Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-09-03
By T.. G. Sven,

"a history OF printing in Colonial
Maryland. lG3G-l776, by Lawrence G..
Wroth. first assistant librarian hf
tho Enoch Pratt Free Library, Bal
timore, published by the Typuthc tao
of Baltimore. 1871
This volume is of much Importance
to Virginia historians and bib!!ogra-
pliers. for the reason that two OF the
early printers or Maryland were also
printers in Virginia. one of these.
William Parks. vino established the
first permanent printing office in
Virginia in 1880. and who in 1896.
Degan tho Virginia Gazette. had
opened printing Office IN Maryland
and established the Maryland Ga
zette before coming to Virginia.
Mr.. Wroth has made u most OK
hnuHtive study OF all tho printed and
manuscript sources that might throw
liCSt upon his subject IT has not
been all easy subject for iuvcst!gn-
tioE Strange as II may seem. tho
carly history OF printing in Maryland
and Virginia has been moro or less
6hroudcd in mystery. and tho cause
Is apparent. Much OF tho manuscript
material that would enlightcn the
subject has not been open for in
reStigation until recent years. Tho
first chapter. entitled Tho Nuthead
PreHs of JamcRtown. St. Mary's and
:
land; tho Inauguration OF Printing
In Virginia and Maryland: Dinah Nut
dead. His Successor:" is OF much
value TO tho Investigator OF Nirg lnia
history. 1t IS well known that MIR.
John Buckncr, n merchant of G.ouces-
ter County In 1852, brought in "a
press and printer. and set up at
5amcstown tho second printing cstab-
Nshment in English America. Tho
Council OF Governors and Board o.
Trade In England. however. forbade
this press to be continued. No cx-
ample ot tho work Of this press IS
in existence today.
s. Parks First Printer
This attempt OF Buckner having
teen an utter failure. the crcdi, DC
longs to PARKS o! having es;a blishcd
tho frst pe.mannt press In Virginia
in 1880. The printer employed by
Buckner was William Suthead. Mr..
Wroth has collected sufficient evil
dence. we believe. to prove that VIII
liam Nuthead. who was At James
town. was Identical with William
Suthead OF Maryland who operated
press there until 1895. the date
OF his death. when he was succeed
ed in business by his wife. Mr.. Wroth
has successfully untaugied most
perplexinE problem ~ early Vir-
ginln and Maryland history. Pre-
ceding tho discussion OF william
Parks. o: Maryland and Virginia.
there Is detailed account of the
rressea OF William Baden. Thomas
Reading. John Peter Zcngcr and
Michael Piper. and OF Evan Jones.
Sookseller. In the chapter on Parks
the author has assembled all tho in :
formation already known. and has
ADDED very considerable amount Of
81. tho result OF his own ind"-
fatigah!e investigation. William
Parks was born in England and bred
to the composing stick before leav-
ing his native land. Where was his
initial employment in America
whether he worked first In Penn
sylvania, or IN one OF tho northcfu
colonies. or whether nc came direct
~ TO Maryland are questions con-
corning him which have not been
answered. 1t Is possible that nc was
tourn-yman In the shop OF Andrew
Bradford, OF Philadelphia."
I<nnyv Litue OF Parks.
There Is. IN general. paucity OF
personal details in our knowledge OF
this outstanding figure IN American
typograp h!cal history. Tho surname
q. Eleanor. his wife. is conjcctural,
and there is uncertainty also in re-
gard to his descendants. Ie left at
his death daughter Eleanor. who
iuaIiiCu JOHH NueINDn, OF fidIoNtT
County. Va. and became the mother
OF Sarah Shelton. who was presum-
ably the FIRST Wife OF Patrick Henry"
AT Parks death. which occurred sud :
denly In 1851 when no was on board
ship In the bay rendy 10 sail 10 Eng
land. his property was estimated TO
be worth about $4,000. hut his debts
were almost tho same. The first
product OF Parks press in Maryland
appeared in 1926. He established the
Maryland Gazette In 1927. In 1880
he established also press at VIII
liamsburg, and in 1885 began the
publication OF tho Virginia Gazette.
In the years. from 1926 TO 1897.
hrks was operating two presses. one
at Annapolis and tho other at Will
Hamburg. Tho volume which came
from Parks press In Williamsburg.
nearly 200 years ago. have not been
equaled since that time in Virginia.
for beauty of type. clearncss Of i'm
preston, quality of paper and per-
manency Of binding. II should be
mentioned In this connection that
Parks operated one OF the first paper
Hills In the United States, having
erected the mill on what Is still some
times called Paper MIL Creek, near
Williamsburg. That Parks was q