 1 Provintien en Landschappen onder myn Governement. 1 1 Also ick sekerlyk ge-inf ormeert ben, Dat de Soon van Warnaer Wessells 1 1 ende de Man van Annetie Christiaens, In- woonders en Zeelieden deser 1 1 Steede Nieuw-Yorke, volgende haer beroep op gebraght syn in Zale, 1 1 waer de selven nu syn in elendige Slavernye onder de Maght van de Ongelovigen, jj [etc., 32 more lines.] || Gegeven onder myn Hand en Segel in't Fort Willem Hendrick de 8ste Dag j | van Juny, 1 693. 1 1 Ben. Fletcher. 1 1 Gedruckt tot Nieuw-Yorke, by William Bradfordt, Anno 1693. || Folio, broadside. A Dutch translation of No. 10. The original is bound with the Manuscript Records of the Collegiate Reformed Dutch Church, at No. 1 1 3 Fulton Street, New York. A photostat repro- duction was made for The New York Public Library in July, 1921, from which the descrip- tion has been made. [No. 1 2.] Benjamin Fletcher, Captain General and Governour in 1 1 Chief of the Province of New- York, Province of Penn- 1 1 silvania, Country of New-Castle, and the Territories 1 1 and Tracts of Land depending thereon, in America. 1 1 To all Officers and Ministers, Ecclesiastical & Civil, through- 1 1 out the Provinces and Territories under my Government. 1 1 Whereas I am credibly informed that Cornelius Christians, Peter j | Wessels, Bartholomew Rouston, John Crage and William Green, 1 1 Inhabitants and Sailers of the City of New- York, following their || lawfull Occupation, were taken into Salley, where they are now in miserable 1 1 Slavery, under the Power of the Infidell, ... || [etc., 31 more lines.] || Given under my Hand and Seal at Fort William Henry the 8th Day of || June, 1693. || Ben. Fletcher. || Printed by William Bradford, Printer to King William & Queen Mary \ at the City of New-York, Anno 1693. || Folio, broadside. A second circular letter to Warner Wessels and his friends, similar to the first one, author- izing them to solicit and collect money for the redemption of the five other sailors named, all from New York, who were taken captive in the same vessel. Several copies of this second circular were sent by the Rev. John Miller, minister at New York, to the lieutenant-governor of Pennsylvania, on August 18, 1693, with a request to have them distributed there, but the Council were of opinion "That they ought not to be distributed." See Minutes of the Pro- vincial Council of Pennsylvania, September 19, 1693, in Penn. Colonial Records, vol. 1, p. 351. The only known copy of the circular is now in the library of the American Philosoph- ical Society at Philadelphia, from a photostat of which this description was made. The total amount collected for redeeming the seven captives was £374. 12s., contributed by 4,302 persons. For further details, see Stokes's "Iconography of Manhattan Island," vol. 4, p. 380, and the record cited. 14 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY [No. 13.] To j| Coll. Benjamin Fletcher, |[ Captain General and || Gov- ernor || In Chief || Of the Province of New- York, Province of Penn- | silvania, Country of New-Castle, & the Territories j| and Tracts of Land thereon depending, in 1 1 America, 1 1 And Vice- Admiral of the same. 1 1 The Address of some of the Peaceable and well Affected || Free-holders, and Inhabitants of the Town and || County of Philadelphia. || [No imprint.] Folio, pp. (3), unpaged. No sheetmark. This address was evidently presented to Fletcher, not on his arrival in Philadelphia in April, but on his departure in June, because it expresses thanks for the appointment of their fellow-townsman, William Markham, to be Lieutenant-Governor. It is subscribed, "Signed by Us, in behalf of Our Selves, and Others," by Thomas Paschall, Griffith Jones, and one hundred and fifteen others, including William Bradford, who still retained a book-shop in Philadel- phia. Probably printed in June. The only copy known is in the Public Record Office, London, and is endorsed "Rec'd 26 Sept. 1693, from Coll. Fletcher," being mentioned in Fletcher's letter of August 18th to Secretary Blathwayt. It was discovered and described by Miss A. R. Hasse, in The New York Public Library Bulletin, February, 1903. A photostat copy of the original is now in The New York Public Library. [No. 14.] A || Narrative || Of an Attempt made by the || French of Canada 1 1 upon the 1 1 Mohaques Country, 1 1 Being Indians under the Protec- tion of their Majesties 1 1 Government of New- York. 1 1 To which is added, 1 1 1. An Account of the present State and Strength of Canada, given by two 1 1 Dutch-men, who have been Prisoners there, and now made their escape. | 2. The Examination of a French Prisoner. || 3. His Excellency Benjamin Fletcher's Speech to the Indians. 1 1 4. The Answer of the five Nations of the Mohaques to his Excellency. 1 1 5. Proposals made by the four chief Sachims of the five Nations, to his Excellency. 1 1 And his Excellency's Reply thereto. 1 1 6. An Address from the Corporation of Albany to his Excellency, returning Thanks 1 1 for his Excellency's early Assistance for their Relief, &c. 1 1 A Jour- nal kept by Coll. Nicholas Beyard and Lieut. 