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| resting_place = [[Trinity Church Cemetery]] |
| resting_place = [[Trinity Church Cemetery]] |
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| occupation = [[Printer (publisher)|Printer]] |
| occupation = [[Printer (publisher)|Printer]] |
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| spouse = Elizabeth |
| spouse = Elizabeth Sowel |
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| children = [[Andrew Bradford]] |
| children = [[Andrew Bradford]] |
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| relatives = [[William Bradford (American Revolutionary printer)|William Bradford]] <small>(grandson)</small> |
| relatives = [[William Bradford (American Revolutionary printer)|William Bradford]] <small>(grandson)</small> |
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}} |
}} |
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⚫ | '''William Bradford''' (May 20, 1663 – May 23, 1752) was an early English [[Printer (publisher)|printer]] in colonial [[British America]]. He is best known as |
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⚫ | '''William Bradford''' (May 20, 1663 – May 23, 1752) was an early English [[Printer (publisher)|printer]] and publisher in colonial [[British America]]. He is best known as a the founder of the press in the [[Middle colonies]] of the [[Thirteen Colonies]] and the head of a family that included printers and publishers for 140 years. He was also known for controversies regarding freedom of the press. He operated continuously printing establishments for sixty-two years. He started his printing career in London and emigrated to America in 1685. He established Pennsylvania's first printing press. He established with others the initial paper mill in the [[Thirteen American Colonies]]. |
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==Biography== |
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He had printed and published thousands of titles. Besides having printing shops in the province of Pennsylvania, the province of New York, the province of New Jersey, he was at five different locations in New York City. He printed [[almanac]]s, newspapers, books, pamphlets, [[Broadside (printing)|broadsides]], blank forms, paper money, legal documents, colonial laws, and religious material. He was [[Public Printer of the United States|public printer]] for the [[Province of New York|province of New York]] and [[Province of New Jersey|province of New Jersey]]. He was associated with [[William Penn]] and [[George Fox]]; founder of the Quakers. |
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===Early life=== |
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⚫ | William Bradford was born |
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==Early life== |
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[[File:William Penn, The Excellent Priviledge of Liberty and Property (1687, title page; 1897 reprint).jpg|thumb|Title page of ''The Excellent Privilege of Liberty and Property'' (1687, here reprinted in 1897), which was written by [[William Penn]] and published by William Bradford]] |
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In 1685, the Bradfords emigrated to [[Philadelphia]], and Elizabeth gave birth to their first child, [[Andrew Bradford|Andrew]], in 1686. Bradford set up Pennsylvania's first printing press and, in 1690, helped construct [[William Rittenhouse]]'s paper mill, the first in the English colonies.<ref name=oxf /> |
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⚫ | William Bradford was born on May 20, 1663, to William and Ann Bradford in the village of [[Barwell]] in [[Leicestershire]], England, where his father was a printer and farmer.{{sfn|Wall|1964|page=362}} He was baptized at the local Anglican parish church, as was required by law, and the Barwell Parish Church baptismal records show May 30, 1663.{{sfn|Wall|1964|page=362}} According to historian Alexander James Wall of the New York Historical Society his parents, however, were likely members of the [[Religious Society of Friends]] (Quakers). His father died when he was four years old.<ref name=oxf>{{cite ODNB |id=3181 |first=Calhoun |last=Winton |title=Bradford, William 1663–1752}}</ref> |
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====Political activity==== |
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In his early days as a printer, Bradford published an [[almanac]], "Kalendarium Pennsilvaniense" by Samuel Atkins. In the almanac, Bradford apologized for errors caused by his troublesome travel but hoped that readers would appreciate the hard work he underwent in order to bring print to the Middle Colonies. The publication received immediate attention, especially from [[Province of Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania]] Governor [[William Penn]] who took offense at a reference to him. Atkins was quickly reprimanded for the incident and Bradford was told not to print anything unless it was approved by the Pennsylvania Council. Later in 1687, Bradford was informed not to print anything about Quakers unless they approved it beforehand. In 1689, the new Pennsylvania governor [[John Blackwell (Governor)|John Blackwell]] was outraged and officially reprimanded Bradford when he printed William Penn's original [[Frame of Government of Pennsylvania|charter]] for the colony. Bradford argued that he printed what he received and was not liable. Bradford then quit his business and briefly went to England, to return in 1690.<ref name="bradbio">[http://www.answers.com/topic/william-bradford-1663-1752 William Bradford: Biography from Answers.com]</ref> |
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Bradford was apprenticed outside the family for learning a trade as was customary at the time. His trainer was Andrew Sowel (some sources spell Sowle or Sorole), the foremost Quaker printer in [[London]], at the sign of the [[Crooked Billet]] in Holloway Lane at [[Shoreditch]]. Bradford started working for Sowel about 1680 and had mastered the trade and was free from his apprenticeship December 3, 1684. He married the master's eldest daughter, Elizabeth, on April 28, 1685. Sowel arranged for the two to join [[William Penn]] in his [[Province of Pennsylvania|new colony in North America]] with a letter of recommendation from [[George Fox]], founder of the Quakers, to become the colonial printer.{{sfn|Selby|2018|page=123}} The couple sailed to America four months after they were married.{{sfn|Wall|1964|page=362}}{{sfn|Spencer|2015|page=171}}{{sfn|Thomas|1970|page=340}} |
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In 1692, Bradford was arrested, tried, and jailed for printing without an imprint. His press and type were seized but later returned to him in 1693.<ref name=oxf /> |
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==Mid life== |
