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The Pennsylvania Gazette was one of the United States’ most prominent newspapers from before the American Revolution all the way through to 1815.

The paper was first published by Samuel Keimer under the name The Universal Instructor in all Arts and Sciences: and Pennsylvania Gazette, reflecting Keimer’s plans to print out a page of Ephraim Chambers’ Cyclopaedia, or Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences in each and every edition of the paper.

Franklin the Printer

In 1729, Benjamin Franklin and Hugh Meredith bought the paper and shortened its name to simply The Pennsylvania Gazette and dropped Keimer’s plan to print out the Cyclopaedia. Franklin not only printed the paper but also often contributed pieces to the paper under various aliases. The Gazette rapidly grew to be the most popular newspaper in the colonies.

The Pennsylvania Gazette articles available to Accessible Archives subscribers are divided into four separate folios. The periods covered by these folios include:

• Folio I – (1728 – 1750) “Benjamin Franklin`s Newspaper”
• Folio II – (1751 – 1765) “The French & Indian War”
• Folio III – (1766 – 1783) “The American Revolution”
• Folio IV – (1784 – 1800) “The New Republic”

In 1752, Franklin published a third-person account of his pioneering kite experiment in the The Pennsylvania Gazette, without mentioning that he himself had performed it.

Franklin and Meredith took the work of keeping the colonies informed about what was going on in the East Coast colonies seriously as you can see in this report from Boston from 1763.

News from Boston – August 25, 1763

Thursday last the Province Sloop Massachusetts, Captain Saunders, arrived here from the Eastward, in which came Meserwanderomet, Ectambuit, and Sawro Woraromogasa, Indians of Penobscot. And on Monday and Tuesday last his Excellency the Governor, in Council, had a Conference with them at the Council Chamber.

The Conference related chiefly to the proper Methods of Trade to be carried on between the English and the Indians. (more…)

When people think of slavery in America’s past they usually think of plantations and agricultural work and the Civil War.

In reality, by the latter half of the 1700s, slaves were to be found across the whole spectrum of home and economic life in the Southern colonies. Local newspapers of the time in the Accessible Archives contain many notices about runaway slaves, and slaves for sale or rent.

This is a collection of ten slave notices from Virginia and South Carolina newspapers in the 1700s.

1. RUN away about the beginning of February, a NEGRO WENCH, named, about 35 years old, of a yellowish complexion; had on, when she run away, a green Negroe-cloth gown; well known in Charlestown, Goose-Creek, Ponpon and John’s-Island. Whoever will a the said Negroe, and deliver her to the Warden of the Work house, shall have five pounds reward from Lambert Lance.
   

   Runaway Slave Woman

2. RUN away on Monday evening the 9th April inst. from my house near the new barracks, a negro man named LONDON, about forty years of age by trade a barber, and is very well known here, at Beaufort, and at Augusta in Georgia. Whoever entertains or pretends to hire him without a line from me, may depend on being prosecuted with as much severity as the law allows; and whoever will deliver the said negro to the warden of the work-house, or to me, shall be handsomely rewarded. – White Outerbridge
3. RUN away the first of June 1762, A Negroe fellow named Andrew, cannot tell his master’s name, he is remarkable by having a bosent, which he tried to cut out, and was cured by a doctor, Guinea born, and is supposed to be harboured; if by a white person, on conviction, the sum of Thirty pounds, and if by a Negroe Ten Pounds. Whoever delivers him to me on the Cypress, within ten miles of Dorchester, shall receive a reward of Ten Pounds and all reasonable charges. – Robert Ekills
4. 