1 1 Coll. Charles Lodwick, who attended his Excellency in || this Expedition. || [Colophon:] Printed and Sold by William Bradford, Anno 1693. | Folio, pp. 1 4. Sheetmarks A and B in twos, C in three. This narrative was of special interest to Governor Fletcher on account of the leading part he took in the expedition, and it is likely that the desire to have it printed under his own super- vision was one of the reasons that led to Bradford's appointment as official printer. It must have been printed in June or July, and copies forwarded to London without delay, as the English reprint, entitled "A Journal of the Late Actions of the French at Canada," was licensed Sep- tember 11th, advertised in the "Athenian Mercury" of Saturday, September 16th, and pub- lished September 19th, 1693. The only known copy, endorsed, "Rec'd 26 Sept. 1693 from Coll. Fletcher," is in the Public Record Office, London, where it was discovered by Miss Adelaide R. Hasse, and described in The New York Public Library Bulletin, February, 1903. A complete photostat has been procured for The New York Public Library. X° H lS Excellency 'Benjimin Flctchtr, Captain General and Governor in Chief of Their Majeflicf Pro- vince of Nrv-Ti I, Province of Pennfih mid, Country of blew-CaAle, Territories and rra&sof Land depending thereon in America, Vice- Admiral of the fane. Tbe bumbli AU'tk of tlx Miyv, R, crier, Alder-men and Commonality of that Adjpiiw dry of i\ew-York, convert d in Common Council. tf*y h f U a ft ynr Eirtltney; WE, the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen and AffiftanM of thii their Mijefties City of NEW-YORK,' convened n pjnmun O-uncil, hiving in our Confidtration the great Happtncfs that has attended thu Province njocrJ, and the particular Advantages that has accrcwcd to this Their Ma cities City and Corporation fincc the jufpici'ius Day of your Exccllcncy'samvalroGovcrnias, cann .tbutvitbaU rhanktullncfs acknowledge, 1 tiatibrrcat Benefits have only proceeded fr-.m tbeunparrallcl'd V'igilence, Diligence At Cinducr. of yrur Excellency, who has n<-t been wanting in i he mod Difficult bcalons to cxp fcjour Person to nuny Dangers for Their Majerhcs Service, audthc Safety of this Pr« vincc. And being n>w W irncfles ot ihc great Pam& \our Excellency hath larety taken at \lbsny in red King the Imdtvit (whj were shaking in their Fidelity) to a perfect and firm Union unto their Majcllus Intcrcft, by which means the Fr nticrs. f tlm Pn vinceja e not only ttrcngthened, but the other rUmote puis of the Government tiree'd from tbc duly Alirnu and liicuxuow ot the Enemy. We therefore, rnaytf plei& fOttr Excellency, in the decpelt Seoce of fuch figrul Favours, with all Duty and hearty Joyj pedomta CjiicrKulate your Excellency's Safe and Happy lucrum unt<> this City, the Scatortbcir MajsblJ C/o*crnriK(it. AnJwithall do farther prcfume to address unto yi.ur Excellency, a* the nnly P.H n and Means, next uaQtheir mil facred Makefiles, to wh m all the prefect 1 ranquilify of the G^vcrnnunr u owing , by » title Prurience all cur Back -Hidings arc healed, and all cur late Hears and Anriunoiitics are buried, that « h -f era paflcthour Streets can fee nothing of thc'I okens Of Signals of War., but Inch Unanimity and Chcaxfulnct* aajoogit the People, that it is now no mere a Qucftion where we fhall pitch 09/ Tabernacle, but in the City, wbot wc may be influenced and prot«4t*d by tbc inclllmablc Virtue * Prudence and Pious ^ndu&of your I ictlkocy * f» rt ^ tr ExetlUney y As we know there is nothing fo delightful to your Excellency « Tr*tn t (Mc cannot better dim .-nitrate the true Affccbons wc bear y ur Excellency, than by praying your Excellency to Ixfk atu oar City , and y. u will find that our Inhabitants are daily erecting M^aume its to perpetuate tlx: Memory of your Excellency's Virtue, wherein we have an imire Confidence! and will not n H to o r- 1 X Ui c < to o c 6 •- »> = j s > — t> « " - /-v I «* £ a I u C ^ 5E = .3.2 y Ijf ^ a! O . - (1 7) 511 2 > _ J o ° -- 2 Ji c.S s» " H £r rs o g o « 5= s S * ~ _, «0 r - ' 1— ^3 ■ — •-» ~ n. o -p O 60 ,~ O r 3 60 rt "O = 5 c ►o <- a. o w ^ . 53 ■o 9 « -j s -2 " ■« " E o ■= *• a -~jz ■ " 5 «.2 e = !i « 51 *= 2 Si M n o-S " § <£: -o ,~ JJ iS si-S 2 -a — o ti £.3 c 3 £ c 5 E a. „ — , n ■S-i-sJS §* g OS 2«!(J S £ 5 8.ST t 8 * - £ o c; 3 r= 2 O w _S Jj o o o 4_ 5 i-C CO .2 c •-/> -J ™ " Q — «0i u J « u J =Q coo jf "ii i& u u CO — -3 ^> o -c -a _i 2 §3 S 3 2S ^. - « 2 nfi Sud*it = ° o o 5 •= - a ii o o « ^ o 8"^ g C 3 ^ u ^ S — -° tH ge - Bc8-a~ o v a. THE FIRST YEAR OF PRINTING IN NEW YORK 15 [No. 15.] An Ordinance by the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen & Assistants conven'd in Common Council for the ascertaining the Dimensions of Caske, and regulating the abuses in the Tare of Flower . . . Dated the 1 Oth day of July, in the fifth year of their Majesties Reign Annoq; Dom. 1693. Abra- ham D. Peyster, Mayor. According to the Common Council Minutes, vol. 1, pp. 324, 325, it was published the 10th day of July, 1693. No record of its being printed has been found, and publication may have been by announcement only. [No. 16.] A || Journal || kept by || Coll. Stephen Courtland, & Coll. Nich. Beyard, || Of Their Majesties Council for the || Province of New- York, 1 1 Being appointed by the Council to Attend 1 1 His Excellency 1 1 Ben- jamin Fletcher, Captain General and Governor 1 1 in chief of the Province of New- York, Province of Pennsilvania, Country 1 1 of New-Castle, & Territo- ries and Tracts of Land depending there- 1 1 on in America, and Vice- Admiral of the same, || to || Albany || In Treating with the Indians of the Five Nations, 1 1 and River-Indians of that Province, in the Months of June and 1 1 July, 1693. || Together with the Propositions and Conferences of the said Indians with 1 1 his Excellency. And his Excellency's Answers, &c. 1 1 Printed and Sold by William Bradford, Printer to their Majesties, King \ \ William £s? Queen Mary, at the Sign of the Bible in New-York, 1 693. 