Historic Newspapers: Search Results

BOSTON GAZETTE, Nov. 19, 1801  

* Infamous traitor, Benedict Arnold
* Signing of the Treaty of Amiens

Page 2 begins with a report from the London Gazette Extraordinary, announcing that the peace treaty known as the Treaty of Amiens had been signed, and from the city where it happened: London.
The Treaty of Amiens temporarily ended hostilities between France and England at the end of the War of the Second Coalition. It marked the end of the French Revolutionary Wars, but after a short peace it set…

NEW-ENGLAND CHRONICLE OR ESSEX GAZETTE, (Cambridge), Feb. 22, 1776  

* American Revolutionary War
* Great year to have (1776)
* Battle of Quebec - Canada
* General Benedict Arnold

The top of the first column begins with a report from Cork that: "...there has been commotions amongst the soldiers who are to embark for America; that a great numbers of them have deserted & that several of the officers who are absent have sent letters to acquaint their officers that they shall not join…

THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, April 24, 1781 

* North Carolina volunteers
* Benedict Arnold chased
* Revolutionary War original

Page 2 has: "...letters from North Carolina bring advice that the majority of the inhabitants in that province have lately risen voluntarily on the side of loyalty & have seized upwards of 200 of the principal men who were known to be the most distinguished partizans of Congress & their cause, & carried them prisoners to the head quarters."
The back page…

A Benedict Arnold letter... Less than 60 days until the Declaration!

THE NEW-ENGLAND CHRONICLE, Boston, May 9, 1776  Although the title might sound rather common (similar title published in Salem & Cambridge), this is actually a very scarce, short-lived title. 
On April 25, 1776 this newspaper was removed from Cambridge and printed at Boston, just 2 issues before this one. The last issue of this title published was on September 12, 1776, meaning just eleven issues were published at Boston.
The front page begins with a letter: "It is now become highly necessary…

THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET OR THE GENERAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, Jan. 30, 1781  

* American Revolutionary War
* Closing months - nice masthead

Page 2 has: "A Proclamation" beginning: "Whereas a resolve...for apprehending all prisoners of war that have been captured by any armed vessels of the United States and have not taken arms against the King of Great Britain..." with further dextral, signed in type by the governor of Mass: John Hancock.
Page 3 begins with a letter signed: Benedict…

GLEASON'S LITERARY COMPANION, Boston, June 20, 1863  The masthead features a very large heraldic eagle with a 7 inch wingspan holding in its beak a banner with the title. Mostly filled with literary items including a ftpg. story: "The Omen-Ring, or The Traitor of the Revolution" which has a print showing Benedict Arnold. Another page has some tidbits relating to the Civil War.
Sixteen pages, 11 by 15 inches, great condition.

THE ESSEX JOURNAL & NEW HAMPSHIRE PACKET, Newburyport, Massachusetts, Feb. 9, 1776 

* Paul Revere masthead engraving
* American Revolutionary War
* Great year to have (1776)

There were but a few masthead engravings of the 18th century which were created by Paul Revere. The "Massachusetts Spy" is perhaps the most famous, plus there is the engraving in the "Boston Gazette" as well, with these two newspapers being among the most common in a relative sense. But even these are quite rare.
Revere also…

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, March 2, 1796  The front page has a full column on the creation of the town of Castine, Maine, being an Act of the Massachusetts Legislature reading: "An ACT to divide the town of Penobscot into two distinct towns; and to incorporate the southerly part thereof into a town by the name of Castine." with the lengthy text, signed in type: Samuel Adams.
Keep in mind that Maine was part of Massachusetts until 1820.
Page 3 has a short bit: "Benedict Arnold is coming out…

THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, November, 1781  Near the back is a section headed: "American News" which has a "Copy of a Letter from Brig. Gen. Arnold to his Excellency the Commander in Chief, dated Sound off Plumb Island, Sept. 8, 1781" which takes over an entire page & is signed by him in type: B. Arnold.
This is his detailed report on the taking of New London, Connecticut, known as the Battle of Groton Heights.
Also included is a letter from George Washington to Congress which prefaces…

THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, March 27, 1781 Page 2 has an item referencing the famous naval battle involving John Paul Jones, with: "...Displeasures of his B.M. in regard to what has been done for Paul  Jones is equally groundless...". Another item on pg. 2 extending to pg. 3 includes: "...negociation intended to lay the plan of a treaty of commerce to be concluded between the Republic & the said Colonies...in case the independency of those Colonies should be acknowledged by the Crown of…

