You might think that historians would know pretty well the location of something as important
as New Jersey’s first permanent print shop. But they don’t! Indeed, all that can be said with
any real certainty is that it was established by James Parker sometime around 1752 in his
native Woodbridge.
There have been two theories as to the location of Parker's print shop. The first was written
about by Rev. Joseph W. Dally in his 1873 book, "Woodbridge and Vicinity, The Story of a
New Jersey Township".
A look at property maps from around when Dally wrote his book show that the location he
referred to is the corner of Amboy Avenue and Grove Street, where the St. James Catholic
School stands today. It might seem, then, a simple matter to trace back land deeds from
Demarest and Harned, but any such effort is frustrated by the fact that many records were
destroyed by fire at the Middlesex County Courthouse in New Brunswick.
In 1925, the original St. James Catholic Church was moved from upper Main Street in
Woodbridge to the very same corner described above (it was subsequently torn down and
replaced by the present structure). It has been claimed that a "quantity" of type was found
when the foundations were dug. Unfortunately, present church members have no memory of
this find.
An alternative theory was advanced in the February 8, 1924 edition of the newspaper,
Woodbridge Independent. Harold Pickersgill was a judge and amateur historian in
neighboring Perth Amboy. In an article about James Parker and his friendship with Benjamin
Franklin, Pickersgill wrote...
My research has demonstrated that a printer did indeed live and likely work at a location on
the south side of Green Street. William Lawson and his sons operated a successful music
printing business (son Frank later moved it to New York City). However, his home was just
west of School Street, on the other side of Amboy Avenue. An examination of the Sanborn
Fire Insurance maps showed that a two story wood frame structure had been behind the
present house in the early 1900s. It was replaced by a garage in the 1920s. A visit to the site
in 2004 showed that the building has an abandoned chimney. The bricks show evidence of
being at the very least pre-1850. An archaeological exploration of the site by myself and Dr.
Richard Veit of Monmouth County College, however, turned up nothing. The ground had
been highly disturbed over the years and fill material had been brought in.
There is another aspect to this mystery. Local tradition holds that Parker's print shop had
been burned by the British in 1777. The destruction of the shop is a story repeated many
times and even memorialized in a painting that hangs in the Woodbridge Town Hall. Yet
research questions the truth of this legend. The British army did indeed pass through
Woodbridge in 1777 during the Battle of Short Hills during the Revolution. And they did
indeed reek havoc on the citizens of the town and surrounding areas. Testimony to the
devastation they left in their wake are the damage claims submitted by residents seeking
compensations in 1782. The Parker family is represented, but there are no mentions of the
destruction of a print shop. James Parker had died in 1770, but his son, Samuel Franklin
Parker had inherited the property, including his father's press. Samuel had joined the militia
and was serving with another local hero, General Nathaniel Heard. The records show that the
British army passed through once in February 1777 and again in June. During their first visit,
they caused around 10 pounds worth of damage "To part of a printing Office." No mention is
made regarding the loss of a press or any of the valuable stock and supplies that would have
been kept for one. When the English returned in June, however, they are recorded as having
burned down Samuel Franklin Parker's house, valued at a sum of over 120 pounds.
There is evidence that Samuel Franklin Parker had sold off the press, so there technically
wouldn't have been a functioning print shop for the British to burn. They may have damaged
a building once used as a printing office, but there is no evidence that they destroyed one.
Another piece of evidence against the burning of the shop is found in the description of
people finding type in the soil. It would have been cast from lead which would hardly have
survived the temperatures of a working wooden structural fire.
I am still attempting to work out the exact sequence of events and just where New Jersey's
first print shop was established!
as New Jersey’s first permanent print shop. But they don’t! Indeed, all that can be said with
any real certainty is that it was established by James Parker sometime around 1752 in his
native Woodbridge.
There have been two theories as to the location of Parker's print shop. The first was written
about by Rev. Joseph W. Dally in his 1873 book, "Woodbridge and Vicinity, The Story of a
New Jersey Township".
A look at property maps from around when Dally wrote his book show that the location he
referred to is the corner of Amboy Avenue and Grove Street, where the St. James Catholic
School stands today. It might seem, then, a simple matter to trace back land deeds from
Demarest and Harned, but any such effort is frustrated by the fact that many records were
destroyed by fire at the Middlesex County Courthouse in New Brunswick.