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[[File:Visible Churches 1689.jpg|thumb|left|upright 1.0|''Visible Churches'' 1689 composed by George Keith, printed by William Bradford]] |
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Bradford with his wife arrived in America sometime in November of 1685 and settled at a location near where [[Philadelphia]] was eventually laid out. He then established Pennsylvania's first printing press, likely in the [[Chester, Pennsylvania|Chester]] or [[Burlington, Pennsylvania|Burlington]] area. His first publication was an [[almanac]], ''Kalendarium Pennsilvaniense'' compiled by Samuel Atkins, ''Student in the Mathamaticks and Astrology.''{{sfn|Selby|2018|page=123}}{{sfn|McMurtrie|1936|page=2}} Bradford advertised it as available to purchase ''near Philadelphia in Pennsilvania'' on December 28, 1685.{{sfn|Johns|1992|page=24}} The almanac was sometimes also known as ''America's Messenger, Being an Almanack for Year of Grace 1686.'' It contained both American news and British news.{{sfn|Thomas|1970|page=341}} |
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In 1693, Bradford applied for and was appointed to the position of public printer for [[Province of New York|New York]]. He lived on [[Pearl Street (Manhattan)|Pearl Street]] in Manhattan, then moved to [[Stone Street (Manhattan)|Stone Street]] in 1698. His offices were located in [[Hanover Square (Manhattan)|Hanover Square]]. In 1702, he was appointed public printer of [[New Jersey]] (a post held concurrently with his New York position), and became clerk of the New Jersey assembly in 1710<ref name=oxf /> |
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Bradford wrote an introduction in the almanac of "The Printer to the Readers" describing his new printing business he had just set up. In it he apologized for any printing errors the readers may find in the almanac, as that was caused by his difficult traveling that had produced disorder and confusion in the transporting of his [[Sort (typesetting)|typesetting characters]] used in his [[printing press]], but hoped that readers would appreciate the hard work he underwent in order to bring printed material to the [[Middle Colonies]]. The almanac publication received immediate attention, especially from the Quakers and Pennsylvania Governor William Penn who took offense at a reference to him as "Lord Penn" and that those words were to be taken out.{{sfn|Wall|1964|page=363}}{{sfn|Wroth|1994|page=30}} Atkins was quickly reprimanded for the incident and Bradford was told not to print anything unless it was approved by the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly council.{{sfn|Spencer|2015|page=171}}{{sfn|McMurtrie|1936|page=2}} |
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Bradford printed the first book in New York City, "New-England's Spirit of Persecution Transmitted to Pennsylvania" in 1693 by George Keith, a Quaker political writer.<ref>{{cite web|title=When Was the First Book Printed in NYC?|url=http://www.nyhistory.org/community/first-book-printed-in-nyc|publisher=New-York Historical Society|accessdate=8 May 2013}}</ref> |
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Bradford later published ''An Almanack for year of the Christian account 1687'' compiled by Daniel Leeds, student of agriculture, which is the oldest of his publications known with a date. The 1687 sheet almanac that he sold came with twelve sections that began traditionally with March and went to February of the next year. At the bottom of the sheets was an explanation of the pages, an account of the [[eclipses]] for the year, and some rules in [[husbandry]].{{sfn|Thomas|1970|page=341}} The Monthly Meeting at Philadelphia directed Bradford to collect all copies that he had just printed and destroy them as the publication had paragraphs that were offensive to the Quakers. He did this and was compensated for the copies and his labor.{{sfn|Wall|1964|page=363}} In 1688, he printed ''Temple of Wisdom,'' the first full-sized book that had been released in the [[middle colonies]].{{sfn|Selby|2018|page=123}}{{sfn|Spencer|2015|page=171}} |
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In 1723 when [[Benjamin Franklin]] was in New York immediately after leaving [[Boston]], he approached Bradford for employment, and Bradford referred him to his son in Philadelphia.<ref>Benjamin Franklin (1791), Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin</ref> |
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Bradford was living in Philadelphia by 1689 and had established a bookstore. He published a booklet in 1689 composed by Quaker missionary [[George Keith (missionary)|George Keith]] titled ''The Presbyterian and Independent Visible Churches in New England,''<ref name=Princeton_Chronicle/> that according to historian [[Isaiah Thomas]] that owned a copy was the oldest known book printed in Philadelphia.{{sfn|Thomas|1970|page=342}}{{sfn|Bishop|1861|page=168}} According to book dealer historian [[William S. Reese]] it is the one of the first books printed in America.<ref name=Princeton_Chronicle/>{{sfn|Murphy|1884|page=193}} In that year Joseph Growdon, a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly council, hired Bradford to print William Penn's original [[Frame of Government of Pennsylvania|charter]] for the province. The new Pennsylvania governor [[John Blackwell (Governor)|John Blackwell]] was outraged and reprimanded him. Bradford argued that he printed what he received.{{sfn|Spencer|2015|page=171}}{{sfn|Johns|1992|page=27}} He claimed in his account of the incident that he was not liable for publishing as he did not compose it and that he was not bound to testify against himself.{{sfn|Wall|1964|page=364}} This incident was an early test of freedom of the press, for the people of Pennsylvania should have been allowed to know their rights and privileges with their laws.{{sfn|Wall|1964|page=363}} |
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Between 1725 and 1744, Bradford printed the ''[[New-York Gazette]]'', [[Province of New York|New York]]'s first newspaper.<ref name=oxf /> In 1731, he married a woman named Smith. In 1734, his former apprentice, [[John Peter Zenger]], was brought to court for [[libel]], but Bradford remained neutral during the case.<ref name=oxf /> |
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Bradford retired at the age of 81 in 1744. He died on May 23, 1752, and was interred in the [[Trinity Churchyard Cemetery]] on [[Wall Street]] in [[Manhattan]].<ref name=oxf /> |