1 1 Folio, pp. 1 5. Sheetmarks [ A] , B, C and D in twos. The Journal records that Governor Fletcher returned from Pennsylvania to New York on June 3, and gave orders to prepare for the voyage to Albany with presents for treating with the Indians. On June 13 he set sail from New York, and, the wind being favorable, reached Albany on the afternoon of the 14th. The conferences with the Indians were held from July 2 to July 6, and their friendship confirmed. On July 8 the Governor left Albany, stopping on the way at Esopus, and got back to New York on July 14. The account of the transactions was printed in July or August, and is the only publication of the year with a regular title-page and full imprint. ,A photostat was made for The New York Public Library from the original in the Bibliotheque Nationale at Paris, the existence of which was unknown until the publication of the catalogue in 1902, where it is described under beyard, and again under courti.and. % [No. 17.] To His Excellency 1 1 Benjamin Fletcher, Captain General and Governor in Chief of Their Majesties Pro- 1 1 vince of New- York, Province of Pennsilvania, Country of New-Castle, Territories 1 1 and Tracts of Land depending thereon in America, Vice-Admiral of the same. 1 1 The humble Address of the Mayor, Recorder, Alder-men and Commonality of their | 16 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY Majesties City of New- York, conven'd in Common Council. 1 1 May it please your Excellency ; 1 1 We . . . being now Witnesses of the great Pains your | Excellency hath lately taken at Albany in reducing the Indians (who were shaking in their Fidelity) to a 1 1 perfect and firm Union unto their Majesties Interest, . . . 1 1 ... presume to Congratulate your Excellency's Safe and Happy Return unto this City, . . . 1 1 In Testimony of our Integrity therein . . . 1 1 we humbly pray your Excellency to accept of this CUP of GOLD, in acknowledgement of the sincere 1 1 and dutifull Affections that is born to your Excellency . . . 1 1 Printed and Sold by William Bradford, Printer to King William and Queen Mary at the City of \ \ New-York, Anno Domini 1693.|| Folio, broadside. Governor Fletcher's safe return from Albany was the subject of a meeting of the Common Council at the City Hall, Friday, July 14, when it was ordered that the Recorder draw up an Address to congratulate his Excellency, and to thank him for the great care he had lately taken for the security of the Province, and for retaining the friendship of the Indians. The Mayor was also ordered to provide a Cup of Gold, to be made of the value of 100 pounds, for presentation on behalf of the City as a token of their gratitude. At the next meeting, Thurs- day, July 20, the draft of the Address was read and approved, and the Mayor reported that he had bought of Peter Jacobs Marius twenty ounces of gold, for which he had engaged to pay £106, and that the gold had been delivered to Cornelius Vanderburgh to make the cup. To meet this expense it was ordered that the annual rental of the Ferry to Brooklyn should be reserved, and that the City Treasurer receive the quarterly payments from the Ferry and pay the same to Peter Jacobs Marius until the full amount had been paid. The Address was signed by Stephen de Lancey, Brandt Schuyler, Abraham de Peyster, and eleven others, and was probably printed before the end of July, as the copy in the Public Record Office, London, is endorsed, "Rec'd 26 Sept. 1693 from Coll. Fletcher." The actual date of the presentation ceremony is not known. A photostat of the original broadside, the only one known, is in The New York Public Library. It was first described by Miss A. R. Hasse in The New York Public Library Bulletin, February, 1903. See Minutes of the Com- mon Council, vol. 1, pp. 325—328, where the Address is printed in full. [No. 18.] By His Excellency 1 1 Benjamin Fletcher, Captain General and Governour in Chief of the Province 1 1 of New-York, Province of Pennsil- vania, Country of New-Castle, and || Territories and Tracts of Land de- pending thereon, in America, and Vice- 1 1 Admiral of the same. 1 1 A PROC- LAMATION || Forasmuch as their most Excellent Majesties, . . . || . . . have graciously been 1 1 pleased to Impower Me from time to time, as I shall judge it necessary, to Adjourn, Prorogue, 1 1 and Dissolve all General Assem- blies ... 1 1 ... I judge it necessary, . . . 1 1 . . . that the 1 1 General Assembly called and summoned to sit at New- York the Twenty Fourth Day of October 1 1 last past, and continued by several Adjournments, should be Dissolved . . . || ... || Given at Fort William Henry the 27th Day of July, in the Fifth Year of Their Majesties || Reign, Annoq; Domini 1693. || Ben. Fletcher. | C o i u CP •til 6 cC ju -5 " tn < — ■ > SI -a o o 3 s . « en 5*1 I" JbSi u c u v. a. » V i- w a L 9 ft a a 3 v5 I Hi 1 - s '$ s ?. = S5 fc 5 z H < u O •£ 8 2 c > — ? r- r . »- — T "T* C "if - . - -3 - c ^ _ - J: -= 'O 1 5 ~r u ■st -9, . • 1" : -3 w ! M § _i oq w _ S/5> ■a -, c >^ ^ - Is: 2 3 i — -O B - O - . . 