m THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES Of this book there have been printed One Hundred and Sixty-five Copies on Van Gelder Paper, and Fifteen Copies on extra quality Imperial Japan paper, after which the type has been distributed and the plates destroyed. AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER WILLIAM WILLIAMS <^(?Co ^. I ' ^ ?;> AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER WILLIAM WILLIAMS PRINTER, PUBLISHER, EDITOR WITH A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE PRESS AT UTICA, ONEIDA COUNTY NEW YORK, FROM 1803-1838 BY JOHN CAMP WILLIAMS NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS MCMVI Copyright by John Camp Wilhams 1906 2 2-3A V) vfS Or^ 5- To the memory of my father whose noble example ever lives TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .... Foreword: by Ellis H. Roberts Chapter I. 1787 to 1821 . Bibliography .... Chapter II. 1821 to 1850 Appendix I. Fort Schuyler II. Robert Williams' Emigration III. Entry of William Williams Baptism .... IV. Letter of William Williams V. Diary of William Williams during a stage-coach trip from Utica to New Haven, 18 10 VI. Defence of Mr. Hull by William Williams . PAGE xvii xxi 3 18 97 161 163 164 167 167 170 190 CONTENTS PAGX Appendix — continued VII. List of Editions of Illustra- tions of Masonry with an "Appeal to the Public," by the Masons .... 201 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ALL REPRODUCTIONS OF WOODCUTS ARE FULL SIZE, AND FROM THE ORIGINALS BY WILLIAM WILLIAMS William Williams: Frontispiece Mezzotint by S. Arlent - Edwards. Taken from a plaster impression of an intaglio cut from life. Title Page Woodcut of Cupids. Songs." Utica, 1810. From " Divine Page 5. List OF Illustration: Head-piece Woodcut of Mercury and Cupids. From "The Wanderer of Switzerland." Utica, 18 10. Page 48. List of Illustrations : Tail-piece Woodcut of Rose. From " The Wanderer of Switzerland." Utica, 1810. Page 75. PAGE iv XI XV LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE Introduction: Head-piece . . xvii Woodcut of Doves. From " The Wan- derer of Switzerland." Utica, 1810. Page 57. Foreword : Head-piece . . . xxi Woodcut of Venus crowning Cupid. From " The Wanderer of Switzerland." Utica. 1810. Page 69. Foreword : Tail-piece . . . xxvii Woodcut of Victory. From " The Wan- derer of Switzerland." Utica, 1810. Page 61. Chapter I : Head-piece . . 3 Woodcut of Cupid as Mars. From " The Wanderer of Switzerland." Utica, 1810. Page 25. Title Page of " Vindication," Printed by Thomas Walker. Utica, I 803 15 Original size. Chapter I; Tail-piece . . . 17 Woodcut of a Bird on a Branch. From 18 10 edition of " New England Primer." Title Page: "Sea Journal of William Moulton." Utica, 1804 19 Original size. xii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE Title Page of " The Wanderer of Switzerland." Utica, 1810. 29 Original size. Title Page of ** The Divine Songs " by I. Watts, D. D. Utica, 1810 31 Original size. Title Page of "The New England Primer." Utica, 18 10 . . 35 Original size. Alphabet Cuts from "The New England Primer." Utica, 18 10 • • • • • 36, 37» 38, 39»40 Original size. Frontispiece of "The Wanderer." Utica, I 8 1 1 46 Original size. Facsimile of William Williams' Commission as Adjutant, 181 2 53 Reduced size. Fractional Currency of the Vil- lage of Utica, 1815 . . . 63 Reduced size. All of these cuts appeared in the 1810 edition of " The Wanderer in Switzer- land." xiii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE Facsimile of William Williams' commission as Brigade Inspec- tor, 1816 71 Reduced size. Title Page of " The Musical Reader." Utica, 18 17 . . j^ Type page of original, 4^ '^ 7/^ inches. Title Page of "A Spelling Book in the Language of the Seven Iroquois Nations." Utica, 1820 89 Original size. Chapter I : Tail-piece ... 94 Woodcut of Lyre. From " The Wan- derer of Switzerland." Page 52. Original size. Chapter II : Head-piece . . 97 Woodcut of Quiver and Arrows. From " The Wanderer of Switzerland." Utica, 1810. Page 59. Title Page of "Light on Ma- sonry." Utica, 1829. . . 123 Original size. First Issue of First Edition. Title Page of ** Light on Ma- sonry." Utica, 1829. . .125 Original size. Second Issue of First Edition, xiv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS size. PACK Colored Photogravure of William Morgan, who was ab- ducted by the Masons in 1826. 129 From an ivory miniature in the posses- sion of Mr. Williams in 1828. Business Card of William Williams on Copper, by Balch and Stiles, 1830 137 Photogravure reproduction. Original Chapter II: Tail-piece . .160 Minerva Woodcut. Original size. From "Moral Songs." Utica, 1810. Page 2. Book Plate . . . . .213 Woodcut by William Williams. Original size. INTRODUCTION THE bibliography of the numerous presses in the different cities and towns of the United States must necessarily be the basis of a complete bibliography of the country. The inland towns which sprung up rapidly after the close of the Revolutionary War were the centers of an active agricultural popula- tion, and those of Central New York drew their population mainly from New England. The first newspaper which started in the confines of the present Oneida County (a distance of loo miles west of Albany and as early as 1793) was the beginning of a printing press in that section, where Fort Stanwix and Fort xvii INTRODUCTION Schuyler had been planted before the war. In addition to a bibliography it has been attempted in the following pages to enu- merate under each year such events of local or national history as influenced public sentiment through the columns of the semi-weekly newspaper, or led to the publication of these books. The increase of schools caused a large wholesale and retail demand for the "New England Primer," "Webster's and Hall's Spelling Books," "Murray's Readers and Grammars," "Morse's and Thayer's Geog- raphies," as well as school editions of the New Testament, all of which ran through numerous Utica editions. The spread of the Gospel among the Indian tribes by missionaries from New England and New York demanded the books printed in the Mohawk and Choctaw languages. Popu- lar indignation at the abuse of personal liberty and safety by members of the Masonic fraternity flooded the country xviii INTRODUCTION with anti-masonic literature, much of which came from WiUiam Williams' press. The nearly complete files of the Utica newspapers in the New York Historical Society have furnished the names of many of the following publications, of which no copy is now known to exist. Aid has also been received by consulting the Oneida Historical Society, the Utica Public Library, the Lenox Library and Mr. George Plimpton's large collection of American school books. J. C. W. Morristown, N. J. May, 1906 FOREWORD THE memory of William Wil- liams, Oneida County printer, should not be allowed to pass away. One of his descendants does well to preserve the record of his character and labors. His enterprise and transactions were on a large scale actually, but espec- ially in view of the limits of the field in which he lived. In 1808, when he be- came a master printer, Utica had a population of about two thousand, and in 1830, near the close of his active career, the inhabitants numbered hardly five xxi FOREWORD thousand. To issue a newspaper, even in such a village, was a natural impulse. One can understand how foresight might engage him in publishing "Webster's Spelling Book" by the thousand copies, and even how he might be led to turn out " Daboll's Arithmetic," dry and hard as it was, but the favorite of the time. The courage was marvelous, which even in the high intelligence of his little com- munity could add the publication of so many and such varied works, educational, religious, musical, in fiction, on anti- masonry, and often at the risk of himself and partners. In the ratio of publications to the population of the locality, where can a parallel be found ? To reach the inhabitants scattered out- side of the little hamlet, for the distribu- tion of books, the facilities were few and meager. Colporteurs could be sent out and wagons and pack-horses could be hired. As the years went on stages east XXll FOREWORD and west ran daily, and on the demands of traffic more frequently, while post- riders traveled the country roads to the north and south — so mails were carried. The Erie canal was available only after 1825, and boats were not numerous at first. Such isolation set barriers to sales and operations. Yet Utica was made pre-eminently a publishing center, relatively in the fore- most rank in the business in the country, and positively with a production credit- able to a great city. Later years, which have witnessed immense growth here in all other directions, have not shown an issue of books equal in variety and scope from the more numerous and more rapid presses. The difference in the record is due to the large vision, the public spirit, the strong will and the efficient energy of William Williams in that struggling hamlet. If others aided, he led and directed, xxiii FOREWORD To do SO much with so little, to perform so largely in so narrow an arena, called for and attest qualities original and construc- tive, and in combination as rare as they were beneficent. These he exhibited not only in his business, but they were also conspicuous in social, civic and religious activities. He gave impetus and elevation to his village. He was needed in every emergency, and he was always prompt to respond cheerily and vigorously. The British attack on the northern frontier, in the War of i 8 1 2, aroused him and hurried him as Captain of a company of volunteers, which he raised, to the de- fense of Sackets Harbor. He won credit as a soldier which lasted through his life. In these days of paid fire departments it costs an effort to appreciate the unrequited zeal and devotion required to organize the citizens to fight fire, but they knew the value and the merit of his services and kept him long at the head of the local xxiv FOREWORD force. Always devoted to the welfare of others, he found in steady labors in the Sunday School as its superintendent, and in the church as elder, the natural methods to serve his fellows and to express his own aspirations. In the cholera epidemic of 1832 he was a leader in organizing for the care of the poor and neglected, for precautions to check the disease, and for aid to the afflicted. The stories of his personal zeal and service in this crisis match any of the chronicles of monk or priest in any age Accident cannot explain why from his printing office so many men went out trained for such high and worthy careers. Within a brief period from case and press started 8. Wells Williams, Sampson, Web- ster, North, to missionary labors, Henry Ivison as publisher, C. W. Everest to lit- erary success, George S. Wilson and R. B. Shepard to leadership in Sunday School and pulpit work, and later, W. Frederick XXV FOREWORD Williams as missionary and Robert W. Roberts as publisher. Such fruit proves that the tree of that printing office was good ; and the credit belongs mainly to its chief for its moral and intellectual ele- vation. An establishment takes on an influence and traditions as a man forms a character, and a college creates a genius of its own. Of the wide harvest in all of central and western New York, from the planting of Mr. Williams the following pages will doubtless present a proper estimate. In the city grown from the village, where he toiled in largest measure, will endure the traditions and the history of the printing office of William Williams — not only as a source of books, but as a school of the "art preservatives of all arts," and a torch set on a hill. My own connection with it was of the slightest. At the eleventh hour, at its very end, when the sun was already setting, my FOREWORD name as a young boy was put on the pay roll, the last person employed in the printing office of William Williams. What wonder if its traditions are dear to me with the glamour of the olden days? The character and labors of William Williams lie at the base of the choicest treasures of Utica. Ellis H. Roberts. Utica, N. Y., October 9, 1905. CHAPTER I 1787 to 1821 CHAPTER 1 1787 to 1821 ONEIDA COUNTY was one of the comparatively later sub- divisions of New York State in 1798, although the tribe of Indians from which it took its name had been prominent and powerful for years. Samuel Kirkland, who had graduated from Princeton Col- lege in 1766, and James Dean from Dart- mouth's third class in 1773, were hard at work among them at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. The former was given a large tract of land by the Government in 1788 for his services among them, and 3 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER in 1792 moved to Clinton, which had already been founded in 1786. In 1791 he had already proposed, and in 1793 had succeeded in founding, Hamilton Oneida Academy, later Hamilton College. This noble missionary work among the Indians by the young graduates of the colleges had a far-reaching influence, and was but the continuation of the example that had been set by the New England colleges ever since their earliest days. The terri- tory had all been traversed by the army under the Revolutionary officers who had been appointed to this district by General Philip Schuyler. He commanded the northwestern frontier, and had his garri- sons at Fort Stanwix* (called Fort Schuy- ler during the period of the war), the present site of Rome, and Old Fort Schuy- ler, the present site of Utica. The army had made the ground hallowed by their victory at Oriskany over British and In- *Appendix I 4 WILLIAM WILLIAMS dian combined forces, and little wonder that the New Englander hastened to flock thither and populate the fertile valley of the Mohawk as soon as peace was de- clared. In 1784, Hugh White, from Middletown, Conn., settled at the mouth of Saquoit Creek on the Mohawk River, and although fifty-one years of age, had not lost the true pioneer spirit of the American. He soon became, by purchase, one of the proprietors of the Sadaquada patent, jointly with Zephania Piatt, Ezra L'Hommedieu and Melancthon Smith. Whitestown was laid out at the time, and contained most of the territory north, west and south of the present Utica. In 1788 Col. Sanger came as a settler from Connecticut, and laid out the district known as New Hartford, a part of Whites- town, and not separated until 1827. Still another district was called Middle Settle- ment. The same year that Col. Sanger came there was laid out the Great Western AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER Turnpike, running west from Albany. To this Utica owed its growth, and it was due to his influence that it crossed the Mohawk at Old Fort Schuyler, and turned its direction southward towards his newly platted settlement of New Hartford. The news of the wonderful fertility of the valley at this period, and the success of the new settlement, spread rapidly, and every year brought new caravans of pion- eers from the " thickly populated East." In 1790 came from Framingham, Mass., two brothers, Thomas and Ezekiel Wil- liams, with their wives ; the former family having four and the latter five young children. They were sprung from Puri- tan ancestors, unmixed with foreign in- termarriage, as indicated by the direct line of names — Dana, Bird, Brewer, Wise and Stalham. Robert Williams, their father's great-grandfather, had settled in Roxbury, Mass., from Norfolk, England, in 1638, seeking a home of religious free- 6 WILLIAM WILLIAMS dom.* Both brothers had been born in Roxbury, within two years of each other, and at the age of about twenty Thomas and his brother-in-law, Thomas Dana, had each volunteered their services as minute men in the first call for troops in Boston, having each a few years before, as boys, participated in the Boston Tea Party escapade, disguised as "Mohocs." The two brothers married sisters, Susanna and Sarah Dana, of Boston, during the second year of the war, and in 1782 moved to Framingham, Mass., where they started a partnership in the tanning business. Here, in 1787, on October 12th, was born Wil- liam, the fourth child of the elder brother Thomas, who according to the church record was baptised "Billy" Williams, j* the subject of this sketch. After eight years of tanning in Fram- ingham they were closed by the sher- iff, and then left for still further western *Appendix II. fAppendix III. 7 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER fields to seek their fortunes in the same business in the Sanger settlement of New Hartford, in the confines of Judge Whites' prosperous Whitestown. Each built himself a substantial home at once, as they were both present when the "First Religious Society of Whitestown" was formed on June 20, 1791 ; and it was voted ** to build a church a few rods south of Mr. Ezekiel Williams' house." The same record shows that in January, 1792, " John, son of Thomas and Susanna Williams, born New Hartford, 1 791, was baptised" by Johnathan Edwards, Jr., the President of Union College in 1799 to 1 80 1, who, in 1 79 1, was called out into the wilderness to dedicate their new church. The record further shows that, on June 28, 1792, Missionary Samuel Kirkland preached, and Ephriam Smith was made first and Thomas Williams the second deacon of the church. True to their religious principles their consciences WILLIAM WILLIAMS would not allow them to substitute the letter of the bankrupt law for their spirit- ual law, and in a few years they were making a trip back to Framingham, Mass., partly by foot, to pay off their old creditors in full with the first fruits of their new and prosperous venture. On the loth of July, 1793, their progressive townsmen decided to issue a newspaper, and the first number of the Whitestown Gazette appeared on that date (Vol. i. No. 7, being dated August 22, 1793, and the only known copy). It appeared weekly under the proprietorship of Jed- ediah Sanger, Samuel Wells and Elisha Risley, while Richard Vandenburg was employed as printer. This had the honor of being the first weekly newspaper printed west of Albany. For want of patronage it was discontinued the next winter, and the following year James Swords, of New York City, started the Western Centinel at Whitestown, and Oliver C. Easton 9 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER was the printer. This changed hands several times, and was soon discontinued. The Whitestown Gazette was re-estab- lished, May, 1796, in New Hartford, with Samuel Wells the proprietor and William McLean the printer. They were not without competition, for, in 1797, was issued " Oration delivered at Whitestown, July 4, 1797, by Thomas Moore, printed by Lewis & Webb, Whitestown, 1797." Prosperous as the New Hartford settle- ment was, the Old Fort Schuyler* site found much favor in the eyes of new- comers, and already, in 1789, it was plat- ted for building lots by John Post, Uriah Alverson and Stephen Potter. The tide of immigration was west, and not south towards New Hartford; and the main turnpike diverted west towards Fort Stanwix, and the new-formed town called Utica. Upon the granting of its first charter, April 3, 1798, it was destined to *Ruins of the old Fort could be seen at Corner Main and Second Streets in 1828. 10 WILLIAM WILLIAMS outstrip the other settlements. Thither William McLean, who had become sole proprietor of the paper, moved and issued it, July 1798, under the name Whites- town Gazette and Cato s Patrol. Thither also in March, the same year, came Thomas Walker from Rome, and set up his Columbian Gazette, which he had been publishing there since August 17, 1799. He was a former apprentice to Isaiah Thomas at Worcester, Mass. By an Act passed April 4, 1800, a Charter of Incorporation of the Mohawk Turnpike and Bridge Company was granted by the Legislature of New York State. On April 5, 1800, an Act amend- atory to this Act was passed. This was the first chartered turnpike in New York State. It commenced at Schenectady, and ran through Amsterdam, Palatine Bridge, Little Falls to Utica. Numerous productions from these two rival presses must have appeared, besides II AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER the weekly papers during these few years; but all we find is a small quarto pamphlet of 23 pages, by Jonas Piatt, without title page, but with the heading, " To the People of Oneida County," and beginning "The unfortunate controversy about a Court House which has destroyed your political harmony, and disturbed your in- dividual repose, is again about to be re- newed." It further contained a letter addressed to Col. Sanger and Thomas B. Gold, Esquires, with their replies, and was signed and dated on page 20, "Jonas Piatt, October ist, 1800." This remnant is preserved in the Lenox Library, in New York, city, and was doubtless printed by William McLean at his Utica press. He had married Thomas Williams* eldest daughter, Sukey, the year before he re- moved to Utica, and was consequently William Williams' brother-in-law, though twelve years his senior. Boys in those days learned to earn a living before the 12 WILLIAM WILLIAMS present age for going to boarding-school, and we find young William following his new brother to Utica in 1800. As he says, later in life, writing to his son in 1839, *' I formed my stiff handwriting at the printing office before I was thirteen." McLean's paper continued until February, 1803, when he sold it to John H. Lath- rop, who named it the Patriot, and contracted to have it printed by Merrell & Seward, men who had been with Mc- Lean while printing the old paper. Mr. Seward, born in 1781, had served his ap- prenticeship with the famous printer, Isaiah Thomas, in Boston, returned to Utica, where his father had settled in 1792, and at the age of twenty-two took up business for himself. He kept young Williams at his apprenticeship up to the year 1807, when his name appeared as a partner in the printing shop, which for several years was run separately from the extensive book-store of A. Seward. 13 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER In i8i2 Mr. Seward married Martha, older sister of William Williams, and so, for the second time, he was at work in the establishment of a brother-in-law; the former one having been Mr. McLean, who, after selling out his business, moved to Vernon, N. Y., and entered the tannery with his father-in-law, Thomas Williams. The earliest dated book or pamphlet with a title page printed in Utica, was " A Vindication of the Measures of the Present Administration by Algernon Sid- ney (Gideon Granger). " Where liberty dwells, there is my country," Utica, print- ed by Thomas Walker, June, 1803. The output of the press of Merrell & Seward, and later Asahel Seward, until, in 1807 the new firm's name was Seward and Williams, was varied and numerous, and exhibited much of the handiwork and type- setting of the apprentice, William Wil- liams. From the ages of thirteen to twenty he assiduously mastered his trade, 14 VINDICATION OF THE MEASURES OP THS PRESENT ADMINISTRATION'. By ALGERNON SIDNEY. " Where Liberty dtuellsu,*JJiereh "my country.^^ UTICA : Printed by THOMAS WALKER. jFune — 1803. WILLIAM WILLIAMS which showed itself in his later work as printer, book-binder, wood-cutter, book- seller and editor; a natural evolution of the self-made man who did whatever ne- cessity required to keep his business ad- vancing. AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER BIBLIOGRAPHY 1803 THE PATRIOT— Volume i. Number i, Utica, February 1803. John H. Lathrop, Editor. Merrell & Seward, Printers, Issued Weekly. Mr. Lathrop was a classmate of President Backus in Yale College. THE NEW ENGLAND PRIMER. Utica, 1803. Advertised "Just printed and for sale" in the September 19th 1803 issue of the Patriot, 6 cents each, 50 cents per dozen. Probably printed in Boston, with Merrell & Seward on title page. ALMANAC for 1804, Utica, 1804, Merrell & Seward. Advertised in the Patriot, October 31, 1803. Daniel Morris established a book-bindery on April iSthof this year. A. Seward opened his "Adventure Book Store" on November 2nd, in the store lately occupied by Talcott Camp, and on November 21st, George Richards opened the "Oneida Book Store "at the store lately occupied by Bryan Johnson. In his catalogue he referred to his territory for selling as "Albany on the East and Louisiana on the West." On October loth, Samuel Wells died at New Hartford at the age of 41 years. He was the proprietor of the first news- paper established in Whitestown ; the executor and admin- istratrix of his estate were Richard Sanger and Dolly Wells. He was the father of Mr. Williams's future wife, Sophia Wells. The December 5th number of the Patriot was printed on small paper as the "large paper did not arrive." On December 12th, A. Seward started his circulating library at his store. 18 A Concise Crtraft. trom thk SEA JOURNAL o r WILLIAM MOULTON; VTRITTBN OV BOARS Ot THE ONI CO. IN A VOYAGE FROM THX FORT OF NEW-LONDON IN CONNECTICUT, T O STATEN-LAND IN THE SOUTH^EAj TOGCTHERXrXTtt STRICTURES AND REMARKS OV VARIOUS SUBJECT MATTERS WHICH CAMS WITHIN Hit NOTtCff OK THE COAST OF SOUTH AMERICA, AVD AT A VARIETY OF ISLANDS IN THE SOUTH SEA AND PACIFIC OCEAN, IN THX YEARS, 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803 and 1804. COPT-RIGHT SECURED ACCORDING TO LAW. PRINTED AT UTICA. FOR THE AUTHOR t 1804. WILLIAM WILLIAMS 1804 A CONCISE EXTRACT FROM THE SEA JOURNAL OF WILLIAM MOULTON. Written ON BOARD OF THE OnICO. In A VoYAGE FROM THE Port of New London in Connecticut to Staten- Land in the South Sea, &c. 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804. Copy-Right Secured Accord- ing TO Law. Printed at Utica, for the Author, 1804. 158 pp. and I p. of Errata, 410. Although the printers are not stated it was doubtless printed by Merrell & Seward, as it is advertised in the May 27th, 1805, number of the Patriot " By a Utica Printer. " 75 cents each ; in dozen lots, 69 cents each. No mention of it is in the Columbian Gazette of same date. The paper is the same used by Seward in "Experience of William Keith, 1806." Also some pamphlets printed by him in 1803 use "Printed for the author," with no name. Dr. Bagg in his "Pioneers" says it was printed by Mer- rell & Seward. AMERICAN SELECTIONS of Lessons in Reading and Speaking by Noah Webster. Utica, Merrell & Seward, 1804. This is advertised in the August 1 6th issue of the Pfl/r/o^ In January, Whiting Goodrich & Co., staned a book- store and advertised a "Life of Washington." ALMANAC for 1805. Merrell & Seward, Utica. On January 3, 1804, B. Merrell, auctioneer, advertised in the Patriot to sell a handsome collection of books at auc- tion. On February 6, 1804, occurred a serious fire at Post & Hamilton's store, and in that number of the Patriot they thanked the " Fire Co. " and citizens for aid. So there must have been a Fire Company in this year. 21 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER On Februar)' 27, 1804, is an advertisement for "Peter Edwards on Infant Baptism." No printer's name men- tioned. 1805 A SPELLING BOOK by Noah Webster. Utica, Merrell & Seward, 1805. Advertised in June loth, 1805, Patriot as the "First Utica Edition. " Notice was given in August 16, 1804, Pa- /no/ that "Noah Webster assigned right to print Webster's Spelling Book to Ebenezer Belden of Hartford, Conn., at New Haven, Conn., in territory Westward of Albany"; and on February 4, 1805, Mr. Belden transfers for $1,200 privilege to print it in Utica to Asahel Seward of Whitestown. In presence of D. W. Childs is the contract drawn up and signed. Numerous editions were printed at his press in succeeding years and sold in wholesale lots in adjacent towns for their schools. On May 15th, Thomas Cornwall advertised his new book- store at New Hartford. ALMANAC for 1806. Merrell & Seward, Utica. On August 19th, the last number of the Patriot was printed by Merrell & Seward; on August 26th, Ira Merrell's name ap- peared alone as printer. Mr. Seward dissolved partnership with Mr. Ira Merrell and did not take up the printing of a newspaper again until January 5, 1815, with Mr. Williams. In 181 1, Merrell & Camp succeed Ira Merrell in printing the Patriot. 