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Isaiah Thomas is recognized today as one of the foremost printers of the revolutionary and early national periods. He was in close contact with other revolutionary leaders in Massachusetts and used his press to support their activities. His printing shop in Boston is sometimes referred to as "The Forge of Sedition" because according to some reports it served as a meeting place for patriots planning acts of rebellion.
A printer, as Thomas's life shows, was able to participate in leading the revolution and as a consequence also suffered the kinds of dangers that threatened other leaders.As Marcus McCorison writes in his "Foreward" to The Press & the American Revolution (Eds. Hench and Bailyn, Worcester: American Antiquarian Society, 1980, 7-8):
He was hanged in effigy in North Carolina. The British troops in Boston paraded before the Spy office and threatened Thomas with a tarring. By 1773 he was fully involved in the radical cause. In his autobiographical notes he stated that he secretly printed handbills at night for the Sons of Liberty. Thomas established a schedule of post riders to the south for the delivery of the Spy and other papers with William Goddard of Baltimore, John Holt of New York City, and Thaddeus Burr of Fairfield, Connecticut. These proved useful for the delivery of communications between Committees of Safety, as well. Thus, his services to the patriot cause were real and his commitment deep.Although written in the third person, the narrative below is taken from Isaiah Thomas's own account of his early work as a printer and his involvement with the American Revolution. As we read about the steps by which Thomas uses his printing as a means of opposing the British, we can gain a better understanding of the role of printers in the American revolution. The following excerpt is taken from Thomas's still classic work, The History of Printing in America.
Note: The editor of this web page broke the text into sections and provided the subtitles. They were not in Thomas's original publication.
Early Life and Apprenticeship
ISAIAH THOMAS* descended from a respectable family which had settled near Boston not many years after that town was founded. His grandfather carried on mercantile business in that place, in a store which he owned, on the town dock; and died in the year 1746, leaving four sons and two daughters, who were all arrived at the age of maturity. His second son, Moses, lived some time on Long Island, where he married and had two children; the youngest of whom is the subject of this memoir.* (* He was engaged as clerk to an officer in the expedition against Cuba, in 5740, much against the wishes of his father Peter, from whom he absconded and enlisted as a common soldier. The interest of the father placed him in a better situation than he would have held in the ranks, but did not obtain his discharge. He afterwards sailed on a voyage to the Mediterranean. He owned a farm on Long Island, which he cultivated, while he kept a shop.)
Moses Thomas having expended nearly all his patrimony, went away, and died in North Carolina; leaving his widow in narrow circumstances with five dependent children. Her friends on Long Island took the charge of providing for the two who were born there, and had been left in their care; the others she supported by the profits of a small shop she kept in Boston. Her Boston diligence and prudent management ensured success; insomuch that besides making provision for her family, she was enabled to purchase a small estate in Cambridge. This place she afterward unfortunately lost; for being fully possessed with the idea that the continental paper money, issued during the revolutionary war, would ultimately be paid in specie, and having what she thought a very advantageous offer for her house and land in that kind of currency, she sold the same, and became one among the number of unfortunate people who lost nearly the whole of their property from a misplaced confidence in the paper currency of the day.
When her son, Isaiah, born at Boston, January 19, 1749, O. S., was six years of age, he was apprenticed by his mother to Zechariah Fowle; who, as has been already stated, principally made use of his press in printing ballads, and by whom he was soon employed to set types; for which purpose he was mounted on a bench eighteen inches high, and the whole length of a double frame which contained cases of both roman and italic. His first essay with the composing stick, was on a ballad entitled The Lawyer's Pedigree (1755) which was set in types of the size of double pica. (154-155)
Early Troubles with the Authorities
for Opposing the Stamp Act in Nova ScotiaHe remained eleven years with Fowle; after which period they separated, in consequence of a disagreement. On quitting Fowle, in 1765, he went to Nova Scotia, with a view to go from thence to England, in order to acquire a more perfect knowledge of his business. He found typography in a miserable state in that province; and, so far was he from obtaining the means of going to England, that he soon discovered that the only printer in Halifax could hardly procure, by his business, a decent livelihood. However, he remained there seven months; during which time the memorable British stamp act took effect in Nova Scotia, which, in the other colonies, met with a spirited and successful opposition.
