The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-20
THE ORIGIN OF MOTHER GOOSE

A correspondent of the New York
Nation gives history of Mother Goose,
which we think is worth reading:
"rhere is not only positive but strong
| negative evidence to show that this re-
nowned lady was of New England
origin. The family originated in Eng
| land, but at what time they came TO this
country is unknown, but probably about
the year 1856. This was the wealthy
| family of Goose written also Vergoose
and Vertigoose.) They were landhold-
| ers in Boston so early as 1860. So much
for Mother Goose. Now for her melo-
dies. 1t is well known to antiqiiarians
that more than two hundred years aoo
there was ii small book in circulation in
London, bearing the name of Rhymes
for the Nursery; or Lulla-Byes for
Children which contained many of the
Identical pieces which have been hand
ed down To us, and now form part of the
Mother Goose's Melodies of the present
day. 1t contained also other pieces
much more silly, if possible, and some
that the American types of the present
day would refuse to give off an impress
sion. The cuts or illustrations thereof
were of the coarsest description. The
first book of the kind known to be print
ed in this country bears to title of
Songs for the Nursery; or, Mother
Goose's Melodies for Children Some
thing probably intended to represent
a goose, with very long neck and
mouth wide open, covered large part
of the title-page, at the bottom of which
was Printed by II. Fleet, at his print.
ing-house, Pudding Lane, 17l9. Price
two coppers." Several pages were
missing, so that the whole number could |
not be ascertained. This Il. Fleet. nc. |
cording to Isaiah Thomas, was man of |
considerable talent, and of great wit and |
humor. He was born in England, and |
was brought up in printing-office in /
the city of Bristol, where he afterwards
worked as journeyman.
[ Becoming implicated in the riotous
connected with the trial of |
DIR. Sacheverell, in Queen Anne's
time, Incl thought it prudent
to put the OceaIr between himself and
danger. He made his way to this coun-
try, and arrived in Boston, 1712.
IL was not long before he became ac-
Iuainted with the wealthy family of
Goose" branch of which he had before
known in Bristol, and was shortly
married to the eldest daughter BY the
'ecord of marriages in the City Regis
rar's office, il appears that in IT'S, June
was married, by Rev. Cotton Mather,
Thomas Fleet to Elizabeth Goose.n The {
happy couple took up their residence in
he same house with the printing-oiIice '
n Pudding Lane,' etc. l5TI
Another correspondent of the Nation
writes as follows: a@.
Thomas Fleet, the son-in- law of Moth
r Goose, first established the Boston
Weekly Rehearsal in 1871, and after {
Yards the Boston Erening Post. Mas
achusetts was then slaveholding c
ountry, and Fleet owned several ne
roes, two of whom he instructed in the
rt ofprinting. Their names were POM =
ey and Cesar-the only two Romans,
believe, who ever belonged to the i
rinting fraternity. These honest fell =,
'ws lived and printed until after the Al
ar of the Revolution, having become
eemen by the constitution Of Massa- =
lusetts in 1850. Fleet was drol and
itty in the conduct of his paper, espe- =
ally in his advertisements. Witness the ~
flowing advertisement of one of his