Samuel Loudon
Samuel Loudon was a colonial American printer, publisher and merchant who emigrated from Ireland some time prior to 1753. Loudon founded The New-York Packet and The American Advertiser and became the postmaster at New York State's first post office in Fishkill, New York. During the American Revolution he became the official printer of New York State and printed its first Constitution, laws, acts and other official documents, while also taking on some private commissions. Before and during the Revolution Loudon became active through the use of his newspapers promoting the cause for American independence, and for freedom of the press. After the war Loudon printed the Laws of the City of New York, and later promoted ratification of the proposed Constitution by publishing selected essays of The Federalist Papers in his newspaper.
Early life and family
Loudon was of Scotch-Irish ancestry and emigrated to the America colonies before 1753. Historical accounts, however, vary on his actual place of birth, maintaining he was born either in Ireland or in Scotland, while some accounts express uncertainty. In October 1753 he owned and operated a general store on Water Street near the Old Slip Market in New York City, where he sold an assortment of wares, including powder and shot, pots and kettles, and a variety of ready-made coats and breeches, in the latest fashions. After four years he moved the location of his store to Hunter's Quay and began operating as a ship chandler, selling supplies for ships.Loudon was married twice: On January 24, 1756, he married Sarah Oakes. Sometime before 1768 he married Lydia Griswold, the sister of Matthew Griswold the Governor of Connecticut. Loudon had five sons and three daughters. Lydia died at the age of 46 on June 11, 1788.
Printing career
In 1772 Loudon opened a bookshop on Hunter's Quay and sold pamphlets and books printed for him by Frederick Shoeber and Thomas Hodge who operated a printing firm in New York. Loudon entered into his printing career in 1775 when he bought interest in the business of Hodge and Shober, after Shoeber bought out his partner. Loudon and Shober formed a partnership in the printing firm now called Shober & Loudon. Before the end of the same year Shober became apprehensive of the growing hostilities between England and her colonies and subsequently the firm only lasted several months when Shober sold his share of the business to Loudon, who became sole owner of the firm. During the American Revolution and thereafter there were only a few booksellers still in operation in New York City. While there were a number of bookshops that came and went in New York, only Samuel Loudon and Hugh Gaine continued to run their book shops by the turn of the century.American Revolution
Politically, Loudon was a staunch Whig and patriot before and during the American Revolution. He was awarded a contract for the official printer for the state and printed orders and other documents for the Continental Army. Loudon, though a devoted Presbyterian and committed Republican, began printing a pamphlet written by Bishop Charles Inglis in March 1776 that was highly critical of another pamphlet entitled Common Sense, which was written by Thomas Paine. Paine's popular but controversial work was highly critical of the British Crown, Parliament and their dealings with the colonies, and strongly advocated the rebellion and the cause for American independence. Paine's work became one of the most influential works prior to the revolution. Inglis's critical pamphlet of this work was entitled The Deceiver Unmasked; or Loyalty and Interest United. Various people in New York's extralegal committees warned Loudon against printing the incitetful pamphlet. As a printer who strongly supported the ideal of free speech, however, Loudon saw nothing inconsistent with his advocacy and support for American independence by publishing a Loyalist tract criticizing Paine's work. Loudon had announced publication of The Deceiver' in several newspapers. This action caused him to fall into disfavor with the Sons of Liberty in the city. Loudon's fellow Whigs were surprised and alarmed at his action and subsequently a meeting was called where the concerned parties met. After voicing their disapproval with one another, and while drinking rum during the session, Alexander McDougall, and others, set out to Loudon's house on March 19, forced their way in, pulled Loudon out of his bed, and seized and destroyed the whole original manuscript and carried off and burned 1,500 impressions of the controversial editorial. In response Loudon, who had invested time and money into the printing, and though a strong advocate of American independence, strongly asserted his patriotism and voiced his resentment to it being challenged in an open letter, "To the Public", which he published in the April 11, 1976 issue of his New York Packet. Loudon exclaimed that an affront to the freedom of the press had been committed, and at a time when the question of independence was still an open question.Founding of ''The New York Packet''
Loudon founded and published a newspaper in New York City, The New-York Packet and The American Advertiser, on January 4, 1776, which he had printed on Thursday mornings. The newspaper was largely devoted to the cause for American independence. The heading of the newspaper had an imprint which read: "Printed by Samuel Loudon, in Water-Street, between the Coffee-House and the Old Slip."British forces arrived at New York City in August 1776. As the war unfolded and British troops also began to occupy various cites along the east coast, many printers were forced to pack up shop and relocate if they wished to save their printing presses and continue printing articles advocating the revolutionary cause. As a result of the war paper for printing was often difficult to acquire and sometimes caused delays in Loudon's newspaper publication.