In 1925, the original St. James Catholic Church was moved from upper Main Street in
Woodbridge to the very same corner described above (it was subsequently torn down and
replaced by the present structure). It has been claimed that a "quantity" of type was found
when the foundations were dug. Unfortunately, present church members have no memory of
this find.
An alternative theory was advanced in the February 8, 1924 edition of the newspaper,
Woodbridge Independent. Harold Pickersgill was a judge and amateur historian in
neighboring Perth Amboy. In an article about James Parker and his friendship with Benjamin
Franklin, Pickersgill wrote...
My research has demonstrated that a printer did indeed live and likely work at a location on
the south side of Green Street. William Lawson and his sons operated a successful music
printing business (son Frank later moved it to New York City). However, his home was just
west of School Street, on the other side of Amboy Avenue. An examination of the Sanborn
Fire Insurance maps showed that a two story wood frame structure had been behind the
present house in the early 1900s. It was replaced by a garage in the 1920s. A visit to the site
in 2004 showed that the building has an abandoned chimney. The bricks show evidence of
being at the very least pre-1850. An archaeological exploration of the site by myself and Dr.
Richard Veit of Monmouth County College, however, turned up nothing. The ground had
been highly disturbed over the years and fill material had been brought in.
There is another aspect to this mystery. Local tradition holds that Parker's print shop had
been burned by the British in 1777. The destruction of the shop is a story repeated many
times and even memorialized in a painting that hangs in the Woodbridge Town Hall. Yet
research questions the truth of this legend. The British army did indeed pass through
Woodbridge in 1777 during the Battle of Short Hills during the Revolution. And they did
indeed reek havoc on the citizens of the town and surrounding areas. Testimony to the
devastation they left in their wake are the damage claims submitted by residents seeking
compensations in 1782. The Parker family is represented, but there are no mentions of the
destruction of a print shop. James Parker had died in 1770, but his son, Samuel Franklin
Parker had inherited the property, including his father's press. Samuel had joined the militia
and was serving with another local hero, General Nathaniel Heard. The records show that the
British army passed through once in February 1777 and again in June. During their first visit,
they caused around 10 pounds worth of damage "To part of a printing Office." No mention is
made regarding the loss of a press or any of the valuable stock and supplies that would have
been kept for one. When the English returned in June, however, they are recorded as having
burned down Samuel Franklin Parker's house, valued at a sum of over 120 pounds.
There is evidence that Samuel Franklin Parker had sold off the press, so there technically
wouldn't have been a functioning print shop for the British to burn. They may have damaged
a building once used as a printing office, but there is no evidence that they destroyed one.
Another piece of evidence against the burning of the shop is found in the description of
people finding type in the soil. It would have been cast from lead which would hardly have
survived the temperatures of a working wooden structural fire.
I am still attempting to work out the exact sequence of events and just where New Jersey's
first print shop was established!
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"It is supposed, with very good reason, that this [printing] office was located on
the lot adjoining and north of the present residence of Mr. David Demarest,
about where Dr. Samuel P. Harned lives. Not only is this supposition supported
by tradition, but also by the fact that individuals employed in cultivating land
near this spot have plowed up metal types at different times. Mr. Robert
Coddington says that when he was a boy, he, in company with others, was
accustomed to go to this locust grove and search for these types; and many
were found."
the lot adjoining and north of the present residence of Mr. David Demarest,
about where Dr. Samuel P. Harned lives. Not only is this supposition supported
by tradition, but also by the fact that individuals employed in cultivating land
near this spot have plowed up metal types at different times. Mr. Robert
Coddington says that when he was a boy, he, in company with others, was
accustomed to go to this locust grove and search for these types; and many
were found."
"With all that has been written of Parker's printing in Woodbridge, no
contemporary records have yet been produced to show where this first printing
office was located. Old residents three decades ago said that there was in
colonial days, a printing office on the southerly side of Green street, west of
School street, and when a printer who flourished here about that time occupied
for a time a small frame building there her was told that, according to tradition
he was not the first disciple of Franklin to use it...old stories told by old men,
include tales of finding type in the soil there when they were boys and played
there."
contemporary records have yet been produced to show where this first printing
office was located. Old residents three decades ago said that there was in
colonial days, a printing office on the southerly side of Green street, west of
School street, and when a printer who flourished here about that time occupied
for a time a small frame building there her was told that, according to tradition
he was not the first disciple of Franklin to use it...old stories told by old men,
include tales of finding type in the soil there when they were boys and played
there."
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