1806 THIRD PART OF NOAH WEBSTER'S New Edition American Selections. Utica, Asahel Seward, 1806. Advertised in January 13th number of the Patriot. 22 WILLIAM WILLIAMS THE PLAIN TRUTH Respecting Church Government by Elijah Norton. Utica, Asahel Seward, 1806. Advertised in February 17th number of the Patriot, and sold at I cent each, or 9 cents per dozen. THE EXPERIENCE OF WILLIAM KEITH (Written by Himself) together with some Ob- servations Conclusive of Divine Influence on the Human Mind of Man. Utica, Printed by Asahel Seward, 1806. Small 8vo., 23 pp. AN ACT to Organize the Militia of the State OF New York. Utica, A. Seward, 1806. Advertised June 24th in the Patriot and for sale at the Patriot's shop. A DESCRIPTION OF COUNTERFEIT BILLS. Utica, A. Seward, 1806. Advertised as "just published" on July 2nd in the Patriot. THE GAMUT, or Scale of Music, by William Ward. Utica, A. Seward, 1806. Advertised in the October 14th number of the Patriot. On the 2ist of October the Patriot states: "Asahel Seward (late of Merrell & Seward) has opened anew book printing house and bindery one door from the Coffee House on Gene- see Street." On September 15th, the "Utica Book Store" or "Seward's" was also removed to "next door to the Post Office." The City of Utica received its second charter in 1806. THE FARMER'S CALENDAR, or Utica Al- manac FOR 1807. Utica, A. Seward. Advertised in the October 21st number of the Patriot. On November 4th, Mr. Seward advertised in the Patriot 23 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER a proposal to publish by subscription "Richard Cumber- land." He asked for final call on April 7, 1807. As no advertisement of this book appeared in the columns of the Patriot during 1807, it is doubtful whether it was ever pub- lished by this press. A VIEW OF ECCLESIASTICAL PROCEED- INGS IN THE County of Windham, Connecticut, BY John Sherman, A.B., Minister of the Re- formed Church, Trenton, N. Y. Utica, A. Seward, 1806. Advertised in the December gth number of the Pa- triot and may bear date of 1807 (a custom often in vogue where a book was published so near the end of the year); for sale at the "Oneida (Richard's) Book Store," and the "Utica" (Seward's) store. On December 30th, he adver- tised in the Patriot "Circulating Library and custom print- ing at the New Book Store of Mr. A. Seward." 1807 AMERICAN SELECTIONS of Lessons in Reading and Speaking, by Noah Webster, Second Edition. Utica, Asahel Seward, 1807. In the January 27th number of the Patriot he advertised "Just received from the press of Isaiah Thomas, Jr., of Worcester, Mass., and for sale at Seward's book-store 'A Vision of John Sherman.' Price 15 cents." March 17th he advertised in the Patriot "Orders for furnishing Bands with instruments will be met with due attention by A. Seward." July 27th an advertisement appeared in the Patriot as follows : " Books and other printing in all its variety executed with neatness, accuracy and despatch by Seward and Williams, who have lately received considerable addition to their of- fice." This was the first mention of the new partnership when William Williams became a member of the printing estab- lishment. It was several years later before he was taken into partnership in the book-store. He reached his twen- 24 WILLIAM WILLIAMS tieth birthday on the 12th or the following October and was old enough now to have a hnancial interest. FARMER'S CALENDAR, or Utica Almanac FOR 1808. Utica, Seward and Williams, 1808. Advertised in the November 3rd number of the Patriot, with the first appearance in print of the new firm's name. A REPRESENTATION OF THE NATURE OF TRUE RELIGION, Addressed to a Lady— To Which is Added a Short Explanation of the End and Design of the Lord's Supper, Taken from a Treatise on the Subject. Utica, A. Sew- ard, 1807. Advertised as "just published by A. Seward" in the De- cember 15th number of the Patriot and probably was dated 1808. December 22nd, an advertisement appeared "A Few gross of Press Papers, Holland Quills, Nevtton's patent med- icines, Essence of Tansey and Peppermint, Elixir of Health, Itch Ointment, Tooth and Ear-Ache Tincture, Eye-Wa- ter, &c. &c." 1808 LETTERS ADDRESSED TO REV. SAMUEL MILLER, D.D. in Reply to His Letters Con- cerning the Constitution and Order of the Christian Ministry; by Thomas Y. How. Utica, Published and Printed by Seward and Wil- liams, 1808. One Door East of the Coffee House, Genesee Street. Pp. 124, 8vo. Advertised in the January 26th number of the Patriot at 50 cents each. ^^ THE REV. MR. CARNAHAN'S DISCOURSE. "Defense of Christianity Against the Cavils of Infidels and Weariness of Enthusiasts." Ser- mon Preached May 15TH 1808 at the First Pres- 25 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER BYTERIAN ChURCH, UtICA, N. Y. UtICA, SeWARD & Williams, 1808. Appeared in the June 14th number of the Patriot. Sewed, 32 pp., 8vo., 25 cents each. MASONRY IN ITS PURITY. A Sermon, Preached in Brookfield, N. Y., June 24, 1808 by Ebner Cowles, R. a. C. Utica, Seward & Wil- liams, 1808. Notice of July iSthin the Patriot, izmo, 12^ cents each. ETERNAL ELECTION, by Elijah Norton, Plainfield, N. Y. Utica, Seward & Williams, 1808. Notice in the Patriot of July l8th. AMERICAN SELECTIONS in Reading and Speaking by Noah Webster, Third Edition. Utica, Seward & Williams, 1808. In November 29th number of the Patriot, George Richards at the Oneida book-store advertised "Biographical Memoirs of George Washington. " Probably Ramsay's life of Wash- ington, and very doubtful if it was printed in Utica. In 1808 Ira Merrell published a Welsh Hymn Book at the Patriot Press. THE FARMER'S CALENDAR, or Utica Al- manack, for the Year of Our Lord, 1809: Be- ing THE First after Bissextile, or Leap Year. Fitted for the Meridian of Utica, North Lati- tude 43° 10 ' — West Longitude 74° 56'. By An- drew Beers, Philom Utica: Printed and Sold by Seward and Williams. Sold Also by Myron Holley and J. D. Bemis, Canandaigua. James Bogart & Co. Geneva, and L. Kellogg Manlius. Great Allowance made to Whole- sale Purchasers. 26 WILLIAM WILLIAMS In a November number of the Patriot it said that on December 6th A. Seward removed his book-store to store owned by Lothrop & Kirkland, "Having purchased a Rhobotham's Patent ruHng machine, he will rule and bind books to any order." It was this year that William Williams started to manufacture the paper upon which the firm printed. It was done at a small factory at Walesville, N. Y., not far from Utica. It was a thin, tough, rag paper, and the bank bills of the Utica banks were printed upon it later, as well as many books. William Williams' religious nature was very strongly developed in early life, and in July, 1808, he joined the First Presby- terian Church in Utica, then run in con- junction with the New Hartford Church, as it was not until several years later, in 181 3, that they had their own pastor. Letters written July ii, and Septem- ber 4, 1808,* to his sister Martha and his brother John indicated his deep relig- ious feeling. *Appendix IV. 27 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER 1809 MAP OF THE TOWN OF WHITESTOWN, Oneida County, N. Y. Taken from Survey by Peleg Gifford. Utica, A. Seward, 1809, Advertisement of February 7th in the Patriot. On the proceeding January 31st he extended his circulating Library. THE CONSTITUTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES AND New York State. (On Account OF War Talk and Trouble). Utica, Seward AND Williams, 1809. Advertisement of February 28th in the Patriot. NEW MILITIA ACT, with Amendment of Last Session. Utica, Seward & Williams, 1809. Advertised on July 25th in the Patriot as "New Supply," and no doubt printed by them. On this date the "Patriot printing shop was moved to the first door below Post Of- fice." On July loth Mr. Richards sold out the "Oneida Book Store " and left the city. FARMER'S CALENDAR or Utica Almanac for 1810. Utica, Seward & Williams. Advertisement in the Patriot of October loth. SUICIDE OF THE WIFE OF THOMAS KING, of Sangerfield, N. Y. (Second Edition) Utica, Seward & Williams, 1809. Advertised October loth in the Patriot "For sale at this office." 181O THE WANDERER OF SWITZERLAND and Other Poems by James Montgomery. Orna- mented WITH Engravings on Wood by William Williams. 28 THE IVANDERER OF SWITZERLAND, AKD OTHER POEMS, BY JAMES MOKTGOMERYx OKNAMEKTED WITH ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD. By Willicnn WilliavM. *' Though long of winds and waves the sportj " Condemn'd in wretchedness to roam, " LIVE 1— thou shall find a sheltering^ port, "A quiet home.'' UttCd: PRINTED AND PUBLISHES BY SEWARD AND WILLIAMS. 1810. DIVINE SONGS, ATTEMPTED IK EASY LANGUAGE, FOR THE USB OP CHILDREN. By I. WATTS, D. D. Out of the mouth of Babes and Sucklinga thou hast perfected Praise.— >M.dX. xxL 16' lllrtca : Printed and Sold by Seward and Williams. 1810. Title page of Divine Songs. Utica, 1810, with wood cut, by William Williams. WILLIAM WILLIAMS "Though long of Winds and Waves the Sport, "Condemn'd in Wretchedness to roam, "LIVE! Thou shalt find a sheltering, A quiet Lane." Utica, Printed and Published by Seward and Williams, i8io. Small 8vo., io8 pp. The first American from the second London edition of Montgomery's "Wanderer" had been printed by N. S. Stansburg, in Water Street, N. Y., in 1807, with a copper- plate frontispiece. DIVINE SONGS, Attempted in Easy Language FOR THE Use of Children, by I. Watts, D.D, "Out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings, Thou hast perfected Praise." Matthew XXI, 16. Utica, Printed and Sold by Seward & Wil- liams, 1810. MORAL SONGS, Attempted in Easy Language FOR THE Use of Children, by I. Watts, D.D. "Out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings, Thou hast perfected Praise." Matthew XXI, 16 To Which are Added the Principles of the Christian Religion, Expressed in Plain and Easy Verse. By P. Doddridge, D.D. Utica, Printed and Sold by Seward and Williams, 1810. Each of these Watts' productions contains 36 pages, and are bound together. Different title pages and separately paged. The "Principles" by Doddridge begin at page 15 of the second collection. The numerous wood-cuts are by William Williams, as they are mostly the same as appear in the "Wanderer of Switzerland." 33 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER DIVINE SONGS AND MORAL SONGS by I. Watts, D.D. and Principles of Christian Re- ligion Added by P. Doddridge, D.D. Published and Sold by Seward & Williams, Utica, i8io. This is evidently the second edition. The two title pages of the first Utica edition are combined, and the pages are numbered throughout. 72 pp. No cut of a bee-hive ap- peared on the title as in the first Utica edition. Page 37 is blank with same wood-cut on verso of page 37 as in the earl- ier edition. The wood-cuts are all by Williams as in the former edition. The bee-hive cut appeared in "Wanderer" of 1811. THE NEW ENGLAND PRIMER Improved. For More Easy Attaining the True Reading of English. To Which Is Added the Assembly of Divines and the Episcopal Catechism. Printed BY Seward & Williams, Utica, N. Y., 18 10. 72 pp. A copy in the Lenox Library. The wood-cuts in this edition of the "New England Primer'* were the work of WilHam Williams without doubt, as the two tail-pieces appear as his work in other publications of 1 8 1 o and 1 8 1 1 . (See page 6 1 of the ** Wanderer." Utica, Seward & Williams, 1 8 1 o.) The first set of Al- phabet cuts (see illustrations) were prob- ably his own design as well as execution. The cuts with verses and the John Rogers cut are reproductions from the New Eng- 34 7HE NEWENGLAND PRIMER IMPROVED, For the more easy attambig the true Reading of English, TO VKICH IS ADDEI>, THE ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES' AND THE EPISCOPAL CATECHISMS. UTICA, (N. Y.) TRf NTED BV SEWAKD AND WILLIAMS 1810. [ * ] A D Bell Awl Duck B E Fan Alphabet Wood Cuts engraved by William Williams. 36 [ s ] G J Gun Jews -harp H Hou se Ink-stand Lion A2 Alphabet Wood Cuts engraved by William Williams. 37 £ 6 J Owl Rose Alphabet Wood Cuts engraved by William Williams. 38 [ ^ J Vise Tab Window Umbrella XeriLCS Alphabet Wood Cuts engraved by William Williams. 39 [ B ] Yoke Zebra Duty of Children towards their Fare?its. GOD hath commanded, saying, Honor thy father and thy mot/i- cr, and he that curseth father and mother let him die the death. Matt. xv. 4. Children, obey your parents, in the JLord, for this is right, Eph. vi. 1. GOD is in every place ; He speaks in every sound we hear; He is seen in all that our eyes behold : nothing, O child of reason, is without God ;— let Go D therefore be in all thy thoughts. Alphabet Wood Cuts engraved by William Williams. 40 WILLIAM WILLIAMS land editions, but the slight variations indicate they were re-cut by William Williams himself. On February 14, 1810, appeared an advertisement in the Patriot as follows: "Henderson Armour & Company of Montreal and William Henderson of Quebec. Signed R. Armour, partner of above. Prices of produce: Wheat, $1.70 per bushel. Flour, $10.00 per barrel. Pork, S20.00 per barrel. P. S. For information as to our responsibil- ity refer to J. J. Astor, Esq., merchant, New York City." This year Daniel D. Tompkins was elected Governor of New York State, John Browne, Lieutenant-Governor. A. Seward was agent for periodicals and a book called "Smirk's Military Maneuvers." Monday, September loth a Welsh Society was formed in Utica November 27th the Oneida Bible Society was formed at the First Presbyterian Church, Utica ; T. Piatt, President, Nathan Williams one of the Trustees. James Carnahan, Secretary. Saturday December 10, 1810, "Castle Williams" on Governor's Island, N. Y., was so called from the head of the U. S. Corps of Engineers, Jonathan Williams. AMERICAN SELECTIONS of Lessons in Reading and Speaking Calculated to Improve THE Minds and Refine the Tastes of Youth, to Which are Prefixed Rules in Elocution and Directions for Expressing the Passions of the Mind. By Noah Webster. 5TH Edition. Utica, Seward & Williams, 1810. 1-226.2 Contents. The First Utica Edition was 1804. FARMERS' CALENDAR or Utica Almanac for 181 1, Utica, Seward & Williams. Advertised in a November number of the Patriot. 41 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER A most interesting incident in William Williams' early achievements was his learning the art of wood engraving. This art had only recently been introduced into this country by Dr. Alexander Anderson, who printed his first wood block in 1796. He was aroused by the work being done in England by Bewick, who revived the art of wood-cut prints in Europe. Where William Williams could have learned the art must remain a conjecture. Mr. Rush C. Hawkins, of New York, in a letter to the Hon. Horatio Seymour, of Utica, dated New York, August 31, 1880, after having come across a copy of the "Wan- derer," published by Seward and Williams, Utica, 181 I, in which the wood-cuts of William Williams appear under his own name, writes: "I am convinced that it is an exceedingly rare specimen of the printing of your town ; two of the four engravings are rather good, both as to design and workmanship. Williams dur- 42 WILLIAM WILLIAMS ing his time must have ranked next to Anderson, and was quite likely the third engraver upon wood in this country." Anderson's earliest pupil was Garret Lan- sing, of Albany, N. Y., who began work- ing in 1804, and was the second wood engraver in this country. Did William Williams teach himself, or did he pick it up during his visit to Albany, which oc- curred this year? If he did it would seem natural for him to make some men- tion of it in the "Journal"* which he kept in March, 18 10, but no mention is made of the subject even. Mr. Benjamin Los- sing, in his interesting book on Alexander Anderson, mentions all the wood en- gravers known in this country at the time, but no mention is made of Williams' work. All the cuts in **The Wanderer in Switz- erland" were tail-pieces, many of which were used in i 8 1 5 as adornments of the fractional bank notes issued by the cor- *Appendix V 43 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER poration of the City of Utica, such as the two cupids on the 3-cent fractional currency, and the farm-house on the i 2^ cent piece. On the title page of ** Divine Songs" is the bee-hive cut, one of the finest; later the full-page cut of Minerva surrounded by the Emblems of Learning. In the "Horatio and Laetitia" are two full-page cuts, one of which is a frontis- piece of " Cupid Wrestling with and Overcoming Pan. Allegorical of the Power of Love over chaotic nature," as Anderson mentions in his diary for Jan- uary 26, 1796, having made it for Dr. Mitchell. The cut is not a copy but the same subject, and may have been suggested to Mr. Williams by something he had seen or heard of in Anderson's work. In 1824 we find a wood-cut book label for his eldest son, Samuel W. Williams, by Mr. Williams' own hand. 44 Frontispiece Wood Cut by William Williams, "The Wanderer." Utica, 1811. WILLIAM WILLIAMS 181I THE WANDERER : or Horatio and Laetitia. A Poem in Five Epistles. Awake, asleep, where'er I roam My mind still seeks its secret home And longs from wilds and crowds to flee To dwell with happiness and thee. LAKE. Utica. Printed for the Authors by Seward & Williams, 181 i. 4to 138 pp. It is stated at the end of the book that the wood-cuts are engraved by William Williams. The authors were Douglas Brothers of Pratt's Settle- ment, N. Y., and were personally known to Mr. A. G. Dauby, the Editor of the Utica Observer. Dr. Bagg asserts the author of "Horatio and Laetitia " was Mr. T. A. Rockwell. At the end was printed the "Vales of Peace." POPE'S ESSAY ON MAN. In Four Epistles TO H. St. John Bolingbroke, by Alexander Pope, EsQ^. Utica — Printed and Published by Seward & Williams, 181 i. At the back of the book is printed a hymn called The Uni- versal Prayer, also Part of the Ten Commandments; a Hymn by Dr. Watts, and an obituary of a young girl. 8vo, ^l pages. A HISTORY OF THE SABBATARIANS, or Seventh Day Baptists in America, Containing Their Use and Progress to the Year 181 i with Their Leaders' Names and Their Distinguish- ing Tenets, by Henry Clarke, of Brookfield, Madison County. "Prove all things, hold fast all that is good." St. Paul 47 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER Utica, N. Y. Printed for the Author by Seward & Williams, i8ii. 12010,196 pp., including 4 pp. List of Subscribers, i p. Index, I p. Errata. This was the year that the first steamboat was run in the United States and the Erie Canal was being talked of. THE FARMER'S CALENDAR, or Utica Al- manac, FOR THE Year of Our Lord 18 12. Utica. Printed by Seward & Williams. Printed November i, 1811, and advertised in the Pa- triot on that date. It was on November 5th of this year that William Williams was married to Sophia Wells, who had been attending a young ladies' school at Hartford, Connec- ticut, in 1803. When her father died in New Hartford, on October loth, that year, she was not quite thirteen years old. In the " Journal" Mr. Williams mentions meeting her at Hartford in 1 8 1 o, where she was probably visiting relatives, as her father was born there and had removed to New Hartford through his friendship for the Sanger family. It was in this year that Dr. Azel Backus was elected First President of Hamilton College. He was 48 WILLIAM WILLIAMS a friend of Mr. Williams, who published his sermons in 1824. In 1812, Ira Mer- rell published "Inaugural Address Deliv- ered in the Village of Clinton, December 3rd, I 81 2, by Rev. Azel Backus, D. D." 1812 THE FARMER'S CALENDAR or Utica Al- manac FOR THE Year of Our Lord, 1813. Utica, PRINTED BY SeWARD & WiLLIAMS. Advertised as ready November i, 1812, in the Patriot. On March 31st, Mr. A. Seward advertised the "Union College lottery tickets." Mr. Ira Merrell's lots were seized by the Sheriff, December 28th. In the 1811 and 1812 advertisements in the Gazette appeared wood-cuts by William Williams. On November loth, Alexander Smith, Brigadier General, calledfor reinforcements from New York State (war having been declared in June). Camp was near Buf- falo. On the second Thursday in Novem- ber was a day of prayer in churches for the country. The March loth number of the Gazette yin\2iVgG^ letters, had a notice: " 6257 Impressed Seamen." August I 8th, the Gazette said: "Silver 49 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER Greys, commanded by Captain Seward, comprising men of pure American feel- ings and over 45 years of age, had been drafted for the war." September i, 181 2, "Military Review. Notice ! The regimental review and inspection of the I 3th Brigade, commanded by Brig. General Oliver Collins, will take place as follows, to wit: Colonel Clark, 157th, Rome. Colonel Barnes, 68th, Camden. Major Parkhurst's battalion, Mexico. Col- onel Stone, I 34th, Trenton. Colonel Grid- ley, 20th, Clinton. Colonel Smith, 140th, Bridgewater. By order Brig. Major William Williams, Aid-de-Camp. Utica, August 25th, I 81 2." " The officers and non-commissioned officers of the 134th (Colonel Stone's) are notified to meet at New Hartford in uni- form and fire-locks, August 31st, 1812. William Williams, Adjutant." 50 WILLIAM WILLIAMS The excitement caused by the declara- tion of war, on June i8th of this year, evidently accounts for the comparative cessation of printing by this press. On February 29, 181 2, Daniel Tompkins, Governor of New York State, signed an appointment of William Williams, of Utica, as Adjutant of the Regiment of Infantry of the county of Oneida, whereof William Stone is Lieutenant Colonel Com- mandant. It passed the Secretary's office and was signed by Anthony Lamb, March 18, 1812. The military spirit of his father was aroused within him, and although married but about six months he prepared to re- spond to his country's call. It was evi- dently not until the following spring that he was ordered away from Utica. We read in Thurlow Weed's autobiography : "October 12, 181 2, with three dollars in my pocket I started on foot for Utica from Onondaga, and had the good fortune to 51 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER get employment in the printing establish- ment of Seward & Williams. To my application for a situation Mr. Williams, after looking me over somewhat deliber- ately, replied that he had no work for me, but as I was leaving the office, evidently depressed, and as evidently in need of em- ployment, he called me back and inquired where I came from, how old I was and why I had not served out my apprentice- ship. My answers proving satisfactory he put a composing stick in my hand, placed some copy before me, and in an encouraging way remarked that he would see what I could do. When he returned two or three hours later, he read over the matter that I had been * setting up,' and remarked kindly that I could go with the other boys to supper. I was therefore put to work in the office and domiciled in the house of a gentleman (William Williams) who became, and ever remained my warm friend, and for whose memory 52 WILLIAM WILLIAMS I cherish a grateful remembrance. In February, 1813, an attack was appre- hended from the British upon Sackett's Harbor. It was supposed the enemy would cross from Kingston on the ice. Volun- teers were called for. Utica, then a small village, was strongly Federal, but though opposed to the war the Federalists would turn out to repel invasion. Mr. Williams, one of my employers, volunteered himself and consented to my leaving the office with him. (At this time Williams was 26 and Weed 16 years old.) We left Utica in sleighs, and arrived at Adams, some 80 miles, and 1 2 from Sackett's Harbor, in two days. Snow was deep and weather severe. We had good quarters, however, and passed our time pleasantly waiting until the alarm was over, when we were dis- charged. My company was commanded by General Nathan Seward, father of one of my employers (A. Seward), a soldier 55 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER of the Revolution. Upon my return I went into Thomas Walker's office, who published the Republican paper, Colum- bian Gazetted This was written in 1845 by Thurlow Weed from memory. He further adds : " Utica was a thrifty vil- lage, and William Williams, Thomas Walker, Samuel Stocking, the Danas, Hoyts, &c., &c., were just the men a * pent-up Utica' then required, and all, I doubt not, still remembered for their en- terprise, public spirit and integrity. Messrs. Williams, Walker and Devereux subse- quently became, and to the end of their lives remained, my true and sincere friends.'' Mr. Weed left Utica, October, 181 3. He speaks of the "other boys" in Mr. Wil- liams' house, where it was customary to have the apprentices live when in his em- ploy. A long list of able and influential men went out from the printing office of 60 Genesee Street. Among them were James Garrett, the first missionary from 56 WILLIAM WILLIAMS Oneida County, and Loring S. Williams, a missionary to the Choctaw Indians. These two were particularly influenced in the choice of their career by Mrs. Wil- liams, whose deep religious nature was constantly influencing them for such a life while they lived in her household. Also George Wilson, minister at Sackett's Har- bor ; Alfred North, missionary to the North American Indians. Mr. Henry Ivi- son, the founder of the publishing house of Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor & Company, of New York, lived as an apprentice in Mr. Williams' family for eight years. Be- sides these were Stephen Wells, George Hatch, C. W. Everest, Chauncey Dutton, R. B. Shepard, Samson, Webster, and Ellis H. Roberts, the late Treasurer of the United States; besides his own elder sons, S. Wells Williams and W. F. Williams Mr. Williams was elected an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Utica, and remained one until 1836, when he left 57 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER the city to live in Erie County, New York. In a letter to his son Dwight, from Ton- awanda, April 5, 1839, while he was liv- ing on a farm, he says: "The agricult comes out in me, as I used some skill in that particular when a soldier in 181 2.'* 1813 AMERICAN SELECTIONS of Speaking and Reading, by Noah Webster. Sixth Edition. Utica, Seward & Williams, 1813. T. LIVII PATAVINI HISTORIARUM LIBRI PRIORES QUINQUE. In Usum Juventutis Aca- DEMICAE, UtICAE ExECUDEBANT SeWARD ET WiL- LiAMs, MDCCCXIII. 8vo, 285 pp. MURRAY'S READER, Second Utica Edition BY Lindley Murray. Utica, Seward & Wil- liams, 1813. The First Utica edition was probably printed in i8l2. SPECIMENS OF INGENUITY in Composi- tion AND Poetry by Amos Taylor, Humbly Submitted to the Learned and Pious for Cor- rection AND Introduction into Private Schools and Private Families. To Be used and Spoken BY THE Blooming Youth of America as Favorite Pieces. Utica, Printed for the Author, 18 13. No name of printer was given but it was printed by Sew- ard & Williams. Small i6mo. Paper covers. 58 WILLIAM WILLIAMS MORAL PIECES. Odes to Youth, Utica, 1813. No printer's name was given but it was printed by Sew- ard & Williams. Small l6mo. Paper covers. A large variety of these children's books were published by Seward & Williams, as they advertised a few years later a large stock of Chap and toy books. November 9, 18 13, appeared John Camp's advertisement in the Patriot of "Gen- eral store, Dry Goods, Groceries, Liquors, Iron and Steel." He was related to William Williams' son by marriage. THE FARMER'S CALENDAR or Utica Al- manac FOR 1814. Utica, Printed by Seward & Williams. This was advertised on November i, 1813, in the Patriot. It was in 1812 that a Bible had been printed in Philadel- phia from stereotype plates imported from England by the Philadelphia Bible Society. It was in 18 13 that the first book was stereotyped in America from plates made in the United States. It was the "Larger Catechism" revised by Alex. McLeod, D.D. June 1813, New York, J. Watts & Company, for Whiting and Wilson. Stereotyping was in- vented by William Ged of Edinburgh, and used first in London in 1725. The first stereotyped Bible from plates made in the United States was made in New York City, in 1815, i2mo. and the first made by the American Bible So- ciety was in 1816. Utica contained 1,700 inhabitants this year, according to "Tuttle's Historical Catechism." On May 29, 1813 occurred the attack on Sackett's Har- bor, which was easily repulsed. In August war was declared by the Six Nations. May 18, 1813 Gazette advertised " 516.00 bounty, 58.00 per month offered to Volunteers for I year. S. B. Hitchcock, Recruiting officer, Utica." 