Another "First" for First President
Rare Copy of Old Newspaper Owned by Chief Jones Carries Washington's Advertisement of Ohio Lands to Lease
By Hamilton Saunders
George Washington is often spoken of as "First in War, First in Peace and First in the Hearts of His Countrymen." Now we find another first to add to his credit. He was the first large landowner to advertise his property in "The Maryland and Baltimore Journal, The Advertiser."
The first edition of the paper is now in possession of Lonnie S. Jones, chief of the Fire Prevention Bureau of Richmond, and dates back to August 20, 1773. Carefully preserved among his collection is also a copy of an address by Daniel Webster to the ladies of Richmond during the Tyler campaign for presidency. The address, printed upon silk and in type much like the style employed today, has well withstood its 95 years.
Across the top of the first page of the old newspaper we find in bold type, "THE MARYLAND AND BALTIMORE JOURNAL, THE ADVERTISER," surmounted on a woodcut of the seal of the colony. Under this heading, in fine script is the phrase "Containing the Freshest Advices Both Foreign and Domestic." The printing employed is old style English with eight point faces. "F" and "S" are exactly alike and one has to use imagination to get the thought of the printing. However, on page three and four we notice a lessening of these peculiarities in type and find straight eight point blocks being used.
Three columns composed the layout of the paper and the first column is an editorial of apology by the editor, William Goddard. Goddard seemed to have had a hard time getting into operation for the gist of his editorial runs:
"The great Difficulty and experience of Speedily obtaining a proper Affortment of Printing Materials, an inadequate Number of Subscribers to defray the Charge of printing and weekly News-paper, added several unfortunate events which have happened to me, have been the Reasons why the Maryland Journal and Baltimore Advertiser, so long expected, hath not before made its appearance. This I flatter my self will be considered an Ample apology in the minds of the candid, for the long delay in publishing."
This is an exact copy of the first paragraph as the poor man makes his plea to his friends and enemies alike to help him in his venture, adopting the motto "We Print Anything Worth Printing."
Several items which appeared in the ancient paper have been reprinted exactly as they were written with no change whatsoever.
First to attract attention is an article submitted by a patron and which reflects the trouble which this far-sighted man saw. He realized that a break with England was eminent and took to poetry to express himself.
A POETICAL CHRONOLOGY
Of crown'd depravity -- the spurious cause James I
Of fatal zeal, infringing sacred laws Char I
Of usurpation--yet completely great)
Which rose to shine and rule the ruin'd flute ) Cromw
Who, from a Captain, governed like a king)
Made Spain to tremble and France present bring)
Of barren indolence and fruitful vices Char 11
Of papal tyranny and cowardice
Who did to France and priest the laws betray James 11
And from a crown and sceptre stole away
How subjects dar'd with their supreme contend Revolu
And their lov'd laws and liberties defend
What meaness merit, majesty possessed Queen Anne
What poison'd shafts pierced her unguarded breasts
Why right established justified a claim Geo 1
Why more than Hero dignified a fame Geo. 11
With noble sentiments he mounts the throne Geo 111
May he still flourish, may he nobly shine
Nor North wind blast or Fox corrupt vine;
So sing, historic muse, in boldest lays, (Author)
Nor critic censure fear not covet praise
Runaway Slave Ads Were Profitable Business
During these years far removed we find that Negro slaves gave their master a great deal of trouble because they would run away at every chance. One such Negro must have been an excellent worker or in some other way was valuable to his owner. The ad by which the owner hoped to recover him, reads:
"Ran away from the subscriber, some time in December 1772. Negro PRINCE, a tall slim fellow; had several hacks in his forehead; he was taken up at Susquehanna Lower Ferry, but made his escape and is often seen in the neighborhood. Who ever takes up the said Negro and secures him in goal, so that the owner may get him again shall have FIVE pounds reward, or if brought home TEN pounds reward and reasonable charges paid by
Richard Bennet Hall."
Travel in those days was something of which people did very little, and whatever business they had in other towns they must depend on some one else doing for them. Riders went from town to town carrying mail, news and on business. We find the ad of one enterprising man who realized long ago that it paid to advertise. The ad and his qualifications appear below:
"The subscriber begs to inform the Public that he rides Post from the town of Baltimore to the town of Frederick (once a week) from whence another post rides to the town of Winchester in Virginia; Those who have any commands may depend upon having their business faithfully executed--He sets off from Mr. William Adam's at the sign of the Race Horse, in Baltimore, every Saturday at one oclock
Absalom Bonham"
The "Mr William Adam" mentioned seemed to have been the postmaster of the town of Baltimore for he, too, has an ad. His was of an official nature. A long list of names of people who have received mail from near-by points is contained in the Adam's ad. Perhaps this is where the idea came from of having rural postmasters read the mail. People were sure if the letter was meant for them because the name and address of the sender was usually included in posting the list of receivers of letters.
Persons desiring to employ some one usually had to depend upon word of mouth or a sign put in their window in order to attract the jobless. However, Editor Goddard set a fine example by introducing his own first want ad when he inserted the following:
"An active faithful Man who can write a tolerable hand and keep a fair Account and is otherwise well qualified to ride as a Private Post or Carrier between this town and Philadelphia once a week, and is willing to undertake the service immediately, is requested to apply without delay to the printer hereof."
Scandal Column Was Lacking Those Days
Strange as it may be there was no scandal column in those days although Mr. Goddard thought he had pulled a fast one on the famous Dr. Desaulier. The incident is of no value other than to convey to the people of that day just how highly some one had treated the doctor's veracity.