Loudon suspended publication of The New-York Packet on August 29, 1776, and fled New York City, and moved his large family and printing press first to Norwich, Connecticut just before the British entered the city. Once in the city British forces confiscated the printing press of Hugh Gaine. While in Norwich he was a merchant for a short time and then moved to Fishkill, New York, where he opened a store and print shop. During the war Fishkill was the location of the largest supply depot for the American army. He took on the responsibility of becoming the local postmaster as part of the duties of a printer, where he managed the handling of mail and decided on the various postal routes. At that time in America it was not unusual for a printer to also be a postmaster. He resumed publication of The New-York Packet on January 16, 1777.
In 1779 The Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania procured a subscription to London's New York Packet, and Secretary Mallack wrote to have it dispatched on a regular basis, "in order to have the files compleat" to which Loudon replied as follows :
Establishes post office in Fishkill
Articles from the State of New York American Revolution Bicentennial Commission show that Fishkill became the first post office in New York state after the Americans took over the former British system in July 1776. Fishkill then was considered the post office for the State of New York, and there were only eight post offices in the thirteen states. That post office was at the Isaac Van Wyck house on the Albany Post Road, where Loudon also published his newspaper. He did not tell his readers about the situation at the Fishkill Post Office in the Revolutionary War years when the little hamlet was a supply depot for American troops, and a meeting place for generals, or that it was the first New York State post office.A ledger of Postmaster General Benjamin Franklin notes that the revenue raised by two of the thirteen post offices for the first report period under the Americans on July 28, 1777. The post offices were at Fishkill and Fredericksburg, Virginia. The report shows Flshkill's revenue in that period was 1,237 pounds, 7 shillings and 8 pence, while the same period showed Fredericksburg's post office had a revenue of 62 pounds, 8 shillings and 9 pence.
Loudon's printing shop in Fishkill became of great service to the Continental Congress and various statesmen during the Revolutionary War. Loudon's newspaper featured various congressional resolutions that were enacted from time to time. In 1776 he printed "An Address of the Convention of the Representatives of the State of New York", dated December 23, 1776, from Abraham Ten Broeck to their constituents. Printings of the manuscript copy of Broeck's address were also forwarded to the Continental Congress on December 28, with notice that they had intended to have it translated into German.
In a letter dated January 25, 1779, Major General Alexander McDougall submitted a letter to George Washington informing him of his orders for permits of provisions for his troops, and his proposed regulations of military prizes, requesting Washington's approval. Along with the letter, McDougall had enclosed copies of the orders, and also had them printed and published by Loudon on a two-page broadside in Loudon's newspaper when he was in Fishkill.
Correspondence with Washington
During the Revolution, Fishkill was the site of Washington's headquarters and a large supply base, which supplied the northern department of the Continental Army, who were stationed there to prevent the British from advancing north from New York City. While at Fishkill, Loudon corresponded with George Washington in the early 1780s over matters concerning supply stations for the American troops, and post riders and the mail sent to and from Washington. In 1781, Washington dispatched a letter to Loudon, dated July 10, requesting that Loudon publish a proclamation in his "useful newspaper", The New York Packet, informing the inhabitants of the Fishkill area that his army thereabouts "remains in its present Position, from Day Break till Noon", and that two market places will be open to aid in the supply of that army. The proclamation also assured that, "All Persons, who will bring any Articles of Provisions & Small Supplies for the Use of the Army..." would be protected from any subsequent repercussions that might result from their aid to the American army.In a letter dated July 30, 1782, Loudon informed Washington that he had been alerted by Ebenezer Hazard, postmaster in Philadelphia, that he had erroneously dispatched three letters from Washington intended for "Gentlemen in New Jersey", in with the mail sent to Philadelphia, and that along the post road his letters, and along with the rest of the mail, were intercepted by the British. Accepting full responsibility, Loudon had asked for Washington's understanding and pardon over the matter, along with an explanation from Loudon that such an oversight had never happened before, and with his assurances that this would never occur again.