   Runaway Slave

   
   RUN away the 17th of October 1763, a likeyl young NEGROE MAN, this country born, named Cain, and stature about five feet nine or ten inches; he formerly belonged to Mr. Thomas Miles, and used to be a cattle-hunter at Messrs. Miles’s Cow-pen on the Saltketchers. He is well known at most of the plantations and Cow-pens in those parts. I will give a reward of Twenty Pounds to any person that will deliver him to Robert Rowand in Charlestown, or to me at Horse-Savannah. – Isaac Macpherson
5. RUN away in the night of the 26th of January, a negro man named OSBORN; he had on when he went away a blue negro cloth waistcoat and breeches, black worsted stockings, and shoes, he is about five feet nine inches high, about nineteen years of age, speaks very plain English, and is very talkative; it is very probable he may change both his name and dress, as he carried sundry cloaths with him; and as he has been used to go by water, it is supposed he will endeavour to get off in some vessel: Allmasters of vessels are hereby cautioned from carrying off or harbouring the said fellow, as they may depend on having the law put strictly in execution. Whoever will deliver the said fellow to me at White-point, shall have a reward of five pounds; and whoever will inform me of the said fellow’s being harboured – if by a white person they shall receive twenty pounds, and if by a negro five pounds, from Edward Blake.
6. 

   Slave Ship

   
   TO BE SOLD – A CARGO of about One Hundred and Sixty prime SLAVES All in good Health, JUST arrived in the Brigestine Lively, Capt. Caird, after passage of 33 days from GAMBIA. Thomas Shirley, Edward Martin
7. WHEREAS a negro man, a sailor, named August, my property, well known in Charlestown, frequently hires himself out without my knowledge; all persons, as they would avoid being prosecuted, are hereby forbid to employ, hire, harbour, or entertain the said negro man name’d August, without a written order from Elisabeth Tucker.
8. RAN away on the 12th of September last, from the Plantation of the Hon. Philip Lightfoot, Esq; on Queen’s Creek, near Williamsburg, a large, well-made Mulatto Slave, nam’d Amos, aged about 32, with long, bushy Hair, like an East-Indian’s; Speaks tolerable good English; but on a Surprize, stammers a little. Had on an old Felt Hat, a Canvas Shirt, a Cotton Jackets, and a Pair of Crocus Breeches. Whoever takes up the said Slave, and brings him to the plantation afore said,shall have Twenty Shillings Reward, besides what the Law allows, paid by Philip Lightfoot.
9. 

   Runaway Slave Ad

   
   RAN away, on Saturday the 15th of July, at Night, a Negro Man, nam’d Abraham, belonging to Col.George Braxton, of King and Queen County: He is a lusty stout young Fellow, about 23 Years of Age; is bow-leg’d: Has with him a Cloth colour’d Coat,  and several other Sorts of Wearing Apparel. He is a Shoemaker by Trade. And a Negro Man, nam’d Windsor, belonging to the Subscriber, of the same County: is about 5 Feet and a Half high, very square, and strong made, about 20 Years of Age. Has a black Cloth Coat, full trimm’d, and some other Apparel. The Negros are Virginia born, and are sensible Fellows. They went away by Water, and are suppos’d to be gone to South-Carolina. Whoever will secure the Said Runaways, and bring them to me in King and Queen County, Virginia, shall have Fifteen Pounds Reward, or Five Pounds for each, besides what the Law allows, paid by George Braxton, Junior.
10. WANTED ON HIRE, NEGROES, by the month, quarter or year, of any age above seven and under fifty. A good reasoable price will be given—the negroes well used—and the money paid as agreed upon.—Also wanted about two hundred acres, more or less, of pine barren land, that has plenty of pine wood and good clay, upon a navigable river within twenty miles of Charlestown, the nearer the better, for which a good price will be given either on hire or to be bought. Enquire at the printing-office in Elliott-street.

My office is in the little village of Medford, New Jersey.  I have looked up many of the little hamlets I have visited in the American County Histories to 1900 Collection but for some reason I had never looked up the place where I spend every weekday.

I looked it up tonight out of general curiosity and a desire to learn more about this old town and its history and buildings.

The Nail House in Medford, NJ

I found out that an old building right outside of town called “The Nail House” got that name because the original owner, Mark Reeve, invented the first machine to cut nails with a head and ran his small manufacturing facility in the building.

I also was reminded of what I love most about this collection.

These volumes were put together in the late 19th century when the people compiling the histories still had access to documents and people who formed an unbroken chain to the local history in the distant past.

Along that chain were passed stories, photos, engravings, and — of most interest to me — anecdotes like the one below. In the history of Medford, I found this under the woefully inadequate title “Pioneer Accident”.