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Bradford in 1690 with [[William Rittenhouse|a paper-maker]] and several merchants founded at [[Roxborough, Pennsylvania]], the initial [[Historic RittenhouseTown|paper mill]] in [[British North America|America]].{{sfn|Spencer|2015|page=171}}<ref name=CT6_30_1889>{{cite news |url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/32642902/chicago-tribune/ |title= Two Hundred Years Ago|newspaper= Chicago Tribune |location=Chicago, Illinois|page=25 |date= June 30, 1889 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] {{open access}}|access-date= September 25, 2021}}</ref><ref name=Britannica_Bradford>{{cite web |url= https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Bradford-American-printer-1663-1752 |title=William Bradford / American printer (1663-1752) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2021 |website=Britannica online |publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica |access-date= September 25, 2021|quote=..., he established the first paper mill in America, at Roxborough....}}</ref> He had his doubts about this undertaking at first and was not a steady customer of the products of the mill because he had not received the newspaper nor book business he thought he would get from the Quakers.{{sfn|Faragher|1990|page=45}} He had sent his wife and two infant sons to England and was making preparations to follow to become the replacement printer for Sowel who had died.{{sfn|Selby|2018|page=123}} At that time there was the beginnings of disagreements among the Philadelphia Quakers, which was followed by the Yearly Meeting to grant Bradford a yearly salary and as much business they could throw his way to induce him to remain in the colonies. For further enticement the 1691 Yearly Meeting agreed that all books printed for the Quakers were to come with a minimum 200 copy order. This along with other enticements motivated him to stay and recall his family from England.{{sfn|Wall|1964|page=366-368}} It wasn't until he had moved to New York later did he have enough business to contract with the managing partners of the paper mill to get preferential terms on products.{{sfn|Bidwell|2013 |page=liii}} The mill was the only paper manufacturer in the [[Thirteen Colonies]] until 1710.<ref name=CT6_30_1889/> It was followed by hundreds of paper mills constructed in the United States by 1832.{{sfn|Bidwell|2013|pages= 1-84}} |
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Bradford is best known as the founder of the press in the [[Middle colonies]] of the [[Thirteen Colonies]].{{sfn|Hildeburn|1969|pages=1-17}} In 1692, he printed thirteen of Keith’s writings, including ''An Appeal from the Twenty-Eight Judges to Spirit of Truth'', which the authorities construed as rebellious against the local government. Bradford was arrested, tried, and jailed for printing without a [[Imprint (trade name)|trade name imprint]], a violation of the [[Licensing of the Press Act 1662|Licensing Act of 1662]]. This was America's first trial regarding [[freedom of the press]].{{sfn|Selby|2018|page=123}} His press and type letters were seized and he was imprisoned for a four month time that ended in an inconclusive trial December 1692 due to Bradford's own persuasive skills in court.<ref name=oxf />{{sfn|Selby|2018|page=124}} He had his equipment and type returned to him through the intervention of New York governor [[Benjamin Fletcher]].{{sfn|Hildeburn|1969 |page=2}} He then printed three works over the next few months, all without a printer's name or place of publication. <ref name=Princeton_Chronicle> {{cite journal |last=Reese |first=William S. |date=1978 |title= Works of George Keith Printed in America: A Chronological Bibliography |journal=The Princeton University Library Chronicle |volume=39 |issue=2 |pages=98-124}}</ref>{{sfn|Hildeburn|1969 |page=2}} One of note was the first book in New York City, "New-England Persecution Transmitted to Pennsylvania" authored by Keith and with some words in Hebrew type.<ref>{{cite web|title=When Was the First Book Printed in NYC?|url=http://www.nyhistory.org/community/first-book-printed-in-nyc|publisher=New-York Historical Society|accessdate=8 May 2013}}</ref> |
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Bradford in April 1693 accepted an invitation of Fletcher to become the official [[Public Printer of the United States|public printer]] for the [[province of New York]], then an Anglo-Dutch village. His first official publication with his trade mark imprint is deemed the [[Broadside (printing)|broadside]] ''Proclamation'' printed from his press on June 8, 1693.{{sfn|Hildeburn|1969 |page=2}} Another broadside he printed in 1693 was ''Catalogue of Fees'' was his first protest against keeping slaves.{{sfn|Hildeburn|1969 |page=2}} Another was a structured work composed by governor Fletcher titled ''A journal of the Late Actions of the French.''{{sfn|Hildeburn|1969 |page=2}} A book of note was one authored by Keith called ''Truth Advanced'' printed in March or April of 1694.{{sfn|Hildeburn|1969 |page=2}} This was followed that year by ''The Laws & Acts of the General Assembly for Their Majesties Province of New York, [[William III of England|King William]] and [[Mary II of England|Queen Mary]].''{{sfn|Hildeburn|1969 |page=2}} |
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Bradford first lived on [[Pearl Street (Manhattan)|Pearl Street]] in downtown Manhattan in New York City, then moved to the [[Stone Street (Manhattan)|Stone Street]] location in 1698 where his offices were located in [[Hanover Square (Manhattan)|Hanover Square]]. He was located in five different locations in New York City.{{sfn|Wall|1964|page=381}} His printing office published session laws, almanacs, and religious material. Some of the works composed by Keith's cohorts hurled against the Quakers were ''A Cage of Unclean Birds'', ''The Spirit of Railing Shimei'', and ''The Mystery of FoxCraft.''{{sfn|Hildeburn|1969 |page=2}} A publication of note that Bradford printed in 1715 was the ''Book of Common Prayer'' in the Mohawk language, which was also known as the Mohawk Prayer Book, that was for the use by missionaries.{{sfn|Hildeburn|1969 |page=12}} He was the governor's printer in the province of New York for three decades.{{sfn|Selby|2018|page=123}} |
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Bradford was appointed public printer of [[New Jersey]] in 1703, which was a post held concurrently with his New York position.{{sfn|Hildeburn|1969 |page=13}} He was paid a salary of {{FXConvert|GBR|25|cursign=£|year=1736|index=UK-GDP|r=0}}, which did not include special work that gave him additional money such as printing bills of credit or printing the ''Votes of Assembly.''{{sfn|Wall|1964|page=372}} He became clerk for the New Jersey Assembly in 1710.<ref name=oxf /> He was in this post until 1718 and paid a a salary of between {{FXConvert|GBR|20|cursign=£|year=1718|index=UK-GDP|r=-1}} and {{FXConvert|GBR|30|cursign=£|year=1718|index=UK-GDP|r=-1}}. Soon after he became clerk he received a temporary appointment with John Johnson and Joseph Billop as commissioners for the office of Treasurer of New Jersey.{{sfn|Wall|1964|page=373}} Another source of income he had was from 1716 to 1721 as a tax collector on alcoholic spirits of beer, rum, brandy, wine, and [[hard cider]].{{sfn|Wall|1964|page=373}} |
