Samuel Loudon

The New-York Packet and The American Advertiser, founded and printed by Samuel Loudon

Samuel Loudon (1727-1813)  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 the State and printed the first Constitution for New York. Before and during the American Revolution Loudon became active in the cause for American independence, and for freedom of the press.

Early life and family

Samuel Loudon was born in Scotland who had emigrated to the America colonies before the American Revolution.

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.

In October of 1753 Loudon 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 was now operating as a ship chandler, selling supplies for ships.

Printing career

Sermon written by John Mason, printed by Samuel Loudon in New York

Loudon entered into his printing career when he bought interest in the business of the printing firm of Hodge and Shober in 1775, 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. Also in 1775, he opened a bookshop.

American Revolution

Politically Loudon was a staunch Whig. He was awarded a contract for the official printer for the state and printed orders for the Continental Army. Loudon, though a devoted Presbyterian and committed Republican, began printing a pamphlet written by Bishop Charles Inglis that was highly critical of a pamphlet entitled Common Sense, which was written by Thomas Paine Inglis's critical pamphlet was entitled The Deceiver Unmasked ; or Loyalty and Interest United. Paine's popular but controversial work was highly critical of the British Crown and Parliament and strongly advocated the rebellion and the cause for American independence. 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. The Whigs also became alarmed and 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 forcibly seized and destroyed the whole original manuscript and carried off and destroyed 1,500 impressions of the controversial editorial. In response Loudon, though an advocate for independence, nonetheless 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, claiming that an affront to the freedom of the press was committed, and at a time when the question of independence was still an open question.

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."

Isaac Van Wyck house, site of first N. Y. Post Office and Loudon's printing shop

British forces arrived at New York City soon after Loudon started his newspaper. He suspended publication of The New-York Packet on August 29, 1776. For safety he moved his large family first to Norwich, Connecticut. There for a short time he was a merchant and then later moved to Fishkill, New York. There he opened a store and print shop. He took on the responsibility of becoming the local postmaster as part of the duties of a printer. 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.

Articles from the State of New York American Revolution Bicentennial Commission show that Fishkill became the first post office in the state of New York 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 13 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 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 13 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 returned to New York City after the British had surrendered and had evacuated the city. In the July 11 issue he had devoted an entire page to the printing of The Declaration of Independence. Loudon had it printed using a large font and framed it with decorations. It became the most elaborate printing of a any government document. He printed New York's first Constitution in 1777 and after the revolution printed the Laws of the State of New York in 1786. He also printed Noah Webster's American Magazine for 1787–1788).

Laws and Ordinances of New York state, 1786.

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.

Post revolution

In 1783 Loudon printed the famous Newburgh letter in a pamphlet called A Collection of Papers relating to Half Pay to the Officers of the Army, which had reprinted several times. In 1784 Loudon printed and published Letters from Phocion by Alexander Hamilton, who wrote under the assumed name of Phocion. Hamilton's letters criticized the way in which Loyalists after the war were treated in New York State.

Loudon as a merchant used his New York City print shop as a consignment store. The sale of personal property on commission was a common practice by Loudon. On September 20, 1784, he printed the following advertisement in the The New York Packet and The American Advertiser" "German Flutes of a superior Quality to be sold at this Printing-office." The advertisement for the sale of John Jacob Astor's musical instruments was periodically published by Loudon in his newspaper to March 10, 1785.

Loudon published in 1786 the Laws of the City of New York, and another edition of the City Charter granted by Grovenor Montgomerie. In 1787 Loudon took his son John Loudon into partnership, to form Loudon and Son. In 1792 Loudon retired from business. In February, 1792, Loudon, with his son, started publication of The Diary or Loudon’s Register, which was issued daily, but its publication was short lived. Loudon was commissioned in 1793 by Edmond-Charles Genêt, who had obtained asylum in American during the French Revolution, to print various letters he had written to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson in the Loudon's Register. Loudon's Register also covered the events and public and political opinions surrounding the Whiskey Rebellion which ended in 1794.

In 1793 a yellow fever epidemic broke out in Philadelphia which effected nearly everyone in that city to one degree or another. Not understanding its cause, and knowing no other recourse, a Presbyterian minister, John Mitchell Mason, commissioned Loudon, though retired, to print a sermon he had written, which was read in New York on a day set aside for public fasting and prayer for the people in Philadelphia.

Loudon historical marker

Final years and legacy

Beginning in 1785 Loudon became an active member of New York's Saint Andrew Society and for many years was an elder of the Scotch Presbyterian Church on Cedar Street. He was also an honorary member of the Society of the Cincinnati. On February 24, 1813, Loudon died at Middletown Point, New Jersey, at the age of eighty-six.

The public was invited to a dedication of the memory of Loudon on Saturday October 11, 2014, at 10 a.m., with a new historic marker that was placed at the corner of 17 Old Main St. and Loudon Drive. The Fishkill Historical Society unveiled the plaque near the location of Loudon's print shop. He had served as the first postmaster from 1776 to 1783, when Fishkill was the only post office in the state of New York.

See also

• Paltsits (1920), John Holt, Printer and Postmaster
• Letter from to John Adams from Hugh Hughes (A work by Loyalist Rev. Charles Inglis, The Deceiver Unmasked, printed by Samuel Loudon; copies destroyed by Son's of Liberty]

Bibliography

Further information:  Bibliography of early American publishers and printers

• Bowman, John Stewart (1995). The Cambridge dictionary of American biography.
• Curran, Jonathan (2018). "Examining Public Opinion during the Whiskey Rebellion". Journal of the American Revolution. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
• Hildeburn, Charles S. (1895). Sketches of printers and printing in colonial New York. New York : Dodd, Mead, & Company.
• Mason, John M. (1793). Loudon, Samuel (ed.). Sermon, preached September 20th, 1793. Samuel Loudon & Son.
• Malone, Dumas (1935). Dictionary Of American Biography. Charles Scribner's Sons.
• Thomas, Isaiah (1874). The history of printing in America, with a biography of printers. Vol. I. New York, B. Franklin.
• —— (1874). The history of printing in America, with a biography of printers. Vol. II. New York, B. Franklin.
• Wroth, Lawrence C. (1938). The Colonial Printer. Portland, Me., The Southworth-Anthoensen press.
• "Samuel Loudon". Pomeroy Foundation. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
• "To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 25 January 1779". National Archives: Founders on line. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
• Hamilton, Alexander (1784). "A Letter from Phocion to the Considerate Citizens of New York, 1-27-1784". National Archives: founders online. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
• "To George Washington from Edmond Charles genet, 13 August 1793". National Archives: Founders Online. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
• "Fishkill Post Office State's First". Poughkeepsie Journal. Poughkeepsie, New York. July 4, 1976. p. 37 – via Newspapers.com .
• "Do You Know". Poughkeepsi Journal. Poughkeepsi, New York. July 26, 1974. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com .
• "Revolutionary memorial to be dedicated in Fishkill". Poughkeepsie Journal. Poughkeepsie, New York. October 7, 2014. p. A6 – via Newspapers.com .

External links

• Samuel Loudon at Founder's Online
• Historical marker
• Printing of the Declaration of Independence, by Loudon
• Fishkill Historical Society