Pioneer Accident… or How Not to Dry Gunpowder

In Revolutionary war times gunpowder was quite a necessary article, and Adonijah Peacock, then a resident of what is now Medford, was somewhat skilled in the manufacture of that necessary article. He lived about one and a half miles southeast of what is now Medford village.

Sometimes there was not that proper care or judgment exercised that there should have been. In his haste upon one occasion to furnish Gen. Washington with powder, he sent on quite a large quantity that had not been properly dried, consequently it was returned to Mr. Peacock. His powder-mill being a primitive affair, and using his old-fashioned kitchen fireplace for a dryer, proved rather dangerous.

While in the act of drying this lot of rejected powder it somehow ignited, causing a terrible explosion and instantly killing Mr. Peacock. The old kitchen, in which was the fireplace, was not only entirely demolished, but the force of the explosion excavated a hole under where the house stood as large as a good-sized cellar. A woman that was standing in the kitchen door was thrown about fifty yards. Her hair and a portion of her clothes were burned off, otherwise she was uninjured. A large quantity of powder standing outside the building was also ignited, and assisted in the sad havoc of life and property, besides the great loss to the then needy American army.

A grandson of Mr. Peacock lives upon the old plantation, and vouches for the truthfulness of the incident.

It is stories like these, little anecdotes passed down locally over time, that keep me coming back to the American Counties collection.

The Postal Service Act was signed into law by President George Washington on February 20, 1792. This legislation that established the United States Post Office Department as a permanent part of the Federal government of the United States.

From the Queen Anne’s Act that created a deputy postmaster general for the colonies through the Constitutional Post proposition in the early days of the Revolution, the ability to disseminate information safely, quickly, and consistently was of paramount importance to both the British crown and the colonists.

Monopolistic control over the flow of information was a powerful tool that the British colonial leaders used to their advantage.

William Goddard

William Goddard (1740-1817) was one of several publishers who used was forced to use private carriers to get their news past the prying eyes of the Crown post. Goddard experienced the abuse of authority by British directly in Philadelphia after he and Benjamin Franklin began publish the Pennsylvania Chronicle. The paper was unashamedly sympathetic to the revolutionary cause. To help keep a damper on revolutionary ideas, the local Philadelphia Crown postmaster failed to deliver out-of-town newspapers to Goddard. This, of course, deprived Goddard of critical sources of news and information. Eventually, the Chronicle was driven out of the news business when the Crown post simply refused to accept it for delivery to its subscribers. Goddard responded by designing a very American postal system founded on the principles of open communication, freedom from governmental interference, and the guaranteed free exchange of ideas. When the Postal Service Act was passed over a decade later, Goddard’s ideals played a role in shaping the new system.

The Postal Act of February 20, 1792

Early Postal Guidelines

The Postal Act of February 20, 1792 defined the character of the new Post Office Department. Intense and spirited debate in Congress separated the old colonial postal practices from the new direction and goals of this new, American, postal service. The debates examined issues of a free press, personal privacy and national growth.

The Postal Service Act also gave the Postmaster General greater legislative legitimacy and a far more effective organization. The US Postal Service was an integral part of the growth of the nation, but the postmaster general’s position was considered primarily to be a patronage post for political allies of the president. This continued until the Postal Service was transformed into a corporation run by a board of governors in 1971 following passage of the Postal Reorganization Act.

• A Free Press - Under the act, newspapers could be sent through the mail at discounted rates, subsidized by the Federal government itself, to better promote the spread of information across the nation.
• National Growth – The Act also helped shape the expansion of the nation with Congress assumin the responsibility for the creation of new postal routes to help guide settlement, expansion, and development. They wanted to use the promise of mail delivery to help grow the nation and economy instead of serving only existing communities.
• Personal Privacy – To ensure the sanctity and privacy of the mails, postal officials were forbidden to open any letters in their charge unless they were undeliverable. Finally, Congress assumed responsibility for the creation of postal routes, ensuring that mail routes would help lead expansion and development instead of only serve existing communities.

It still took time for the USPS to get to every part of the colonies. The American Counties to 1900 collection has this story about mail delivery to Royalton, NY before it had a post office of its own.