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== Later life and death == |
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Bradford published the first number of the ''[[New-York Gazette]]'' on October 16, 1725, the first newspaper printed in the province of New York{{sfn|Hildeburn|1969 |page=14}} and printed it between 1725 and 1744.<ref name=oxf /> In 1727 he took [[James Parker (publisher)|James Parker]] as an [[apprentice]] for an eight year term. {{sfn|Dyer|1982|p=3}} In 1731, Bradford's first wife died and afterwards he married a widow named Smith.{{sfn|Hildeburn|1969 |page=17}} In 1734, his former apprentice, [[John Peter Zenger]], was brought to court for [[libel]],{{sfn|Wall|1964|page=380}} but Bradford remained neutral during the case.<ref name=oxf /> He retired at the age of 80 in 1743 and lived his last years with his son William.{{sfn|Hildeburn|1969 |page=14}} He declined in health and died at his son's house on May 23, 1752.{{sfn|Hildeburn|1969 |page=14}} He was interred in the [[Trinity Churchyard Cemetery]] on [[Wall Street]] in [[Manhattan]].{{sfn|Selby|2018|page=124}} |
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==Bradford printing legacy== |
==Bradford printing legacy== |
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His wife Elizabeth gave birth to their first child, [[Andrew Bradford|Andrew]] in 1686, who with his wife [[Cornelia Smith Bradford]] were early American printers. Andrew published the first newspaper in colonial [[Philadelphia]]. William Jr, the brother of Andrew, was a printer and seaman.{{sfn|Whittemore|1967|page=55}} Bradford's grandson, [[William Bradford (American Revolutionary printer)|William]] became a well-known printer during the [[American Revolution]] for the [[Continental Congress]].{{sfn|Selby|2018|page=124}} The Bradford Family Papers (1620–1906) are deposited at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Bradford Family Papers (1620–1906)|url=http://hsp.org/sites/default/files/legacy_files/migrated/findingaid1676bradford.pdf|publisher=Historical Society of Pennsylvania|accessdate=8 May 2013}}</ref> Breadford established printers and publishers that followed him for 140 years from 1685 until 1825.{{sfn|Bulen|1925|page=148}} He had trained several apprentices that included [[John Peter Zenger]], [[James Parker (publisher)|James Parker]], Henry DeForest, and his son [[Andrew Bradford]];{{sfn|Selby|2018|page=124}} who was himself the person that originated four generations of printers and publishers.{{sfn|Wall|1964|page=363}} |
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Bradford published New York City's first law book (1694), the first published proceedings of an American legislature (New York City, 1695), the first province of New York paper currency (1709), the first ''Book of Common Prayer'' (1706) in America, the first history of the province of New York (1727), New York City's first newspaper (1725), and the first copperplate plan for New York City (1730).{{sfn|Wall|1964|page=382}} |
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[[Earl Shilton]] Community College (a college with a sixth form) in [[Leicestershire]] was renamed in honor of its neighboring village's famous son and is now [[William Bradford Academy]]. |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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Other |
Other early American publishers and printers were |
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<!-- Please list names in alphabetical order, by last name --> |
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* [[Alexander Purdie (publisher)]] |
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* [[William Hunter (publisher)]] |
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* [[ |
* [[David Hall (publisher)]] |
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* [[ |
* [[William Goddard (publisher)]] |
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* [[Joseph Royle (publisher)]] |
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* [[William Parks (publisher)]] |
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* [[Isaac Collins (printer)]] |
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* [[John Holt (publisher)]] |
* [[John Holt (publisher)]] |
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* [[Benjamin Franklin]] |
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* [[Elizabeth Timothy]] |
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* [[Louis Timothee]] |
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* [[Jane Aitken]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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== Sources == |
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*{{cite book|last=Bidwell|first= John |title= American Paper Mills, 1690-1832 |url= https://www.google.com/books/edition/American_Paper_Mills_1690_1832/CbC3AgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22william+bradford%22+1690+first+paper+mill+in+america&pg=PR53&printsec=frontcover|date=2013|publisher= Dartmouth College Press |isbn=9781611683165}} |
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*{{cite book|last=Bishop|first= John |title=History of American Manufactures 1608 to 1860 |url= https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_History_of_American_Manufactures_from/L2UFAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22william+Bradford%22+Oldest+known+book+in+America+United+States+%22George+Keith%22&pg=PA168&printsec=frontcover |date=1861|publisher= E. Young |OCLC=797286586}} |
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*{{cite book|last=Bulen|first= Henry Lewis |title=The American Collector |url= https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_American_Collector/O70aAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22William+Bradford%22+was+born+in+Leicester,+England,+on+May+20,+1663,%22&pg=PA148&printsec=frontcover |date=1925|publisher= Collector Publishing Company |OCLC=1077894040}} |
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* {{cite book|last=Dyer|first=Alan |title=Biography of James Parker|url=https://archive.org/details/biographyofjames0000dyer|url-access=registration|year=1982|publisher=Whitston Publishing Company, Incorporated|isbn=978-0-87875-202-7}} |
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*{{cite book|last=Faragher |first= John Mack |title= Encyclopedia of Colonial & Revolutionary America |url= https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Encyclopedia_of_Colonial_and_Revolut/2pKUMgEACAAJ?hl=en |date=1990|publisher= Sachem Publishing Associates, Inc. |isbn=9780816017447}} |