The Halifax Gazette was printed by a Dutchman, whose name was Henry. He was a good natured, pleasant man, who in common concerns did not want for ingenuity and capacity; but he might, with propriety, be called a very unskilful printer. To his want of knowledge or abilities in his profession, he added indolence; and, as is too often the case, left his business to be transacted by boys or journeymen, instead of attending to it himself. His printing affairs were on a very contracted scale; and he made no efforts to render them more extensive. As he had two apprentices, he was not in want of assistance in his printing house; but Thomas accepted an offer of board for his services; and the sole management of the Gazette was immediately left to him. He new modelled the Gazette according to the best of his judgment, and as far as the worn out printing materials would admit. It was soon after printed on stamped paper, made for the purpose in England. To the use of this paper, 'the young New Englandman,' as he was called, was opposed; and, to the stamp act he was extremely hostile.
A paragraph appeared in the Gazette, purporting that the people of Nova Scotia were, generally, disgusted with the stamp act. This paragraph gave great offence to the officers of government, who called Henry to account for publishing what they termed sedition. Henry had not so much as seen the Gazette in which the offensive article had appeared; consequently he pleaded ignorance; and, in answer to their interrogatories, informed them that the paper was, in his absence, conducted by his joumeyman. He was reprimanded, and admonished that he would be deprived of the work of government, should he, in future, suffer any thing of the kind to appear in the Gazette. It was not long before Henry was again sent for, on account of another offence of a similar nature; however, he escaped the consequences he might have apprehended, by assuring the officers of government that he had been confined by sickness; and he apologized in a satisfactory manner for the appearance of the obnoxious publication. But his journeyman was summoned to appear before the secretary of the province; to whose office he accordingly went. He was, probably, not known to Mr. Secretary, who sternly demanded of him, what he wanted?
A. Nothing, sir.
Q. Why came you here?
A. Because I was sent for.
Q. What is your name?
A. Isaiah Thomas.
Q. Are you the young New Englandman who prints for Henry?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How dare you publish in the Gazette that the people of Nova Scotia are displeased with the stamp act?
A. I thought it was true.
Q. You had no right to think so. If you publish any thing more of such stuff, you shall be punished. You may go; but, remember, you are not in New England.
A. I will, sir.
Not long after this adventure occurred, a vessel arrived at Halifax from Philadelphia, and brought some of the newspapers published in that city.
The Pennsylvania Journal, published the day preceding that on which the stamp act was to take effect, was in full mourning. Thick black lines surrounded the pages, and were placed between the columns; a death's head and cross bones were surmounted over the title; and at the bottom of the last page was a large figure of a coffin, beneath which was printed the age of the paper, and an account of its having died of a disorder called the stamp act. A death's head, &c., as a substitute for a stamp, was placed at the end of the last column of the first page. Thomas had a strong desire to decorate The Halifax Gazette in the same manner; but he dared not do it, on account of his apprehension of the displeasure of the officers of government. However, an expedient was thought of to obviate that difficulty, which was to insert in the Gazette an article of the following import: 'We are desired by a number of our readers, to give a description of the extraordinary appearance of the Pennsylvania Journal of the 3oth of October last, 1765. We can in no better way comply with this request, than by the exemplification we have given of that journal in this day's Gazette.' As near as possible, a representation was made of the several figures, emblems of mortality, and mourning columns; all which, accompanied by the qualifying paragraph, appeared together in The Halifax Gazette, and made no trifling bustle in the place.
Soon after this event, the effigy of the stampmaster was hung on the gallows near the citadel; and other tokens of hostility to the stamp act were exhibited. These disloyal actions were done silently and secretly; but they created some alarm; and a captain's guard was continually stationed at the house of the stamp-master, to protect him from those injuries which were expected to befal him. It is supposed the apprehensions entertained on his account were entirely groundless. The officers of the government had prided themselves on the loyalty of the people of that province in not having shown any opposition to the stamp act. 'These things were against them;' and a facetious officer was heard to repeat to some of his friends, the old English proverb: 'We have not saved our bacon.'