1814 THE CLUB, BY Henry Goodfellow, Esq. & Company. Published Weekly by Seward & Williams, 50 Cents per Quarter. 59 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER Beginning August 1 1, 1814, this small sized newspaper was printed for only a few weeks by Seward & Williams as on January 5, 1815, it was printed on large size paper by A. Ingersoll & Company, Utica. On June 19, 18 15 it was discontinued, MEMOIRS OF MISS HULDAH ANN BALD- WIN, BY Rev. Amos Glover Baldwin, of Trinity Church, Utica, Printed by Seward & Williams, Utica, 18 14, THE FARMER'S CALENDAR or Utica Al- manac FOR 18 15. Utica, Printed by A. Seward. It appeared in November, 18 14, and was sold to the whole- sale trade for the ensuing year. The September i, 1814 number of "The Club" said: "The Philadelphia Edition of the Edinburgh Encyclopedia is just received by A. Seward at his book-store, and sub- scriptions are to be paid and called for by subscribers." This agency proved to be very remunerative. Mr. Williams had been taken into partnership in the book-store on the 25th of July of this year. He had been a partner in the print- ing establishment since 1807. It required larger capital to carry on the more extensive book business they were now entering upon. On February 15, 1814, A. Seward advertised in the Patriot "Subscriptions taken at the book store for ' History of New York' by Roger Schermerhorn and appendix by William Smith, A.M." On March 29th he advertised in the Patriot, "For sale at my book store, 'Oration delivered March II, 1814,' at the First Presbyterian Church by Francis Adrian Van Der Kamp, F. A. S., A. S. S. commemor- ative of Emancipation of Dutch from French Tyranny. Published at the request of the Dutch Committee." This was published by Merrell & Camp.who had opened a theolog- ical book-store one door West of the Post Office, June 21, 1814. They printed the Patriot and put out most of the publications this year. Among which were "Classification of Conscription Laws addressed to the Citizens of Utica by an 60 WILLIAM WILLIAMS Exempt." Price, one shilling. "The Goodness of God in the Salvation of all Mankind, by Jephtha Burt." 80 pp. 12^ cents each. "An address to the Citizens of Oneida on the subject of the late laws of this state for raising 12,000 men by classi- fication of the Militia, By an Exempt." 16 pp. 4to. "The Utica Christian Magazine," Vol. II, August 9, 1814. "The Report of the Proceedings of the Hartford Conven- tion." "The Speech in Congress of Morris S. Miller and Thomas P. Grosvenor. " "A Printed Catalogue of a Book auction" at Dugete and Sherman's January 3, 1815. On August l6th the Patriot changed editors, and William H. Maynard took up the Editorship. Mr. Seward occupied the columns of the Patriot in still further advertising for sale on April 19th a pamphlet: "The Evils of War" by Benjamin Bell, A.M. These publica- tions were possibly printed elsewhere as the book-store oc- cupied most of the partners attention this year. On Nov- ember 4th they advertised "Board of Health Lottery" to help augment their profits. Mr. Williams who had been absent from the business on his duties as a soldier most of the time since February 1813, was now made a Captain. The April 23, 1814 number of the Patriot says, "Military appointments in the 134th New York Regiment (State Militia) William Williams has been made Captain. Signed Abraham Camp, Clerk." The dissatisfaction amongst the men in the several companies was very marked on account of not receiving their pay. Nov- ember 22, 1814 the Patriot said: "To the militia called September, 1813. A part of the militia called to Sackett's Harbor September, 1813, has been discharged it is under- stood, without pay. The service has been short but un- commonly severe and vexatious. Sickness has prevailed among them and many have died. Had General Izard been allowed to remain at the Harbor the extra militia would have been unnecessary." They received one shilling per 61 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER day for expense of journey. However in the January i6th number of the Patriot, 1816, notice from Samuel Edwards, Paymaster of New York Militia, advised that they will be paid. January 1st, Eliasaph Dorchester joined Thomas Walker in publishing the Gazette. There was a call on March 13th, for 2,400 Volunteers for six months, in Oneida, Herkimer & Madison Counties and in September, 1814, Washington City was taken by the British. 1815 THE PATROL, Vol i. No. i. January 5TH 1815. Published Every Thursday by Seward & Wil- liams, $1."]^ PER Annum in the Village. "Var- ious, THAT THE MIND OF DESULTORY MAN, STUDIOUS OF CHANGE AND PLEASED WITH NOVELTY MAY BE INDULGED." With this rather pedantic quotation in small capital letters immediately under the paper's name, Messrs. Seward and Williams this year entered into a new venture, that of publishing and editing their own news- paper as well as printing it. They felt confident that they could indulge their readers with their newsy columns, and were so successful that at the end of one year's trial their old competitors on the Patriot approached them with the propo- 62 *^^e ^oxHcnaViou oX uvc ^'OOUae oV vXVvca, Promise to pay Manhattan THREE On Demand. the Bearer at the branch Bank, CENTS, Utiea, Aug. 1, 1815. By order. Promise to pay the ^ ^ Jl^^^'<», . / order. Fractional currency of the Village of Utica, 1815, with wood cuts by William Williams. Reduced size WILLIAM WILLIAMS sition of combining the two papers into one. This was accordingly done on the following January, when they all became joint proprietors of the paper. Seward and Williams had been out of the business of printing a newspaper since August, 1806, when Ira Merrell and later Merrell and Camp printed the Patriot, with the ex- ception of their few months' venture, in 1 8 14, of printing Mr. Goodfellow's paper, The Club. Their book publishing busi- ness had increased, and now, as Mr. Wil- liams had returned from his absence at the war, he entered with renewed vigor into journalism, besides his business as printer and bookseller. By his absence their pub- lishing business had fallen off considerably, as most of the recent publications had come from the Patriot press of Merrell & Camp. DIVINE HYMNS and Spiritual Songs by I. Watts. Utica, Seward & Williams, 1815. Notice of this book appeared in the January 24th number of the Patriot. 65 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER In the number of April 8th it stated "A machine (! ) has been employed for the first time in printing a morning news- paper. " Probably the embryo power press that was to revolutionize the business. On August 1st of this year they printed sheets of "Vil- lage of Utica demand notes on Manhattan Branch Bank." This was the fractional currency bank circulation. "Sew- ard and Williams Printers" appears on the end of the 75 cent piece. On each plate are 2 each of the 3 cent, 6\ cent, 12^ cent, 25 cent, 50 cent and 75 cent; each adorned in the center with a wood-engraving by the hand of William Wil- liams. Most of these cuts had already appeared as adorn- ments in the 181 1 publications. THE FARMER'S CALENDAR, or Utica Alman- ac FOR 1 8 16. Printed by Seward & Williams. Some of these have the name of A. Seward alone, same as the preceding year, indicating that they had temporarily discontinued their press during 1814 and devoted themselves to the book-store exclusively; and possibly Mr. Seward had them printed for him on an outside press. There were other wood engravers in Utica at this time besides William Wil- liams, as we see by the full-page wood-cut frontispiece in " Rhymes for the Nursery," printed by Camp, Merrell & Camp, i 8 1 5. By the author of" Original Poems." Duti- ful Jem, and the three cuts in the text bear evidence of other local talent. 66 WILLIAM WILLIAMS 1816 THE PATRIOT AND PATROL, Utica, 18 16. A Semi-Weekly Newspaper, Maynard, Seward & Williams, Proprietors. The first number of this combined paper appeared Jan- uary 2, 1816 and continued with the regular volume and number of the Patriot. In the December 26th number of Patriot is a notice duly signed by A. Seward, William H. Maynard and William Williams, agreeing to join their re- spective papers, the Patriot and the Patrol into one semi- weekly paper called the Patriot and Patrol. Printed for the Proprietors, A. Seward, William H. Maynard, and William Williams by Ira Merrell, ^4.00 per year in advance. April 2, 18 16 is Vol. XIV, No. 697, and states that William H. Maynard is editor. A financial interest being retained by Seward and Williams. MEMORIAL IN FAVOR OF THE ERIE CAN- AL. Utica, Seward & Williams, 1816. This was commenced in the January loth number of the paper and concluded in the number of February 2, 1816. Later published in pamphlet form on January 19th and called "Memorial to the Citizens of New York in regard to the Canal begun." MUSICA SACRA, Part I, Under Patronage of Oneida Musical Society. Utica, Seward & Williams, 18 16. MUSICA SACRA, Part II, Under Patronage of Oneida Musical Society. Utica, Seward & Williams, 1816. MUSICA SACRA, Second Edition, Under Pat- ronage OF Oneida Musical Society. Utica, Seward & Williams, 1815. 67 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER An advertisement in the December lotli number of the Patriot and Patrol stiLtcd this was a combination of Part I and II. It was the first of a series of musical pubHcations by Thomas Hastings, who had a singing school in Utica, and was the author of some of the best hymns in our language. A COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY, Adapt- ed TO THE Capacities of Children and Youths, BY William A. Thayer. Utica, Seward & Wil- liams. Proprietors of the Copyright, i8i6. A small paper-covered pamphlet and advertised in the August 27th number of the Patriot and Patrol at 25 cents each. A GUIDE TO THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE BY Joseph Hall. Utica, Seward & Williams, 1816. Joseph Hall's Spelling Book was published by Merrell & Camp, 1816, as advertised in December 24th number of paper. MURRAY'S ENGLISH READER by Lindley Murray. Third Utica Edition. Utica, William Williams, 18 16. CHRISTIAN SABBATH and Nativity Anthem. A Sacred Cantata. Utica, Seward & Williams, 1816. A piece of sheet music sold at 20 cents each, as advertised December 10, 1816. Merrell & Camp published this year "Instrumental Pre- ceptor, compiled by William Whitelely, musical instructor and maker." They also published "The Panoplist and Mis- sionary Magazine" as well as an abridged "Milner's Church History" advertised February 8, 1 816 in the Patriot and Patrol. THE GRAND HALLELUJAH CHORUS, From Handel's Messiah. Utica, Seward & Williams, 1816. 68 WILLIAM WILLIAMS Advertised September 17, 18 16 as sheet music with words, and sold at one shilling. The book-store advertised on October 27th "The Chris- tian Register," published by Thomas and James Swords, New York. The firm's name was printed on the title page of many of these books which they carried in stock and sold wholesale. On March 12th, Mr. Maynard, Editor of the Patriot and Patrol, formed a law partnership with- Samuel A. Talcott one door West of the Post Office. On February 13, 181 1 and 1816 Mr. Williams* father's store at Vernon, N. Y., was destroyed by fire. FARMER'S CALENDAR and Utica Almanac FOR 18 1 7. Printed by Seward & Williams, Utica. It was on the 22nd of March of this year that Daniel Tompkins, Governor of the State of New York, signed William Williams' appointment as Brigade In- spector of the I 3th Brigade of Infantry of New York State. It was signed by the Deputy Secretary, Archibald Campbell, April 29, I 8 16. In spite of his military duties, besides his printing house and book-store, Mr. Williams identified himself constantly with church work, as we find him elected the First Superintendent of the First Church 69 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER Sunday School, formed this year; and in a short time formed a Bible Class, which he taught for many years in connection with that church. A former pupil, Miss Cornelia Barnes (Mrs. C. B. Stone), writes June 21, 1889: "The father of Dr. S. Wells Williams, the missionary, was my Bible teacher when in Utica. A lovely Christian gentleman,a man of 45 (in 1832)^ a very handsome man, faultless in his at- tire and whole make-up, hair in rich curls, teeth like pearls, hands, nails, feet, and whole person immaculate, with great cul- tivation of intellect and heart wholly the Lord's." He was this year elected the President of the Western Sunday School Union. 1817 THE UTICA DIRECTORY for 1817. Printed BY William Williams, Utica, 1817. It contained 466 names of persons and firms. The city contained in 1816, 3,105 inhabitants according to Frederick Morse, and was incorporated in 1817. Hence the occasion of publishing a Directory this year. Mr. Seward's name no longer appeared on the title-pages 70 ,« -^ ^ 1 ^ 4^>! '^ ^ •a 5 1. ^■•?l^-4i4s^ WILLIAM WILLIAMS of the publications. He had retired from the pubhshing business, and on April 7, 1818 the paper says he was elect- ed the Secretary of the Capron Cotton Company. He re- tained his book-store until i824,when he and Mr. Maynard sold their interest in the paper to Webster & Dakin. THE MUSICAL READER, or Practical Les- sons FOR THE Voice, Consisting of Phrases, Sec- tions, Periods, and Entire Movements of Mel- ody in Score. To Which Are Prefixed the Rudi- ments OF Music. (Hart & Co.) Compiled Prin- cipally for the Use of Schools. By One of the Editors of the "Musica Sacra." Utica: Printed TYPOGRAPHICALLY BY WiLLIAM WiLLIAMS, No. 60 Genesee Street. 1817. 801 pp., of which the first 22 are the Rudiments. "One of the Editors," was Thomas Hastings. The wood-cut on the title is by William Williams. ESSAY ON MUSICAL HARMONY: by Fred- erick Christopher Kollman, Organist of St. James Chapel, England. Published under the Patronage of Oneida Musical Society. First American Edition. Utica, Seward & Williams, 1817. 300 pp., 8vo. Subscription price ;?2.50. It was adver- tised in the December 27th number of the Patriot and Pa- trol and was printed while Mr. Seward was a partner. SELECT CHANTS for Episcopal Church. Utica, Seward & Williams, 18 17. Advertised in Patriot and Patrol, December 10, 18 16. DOMESTIC MANUFACTURER'S Assistant AND Family Directory, in the Arts of Weaving AND Dyeing by J. & R. Bronson. Utica, William Williams, 18 17. 73 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER 204 pp., large i2mo and plates. Nine lines of Errata pasted on inside of back cover. MURRAY'S ENGLISH READER. Fourth Utica Edition. Utica, William Williams, 1817. THE NEW TESTAMENT, Translated out of THE Original Greek from the Cambridge Stereo- type Edition, Carefully Revised and Corrected. Utica, William Williams, 181 7. Advertised in the Patriot and Patrol of September 27th, thus: "In press. The increasing demand for it as a school book has induced me to procure standing forms of new let- ter from the Cambridge Stereotype Edition. Large edi- tion on thick and thin paper." The Phinneys, of Cooperstown, issued a new testament in 181 7. It may have been from the same plates that Mr. Williams used. WEBSTER'S SPELLING BOOK. Utica, Wil- liam Williams, 1817. FAREWELL SERMON to the First Presby- terian Society on the Occasion of the Dismis- sion of Their Pastor, Who Had for Some Months, by the Weakness of His Voice Been Unable to Discharge the Duties of His Office. De- livered THE First Sabbath in October 1817 by Henry Dw^ight. Utica, Printed by William Wil- liams, 1817. 8vo, 26 pp., paper covers. Dr. Dwight had been pastor for five years. He was a warm personal friend of Mr. Williams, who named his second son, Henry Dwight Williams. A COLLECTION OF SACRED MUSIC. De- signed principally for use in Churches Which 74 THE MUSICAL READER, PRACTICAL LESSONS FOR THE VOICE ; CONSISTING OP PHRASES, SECTIONS, PERIODS, AND ENTIRE MOVEMENTS OF MELODY IN SCORE. TO WaiCB ABS rBEFIXEO THE RUDIMENTS OF MUSIC. COMPILED PRINCIPALLY FOH THE USE OF SCHOOLS, BY ONE OF THE EDITORS OF THE " MUSICA SACRA." mtica: PRINTED TYPOGRAPHICALLY BY \VILUAM WILUAMS, iro. 60, OENESKE STBEET. i8ir. WILLIAM WILLIAMS Sing without a Choir. Albany Published. E. F. Backus, 65 State Street. Utica. Printed Typographically by William Williams, 60 Gene- see Street 1817. 60 pp. THE LORD'S PRAYER, For Five Voices with AN Accompaniment for the Pianoforte or Organ, Composed by the Celebrated Mr. Cooke of Dub- lin. Also a Funeral Service and an Anthem on THE Nativity from the Second Chapter of Luke. Utica, Printed and Published by William Wil- liams, No. 60 Genesee Street, 1817. 8 pp. folio, with words and music. Advertised on December 27, 1816, as a "Grand Chor- us set to the Lord's Prayer." Blue paper covers. On the back cover a list of books was advertised as follows: "William Williams, 60 Genesee Street, Utica, New York. Prints (typographically) and publishes music of every de- scription. He has the following works on hand for sale, viz: KoUman's Essay on Musical Harmony, first American edition. Callcot's Musical Grammar. Musica Sacra. Hastings' Musical Reader. Harmonia Sacra. Christian Sabbath. Songs of the Temple. Almsted's Musical Olio. Atwell's Sacred Harmony. Hallelujah Chorus. Lock Hos- pital. Handel's Messiah. Little & Smith's Easy Instructor. Instrumental Preceptor. Flute Melodies. Violin, Flute, Fife, Hautboy and Clarionet Preceptor. Worcester's Chris- tian Psalmody, also an extensive and valuable supply of the most approved editions of American and European books on History, Biography, Travels, Voyages. Theology, Poetry, Art and Sciences. Classical School Books in Greek, Latin, French and English." HASTINGS' DISSERTATION on Musical Taste by Thomas Hastings. Utica, William Williams, 18 17. 77 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER FIRST ANNUAL REPORT of the Female Mis- sionary Society. Utica, William Williams, 1817. On April 17th a New Act of Incorporation for the Village was passed on and three wards were made. On Tuesday May 13th of this year, Mr. Williams was elected Trustee of the First Ward of Utica by the town election, together with Ezra S. Crozier. The Trustees of the other two wards were Jeremiah Van Rensaeller, A. Van Santford, Erastus Clark, John C. Hoyt. Nathan Wilhams was the President of the village. On Thursday, July 31st, the paper says: "Thomas Wil- liams, Mr. Williams' father, died aged 63 years. He was formerly of New Hartford and lately of Cazenovia, and was on a visit to his children in Utica. Native of Roxbury, Mass. He was distinguished for suavity of manners, amia- bility of temper and exemplary piety." Notice in the Patriot and Patrol, August 19, 1817, "In- spector of Reviews Brigade of New York Militia, August 13, 1817, Brig. General David Curtiss, appointed Inspection and Review of regiments. 140th Col. Williams will be in- spected September g, 18 17 at Waterville, New York. Signed. William Williams, Brig. Major and Inspector." The Patriot an J Patrol advertised on April igth as follows: "William Williams is agent for John T. Wells of Hartford, Conn., for Keep's Printing Ink. Extensive stock of station- ery and books." This is his initial advertisement for his book-store as the partnership dissolved about this time. On September 9th he advertised, "Writing and Wrapping paper: new books." Merrell & Charles Hastings book-store advertised Stan- dard Works including "Thomas a Kempis" and "Milner's Church History." On December 30th Mr. Williams advertised "Bible So- cieties will be furnished with Bibles at 64 cents per copy." DeWitt Clinton was Governor of New York State from 18 17 to 1823, and from 78 WILLIAM WILLIAMS 1825 to 1828. James Monroe was Pres- ident of the United States from 18 17 to 1825, and was elected on the Democratic- Republican party platform. It was through their administration that the Erie Canal was dug. This year Mr. Williams sold out his interest with Seward & Maynard in the paper, and devoted himself to his book store and publishing house. FARMER'S CALENDAR or Utica Almanac FOR THE Year of Our Lord 1818. Utica, Seward & Williams. 1818 HALL'S SPELLING BOOK. Second Utica Edition. Utica, William Williams, 1818. In a notice of February, 1818, it said "Mr. Williams has copyright for the Western District." NEW AND CHOICE SELECTIONS of Flute Melodies. Utica, William Williams, 1818. Advertised March 3rd. 5i-00 each. VIOLIN PRECEPTOR. Utica, William Wil- liams, 1818. Advertised March 3rd. 75 cents each. AN ACT TO Extend the Jurisdiction of Jus- tices of the Pleas. Passed March 28th 1818. Utica, William Williams, 1818. Advertised April 7, 1818. 79 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER MUSICA SACRA, or Springfield and Utica Collections United. Consisting of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, Anthem and Chants; Arranged FOR Two, Three or Four Voices with a Figured Base for the Organ or Pianoforte by Thomas Hastings and Solomon Warriner. Third Edi- tion. Utica, William Williams, i8i8. This was the third edition, or first revised with Index of Tunes. MURRAY'S ENGLISH GRAMMAR. Utica, William Williams, i8i8. A SERMON PREACHED AT HAVERHILL Mass., in Memory of Miss Harriett Newell Wife of Reverend Samuel Newell, Missionary, to India, Who Died at the Isle of France, No- vember 30TH 1812, aged 19 Years. To Which Is Added Memoirs of Her Life by Leonard Woods, D.D. Abbott Professor of Christian Theology in the Theological Seminary, Ando- ver. Eighth Edition. Boston, Published by Samuel T. Armstrong, Utica, Printed by Wil- liam Williams, 18 1 8. From a copy recently received from India. First Edition was published in Boston, 1814. Copper-plate of Mrs. Newell by R. Rawdon, Albany, from painting by W. Doyle, 258 pp., 8vo, and on the forepage it states "The Profits of this Work are devoted to the support of Foreign Missions from America." TITI LIVII PATAVINI HISTORARUM LIBRI PRIORES OyiNQUE; in Usum Juventutis Aca- demicae. Editio Secunda. Uticae Execudebat William Williams, MDCCCXVIH. SECOND ANNUAL REPORT of the Female Missionary Society. Utica, William Williams, 1818. 80 WILLIAM WILLIAMS Mr. Williams was paid April 29, 1818, ^18.50 for print- ing the reports. NEW MILITIA ACT, Passed April 2ist, 1818. Utica, William Williams, 1818. Advertised May 26th. 37^ cents each. THE MUSICAL MONITOR or New York Collection of Devotional Church Music. Uti- ca, William Williams, 18 18. Advertised May 26th. 5i-00 each. PUBLISHER'S CATALOGUE for Gratui- tous Circulation. Books Sold in Quantities. Utica, William Williams, 18 18. In the August i8th Patriot and Patrol he advenised the following stock of books on hand for retail and wholesale trade: 4,000 Hall's Spelling Books. 2,000 Webster's Spelling Books. 2,000 Imitation of Christ. 2,000 Daboll's Arithmetic. 1,200 Watts' Hymns. 1,100 Dwight's Poems. 600 History of the late War. 4,000 Memoirs of Harriett Newell. 1,000 Hall on Communion. 4,000 School Testaments. 1,000 Dwight's Geography. 2,000 Thayer's Geography. 7,000 Murray's English Grammar, 8vo, l2mo, l8mo. 3,000 Murray's Readers. 2,000 Murray's Introductions. 8,000 Chap Books, 60 kinds. 27,000 Toy Books, 33 kinds. 1,600 Small Bibles. 150 Large Bibles. A number of these were his own publications and several he carried in stock. Numerous editions of Webster Spell- Si AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER ing Books were published by him, and he replaced his stock of school books by new editions from his own press. On August 8th he advertised for 6,000 sheep skins, and again on October 20th for 8,000 skins in order to supply his bindery for the fast increasing supply of school books. December 8th, he advertised 12,000 Hall's Spellers on hand, third edition, 19 cents each. HALL'S SPELLING BOOK, Second Utica Edi- tion. Utica, William Williams, 18 18. This was the second issue this year, as one was printed in February. The Patriot and Patrol was printed weekly from Decem- ber 8, 1818, to February 23, 1819. It had been semi- weekly. A notice appeared in the Patriot and Patrol December 16, 1817, "Will publish in May, 1818, if sub- scribers are enough, 'Vitrology, or The Art of Making Glass,' by Henry R. Schoolcraft." 300 pages, l2mo boards, $2.50 subscription price. It does not appear that it was ever published by him as no ad- vertisement of it appeared in 1818. On April 21, 1 8 18 he advertised a two volume edition of Dr. Backus' Sermons, with engraving from original painting by Wood. A delay ensued and it was published in 1824 in one volume. In I 8 1 8, a split occurred in the Repub- lican party between the Clinton and Van Buren factions. On July 4th, the first spade full was taken out of the Erie Canal at Rome. It had been suggested by Jo- siah Forman, of Onandago, as early as 1808. George Washington, in his visit at Fort Schuyler in 1783, wrote to Chev- 82 WILLIAM WILLIAMS alier de Chastelleux and spoke of improv- ing inland navigation. It is questioned by some whether Washington ever visited Fort Schuyler, and from this it appears he did. The canal was completed in 1824. The cost was six million dollars. Erastus Root was the most violent opposer, and dubbed it " Clinton's Big Ditch." Clinton was removed in 1824 from of- fice of Canal Commissioner, but public indignation was so great that he was later re-elected to the Governorship. He had succeeded Governor Tompkins in 1 8 17. The formal opening of the Erie Canal was October, 1823, although the middle section had been completed earlier, and was in use between Utica and Montezuma in 1820. FARMER'S CALENDAR, or Utica Almanac FOR 1 8 19. Utica, Printed by William Williams. 1819 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT of the Western Education Society of the Western District of 83 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER THE State of New York. Utica, William Wil- liams, 1819. EXTRACTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE PRESBYTERY OF ONEIDA. Utica, William Williams, 18 19. THE YOUNG CHRISTIAN'S GUIDE, Con- taining Important Questions with Scriptural Answers. Copyrighted. Utica, William Wil- liams, 1819. 112 pp. THE MILITIA LAW of this (New York) State, Including the Amendment. Utica, Wil- liam Williams, 1819. Advertised at 25 cents each. THE MUSICAL READER, Revised and En- larged BY Thomas Hastings. Copyrighted. Utica, William Williams, 18 19 HALL'S SPELLING BOOK. Third Edition. Utica, William Williams, 18 19. Advertised in December 27, 1818, number of the Patriot anil Patrol. ABRIDGMENT OF MURRAY'S ENGLISH GRAMMAR with Appendix. Designed for the Younger Classes of Learners by Lindley Mur- ray. Utica, Printed and Published by William Williams, 60 Genesee Street, 1819. From the 30th English edition, corrected by the author, 107 pp. ENGLISH READER by Lindley Murray. Utica, William Williams for L. & B. Todd, Hart- wick, 1819. 84 WILLIAM WILLIAMS MUSICA SACRA or Springfield and Utica Collections United, by Thomas Hastings and Solomon Warriner. Second Revised Edition. Utica, William Williams, 1819. 