Society columns came at a later date as a close look gives no indication of such. However, tucked away in a place just to fill up a column we find this unusual situation:
"Married--Mr Englhart Yeiser to Miss Catherine Keener, both of this place. By a late marriage in St Marys, the lady is become sister-in-law to her own mother, and the Gentleman Son-in-law to his sister-in-law."
Also stuck away in the paper we find a notice that a doctor is coming to town as he sends forth this notice:
"Dr. Graham, Oculist and Aurist, proposes to be in this town by the first of October next"
Perhaps the forerunner of the lost and found column is found in this publication for at the bottom of one of its pages we find the following ad. It is a bit out-of-date, but we can imagine it proved effective or that the finder had returned it to its owner long before publication.
"Lost on Wednesday (one of the Public Market days) the 26 of May last, between Gay and South Streets, A large Bundle of Papers, containing two WILLS, an ADMINISTRATION PAPER, an INVENTORY of GOODS &c being the copies taken from the Originals thereof remaining in the Register Generals office in Philadelphia; the seal of the said Office is prefixed to each of them. As not one of the said papers can be of Service to any person but the owner, it is requested that the finder of the said bundle would bring it to the Printing Office in South Street where he will receive TEN SHILLINGS for the same from
J. H. HAWKINS"
Another ad which reflects the spirit of the times is the one paid for by Thomas Brereton which reads as follows:
"Thomas Brereton, Commission and Insurance Broker Gratefully acknowledges the favors of his friends, and hopes for a continuance of their correspondence. He now has for sale a Pocket of good Hops, a 10 inch new Cable and wants to buy a Negro girl about 12 years old."
Chain Store Idea May Have Been Tinner's
Perhaps the chain store idea was born when the Hon. Francis Sanderson came to America and opened up his tin shop, keeping the one in England running at the same time. Mr. Sanderson advertises his wares for sale with the following ad:
"Francis Sanderson, Coppersmith from Lancaster, living in Gay Street, Baltimore town, a few doors above Mr Andrew Steiger. Makes and sells all sorts of copper work. vis stills of all sizes, brewing kettles, fish and wash kettle, copper and brass, stew pans and Dutch ovens. He sells any of the above articles as cheap as can he import from England and carries on the TIN business in Lancaster in all its branches. Country shop keepers may be supplied by wholesale or retail and all orders sent from the country shall be carefully executed."
While all of the articles contained in the paper are interesting for their historical value, perhaps the one which will interest Virginians most is one which George Washington caused to be inserted in order to develop his lands out in the West. This ad, as the date shows, was written a few years after Washington's triumphs in the French and Indian Wars.
Washington Offered 20,000 Acres
This series of encounters may be the reason the patent for the land was given to him. But let us read the verbatim copy of the advertisement:
"Mount Vernon July 15, 1773
"The subscriber having obtained Patents for upwards of TWENTY THOUSAND Acres of land on the Ohio and The Great Kanhawas (Ten Thousand of which are situated on the banks of the first mentioned river, between the mouths of the two Kanhawas, and the remainder of the Great Kanhawas, of New River, from the mouth, or near it upwards, in one continued survey) proposes to divide the same into any sized tenements that may be desired, and lease them upon moderate terms, allowing a reasonable number of years rent free, provided within the space from next October, three acres for every fifty contained in each lot, and proportionately for a lesser quantity, shall be cleared, fenced, and tilled; and that, by or before the time limited for the commencement of the first rent, five acres for every hundred, and proportionately, as above shall be enclosed and laid down in good grass for meadows; and moreover, that, that at least fifty good fruit trees for every like quantity of land shall be planted on the Premises. Any person inclinable to settle on these lands may be more fully informed of the terms by applying to the subscriber, Near Alexandrea, or in his absence, to Mr LUND WASHINGTON; and would do well in communicating their intention before the 1st of October next, in order that a sufficient number of lots may be laid off to answer the demand.
"As these lands are among the first which have been surveyed in the part of the country they lie in, it is almost needless to premise that none can exceed them in luxuriance of soil, or convenience of situation, all of them lying upon the banks either of the Ohio or Kanhawas, and abounding with fine fish and wild fowl of various kinds, as also in most excellent meadows many of which (by the bountiful hand of nature) are, in their present state almost fit for the scythe. From every part of these lands water carriage is now had to Fort Pitt, by an early communication; and from Fort Pitt, up the Monongahela, to Redstond, vessels of convenience burthern, may and do pass continually from whence by means of Cheat River, and other navigable branches of the Monongahela, it is thought the portage to Potowmack may and will be reduced within the compass of a few miles, to the great ease and convenience of the settlers in transporting the produce of their lands to market. To which may be added, that as patents have now actually passed to seals for the several tracts here offered to be leased, settlers on them may cultivate and enjoy the lands in peace and safety, notwithstanding the unsettled counsels respecting a new colony on the Ohio; and as no right money is to be paid for these lands, and quittrent of two shillings sterling a hundred demandable some years hence only, it is highly presumable that they will be held upon a more desirable footing than where both these are laid on with a very heavy hand. And it may not be amiss further to observe, that if the scheme for establishing a new government of the Ohio, in the manner talked of should ever be affected, these must be among the most valuable lands in it, not only on account of the good soil, and the other advantages above enumerated, but from their coniguity to the _____ of government, which more than probable will be fixed at the mouth of the Great Kanhawas.
GEORGE WASHINGTON."
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