Display of Patriotism

July 15

Carl Robert Keyes Daily Advert Update , , ,

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

Pennsylvania Evening Post (July 15, 1775).

“I am not unfriendly to the present measures pursued by the friends to American liberty, but do heartily approve of them.”

Amos Wickersham had to do something to remedy the error he made.  He hoped that placing a newspaper advertisement to apologize and pledging to do better would help return him to the good graces of his community.  In a notice in the July 15, 1775, edition of the Pennsylvania Evening Post, he acknowledged that he had “frequently made use of rash and imprudent expressions, with respect to the conduct of my worthy fellow citizens, who are now engaged in a noble and patriotic struggle against the arbitrary measures of the British ministry.”  He did so three months after the battles at Lexington and Concord.  Since then, supporters of the American cause from Massachusetts and other colonies in New England had laid siege to Boston and Joseph Warren, one of their leaders, had been killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill.  The Second Continental Congress had convened in Philadelphia and appointed George Washington of Virginia as commander of the Continental Army.  As news of these events spread, provincial congresses met to determine how their colonies should respond to the outbreak of war.

Facing these new developments, Wickersham tried to distance himself from his previous comments, stating that he made them “some time since,” yet also admitted that the conduct “of the British ministry … has justly raised [the] resentments” of his “worthy fellow citizens” against him.  He may have had a sincere change of heart … or he may have found his circumstances untenable as emotions became more enflamed.  Either way, he wanted the public to know that he had “acted extremely wrong in so doing, for which I am exceedingly sorry, and humbly ask pardon and forgiveness.”  That was a good start, but perhaps not sufficient.  Wickersham continued, “I do solemnly promise that, for the future, I will conduct myself in such a manner as to avoid giving any offence; and, at the same time, in justice to myself, must declare that I am not unfriendly to the present measures pursued by the friends to American liberty, but do heartily approve of them; and, as far as is in my power, will endeavour to promote them.”

Wickersham’s advertisement resembled some that previously appeared in newspapers published in Massachusetts.  For the past year, men who signed an address to Governor Thomas Hutchinson when he departed the colony had been placing advertisements to recant, apologize, and assure others that they were friendly to the American cause.  More recently, others resorted to newspaper advertisements to acknowledge other kinds of words or deeds that raised suspicion about their political principles in their efforts to return to good standing in their communities.  Wickersham placed one of the first advertisements of this sort outside of New England.  Like his counterparts, he paid for space in the public prints to disseminate his confession and support for “the present measures pursued by the friends to American liberty.”  Wickersham apparently considered it a good investment if it restored his position and reputation among his neighbors and associates.

June 22

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

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

New-England Chronicle (June 22, 1775).

“I … declare myself a Friend to the Charter Privileges of my Country.”

Timothy Brown of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, wanted to return to the good graces of his community in the summer of 1775.  He had fallen out of favor because he had not always supported the American cause with as much fervor as his neighbors wished, so he realized that he needed to apologize and pledge to do better.  To that end, he not only submitted a “written Acknowledgment” to the Committee of Correspondence for the towns of Chelmsford, Billerica, and Tewksbury but also benefitted from the publication of their response in the New-England Chronicle for readers far and wide to see.

“WHEREAS I … have been suspected as an Enemy to the Liberties of America,” Brown confessed, “I do hereby acknowledge that I have in Time past said something (tho’ with no inimical Design) that were taken as of an inimical Nature.”  Like others who had signed an address to Governor Thomas Hutchinson when he departed for England, Brown simultaneously admitted what he had done and attempted to distance himself from it.  He had not intended his words, he claimed, in the way that they had been interpreted, though he understood how whatever he had said had been received.  “I am heartily sorry I said those Things,” Brown lamented, “and desire the Forgiveness of all Persons that I have offended thereby.”  Furthermore, he declared himself “a Friend to the Charter Privileges of my Country” and pledged that he would “use all lawful Endeavours to maintain and defend the same.”

Brown presented that statement in writing to the Committee of Correspondence for Chelmsford, Billerica, and Tewksbury.  In turn, the committee recommended him “to the Charity and Friendship of the good People through the Country.”  Simeon Spaulding, the chairman, published Brown’s acknowledgment of his error and the committee’s response in the New-England Chronicle “In the Name and by the Order of the Committee of said Towns.”  It appeared next to the second insertion of the advertisement that cleared Ebenezer Bradish of attempting “to do any Injury to his Country,” part of a trend of using newspaper advertisements to designate which colonizers once suspected of sympathizing with Tories now expressed support for the Patriot cause.  That the advertisement concerning Brown was inserted in the New-England Chronicle “by the Order of the Committee” suggests that Brown was not the only one to benefit from its publication.  The committee paid for an advertisement to make a public display of Brown falling in line, an example for others who had not yet done so and a testament to the unity they hoped to achieve among colonizers as the imperial crisis became a war of resistance in the spring and summer of 1775.