THE PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, February 13, 1776   Any newspaper dated 1776 is quite desirable, but even more so issues printed in Philadelphia.
The entire front page is taken up with a lengthy letter to the publisher which begins: "I cannot recall an idea to my mind more amazingly absurd & stupid than the idea of Lord North's second attempt to gull the colonists into a belief of his inclination to hold out to them terms of a safe and amicable reconciliation with Great Britain..."…

THE PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, Jan. 25, 1776   

* The "dishonest malevolence" controversy
* Thomas Paine "Common Sense" & Robert Bell
* Great year to have (1776) Revolutionary War

As a bit of a back story, printer Robert Bell ran an advertisement taking most of a column in the January 27 issue attacking both Paine and Bradford and ingenuously accusing them of "dishonest malevolence." He also continued his efforts to sell his own second edition of Thomas Paine's famous…

THE BOSTON GAZETTE & COUNTRY JOURNAL, Dec. 8, 1777  

* Battles of Saratoga - Revolutionary War
* General John Burgoyne surrenders

The patriotic engraving in the masthead was done by none other than Paul Revere, showing the caged dove of peace being set free over the skyline of Boston by the symbol of liberty. 
Certainly the most notable content would be the letter from General Burgoyne to Sir William Howe--found in its entirety on the front page--dated at Albany, Oct. 20, 1777. In his…

THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, Jan. 31, 1782  

* Revolutionary War Era
* 18th century
* From The Enemy

Page 2 has a nice letter from New York beginning: "We are under some apprehensions here for the safety of the garrison of Charlestown [Charleston], South Carolina. If that should meet with the same fate as York Town in Virginia, America, it is to be feared, will be totally lost to Great Britain..." with more.
Page 7 has a full column of "American News", one item beginning: "The…

THE AMERICAN JOURNAL & GENERAL ADVERTISER, Providence, Rhode Island, April 22, 1779 

* The Battle of Horse Neck
* Greenwich, Connecticut
* General Israel Putnam
* Gen. George Washington

A truly rare title from the Revolutionary War, as it lasted for less than 1 1/2 years from March, 1779 to August, 1781.
This issue is volume 1, number 6.
The front page begins with a letter concerning depreciation of Continental money, taking over two-thirds of the front page.
Page 2 has a note from…

EDINBURGH EVENING COURANT, Scotland, Dec. 8, 1777

* Battles of Saratoga - Revolutionary War
* General John Burgoyne surrenders

Certainly the most  significant content is the page 2 report on the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, a very much-needed victory for the American cause. Some of the reporting includes: "...arrived in town express...we are sorry to say that Government have received the melancholy accounts that General Burgoyne and his army have been obliged to surrender…

THE NEW-ENGLAND CHRONICLE, OR THE ESSEX GAZETTE Cambridge, Sept. 21, 1775  

* American Revolutionary War

This title has a rather short lifespan in Cambridge existing from just May 12, 1775 thru April 4, 1776, less than a year. After the latter date the newspaper was removed to Boston.
The front page begins with a strong appeal by the City of London to the King concerning his handling of the situation in America. It mentions: "...The abhorrence we entertain of civil bloodshed & confusion will, we…

GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, December, 1777  

* Battles of Saratoga
* General John Burgoyne surrenders
* Germantown and Brandywine

The very first article is a two page continued: "Debate in the House of Lords on Lord Chatham's Motion for an Address to his Majesty relative to the American War".
This is one of the more historic issues of the Revolutionary War with a terrific amount of war reporting, not the least of which is a fine report on Burgoyne's Surrender at Saratoga.
Among the…

THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, August 14, 1781  

* Battle of Green Spring
* James County, Virginia
* American Revolutionary War

The front page has news from captured correspondence including: "The revolt of the Pennsylvania line & Jersey brigade...are certainly events of very great importance, & must have very extensive effects both in reducing Washington's present force & preventing its being recruited by new levies..." and: "...I flatter myself the southern…

THE INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE AND THE UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Boston, Dec. 6, 1781  

* American Revolutionary War
* Post Surrender of Cornwallis
* Loyalist James Rivington

The masthead features an engraving taken from one done by Paul Revere, showing a soldier holding a sword and a document inscribed "Independence" while standing beneath a banner inscribed "Appeal To Heaven" and surrounded by ornate embellishments.
The entire front page & a bit of page 2 are taken up with: "The Revolution…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Dec. 10, 1864  The full front page is: "Arrival Of Union Refugees at Kingston, Georgia".  Inside has a full page print: "Thank God! Reception of Our Exchanged Prisoners on Board the 'Eliza Hancox' ". Other prints within include: "Serving Out Rations to Our Exchanged Prisoners on Board the 'New York' " "Sunday Morning Inspection on Board the gunboat 'Metacomet' " "The Battlefield--At The Front" "The Battlefield--At the Rear" "Deacon John Phillips" "Brigadier-General…