The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1897-04-23
A Newbury Printer of O1den Time.

concerning book printed in Newbury
before 1900, surprised many who did not
know that the "art preservative" was
cultivated here so long ago. But such is
the fact.
At the request of Hon. Horace W
Bailey, the owner of this little volume
and others, | will give you what | know
concerning an Old-time printer in this
town.
The little volume is curiosity 1t con-
| SiStS of 100 pages, measuring SIX inches
by four, and is bound literally in boards.
thin sheets of wood covered with paper,
| forming the covers The type is clear,
and the edges of the leaves are untrim-
med. The scope is somewhat indicated
by the title page. "The Poor Mans Com
panion, or Miscellaneous Observations
Concerning Penal and Sanguinary Laws,
the Mode and Nature of Evidence, and
an Inquiry into the PrOpriety and Policy
of Newhampshire, in New England, New
bury, (Nermont). Printed by Nathaniel
Coverly, and sold at his book store near
the Court House"
This formidable title ushers in some OBJ
servatiOns upon the duties and privileges
of the citizen. This John Young at one
time lived in Haverhill, and in his life
played many parts in many places.
There is reason to believe that a print
ing office existed in Newbury as early as
1890, but by whom conducted, or where
located never knew. Somewhere about
1892 Nathaniel Coverly came to Haver-
hill from Salem, Mass, and established
himself in the printing business. Two or
three years later his son, Nathaniel, Jr.,
who had learned his trade in his fathers
office and afterwards had some expert
ence in the Office of a Salem paper was
induced by Col. William Wallace and Col.
Thomas johnson, to come to NeWbury
and set up the printing trade.
His place of business was in building
long ago burned, which stood nearly OPP
posite the house of the late Miss Swasey
on the OXbOw, "near the Court House."
The Court House of that day, built in
1773, stood opposite the cemetery and the
jail was behind it. This building was al
so used as a church before the erection
of the cold meeting house" in 1888. The
building often alluded to as the "Old
Court House near the school house, was
never court house at all, but was built
by subscription in 1901, to convene the
legislature of that year. 1t was the Oc-
caSion of numerous lawsuits and local
quarrels, which did not wholly cease
when it fell to pieces somewhere about
1852.
Mr.. Coverly carried on quite an extern
sive business at one time, perhaps for
some years. He did large amount of
local printing, much of which has entire
ly disappeared. IL also printed several
books, mostly reprints. | have seen five
or six dutere2t works which bear his <n-
print, aid THERE were, doubtless, others
two small school books, a sermon for Rev
Nathaniel Lambert and another for one
of the Ryegate or Barnet ministers, and
several religious works. These he kept
for sale in his book store, which was the
first room III the building. The best
,,F hi nplT | co NHrlS
reprint of Flavels "roken for Mourners'
The execution of this work in both print
ing and binding, is very good, and when |
we consider the crude methods of that |
time, and the many inconvenience of
this remote part of the country i'll that |
day, we marvel at his skill. When with |
such work before us, we remark the null |
titude of improvements which have been |
made in the printing trade within cen
tury, we are forced to the conclusion that
the actual reSult-thiS printed page-haS
improved very little in that time. 1t is
only in the facility with which the print
ed pages are produced that the improve
ment lies. | wish it were possible to Sc
cure copies of all the books printed here
by Mr. Coverly, to be deposited in the
Ienney Memorial Library.
Sometime i'll 1876 Mr.. COyerly started a
newspaper. which he published about six
months. Why it was discontinued | have
40 certain knowledge, but probably from
want of support. 1t could have had but
l small circulation, and Rev. Clark Per
", in his historical address in 1881, refers
% it's publication as an almost forgotten
act, even then. | have seen but one copy
IF this publication, which was so badly
that the top OF the first page
the title had been torn off.
In size it was, when opened, about as
arge as a single leaf of the OPINION and
vas well printed. In politics it was fed
eralist.
Somewhere about the end of the CEN
ury Mr.. Covery closed out his business
lere and returned to Salem. From some
ettprS of his written a year or two later,
t would seem that he had been Overtak-
IN by i'll health and financial trouble. I
lis subsequent history have never tried I
o trace.
some of his type was purchased by
Farley & GOsS, who published at Peacham
THE Green Mountain Patriot" from 1898
% 1907.
| should be very glad to obtain some
more details of the man and his work. :
think there was no further attempt to ,
establish a printing office mere uDtll at
er the Seminary started in 1884.
How long the elder COverly continued
lis work at Haverhill | know not. Mr..
Bailey owns also a sermon printed by him
n 1886 which is so very rare that even :
Rev. J. l.. Merrill had never seen 1t. 1t
5 entitled. "A sermon delivered at Ha-
,erhill. New Hampshire, July %, 1896, at
he execution of Thomas Powers. By
SOah Worcester \. NJ, pastor of church
n Thornton. HaveThill, New Hamp- t
hire. Printed and sold by \. COverly, t
1856. {
This Powers was a mulatto who was +
xecuted for heinous crime committed
t Lebanon, December Z, 795.
Mr.. Ezra Abbott, a native of Newbury, :
wing many years ago in his old age at 4
anton. Maine, once gave me some curl l
us particulars regarding that event.
'offins History of Boscawen" says that =
)r. Peterson of that town and DR.. Lacy ..
f Hopkinton rode to Haverhill and were !
resent at that execution and purchased !
he body of the criminal for dissection. {
Dr.. Lacy skinned the body, had the skin /
aimed and pair of boots made from it. |
This sermon is bound in volume with )
everal election and other discourses,
-hieh bear the autograph of Royal Ty- !
ar. an early Chief Justice of this state.
Mr. Bailey takes pride in showing his
reaSureS to any who are interested in I