8 J D - Jo o :? » — • i 5 I - £ a .5 - S £ a it S SVB . — -r S t * « ? = 3.S |v£ . >-: 2 a-S"^ i.^< c 5 y£ ** „0 3 O SjO IS 3 M (• " »• GwJ -r" . .2 9 _ S! 5 - r; »"S; -T — ! >. r , - =" ^: i "3 o "V * r - '-. % °" ° 3 "2 o ox L' ^ ' -5 = j C o 1 Ci 5 - — * > to C > O a THE FIRST YEAR OF PRINTING IN NEW YORK 17 God Save King William & Queen Mary. 1 1 Printed by William Bradford, Printer to King William and Queen Mary at \ \ the City New-York, Anno 1693. | Folio, broadside. Described from a photostat of the original in the Public Record Office, London, which is endorsed, "Rec'd 26 Sept. 1693 from Coll. Fletcher." No other copy has been found. [No. 19.] Acts of Assembly, from April 1691, to April 1692, being the Acts passed under Governor Sloughter and the Ingoldesby administration. Folio, pp. 1—52. Sheetmarks A-N in twos. The printing of these acts, comprising the first part of the "Laws & Acts of the General Assembly," was probably commenced during July or August. The acts under Governor Fletch- er's administration were not ready until after the Ministry Act was passed in September. See No. 29, and the completed book, No. 3 1 . Described from the original in The New York Public Library. [No. 20.] By His Excellency Benjamin Fletcher, etc. A Proclamation, forbidding the exportation of provisions from the Province until further orders, because they may be needed for the troops summoned to defend New- York against a threatened attack by the French. August 19, 1693. The proclamation is recorded in the "Calendar of Council Minutes," p. 90, and in the "English Manuscripts," vol. 39, p. 93, as listed by Dr. E. B. O'Callaghan. It may have been printed as a broadside, but there is no record of a printed copy. [No. 21.] By His Excellency 1 1 Benjamin Fletcher, Captain General and Governor in Chief of their Majesties || Province of New- York, Province of Pennsilvania, Country of New-Castle, 1 1 and the Territories and Tracts of Land depending thereon, in America, and 1 1 Vice-Admiral of the same. | A PROCLAMATION 1 1 Province of New- York, ss. 1 1 Whereas, there is Actual War between our Sovereign Lord and Lady, William and Mary, . . . and the French King. And whereas, I have received information that the French have designed a squadron of Ships, with Land Forces, against the Province of New- York. ... I have therefore thought fit, and do hereby charge and command, that the Inhabitants of every town . . . forthwith erect a Beacon, which, upon the appearance of any Squadron of Ships . . . they are to set on Fire; . . . and immediately repair with their Arms and Ammunition, ... to march them with all expedition to the City of New- York. . . . Given at Fort William Henry, the 25th day of August, 1693. Annoq; Regni Regis et Reginas Gulielmi & Mariae, Anglian, &c. quinto. Ben. Fletcher. God Save King William and Queen Mary. Printed and sold by William Bradford, 18 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY Printer to their Majesties King \ \ William and Queen Mary at the City of New-York. 1693.|| Folio, broadside. The only known copy of this broadside was found by Dr. E. B. O'Callaghan among the manuscripts of the State Department at Albany, and transferred for greater security to the State Library, where it was framed and hung on the wall. It was destroyed by fire when the State Capitol was burned, March 29, 1911. The description here is made from the reprint in John William Wallace's "Address," May 20, 1863, at the celebration by the New York His- torical Society of the Two Hundredth Birth Day of Mr. William Bradford, pp. 69—70, with a few corrections, and the line divisions marked in the heading and imprint, from Mr. Henry F. De Puy's manuscript description. [No. 22.] A Catalogue of Fees || Established by the || Governour and Council || At the Humble Request of the || Assembly. | [Colophon:] Printed and Sold by William Bradford, Printer to Their Majesties, \ \ King William and Queen Mary, at the Bible in New-York, 1693. | Folio, pp. 11. Sheetmarks A, [B,] C, in twos. Approved by the Governor and Council, September 20, 1693, and printed not long after. Description from the original in The New York Public Library, bound with the "Laws & Acts" of 1694, to which it belongs. [No. 23.] An Exhortation & Caution 1 1 to 1 1 Friends 1 1 Concerning buying or keeping of 1 1 Negroes. 