The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-03-10


Reference has been made to the
Declaration of Independence; printers
may not know the fact, but even that
important document was originally
printed BY q lady, Mary Catharine
GODDARD. There were women in those
days. To print that immortal State
paper in the year 1777 was to run the
risk of losing ones head
Miss Goddard was q sister of Will
liam Goddard. the first printer in
Providence. r. /. He also published
the Maryland Journal in Baltimore
IN the early part of the Revolution.
When Benjamin Franklin became
Postmaster-Genera after Congress
had superseded the British govern
ment, he appointed Goddard Comp
troller and Surveyor of Post Roads.
While he was thus engaged in public
matters, his sister conducted the at
fairs of the printing house with
marked ability, being able to person
ally perform the duties of thorough
printer, while remaining clear sighted,
orderly and energetic in the manage
ment of the business.
Anne Franklin entered the printing
office in 1872. Her husband, James
Franklin, (brother of Benjamin.
established himself in Newport, r l.,
in that year, but he died soon after.
and his widow carried on the business
successfully for several years. She
became Printer to the Colony, and
published pamphlets, supplied the
public offices with blanks of all kinds,
and also carried on a general publish
ing business. The Newport Mercury.
now regularly issued. grew out of this
printing Office in 1856 and is, with
one exception, the oldest newspaper
in the country. In 1745 Mrs. Frank
lin printed for the government an
edition of the Laws, containing $40
pages. considerable of an undertaking
for a woman in those days.
Mrs. Cornelia Bradford, wife of
Andrew Bradford, was among the
first OF our women printers. She car
ried on business with great energy for
many years after the death of her
husband, which took place in 1742.
The Bradfords, both husband aud
printers of Philadelphia.
Mrs. Hassebotch was the wife of
Nicholas I[assebotch, the first printer
of Baltimore. She succeeded to his
9.h business .a;. at once, and prpsec9ted p ss, it
Will tdlCut 0uu CuCIky. nc lOIlOW-
ing anecdote is related in connection
with one of her most important pub
lications: I'm 1878, a missionary had
Bible in his hand, explaining it to a
parry of Indians. He pronounced it
to be the Gospel, the Truth, the
Word of Cod What said one Of
them; did the Great All-Powerful
make this work p Yes replied the
missionary, it's his work The In
dian, taking the literal import of the
words, answered Indignantly, L be-
lieve it to be a great lie. [ 60 to
Baltimore last month when / see
Dutch woman make him; the Great
Spirit want no Dutchman help him ,"
Mrs. FL. Boyle published paper at
williamsburg. Virginia, in 1774. 1t
favored the Crown, and lived but
short time. Mrs. Boyle was a good
printer, however, and fully understood
her business.
Mrs. Elizabeth Timothee. after the
death of her husband in 1773, contin.
ued publishing the Gazette in Charles
ton, s. G. She conducted it for two
years, when, her son becoming of age,
she passed it over to him.
From all accounts, the early women
printers in the United States were as
remarkable as journalists, as in the
more mechanical work OF publishing.
In all the records of those days, it is
in no instance limited that the news
papers were not fully as well edited,
and as energetically published by
women as by men.
Mrs. Mary Holt, widow of John
Holt, was publisher of the New York
Journal in 1898, paper which has
already been conducted by woman
printer and Journalist, Mrs. Zenger,
forty-fve years before. This publi-
cation performed marked services for
the revolutionary cause, and as re-.
ward, the publisher, Mrs. Holt, was
appointed printer to the State of
New York, the only woman recorded
as ever having filled this Office.
Last mentioned. but not least in
merit and reputation, is Mrs. Jane
Atkin. This lady. at the death Of her
father in Boston in 1902, continued
his business with a talent and indus
try remarkable even among women of
the revolutionary period. Her fame
was high from the excellent character
and ability of the productions issued
from her press. She was also noted
as thorough printer and severe and
accurate proof reader.
Mention should perhaps be made of
Margaret Draper, OF Boston, as she
conducted unaided, the Boston News
Letter, the first regular newspaper
published in America. She was not
one of the Republican women, how
ever, and when the British evacuated
Boston she went to England. whore
she received a pension from the gov
ernment.
In the light of these facts, now mat
ters Of history, let US not claim for
this decade the honor of having intro.
duced women into the printing Office
Women opened for themselves this
and worthy field of labor,
and the success which has always at
tended their efforts is the best proof
of their capacity as printers. publish
ers. and journalists.-Rowell's News
paper Reporter.
Talking Of D0etoF's Fees.
Talking of doctors fees, reminds us
of Sir Ashley Cooper and his fifteen
thousand pounds year. His largest