An opinion prevailed, that Thomas not only knew the parties concerned in these transactions but had a hand in them himself; on which account, a few days after the exhibition of the stampmaster's effigy, a sheriff went to the printing house, and informed Thomas that he had a precept against him, and intended to take him to prison, unless he would give information respecting the persons concerned in making and exposing the effigy of the stampmaster. He mentioned, that some circumstances had produced a conviction in his mind that Thomas was one of those who had been engaged in these seditious proceedings. The sheriff receiving no satisfactory answer to his inquiries, ordered Thomas to go with him before a magistrate; and he, having no person to consult, or to give him advice, in the honest simplicity of his heart was about to obey the orders of this terrible alguazil; but being suddenly struck with the idea that this proceeding might be intended merely to alarm him into an acknowledgment of his privity to the transactions in question, he told the sheriff he did not know him and demanded information respecting the authority by which he acted. The sheriff answered, that he had sufficient authority; but on being requested to exhibit it, the officer was evidently disconcerted, and showed some symptoms of his not acting under 'the king's authority.' However, he answered that he would show his authority when it was necessary; and again ordered this 'printer of sedition' to go with him. Thomas answered, he would not obey him unless he produced a precept, or proper authority for taking him prisoner. After further parley the sheriff left him, with an assurance that he would soon return; but Thomas saw him no more; and he afterward learned that this was a plan concerted for the purpose of surprising him into a confession.
A short time before the exhibition of the effigy of the stamp-master, Henry had received from the stamp-office the whole stock of paper that was sent ready stamped from England for the use of the Gazette. The quantity did not exceed six or eight reams; but as only three quires were wanted weekly for the newspaper, it would have sufficed for the purpose intended twelve months. It was not many weeks after the sheriff already mentioned, made his exit from the printing house, when it was discovered that this paper was divested of the stamps; not one remained; they had been cut off and destroyed. On this occasion, an article appeared in the Gazette, announcing that 'all the stamped paper for the Gazette was used, and as no more could be had, it would in future be published without stamps.' (155-160)
Thomas Returns to America and Faces Difficulties Establishing a Printing Business
In March, 1767, Thomas quitted Halifax, and went to New Hampshire; where he worked, for some time, in the printing houses of Daniel Fowle, and Furber & Russell. In July following he returned to Boston. There he remained several months, in the employ of his old master, Z. Fowle.
Receiving an invitation from the captain of a vessel to go to Wilmington, in North Carolina, where he was assured a printer was wanted, he arranged his affairs with Fowle, again left him, by agreement, and went to Newport. There he waited on Martin Howard, Esq., chief justice of North Carolina, who was then at that place, and was about departing for Wilmington. To this gentleman he made known his intention of going to North Carolina, and received encouragement from the judge, who gave him assurances of his influence in procuring business for him at Cape Fear; for which place they sailed in the same vessel.
A gentleman at Newport also favored him with a letter of recommendation to Robert Wells, printer, in Charleston, South Carolina.
When he arrived at Wilmington, he, in pursuance of advice from Judge Howard, and several other gentlemen, waited on Governor Tryon, then at that place. The governor encouraged him to settle there, and flattered him that he would be favored with a part in the printing for government. But as a printer he labored under no inconsiderable difficulty, that is, he had neither press, nor types, nor money to purchase them.
It happened that Andrew Steuart, a printer, was then at Wilmington, who had a press with two or three very small founts of letters for sale. He had printed a newspaper, and as some work was given him by the government, he called himself king's printer; but at this period he was without business, having given offence to the governor and the principal gentlemen at Cape Fear. For this reason he was desirous to sell the materials he had then in that place, and to return to Philadelphia, where he had another small printing establishment.
