Historic Newspapers: Search Results

THE CONNECTICUT JOURNAL, New Haven, Oct. 18, 1775

* General George Washington
* Named Commander-in-Chief 
* Continental Army - British reaction

The front page begins with a nice item from London concerning George Washington: "General Washington, who was lately appointed Generalissimo over the Provincials, has refused any salary, and is to attend to the hazardous and arduous duty allotted him from principle only. A most noble example & worthy of imitation in Great Britain, particularly…

THE FREEMAN'S JOURNAL OR NORTH AMERICAN INTELLIGENCER, Philadelphia, May 2, 1781  

* Pre-surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown
* American Revolutionary War original 

A very nice issue from just five months before Cornwallis would surrender to Washington at Yorktown, essentially ending the Revolutionary War.
The front page has a report: "In Council" at Phila. beginning: "Whereas by an Act of Assembly...intitled 'An Act to complete the quota of the Federal Army assigned to this state..."…

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 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 LONDON CHRONICLE, England, July 25, 1782 

* re. Battle of the Assunpink Creek - Trenton
* re. George Washington crossing the Delaware 

Page 2 has a report beginning: "So determined are the French to pursue their favorite plan of annihilating the British power in North America, & particularly to the capturing the British army in New York...to co-operate with General Washington towards the reduction of that important garrison...".
All of pg. 4 & a bit of page 5 are taken up with…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, November 24, 1883  The entire front page is one of the more desirable of the entire 60 year run of this newspaper, being a fine portrait of: "Frederick Douglass", with a related article on him on an inside page.
But there are other nice prints in this issue as well, including a full page: "Autumn Leaves" by Howard Pyle; a print of: "The Late J. Marion Sims, M.D."; a very nice double page centerfold: "Evacuation Day One Hundred Years Ago---The Continental Army…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, October 20, 1883  Full front pg. illus. of "Sir. Moses Montefiore, the Old Man Beneficent." Inside are two 1/2 pg. illus. pertaining to "Bicentennial of the First Landing of Germans in America" including "...The Celebration in Newark, New Jersey" and "...The Celebration in Germantown, Pennsylvania." 1/2 pg. illus. of "The Mexican Independence Day-Scene in Plateros Street, Mexico City."
Full pg. illus. of "Disbanding the Continental Army, at New Windsor, New York,…

PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER, Philadelphia, Aug. 19, 1775 

* The "Olive Branch Petition"
* Revolutionary War beginning
* Second Continental Congress

Certainly the most notable content in this issue is found taking over half of page 2, being the very historic Olive Branch Petition.
This was one of the more historic documents of the war, adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 5, 1775, in a final attempt to avoid a war between the American Colonies and England. The petition affirmed…

THE INDEPENDENT GAZETTEER OR THE CHRONICLE OF FREEDOM, Philadelphia, April 19, 1783  

* John Dickinson of Pennsylvania
* Proclamation of the Cessation of Arms 
* End of hostilities of Revolutionary War

Over half of the front page is taken up with various dispatches concerning: "The Proceedings of the Federal Army near New Windsor, to Obtain the Redress of their Grievances".
This was called the Newburgh Conspiracy, a plan by Continental Army officers to challenge the authority of the…

THE POLITICAL MAGAZINE, London, August, 1783  

* General George Washington
* Circular letter re. U.S. Army
* Revolutionary War ending 

ing the Revolutionary War. It contains a wealth of reports concerning the concluding events of the war.
Pages 1 and 2 have: "Lord Sheffield's Observations on the Commerce of the American States". Another page has a lengthy list of the: "American Ships Taken" during the war. Another page has: "An Act for Forfeiture & ale of the Estates of Persons who…

THE MASSACHUETTS GAZETTE or the GENERAL ADVERTISER, Springfield, July 29, 1783  

* General George Washington
* Circular letter re. U.S. Army
* Revolutionary War ending 

The entire front page, all of page 2, and a portion of page 3 are taken up with one of the more noteworthy letters from General Washington during the war.

THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER, Philadelphia, Nov. 30, 1776 

* Rare Revolutionary War era title
* Tory issue from Pennsylvania
* Great year to have (1776)

(editor's copy) This was a decidedly Tory newspaper, supportive of the British efforts in America. This newspaper ended publication in June, 1778 when the British evacuated the city.
The front page has a very detailed "Twenty Dollars Reward" ad for a runaway slave named Caesar. Page 2 has a report concerning an expedition into the western…

THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET OR THE GENERAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, Dec. 19, 1780 

* Battle of Camden, South Carolina
* Charles Cornwallis vs. Horatio Gates
* American Revolutionary War

See the photos for the very handsome masthead which features ornate lettering and an engraving of a ship.
A great issue as two-thirds of the front page and one-third of page 2 are taken up with the details of the Battle of Camden, South Carolina. The report is taken from the "London Gazette Extraordinary".
The Battle of…

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, May 17, 1794  

* President George Washington 
* French officer Louis de Tousard

The front page begins with an Act of Congress, giving a pension for life to Lt. Col. Tousard. It is signed in script type by the President: Go. Washington.
Louis de Tousard was a French artillerist who served in the American Continental Army under La Fayette, and later was given a U. S. commission. Tousard wrote two very influential books: one was a proposal for a school for…

THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, Feb. 7, 1782  

* re. Isaac Haynes execution
* American Revolutionary War

All of the front page, page 2, and a portion of page 3 are taken up with: "Further Particulars of the Debate in the House of Lords...on the Duke of Richmond's Motion Respecting the Execution of Col. Haynes in America." This was a very controversial event in the Revolutionary War as Isaac Haynes was hanged by the British under controversial charges.
Near the back is nearly half a page…

THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER OR THE PHILADELPHIA MARKET-DAY ADVERTISER, March 4, 1778 

* Battle of Brandywine - Creek
* Chadds Ford Township, Pennsylvania
* American Revolutionary War

This was a strongly Tory (pro-British) newspaper that began in 1775 and closed shop in May of 1778 when the British evacuated Philadelphia, so much of the content within is with a pro-British bias.
Rare to find such Tory newspapers in America, and those from Philadelphia would not survive beyond the brief…

THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, Nov. 16, 1776  The back page has a letter from a man on board a ship at New York dated Sept. 25, 1776. It begins; "Our army has met with great success; we just arrived from Halifax when they made their landing on Long Island & saw the battles fought between our troops and the rebels..." with more detail (see). But it is a later sentence in this letter--brief as it is--which reports a incident known to every student in America: "On the 22d we hung a man who was…

THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, July, 1777  

* General William Howe
* Charles Cornwallis
* American Independence ?

The issue begins with a continuation of the: "Debate in the House of Lords...relative to the American War" taking over 5 pages & with much on the Revolutionary War. One bit notes: "...That America never aimed at independence till she was compelled to it by our harsh conduct; and that she is at least unanimous in one thing, never to submit to unconditional claims of the British…

THE INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE & THE UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Boston, Jan. 25, 1781  

* Rare Revolutionary War title from America

A very handsome issue as the masthead features an engraving taken from one done by Paul Revere for colonial currency at the time. It is a very patriotic device showing a soldier with a sword in one hand and a scroll with 'Independence' in the other, with the words 'Appeal To Heaven" above him.
Most of the front page is taken up with a letter: "To the Inhabitants of…

THE CONNECTICUT COURANT, Hartford, October 7, 1783

* Newburgh Conspiracy plan
* General George Washington
* Revolutionary War ending events

 Both the front page and page 2 have nice, lengthy letters concerning the Newburgh Conspiracy of that time.

THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET OR GENERAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, July 27, 1779 

* Battle of Stony Point - New York
* American Revolutionary War night assault
* Generals George Washington & Anthony Wayne

This title has one of the more handsome mastheads of the era, with very ornate lettering and an engraving of a three-masted ship.
Page 2 has a lengthy letter in defense of Robert Morris against Thomas Paine. Also much on a meeting of freeholders at Boston, moderated by Sam Adams, with…

THE CONNECTICUT COURANT, Hartford, June 23, 1778  Most of the front page is taken up with an address of the governor of New Jersey to the General Assembly concerning the Revolutionary War.
It begins: "I heartily congratulate you upon the agreeable news we have received from France...The treaties of alliance & of amity & commerce between his Most Christian Majesty & the United States of America by which our freedom, sovereignty & independence are fully recognized..." with much more, portions…

THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, Feb. 10, 1777  

* Thomas Paine's "American Crisis"
* Essay # 2 re. Revolutionary War
* Intended to bolster American morale 

Almost the entire front page is taken up with the continuation of Thomas Paine's essay #2 of his famous "American Crisis" series, a collection of 13 essays written by Paine during the American Revolutionary War.
In 1776 Paine wrote Common Sense, an extremely popular and successful pamphlet arguing for…

GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, May, 1757  

* Early Major George Washington 
* Jewish colony in the East Indies

The first 2 1/2 pages have reports from the French & Indian War in America, including five letters written by General Braddock datelined Williamsburgh and Alexandria. In the introductory comments on the first page is mention that: "...concerning the territories in America mention'd in the treaty of Utrecht; of several Indian traders seized by the French on the Ohio, and sent…

THE EDINBURGH ADVRTISER, Scotland, Jan. 6, 1784

* General George Washington
* Farewell address - speech
* Continental Army officers
* Princeton, New Jersey

 Certainly the most notable & historic content is the full text printing of: "General Washington's Farewell Orders to the Armies of the United States", a very historic & notable document datelined: "Rocky Hill, near Princetown, Nov. 2, 1783." It takes portions of both pages 2 and 3.
It reads in part: "...A contemplation of the…

THE INDEPENDENT LEDGER & THE AMERICAN ADVERTISER, Boston, Nov. 24, 1783  

"One Inflamed Enlightened Heart" patriotic masthead

A very nice feature of this issue is the masthead engraving which features a very patriotic theme: "All Hands with One Inflamed Enlightened Heart." signifying the 13 united colonies having a common, patriotic purpose. One of the more patriotic masthead engravings of the Revolutionary War era.

THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, England, September, 1775  

* Battle of Bunker Hill diagram - print
* John Hancock & George Washington

A nice issue with much historic content from the beginning months of the Revolutionary War.
Perhaps the best content is the very nice half page illustration of the "Redoubt & Intrenchment on the Heights of Charles Town, Commonly called Bunker Hill, Opposite Boston, attacked & Carried by his Majesty's Troops, June 17, 1775" with some text on the illustration as…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, June 6, 1903 Frontpgae illustration "Discussing the Yacht Races; Defending the Panama Canal; The Fight for an Open Port; The President in the West; Doublepage illustration "What She Didn't Declare" by James Montgomery Flagg; other news and advertisements of the day. See photos for full details.