277 PP-, 3 PP- Ii'Jex. In the front of the book is a copyright dated September 27, 1819. Preface says, "It has for its object the accom- modation of the Handel-Bumey Society, under whose pa- tronage it was first published. Book of Rudiments now at- tached was recently published separately by one of the Edi- tors (Thomas Hastings). They are also indebted to S. Norton, Professor of Languages in Hamilton College for aid, and some of his pieces appear for the first time in this compilation." KEY TO EXERCISES IN MURRAY'S ENG- LISH GRAMMAR. Second Albany, from First London Edition. Utica, William Williams, 18 ig. GUIDE TO THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. Utica, William Williams, 18 19. SPIRITUAL SONGS. Utica, William Wil- liams, 1819. CONSIDERATIONS AGAINSTCONTINUING THE GREAT CANAL West of Seneca. Ne Plus Ultra, by Peter Ploughshare, or Samuel B. Beach of Oswego. Facts Are Stubborn Things. Addressed to the Members Elect of the Legislature of the State of New York. Jefferson County, July 20, 18 19. Utica, Wil- liam Williams, 1819. Copyrighted and sold at 37^ cents each. Mr. Beach was a Yale Graduate and a classmate of John C. Calhoun. THE NEW TESTAMENT. Translated out of the Original Greek, Second American Edi- is AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER TiON. From the Cambridge Stereotype Edition. Carefully Revised and Corrected. Utica, Printed and Published by William Williams. 1819, 60 Genesee Street. i2mo, 334 pp. ADDRESS TO THE AGRICULTURAL SO- CIETY OF THE County of Oneida. Delivered in Whitesboro on the 27TH of December 1818 by Alexander Coventry, Esq. Published by Order of the Society. Printed by William Williams, Utica, 60 Genesee Street, 1819. 30 PP- GEOGRAPHY MADE EASY, Being an Abridge- ment of the American Universal Geography. To Which is Prefixed Elements of Geography FOR THE Use of Schools and Academies in the United States. By Frederick Morse, D.D. Illustrated by a Map of the World and a Nev/ Map of the United States. "There is not a Son or Daughter of Adam but Has Some Con- cern both in Geography and Astronomy." Dr. Watts. Twentieth Edition. Utica, Published by William Williams. Sold at His Bookstore No. 60 Genesee Street, July 1819. Among the towns of the State of New York, Utica is men- tioned as follows: "Utica, a post town in Oneida County, on the south side of the Mohawk, is 96 miles west of Albany. Contained in 1816 3,105 inhabitants and was incorporated in 1817. Is one of the most flourishing spots in the State. Clinton, nine miles west of Utica, is the seat of a new college and is a pleasant village." THE THIRD ANNUAL REPORT of the Trus- tees OF the Female Missionary Society of the Western District. Utica,William Williams, 18 19. 86 WILLIAM WILLIAMS GEOGRAPHY MADE EASY by Frederick Morse, D.D. 20th Edition. Published by Wil- liam Williams, Utica, 1819, To Which Is Added AN Appendix of Questions at Back and Sold by West of Boston; Wood of New York; Gary of Philadelphia, and other Book Stores of New York. On May 25th, Mr. Williams first inserted his advertise- ment in the Patriot and Pa/ro/ adorned with a finely executed wood-cut of an inkstand and open book, a block made by himself. In an advertisement of July 20th, he offered to take bank bills in payment. The Ontario Bank at Canandaigua and Branch Bank at Utica at par. Niagara Bank at Buffalo at 33^ percent discount. He was agent for Niles JVeekly Register (published in Bal- timore since 1811), also for the Portfolio, Atheneum, Pano- plist, and Edinburgh Quarterly Review. A General order of the 13th Division of New York In- fantry, dated Augusta, June 14, 1819, reads, "Major Wil- liams of Utica and Captain John T. Knox of Augusta are appointed aids. The division will regard them accordingly. Signed, William Williams, aid-de-camp." On June 19th Bryan Johnson resigned as Trustee of the Utica Free Academy, and Judge Morris S. Miller and Wil- liam Williams were elected. FARMER'S CALENDAR, or Utica Almanac for the Year of Our Lord 1820. Utica, William Williams. I 820 A SPELLING BOOK in the Language of the Seven Iroquois Nations by Eleazar Williams. Utica, William Williams, 1820. 108 pp., i6mo. I'illing No. 167. First Edition was Plattsburgh, N. Y. 1813. 87 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER PLAIN TRUTHS on Christian Baptism and Communion, by John Trevair, Pastor First Church. Sherburne, New York. Utica, Wil- liam Williams, 1820. 40 pp. RELIGION EXEMPLIFIED in the Life of Poor Sarah. Utica, William Williams, 1820. 12 pp. A small tract advertised in the Patriot and Pa- trol, July II, 1820, for $1.00 per 1,000 copies. THE EASY INSTRUCTOR, or a New Method of Teaching Sacred Harmony by William Little AND William Smith. The Music Types used in Printing this Book Are Secured to the Proprie- tors by Patent Right. Utica, William Williams, 1820. 126 pp., I Index 4to, long oblong musical form. The first edition was Philadelphia 1798. May 23rd 1820 Merrell and Hastings' Company opened a stationery and book-store. THE NEW TESTAMENT. Translated out of the Original Greek. From the Stereotype Cambridge Edition. Utica, William Williams, 1820. i8mo. Mentioned by Wright. Evidently Asahel Seward did some business in the book line, as on October 20th he advertises in the Patriot and Pa- trol "Rules and Articles of War." Just published and for sale at A. Seward's book-store, 75 cents each. On May 16, 1820, Mr. Williams ac- companied his friend, Dr. Hull, from Utica to Baltimore to try to intercede for the doctor's son, who had been arrested 88 GAIATONSERA lONTEWEIENSTAGWA ONGWE ONWE GAWENNONTAKON. lakODikoarowannbaata ne i»ahei£nterhane ne gaiatooaen." A SPELLING-BOOK. IN THE LANGUAGE OP THE SEVEN IROQUOIS NATIONS. BY ELEAZER WILLIAMS. UTICji: NOMWE NATEKARISTORARAKON, ^K TEHORlSTOaABAKON NE WILLIAM WILLIAMS. 1820. WILLIAM WILLIAMS on a charge of murder and sentenced to death for killing a mail carrier, John Heaps.* Arriving after the death sentence had been passed, Mr. Williams made an eloquent appeal to the citizens of Balti- more in the young man's behalf. The speech was reported in full in the Balti- more Morning Chronicle and copied in the Patriot and Patrol. Their intercession be- ing ineffectual they returned on June 27th, and the death sentence was carried out July 14th. Mr. Hutton was executed with him. Dr. Hull, the father of Mor- ris B. Hull, was eminent in Utica and Central New York as a physician and sur- geon. He was the inventor of ** Hull's Trusses," and was well known to the medical profession in this country and England. The day of young Hull's ex- ecution was a solemn one in Utica. A prayer meeting was held in his father's house on Main Street, later occupied by * Appendix VI. 91 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER Mr. William Dunn. Mr. Williams' strong trait of philanthropy was shown in this instance to a marked degree. Dr. Hull picked him out as a man who could make a strong, sympathetic and earnest appeal. May, 1820, Congress voted five hundred dollars to widow Heaps. On September 20th, the Revolutionary soldiers paraded in Whitestown under di- rection of General George Doolittle, Gen- eral Collins and R. Morrison. In a letter to his son, April 5, 1839, Mr. Williams says: "In 1820 I was in Circleville, Ohio, with Caleb Atwater and his wife, who was formerly Sophia's (his wife's) schoolmaster in New Hartford. I was there three months and later for four months. These long stays I did not rel- ish, but I could not stereotype in Utica, and therefore I was compelled to be absent frequently for long periods, which was inconvenient." FARMER'S CALENDAR, or Utica Almanac 92 WILLIAM WILLIAMS FOR THE Year of Our Lord 1821. Utica, Wil- liam Williams. On May 16, 1820, appeared the fol- lowing notice : " The Passage-boat on the Erie Canal, * Montezuma,' will leave Utica 8:30 A. M. for Montezuma, 94 miles west of Utica, the western extremity of the canal. Apply to Doolittle & Gold, 39 Genesee Street. Fare $4.00, including fare and lodging; 3 pence per mile when no fare or lodging is furnished." Although the Erie Canal was not formally opened throughout its entire length until October 1823, it was very extensively used earlier on the western section. The novelty of the trip gave rise to numberless pleasure parties, which thronged the decks of the boats to overflowing. On August 15, 1820, there appeared in the Patriot and Patrol, "General Or- ders, 13th Brigade, Utica, June ist, 1820. The General, in accordance with 1 7th sec- 93 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER tion of Act to organize State Militia, has instituted a Brigade Court Martial, to be composed of Lieutenant Colonel William Williams as President, John H. Ostrom as Judge Advocate, and four members. Captain Daniel Stafford, Lieutenant Amos Robinson, i 34th, James Hathaway, i 57th, Zebena Lloyd, 20th, to sit November ist." CHAPTER II 182I TO 1850 CHAPTER II 182I TO 1850 MR. WILLIAMS was now started upon his career as a journalist, and took an active part in the politics of the day. He was a strong advocate of DeWitt Clinton, and exerted every effort to re-elect him for Governor of New York in 1824. The canal and anti-canal fight had been bitter, and the "People's" party triumphed over the "Regency" party under Martin Van Buren, at the October elections of 1824. The former editor of the Patriot and Pa- trol had abandoned the Clintonian party 97 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER and retired from politics. The paper was discontinued, and Mr. Williams took upon , his shoulders the entire responsibility of editing and printing the new Utica paper, the Sentinel. Little else occupied his mind and attention for the next four years. His editorials were spirited and partisan ; being widely read throughout Central New York they exerted their influence in electing DeWitt Clinton for Governor. At the close of the campaign he says in the col- umns of his paper : " I had the satisfac- tion of reflecting that I contributed my exertions." 1821 THE UTICA SENTINEL Vol. I. No. I, March 9TH 1821 Printed by Elisha Harrington for William Williams, Editor and Proprietor. Weekly ;^2.oo per year in Advance. Volume II, Number 163 of this paper appeared April 20, 1824, bringing Number i, March 9, 1821. The Direc- tory of 1828 states, "William Williams started the paper with Elisha Harrington as printer." It continued until June 14, 1825, and in 1824 was printed by Ira Merrell. TITII LIVII PATAVINI HISTORIARUM EDI- TIO TERTIO UTICENSIS. William Williams, 1821. 98 WILLIAM WILLIAMS THE YOUNG CHRISTIAN GUIDE Contain- ing Important Questions with Scriptural An- swers. Utica, William Williams, 1821. Advertised in the Patriot and Patrol January 2, 1821, at 1^2.25 per dozen. THE NEW TESTAMENT. Translated out of the Original Greek. From the Cambridge Stereotype Edition. Utica, William Williams, 1821. i2mo mentioned by Wright. REMARKS ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. To Which Are Added Letters of Morris B. Hull. Published and Printed by William Williams, 60 Genesee Street, Utica, 1821. 32 pp. by Dr. Hull. REMARKS ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT to Which are Added Letters of Morris B. Hull. Second Edition with Additions. William Wil- liams, 1821. 40 pp. by Dr. Hull. PRACTICAL READER in Five Books by M. R. Bartlett. Utica, William Williams, 1821. First edition. A GUIDE TO THE ENGLISH TONGUE. By Joseph Hull. Printed by William Williams, 60 Genesee Street, Utica, N. Y. 1821. FARMER'S CALENDAR, or Utica Almanac FOR THE Year of Our Lord 1822. William Wil- liams, Utica. On January 15, 1821, the Patriot and Patrol has this no- tice: "The undersigned petitioned the legislature to incor- 99 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER porate them as a body politic under name of the Bank for Savings of the Village of Utica. Signed: Nathan Williams. Ezekiel Bacon. J. C. Devereux. David W. Childs. William Williams. Montgomery Hunt. Reed Snyder. Samuel Stocking. Moses Bagg & others. " On January 2, 1821, Mr. Williams' advertisement ap- peared in the Patriot and Patrol, as follows: "List of books received, also Pomeroy's Metallic strop and paste for razors. Surgeon's instruments, pen-knives &c., &c." 1822 ENGLISH GRAMMAR with Appendix. By LiNDLEY Murray. Ninth American from the 28TH English Edition. Utica, William Wil- liams, 1822. 137 pp., 8vo. The first English edition was Holdgate, near York, 1795. MUSICA SACRA or Springfield and Utica Collections United by Thomas Hastings and Solomon Warriner. Utica, William Williams, 1822. Printed both in upright or octavo form, and oblong or musical form. CHRISTIAN REPOSITORY MAGAZINE. Monthly. Published by Merrell & Hastings. Printed, Utica, William Williams, 1822. Lasted 7 years. THE MISSIONARY ARITHMETIC by Wil- liam R. Weeks. Published by Merrell & Hast- ings. Printed by William Williams, Utica, 1822. THE NEW TESTAMENT. Translated out OF the Original Greek. From the Cambridge 100 WILLIAM WILLIAMS Stereotype Edition. Utica, William Williams, 1822. Mentioned by Wright. i2mo. A SERMON Delivered at the Dedication of THE Free Church of Clinton, New York, No- vember 14TH 1821 BY Rev. Stephen R. Smith, Member of the First Universalist Society of Whitesboro, New York. Utica, 1822. No printer's name given. STEREOTYPE EDITION. THE CONSTITU- TION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH in THE United States of America. Containing the Confession of Faith. The Catechisms. Direc- tory OF Worship. Plan of Government and Dis- cipline AS Amended May 1821. Utica, Printed and Published by William Williams, 60 Genesee Street, 1822. Copyrighted in Pennsylvania, in 1821, by Dr. Stiles. The Patriot says, "Concert tickets for sacred concert at Trinity Church for sale at William Williams' store. See Posters. " FARMER'S CALENDAR or Utica Almanac for the Year of Our Lord 1823. Utica, Wil- liam Williams, 1823. 1823 MUSICA SACRA or Springfield and Utica Collections United, by Thomas Hastings & Solomon Warriner. Utica, William Williams, 1823. CHRISTIAN REPOSITORY MAGAZINE, Printed and Published by William Williams, Utica, 1823. lOI AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER THE MISSIONARY HERALD, Volume XIX. Reprinted for the Board by William Williams, Utica, 1823. ALL FOR THE BEST. Utica, Published by the Tract Society of the Oneida Association. William Williams, Printer. Tract number 2, name of printer on last page. FEMALE INFLUENCE. Utica, Published by The Tract Society of the Oneida Association. William Williams, Printer. Tract number 3, printer's name at end. A SERMON ON THE CONFESSION OF FAITH AND Covenant of the Church in Paris. Preached on the First Sabbath in May, 1823, Immediately Before the Administration of the Lord's Supper by William R. Weeks, Utica. Printed for the Author by William Williams, Number 60 Genesee Street, 1823. FARMER'S CALENDAR, or Utica Almanac FOR THE Year of Our Lord, 1824. Utica, Wil- liam Williams. THE ENGLISH READER or, Pieces in Prose and Verse, Selected from the Best Writers. Designed to Assist Young Persons to Read with Propriety and Effect; to improve their Lan- guage AND Sentiments, and to inculcate Some of the Most Important Principles of Piety and Virtue. By Lindley Murray, Author of "An English Grammar," etc., etc. To Which Are Prefixed The Definitions of Inflections & Emphasis and Rules for Reading Verse with A Key, Exhibiting a Method of Applying Those 102 WILLIAM WILLIAMS Principles to the Pronunciation of Written Language. The Inflections, as Well as Em- phasis ARE also actually APPLIED BY SENSIBLE Characters, and Agreeably to the Directions Contained in the Key, to the Whole of Mr. Murray's Selections. By M. R. Bartlett, Au- thor OF "The Practical Reader." Stereotyped BY H. & E. Phinney, Cooperstown. Utica, Printed and Published by William Williams, Number 6o Genesee Street, 1823. 1824 ESCALALA. An American Tale by Samuel B. Beach. Utica, William Williams, 1824. THE WESTERN RECORDER, Under the Patronage and for the Benefit of the Western Educational Society and Auburn Theological Seminary. Thomas Hastings, Editor. Utica, William Williams, 1824. In 1828 it was printed by Hastings & Tracy. MURRAY'S IMPROVED ENGLISH READER or Pieces in Prose and Verse by Lindley Mur- ray, WITH A Key by M. R. Bartlett. Utica, Wil- liam Williams, 1824. CHRISTIAN REPOSITORY MAGAZINE. Published and Printed by William Williams, Utica, 1824. The Spy published at this time, May 13, 1824, was Volume VII, Number l, but without printer's name. SERMONS ON IMPORTANT SUBJECTS, by the late Azel Backus, S. T. D., First President of Hamilton College. To Which Is Prefixed 103 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER A Sketch of the Life of the Author. Utica, Printed and Published by William Williams, Number 6o Genesee Street, 1824. The frontispiece is a copper-plate portrait of Dr. Backus, from a painting by T. Wood, engraved by T. B. Longacre, 346 pp., 8vo. The sketch of his Hfe was prepared shortly after Dr, Backus' death in December 1817, but now just published. It was probably written by William Williams. GREEK EMANCIPATION. A Poem by Sam- uel Dakin, Jr. Utica, Printed by William Wil- liams, 60 Genesee Street, 1824. 8 pp., small pamphlet. ORATION COMMEMORATIVE OF AMERI- CAN INDEPENDENCE, Delivered at Utica, July 5TH 1824, by Alexander B. Johnson. Utica, William Williams, 1824. THE MISSIONARY HERALD. For the Year 1824, Volume XX. Published at the Expense OF THE American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and All the Profit Devoted TO the Promotion of the Missionary Cause. Boston. Published for the Board by Samuel T. Armstrong. Utica, Re-printed by William Williams, Number 60 Genesee Street. FARMER'S CALENDAR or Utica Almanac, FOR THE Year of Our Lord 1825. Utica, Wil- liam Williams. Merrell & Caldwell published Volume I of the Sabbath School Visitant, August 7, 1824. Merrell & Hastings published "Beers 1824 Almanac"; they also advertised, "Catalogue of Books Belonging to Merrell & Hastings, Circulating Library, kept at their Book Store, Number 40 Genesee Street, Utica, together with the 104 WILLIAM WILLIAMS rules and regulations. Utica. 1823. Subscription I year ^4; 6 months ^^2.25; 3 months Si. 25. Non-subscribers, octavo volumes, 19 cents; duo, 12^ cents; smaller, 6 cents, which must be paid when book is taken out. Octavo vol- umes may be kept two weeks. Smaller ones one week." On October ist, the firm of Balch & Stiles was started on the corner of Broad and John Streets, engravers on copper and plate printing. They did work for Wil- liam Williams, and later he became a partner in the firm. November 5th, Mr. Williams advertised for sale at number 60 a "German Almanac for 1825." It was, no doubt, printed elsewhere. A new pub- lishing firm, H. K. Phinney & Company, opened at 35 Genesee Street, on December 24th, a branch of the Cooperstown house. Mr. Williams' advertisement continued in the Patriot and Patrol until January 13, 1 824 ; and it is a question whether he did not retain some interest in it financially until January 21, 1824, or whether he started his interest in the Sentinel at this time, though no file is extant before April 105 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER 20, 1824. He may have bought it out at this time and continued the old volume and number. On December 14th, Colonel Williams, as he is titled in the November 18, 1824, Patriot and Patrol, was elected President of the Oneida Sabbath School Union, which had been organized September i, 1 824. Two of his children, of which he had fourteen by his first wife and two by his second, died this year, Julian, on Sep- tember 2ist, at the age of eighteen months, and Harriet, on October 5th, nine years old. A long obituary notice of the latter, by her father, appeared in the Oc- tober I 3th number of the Sabbath School Visitant. The political situation was at this time all-absorbing, and Colonel Williams show- ed his activity and energy as a political editor. The adoption of the new State Constitution, in 1822, had placed political power in the hands of Martin Van Buren, 106 WILLIAM WILLIAMS the leader of the Democratic party. In 1823, Joseph C. Yates had been elected New York's Governor as a Van Buren man. In February, i 824, Yates was drop- ped for re-election, and Colonel Young ran as a Democrat, with full allegiance to "King Caucus." In August, 1824, oc- curred the Utica Convention, at which DeWitt C. Clinton was nominated for Governor of New York State ; General Tallmadge for Lieutenant Governor, and delegates opposed to Crawford, one of the Presidential nominees. John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson were nomi- nated as well. The Utica Convention in- augurated the policy of nominations, em- anating from the people direct, instead of by Legislative caucus. The Van Buren factions were called the " Albany Re- gency," and had been the means of de- posing Clinton as Canal Commissioner. " But the tide had turned. The election was one of the most stirring that had ever 107 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER been experienced;" a contemporary says, " Clinton and Tallmadge or * People's Ticket': vs. Young and Root or * Buck Tails,' and were elected by i,6oo major- ity. Eight Senators were Clintonians and only two * Regency ' men. More than three to one of the Assemblymen were opposed to the * Albany Regency ' of Van Buren and * King Caucus.' At no con- tested election in our State had the success of one party been so triumphant, or the defeat of the other so overwhelming." Immediately after the State came the Na- tional election with three candidates, John Quincy Adams, Crawford and Jackson. The campaign was named the " Scrub- race," as there were no recognized parties, all claiming to be Republicans. In the editorial of the Sentinel of November 9, 1824, William Williams writes : " Sover- eignity of the people has been displayed. Oneida County has done its duty. Four- teen hundred majority for the People's 108 WILLIAM WILLIAMS ticket. Contest of principle, not men. Republicanism arrayed against faction. Let the fact be remembered. It is a grand lesson to the little autocracies which have grown up under the reign of Martin Van Buren and the forty high-minded gentle- men." On October 26th, before the elec- tion, he speaks of Van Buren as " a political trimmer, who has fallen down at the shrine of * King Caucus ' and bartered away the votes of the State for support of Crawford for President." On November 30th, he replies in the Sentinel to Mr. A. G. Dauby, the editor of the Observer^ the opposing side : "Stop, stop, Mr. Dauby. You are travelling out of the record. The matter at issue be- tween us is not how many more blunders you have made than you have apologized for. Your declaration, November 9th, was that the election throughout the State had generally terminated unfavorably for the Democratic-Republican party. This 109 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER assertion we denied. You do injustice to yourself by such a course. Be frank, be open-hearted. Confess you have slandered the Democratic-Republican party, and that at that moment you forgot your apos- tasy for the party, and that you meant to write that the Van Buren party was pros- trated and yourself with it. The Demo- cratic-Republican cause was triumphant throughout the State, and that there never was an instance of so sudden an overthrow of a little self-created autocracy. An arti- cle of this import from you, Mr. Dauby, will be received by the Republicans of the State as an ample apology for the libel you have published." It was not alone on politics that Col- onel Williams wrote his editorials, for we see many other topics from time to time. On July 13th he wrote a long one advo- cating sending our free blacks to Hayti, rather than to African States set apart for them by the Colonizing Society. no WILLIAM WILLIAMS Several editorials on canal tolls appear- ed, and in 1825 one on railroads. 1825 PURRAUL OF SUM SING. By an Officer IN THE Madras Army. Published New York by Charles Wiley, Collins & Harman, Bliss & White, 1825. Utica, William Williams, 1825. This was written by Captain Charles Stuart or Stevens. MUSICA SACRA or Utica and Springfield Collections United. Consisting of Psalms and Hymns, Tunes, Anthems and Chants Arranged FOR Two, Three or Four Voices with a Figured Base for the Organ and Piano Forte, by Tho- mas Hastings and Solomon Warriner. Fifth Revised Edition. Utica, Printed by William Williams, 1825. 132 pp., large 4to, g x ll inches. Preface dated January 1,1825: It says, "Part of the Edition only has been exe- cuted in the quarto form, and this for the convenience of being bound with miscellaneous extracts published by ama- teurs of this village." Note at end of volume says "The Chants have been thrown into an appendix, which does not accompany the whole edition." Musica Sacra was also published with the appendix in- cluding Chants in 8vo form. THE CHRISTIAN REPOSITORY MAGA- ZINE. Published and Printed by William Wil- liams, Utica, 1825. THE ENGLISH READER or Pieces in Prose AND Poetry, Selected from the Best Writers. Designed to Assist Young Persons to Read with Propriety and Effect; to Improve their Lan- III AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER GUAGE AND SENTIMENTS; AND TO INCULCATE SoME OF THE Most Important Principles of Piety and Virtue. With a Few Preliminary Observations on the Principles of Good Reading by Lindley Mur- ray. Author of an English Grammar, &c., &c. Stereotyped from the Last English Edition. Utica, Published by William Williams, Number 60 Genesee Street, 1825. 8vo, pp. 263. Bound in sheep by William Williams at his bindery. Black label on back and gold letters "English Reader." A PRACTICAL READER in Five Books by M. R. Bartlett. Second Edition. Utica, Wil- liam Williams, 1825. REVEREND MR. AIKEN'S SERMONS on Theatrical Exhibitions. Utica, 1825. Advertised December 27th for sale at A. Seward's book- store. 25 cents each. Colonel Williams was elected First President of the West- ern Sunday School Union, of which the Sabbath School Visitant was the official gazette. Mrs. Williams joined the Maternal Association this year. FARMER'S CALENDAR, or Utica Almanac for the Year of Our Lord 1826. Utica, Wil- liam Williams. He also advertised for sale at his book-store "The Chris- tian and the Agricultural Almanacs." On January 26th he was elected trustee of the Utica Free Academy. On February 22nd was issued a call for "A Public Li- brary" signed A. B. Johnson and others. On April igth he was appointed on a committee with Major-General David Curtiss and Brigadier-General Sitt and Weaver to receive La Fayette, who was to visit Utica. 112 WILLIAM WILLIAMS On May 3rd he was appointed on a committee, with Messrs. Piatt, Bacon, Walker & Maynard, to erect a statue to Baron Stuben. On June 3rd it was dedicated while La Fayette was there. A Bible Class was formed in the First Church, May 27th. Mr. Bradish teacher of First Class, Mr, Williams of Second; Mr. King of Third. Proposals were opened for the Welland Canal this year. On June 7th, Mr. Williams disposed of his paper, the Sentinel, to Dakin & Bacon, who joined it with the Gazette y^nd on June 14, 1825, appeared Volume i, Number I, Utica Sentinel and Gazette, printed by Calwell & Wilson, 42 Genesee Street. Later it was printed by Northway & Ben- nett. In the columns of the last numbers of the Sentinel, June 7th, appeared " To the Public : Having disposed of my interests in this establishment, I cannot retire without expressing my gratitude to the public for the liberal patronage and support which they have uniformly ex- tended towards me, my entire confidence in the ability of the new proprietors, and my full satisfaction in regard to the polit- ical course which the paper under their "3 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER direction will hereafter pursue. As it is understood the Columbian Gazette is to be united to this establishment, I am happy in being able to say that I cordially ap- prove of the arrangement, and am well convinced that such a union will not only be beneficial to the present proprietors^ but advantageous to the public, and will tend to strengthen the political bands. I have received satisfactory assurances that the political character of the paper will remain essentially the same, and do not hesitate to say that it will meet the entire approbation of my patrons and friends. As we may shortly expect another struggle with our political adversaries, it becomes us to be well prepared for the contest. I conceive that this arrangement will closely and effectually unite our forces, promote the general cause of the PEOPLE and insure their success at the future elections. One triumph has already been gained, to the accomplishment of which the editor has 114 WILLIAM WILLIAMS the satisfaction of reflecting that he con- tributed his exertions. A more arduous conflict, perhaps, still awaits us, and it behooves us to rally around the standard and secure the benefits of success by ef- fective and united eflbrt. William Williams." WOODBRIDGE'S RUDIMENTS OF GEOG- RAPHY ON A New Plan. Fifth Edition Accom- panied WITH AN Atlas. Hartford, Oliver D. Cooke & Sons. Sold also by J. W. Burdett, Boston. Goodale & Company, Hallowell. Isaac Hill, Concord. C. Goodrich, Castleton. D. Steele & Son, Albany. W. Williams, Utica. S. B. Collins, New York. H. C. Carey and I. Lea, Philadelphia. Phil. F. Lucas, Baltimore. U. T. Hobby, Augusta, Ga. Bartelle & Townsend, Mobile. S. Babcock & Company, Charleston. 