page_title: John Holt (publisher)
section_title: Biography
hierarchical_section_title: John Holt (publisher) / Biography
context_page_description: John Holt was a colonial American newspaper publisher, printer, postmaster, and mayor of Williamsburg, Virginia, United States.
context_section_description: Holt was born in 1721 (exact date unknown), at colonial Williamsburg in the state of Virginia. He received his formal schooling and training as a merchant in the colonial town. His brother-in-law, William Hunter, the "public printer", likely taught him the printing business there.
  Holt first became a store shop merchant at Duke of Gloucester street in colonial Williamsburg on lots numbers 49 and 50 in a "new store" he built about 1745, now known as "Holt's storehouse" on the north side of the street. He also leased lot numbers 266, 267, 268 and 700 in colonial Williamsburg from Thomas Nelson during 1745 to 1753. He had a house on lots 267 and 268 at the corner of Nicholson and Botetourt Streets, known today as the "Ravenscroft Site".
  Holt eventually became the mayor of colonial Williamsburg in November 1752 and served one term from 1752 to 1753. He also held other public positions; from 1748 to 1754 he was Justice of the Peace for York County, Virginia.
  In 1754 Holt had a negative cash flow problem at his Williamsburg storehouse, where he stocked general merchandise (i.e. groceries, dry goods, sewing items, china), so gave that business up. He then became one of two deputy postmasters-general for the British American colonies. He worked with James Parker as a deputy partner.
  Holt was quite concerned about the postal system and gave extensive improvement suggestions to Samuel Adams on January 29, 1776, from the practical experience he gained as a deputy postmaster. Part of the letter suggested that the Continental Congress should adequately supply whatever was necessary to provide reliable postal service. Another suggestion Holt recommended was good delivery of all letters to and from soldiers on duty and that they might go free of postage. Holt in the  New York Journal or General Advertiser   newspaper was the first person in New York to recommend a newsdealers' system for the delivery of newspapers instead of using post riders, which was dangerous.
  Holt played a role in the early history of the Connecticut Gazette. In 1755 Thomas Clap, President of Yale College, invited Benjamin Franklin to set up a printing press in New Haven, Connecticut. Benjamin Mecom, Clap's nephew, was to operate the press to publish the paper Circumstances changed and Mecom declined to run the publication. Franklin then sold the materials to James Parker, a well-known printer who began the Connecticut Gazette on April 12, 1755;  the first newspaper printed in the colony of Connecticut.
  Holt went to Parker in 1754 with a recommendation letter. Parker gave him a job in the printing business helping publish the Gazette. The front page appeared with the co-partnership name of "James Parker and Company" on December 13, 1755. Holt became the junior partner and resident editor conducting the printing business of the newspaper publication at New Haven. He also ran the New Haven post office at the same time. Parker spent most of his time at his printing-house in New York City, so was often away from his New Haven businesses – which Holt managed.
  In 1760 Holt went to New York City to manage Parker's newspaper business there, the New-York Gazette and Weekly Post-Boy. On July 31, 1760, the newspaper appeared with the title of "James Parker and Company". Holt became James' junior partner in this newspaper, as had previously happened in Connecticut.
  Both Holt and Parker controlled the post riders from New York City to Hartford, Connecticut. These post riders met the post riders from Boston.
  The partnership broke up on May 6, 1762. Holt then became the general manager of the newspaper and changed the name to New-York Journal or General Advertiser. He rented the publishing facilities from Parker on a four-year lease. He leased the business from Parker until 1766, moving to "the lower End of Broad Street, opposite the Exchange" in May 1763. Holt additionally then published books and other materials (i.e. pamphlets, handbills, broadsides) that were generally political.
  The publications Holt printed reflected his readers' struggle between the colonies and England. 
caption: Holt's storehouse (center)
  Colonial Williamsburg reconstruction
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