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*{{cite book|last=Hildeburn |first= Charles R.|title= Sketches of Printers in Colonial New-York |url= https://www.google.com/books/edition/Sketches_of_Printers_and_Printing_in_Col/zVaANAEACAAJ?hl=en |date=1969|publisher= Gale Research Company|OCLC=493937906}} |
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* {{cite book|last=Johns|first=David L.|title=Convincement and disillusionment: printer William Bradford and the Keithian controversy in colonial Philadelphia |url= |year=1992|publisher=Kent State University|oclc=27416154}} |
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* {{cite book|last=Murphy|first=Henry Cruse|title= Library of the Late Henry C. Murphy|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Catalogue_of_the_Magnificent_Library_of/qZUAAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22William+Bradford%22+%22The+Presbyterian+and+Independent+Visible+Churches+in+New+England%22&pg=PA193&printsec=frontcover |year=1884|publisher=Geo. A. Leavitt & Company|oclc= 1026969302}} |
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* {{cite book|last=McMurtrie|first=Douglas|title=History of America printing / The Story of the Introduction of the Press and of Its History and Influence During the Pioneer Period in Each State of the Union · Volume 2 |url= https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_History_of_Printing_in_the_United_Stat/VLXNAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Kalendarium+Pennsilvaniense+by+%22Samuel+Atkins%22+Bradford&pg=PA2&printsec=frontcover |year=1936|publisher= R.R. Bowker Company |oclc=1060556328}} |
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*{{cite book|last=Selby|first= Shawn|title= Shaping North America |url= https://www.google.com/books/edition/Shaping_North_America_From_Exploration_t/YgVnDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Bradford+was+born+in+Leicester,+England,+on+May+20,+1663,%22&pg=PA123&printsec=frontcover |date=2018|publisher= ABC{{en dash}}CLIO |isbn= 9781440836695}} |
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*{{cite book|last=Spencer|first= Mark G. |title= Encyclopedia of American Enlightenment |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Bloomsbury_Encyclopedia_of_the_Ameri/X52yBwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Temple+of+Wisdom+William+Bradford+1688+full+sized+book+first&pg=PA171&printsec=frontcover |date=2015|publisher= Bloombury |isbn= 9780826479693}} |
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* {{cite book|last=Thomas|first=Isaiah|title=The history of printing in America|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/qC2-_0D9tcUC?hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjSx7u-wvfyAhUCGFkFHfCVDHQQre8FegQIChAG |year=1970|publisher=Weathervane Books|oclc=1075157284}} |
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* {{cite book|last=Wall|first=Alexander James|title=William Bradford, Colonial Printer|url= https://www.google.com/books/edition/William_Bradford_Colonial_Printer/Lq0HuAAACAAJ?hl=en |year=1964|publisher= The Davis Press |oclc= 16940938 }} |
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* {{cite book|last=Whittemore|first=Henry |title=Genealogical to Early Settlers|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Genealogical_Guide_to_the_Early_Settlers/cSrlHHj2AFcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=william+Bradford+born+1688+printer&pg=PA55&printsec=frontcover |year=1967|publisher= Genealogical Publishing Company|isbn=9780806303789}} |
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* {{cite book|last=Wroth|first=Lawrence C. |title=The Colonial Printer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GxzyEpnT-VAC|year=1994|publisher=Courier Dover Publications|isbn=9780486282947}} |
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==Further reading== |
==Further reading== |
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* Steven J. Shaw. Colonial Newspaper Advertising: A Step toward Freedom of the Press. The Business History Review, Vol. 33, No. 3 (Autumn, 1959), pp. 409–420 |
* Steven J. Shaw. Colonial Newspaper Advertising: A Step toward Freedom of the Press. The Business History Review, Vol. 33, No. 3 (Autumn, 1959), pp. 409–420 |
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* {{cite book|last=Thomas|first=Isaiah|title=The history of printing in America|year=1810|publisher=B. Franklin|ol=25399626M}} |
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* H.Amory & D. D.Hall, eds., ''The colonial book in the Atlantic world'' (2000) |
* H.Amory & D. D.Hall, eds., ''The colonial book in the Atlantic world'' (2000) |
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* A.J. Wall, [http://www.americanantiquarian.org/proceedings/44604985.pdf "William Bradford, colonial printer"], ''Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society'', '''73'''(2): 361–84. 1963. |
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* A. J.DeArmond, ''Andrew Bradford: colonial journalist'' (1949) |
* A. J.DeArmond, ''Andrew Bradford: colonial journalist'' (1949) |
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* E. B.Bronner & D.Fraser, ''William Penn's published writings, 1660–1726: an interpretive bibliography'' (1986) |
* E. B.Bronner & D.Fraser, ''William Penn's published writings, 1660–1726: an interpretive bibliography'' (1986) |
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{{Commons category|William Bradford (Colonial printer)}} |
{{Commons category|William Bradford (Colonial printer)}} |
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{{EB1911 poster|Bradford, William (printer)|William Bradford}} |
{{EB1911 poster|Bradford, William (printer)|William Bradford}} |
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* [http://www.nyhistory.org/node/31003 Tombstone of William Bradford] at New-York Historical Society |
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{{Authority control}} |
Revision as of 11:36, 25 September 2021
William Bradford | |
---|---|
Born | Barwell, Leicestershire, England | May 20, 1663
Died | May 23, 1752 | (aged 89)
Resting place | Trinity Church Cemetery |
Occupation | Printer |
Spouse | Elizabeth Sowel |
Children | Andrew Bradford |
Relatives | William Bradford (grandson) |
William Bradford (May 20, 1663 – May 23, 1752) was an early English printer and publisher in colonial British America. He is best known as a the founder of the press in the Middle colonies of the Thirteen Colonies and the head of a family that included printers and publishers for 140 years. He was also known for controversies regarding freedom of the press. He operated continuously printing establishments for sixty-two years. He started his printing career in London and emigrated to America in 1685. He established Pennsylvania's first printing press. He established with others the initial paper mill in the Thirteen American Colonies.