History of Niagara County

Previous to the establishment of post routes in this town, which was not until 1826, Batavia was the nearest office. The neighbors would club together, put a boy on a horse, and about once a month he could be seen wending his way through forest and stream, around the swamps, and along the seldom-used trail, to get, perchance, half a dozen letters and papers for four times that number of families.

Royalton to Batavia

Patiently the longing settlers waited the return of their faithful post rider, and when he returned, if no tidings came from loved ones, they did their best to suppress the silent tears that would often betray their sadness. But the advent of the Erie Canal, with its swift-floating packets, gave the post-office department a new lease of life, and post-offices were established all along its banks. The first in this town was at Reynale’s Basin, and was called Royalton post-office. In a very few years the office was moved to Royalton Center, by which name it is still known; while Reynale’s Basin was dignified with a post-office by that name, which it still retains, although receiving its mail through the Gasport office. Since then the mail facilities have increased, so that the town is well supplied. There are now six post-offices in the town, viz., Middleport, Reynale’s Basin, Orangeport, Royalton Center, Gasport and Wolcottsville.

THE TOWN OF ROYALTON—HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY with Illustrations Descriptive of its Scenery, Private Residences, Public Buildings, Fine Blocks, and Important Manufactories, Portraits of old Pioneers and Prominent Residents, 1878, p. 348.

You can learn more about the founding of the United States Postal System at the National Postal Museum, part of the Smithsonian.

The Pennsylvania Genealogical Catalogue primarily is a listing of marriages, deaths and obituaries between 1818 and 1870 from the Village Record, published in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Also included, however, is information about emigration patterns, customs and traditions, important events, medical history, biographical data, and more.

The Pennsylvania Newspaper Recorddocuments the move to industrialization from a predominantly agrarian culture established by Quaker farmers in the 18th century. The collection contains full-text transcriptions of articles, advertisements and vital statistics, providing insight into technology, business activity and material culture in a down-river milling and manufacturing community at the height of the Industrial Revolution.

It includes material from the following newspapers:

• Delaware County American, Media, PA (1851–1871)
• Delaware County Democrat, Chester, PA (two issues)
• Delaware County Republican, Darby & Chester, PA (1833–1870)
• The Post Boy, Chester, PA (few issues)
• The Upland Union, Chester, PA (1825–1835; 1850–1852)

The Carolina Gazette contains a wealth of information on colonial and early American History and genealogy, and provides an accurate glimpse of life in South Carolina and America, with additional coverage of events in Europe, during the early days of this country.  The material is taken from the following 5 newspapers:

• The South Carolina Gazette (1732-1775)
  South Carolina’s first successful newspaper was begun in 1732 and released its final issue in December, 1775. A “middle of the road” paper, the Gazette printed news of Europe, what the royalty had worn at the last formal event, news of the colony, notices of births, deaths, marriages and estate auctions, and advertisements, including those for runaway slaves. It contains a wealth of information on colonial/early American history and genealogy, and provides an accurate glimpse of life in South Carolina and America prior to the advent of the American Revolution.
• The South Carolina & American General Gazette (1764-1775)
  Begun in 1764 by Robert Wells, it had many subscribers in other colonies by the mid-1770s, and was the only paper in the state to publish the full text of the Declaration of Independence. Ironically Wells, a loyalist, eventually was forced to leave the state.
• The South Carolina Gazette & Country Journal (1765-1775)
  This publication was heavily pro-American and nearly always included scandalous stories of European royalty. While it tended to be “stuffy,” it was the only paper to discuss citizens who would not be considered among the elite in society.
• The Gazette of the State of South-Carolina (1777-1780)
  One of several newspapers published in Charles Town, this paper was concerned primarily with regional happenings. It was established in 1777 by Peter Timothy, and was published by him and Nicholas Boden. Publication was suspended temporarily January 15–June 17, 1778, because the printing office was destroyed by fire.
• The Charlestown Gazette (1779-1780)
  Printed weekly between 1778 and 1780 by Mary Crouch and Co., it was founded in special opposition to the Stamp Act, but also excelled at local news coverage while providing extensive listings of both marriages and deaths. Mary Crouch later moved to Salem, Massachusetts, where she continued publication for several years.