1 1 [Ends on page 6:] Given forth by our Monethly Meeting in Philadelphia, the || 13th day of the 8th Moneth, 1693. and recommended to 1 1 all our Friends and Brethren, who are one with us in our Te- || stimony for the Lord Jesus Christ, and to all others professing | Christianity. || [No imprint.] Quarto, pp. 6. Sheetmark A. Printed by William Bradford after October 13, 1693. The original was discovered by Mr. Charles R. Hildeburn in the library at Devonshire Meeting House, London. It was writ- ten by George Keith, and is mentioned by Gabriel Thomas in his "Pensilvania," 1698, pp. 53-54, and by Dr. Franklin, in a letter to John Wright, November 4, 1789, in "Works," vol. 10, p. 403, according to Dr. George H. Moore, in his preface to the reprint in the "Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography," issued as a separate pamphlet with the title, "The First Printed Protest against Slavery in America," Philadelphia, 1889. A photostat from the Devonshire copy is in The New York Public Library. An imperfect copy was in the James G. Barnwell sale, at Philadelphia, July 13, 1921. [No. 24.] By His Excellency Benjamin Fletcher, etc. A Proclamation, making known his commission as their Majesties Lieutenant and Commander in Chief of the militia in the Colony of Connecticut, and demanding compli- ance with his orders. Hartford, October 28, 1693. This is the proclamation referred to in the next number. It is preserved in the manuscript archives of Connecticut, and printed in the Connecticut "Public Records," vol. 4, pp. 1 1 5-1 1 7. illof'-S.aJ ".i fry 8 ta *D ■ . V c ^ .all mm WSJ Mifff fPillffpflii ■» Si's .3* 3 §*-5 I S S 42 ?J t *^ 3 * Ills p 3 £'h c5 .S~"S ; J < 2 P.5 ."b ■'!« = *'Sv2-St g i<3 «"5 S'2-a S " - 3jT- J Co o S * £ o £ . > s THE FIRST YEAR OF PRINTING IN NEW YORK 19 It has a memorandum that it was given by Fletcher to the secretary to be delivered to the governor, "but not published." There is no evidence that it was printed as a broadside. [No. 25.] By His Excellency 1 1 Benjamin Fletcher, Captain General and Governor in Chief of Their Majesties Province of 1 1 New-York, Province of Pennsilvania, Country of New-Castle, and the Territories and 1 1 Tracts of Land depending thereon in America, and Vice- Admiral of the same, Their 1 1 Majesties Lieutenant and Commander in Chief of the Militia, & of all the Forces by 1 1 Sea and Land within their Majesties Collony of Connecticut, and of all the Forts and 1 1 places of Strength within the same. 1 1 A PROCLA- MATION || Whereas by Proclamation given forth at Hartford the 28 day of October last past, I . . . 1 1 . . . did then apply my self unto the General Assembly there sitting . . . 1 1 . . . and in the said Assembly caused my said Commission to be publickly read . . . 1 1 And forasmuch as in my Return ... I found that 1 1 the said Proclamation had not been duely published and made known ... 1 1 ... I have thought fit further 1 1 to Publish and Declare . . . 1 1 . . . the Powers and Authorities in the said Royal Commission contained, 1 1 . . . | Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms, at Fort William Henry the Eight Day of November, 1 693. And in the Fifth | [ Year of Their Majesties Reign. 1 1 Ben. Fletcher. 1 1 God Save King William & Queen Mary. 1 1 Printed and Sold by William Bradford, Printer to Their Majesties, King William and 1 1 Queen Mary at the Sign of the Bible in the City of New-York, 1 693. | Folio, broadside. The original of this proclamation is in the Library of Congress, and a photostat copy is in The New York Public Library. [No. 26.] By His Excellency 1 1 Benjamin Fletcher, Captain General and Governor in Chief of Their Majesties || Province of New- York, Province of Pennsilvania, Country of New-Castle, 1 1 and the Territories and Tracts of Land depending thereon in America, and 1 1 Vice- Admiral of the same, Their Majesties Lieutenant and Commander in || Chief of the Militia, & of all the Forces by Sea and Land within Their || Majesties Collony of Connecticut, and of all the Forts and places of Strength 1 1 within the same. | A PROCLAMATION 1 1 Whereas I am given to understand that sundry Souldiers and Marriners have deserted Their || Majesties Service, from their Garrisons and Ships of War in the Province of New- York, . . . 1 1 . . . For Prevention whereof, ... 1 1 ... I have 1 1 therefore thought fit, and do hereby strictly require all Officers, Civil and Military, under my Com- [| 20 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY mand, . . . 1 1 . . . That then they cause such Persons 1 1 to be secured, as De- serters from Their Majesties Service, Fugitive Servants, or Spyes, untill they shall 1 1 give Satisfaction to the contrary. 1 1 Given under my Hand and Seal at Fort William Henry, the Thirteenth Day of November, 1693. Annoq; | Regni Regis & Regina; Gulielmi & Marine, Anglise, &c. Quinto. || Ben. Fletcher. | j God Save King William & Queen Mary. 1 1 Printed and Sold by William Bradford, Printer to Their Majesties, King William \ \ and Queen Mary at the Sign of the Bible in the City of New-York, 1693. | Folio, broadside. The only known original of the broadside is in the New York State Library at Albany. A photostat of it is in The New York Public Library. [No. 27.] An 1 1 Account 1 1 of | \ Several Passages and Letters between his Excellency 1 1 Benjamin Fletcher, 1 1 Captain General and Govern our in Chief of the Province of New- York, 1 1 Province of Pennsilvania, Country of New- Castle, &c. Commissionated || by their Majesties under the great Seal of England, to be their Lieut. 1 1 and Commander in chief of the Militia, and of all the Forces by Sea 1 1 and Land within their Majesties Collony of Con- necticut, and of all the 1 1 Forts and places of Strength within the same. | And 1 1 The present Administrators of the Laws in the 1 1 Collony of Connec- ticut, in the Month of October, 1693. || [Colophon:] A true Copy, Exam- ined and allowed to be Printed, by M. Clarkson, Secretary. \ \ Printed and Sold by William Bradford, Printer to their Majesties, King j | William and Queen Mary, at the Bible in New-York, 1 693. 