Pursuant to the advice of several gentlemen, Thomas applied to Steuart, to purchase the press, etc.; but Steuart, knowing he could not easily be accommodated with these articles elsewhere, took advantage of his situation, and demanded about three times as much for them as they cost when new. After some debate, Steuart lowered his price to about double the value. Several gentlemen of Wilmington offered to advance money, on a generous credit, to enable Thomas to make the purchase. When Steuart found the money could be raised, he refused to let the types go without an appendage of a negro woman and her child, whom he wished to sell before he quitted the place. An argument ensued; but Steuart persisted in his refusal to part with the printing materials, unless the negroes were included in the sale. Thomas, after advising with friends, agreed to take them, finding he could dispose of them for nearly the price he was to give for them. He then thought the bargain was concluded; but Steuart threw a new difficulty in the way. He had a quantity of common household furniture, not the better for wear, which he also wanted to dispose of; and would not part with the other articles unless the purchaser would take these also. The furniture was entirely out of Thomas's line of business, and he had no use for it. He, therefore, declared himself off the bargain; and afterward, when Steuart retracted respecting the sale of furniture, Thomas began to be discouraged by the prospects the place afforded; he was not pleased with the appearance of the country; his money was all gone; and his inclination to visit England was renewed. For these reasons he renounced all thoughts of settling at Cape Fear at that time; although a merchant there offered to send to England by the first opportunity for a printing apparatus, which he would engage Thomas should have on a long credit.
With a view to go to England, he entered himself as steward on board a ship bound to the West Indies; expecting when he arrived there he should easily find an opportunity to go to London. He did duty on board the vessel ten days; but imbibing a dislike to the captain, who was often intoxicated, and attempted to reduce him into a mere cabin boy, and to employ him about the most servile and menial offices, he revolted at these indignities, and procured his discharge. On this occasion he remembered the recommendation he had received at Newport to a printer at Charleston; and, finding a packet bound there, he quitted a very kind friend he had gained at Wilmington, and after a long passage, in which he met with many adventures, besides that lamentable one of spending his last shilling, he arrived at Charleston.
When he presented the letter of recommendation to Wells, the printer, he had the mortification to learn he was not in want of a journeyman. However, Wells civilly employed him at low wages, and soon put him into full pay. He continued at Charleston two years; and had nearly completed a contract to go and settle in the West Indies; but his health declining, he returned to Boston in 1770, after having visited several of the southern colonies. (160-163)
Thomas Launches the Massachusetts Spy
And Is Charged with "Malicious Libel"He now formed a connection with Zechariah Fowle, and began business by publishing The Massachusetts Spy, a small newspaper printed three times in a week.
Thomas's partnership with his former master, Fowle, continued but three months. He then purchased the printing materials which Fowle had in his possession, and gave his security to Fowle's creditor for the payment. Fowle had, during nineteen years, been in possession of his press and types, and had not paid for them. The creditor was a near relation by marriage, and had exacted only the payment of the annual interest of the debt. Thomas continued the Spy, but altered the publication of it from three times to twice a week. Each publication contained a half sheet. After having published it three months in the new form, he discontinued it in December, 1770. On the 5th of March, 1771, he began another paper with the same title, which was published weekly, on a large folio sheet.
It was at first the determination of Thomas that his paper should be free to both parties which then agitated the country, and, impartially, lay before the public their respective communications; but he soon found that this ground could not be maintained. The dispute between Britain and her American colonies became more and more serious, and deeply interested every class of men in the community. The parties in the dispute took the names of Whigs and Tories; the tories were the warm supporters of the measures of the British cabinet, and the whigs the animated advocates for American liberty. The tories soon discontinued their subscriptions for the Spy; and the publisher was convinced that to produce an abiding and salutary effect his paper must have a fixed character. He was in principle attached to the party which opposed the measures of the British ministry; and he therefore announced that the Spy would be devoted to the support of the whig interest.
Some overtures had been previously made by the friends of the British government to induce him to have the Spy conducted wholly on their side of the question; and, these having been rejected, an attempt was made to force a compliance, or to deprive him of his press and types. It was known that he was in debt for these articles, and that his creditor was an officer of government, appointed by the crown. This officer, notwithstanding he was a very worthy man, was pushed on to make a demand of payment, contrary to his verbal agreement, under the apprehension that the money could not be raised. When Thomas assumed the debt of Fowle, he gave his bond, payable in one year, under an assurance that the capital might lay as it had done, if the interest annually due should be punctually paid; and when contrary to stipulation the capital was demanded, he borrowed money, and paid one debt by contracting another.
