San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-04-08
A Notable Anniversary.


New YORK, April S.-The New York
Historical society has arranged for the
celebration today Of the two hundredth
anniversary of the establishment of a
printing press in New York colony by
VIM. Bradford. the exact date of which
was April 10, 1893. On the same Occa-
sion the founding of the first news
paDer, the New York Gazette. October
IS, 1925, will also be COMMUNICATED. The
paper was printed on the site OF the
present Cotton Exchange, and 1T is in
the main room of the Exchange that
the celebration will take place today,
its use having been rendered to the sOcie-
ty. A search has been made for the place
where the first printing press was lOcat-
ed. and it is thought. that IL was on the
north side of Pearl. then Dock street, be-
tween Broad and Old Slip. A further in
vestigation on the subject is yet to be
made. Two tablets will be set up, one on
the site of the old newspaper and the
other where the printing press stood. AT
the Cotton Exchange there will be prayer
at o CLOCK this afternoon by Rev. Dix,
an address by Hon. John King, president
OF the society, and by the orator OF the
day.
Monday the Grolier Club will hold a
meeting at its rooms. and appropriate
services will be observed, the feature of
which will be an address by Charles R.
Hildeburn. of Philadelphia.
On Wednesday the last public demon
Stration will be observed by the rypothe
tae with a dinner at DelmonicO'S.
William Bradford, the first printer in
the Middle Colonies, was born May 90,
1868, in LeiceStershire, England. This
appears by his own statement, but on the
tom bStOne a wrong date is given. he
was appIentced TO Andrew Sowle, a
Quaker printer, in Grace church street,
London. who had suffered persecution for
his faith. Before his final departure
for America he married his masters
daughter, his first visit having been
made in company with William Penn,
when the foundations of Philadelphia
were laid. On his return to this country
he brought with him some second hand
type, and set up his Office near Phila-
delphia," but where is not exactly
known. His first work was the "Kalen-
darum PennSivanienSe," an almanac
for 1856. He had several difficulties
with the local government during the
next seven years, bnt in 1862 he cSpoused
the side of George Keith, a Quaker, who
had arraigned the magistrates for their
abandonment of the Friends principles
| in fitting ont armOrPd vessels to put down
piracy. He printed pamphlets taking
Kcith'S side. and for issuing one of them
was thrown into prison, his tools being
taken from him and not wholly restored
lOI lllUuluS dlltlt
a little later than 1925 Bradford began
paper mil at Eizabethtown. n. j., as
he had before helped to establish one near
Philadelphia on Paper Mill Run. He
had two children. Andrew was brought
up to his fathers trade. and the other
was employed in it for a while, but went
to sea on account of his health, and wbeu
he came back became a plumber. Brad
ford probably died at the house of this
son, whose name was the same as his
own. 1t was on Hanover square, about
where the office of w. Il. Grace Il Co. is
at present, at the station OF the Third
Avenue Elevated railroad. The date was
May %. 1852. He left no estate. Over
his grave in Trinity churchyard, New
York, was a tombstone reading:
Here lies the body Of Mr.. William Brad
ford, Printer: who departed this Life
May %. 1852, aged ~ Years: He was born
in Leicestershire in Old England in 1860:
and came over to America in 1852 before
the City of Philadelphia was laid out He
was Printer 10 this Government for up
wards of 30 Years: and being quite worn
out with Old age and IabOur: He left this
mortal State in the holy Hopes OF
blessed immortality.
Reader, reflect how too you'll quit this
Stage.
You'll find but few attain to such an Age.
Lies full of Pain: LO: here's a Place of
Rest.
Prepare to meet your GOD: then you are
bloSt
Here lies also the Body of Elizabeth
Wife to the said William Bradford: who
departed this Life June s, 1871, aged IS
years.