1825. 1826 THE CHRISTIAN REPOSITORY MAGAZINE. Printed and Published by William Williams, 1826. THE WESTERN SUNDAY SCHOOL VISI- TANT. New Series, Volume I, II, HI, 1826, 1827, 1828. William Williams, Utica. Advertisement for "Justice's Manual by Thomas G. Waterman just received at Williams' Book Store" March 4th. On January 31, 1826 was started the Utica Intelligencer 115 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER Volume I, Number i. Every Tuesday morning, William Tracy, Editor. Ira Merrell, printer, Genesee and Liberty Streets. December 26th he inserted a new and enlarged advertisement of books and stationery at the old stand, 60 Genesee Street. General Stationery supplies, blank books. Mr. Williams had furnished his printing shop with new type and a new bindery. Volume III, Number 52 of the Western Recorder was pub- lished December 26th. Edited by Thomas Hastings and printed by Hastings & Tracy. Under the patronage of West- ern Educational Society and Auburn Theological Seminary. The first railroad in the United States was opened in New England during this year. INQUIRY INTO THE NATURE OF SPECU- LATIVE FREE MASONRY, by John G. Stearns. Utica, for the Author, 1826. 109 pp. and 9. i8mo. No name of printer but William Williams. THE FARMER'S CALENDAR or Utica Al- manac FOR THE Year of Our Lord 1827. Utica, William Williams. THE TRIAL OF SAMUEL PERRY Who Mur- dered His Wife on June ist 1826, with a Sketch OF His Life and Death. By a Neighbor. "The Way of the Transgressor is Hard." Utica, Printed by William Williams, Number 60 Gen- esee Street, 1826. Pamphlet, pp. 14, I blank. Probably by Jason Lothrop. The murder was committed in Newport, Herkimer County. Trial was September ii, 1826, before Judge Nathan Williams, Circuit Judge. 1827 THE NEW TESTAMENT of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Translated out of the 116 WILLIAM WILLIAMS Original Greek, and with the Former Trans- lations Diligently Compared and Revised. Stereotyped by H, & R. Waller, New York. Utica, Printed and Published by William Wil- liams, 1827. 270 pp.,4to. Wright in his American Bibles says, "Wil- liam's New Testament, 1827, was based upon Phinney's quarto of 1 820. " It may have been from the same stereotype plates. Mr. Williams published a New Testament in 1817 and 1819 and it was more likely based upon his own former editions and Phinney took his from this. CANIADAU SION SEF CASGLIAD O HYM- NAU A SALMAU. Utica, William Williams, 1827. Pages 253 to 266 contain the English version of a few hymns from the selections in use among the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches in America. By Timothy Dwight, D.D., President of Yale College. The type for the Welsh Hymnal was set up by Mr. Wil- liams' eldest son, S. Wells Williams. JUVENILE PSALMODY: Prepared for the Use of Sunday Schools, at the Request of the Directors of the Western Sunday School Un- ion: by Thomas Hastings, Author of a Disser- tation ON Musical Taste, One of the Editors of MusicA Sacra, &c. Utica, Western Sunday School Union. W. Williams, Printer, 1827. 36 pp. THE ENGLISH READER, or Pieces in Prose AND Verse, Selected from the Best Writers. Designed to Assist Young Persons to Read with Propriety and Effect; to Improve their Lan- guage AND Sentiments, and to Inculcate Some of the Most Important Principles of Piety and Virtue. By Lindley Murray. Author of "An 117 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER English Grammar," &c,, &c. To Which Are Prefixed the Definitions of Inflections and Emphasis, and Rules for Reading Verse, with a Key, Exhibiting the Method of Applying Those Principles to the Pronunciation of Written Language. The Inflections, as well as Em- phasis, Are also Actually Applied, by Sensible Characters, and Agreeably to the Directions Contained in the Key to the Whole of Mr. Mur- ray's Selections. By M. R. Bartlett, Author of " The Practical Reader." Stereotyped by H. & E. Phinney, Cooperstown. Utica, Printed AND Published by William Williams, Number 60 Genesee Street, 1827. pp. 252 sheep. THE MUSICA SACRA or Utica and Spring- field Collections United. By Thomas Hastings AND Solomon Warriner. Sixth Edition. Utica, Printed and Published by William Williams, 1827. ARTIST'S AND TRADESMEN'S GUIDE by John Shepard. Utica, William Williams, 1827. THE HOLY BIBLE. Utica, William Wil- liams, 1827. 4to and mentioned by Wright. MAP of the State of New York by John Fish. Printed by William Williams. Utica, 1827. Engraved by Balch and Stiles. Includ- ing Stage, Canal and Steamboat Register. A POEM ON the Distressing and Affecting Death of Reverend Josiah M. Muspratt. Killed at Whitesboro Factory, May 1827. 118 WILLIAM WILLIAMS Small sheet. No place or printer. Probably by William Williams. FARMER'S CALENDAR or Utica Almanac. For the Year of Our Lord, 1828. Utica, Wil- liam Williams. FREE MASONRY. A Covenant with Death. A Discourse at Hornby, Stuben County. June 3RD 1828, BY Reuben Sanborn (once a Royal Arch Mason), 8vo. No place or date. But Utica, New York, 1828. It is probable this was printed by William Williams at 60 Genesee Street. 1828 MAP OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK by John Fish. Printed by William Williams, Utica, 1828. Engraved by Balch & Stile. Including State, Canal and Steamboat Register. MEMOIRS OF ANDREW SHERBURNE. A Pensioner of the Navy of the Revolution. Written by Himself. "They That Go Down to the Sea in Ships, That Do Business in Great Waters, They See the Works of the LORD, and His Wonders in the Deep." Psalmist. William Williams, Ut- ica, 1828. pp. 262. MUSICA SACRA or Utica and Springfield Collections United, by Thomas Hastings and Solomon Warriner. Utica, William Williams, 1828. THE PATRIOT'S MANUAL. Comprising Va- 119 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER Rious Standard and Miscellaneous Subjects, Interesting to Every American Citizen. Proper also for Seminaries of Learning. Compiled by Jesse Hopkins. Utica, Printed by William Wil- liams, 1828. First Edition. MAP OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN. En- graved by Balch and Stiles. Utica, William Williams, 1828. ROLL OF MEMBERS OF THE TEMPER- ANCE SOCIETY of Utica. Utica, William Williams, 1828. COMMON SCHOOL MANUAL. A Regular and Connected Course of Elementary Studies IN Four Parts. Utica, William Williams, 1828. PRESTON'S TABLES OF INTEREST by Ly- man Preston. Interest on any Sum From $1.00 to $200.00 Inclusive. Proceeding from 200 to 500 by Hundreds. Utica, William Williams. 1828. PRESTON'S TABLES OF INTEREST by Lyman Preston. Interest on Any Sum from $1.00 TO $500 inclusive. Proceeding from 500 to 1,000 BY Hundreds, and from 1,000 to 5,000 by Thou- sands. Utica, William Williams, 1828. William Williams had this year asso- ciated himself with Balch & Stiles, the copperplate engravers. They engraved maps of New York State and Michigan, *Appendix I. 120 WILLIAM WILLIAMS also bank notes for Utica, as well as nu- merous western banks. After Mr. Wil- liams had become a partner this year, their reputation and growth of business led them to open an office and workshop in New York City, where, with others, they established the forerunner of the American Bank Note Company. The second **City Directory" was pub- lished this year with 1,554 names. Printed by Dauby & Maynard, and compiled by Elisha Harrington. On April 30, 1828, was organized a new volunteer fire department, and Wil- liam Williams was chosen as Chief Engin- eer. He resigned May 25, 1830, and John H. Ostrom took his place. June 8, 1 83 1, Colonel Williams was a member of LaFayette Engine, Number 4, and on August 31, 1 8 3 I , Number 4 and Number 5 Engine Companies united, and all were under the command of Colonel Williams. The first regular volunteer fire organi- 121 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER zation was formed May, 1805. After abig iire in February, 1804, the paper thanks the ** Fire Company," but it was not un- til 1805 that a regular organization was formed. William Williams' name was enrolled as a member in September, 1808. It is needless to say that the early volun- teer fire companies were all important to our towns before fire insurance companies took the risk, and when property owners joined the rapks and fought fires at the risk of their lives. THE FARMER'S CALENDAR or Utica Al- manac FOR THE Year of Our Lord 1829. Utica, William Williams. 1829 LIGHT ON MASONRY. A Collection of All the Most Important Documents on the Sub- ject OF Speculative Free Masonry; Embracing the Reports of the Western Committee in Re- lation to the Abduction of William Morgan, Proceedings of Conventions, Orations, Essays, etc., etc. Also a Revelation of all the Degrees Conferred in the Lodge of Perfection, and Fif- teen Degrees of a Still Higher Order, with Seven French Degrees; Making Forty-eight De- grees OF Free Masonry. With Notes and Crit- 122 lilOKT OIV ]»IA80]VRT: *. COU.BCTI0N OF ALL TOB MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS ON THE S0BJECT 09 EMBRACING THE REPORTS OF THE WESTERN COMMITTEES IM RBL&TIOM TO TBt ABOnOTXON OF ^WZLiuIAXff lyXORGAN, PROCEEDINGS OF CONVENTIONS, ORATIONS, ESSAYS, &.c. S». • WITH kLL THE DEGREES OF THE OKDRR CONFERRED IN A MASTER'S LODGE As .(rrirtmt!) Coytctn wmiam Morgan; ALL THE DEGREES CONFERRED IN THE ROYAX ARCH CHAPTER AND ORAXD ENCASHMENT OF KNIGHTS TEMPLARS, WITH THE APPENDANT ORDERS, ir ptdtisBed tg As C«iM««rto* of Seetdinf JUwons, heli U lit Xtf, Jidy 4 sni S, ia2& ALSO, A REVELATION or M tbe ©egctt? confctccD m tlje 2,oDjxe of perfection, AND FIFTEEN OEOUEES OF A STILL HIGHER ORDER, WITH SEVEN FRENCH DEGREES: MAEII.'G FORTY-EIGHT DEGREES OF FREE MASONRY. iruk Xttts aai Critical Bemarkr. BY ELDBB DATID BERNARD, OJ WARSAW, BBITBSEB CO. H. T. Oase tatntimUe Secretary in t&e Lodge o(Serf»ction; tai Secretary of tLe CoilTtativa of ScMdiag If alaiis^^eltLat tie.Bo7, July 4 and 5, tSOH. ''r9rthtr*isntat»goatwr*inaHltaBiittt»multd,au4hUtitt»1uam»tt»kit»M.'f "And must ft Dear tntlunr tlux grtteii v upon tk« luust tops." 7Mas Clirist. UTICA, WILLLAK WXLtXAAU, FiUNTZII, (UTSiSC STBBSXf 1829. Title Page of First Issue of the First Edition. LIGHT OBfl MASONRYs A COLLCCTfON OF ALL TBC MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS OR THE SUBJECT Or SPECULATIVE FREE MASONRYJ EMBRACIIfO THE REPORTS OF THE WESTERN COMMITTEES IN BELATIOR TO TUB ABDUCTION OF WILLIAM MORGANi PROCEEDINGS OF CONVENTIONS, ORATIONS, ESSAYS, &c &c. WITH ALL THE DECREES OF THE ORDER CONFERRED IS A. MASTER'S LODOE, ^s tort/fen by Captain JVUliam Morgan i ALL THE DEGREES CONFERRED IN THE ROTAL ARCH CHAPTER AND GRAND EN- CAMPMENT OF KNIGHTS TEUJPLARS, WITH THE APPENDANT ORDERS, ^s published by the Convention, of Seceding Masons, held at Le Roy, July Ath and 5(A,.J828. ALSO A REVELATION OF ALL THE DE.GREES CONFERRED IN THE UODan OF PBRTSCTIdN, AND FIFTEEN DEGREES OF A STILL, HIGHER ORDER, \rlTH sevejc ^'RE^rcH degrees t MAXINQ rORTY-EIGHT DBORIEES OF FREE MASONRY. With ^otea and Critical Remarjcs. BY ELDER DAVID BERNARD, OF WARSA^r, GENESEE CO. N. T. OoiceftD Intimate Secretnry in ihe Lodge of Perlection ; and Secretary of the Conve&tloc of Seceding Mosoni:, bclJ nt he Roy, July 4lh and otht IS2S •' For Ihtrt it nothing cnverd that thallnot It rtvealed, an4 hid that thall nc' 8c AnoWlt.* "«Sn^^ Utica, and great numbers distributed in Ohio, through 131 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER the Western Reserve, and the Valley of the Mississippi. Davis, of Utica, is said to have published an edition from the plates in 1 840, but they were finally sold to Sadlier, of New York. " E. O'Callaghan." In this edition occurs, James V, 17: " Elias was a man possible like unto us," a misprint, for the Roman Catholic trans- lation, " Elias was a man passible like unto us." Reverend John Wright, Bibles of America, New York, 1894. As indicated by publishing "Light on Masonry,"* Colonel Williams took a lively interest in the anti-Masonic trouble, which perturbed not only New York State but the whole country, and finally became a national question. William Morgan had been abducted, September 12, 1826, for writing and publishing " Illustrations of *Appendix VII. 132 WILLIAM WILLIAMS Masonry.'* After the anti-Masonic Con- vention of Leroy, July 4, 1828, the Utica Convention met August 4, 5, 6, 1828, and it was there resolved to have Elder David Bernard's " Light on Masonry " printed. The Williams press immediately set about to undertake it, so enthusiastic were they in this movement. On the following February 19, 1829, the Albany Convention met in the As- sembly room with William Williams, Richard R. Lansing, Nicholas Devereux, Satterlee Clark and Thomas A. Palmer as delegates from Oneida County, and its publication was delayed until the proceed- ings of this convention could be added as an appendix to the book. Ten thousand copies of the convention proceedings were then ordered printed and distributed broad- cast. A committee appointed to ascertain truths of Masonic revelations consisted of Messrs. Cooke, Hascall, Fairchild, Wil- liams and Southwick (Mr. William H. 133 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER Seward was delegate from Cayuga Coun- ty). Mr. Cooke read a report from the committee on "Truths," and speeches were made by Messrs. Cooke, Williams and Ward, and upon motion of Thurlow Weed the report was adopted. Later, on March 15, 1829, the State Central Com- mittee, at Rochester, appointed Messrs. Nicholas Devereux, William Williams, Field and Morris as trustees for the fund of relief for Mrs. Lucinda Morgan and her infant children. The flame of excitement was intense while it lasted, and men of earnest convic- tions, who acted from principle, judged it was from abuse that the high principles of Masonry were being trodden in the dust, and so soon as this abuse, caused by a few local lodges, was set aside, the movement passed over and anti-Masonry ceased to be a factor. Northway & Porter, of Utica, printed, in I 829, the fifth edition of " Inquiry In- 134 WILLIAM WILLIAMS to the Nature of Speculative Free Ma- sonry and Appendix of Plain Truth," by John G. Stearns, Minister of Paris, New York. The first edition appeared July I, 1826, two months before Morgan's abduction. May 7th the first number of the Elucidator was printed in Utica by Northway & Porter, and edited by B. B. Hotch- kins. THE FARMER'S CALENDAR, or Utica Al- manac FOR THE Year of Our Lord 1830. Utica, William Williams. September 5, 1829, there was celebrated the Fourth Anniversary of the Western Sunday School Union. Wil- liam Williams, President, in the chair. J, E. Warner, Sec- retary. Mr. Williams declined a re-election, and Gerrett Smith was elected President, with William Williams, Abram Varick, Samuel Stocking, representatives from Oneida Coun- ty- . , Jeremiah Evarts' "Law and Logic of Colonel Johnson's Report on Sabbath Mails" was published by G. S. Wilson. Printed by J. Colwell in 1830. THE ELUCIDATOR. A Weekly Anti-Ma- sonic Newspaper Printed by William Williams. Utica, 1830. B. B. Hotchkiss, Editor. Mr. Williams continued printing this paper until Feb- ruary 18, 1834. THE JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR, For Use of Teachers in Infant, Sabbath and Primary- Schools BY Thomas Hastings. Utica, Wil- liam Williams, 1830. 135 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER THE TIMBER MEASURER, by Otis Whip- ple. Utica, William Williams, 1830. BASCOM'S SYSTEM OF PENMANSHIP in Four Parts. Published at Utica by William Williams, 1830. All Four Writing Books with Engraved Copies in Each Part. 12J cents each. j^Q.oo per 100. Advertised in the Elu- cidator, February 16, 1830. A DISSERTATION ON THE MEDICAL PROPERTIES and Injurious Effects of the Habitual Use of Tobacco. Read by Appoint- ment before the Medical Society of the County OF Oneida, at Their Semi-Annual Meeting, Jan- uary 5TH 1830, by a. McAllister, M.D. Utica, Press of William Williams, Genesee Street,i830. pp. 24. THE CITIZEN'S GUIDE: Comprehending THE Constitution of the United States and the State of New York, together with Chapters Eleventh and Twelfth ofthe Revised Statutes Entitled "of the Powers, Duties and Privileges of the Towns," and "of the Powers, Duties and Privileges of Counties, and of Certain County Officers." Arranged and Illustrated with Questions, Explanations and References and Designed to Be a Useful Manual of the Citizen of this State, and for the Use of Common Schools by Andrew T. Yates, A.M., Professor of Juris- prudence AND Modern Languages, in the Poly- technic, New York. Utica, Press of William Williams, Genesee Street, 1830. 121 pages. Large 8vo. On the Tax Roll of the City of Utica for 1 830 appeared 136 WILLIAM WILLIAMS "William Williams. Real Estate, Broad Street, $3,900. Vacant Lot East of Miller basin, $2,500. Personal Property, 14,000. Total tax, $17.28. Thomas Walker, collector." In the February i6th number of the Elucidator it said " Commission Paper Warehouse opened by William Williams. Merchantable printing paper. Writing and wrapping paper of all kinds. Bonnet Boards and press papers from Brandywine Company of Pennsylvania. Goodwin & Sons. H. Hud- son. Butler & Barton of Connecticut. R. Donaldson, New Jersey." Another notice in the same number said: WILLIAM WJLLL\>LS, WSZ^^J^r^ Boil .-uu) JaV-riinUiw and book-Kindiii; dani- m •IkX .Vitin-. "Wood & Copper plate engraving. Balch Stiles & Com- pany, 34 Merchants' Exchange, New York for bank bills. Other orders executed at 60 Genesee Street, Utica, New "^'ork. Signed, V. Balch, S. Stiles. W. Williams." 137 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER On the same date he advertised "Twenty Tons of Lin- en rags for sale from Rome, Hamburg and Theresa. Signed William Williams." Also just received and for sale "Masonic Almanac for 1830" by William Williams. "W. Williams is agent for William Hagan and Company, type and stereotype found- ers, also for John T. Wells and Robert Hoe & Company, patent printing presses. Further advertisement "Agent for North American Medical and Surgical Journal, $5.00 per annum." In ** Fifty Years Among Authors, Books and Publishers," J. C. Derby says: "My first employer was Henry Ivison, in Au- burn, 1834. He came to Utica, in 1820, from Scotland, and was left as a lad twelve years of age by his parents (who returned to Scotland) in the family of William Williams, and was there nine years. In 1820, William Williams had the largest book-store west of Albany. In 1830, Henry Ivison went to Auburn and entered the book business. Mr. Williams bought his stock of books for him, and sent his son Wells with him. Mr. Sey- mour, of Auburn, furnished $i,6oo and was to have one-half the profits. Wells 138 WILLIAM WILLIAMS Williams remained several months and returned to Utica. Mr. Henry Ivison, in a letter to Wil- liam Williams' son, Robert S. Williams, of Utica, January i8, 1882, says in speak- ing of his own successful career : " It has been owing in no small degree to the in- fluences for good in your father's family^ of which I was a privileged^ member for nearly nine years. I thank my God every day, and upon every remembrance of your dear and blessed mother. A mother, and more than a mother to me during all these formative years, her precious memory is embalmed in mine, and my life has been largely influenced by her beautiful example and precept ; and not alone in my case, but in the case of others has that life and influence been spreading ever since." Robert Roberts entered the office in 1830, and found there Samson, Webster, North, Wilson, Shepard, Ivison and Ever- est. He was the successor, and established 139 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER a job office in 1839. In 1847, with R. W. Sherman and Edwin K. Colson, he formed the Utica Herald, which he car- ried on till his death, in November, 1874. His brother, the Honorable Ellis H. Roberts, being the editor. The Utica Anti-Masonic Convention met June 21, 1830, and nominated Wirt and Ellmaker for a Presidential ticket. Jackson defeated both opponents, but Ver- mont cast seven electoral votes for the Anti-Masonic ticket. 1831 THE ANTI-MASONIC ALMANAC for 1831, BY Edward Gibbons. Utica, William Williams, 1831. THE NEW TESTAMENT in the Douai Ver- sion — Compiled by John Dubois, Bishop of New York. For the Proprietors. Utica, William Williams, 1831. THE ENGLISH GRAMMAR by Lindley Murray. Utica, William Williams, 1831. ENGLISH READER by Lindley Murray. Utica, William Williams, 183 i. 140 WILLIAM WILLIAMS THE ARTICLES OF THE SYNOD OF DORT, BY Thomas Scott. Utica, William Williams, i 83 i . Advertised December 19, 1831. Price ;^l.oo. HOLISSO HOLITOPA, CHITOKAKA CHISUS im Anumpeshi Luk, Chani Itatuklo Kut holli- SOCHI TOK MaK O, a KaSHAPA KUT ChAHTA IM ANUMPA ISHT HOLOSSO HOKE. UtICA, PrESS OF William Williams, Genesee Street, 1831. Pp. 1-152, I 1. i6mo. Gospels of Luke and John and a few chapters of Mark in the Choctaw language, a copy in the American Tract Society. By Rev. Alfred Wright. Pilling number 97. CHAHTA IKHANANCHI, OR THE CHOC- TAW INSTRUCTOR: Containing a Brief Sum- mary OF Old Testament History and Biography; WITH Practical Reflections, in the Choctaw Language. By a Missionary. Utica, Press of William Williams. 1831. Pp. l-i57,l6mo. By Loring S. Williams and Rev. Al- fred Wright. Mr. Wright was born March i, 1788, in Col- ombia, Conn., died March 31, 1853. Graduated at Williams College and Andover Theological Seminary. See Pilling. THE HISTORY OF JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. In the Choctaw Language. Utica, Press of William Williams, 1831. Pp. 1-48, 24mo. On verso of title-page it says: "This little tract is indebted to Mr. Joseph Dukes, a native inter- preter, for its existence. Reprinted in 1836. Captain Joseph Dukes was born in the Choctaw nation, in what is now a part of Mississippi, in 1811. He died in 1861. See Pilling. 141 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER CHAHTA VBA ISTL TALOA HOLISSO, OR CHOCTAW HYMN-BOOK. Utica, William Williams, 1831. The first edition was printed in Boston, Mass., 1829, 48 pp. See Pilling. A CONCISE TREATISE, upon the Powers AND Duties of the Principal State, County and Town Officers. For the Use of Schools. By a Gentleman of the Bar. Utica, William Wil- liams, Publisher and Printer, 60 Genesee Street, 1831. SPIRITUAL SONGS for Social Worship, Part I, BY Thomas Hastings. Utica, William Wil- liams, 1 83 1. DISSERTATION ON MUSICAL TASTE, by Thomas Hastings. Utica, William Williams. PART OF GENESIS, in the Choctaw Lan- guage. Utica, William Williams, 1831. 24mo. Mentioned in Wright's American Bibles. CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES BY EzEKiEL I. Chapman. Utica, William Wil- liams, 1 83 1. i2mo. TRIAL OF WILLIAM PERRY. Utica, Wil- liam Williams, 1831. 14 pp. pamphlet. MUSICA SACRA or Utica and Springfield Collections United, by Thomas Hastings and Solomon Warriner. Utica, William Williams, 1831. 300 pp.9 ^ X 5^ inches, pp. 287 to 300 comprise the *' Juvenile Instructor as Appendix." Stereotyped by William Hagar & Company, 29 Gold Street, New York. 142 WILLIAM WILLIAMS THE EVANGELICAL PRIMER: by Joseph Emerson. Minister of Beverly, Mass. and Prin- cipal OF Female Seminary at Wethersfield, Conn. 72 cents. Boston, Crocker & Brewster. New York, Johnathan Leavitt. Sold by Wil- liam Williams, Utica, New York, 1831. Not printed by W. Williams, but one of the numerous imprints with his name appended to the title-page as sales agent. THE JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR. Utica, Wil- liam Williams, 183 i. A PRAYER. Utica, William Williams, 1831. An anti-masonic reading-room was opened at number 44 Genesee Street in May of this year. It was on November 12, 18 31, that Mr. Williams lost his wife. He had been in New York City on business and arrived home November 4th. His infant son Thomas, born on November nth, sur- vived his mother only a few hours. On January 10, 1831, Mr. Williams had lost his ten months old son, Alfred Pell Wil- liams, who was named after one of his business friends in New York. Mr. Pell stereotyped the**Murray's Reader" of 18 3 2. Mrs. Williams was the mother of a long line of children, but still she had the time 143 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER and inclination to do for others, besides having as many as eight apprentices in her home at a time. On the back cover of "Musica Sacra," 1831,11 says, "Mu- sic of every description typographically executed by William Williams. The following are novp in store and offered for sale at reasonable prices. Kollman's Essay on Musical Harmony. Hastings' Dissertation on Musical Taste. Call- cott's Musical Grammar, New edition. Musica Sacra. Appendix to same. Songs of the Temple Handel & Haydon. American Psalmody. Christian Lyre. Thorough-bass Prim- er. Christian Sabbath. The Lord's Prayer. Handel's Messiah. Little & Smith's Easy Instructor. Flute Melodies. Violin Preceptor. Hastings' Musical Reader. Violin, Flute, Fife, Hautboy & Clarionet Preceptor, Lock Hospital. At- well's Sacred Harmony. Harmonia Sacra. Instrumental Preceptor. Worcester's Christian Psalmody. Gamuts with and without blank staffs." We know the Williams press printed many of the above, and it shows how ex- tensive was his musical department, insti- gated by the presence of such a genius as Thomas Hastings in the community. DABOLL'S ARITHMETIC, Hastings & Tracy; Printed in William William's Printing Shop for Hastings & Tracy. Utica, 1831. 1832 ANTI-MASONIC ALMANAC For the Year 1832. Number V by Edward Giddings. Utica, William Williams 1832. 144 WILLIAM WILLIAMS THE NEW TESTAMENT of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Translated out of the Original Greek, and with the Former Trans- lations Diligently Compared and Revised. Utica, William Williams, 1832. School edition, i8mo. MUSICA SACRA or the Utica and Spring- field Collections United. By Thomas Hastings & Solomon Warriner. Utica, William Wil- liams, 1832. MURRAY'S ENGLISH READER by Lindley Murray v^^ith a Key by M. R. Bartlett. Stere- otyped BY A, Pell & Brother, New York City. Utica, William Williams, 1832. DABOLL'S ARITHMETIC: Printed by Has- tings & Tracy. Utica, 1832. Although his name does not appear this was printed in William Williams' shop as was the case with "Spiritual Songs" of 1833. SPIRITUAL SONGS For Social Worship. Part II BY Thomas Hastings. Utica, William Wil- liams, 1832. It was in this year that the cholera raged in Utica, and took off many of its best citizens. Among them were Mr. Talcott and William H. Maynard, both trustees of the Utica Free Academy. Colonel Williams was very active in his charitable 145 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER work amongst the sick-poor, and did a noble service for the city in improving its sanitary condition. Personal disaster com- menced to show itself as well, when Mr. Williams' agency for the Edinburgh En- cyclopedia of Philadelphia, for which he had been agent since 1814, failed. It had formerly been very remunerative, but evi- dently his collections were poor, and his failure in business, which came later, was largely due to this enterprise of the Ency- clopedia. Utica was incorporated as a city, with Joseph Kirkland as Mayor, in 1832. On November 5th, Colonel Wil- liams was in New York City on business, as shown from a letter written to his mother-in-law, dated from there. 