An essay published in the Spy, November, 1771, under the signature of Mucius Scaevola, attracted the attention of the executive of the province. Governor Hutchinson assembled his council on the occasion; and, after consultation, the board determined that the printer should be ordered before them. In pursuance of this resolution, their messenger was sent to inform Thomas that his attendance was required in the council chamber. To this message he replied, 'that he was busily employed in his office, and could not wait upon his excellency and their honors.' The messenger returned to the council with this answer, and, in an hour after, again came into Thomas's printing house and informed him that the governor and council waited for his attendance; and, by their direction, inquired, whether he was ready to appear before them. Thomas answered, that he was not. The messenger went to make his report to the council, and Thomas to ask advice of a distinguished law character. He was instructed to persist in his refusal to appear before the council, as they had no legal right to summon him before them; but, should a warrant issue from the proper authority, he must then submit to the sheriff who should serve such a process upon him. This was a critical moment; the affair had taken air, and the public took an interest in the event. The council proceeded with caution, for the principle was at issue, whether they Possessed authority arbitrarily to summon whom they pleased before their board, to answer to them for their conduct. The messenger was, however, the third time sent to Thomas, and brought him this verbal order. Mess. The governor and council order your immediate attendance before them in the council chamber.
T. I will not go.
Mess. You do not give this answer with an intention that I should report it to the governor and council?T. Have you any thing written, by which to show the authority under which you act?
Mess. I have delivered to you the order of the governor and council, as it was given to me.T. If I understand you, the governor and council order my immediate attendance before them?
Mess. They do.
T. Have you the order in writing?
Mess. No.
T. Then, sir, with all due respect to the governor and council, I am engaged in my own concerns, and shall not attend.Mess. Will you commit your answer to writing?
T. No, sir.
Mess. You had better go; you may repent your refusal to comply with the order of the council.
T. I must abide by the result.
The messenger carried the refusal to the council. The board for several hours debated the question, whether they should commit Thomas for contempt; but it was suggested by some member that he could not legally be committed unless he had appeared before them; in that case his answers might have been construed into a contempt of their body, and been made the ground of commitment. It was also suggested that they had not authority to compel his appearance before them to answer for any supposed crime or misdemeanor punishable bylaw, as particular tribunals had the exclusive cognizance of such offences. The supposed want of authority was, indeed, the reason why a compulsory process had not been adopted in the first instance. There were not now, as formerly, licensers of the press.
The council, being defeated in the design to get the printer before them, ordered the attorney general to prosecute him at common law. A prosecution was accordingly soon attempted, and great effort made to effect his conviction. The chief justice, at the following term of the supreme court at Boston, in his charge to the grand jury, dwelt largely on the doctrine of libels; on the present licentiousness of the press; and on the necessity of restraining it. The attorney general presented a bill of indictment to the grand inquest against Isaiah Thomas for publishing an obnoxious libel. The Court House was crowded from day to day to learn the issue. The grand jury returned this bill, Ignoramus. Foiled by the grand jury in this mode of prosecution, the attorney general was directed to adopt a different process; and to file an information against Thomas. This direction of the court was soon known to the writers in the opposition, who attacked it with so much warmth and animation, and offered such cogent arguments to prove that it infringed the rights and liberties of the subject, that the court thought proper to drop the measure. Unable to convict the printer either by indictment or information in Suffolk, a proposal was made to prosecute him in some other county, under the following pretext. The printers of newspapers circulate them through the province, and of course publish them as extensively as they are circulated. Thomas, for instance, circulates the Spy in the county of Essex, and as truly publishes the libel in that county as in Suffolk where the paper is printed. The fallacy of this argument was made apparent; the measure was not adopted, and government for that time gave over the prosecution; but, on a subsequent occasion, some attempts of that kind were renewed.* (*On account of some essays addressed to the king, published in the Spy in September, 1772, and at other periods). (163-168)
Thomas Flees from Grip of Boston Tories
And Moves His Press InlandPublishes First Acount of Lexington & Concord
It became at length apparent to all reflecting men that hostilities must soon take place between Great Britain and her American colonies. Thomas had rendered himself very obnoxious to the friends of the British administration; and, in consequence, the tories, and some of the British soldiery in the town, openly threatened him with the effects of their resentment. For these and other reasons, he was induced to pack up, privately, a press and types, and to send them in the night over Charles river to Charlestown, whence they were conveyed to Worcester. This was only a few days before the affair at Lexington. The press and types constituted the whole of the property he saved from the proceeds of five years labor. The remainder was destroyed or carried off by the followers and adherents of the royal army when it quitted Boston.