He had printed and published thousands of titles. Besides having printing shops in the province of Pennsylvania, the province of New York, the province of New Jersey, he was at five different locations in New York City. He printed almanacs, newspapers, books, pamphlets, broadsides, blank forms, paper money, legal documents, colonial laws, and religious material. He was public printer for the province of New York and province of New Jersey. He was associated with William Penn and George Fox; founder of the Quakers.
Early life
William Bradford was born on May 20, 1663, to William and Ann Bradford in the village of Barwell in Leicestershire, England, where his father was a printer and farmer.[1] He was baptized at the local Anglican parish church, as was required by law, and the Barwell Parish Church baptismal records show May 30, 1663.[1] According to historian Alexander James Wall of the New York Historical Society his parents, however, were likely members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). His father died when he was four years old.[2]
Bradford was apprenticed outside the family for learning a trade as was customary at the time. His trainer was Andrew Sowel (some sources spell Sowle or Sorole), the foremost Quaker printer in London, at the sign of the Crooked Billet in Holloway Lane at Shoreditch. Bradford started working for Sowel about 1680 and had mastered the trade and was free from his apprenticeship December 3, 1684. He married the master's eldest daughter, Elizabeth, on April 28, 1685. Sowel arranged for the two to join William Penn in his new colony in North America with a letter of recommendation from George Fox, founder of the Quakers, to become the colonial printer.[3] The couple sailed to America four months after they were married.[1][4][5]
Mid life
Bradford with his wife arrived in America sometime in November of 1685 and settled at a location near where Philadelphia was eventually laid out. He then established Pennsylvania's first printing press, likely in the Chester or Burlington area. His first publication was an almanac, Kalendarium Pennsilvaniense compiled by Samuel Atkins, Student in the Mathamaticks and Astrology.[3][6] Bradford advertised it as available to purchase near Philadelphia in Pennsilvania on December 28, 1685.[7] The almanac was sometimes also known as America's Messenger, Being an Almanack for Year of Grace 1686. It contained both American news and British news.[8]
Bradford wrote an introduction in the almanac of "The Printer to the Readers" describing his new printing business he had just set up. In it he apologized for any printing errors the readers may find in the almanac, as that was caused by his difficult traveling that had produced disorder and confusion in the transporting of his typesetting characters used in his printing press, but hoped that readers would appreciate the hard work he underwent in order to bring printed material to the Middle Colonies. The almanac publication received immediate attention, especially from the Quakers and Pennsylvania Governor William Penn who took offense at a reference to him as "Lord Penn" and that those words were to be taken out.[9][10] Atkins was quickly reprimanded for the incident and Bradford was told not to print anything unless it was approved by the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly council.[4][6]
Bradford later published An Almanack for year of the Christian account 1687 compiled by Daniel Leeds, student of agriculture, which is the oldest of his publications known with a date. The 1687 sheet almanac that he sold came with twelve sections that began traditionally with March and went to February of the next year. At the bottom of the sheets was an explanation of the pages, an account of the eclipses for the year, and some rules in husbandry.[8] The Monthly Meeting at Philadelphia directed Bradford to collect all copies that he had just printed and destroy them as the publication had paragraphs that were offensive to the Quakers. He did this and was compensated for the copies and his labor.[9] In 1688, he printed Temple of Wisdom, the first full-sized book that had been released in the middle colonies.[3][4]
Bradford was living in Philadelphia by 1689 and had established a bookstore. He published a booklet in 1689 composed by Quaker missionary George Keith titled The Presbyterian and Independent Visible Churches in New England,[11] that according to historian Isaiah Thomas that owned a copy was the oldest known book printed in Philadelphia.[12][13] According to book dealer historian William S. Reese it is the one of the first books printed in America.[11][14] In that year Joseph Growdon, a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly council, hired Bradford to print William Penn's original charter for the province. The new Pennsylvania governor John Blackwell was outraged and reprimanded him. Bradford argued that he printed what he received.[4][15] He claimed in his account of the incident that he was not liable for publishing as he did not compose it and that he was not bound to testify against himself.[16] This incident was an early test of freedom of the press, for the people of Pennsylvania should have been allowed to know their rights and privileges with their laws.[9]
Bradford in 1690 with a paper-maker and several merchants founded at Roxborough, Pennsylvania, the initial paper mill in America.[4][17][18] He had his doubts about this undertaking at first and was not a steady customer of the products of the mill because he had not received the newspaper nor book business he thought he would get from the Quakers.[19] He had sent his wife and two infant sons to England and was making preparations to follow to become the replacement printer for Sowel who had died.[3] At that time there was the beginnings of disagreements among the Philadelphia Quakers, which was followed by the Yearly Meeting to grant Bradford a yearly salary and as much business they could throw his way to induce him to remain in the colonies. For further enticement the 1691 Yearly Meeting agreed that all books printed for the Quakers were to come with a minimum 200 copy order. This along with other enticements motivated him to stay and recall his family from England.[20] It wasn't until he had moved to New York later did he have enough business to contract with the managing partners of the paper mill to get preferential terms on products.[21] The mill was the only paper manufacturer in the Thirteen Colonies until 1710.[17] It was followed by hundreds of paper mills constructed in the United States by 1832.[22]