1833 MUSICA SACRA or Utica and Springfield Collections United. By Thomas Hastings & Solomon Warriner. Utica, William Williams, 1833- THE ANTI-MASONIC ALMANAC for the 146 WILLIAM WILLIAMS Year 1833, by Edward Giddings. Utica, Pub- lished AND FOR Sale by William Williams, 1833. THE SUBSTANCE OF AN ADDRESS in Favor OF Temperance Societies Delivered at Rome, New York, February 26th, 1833, by George W. Bethune, of Utica. William Williams, 1833. SPIRITUAL SONGS for Social Worship, Vol- ume I, 1831, Volume II, 1832 United in One Vol- ume. By Thomas Hastings. Utica, Hastings &c Tracy. William Williams, Printer, 1833. THE NEW TESTAMENT in the Douai Ver- sion, Compiled by John Dubois, Bishop of New York. Utica, William Williams, 1833. THE MOTHER'S MAGAZINE. Volume I. Utica, William Williams, 1833. THE CHRISTIAN'S INSTRUCTER (sic) Con- taining A Summary, Explanation and Defence of the Doctrines and Duties of the Christian Religion, by Josiah Hopkins, A.M., Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Auburn, New York. Second Edition. "To the Law and to the Testimony." Isaiah. Auburn, H. Ivison & Com- pany. New York, N. & J. White, Jonathan Leavitt. Utica, William Williams. Gardiner Tracy, 1833. William Williams, Printer, Utica. 313 pp. Small 8vo. First Auburn edition was 1831 by H. Ivison, Auburn, New York. First edition was probably 1825, New Haven, as auth- or's preface is dated, New Haven, October 13, 1825. This year the Elucidator was edited by Samuel P. Lyman, Attorney-at-law. H7 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER On March 26, 1833, Colonel Williams married Catherine Huntington of Rome, New York, daughter of Henry Hunt- ington. There were two sons by this marriage. The Anti-Masonic party dissolved this year and became "Whig." There appeared this year "Obigue, a spelling book de- signed for the use of native learners (illustrated) by E. James, Utica. Printed by G. Tracy. 1833." 500 copies printed. 1834 THE MOTHER'S MAGAZINE, Volume H. Utica, William Williams, 1834. FLUTE MELODIES by E. Leach. Published AND Printed by William Williams, Utica, 1834. MUSICA SACRA, or the Utica and Spring- field Collections United. By Thomas Hastings and Solomon Warriner. Utica, William Wil- liams, 1834. OPINION OF HONORABLE ALFRED CONK- LING, District Judge of the United States for THE Northern District of New York, on a Mo- tion IN Behalf of the Tenant for a New Trial IN THE Case of Martha Bradstreet versus Henry Huntington. Delivered at the May Term of the Court in 1834. Press of William Williams in MDCCCXXXIV, with a Rec^uest FOR Publication Signed by John C. Spencer, Samuel Beardsley, C. P. Kirkland, W. C. Noyes, B. F. Cooper, Charles A, Mann, E. A. Wetmore, Ethan B. Allen, J. H. Ostrom, J. A. Spencer, S. D. Dakin, Willard Crofts, T. R. Walker, John Bradish, Ward Hunt, August 28, 1834. 148 WILLIAM WILLIAMS THE MOTHER'S HYMN BOOK. Utica, Wil- liam Williams, 1834, THE INFANT MINSTREL. Utica, William Williams, 1834. THE UNION MINSTREL. Utica, William Williams, 1834. THE MOTHER'S NURSERY SONGS. Utica, William Williams, 1834, In January, 1834, the EluciJator advertised 3,000 copies of Irving's "Columbus" for sale by William Williams. March 22nd, appeared the notice of a new paper in New York, The New Torker by H. Greely & Company. April 1st, S. Wells Williams sent tracts printed in Chinese for friends in Utica. February i8th appeared the last number of the Elucida- tor bearing the name of W. Williams as proprietor. In May i834theCity Library was mentioned as flourishing. On March 25, 1834, a notice appeared in the Elucidatory [the anti-Masonic paper which had been run at a loss], of the Sheriff's sale of the stock of William Wil- liams, to take place April 15, 1834. Notice signed S. M. Mott, Sheriff. N. S. Metcalf, Deputy. A catalogue of all his books and stock was printed for it. An adjourned sale of remains with second printed catalogue was set for May 12,18 34. 149 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER On May 20th, was issued Volume I, Number I, of the Orieida Whigy which was the continuation of the Sentinel and Gazette combined with the Elucidator. "E. Northrup, Jr., Printer and Publisher." The failure of the publishing house oc- curred this year, and was brought on by the failure to collect the subscriptions to the Edinburgh Encyclopedia, and the nonpayment of notes which Mr. Williams had endorsed for business friends. In a letter by him of February 17, 1840, he says : " I was confident all my real estate should be sold at once, and that, too, in 1834, but I was over-ruled. The taxes ever since, and interest accounts, have been accumulating on about $ i 5,000, and no income except about $40.00 per annum on two small lots east of the Basin. The execution of $5,000 in favor of Charles Kirkland is the most favorable thing that has happened under the assignment, as it has brought a quietus, and I am a happy 150 WILLIAM WILLIAMS man to what I have been in the last six years." His creditors saw fit to run the estab- lishment under his name until 1840, ex- pecting to pay the creditors from what they realized, but it ran behind every year and, as might be expected from a man of Mr. Williams' conscientious nature, no one worried over it more than he. He was retained by them to run the office until 1836, when he moved with his family to Tonawanda, Erie County, New York; but he made frequent trips back to Utica to help straighten matters out, as appears from extracts from his later correspondence, such as : " In i 8 3 8 I was in Utica in July, weighing type, &c., for taking stock." 1835 THE MUSICAL MAGAZINE, 2 Volumes. Ut- ica. William Williams, 1835. THE MOTHER'S MAGAZINE. Utica, Wil- liam Williams, 1835. THE NEW TESTAMENT in the Douai Ver- sioN. Compiled by John Dubois, Bishop of New York. Utica, William Williams, 1835. 151 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER The " Historical Catechism," eighth edition pubhshed by Henry Tuttle and printed by EH Maynard this year, states that, in i794,Utica had twenty families; in 1813, 1,300 people; in 1820, 2,972 ; and in 1835,10,000 inhabitants. Growth due chiefly to the Erie Canal. An anti-slavery Society was formed in Utica on October 2 1 St. Mr. Asahel Seward, his old partner, died. 1836 THE MOTHER'S MAGAZINE. Utica, Wil- liam Williams, 1836. THE HISTORY OF JOSEPH,and His Breth- ren. In the Choctaw Language, by John Dukes. Reprint of the 183 i Edition. Utica, William Williams, 1836. MURRAY'S ENGLISH READER, by Lindley Murray. Key by W. R. Bartlett. Utica, Wil- liam Williams, 1836. MURRAY'S ENGLISH GRAMMAR by Lind- ley Murray. Utica, William Williams, 1836. DIRECTIONS FOR BOOK-KEEPING by Levi Harris. Utica, William Williams, 1836. MUSICA SACRA, or the Utica and Spring- field Collections United by Thomas Hastings & Solomon Warriner, Tenth Edition. Utica, William Williams, 1836. DABOLL'S ARITHMETIC. Utica, William Williams, 1836. THE FARMER'S ALMANAC for 1837. Pub- lished BY IVISON & PhINNEY, CoOPERSTOWN. Printed by William Williams. 152 WILLIAM WILLIAMS It was this year that Colonel Williams moved with his family to Tonawanda, as shown by his son Robert's dismissal from the Sunday School, dated June 26, 1836; and in a letter written by him, October 6, 1836, he mentions his sons John and Robert, with his wife Catherine, having returned home to Tonawanda with him that year. Mr. Ellis H. Roberts, late United States Treasurer, who entered the printing office this year, writes under date of April 28, 1904 : " I was doubtless the last person taken into the employment of your grandfather's printing office, at 60 Genesee Street, Utica, New York. This was in 1836, when I was nine years old. A book-store, in which business was not vigorously pressed, occu- pied the ground floor of the building, and a bindery the first floor above, while the printing office was in the next or third story. My oldest brother, Robert W., was the foreman, and two other men were 153 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER employed. One hand press was kept fairly busy in turning out the sheets of 'Daboll's Arithmetic' from stereotype plates which had seen their best days. *Ivison and Phin- ney's Almanac' was also printed there from plates in that year, and job printing was done as orders came in. My own tasks were to push a hand roller over the forms on the press ; and, to reach the handle, a box of considerable size was necessary to lift me to the required level. Incidentally I washed the rollers, and as I remember well, carried wood and water up the high stairs. "Your grandfather came to the office occasionally, not frequently. He appears to me now as a venerable gentleman — what his years were I do not recall — con- siderate and kindly. It happened that in an interval of work, Mr. Williams found me reading Cooper's * Lionel Lincoln,' doubtless lent to me from the store. He questioned me of my estimate of the char- 154 WILLIAM WILLIAMS acters, encouraged me to read good books, saying that this story was a good lesson in patriotism, but some other of Cooper's works were of higher merit and more en- joyable. That is the chief incident, to a lad of ten, which he has carried in his memory for nearly half a century of a man with whom his start in life was connected. He was the foremost man that it had been my good fortune up to that time to have speech with. Of course I looked up to him from a far distance, but no other figure of that period outside of my own family remains so distinctly with me." 1837 DISCOURSES ON THE TEMPTATIONS OF CHRIST. By Seth Williston, Author of the Harmony of Divine Truth. "For, in that He Himself Hath Suffered Being Tempted, He is Able to Succor Them that Are Tempted." Utica. Press of William Williams, 1837. 152 pp. i8mo. GRAMMATICAL INSTRUCTOR or Common School Grammar, by Oliver B. Pierce. Print- ed BY William Williams, 1837. 155 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER COMMON SCHOOL GRAMMAR in Minia- ture. One large folio sheet, printed on one side only and not bound in the "Grammatical Instructor." No name or date, but William Williams, Utica, 1837. 1838 MEMOIRS OF MRS. ANN B. POWELL, Con- taining A Short Account of Her Life and Death. Utica, Press of William Williams, 1838. Small 8vo, 69 pp. MUSICA SACRA, or Utica and Springfield Collections United by Thomas Hastings and Solomon Warriner. Utica, William Williams, 1838. Mr. Williams, who now acted merely in the capacity of superintendent, spent some time in Utica during this year, clos- ing out the book store and printing house, all of which was finally disposed of in i 840. Mr. James Watson Williams, of Utica, in an address January 3 i, 1868, at the open- ing of the new Academy building, says: "In 1838, Dr. Charles Coventry was elected to succeed William Williams, who had removed from the city. Mr. Williams long survived this date (he died 1 850), but 156 WILLIAM WILLIAMS did not appear any more in the manage- ment of the Academy. ** Mr. Hubbard and he were both worthy of being commemorated as gentlemen of good name and high standing, and of that character to give fair repute to whatever they were associated with. Mr. Williams was, in his day, one of the most active and liberal men in the community, engaged in all enterprises of local interest, educational, political and religious. His personal ap- pearance was very prepossessing, and he was a man of attractive and popular man- ners. His later years were clouded by adversity and infirmity, partly the result of an over-activity and enterprise." Mr. James Watson Williams served with him on the Academy Board of Trustees for the last two years of Mr. William Wil- liams' term. Mr. Loring S. Williams re- turned from his missionary work among the Choctaw Indians this year. There was printed this year from another press : "Notice of Men and Events Connected with the Early History of AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER Oneida County. Two lectures delivered before the Young Men's Association of the City of Utica. By William Tracy. Published at the request of the Association, Utica. E. Northway, Jr., Printer, Ii6 Genesee Street, 1838." November 16, 1838, a letter from Colonel Williams from Tonawanda says, "I visited Buffalo for four days as one of the Supervisors of Erie County. At that time I tried to get James [his son] into the Daily Commerctal Advertiser office, published by Salsburg & Manchester." Later, he adds, "Several of my former apprentices have been very success- ful in Ohio." April 5, 1839 he says, "Jim and I keep bachelor's hall in a small way. He milks the cows, makes the beds, feeds the pigs and such like. Mr. Huntington \his wife's father] is soon to send two families from Rome, one to take the St. John house where we now are. When their families arrive we expect to be dismissed." On July 6, 1839 Mr. Williams writes from Tonawanda, "I was in Buffalo a few days ago. There is no light on my path except the perfect silence of my friends in Utica. John is taken into Mr. Clarke's family and Sophia may go to Cuba, Alleghany County, New York. In early life I was troubled by heavy losses, mostly by endorsing. " May 24, 1841, he spoke of going to Rome in a few weeks by the way of Cuba, New York, where he will stay three weeks. He also wrote, "I now pay C. F. Williams $2.00 per week board and am very comfortably taken care of. I work his garden as a matter of recreation and I hunt and fish. I have no money worth naming and have friends who have dared to advance me money to go to Rome with; but Tonawanda is the place for me, and I am quite contented." It was in 1841 that Mr. Williams was the victim of a severe accident, having been thrown from the top of a stage coach, striking on his head, which, added to his 158 WILLIAM WILLIAMS financial troubles, affected his mind so that he was not fully recovered before his death, which occurred in Utica, June 10,1850. His wife's father, Henry Huntington, in his will dated May 27, 1842, says: " Sixthly. William Williams, the husband of my daughter Catherine Williams, is laboring under some pecuniary embarrass- ments ; and I have judged it to be most considerate to the comforts of my daughter and her family, so to dispose of the one of the said five shares of the said residue of my estate, as that the same share in no event be subjected to the control of the said William Williams." His declining years were saddened not only by adversity financially, but by men- tal incapacity due to this accident. His work had been done and his influence had been beneficial to the community. He returned to Utica about i 846, and died at his home, 48 Broad Street, June 10, 1850. A brass tablet put up by his son, Robert S. 159 AN ONEIDA COUNTY PRINTER Williams, at the right of the pulpit in the First Presbyterian Church in Utica, bears the following inscription : IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM WILLIAMS 1787 1850 ONE OF THE FOUNDERS AND ORIGINAL ELDERS OF THIS CHURCH, FIRST SUPER- INTENDENT OF ITS SUNDAY SCHOOL, AMONG THE FOREMOST IN DEVOTION TO ITS WELFARE AND THE EXTEN- SION OF ITS INFLUENCE, AN EXEM- PLARY CHRISTIAN, AN AFFECTIONATE FRIEND, A LOYAL CITIZEN, HE SPENT HIS ACTIVE LIFE IN DOING GOOD. APPENDIX APPENDIX I IN 1758 General John Stanwix, who had come to North America that year as Colonel of the First Batallion, 60th Royal Ameri- cans, was sent by General Abercrombie, follow- ing his defeat at Ticonderoga, to build a fort on the site of Old Fort Williams, named from Cap- tain William Williams of Sir William Pepper- ill's regiment, who had been in command of the fort a short time. It had cost 1266,400, but was in ruins when the Revolution broke out. In 1776 it was repaired by General Day- ton and called Fort Schuyler (after General Phillip Schuyler), but as Old Fort Schuyler was only twenty miles distance at the present site of Utica the name was not a popular one and usually went by the name of Fort Stanwix, ex- cept in official documents during the war. Old Fort Schuyler had been built earlier and was the station of General Gansevort with the Third 163 APPENDIX New York Continentals, At this time all the territory West of Schenectady was called by the general name of Tyron County, but in 1784 was changed to Montgomery County. Ontario County was cut off West of Seneca in 1789, and two years later Tioga. Otsego and Herki- mer were still further subdivisions. It was not until 1798 that Oneida was made out of a part of Herkimer, and later St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis and Oswego were cut off from Oneida. APPENDIX II ONE of the brethren left at home, termed the New England Colonists in a book called " Ward's Simple Cob- bler : " "A colony of wild opinionists swarmed into a remote wilderness to find elbow room for their fanatic doctrines and practices." John Camden Hotten in his " Early Emi- grants to America," New York, 1 874, page 200, states: "In the register of persons of quality preserved at Somerset House, London, can be found one of the Passenger Lists on the John and Dorothy, Captain William Andrews, which set sail from Ipswich, April 8th, 1637. Robert WilliamSjof Norwich, in Norfolk County; Cord- wyner (cobbler), aged 28 years, and Elizabeth 164 APPENDIX Stalham, his wife, with four children, Samuel, John, Elizabeth, Debra (sic) ; Mary Williams, aged 1 8 years; Annie Williams, aged i 5 years ; New England to inhabitt (sic)." Some few parts of the document are eaten away by age. On May 2, 1638, Robert Williams with the same family, and two servants (Mary and Annie) appeared as freeman, settled in Roxbury, Nor- folk County, New England. Among the other fellow passengers on the boat are given : Nicholas Busbie (or Busby), Weaver, Norwich; Michael Metcalfe, Weaver, Norwich ; John Pers, Weaver, Norwich ; Will- iam Nickerson, Weaver, Norwich ; John Baker, Grocer; Thomas Paine, William Thomas and about 35 others. To find the immediate cause of their embarkation refer to " The Antipathie of the English Lordly Prelacy," by William Prynne, Esq., Utter Barrister of Lincoln's Inn, London, 1641, Second Part, page 271. "That during the time of Matthew Wren (father of Sir Christopher Wren) being Bishop of Norwich, by reason of the continual super- stitions, bowing to and afore the table set altar- wise; the suspending, silencing, driving away of the painful preaching ministers ; suppressing and forbidding of sermons, prayer, and putting down the lecturer ; the suppressing the means 165 APPENDIX of knowledge and salvation and introducing ignorance, superstition and prophaness, many of his Majestie's subjects, to the number of 3,000, many of which used trades, namely: Daniel Sunning, Michael Metcalf, John Berant, Nich- olas Metcalf, John Derant, Busby and others [some of them setting one hundred poor peo- ple to work], have removed themselves, their families and estates into Holland and other parts beyond the seas." Upon examination we find the name of Michael Metcalf and Mr. Busby upon both lists, which allows the natural inference that Robert Williams, too, was one who " removed beyond the seas" with his family on account of the prelatical abuses of Bishop Wren in the com- munity where he lived. His father, Stephen, was a cobbler in Great Yarmouth, the seaport of Norwich. In Ellis' History of Roxbury, 1847, Robert Williams appears upon the re- cords, both in 1647 and 1653, as one of the five select men of Roxbury. He donates four shil- lings to the Free School upon the list of sub- scribers, and in 1668, the Foeffs, William Parks and Robert Williams engage Mr. Prudden to teach in the school. In 1690 when John Eliot had died, to whose church Robert Williams be- longed, the list of donations given by houses, ac- 166 APPENDIX cording to former owners appears : " Robert Williams (now Stevens) two shillings." APPENDIX III BARRY'S History of Framingham, 1847. Page 440. "Thomas Williams and his wife, Susanna, admitted to the church from Roxbury, 1782, and had in Framingham, according to the church records: I. Thomas, born June 4th, 1782; II. Patty (Martha), born June 1st, 1785; III. "Billy," born October i2th, 1787. Thomas Williams and his family moved to Whitestown, New York State, May i ith, 1790. David Kellogg, of Amhurst, Mass., was in- stalled pastor at Framingham Church, January loth, 178 1, and was the one who baptised the children." APPENDIX IV COPY of a letter written by William Williams to his sister Martha: "Dear Sister: I have performed the most solemn and most important trans- action that ' a worm of the dust ' can per- form in this world. No act whatever that I can hereafter perform will be in itself so important. 167 APPENDIX I have, before God, and in presence of Angels and men, avouched the Lord to be my God, and have been received into the communion of Christ's visible church. Oh ! how easy a mat- ter to be a member of the Church on earth ! We have only to pass the examination of men, who cannot know the heart. God only knows that. We can deceive creatures like ourselves; but the Almighty we cannot deceive. How careful should we be then that we do not de- ceive ourselves, or that Satan does not deceive our souls. God in his mercy has been pleased to give us a rule, even his own word, whereby we may examine and know ourselves. If we neglect to do this, the guilt is on our own heads. " I hope I have been faithful in the examina- tion of my wicked and deceitful heart. I think I am willing to give up all for an interest in Christ It's into His hands, I trust, I have com- mitted myself; and all that I am relying upon is the merits of his atonement for my salvation. " And this I know, that if I am deceived in the hope I have and am finally lost in endless ruin, God will be just in my damnation ; for I have broken his law which is perfectly just and holy ; and have forfeited all claim to his mercy ; and that he has a sovereign right to have mercy on whom he will have mercy. His Grace is free i68 APPENDIX and unmerited, and I have no claim to his par- doning goodness. I feel a greater desire to live wholly to God than I have ever before done ; to live a holy life because holiness is lovely; be- cause it is pleasing in the light of a Holy God. I feel conscious of having discharged my duty, for how could I live with the hope that I had ex- perienced the pardoning grace of God and not make humble and public profession of it ! How could I read these words of my Lord and Mas- ter (' he that is ashamed to acknowledge me be- fore men of him will I,' etc. See Mark viii 38). I think that I am not ashamed of Christ and his religion, but I have abundant reason to be ashamed of myself. * But let a man exam- ine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup.* * For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damna- tion to himself not discerning the Lord's body.' "Sister, excuse me to brother John — I have quite neglected him in not writing him this long ago. I have not forgot him though; I think of him frequently and of his soul's welfare of which I hope he is not unconcerned ; for his soul is worth more than the whole world. Tell him to think of these things, to think of them seri- ously before it is too late — forever too late. Tell him the arm of the Lord is not shortened i6q APPENDIX that he cannot save, nor his goodness exhausted that he cannot have mercy. Tell him, I beseech you, that Christ died for sinners, and that He pardons all that are truly penitent, ' those that come unto him he will in no wise cast out;' and that he sees those that are cominof afar off. Be mindful of sister Laura. She is young, to be sure ; but she is old enough to know the Lord. Remember me to my dear parents. I hope they still receive all needful supplies of grace from that Lord who giveth liberally and upbraideth not. I am your affectionate brother, William. To Martha Williams, Utica, July ii, 1808. c APPENDIX V OPY of a dairy kept by William Wil- liams on a trip by stage-coach to New Flaven, Conn. March, 18 10. THIS MY JOURNEY UP TO TOWN, ETC. March i6th, 18 10. Left Utica at 7 a. m. Snow at least 4 inches deep, and very cold and blustering. In every situation we are placed however 170 APPENDIX barren of speculation it may appear ; however destitute of novelty, or however void of amuse- ment, there may be some useful instruction col- lected by the industrious mind, as the diligent hand will gather many flowers from an appar- ently barren soil. For instance, a seat in an empty stage, or rather I should say a stage stuffed with trunks, ban-boxes, mail bags, etc.; to be crammed in with all this loose stuff, tossed from one side of the carriage to the other as you thrash along over the frozen ground, would not be a situation for reflection or useful meditation. To be sure this is not exactly my case, but it comes within one of it. If kind fortune had not thrown Miss T into the stage just at this time, which was as unexpected as to have had Jupiter drop a Goddess from high Olympus, my situation would have been exactly what I could not have wished. As fond as I am of solitude I should not like to have been alone among so much rubbish — " misery loves company ! " It is possible I have deceived myself, but it is by no means probable in this, that I have formed so favora- ble an opinion of my fair companion in distress. She has evidently lightened the load of distress. She is far from being handsome as well as my- self, but then she is agreeable, inasmuch as that 171 APPENDIX she is instructive, and at the same time pleasant and easy in her manner. A good beginning is a good thing; so I was determined before we had proceeded one mile to perform an act of benevolence. Our driver, in his haste to start, had left his mittings be- hind ; observing him to be somewhat uneasy respecting the state of his hands, which were as red as a goose's pad, I pulled off my gloves and gave them to him, and have done my best to keep my own hands from freezing by turning down the cuffs of my coat. (Thus the first day. Put up at the half-way-house from Albany, Mr. Shepards. I now experience the difficulty of writing when and where there is a house full of noisy travellers.) REFLECTIONS How much easier it is to write nonsense than wit, especially where there is nothing else but follv about you. March 17th, 18 10. The weather has not moderated, but it has ceased snowing. Wind still in the N. W., and blows a gale constantly. Our stage broke down in a fortunate mo- ment. A few rods before we descended a steep hill a number of loaded wagons passed; the driver of the last one cried out, " Stop for 172 APPENDIX heaven's sake, your king-bolt is broken." Be- fore the horses could be stopped the carriage body slid against one of the fore wheels and shivered the spokes in such a manner as to ruin the wheel. Had it not been for this timely dis- covery, in all probability, we should at least have been sadly flurried. There appeared in the eyes of those who are fond of the marvel- ous a kind of fatality attached to this spot; it being directly opposite that place in the river where Esqr. Van Eps was drowned only a few days since. Not having heard the particulars of this accident before I left home I was much interested by the recital of it by one of our pas- sengers. " Van Eps, his son, and one other gentleman were crossing the Mohawk, near where a small creek empties into it. The ice was not sufficiently strong to bear them, they all went in together. The son of Van Eps was a good swimmer, knowing his father could not help himself he grasped him immediately, cau- tioning him at the same time not to be frigh- tened for he could save him." Ah! the arm of man is too short and weak to help when God withholds his aid ! " The boy swam with his father to the edge of the ice, and helped him up, but the moment he had got upon his knees so as to crawl to a place of greater safety the n3 APPENDIX ice gave way for yards around him. The son again caught his father the moment he arose to the surface of the water, carried him to another place where he hoped the ice would support