1 1 Folio, pp. 8. Sheetmarks A and B in twos. The book contains an account of Governor Fletcher's journey to Hartford to publish his Commission for taking command of the Connecticut militia, with the correspondence bearing dates from October 13 to October 27, 1693. The only known copy of the original is in the John Carter Brown Library at Providence, and was formerly in the Ternaux collection. A copy, probably the same one, was advertised for sale at 4s. 6d. in Thomas Thorpe's Catalogue for 1 836, p. 6. A photostat copy and also a pen-and-ink facsimile are in The New York Public Library. [No. 28.] By His Excellency Benjamin Fletcher, etc. A Proclamation, dissolving the General Assembly. At a Council held at Fort William Henry, November 16, 1693, his Excellency did offer his opinion for dissolving the Assembly by proclamation, before the shutting up of the rivers, and assigned the reason that all the inhabitants may have the benefit of a free choice, none excepted that are not under conviction of high treason or felony otherwise qualified. Which the Council do approve of. Writs for a new election were issued on the 30th November fol- lowing. — Journal of the Legislative Council of New York, p. 48. The Proclamation was probably printed, but no copy has been found. - - .= 3 r- di _i <5 fc- t> p iT ^ -S S 3 « - "5 a: «9 £-<3 C o HDH ^ Ea^S = I - * V C o O £ c — o « .c - 6 --a (5 — s •• o , el. 5 5E o q 2 S .8 - <; .S --o-S Si »:, T S J 5.-3- 6 J >Z3 i" i: *..2 Is*:* c5*i •efO ^-Sj §.5-5 2?.* , ■ r» ~ c^; o U < m c » el f 2 '5a:-- *»< - - * k 5 *4**«. 2 - 5 If Si ir * « : » ! 5 Sf?,? ' p mi o u « o o m <: S o « «j H 25 W o o > THE FIRST YEAR OF PRINTING IN NEW YORK 21 [No. 29.] Acts passed in the fourth Sessions of 1 1 the General Assembly, begun in the City of New- || York, the 14 day of August, Annoq; Dom. 1 692. 1 1 in the 4th Year of their Majesties Reign, King 1 1 William and Queen Mary, under the Govern- 1 1 ment of his Excellency Benjamin Fletcher, Esq; | Captain General and Govern our in chief in and || over their Majesties Province of New- York, and 1 1 Territories thereon depending in America. | Folio, pp. 53-84. Sheetmarks O-X in twos. Besides the acts passed in the Fourth Sessions, August 14 to September 10, 1692, pp. 53-58, mentioned in the above heading, there are included here those of the two sittings of the Fifth Sessions, October 24 to November 14, 1692, and March 20 to April 10, 1693, pp. 58-81, and also those of the Sixth Sessions, September 12 to 22, 1693, pp. 81—84. Together with Numbers 3, 4 and 6, which were printed separately, they comprise all the New York acts passed under Governor Fletcher's administration, including the long delayed Ministry Act. The fuller heading on page 5 3 may be taken to indicate that this second portion of the volume had the benefit of Governor Fletcher's supervision, and that the printing was perhaps not done until after the dissolution of the Assembly mentioned in the next preceding number. The volume was not completed and issued with a title and table of contents until January, 1694, as described under No. 31. From the original in The New York Public Library. [No. 30.] An 1 1 Almanack 1 1 For the Year of Christian Account 1 1 1 694. 1 1 And from the Creation of the World 1 1 5661. 1 1 But by Keplas Computation 5687. || Being the second after Leap- Year, || The Epact is 14. Golden Number 4. 1 1 and Dominical Letter G. 1 1 Containing Matters Necessary and 1 1 Useful, chiefly accomodated to the 1 1 Lat. of 40 Degrees, but may, with- out || sensible Error serve the Places adjacent, || from Newfound-Land to the Cape of 1 1 Virginia. 1 1 By Daniel Leeds, Philomat. 1 1 [Motto in six lines.] | Printed and Sold by William Bradford at \\ the Bible in New-York, 1694. || Small octavo, (12) leaves, unpaged. The first almanac printed in New York, probably early in December, 1693. The almanac for 1693 was printed in Philadelphia. The calendar begins with January, the xi Month, and ends with December, the x Month. An advertisement on the second leaf states that the Laws of the Province will shortly be ready. On the verso of the eleventh leaf begins a list of "Books to be sold by William Bradford at the Sign of the Bible in New- York, as also in Philadelphia, 1694," which was continued on the (missing) twelfth leaf. Two copies are known, that belonging to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, which lacks two leaves, and one in the Huntington Library, lacking the last leaf. A photostat reproduction from the Huntington copy is in The New York Public Library. [No. 31.] The 1 1 Laws & Acts 1 1 of the 1 1 General Assembly 1 1 for 1 1 Their Majesties Province j| of || New- York, || As they were Enacted in divers Sessions, the first of 1 1 which began April, the 9th, Annoq ; Domini, 1 1 1 69 1 . 