Change of Publisher

June 13

Carl Robert Keyes Daily Advert Update , , , , , , ,

What was advertised in a revolutionary American newspaper 250 years ago today?

New-England Chronicle (June 13, 1776).

“Rendering due praise and honour to the manly and virtuous supporters of the GLORIOUS CAUSE OF AMERICA.”

It was the first issue of the New-England Chronicle published by Edward E. Powars and Nathaniel Willis after Samuel Hall transferred the newspaper to them.  Their names appeared in the colophon integrated into the masthead at the top of the first page: “BOSTON: Printed by POWARS and WILLIS at their Office opposite the new COURT-HOUSE, Queen-Street.”  For the first order of business in the June 13, 1776, edition, the former printer and the new printers reminded readers about the transition in notices that ran in the first column on the first page.  They previously made the announcement in separate advertisements in the last issue.  Hall’s notice ran again without revisions or additions (except for a salutation, “To the PUBLIC,” and the original date, “Boston, June 6, 1776”) while Powars and Willis took the opportunity to add to their previous advertisement.

In so doing, they vowed to continue the editorial stance practiced by Hall.  The public, Powars and Willis promised, “may be assured, that the character [the New-England Chronicle] has hitherto sustained, in exposing, condemning, and execrating the jesuitical and infernal machinations of tories and tyrants, and in rendering due praise and honour to the manly and virtuous supporters of the GLORIOUS CAUSE OF AMERICA, we shall, with assiduity and zeal, endeavour to preserve.”  The New-England Chronicle catered to Patriots in Boston less than two months after the siege of that city ended when British troops departed on March 17.  Powars and Willis took their responsibilities seriously, stating that they would “select such pieces … as will best tend to encourage virtue and good order in society, and particularly such as may inspire all orders of men with a true spirit of resolution and heroism in support of our invaluable rights and liberties.”  With such promises made, they hoped “to be favoured with the custom of all the late and present subscribers of this paper.”  In other words, they encouraged readers who previously subscribed to renew their subscriptions and current subscribers to continue receiving the New-England Chronicle.  Their previous notice solicited subscribers and advertisers.  That portion appeared again, but this time the printers also requested “ingenious and well-written Essays, tending to promote the posterity and happiness of our injured and oppressed country.”  Through an eighteenth-century version of crowdsourcing, the public could play a role in maintaining the editorial voice that readers expected from the New-England Chronicle.  The publication had new printers, but those new proprietors pledged that the newspaper would remain the same.

June 6

Carl Robert Keyes Daily Advert Update , , , , , ,

What was advertised in a revolutionary American newspaper 250 years ago today?

New-England Chronicle (June 6, 1776).

“After this week, the NEW-ENGLAND CHRONICLE will be published by Messrs. EDWARD EVELETH POWARS and NATHANIEL WILLIS.”

It was the last issue of the New-England Chronicle printed by Samuel Hall, but it would not be the last issue of that newspaper.  Instead, Hall “resigned the Publication of the NEW-ENGLAND CHRONICLE” to Edward E. Powars and Nathan Willis.  The former publisher and the new publishers informed subscribers and other readers what to expect in advertisements that appeared one after the other in the June 6, 1776, edition.

Hall went first, expressing his appreciation and “Thanks to all who have favoured him with their custom, and thereby enabled him to continue the Publication of his Paper till this time.”  Hall and his newspaper had undertaken an interesting journey over the past year and more.  In the spring of 1775, Hall and his brother, Ebenezer, were publishing the Essex Gazette in Salem.  After the battles at Lexington and Concord on April 19, all the newspapers in Boston folded, suspended publication, or moved to other towns.  The Halls published the last issue of the Essex Gazette in Salem on May 2, 1775, just a couple of weeks after the war began.  With the siege of Boston underway, the Halls moved to Cambridge, putting them and their newspaper in closer proximity to the army and the provincial congress.  The continued publishing their newspaper without a change in numbering but with a new name, the New-England Chronicle, on May 12.  Following Ebenezer’s death on February 14, 1776, Samuel continued as the sole printer.  The siege of Boston concluded when British forces departed on March 17.  Hall published the last issue of the New-England Chronicle in Cambridge on April 4.  He then moved into Boston and printed the first issue of the New-England Chronicle in that city on April 25.  Loyal customers had indeed “enabled him to continue the Publication of his Paper till this time” when he transferred it to Powars and Willis.

Although Hall no longer printed a newspaper, he continued running a printing office “next to the OLIVER CROMWELL Tavern, in SCHOOL-STREET,” in Boston.  In their advertisement, Powars and Willis announced that they would publish the New-England Chronicle “at the Printing Office lately occupied by Messieurs Green and Russell, in Queen Street.” They solicited subscriptions, advertisements, and “Articles of Intelligence” for publication.  The new proprietors of the newspaper listed the subscription price, eight shillings per year, but not the price for advertisements.  Instead, they promised that notices “will be inserted in a conspicuous manner,” making them worth the investment, “at the customary prices.”  Powars and Willis hoped that subscribers would continue with the New-England Chronicle now that they published it.