him, as the third person (the gentleman we have before mentioned as having broken in with them) had saved himself by crawling up on the ice there. But this fond hope was soon blasted, as he was lifting his parent out of his watery grave his strength failed him, his father slipped back, and being directly on the edge, the current took him under the sound ice, and his body has never been found. The son was so far exhausted as not to be able to extri- cate himself, but with the timely assistance of his friend his life was saved." This melancholly event happened in a dark night. The next morning the whole country round about Caughnawaga, in which place the accident hap- pened, were assembled to make search for the lost body. The ice in the river was cut up for a great distance below where Van Eps fell in ; canons were fired on the ice with a hope of rais- ing the body, but all in vain. Two or three girls who have made preten- tions of being able to see and tell where any- thing is, on this occasion had a fair trial of their ability. There was about 500 people present 174 APPENDIX when these wonders of the age went upon the ice with great ceremony, who were earnestly looking for a miracle wrought. After looking through the magic glass they went to a very favorable spot (an eddy), pronounced to the friends of the deceased, "there the man lies, with his arms folded." The ice was soon cut away, but as strange as it may appear no man could be found. Resort was now made to stratagem ; the girls declared the body has risen and floated to such a place, they again de- clared very minutely the posture in which it laid. The people willing to be deceived fell to cutting the ice in the new place : but on their not finding any signs of a man, some of the more scrupulous Dutchmen began to suspect "prophets." However they were able to lead many around in this manner for the most of the day. A thousand were thus undeceived." It was past five o'clock before we arrived in Schenectady. Miss T. left us at this place. She is a Dutch lady, but not the less agreeable on that account. We were informed by her that she had spent some years in Connecticut, and I verily believe she was made a Yank in that time. She is a professed Christian and carries her religion wherever she goes. Piety makes amends for everything else ; for without 175 APPENDIX it beauty appears but to please the eye, it will not interest the heart or improve the mind. Any person who has seen the city of Schen- ectady will not care to hear anything about it. A little before lo o'clock we arrived in Al- bany. Put up at Duns* " original stage office " in No. 7 Green street. Enquired for Judge Ostrom, who had the politeness to invite me into the room occupied by the members from Oneida and Jefferson counties, and introduced me to those with whom I was not acquainted. Ten members of the legislature, in all, board at this house. March i 8th. This is the Lord's Day, yet how far from keeping it holy, how far from serving God with all my soul and all my might! True^ 1 have attended upon the service of his Courts, but my heart has been far from Him. Being in a strange place is not a sufficient excuse for allowing the thoughts to wander from the ser- vice of my God. The members of the legislature mostly at- tend meetings at the New Dutch Church, that is, of those who attend meeting at all. The corporation of Albany have two large pews in this house which the members of the legislature occupy; on account of being furnished with a seat I went to meeting at this church with the 176 APPENDIX members of the legislature. The Reverend Brad- ford preached in this house. He appears to be a man of talents and piety. At 6 o'clock in the evening the Rev. Mr. Niell preached a charity sermon, and a collection of $113 was made notwithstanding four sermons of that kind had been delivered this last winter and collec- tions made. As I had calculated to go on to Hudson in the morning, I attempted doing what business I have the charge of in this city ; but the peo- ple refused to open their shops. I was pleased with this. March 19th. The weather is very mild this morn. Have been to the Capitol, or State House. I am not a little surprised that this building was erected where it is. A few rods back of where it stands the ground is much higher and site more pleasant; it now looks too much squatted. The ground continuing to rise beyond the edifice has an unfavorable ef- fect when you view it from down State street. It made me feel quite unpleasant when I fancied how different the effect would have been if the public had stuck it 100 yards further up the hill. Croswell was in my opinion correct when he compared Justice, as seen from the lower end 177 APPENDIX of State street, to a butcher weighing meat. A near view is much the more favorable, although the joints in the marble columns appear. It would be difficult for me to describe the richness and magnificence of this pile. " Whatever adorns the princely dome, the columns, and the arch," belongs to this noble edifice. The floor is of marble, white and clouded, cut and laid in a favorable taste. After going over different parts of the build- ing, I attended prayers in the House of Assem- bly. The formalities of opening business hav- ing been passed through, the subject of the " School Funds " was agitated ; but no inter- esting debate taking place I withdrew. Having letters for General Piatt I went into the Senate to deliver them. There was no de- bating in the Senate. This day a Mr. Backus, of New York, a re- lation of Joseph Kirkland, Esq., of Oneida, came before the Council of Appointment, pray- ing he might be reinstated auctioneer in the city of New York, from which office he had lately been removed. The old gentleman excited pity in most every breast, but whether the council will see fit to reinstate him is a matter of mere conjecture. He represented his situation as distressing, " he was old; had an expensive 178 APPENDIX family that looked up to him for their daily bread; that he had not the ability of entering into any business which would support him ; that he had long been auctioneer, and that he hoped the council would see fit to reinstate him." Ah ! where has this man's republican spirit fled ? Before I could prostrate myself at the feet of the Council of Appointment I should see what virtue there was in dying. This man is now under the necessity of denying his Democratic friends, and, what is worse, begs assistance from his political enemies ; for the sincerity of these political conversions is doubted by me. Spent an hour or two this day in examining the city. There are more good buildings in Albany than I was aware of Next to the Capitol, in point ofelegance, is the Albany Bank. The stone work of this building is grand, and reflects great credit upon Hooker's taste. The New-Dutch, St. Peters, and the unfin- ished Stone Dutch Church, the Presbyterian meeting house, although large and built of brick, do not discover much beauty. Some of the dwelling houses are very handsome and spacious. The old Dutch houses are shameful. The streets generally are crooked and narrow. In the principal streets the sidewalks are good, being made of flat stones, and kept pretty clean. 179 APPENDIX The police regulations of this city are not very good, so far as I know anything about them. The inhabitants of Albany have been repre- sented to me as inhospitable and impolite. I have had the good fortune to fall among a peo- ple of quite a different character. True, I did not put up among the Albanians, although I took lodging in Albany. Dunn boards about 1 6 members, who are a family separate from the travelling customers. When I determined staying in Albany until Wednesday, Mr. Bron- son, Mr. Stors, and Judge Ostrom, invited me into the legislative family, where I have been very politely treated, indeed. And the citizens of Albany, so far as I had anything to do with them, have used me with kindness and atten- tion. Mr. Backus, and Mr. Hosford in parti- cular, have treated me with every civility I could expect from gentlemen. I have spent some time very agreeably in the families of Mr. Eights and Mr. Whipple, also a few mo- ments at Mr. Bleeker's. It is very possible, however, that if I had had the misfortune to have become acquainted with some unpleasant characters, for no place is destitute, I should have left Albany as much displeased as others have. And I think this a fair way to account for the different opinions of different persons 1 80 APPENDIX respecting the same places. The same may be said with propriety respecting individual char- acters ; for we seldom find a person who is al- ways pleasant and agreeable, and if we chance to become acquainted with him when in a sour mood, he will not treat us with that kindness which is natural to his character; but it will be from this incorrect source that we collect our opinion. March 20th. Went again to the Capitol this morning. A memorial was received by the House of Assembly from the citizens of Balti- more, praying for permission to sell tickets in this State of a lottery, granted by the Legisla- ture of Maryland, to raise money to erect a monument in memory of Washington. There were some spirited remarks offered in favor of granting the request, but was lost by a large majority. Walked up to what is called the Colonee,but saw nothing worth noticing. Nothing is so pleasing as the society of the good and virtuous ; their conversation is calcu- lated to instruct as well as to amuse. If accident should ever again detain me in Albany I should not complain. But I leave the city with the greatest pleasure, and that too on account of being so well satisfied with 181 APPENDIX my stay here. This is a good and sufficient reason. March 2ist. At 2 o'clock this morning the stage driver cried, " away ! away ! " As soon as we had left Albany behind us, I observed to my friend and companion in misfortune, Mr. Aus- tin, that it was probable we should have a dis- agreeable time of it. But I little thought of be- ing doomed to such a severe trial of my patience. Our horses had been driven 62 miles the day before ; this was as foolish as it was inhuman for it almost killed the poor beasts. Our driver had not been to bed ; the stage was almost filled by a large bag of wool, etc., etc. We had not proceeded two miles before the driver was fast asleep upon his seat; and from this time until we arrived in Athens, 30 miles from Al- bany, we were obliged to kick, push, and halloo to him every few minutes in order to kept him awake; and even with all our attention he, a number of times, fell into the carriage ; for we, from motives of safety, had requested him to sit within the stage. His horses were as sleepy as himself. It was almost impossible to make them go out of a slow walk. As soon as it was light Mr. Austin and myself left the stage and walked sometime ; but finding the driver would get to sleep, and the horses, thinking them- 182 APPENDIX selves entitled to the same privileges (and cer- tainly we did not find a disposition in our hearts to dispute their claims) would stop, and in one instance an old blind horse laid down in the mud, and we returned to the stage. This af- fair afforded us much sport ; we concluded the old blind horse did this to let us know he was enjoying the same refreshments the rest of the team was. Indeed, he had no other method whereby he could manifest it, for his eyes were forever closed. About 3 o'clock P. M. a most splendid pros- pect presented itself. We had ascended a hill of considerable height from which we had a most beautiful view of the Katskill mountains ; the weather, where we were, was pleasant, the sun shining bright; on the side of the mountains we could see a snow storm ; the sun reflecting upon the clouds had a grand effect. This compen- sated us for all our toils and troubles. It was about 5 o'clock when we arrived in Athens_, a small town on the North river, op- posite Hudson. Soon after we had put up, as we supposed for the night, a Mr. Boyd, of Al- bany, invited us down to the dock to see a new sloop he had been building, and which was in complete readiness for sailing; the steamboat appearing in sight the captain of the sloop said 183 APPENDIX if we were disposed to take a sail down to Katskill, 6 miles, he would clear ship and give the steamboat a chase. We assented, and by the time the boat was opposite us in the chan- nel we hoisted sail. This was all novelty to me, but as it happened the sailors did not discover it. In 24 minutes from the hoisting of the sails we were at the dock at Katskill, the steamboat being 3 minutes behind. Nothing could have pleased the captain more, and he was by no means bashful in informing the boat on this subject when she came up. The distance from the dock to the village of Katskill is more than half a mile. This place is situated like many other places very unfavorably. It is in a cramp- ed valley out of sight. You cannot see it, either from the river or country round about. But it is the inhabitants that make any place pleasant, particularly Katskill. Mr. Donnelly's family, where we put up for the night, are Connecticut folks ; and that appears to express their hospi- tality and goodness. From the moment I set my foot inside of Mr. Donnelly's door I was as happy as a prince. An old gentleman, father of Mrs. D., and a Christian, I believe, if Christianity consists in love towards a crucified Savior and benevolence towards mankind. We spent most of the even- 184 APPENDIX ing in conversation about Christ's kingdom. How uncommon is this conversation in the gen- erality of taverns. Here also I had the pleasure of seeing a young gentleman whom I saw about 3 years ago in Utica. He is in the profession of the law at this village. Not having heard from the coun- try lately he was gratified in finding me able to answer many questions he asked respecting his acquaintance in Utica and Whitestown. To say I happened here by chance would be to say an event could take place without the direc- tion of heaven. Notwithstanding, there appears to be something we cannot account for attend- ing these occurrences. The evening has been completely the reverse of the morning. Seldom have I, if ever, experienced so great a diversity of feeling in one day. We relish our food the best when our appetites are the sharpest. So it is with our other enjoyments, we must have appetites to make them relish well. March 22nd. The old gentleman, Mrs. D.'s father, told me this morning that he thought much upon our last evening's conversation, af- ter he went to bed. He and the rest of the family urged me hard to call upon them if ever I came that way and could possibly make it convenient. To which I agreed, and took 185 APPENDIX leave. Came into the city of Hudson about 2 o'clock P. M., put up at Norton's Inn. Hud- son is pleasantly situated on ground that rises gradually from the river. The buildings are mostly of wood. This is one of the most flour- ishing towns on the North river; it has had a very rapid growth. March 23rd. At 8 o'clock A. M. the stage left Hudson for Hartford. Nine passengers crowded into a small carriage with only two seats. March 24th. Arrived in the City of Hartford at 7 o'clock P. M. in good spirits, having had a pleasant day and good travelling, for the sea- son. Until we came within about six miles of Hartford the country was extremely stony and mountainous. I cannot conceive how the farmer can raise a crop of grain where he has nothing but rocks to sow his seed upon. The last six miles of our day's ride we came through the most delightful country I ever saw, the soil appeared to be extremely fertile and well culti- vated. I observed in a number of the fields, where there was corn planted last year, that the hills were almost as near again to each other as what is common among our New York farmers. March 25th. Went this morning to hear Dr. Strong preach ; but was disappointed. The 186 APPENDIX Rev. Mr. Chester preached in his pulpit. This gentleman gave an excellent sermon. I was not a little surprised at not seeing more people at meeting; for really I had fancied seeing the Connecticut meeting houses crowded. In the afternoon I went to hear the Episco- pal minister, with whose preaching I was well pleased. At this church they have an organ, which, when performed on without being ac- companied with the voice, sounds well ; but the voice did not appear to harmonize with the in- strument. Had the pleasure of seeing Miss S. W. this evening. She is the only person I have seen in Hartford that I was acquainted with before my arrival here ; yet I felt myself as much at home as if I had been an old resident in this city. March 26th. This morning I awoke very early, and I make it a practice to get up as soon as I awake if it is daylight. On opening my window shutters I was astonished to see the ground covered with snow. The storm ap- peared to be from the N. E. At 9 o'clock A. M. the freemen of this city assembled to choose their city officers. I was pleased to see the order and regularity of this election. The New State House is the place where all business of this kind is transacted. 187 APPENDIX This building is by no means elegant. The first story is of free-stone ; the other two of brick. It is spacious and appears to be well built. The new brick meeting house is the hand- somest building I have seen in Hartford. The bridge across the Connecticut river is a grand one, made of wood, excepting the abut- ments, etc. The buildings in the city of Hart- ford are mostly built of wood; in good repair, although some of them are very old. The streets are wide and generally straight. Side- walks made with boards, and raised about 4 inches from the ground. The house lots are so deep that almost every inhabitant has a gar- den, etc. March 27th. It was near 10 o'clock this morning before the stage left Hartford for N. Haven. Eight passengers beside myself Oh ! I do hate to be crowded. What the Yankees will think of me I cannot tell. I have been as speechless this day as those philosophers who think it folly for a man to spend his time in talking. The fact was, the stage was so over- loaded with knowledge that it would have been dangerous for me to have added any to the burthen for fear the carriage would break down. In Connecticut the wheels of a carriage are set at so great a distance from the box or body APPENDIX that it is inconsistent to suppose one of their stages will support so heavy a load as a New York stage, with the wheels near home. There was at least four college-learnt men in this said Connecticut stage, which travels from the City of Hartford to the City of N. Haven ; that is, if all I have heard pass between them to-day be no exaggeration of facts. And wise men they must be, for they were able to pull John Mason, D.D., and other little folks all to pieces. But, if they have formed no worse opinion of me than I of them, I may think myself well off. It is astonishing what a difference there actually is in the manners and customs of these good peo- ple of Connecticut and those of New York. Many of those differences are much in the praise of the Connecticut folks. People here mind their own business, and wish (I doubt not) to have others mind theirs. We travelled from Hartford to N. Haven (40 miles) without meet- ing but one wagon, and not more than two or three persons on horseback. We could see many of the farmers engaged in sledding wood to their own houses ; there being snow enough in the fields to make a sled run toler- ably well. Whenever we stopped at a pub- lic house it was altogether probable we should find the good old landlady in the kitchen spin- 189 APPENDIX ning or doing housework ; the house, as still as their meeting houses are on a week day, not filled as the inns too frequently are in York State, with drunken politicians and the rabble. I like these steady habits. About lo o'clock we arrived in the city of New Haven. Mr. Butler, the gentleman with whom I have taken lodgings, appears to be a true Yankee ; which is to say, in other words, he is a hospitable landlord. March 28th. Spent the most of this day in company with my friends, Othniel Williams and E, Burchard, at their room in the college. In the afternoon they went with me to various parts of the city ; to the new burying ground, court or State house, etc., etc. On the whole, we concluded that New Haven city is the handsomest place in Connecticut in the pleasant seasons of the year. APPENDIX VI UTICA Patriot and Patrol, May 16, 1820, says: " Mr. Williams, one of the proprietors of this paper, accom- panied Dr. A.G. Hull to Baltimore for the pur- pose of inducing the citizens of Baltimore to unite in a petition to the Executive of Mary- 190 APPENDIX land. Mr. Williams made an appeal to them." From the Baltimore Morning Chronicle; " Laws are not only necessary to restrain and punish the violence of evil men ; but their operation is also salutary in giving a just direc- tion and control to the virtuous propensities of the good. Without such restraint the amiable and benevolent sympathies of the heart would sometimes mislead and betray us ; and under the power of an impulse, in itself praiseworthy, we might be guilty of violation of justice and mercy. The truth of such a sentiment is evinced by the excitement which a criminal transaction at first always produces in a community ; and in the sympathy which we delight to indulge for the suffering object of the crimes of a malefactor, we forget that that very malefactor may him- self possess a tenfold claim to our sorrowing commiseration. Were the execution of justice in the hands of a populace, composed (if such a case could occur) of none but the just and bene- volent ; and did not the laws of the land secure to the most guilty a patient investigation of their case, even the innocent would always be liable to perish in the ferment of a harsh and un- discerning popular indignation ; and the most sanguinary retribution would attend the mere suspicion of any degree of crime. 191 APPENDIX "We are led to these remarks by reflecting upon the feeling which everywhere prevailed upon the first discovery of the recent robbery of the mail and murder of the driver. The case was a dreadful one ; deplorable, atrocious, ag- gravated. Few, during the first hours of the discovery, would have lamented to hear that the perpetrators had been made the subject of an awful and immediate death. But let any indi- vidual, who may have been thus moved, look through the grating of one of the cells of our jail and behold one of these criminals in the per- son of a youth, intelligent, ardent, and not void of kindly affections, though shockingly mis- guided and guilty ; let them reflect upon him as a victim of a melancholy and gradual seduc- tion, passing by connected and almost insepar- able measures to the abyss of a crime ; let them see him not more loaded with irons than bur- dened with an agonizing consciousness of his guilt, and prostrated at the feet of a pious, af- fectionate and almost distracted father; let them hear his own words : * Father, guilty as I was I was not quite abandoned ;' let any one who may have yielded to a hasty indignation con- template this not an imaginary scene, and he will thank God that he is protected by the laws, not only from the violence of the wicked 192 APPENDIX but from the dangerous impulses even of his own naturally good feeling. "The writer of these remarks pretends not to deny a deep and dreadful participation on the part of Morris Hull in the late crime. The young man denied it not himself; and at the awful moment when his earthly destiny was about to be decided, and the aid of eloquent and powerful council was offered and urged at his father's request, he refused the plea of not guilty, stating that it was inconsistent with that honest and candid course of conduct which belonged to one conscious of sin. He is guilty and justly exposed to punishment. The questions now in discussion, and which seem to have attained a favorable issue in the minds of many, most judicious and reflecting, are first whether there be not a wide and important difference in the de- gree of guilt of the two persons concerned ; and, secondly, if such a difference exist, whether a corresponding difference should not be made in the nature of the punishment. We say in the nature of the punishment, because, with regard to the degree of it, multitudes would imagine that the commutation of death, which this most unhappy lad, no less than his father, prays and entreats (which is consignment to all the gloom and horror of perpetual and solitary imprison- 193 APPENDIX ment), would, in a degree, infinitely exceed the severity of instant death. We cannot presume to decide what would be our own feelings under similar circumstances ; and, therefore, surprise at the terror with which he regards a violent and ignominious death, should be suspended by commiseration for the lamentable alternative to which it would reconcile him. " The facts which mark the difference in the degree of his guilt are briefly these : Having become acquainted at a boarding house in New York with Hutton, a man thoroughly experi- enced in the ways of the world (we say no more of this unhappy man than is already before the public, or is essential to a fair and just under- standing of the case, because there is no disposi- tion to aggravate his guilt in the public estima- tion), the youth, already wild, impetuous, and from under the guardianship of parental care, was induced to consent to a journey to Balti- more, upon some scheme of acquiring money of which he knew nothing, but that it could be procured with certainty and ease. This was the great radical, and perhaps, we think, all things considered, the most surprising part of his crime. That step taken, the other meas- ures followed connectedly and naturally. What parent does not exclaim, God preserve my chil- 194 APPENDIX dren from bad company ! But to proceed. Undergoing, as he was, an inevitable vitiation of character by the conversation of a man capa- ble of planning such a crime; of involving in it a lad whose prospects were yet good in the world, it was not until they arrived at Wil- mington that young Hull was made acquainted with the manner in which the expected money was to be obtained; but even here no allusion was made to the murder. Robbery of the un- protected mail was alone mentioned. On the first night in which the robbery was attempted it was prevented and abandoned wholly through the revolting of the youth's mind. He could not and would not co-operate, and they re- turned to town. On the way, Hutton inti- mated, that, although he had not mentioned it, it was his intention to have put an end to the life of the driver. This, it may justly be remarked, was the moment for the poor fellow's better prin- ciples to haveexerted and manifested themselves ; and we must silently acknowledge the extent of his guilt, in this respect, ilnlesstit be considered an extenuation of it, that he was then five hundred miles distant from his father's home and advice ; penniless, a stranger, with no human friend or adviser, but a man since proved capable of de- liberate falsehood under all the solemnities of 195 APPENDIX religion ; capable of plunder and assassination. On the second attempt, which was defeated by the presence of a traveller with the driver, Hut- ton pointedly said to Hull, 'I know a man who, if his companion in such a business were to flinch or throw any obstacle in his way, would as leave shoot him as not.' This sank into the lad's mind. On the third attempt Morris Hull immediately yielded to the petition of the driver to be spared, and employed determined solicit- ation and opposition to move the heart of Hutton. He, himself, being a stranger could not be recognized, disguised as he was. He showed Hutton that the murder was not neces- sary, and acknowledged that he could not per- petrate it. Hutton resolutely persisted, and at last added the fatal declaration, ' You shall either shoot him or me.' Hutton is tall, athletic, powerful, and thirty years of age. Morris Hull