On the night of April 18, 1775 it was discovered that a considerable number of British troops were embarking in boats on the river near the common, with the manifest design to destroy the stores collected by the provincials at Concord, eighteen miles from Boston; and he was concerned, with others, in giving the alarm. At daybreak, the next morning, he crossed from Boston over to Charlestown in a boat with Dr. Joseph Warren went to Lexington, and joined the provincial militia in Boston opposing the king's troops. On the 20th, he went to Worcester, opened a printing house, and soon after recommenced the publication of his newspaper.* (Dr. Warren was soon after appointed major general of the provincial troops, and was killed in the battle of Breed's, often called Bunker's hill, June 17, 1775.)
The provincial congress, assembled at Watertown, proposed that Thomas's press should be removed to that place; but, as all concerns of a public nature were then in a state of derangement, it was finally determined that his press should remain at Worcester, and that postriders should be established to facilitate an intercourse between that place, Watertown and Cambridge; and at Worcester he continued to print for congress until a press was established at Cambridge and at Watertown. (168-169)
The Massachusetts Spy Continues the Fight: "UNDAUNTED BY TYRANTS,
WE WILL DIE, OR BE FREE*
The Massachusetts Spy: Or, American Oracle of Liberty
The printer of the Massachusetts Spy, or Boston Journal, was obliged to leave Boston, as has been mentioned, on account of the commencement of hostilities between the colonies and the parent Country. He settled in this place, and on the 3d of May, 1775, recommenced the publication of' that paper, which he continued until the British troops evacuated Boston; when he leased it for one year to William Stearns and Daniel Bigelow. They adopted another motto--'' Undaunted by Tyrants, We will die, or be free After the first lease expired, the paper was leased for another year, to Anthony Haswell, printer. Owing to unskillful workmen, bad ink, wretched paper, and worn down types, the Spy appeared in a miserable dishabille (luring the two years for winch it had been leased, and for some time after. At the end of that term, the proprietor returned to Worcester, and resumed its publication, with a flew motto-" Unanimity at Home, and Bravery and Perseverance in the Field, will secure the Independence of America."
Good materials of the kinds just mentioned could not be immediately procured, and the Spy from necessity was continued under numerous dis. advantages until 1781, when it was printed from a good type, on better paper, with new devices and an engraved title. The device on the left was a figure representing America, an Indian, holding the cap of Liberty on a staff with the left hand, and in the right a spear, aimed at the British lion, which appeared in the act of attacking her from an opposite shore. Round the device was, " LIBERTY DEFENDED FROM TYRANNY." That on the right was, a chain of thirteen links, with a star in each link, representing the union of' the thirteen states; this chain was placed in a circular form, leaving an opening for the arms of France, to which the ends of the chain were attached, and which perfected the circle. Above the arms were two hands clasped, and directly over them a sword, with its hilt resting on the clasped hands ; the motto-" Union" The title was thus new modeled, Thomas's Massachusetts Spy; or the Worcester Gazette.- Motto-" The noble Efforts of a Virtuous, Free and United People, shall extirpate Tyranny, and establish Liberty and Peace.'
At the conclusion of the war the Spy was enlarged, and each page contained five volumes. It was printed from new types; and the motto was changed to 'Noscere res humanas est Hominis. Knowledge of the world is necessary for every man.'
*Note: The segment above is taken from pages 277-8. This extract does not immediately follow from the sections that precede it.
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A picture of the first edition of the Massachusetts Spy
published in Worcester.
One of the most celebrated writers who published in Thomas's Massachusetts Spy used the pen name “ Mucius Scaevola.” The following letter from Mucius Scaevola was published in the Spy in 1772:
To the American Colonies.