Bradford is best known as the founder of the press in the Middle colonies of the Thirteen Colonies.[23] In 1692, he printed thirteen of Keith’s writings, including An Appeal from the Twenty-Eight Judges to Spirit of Truth, which the authorities construed as rebellious against the local government. Bradford was arrested, tried, and jailed for printing without a trade name imprint, a violation of the Licensing Act of 1662. This was America's first trial regarding freedom of the press.[3] His press and type letters were seized and he was imprisoned for a four month time that ended in an inconclusive trial December 1692 due to Bradford's own persuasive skills in court.[2][24] He had his equipment and type returned to him through the intervention of New York governor Benjamin Fletcher.[25] He then printed three works over the next few months, all without a printer's name or place of publication. [11][25] One of note was the first book in New York City, "New-England Persecution Transmitted to Pennsylvania" authored by Keith and with some words in Hebrew type.[26]
Bradford in April 1693 accepted an invitation of Fletcher to become the official public printer for the province of New York, then an Anglo-Dutch village. His first official publication with his trade mark imprint is deemed the broadside Proclamation printed from his press on June 8, 1693.[25] Another broadside he printed in 1693 was Catalogue of Fees was his first protest against keeping slaves.[25] Another was a structured work composed by governor Fletcher titled A journal of the Late Actions of the French.[25] A book of note was one authored by Keith called Truth Advanced printed in March or April of 1694.[25] This was followed that year by The Laws & Acts of the General Assembly for Their Majesties Province of New York, King William and Queen Mary.[25]
Bradford first lived on Pearl Street in downtown Manhattan in New York City, then moved to the Stone Street location in 1698 where his offices were located in Hanover Square. He was located in five different locations in New York City.[27] His printing office published session laws, almanacs, and religious material. Some of the works composed by Keith's cohorts hurled against the Quakers were A Cage of Unclean Birds, The Spirit of Railing Shimei, and The Mystery of FoxCraft.[25] A publication of note that Bradford printed in 1715 was the Book of Common Prayer in the Mohawk language, which was also known as the Mohawk Prayer Book, that was for the use by missionaries.[28] He was the governor's printer in the province of New York for three decades.[3]
Bradford was appointed public printer of New Jersey in 1703, which was a post held concurrently with his New York position.[29] He was paid a salary of £25 (1736) (equivalent to £3,841 or US$4,903 in 2019)[30], which did not include special work that gave him additional money such as printing bills of credit or printing the Votes of Assembly.[31] He became clerk for the New Jersey Assembly in 1710.[2] He was in this post until 1718 and paid a a salary of between £20 (1718) (equivalent to £2,940 or US$3,750 in 2019)[30] and £30 (1718) (equivalent to £4,420 or US$5,640 in 2019)[30]. Soon after he became clerk he received a temporary appointment with John Johnson and Joseph Billop as commissioners for the office of Treasurer of New Jersey.[32] Another source of income he had was from 1716 to 1721 as a tax collector on alcoholic spirits of beer, rum, brandy, wine, and hard cider.[32]
Later life and death
Bradford published the first number of the New-York Gazette on October 16, 1725, the first newspaper printed in the province of New York[33] and printed it between 1725 and 1744.[2] In 1727 he took James Parker as an apprentice for an eight year term. [34] In 1731, Bradford's first wife died and afterwards he married a widow named Smith.[35] In 1734, his former apprentice, John Peter Zenger, was brought to court for libel,[36] but Bradford remained neutral during the case.[2] He retired at the age of 80 in 1743 and lived his last years with his son William.[33] He declined in health and died at his son's house on May 23, 1752.[33] He was interred in the Trinity Churchyard Cemetery on Wall Street in Manhattan.[24]
Bradford printing legacy
His wife Elizabeth gave birth to their first child, Andrew in 1686, who with his wife Cornelia Smith Bradford were early American printers. Andrew published the first newspaper in colonial Philadelphia. William Jr, the brother of Andrew, was a printer and seaman.[37] Bradford's grandson, William became a well-known printer during the American Revolution for the Continental Congress.[24] The Bradford Family Papers (1620–1906) are deposited at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.[38] Breadford established printers and publishers that followed him for 140 years from 1685 until 1825.[39] He had trained several apprentices that included John Peter Zenger, James Parker, Henry DeForest, and his son Andrew Bradford;[24] who was himself the person that originated four generations of printers and publishers.[9]
Bradford published New York City's first law book (1694), the first published proceedings of an American legislature (New York City, 1695), the first province of New York paper currency (1709), the first Book of Common Prayer (1706) in America, the first history of the province of New York (1727), New York City's first newspaper (1725), and the first copperplate plan for New York City (1730).[40]
See also
Other early American publishers and printers were
References
- ^ a b c Wall 1964, p. 362.