1 1 At New-York, || Printed and Sold by William Bradford, Printer to their 22 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY Majesties, King \ \ William & Queen Mary , 1694. || Folio, pp. (4), 1—84, besides the three separately printed acts and the Catalogue of Fees. Sheet- marks A-N and O-X, as described under Nos. 19 and 29. The following announcement of publication appeared on the third page of the almanac early in December, 1693: ADVERTISEMENT. The Laws of the Province of New- York will shortly be printed, whereto every one may have recourse to know the exact Time of Markets, Fairs, Courts, Excise, Rates and Imposts upon Goods, &c. and therefore may omit them here. When the book was finished, probably in January, 1694, a general title-page and a table of contents in two pages were prefixed. The three acts issued separately as no. 3, 4 and 6, were not reprinted, but the remaining copies of each, together with the Catalogue of Fees, were bound with the rest. The titles of these three acts were included in the table, not in their proper order with the other acts, but grouped together without page references. The completed volume, therefore, comprised Nos. 19, 29, 3, 4, 6, and 22, already described. Mr. Charles R. Hildeburn, in his bibliographical account of the book, prefixed to the Grolier Club's facsimile reprint, assumed that the printing of the book was not begun before February, 1694, because of the two statements in the almanac that "Truth Advanced," by George Keith, "is now in the Press," and that "The Laws . . . will shortly be printed." These two statements, however, are not to be taken literally. They are printer's terms, which were used loosely, sometimes to express intention instead of actual fact, and the words "now in the press," as well as "This day published," were often repeated for months in the newspapers of the day. It seems more reasonable that the legislative printing should have had first attention over any work that Bradford undertook for others. It is for this reason that the printing of the book is placed here mostly in the year 1693, the first 52 pages being described as No. 19, and the remainder as No. 29. Nine copies of the book are known, of which six are in public institutions, as follows: two copies in the New York State Library at Albany, and one each in the New York Society Library, The New York Public Library, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and the Huntington Library. Four of the nine copies are more or less defective. [No. 32.] An Ordinance Established by the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen & Assistants convened in Common Council for the raising of three pence upon every pounds value of all the Real and personal Estates of all and every the Freeholders, Inhabitants and Sojourners within the said City, to be Imployed for the Building the Battery and platform to be erected in the said City, &c. The above ordinance was passed by the New York City Common Council, Thursday, Jan- uary 25, 1694, and confirmed by the Governor and Council on the same day. On Friday the 26th, after the ringing of three bells, it was publicly read and ordered to be printed. It appeared probably in the form of a broadside. No copy has been found. See Minutes of the Common Council, vol. 1, pp. 345—348, where it is recorded in full. THE FIRST YEAR OF PRINTING IN NEW YORK 23 [No. 33.] Some Seasonable Considerations for the Good People of Con- necticut. New-York: Printed by William Bradford. 1694. Quarto, pp. 45 or more. No copy has been found of this anonymous publication, which probably appeared early in 1694. The authorship has been attributed to Gershom Bulkeley, of Wethersfield, Connec- ticut. It contained at least 45 pages, as shown by the extracts quoted in the reply which was ordered by the Governor and Assistants at Hartford, on April 23, 1694, to be "forthwith Printed." This reply was entitled: Their Majesties Colony || of || Connecticut || in New-England || Vindi- cated, || From the Abuses || Of a Pamphlet, Licensed and Printed || at New- York 1694. Intituled, j| Some Seasonable Considerations for the | Good People of Connecticut. |[ By an Answer Thereunto. || ... || Boston in New-England. || Printed by Bartholomew Green. Anno Dom. 1694. || Quarto, pp. 43. Copies in the Massachusetts Historical Society and The New York Public Library. At a meeting of the Governor and Council, February 15, 1694, "William Bradford, printer, having exhibited an account of sundryes printed by direcon of his Excellency and Council for the use of the Government, amounting to a considerable value, which cannot be supported by his salary, this board, in consideracon of his extraordinary services and the print- ing of a book intituled 'Seasonable consideracons offered to the good feofle of Connecticut? have corrected the said account, and Ordered a Warrant issue for the payment of thirty pounds to the said William Bradford." — Council Minutes, vii, 54, in Wilson's "Memorial History of New York," vol. I, p. 509, note. [No. 34.] By His Excellency Benjamin Fletcher, etc. A Proclamation, for a Fast Day in March. The governor's council orders that a proclamation be issued for a day of humiliation, fast- ing, and prayer. — Cal. Coun. Min., 95, quoted in Stokes's "Iconography," vol. 4, p. 383, under the marginal date of March 3, 1694. [No. 35.] Anno Regni Gulielmi & Marias, Regis & Reginse, || Anglise, Scotias, Franciae & Hiberna, Sixto. || The 24th of March, Anno Dom. 1694/5. || An Act for the raising and paying one hundred and || seventy Men for the securing of the Fronteers of 1 1 this Province, in the City and County of Albany. || [No imprint.] Folio, pp. 85-92. Sheetmarks Y and Z in twos. The first supplement to the Law Book of 1 694, and the first session of the Fourth Assembly, which lasted from March 1 to March 26, 1694. There are three typographical errors in the heading: (1) Hiberna for Hibernian, (2) Sixto for Sexto, and (3) 1694/5 for 1693/4. Four other acts are included besides the one titled in the heading. Described from the original in The New York Public Library. 