Your exertions in the great cause of freedom, have been noble; and they must be continued with redoubled vigor. The time is now come which requires your united strength and wisdom. Act agreeable to the character of Freemen, and you shall continue Free. You need not be instructed in the rights of mankind; you know them. The principles held up in my treatise on government, which you have approved and highly honored, are, that who- ever invades the liberties of the people, is guilty of treason, and may justly be punished by them, be his character high or low; and if he oppose them by force, he thereby becomes their enemy, and may be opposed by force until he is brought to reason or to ruin. The application of this doctrine is easy, and you will naturally make it. If a clan of unrighteous men in Britain, with a few of their tools in America, should enslave this great, free, and growing people, astonishment must seize every generous mind, and all will view it as the most unaccountable event in the history of mankind. But it cannot be. Liberty has taken deep root, and will reign in America. Five millions of people, born and nourished in freedom and enlightened by learning, cannot, unless Heaven is against them, be enslaved. The history of the world does not pro- duce such an instance; neither does it show one people or country, at the age of this, equally glori- ous. America will undoubtedly exhibit new scenes of human glory, surpass all other peoples and nations, and be the most delightful abode for all mankind on this globe. A misguided administration in Great Britian has, for a number of years, pursued plans calculated to destroy the nation; and it fully appears that nothing but the stern virtue of this country can resist the despotism which now threatens to involve all in ruin. It is, therefore, the indispensable duty of the Amer- icans to defead their own rights from every approach of tyranny. So sunk is Britain in debt, in corrup- tion, and every abomination, you have very little reason to expect that wisdom and justice will ever again govern her conduct toward you; and, there- fore, your safety, under Providence, depends entirely upon yourselves. You cannot, consistent with your safety, suffer pensioned, or which is the same thing, bribed men to rule over you, nor allow any set of men to prosecute measures which strike at the root of liberty. And it will doubtless be considered by the Americans (if the British administration should let another session of Parliament pass without fully redressing their wrongs and injuries), whether the de; nier ressort for their liberties and only Asylum for freedom, is not an AMERICAN COMMONWEALTH. You are now in a condition to redress your inju- ries, and establish your own rights; and you will degrade yourselves if you should ever petition any man or men again for relief.—LOCKE.
A Brief Biographical Sketch of Thomas excerpted from a Review of his nephew's book, American Reminiscences of the Last Sixty Five Years!:"Thomas' Reminiscences," in The United States Democratic Review. /Volume 8, Issue 33. Publisher: J.& H.G. Langley, NY. Publication Date: September 1840, 229-230
Of Isaiah Thomas an interesting account is given, chiefly extracted from “Lincoln’s History of Worcester.” He was a zealous patriot preceding and during the Revolutionary War, and as a political writer, and editor of the “Massachusetts Spy,” had made himself so obnoxious to the British that he had the honor of being included with John Hancock and Samuel Adams in a list of twelve persons who were to be summarily executed when taken. He became an extensive publisher, and a man of distinguished mark. Among other literary productions, he was the author of a History of Masonry, and the History of Printing, a work of well established authority and value. He was the first man, as his nephew tells us, that ever read the Declaration of Independence in Massachusetts; the express on his way from Philadelphia to Boston having stopped at Worcester on the 14th of July, 1776, and waited until he read it from the steps of the meeting-house to the listening citizens, who received it with every demonstration of rejoicing.
Massachusetts Broadsides of the American Revolution, Mason I. Lowance, Jr., & Georgia B. Bumgardner, eds., Amherst, MA, 1976
Printers were . . . generally held responsible for content, and the penalties for printing revolutionary attacks on the colonial government were usually severe. Isaiah Thomas, a colonial printer who was associated with insurgent sentijment, risked personal safety and jeapordized his business each time his press was identified as the source of revolutionary propaganda. Eventually, he moved from Boston to Worcester to prevent the British from destroying his press and the beginnings of his personal library, which now forms the core of the American Antiquarian Society collection. Seditious libel was usually the charge against colonial printers who supported the revolutionary cause, and there were frequent prospectuions for this political crime in the years just before the Revolution.
See Also:
The American Antiquarian Society was established by Isaiah Thomas in 1812 and continues to flourish today as a national research library of American history and culture. The AAS website offers a Brief Account of the American Antiquarian Society which offers an account of its founder.
A brief biographical profile of Isaiah Thomas from the Columbia Encylopedia at Bartleby.com.
A biographical entry on Thomas from an online version of the 1911 Encylopedia Brittanica
For more information about Thomas, see this brief biographical sketch at the University of Delaware.
See the Isaiah Thompson post card.
Communication 4305 — The Press and the Revolution by David McHam offers brief descriptions of printing and printers in Revolutionary era America -- including Isaiah Thomas.
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