The New York and The Richmond County Free Press, 1833
The New York and Richmond County Free Press was started about 1830, by William Hagadorn. It was a twelve-page paper, and its title page bore the following announcement:
"Devoted to the advancement of the liberal arts and sciences, and to the promulgation of useful knowledge, general literature, etc. In its columns may be found interesting selections in natural history, geology, mineralogy and botany, original and selected tales, poetry, strictures, essays, biographical sketches, traits of distinguished characters, etc." The publication office was at 174 Broadway, New York City. I have a bound volume of the Free Press commencing Saturday, June 10th, 1835. Under the editorial head is the following ticket: "For President, Martin Van Buren, of New York ; for Vice-President, Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky." The leading editorial is as follows:
"The first number of a new series of the Free Press is now laid before the public. Our readers will perceive that the interval, between the date of our last and our present number, has been employed in making a considerable improvement in the form and appearance of the paper. Subscribers, almost without an exception, desired us to make this improvement ; and, while we state that its accomplishment has incurred a heavy expenditure of time and money, [we mean, of course, an expenditure heavy in proportion to our light resources,] we will take leave to express our assurance of being amply reimbursed, by the accessions that will be made to our subscription list, and the promptitude and pleasure with which the old subscribers will now call and settle their dues, knowing that we have spared no pains or expense in placing this publication on a footing commensurate with the liberality with which it has been sustained during the past five years."
Following the above is an editorial comment concerning the order of President Jackson, to the effect that "public officers must pay their debts, or suffer immediate removal." A great deal is said about the tariff, and it is evident that Democrats and Whigs were having a lively time of it. In the following number this paragraph is printed:
"Our Richmond County Paper (the income of which has not for the past six or eight months paid the extra expense which it has been to us), will be continued throughout the present volume. Our paper has lately been 'got up' with considerable expense to us, and we are determined that it shall be punctually and regularly delivered to our subscribers. If at the end of this volume, our circulation in Richmond County has not enlarged sufficiently to warrant the continuance of that branch of our paper, we will then be compelled to discontinue it."
The Free Press contained a limited amount of local news. On the 27th of June, (1831,) there was an account of the robbery of Jacob De Groot's store on the North Shore, on the previous Saturday night. About $300 worth of dry goods were stolen. The old U. S. Frigate "Constitution" had just passed Staten Island and was anchored in port. July 4th there was a long list of uncalled-for letters in the Tompkinsville post office. John C. Thompson was post-master. Some of the names in the list are familiar to the residents of the Island to- day. There was also a list of letters, remaining in the City Ville post office (West Brighton), D. V. N. Mersereau, post master. The "Tompkins Guards" was the name of the "crack" military company in those days. The Richmond and Quarantine stage made a round trip each day. One dollar reward was offered for the capture of Richard Long, an apprentice, who had run away from Daniel Merrill, Sr., of Northfield. On August 15th the publisher offered to sell the "copyright and patronage" of the paper. He claimed that it was one of the best established papers in the city. October 3d this item appeared : "A farmer on Staten Island, whose fertile grounds we were admiring at the time, informed us that when he first came into possession of his farm, there was but one blade of grass within its precincts, and that a famished grasshopper was perched upon that, making his dying prayer."
The Free Press lost its interest in the Island shortly, and was superseded, in a measure, by the New York Plaindealer. Its first number was issued on December 3d, 1836. It was a very ably conducted paper. The great bank question, which at that time was the absorbing topic for the whole country, consumed a very large portion of its space. Its love for Andrew Jackson was only equalled by its hatred for Martin Van Buren. It was printed for the proprietor by William Van Norden, at 96 Nassau street; the publication office was at the corner of Pine street and Broadway. The editor was very bitter in his denunciation of the respect shown to Aaron Burr, at the time of the old soldier's death at Port Richmond, and a day or so later, when the college authorities at Princeton, with distinguished honors, placed his mortal remains at the feet of his fathers. The language used is far more forcible than elegant. The Pavilion Hotel at New Brighton, was a social center in those days, and the Plaindealer gives an elaborate description of the house and becomes enthusiastic over the, charming scenery of the Island.
From "The Press" by Charles Leng and William T. Davis in Staten Island and It's People
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The date of each issue is in the file name: richmond-county-free-press-18330511-001 .pdf = Richmond County Free Press, May 11, 1833, page