24 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY [No. 36.] Truth Advanced || in the || Correction || of many || Gross & hurtful Errors ; || Wherein is occasionally opened & explained many great and 1 1 peculiar Mysteries and Doctrines of the 1 1 Christian Religion. 1 1 By George Keith. || Whereunto is added, |j A Chronological Treatise of the several Ages 1 1 of the World: 1 1 Showing the Intervals Time and Effects of the Seven Churches, 1 1 Seven Seals, Seven Trumpets, and seven Vials, called, The seven last 1 1 Plagues, and the various dreadful Effects that are like to ensue at the 1 1 pouring forth of each of them, which is near at hand. 1 1 To- gether with an Account of the Time of the Churches going 1 1 into the Wilder- ness, her Return, full Restoration, and Universal 1 1 spreading of the glorious Gospel into all Nations of the Earth. 1 1 As also, the Time of the Personal Anti-christ his Reign and last 1 1 Persecution ; With the Time of the Prophe- cying, Killing and Rising j | again of the two Witnesses. 1 1 And Lastly, Con- cerning the Thousand Years Reign of the 1 1 Saints with Christ yet to come, and time of beginning thereof, only | J by way of Essay and Hypothesis. | Printed in the Year 1694. || Quarto, pp. (10), 184; A Chronological Ac- count of the several ages of the World, pp. 32. Advertised at the end of the almanac for 1694 as "now in the Press." The author is said to have sailed for England in January or February, 1694, and it has been suggested that the printer's apology for the typographical errors is evidence that it was not completed until after that date. The Chronological Account has its own title-page, with imprint, Printed in the Year 1694. Copies are in the Huntington Library, the John Carter Brown Library, the New York Historical Society, and other libraries. [No. 37.] William Lancaster's Queries || to the || Quakers, || With The || ... || ... || [New York: Printed by William Bradford, 1693 or later.] Twelvemo. A fragment comprising portions of two leaves, the title and preface, was found as an end sheet in the binding of a copy of Daniel Leeds's "Temple of Wisdom," printed by Bradford at Philadelphia in 1688, now belonging to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. The binding must have been done after Bradford's removal to New York, because there are references in the fragment to the "Breach and Division. . .among the Quakers here in America," which would indicate a period as late as 1693. In the manuscript catalogue of books owned by Francis Daniel Pastorius, of Germantown, about the year 1715, there is a title, "William Lancasters ques- tions," which is perhaps the same work. It was bound at the end of other pamphlets in a volume which began with George Keith's "Refutation of the Three Opposers of Truth," printed at Philadelphia by Bradford in 1690. See Learned's Life of Pastorius, 1908, p. 278. [No. 38.] A Catechism for Children and others. [New York: Printed by William Bradford, 1693 or later.] Twentyfourmo. The above title is advertised at the end of the almanac for 1694, among books to be sold by William Bradford at New York and Philadelphia. Fragments of a similar catechism or THE FIRST YEAR OF PRINTING IN NEW YORK 25 primer were found as end sheets in the binding of the same copy of Leeds's "Temple of Wisdom," mentioned under the preceding number. Mr. Charles R. Hildeburn, who first made the discovery, thought they were part of a reprint of the New England Primer, but Mr. Paul L. Ford suggested that they might rather be from an American edition of the "Protestant Tutor," also by Benjamin Harris. Bradford imported catechisms and primers from England, and advertised them for sale; but the shape and condition of these fragments show them to be waste sheets from an edition printed in his own office. See Ford's "New England Primer," 1897, p. 17, and plate vi at pp. 22—23. The preceding list includes a dozen titles that are represented by a single surviving copy, and half a dozen more known only from the records. There must have been others which have disappeared entirely. Although the first two titles are claimed for New York, the evidence is not conclusive. Brad- ford may have done some printing in Philadelphia during the month of May, and have delayed his removal until the governor went back to New York in June. He was one of the signers of the Philadelphia Address, which, although undated, was evidently presented in May or June. The exact date of Bradford's appointment is determined by the entry in the Council Min- utes for October 12, 1693, where a warrant was ordered to be issued for twenty pounds, being his salary for six months, due on the 1 Oth preceding. The next payment was ten pounds, for one quarter's salary, to January 10, 1 694. These references were discovered by Dr. George H. Moore, of the New York Historical Society, in the manuscript records at Albany, and first printed in Wallace's "Address," p. 63.