- ^ a b c d e Winton, Calhoun. "Bradford, William 1663–1752". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/3181. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ a b c d e f Selby 2018, p. 123.
- ^ a b c d e Spencer 2015, p. 171.
- ^ Thomas 1970, p. 340.
- ^ a b McMurtrie 1936, p. 2.
- ^ Johns 1992, p. 24.
- ^ a b Thomas 1970, p. 341.
- ^ a b c d Wall 1964, p. 363.
- ^ Wroth 1994, p. 30.
- ^ a b c Reese, William S. (1978). "Works of George Keith Printed in America: A Chronological Bibliography". The Princeton University Library Chronicle. 39 (2): 98–124.
- ^ Thomas 1970, p. 342.
- ^ Bishop 1861, p. 168.
- ^ Murphy 1884, p. 193.
- ^ Johns 1992, p. 27.
- ^ Wall 1964, p. 364.
- ^ a b "Two Hundred Years Ago". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. June 30, 1889. p. 25. Retrieved September 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "William Bradford / American printer (1663-1752)". Britannica online. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
..., he established the first paper mill in America, at Roxborough....
- ^ Faragher 1990, p. 45.
- ^ Wall 1964, p. 366-368.
- ^ Bidwell 2013, p. liii.
- ^ Bidwell 2013, pp. 1–84.
- ^ Hildeburn 1969, pp. 1–17.
- ^ a b c d Selby 2018, p. 124.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hildeburn 1969, p. 2.
- ^ "When Was the First Book Printed in NYC?". New-York Historical Society. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
- ^ Wall 1964, p. 381.
- ^ Hildeburn 1969, p. 12.
- ^ Hildeburn 1969, p. 13.
- ^ a b c United Kingdom Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth "consistent series" supplied in Thomas, Ryland; Williamson, Samuel H. (2018). "What Was the U.K. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ Wall 1964, p. 372.
- ^ a b Wall 1964, p. 373.
- ^ a b c Hildeburn 1969, p. 14.
- ^ Dyer 1982, p. 3.
- ^ Hildeburn 1969, p. 17.
- ^ Wall 1964, p. 380.
- ^ Whittemore 1967, p. 55.
- ^ "The Bradford Family Papers (1620–1906)" (PDF). Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
- ^ Bulen 1925, p. 148.
- ^ Wall 1964, p. 382.
Sources
- Bidwell, John (2013). American Paper Mills, 1690-1832. Dartmouth College Press. ISBN 9781611683165.
- Bishop, John (1861). History of American Manufactures 1608 to 1860. E. Young. OCLC 797286586.
- Bulen, Henry Lewis (1925). The American Collector. Collector Publishing Company. OCLC 1077894040.
- Dyer, Alan (1982). Biography of James Parker. Whitston Publishing Company, Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-87875-202-7.
- Faragher, John Mack (1990). Encyclopedia of Colonial & Revolutionary America. Sachem Publishing Associates, Inc. ISBN 9780816017447.
- Hildeburn, Charles R. (1969). Sketches of Printers in Colonial New-York. Gale Research Company. OCLC 493937906.
- Johns, David L. (1992). Convincement and disillusionment: printer William Bradford and the Keithian controversy in colonial Philadelphia. Kent State University. OCLC 27416154.
- Murphy, Henry Cruse (1884). Library of the Late Henry C. Murphy. Geo. A. Leavitt & Company. OCLC 1026969302.
- McMurtrie, Douglas (1936). History of America printing / The Story of the Introduction of the Press and of Its History and Influence During the Pioneer Period in Each State of the Union · Volume 2. R.R. Bowker Company. OCLC 1060556328.
- Selby, Shawn (2018). Shaping North America. ABC–CLIO. ISBN 9781440836695.
- Spencer, Mark G. (2015). Encyclopedia of American Enlightenment. Bloombury. ISBN 9780826479693.
- Thomas, Isaiah (1970). The history of printing in America. Weathervane Books. OCLC 1075157284.
- Wall, Alexander James (1964). William Bradford, Colonial Printer. The Davis Press. OCLC 16940938.
- Whittemore, Henry (1967). Genealogical to Early Settlers. Genealogical Publishing Company. ISBN 9780806303789.
- Wroth, Lawrence C. (1994). The Colonial Printer. Courier Dover Publications. ISBN 9780486282947.
Further reading
- Steven J. Shaw. Colonial Newspaper Advertising: A Step toward Freedom of the Press. The Business History Review, Vol. 33, No. 3 (Autumn, 1959), pp. 409–420
- H.Amory & D. D.Hall, eds., The colonial book in the Atlantic world (2000)
- A. J.DeArmond, Andrew Bradford: colonial journalist (1949)
- E. B.Bronner & D.Fraser, William Penn's published writings, 1660–1726: an interpretive bibliography (1986)
- C. W.Miller, Benjamin Franklin's Philadelphia printing, 1728–1766: a descriptive bibliography (1974)
- R. S.Mortimer, ‘The first century of Quaker printers’, Journal of the Friends' Historical Society, 40 (1948), 37–49; 41 (1949), 78–84
- D. F.McKenzie, ed., Stationers' Company apprentices, [2]: 1641–1700 (1974)
- Catherine Tourangeau, "It Runs in the Family: The Bradfords, Print, and Liberty(1680-1810)" (Universite de Montreal, M.A. Thesis, 2013)
External links