is under size, and a youth of twenty years. This threat, suddenly combined in his mind with what had been hinted by Hutton the night before overpowered his resolution, and under the strong impression that his own life or that of the driver must be sacrificed, he yielded to the command. Filled with horror, however, he re- fused to repeat the blow; and Hutton, twice stabbing the driver, thus accomplished his 196 APPENDIX atrocious purpose. These then are, In a word, the circumstances extenuating the lad's guilt. He came on from New York without a knowl- edge of the intended robbery, and went to the ground without suspecting the murder; his re- volting prevented the accomplishment of either on the first night ; it was then onlv he suspected murder was intended. He was inspired with a fear for his own life, and at last had the alterna- tive presented to him of shooting his associate or the driver; the pistol was uniformly carried by Hutton, and was only put into the youth's hand at the moment in which he was ordered to use it ; he earnestly protested against the mur- der, and declared he could not perpetrate it. (The fact was proved by the certificate of the physicians that the pistol wound was not neces- sarily fatal, but that each of the stabs was a death wound.) Add to these circumstances his youth ; his early and consistent confession of guilt; his care to avoid prevarication ; his apparent bitter, ingenious and deep repentance; his intercession with his father to provide for the widow and or- phans of the deceased; his father's immediate compliance with the request and provision for the woman ; the eminent piety and respectabil- ity of his father's character ; and lastly, that it is not (in the estimation of multitudes) even 197 APPENDIX mercy or mitigation of punishment that he pre- sumes to implore. It is a substitution, in the place of death, of a punishment in itself tenfold more lingering, terrifying and painful than any species of death ever inflicted. It is perpetual imprisonment to a solitary and comfortless cell. Is it possible for justice in her sternest decisions to exact more ? Is it possible for crime, in its utmost and unextenuated aggravation, to de- serve more ? Neither is it possible, for regard to public morals, to exhibit a more salutary and lasting example of the consequence of crime than such an imprisonment. But two years have elapsed since two of our fellowmen, Hall and Alexander, were hurried into the external world by a violent death for a robbery of the mail, in which attempt no blood was shed. Has this severity arrested in any degree the perpetration of similar crimes ? No ! they have been fre- quent and daring in every part of the country. Do the frequent executions for comparatively petty crimes, which stain the bloody annals of European judicature, produce a happier effect ? On the contrary, has not England, who has car- ried the experiment to its utmost length, relin- quished in a great measure the awful and un- availing principle,and substituted, in many cases, imprisonment on a remote island .'' Will not 198 APPENDIX the demand of justice be sufficiently complied with wHen the principal in the crime has ex- piated it with his life ; and when his unhappy associate is consigned to a vaulted dungeon from which death only is to liberate him ? Look within those walls and answer the ques- tion. One small and grated window admits im- perfectly the light of day. No sun can there be discerned ; no human face of sympathy and friendship meet the eye, for a broad and deep Venetian shade excludes every external pros- pect. A double door of massive iron and plank forbids the communication with the other vaults ; and were this thrown open, heavy fet- ters, attached to both feet, prevent the escape of the melancholy inhabitant; and through the dreary and monotonous lapse of years he may become accustomed to hear no voice but that of the jailor ; no other sounds than the distant riot of comparatively happy prisoners in the apart- ments above, or the clanking of his own chains. And is not this enough for the lad ? Is not this enough for example ? Is not this enough for justice ? Cannot mercy and clemency be stretch- ed so far as to grant this prayer, in considera- tion of his smaller degree of guilt, of his mis- guided and deluded youth, and of his bitter penitence ? Can any one wish to deny him 199 APPENDIX such a boon, and still thirst for his blood? Can any parent be assured that similar ensnare- ments, similar wildness and rashness, may not involve his own child in an equally horrid crime ? And can any parent refuse to sanction the petition of the afflicted father whose only prayer is, " touch not the life of the lad " ; and who deems no other addition to his present sorrows not wholly insupportable ? " Guilty as he is, Morris Hull was capable of pleading for the life of the poor driver, even when his own life was thereby perhaps in some degree endangered. Injured and afflicted as is the poor widow of Heaps she acknowledges the wide difference between the guilt of the two ; she prays that the life of the youth may be spared, remarking with tears in her eyes, * I know not into what temptations my own children may fall.' And shall not we in the midst of our security, and in the fullness of our enjoyment, enter one word for the intercession of his life, though that intercession can only consign him to a living tomb? Yes, let such petition be made ; let it be subscribed by all the feeling inhabitants of Bal- timore, who may thus prove that in dispensing retribution to a guilty stranger, they know also how to unite the attributes of Justice and Mercy. "William Williams." 200 APPENDIX VII THE unprecedented excitement of the times accounts for the five editions of this work: Elder Bernard's " Light on Masonry," by William Williams' press, in Utica, 1829. William Morgan had been a member of a masonic lodge in LeRoy, New York, in 1825. Then he disagreed with the other members, and moved to Batavia, N. Y. He wrote the first seven degrees of masonry and tried to have them printed in Rochester, but failed. He then took his manuscript to David C. Miller, the edi- tor and publisher of the Batavia Advocate. After numerous attempts by the masons to de- stroy the manuscript and printed sheets, by ar- resting Mr. Morgan on false pretences, and by setting fire to the printing office, September loth, a few copies of the first three degrees called, " Illustrations of Masonry,"'^' were published in 1826 (Batavia) N. Y. The manuscript of the *W. Preston had, in 1804, published in Portsmouth, N. H., the first American Improved Edition of a book entitled: "Illustrations of Masonr)'." 201 APPENDIX Other four degrees written by Morgan had been stolen when he was abducted, but the few printed sheets of the first three degrees were hidden in the straw bed, upon which Morgan himself was sleeping when he was surprised. This first edi- tion is very scarce, and only a few copies exist. There is one in a private collection in Albany, N. Y. The copyright is dated, Batavia, N. Y., August 14, 1826. Mr. Southwark, in the columns of the Al- bany National Observer^ October, 1826, says the book was out and largely read. Second edition. New York (City). Printed for the author 1826. 84 pages, i2mo. The introduction begins "In the absence," etc., and title page reads " Second Edition." Contains an account of the kidnapping of the author. Refers to the meeting, 25 September, at the county seat of Genesee County, and depositions taken. Third Edition. With appendix; 99 pages. For the author. New York (City). 1827. Title-page reads " Third Edition." Fourth Edition. (Batavia, N. Y.) 86 pages. 1827. Fifth Edition. (Batavia, N. Y.) 92 pages. 1827. Sixth Edition. (Batavia, N. Y.) 96 pages. 1827. 202 APPENDIX Printed for the author. Introduction begins " In the abscence," (sic) etc. Seventh Edition. Cincinnati, Matthew Gar- diner (1827). 8vo. 5. 80 pp. Eighth Edition. Rochester, N. Y. 1827. Printed for the author, and entitled, "More Light on Masonry, or Morgan Revived." With an appendix. Woodcut frontispiece ; 96 pages. Seventh Edition. Second issue. Same with woodcut vignette on title-page, as well as frontispiece. Rochester, N. Y., 1827. 96 pages. It appeared, i2mo, Boston, 1829, pp. 84, with the engraved frontispiece. After the Anti-Masonic Conventions at LeRoy, July 4 : at Bethany, July 28 : at Utica, August 4, 1828: and at Albany, February 19, 1829, had all advocated the printing of Bernard's "Light on Masonry," it appeared in its first edition at William Williams' press, Utica, 1829. It then took the place of Morgan's " Illustra- tions of Masonry," as it incorporated that work in the first three degrees, adding the history of the movement, and the minutes of the several conventions, by David Bernard. Proposals for its publication were issued by Webster & Wood, 71 State street, Albany, N. Y., in 1828," to be a book of 600 pages duo- 203 APPENDIX decimo ; printed with fair type, on good paper, and full bound. Price of subscription postpaid and received by Webster & Wood, at ^1.50." William Williams received the contracts for printing it on competitive bids. The first edi- tion was bound in full sheep, with name on back in gold letters ; the last edition in boards and cloth, at Mr. Williams' bindery, which was an extensive part of his business. Several of his sons received an education in bookbinding, and he was proficient at the trade himself. All the books printed by him were bound in his own bindery. " Light on Masonry " was reprinted several times, and as late as 1 868 in Dayton, Ohio. In 1879, the Christian Association, of Oberlin, Ohio, and a Chicago printer edited a new edi- tion. The members of the Masonic fraternity were not idle throughout all this period, when it looked as though the death knell of the insti- tution had been sounded in the United States. They issued broadsides and petitions ; appeal- ed to the sober judgments of the citizens of the State not to condemn without deeper investiga- tion into the motives and ideals of the order. Below is given a copy of one of these appeals, sent to the several towns of New York State, 204 APPENDIX for the signatures of such as believed that the spirit of masonry was not extinct. The fol- lowing was circulated at Trenton, New York, and bore the signatures of seventeen of its prom- inent citizens. AN APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC. We, the undersigned, deem it a duty, in justice to our- selves and to our country, to address the public in relation to the excitement, which under the name of anti-masonry is spreading in the land. We are aware that the agitators of anti-masonry and the promoters of the unhappy consequen- ces which flow from the excitement, are most generally party zealots, who have their own party and personal objects in view. To such men we do not address ourselves: we nei- ther heed their charges nor their efforts. The truth of the former, whatever may be professed to the contrary, we can not in charity suppose that they for one moment believe; and as to the latter, judging from past experience, there is but little prospects of such efforts being hereafter attended with such success as to excite any alarm. Nor would we ad- dress ourselves to those who are seeking to make money out of anti-masonry. Such men are interested in keeping up the excitement and we should think it a hopeless effort to address as a reasonable man one who would buy gold at such a price. We come before the honest and candid part of our fellow-citizens as members of the Masonic Institution. — We would appeal to the tribunal of their understanding and their hearts, from the obloquy that artful, or mistaken men have poured upon the society and that persecution which assails their standing as citizens, their character as men and the peace of their fathers, brothers and sons — and fellow members in the church and neighbors; for in all these relations masons stand towards their persecutors and slan- derers — all the ties of consanguinity, christian fellowship and 205 APPENDIX social intercourse — ties so endearing and which should be so ardently cherished, by virtuous men — the unrighteous spirit of anti-masonry is engaged and persevering to burst asunder. Shall those efforts succeed, fellow-citizens, in a country of gospel light and liberty like our own f Shall the good name of any portion of men, who can claim as the award of your justice, the character of uprightness, be thus wantonly as- sailed ? Shall the ties of social life, its tenderest charities and urbanity be thus annihilated ? It is over this ground of moral desolation, that uneasy and ambitious politicians, whose polar star only is office, shall be permitted, by the countenance of an enlightened public, to drive their enter- prise to the desired result. This frightful spirit of relentless persecution is entering the churches of the Redeemer, to make divisions among the members of his body, to drive many pious souls from the altar of their God and wound the cause for which Christ died. We ask nothing of courtesy, but every thing of your justice, fellow-citizens; but we are ready to concede and most cheerfully record our conviction, that many gave their sympathies to anti-masonry from moral and noble feelings, in the first instance — that the outrage, which masons as deeply lament and reprehend as they, which occasioned this excitement, was seized on by men of other feelings and other views and promoted to the base pur- pose of political ambition and the unrelenting proscription of those, whatever are their characters for integrity, fidelity to their country and exertions in the cause of Christ, that chanced to stand in their way to office and public attention. — We solemnly ask you, with the conviction of men who love our country, who desire its peace and prize its good name, whether you can longer accord your confidence to those men who have thus turned your moral indignation against crime, into the perturbed channel of political strife — whctheryoucan longer support the leaders of anti-masonry, who have thus abused your confidence and would dupe you by their false- hood and imposing pretensions, to go with them in this cru- sade against the peace of society, the charity of the Gospel, the good name and fair character of your neighbors and fel- low men ? Let the record of past days warn you, fellow-cit- 206 APPENDIX izens, of the deplorable evils which this insane persecution will inevitably bring upon our country; this whirlwind of anti-masonry involves the innocent with the guilty and bears along in its desolating and blind fury, the best and holiest in- terests of society — its peace — its charities and its justice. — Christians, can you answer it to your consciences ? — you must answer it to your God! — Look back on those days of senseless fury and proscription, when English law and con- stitutional freedom could not stand before the popular career of a perjured wretch, who fattened on the noble blood of his helpless victims: — yes, before the magic influence of Titus Oates, the best men in England had no security for property, liberty or life — and the same spirit, to our disgrace as a free and enlightened people, is abroad in our land, marking out its victims and proscribing our peaceful and virtuous citi- zens — tearing pastors from their flocks, driving ministers of the Gospel from the altar of our common Lord — rending asunder the associations of piety and filling with strife the peaceful fold of Jesus Christ. This persecution of anti-ma- sonry has few parallels in history. The frightful days in the reign of Charles 2d, to which we have just alluded, and in the days when Christians were a "little flock" — as there are seceding masons now, so were there seceding Christians then. It is the record of ecclesiastical history, that the moral trai- tors of those times, in leaving their christian brethren, did denounce the institution of Christ's church, as a confedera- tion of atheists and libertines — as an institution that ought to be suppressed by the magistrates — as hostile to the safety of the state and destructive to the morals of the community. It is well known to the readers of church history, that in primitive times, while the preaching of the word was public, all but the initiated or members of the church were ex- cluded when the Lord's supper was administered. Seced- ing Christians of that period would go before the magistrate and make oath to the alleged licentiousness and debauchery practised in secret by the christian church — and that even infanticide and cannibalism were parts of their most solemn and secret rites. These seceding Christians were believed on their oath — the odium of the christian name was extreme — 207 APPENDIX every good citizen of the Roman State was appealed to and invoked to aid in the destruction of an institution, such as they deemed the church of Christ to be, whose dark and se- cret rites were thus awful before heaven and shocking to hu- man nature. Anti-Christianity was the popular cry of that day. Fellow-citizens, here is a parallel to the atrocious cal- umnies heaped on the masonic institution in this day — se- ceding masons tell you of obligations that are criminal and usages inconsistent with the spirit of the Gospel and hostile to moral and public duty. We advert to the course of se- ceding masons with painful emotions, because it involves the guilt of men, some of whom have enjoyed a respectable standing in society, but who hurried away perhaps by an extraordinary delusion or influenced as in many cases we have too much reason to believe by ambitious and selfish motives, have first abandoned and then borne false witness against the institution. Some credit has been attached to their testimony, but it should be remembered that no apostate ever spoke well of a cause which he had abandoned, and it is still more important not to forget that to entitle testimony to implicit confidence, it is necessary that the witness should be consistent in his story, unimpeachable in his character and uninfluenced by interest. Is it so with the multitude of seceders ? Let us see what measure of faith we ought to award them. Take the case of the Rev. Joshua Bradley, one of the most prominent seceders. He denounces the institu- tion as vile in its principles, debasing in its practices, as aristo- cratical in politics, libertine in morals, as blasphemous, un- holy and profane. This same Joshua Bradley it will be re- membered has heretofore published numerous essays and addresses in favor of the institution. He has affirmed of her principles that ihey were holy and of her practices that they were virtuous; with the most solemn assertions, in the character of a Christian minister, he has assured us that her tendencies were holy and her objects beneficent. In a mul- titude of instances, he has called her the "hand maid of re- ligion" and the "fair daughter of heaven." What he now calls blasphemous orgies of dissipation, received his smiles and encouragement. Not a murmur of disapprobation es- 208 APPENDIX caped his lips, not a single sign for reform was breathed forth by him, but on the contrary, he powerfully defended the institution both in public and private, preached masonry to the world as worthy of especial patronage, and prayed de- voutly for the blessings of heaven to rest upon it. Now, fel- low-citizens, is it possible for you to reconcile this conduct with common fairness or common honesty ? We can con- ceive of no apology for such duplicity, such downright and wanton prevarication. The principles of masonry have not changed; they remain as they were when this Rev. gentle- man and other seceders gave them their zealous approbation and support. How are these palpable contradictions to be reconciled ? One or the other story is false. To admit their last statement as true is to convict them of deliberate misrepresentation in their former presentment of facts, and to admit the former as true, drives us to the con- clusion as to the latter. For in the one case, they sol- emnly affirm what, in the other, they as solemnly deny. The same principles and practices, the same rights and cere- monies they, in one place, call holy and beneficient, and fraught with benefits to the human race, in another, they call blasphemous and devilish, subversive of morality and virtue, a perfect Pandora's box, pouring curses on the world. Com- ment upon such conduct we leave for others. We should hope that with candid men, the foregoing ex- position of the character of the masonic institution would be sufficient to convince them how gross and barefaced are the misrepresentations and calumnies against our order. But to satisfy honest prejudices and to meet every charge which is brought against us, in such a way as to leave no doubt on your minds in regard to the principles of masonr)', wc have judged that it would not be improper to notice some of the allegations more particularly. It is alleged, among other things, that we take upon ourselves obligations or oaths which bind us to assist a mason when in difficulty, right or wrong — that when acting as judges or jurers, we are bound by our obligations, to aid or favor a brother mason — to vote for a mason in preference to any other person, and what is still worse, to keep the secrets of a mason, murder and trea- 209 APPENDIX son not excepted. We should suppose that such charges against us were sufficiently absurd in themselves to carry with them their own refutation, and that every day's ob- servation would tend to convince you of their falsity. We have many of us lived long in the county; our characters & principles are well known. We claim no excellence above our neighbors; but we indignantly repel the imputations cast upon us. We have ever been divided in political contests, and still continue to differ as much in our political and religious sentiments and opinions as those who are not members of the institution. We do assure you, that masons, like other men, are left entirely free to vote for such individuals or to attach themselves to such political party as they may prefer. We cannot be ignorant of the requirements of masonic obliga- tions. Some of us are templars and many more of us are royal arch masons, and we say to you that we have taken no such obligations as those above mentioned, neither have we ever heard any such administered; there are none such in masonry, and we declare to you that the allegations against us in these respects, are entirely false. The only punish- ment against unworthy members, known in our institution, is suspension, or expulsion; none other is sanctioned by it, and the crime of abduction and murder is as much repug- nant to, and at war with, every principle and usage of our order, as it is contrary to the express command of the dec- alogue and the positive enactments in our statute books; and we again asseverate that if injustice and oppression or other iniquities have been practised in connexion with ma- sonry, or if individual masons have been guilty of crimes, there is nothing in the principles, or instructions, or obliga- tions, or forms of the order, which requires or justifies these things. On the contrary, its principles require uprightness of conduct before God and man; and explicitly and directly teach, that the Bible is the only guide of our faith and practice. They teach charity, temperance, chastity, and to be good and true, urging the whole by a regard to death and a future state. All this so far as we know and under- stand these principles, is essential to their nature. In conclusion, fellow citizens, can you seriously believe, 210 APPENDIX that masonry is immoral and inimical to public law, order and liberty? We would remind you of masons who were public benefactors to our country; of pious ministers of the gospel whose learning and labors of love were an honor to human nature: and yet their names are also recorded as the firmest friends of the masonic institution, and who ceased not to desire and to seek its prosperity while they lived. We ask you to contrast the judgment passed on the institution by Washington, with that of such a man as Solomon Southwick or Edward Giddins. You will, we are persuaded, allow to the honest opinion and sober judgment of the Father of our beloved country, its just weight. He says: " Being per- suaded that a just application of the principles on which the masonic fraternity is founded, must be promotive of private virtue and public prosperity, I shall always be happy to ad- vance the interest of the society and to be considered by them as a deserving brother." We hope, indeed, there are few Americans that will doubt the veracity of Washington, or question his capability to distinguish truth from falsehood, and virtue from vice. We solemnly assure you, that we ac- cord, in our understanding and our conscience, in the charac- ter of the institution thus expressed by the man, who has justly been said to have been "first in peace, first in war and first in the hearts of his countrymen." That there have been bad members of the fraternity, we do not deny; but who will charge this on the institution ? Christianity itself would fall by this test. Who, in candor, or even justice, will be found to charge on the Catholic church the guilt of the massacre of St. Bartholomew? The principles of free masonry have been always before the public; they have never been kept se- cret: and would you make the institution answerable for crimes which its known and acknowledged principles con- demn and would ever prevent ? None but Atheists and Scof- fers bring the crimes of Christians, as an argument against the religion they profess: and where is the consistency, the candor, the sense of justice, to assail the masonic institution in this way. Fellow-citizens, we conjure you by the love of our country, by the interests of religion in the community, by public order and private peace, to frown upon this ruth- 211 APPENDIX less persecution of unprincipled politicians — this crusade against your brothers, fathers and sons, for in all these re- lations we stand towards anti-masons. We have honestly, fellow-citizens, endeavored to give you the true character of the institution to which we belong. We do not pretend that this institution, good as we esteem it to be, is necessary to the existence and happiness of society, or to good character and usefulness of individuals, more than others that might be named. But we again solemnly assure you, that we have never seen any thing in the works and doings of lodges which was immoral and wicked, which intermeddled with political affairs, or infringed at all upon the laws of our country and which tended to weaken moral obligation and prevent the good citizen from doing his duty without partiality. We rest this appeal with you, we have no doubt of being believed where we are known. We ask but common justice, and common candor — we ask but our rights as citizens, as christians and as men. John Billings, Trenton. Benj. Brayton, Grove Post, William H. Champlin, " Eleazar Wightman, John M. Watson, " Thadaus Ball, " Ephraim Hollister, " Nathan Gurney, " Romeo D. Marshall, " Warren Dodge, " Isaac Curry, Cornelius H. Schermerhorn, " Samuel Pitman, " Jinks Jenkins, Isaac B. Peirce, Ashbel Woodbridge, ADDENDA 1810 DIVINE DECREES, AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE USE OF MEANS. A Sermon Delivered AT Granville, (N. Y.) June 25, 1805, Before the Evangelical Society, Instituted for the Pur- pose OF Aiding Pious and Needy Young Men in Acquiring Education for the Work of the Gospel Ministry. By Lemuel Haynes, A. M. Pastor of a Church in Rutland, Vermont. (Published by the Request of the Society.) Utica: Printed by Seward and Williams. 18 10. THE FAREWELL ADDRESS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, to the People of the United States, on the 17TH of September, 1796. Utica: Printed by Seward and Williams. 1810. Wood Cut Book Label by William Williams, Utica, 1824. % 3 1158 00436 8220 uc SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY f *CILITY AA 001 165 997 6