ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Title
Isaiah Thomas Autographed Signed Letter: September 24, 1805
Collection Number
SC 465
OCLC Number
945919670
Creator
Isaiah Thomas, 1749-1831
Provenance
This document was located in SC 100, an artificial collection created by the department
in the 1970s. The letter was removed to form its own collection.
Extent,Scope, and Content Note
Autographed letter by Isaiah Thomas (1749-1831) to William Johnson.
Date: September 24, 1805; written from Boston, Massachusetts.
1 unnumbered page
Dimensions: 24 x 18 cm
In this letter, Isaiah Thomas is requesting payment for bibles, and is soliciting
the help of William Johnson to secure the monies from an unknown buyer.
Arrangement and Processing Note
Finding aid by Kristen J. Nyitray, March 2016. Transcription by Kichang Jung, Andrew
Veglucci, Justin Chan (ACH 102.S18, spring 2016) and Nicole Shaw (intern). Finding
aid updated by Kristen J. Nyitray in June 2019.
Language
English
Restrictions on Access
The collection is open to researchers without restriction.
Rights and Permissions
Stony Brook University Libraries' consent to access as the physical owner of the collection
does not address copyright issues that may affect publication rights. It is the sole
responsibility of the user of Special Collections and University Archives materials
to investigate the copyright status of any given work and to seek and obtain permission
where needed prior to publication.
Citation
Isaiah Thomas Autographed Signed Letter, Special Collections and University Archives,
Stony Brook University Libraries.
Historical Note
Isaiah Thomas (1749-1831) was a celebrated printer and publisher credited with aiding
the efforts of the Patriots as they fought for American independence from the British.
Thomas was born in January of 1749 in Boston, Massachusetts, and by the time he was
seven had become an apprentice to a Boston printer. In 1770, he formed a partnership
to begin publication of the newspaper Massachusetts Spy, which he subsequently published alone a year later in 1771. This publication was
one of the first papers to target the middle class, and as such it became one of the
most widely read newspapers in the colonies. The content of the paper was highly political
and Thomas’ motto was “open to all parties, but influenced by none.” This was particularly
fitting, as Thomas staunchly supported George Washington and the Federalists, despite
numerous threats from British officials and Loyalists. Thomas worked in tandem with
Patriots John Hancock and Paul Revere to fight for independence. Thomas played a large
role in convincing the people of Massachusetts to join the revolution against the
British. His newspaper became so influential that the British called for his arrest
and execution. Loyalists in Boston threatened to destroy his printing office if he
did not stop publishing against British rule. Deciding that it was too dangerous to
remain in Boston, he relocated to Worcester, MA, where he continued to publish in
support of the Patriots. There he was the first to report the Battles of Lexington
and Concord, giving eyewitness accounts that finally convinced many of the remaining
loyalists to join in the cause against the British. He also performed the first public
reading of the Declaration of Independence in Worcester. After the war, Thomas continued
to publish from Worcester. In 1775, he began publishing the New England Almanac, which was continued by his son, Isaiah Thomas Jr., after his death. Thomas founded
the American Antiquarian Society in 1812, the oldest historical society of American
records. He left his library collections, newspapers and personal records to the American
Antiquarian Society upon his death in April of 1831. Thomas is buried at the Rural
Cemetery in Worcester. (Compiled by Nicole Shaw, intern)
Subjects
Thomas, Isaiah, -- 1749-1831 -- Correspondence.
Printers -- Massachusetts.
Thomas, Isaiah, -- 1749-1831.
Printers.
Massachusetts.
Transcription
Boston, Sept. 24th 1805
Esteemed Friend,
Your favor of the 21(st) of the 8th mo.
I have written to my Clerk respecting
the Error you mention in the settlement
of our account.- He charged interest, it
seems, for a longer term than he should
conformably to an agreement of 90 days
credit - the Bibles being charged at Cash
price prompt payment; he knew not the agreement.
I would inform you that [Mormain’s?]
note is not yet all paid. - about 15 dollars
are yet due - perhaps he may pay it
some time or other - he is now absent I
believe - I have not seen him for some
months; but I do not view you as account-
able for the deficiency, as I have neglected
to return the note seasonably.-
I hope you may favor me with
an order for the amount of the Error, &
for a greater amount of agreeable;
if not I will embrace some opportu-
nity to remit you the amount what appears to be due.
Your friend, (&)
I. Thomas
Wm [William] Johnson.
My friend Wm. [William] A. presents his requests.