In 1725, a twelve year old boy was sent off by his mother to serve an apprenticeship with the
New York printer, William Bradford. He would return a master printer whose skills would not
only surpass those of his master, but also those of his mentor, Benjamin Franklin.
The young man was named James Parker. Born in Woodbridge, NJ in 1714, he would go on
to become New York's premiere printer and a player in several freedom of the press battles.
His started a newspaper, The Weekly Postboy or New-York Gazette and became King's
printer for the colony. In 1752, he returned to his hometown to open the Province's very first
permanent print shop where he published everything from the bills passed by the provincial
Assembly to a magazine to a guidebook for local officials. Around this time, he also went to
New Haven, Connecticut where he opened a print shop for Benjamin Franklin and started
their first newspaper, The Connecticut Gazette.
In addition to his career in printing, Parker served as the Secretary and Comptroller for the
British postal service in North America. He was appointed by Franklin who had revolutionized
the postal system. When Franklin went to England, it fell to Parker to keep things moving.
Under his stewardship, the post office showed its first profits since it had been created.
Parker also seems to have had a lifelong interest in the law and served as a Judge on the
Court of Common Pleas for Middlesex County. He was commissioned as a Captain of a Troop
of Horse in the militia and stepped in to the pulpit as a lay reader for Woodbridge's Trinity
Episcopal Church.
Parker had decidedly bad luck when picking business partners. He had very acrimonious
breaks with William Weyman and John Holt, resulting in bitter law suits. Weyman effectively
stole Parker's New York business out from under him, leaving him with debts.
James Parker presents the historian with interesting paradoxes. He was a loyal civil servant
and Anglican. Yet he also printed materials for anti-Anglican interests and the Sons of
Liberty. Indeed, he would get in trouble for doing so. He believed strongly in the liberty of the
press and like many printers of his day, struggled to find a balance between his idealism and
the pragmatic realities of making a living. In 1769, he would become embroiled in the
controversy over a broadside he had printed for Alexander McDougall in New York. It was
critical of the provincial government's handling of the Townsend Acts. The Royal Governor's
council investigated to discover the author. A disgruntled former journeyman gave up Parker
as the printer. They questioned Parker's other employees - some of them mere boys - who
confirmed McDougall as the likely author. Only then did Parker tell them what they already
knew after being threatened himself with the loss of the positions from which he made his
meager living. But it also meant that he was to be their star witness against McDougall.
In June of 1770, Parker travelled from New York to Philadelphia to visit the Franklin family on
his way to Maryland. He had postal business with the Annapolis postmaster. Debora Franklin
(Benjamin's wife) was concerned for Parker's health. He had been plagued by severe cases
of the gout in the latter half of his life. On the return trip, he became ill at Bristol,
Pennsylvania. He had to be carried across the Delaware River to Burlington, NJ, where he
died. There were rumors at the time that he had been murdered to prevent his testifying at
the McDougall trial, though there is little evidence to support the charge.
Gordon Bond has undertaken researching an in depth biography of James Parker. He has
spent the last eight years trying to piece together Parker's life and career. In 2000, he
received a Research Grant from the New Jersey State Historical Commission to support his
work.
New York printer, William Bradford. He would return a master printer whose skills would not
only surpass those of his master, but also those of his mentor, Benjamin Franklin.
The young man was named James Parker. Born in Woodbridge, NJ in 1714, he would go on
to become New York's premiere printer and a player in several freedom of the press battles.
His started a newspaper, The Weekly Postboy or New-York Gazette and became King's
printer for the colony. In 1752, he returned to his hometown to open the Province's very first
permanent print shop where he published everything from the bills passed by the provincial
Assembly to a magazine to a guidebook for local officials. Around this time, he also went to
New Haven, Connecticut where he opened a print shop for Benjamin Franklin and started
their first newspaper, The Connecticut Gazette.
In addition to his career in printing, Parker served as the Secretary and Comptroller for the
British postal service in North America. He was appointed by Franklin who had revolutionized
the postal system. When Franklin went to England, it fell to Parker to keep things moving.
Under his stewardship, the post office showed its first profits since it had been created.
Parker also seems to have had a lifelong interest in the law and served as a Judge on the
Court of Common Pleas for Middlesex County. He was commissioned as a Captain of a Troop
of Horse in the militia and stepped in to the pulpit as a lay reader for Woodbridge's Trinity
Episcopal Church.
Parker had decidedly bad luck when picking business partners. He had very acrimonious
breaks with William Weyman and John Holt, resulting in bitter law suits. Weyman effectively
stole Parker's New York business out from under him, leaving him with debts.
James Parker presents the historian with interesting paradoxes. He was a loyal civil servant
and Anglican. Yet he also printed materials for anti-Anglican interests and the Sons of
Liberty. Indeed, he would get in trouble for doing so. He believed strongly in the liberty of the
press and like many printers of his day, struggled to find a balance between his idealism and
the pragmatic realities of making a living. In 1769, he would become embroiled in the
controversy over a broadside he had printed for Alexander McDougall in New York. It was
critical of the provincial government's handling of the Townsend Acts. The Royal Governor's
council investigated to discover the author. A disgruntled former journeyman gave up Parker
as the printer. They questioned Parker's other employees - some of them mere boys - who
confirmed McDougall as the likely author. Only then did Parker tell them what they already
knew after being threatened himself with the loss of the positions from which he made his
meager living. But it also meant that he was to be their star witness against McDougall.
In June of 1770, Parker travelled from New York to Philadelphia to visit the Franklin family on
his way to Maryland. He had postal business with the Annapolis postmaster. Debora Franklin
(Benjamin's wife) was concerned for Parker's health. He had been plagued by severe cases
of the gout in the latter half of his life. On the return trip, he became ill at Bristol,
Pennsylvania. He had to be carried across the Delaware River to Burlington, NJ, where he
died. There were rumors at the time that he had been murdered to prevent his testifying at
the McDougall trial, though there is little evidence to support the charge.
Gordon Bond has undertaken researching an in depth biography of James Parker. He has
spent the last eight years trying to piece together Parker's life and career. In 2000, he
received a Research Grant from the New Jersey State Historical Commission to support his
work.
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| Special Announcement! Gordon Bond is pleased to announce that his book, "James Parker: A Printer on the Eve of Revolution" is scheduled for release in Fall of 2008 by New Jersey Heritage Press! He is now booking promotional presentations. If your group is interested in a lecture, please contact him at the email, phone or mail address on the home page. |
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