CHECK LIST OF CONNECTICUT ALMANACS,

Transcription

1 1914.] Connecticut Almanacs, CHECK LIST OF CONNECTICUT ALMANACS, WITH INTEODUCTION AND NOTES. BY ALBERT CÁELOS BATES. The almanac now occupies but a very humble and minor position in the economy of the average household. There are perhaps as many homes today that do not possess an almanac as there are that do. Its place for general household reference has been to a large extent usurped by its now ever present descendant, the calendar. While, in the absence of either, the information most frequently sought from an almanac is now usually to be found at hand in the newspaper. But in the old days it was very different; a calendar had not been thought of; there were no newspapers, either daily or weekly; clocks which often gave the days of the month were rare, and watches still more so; no factory gong or fire bell sounded at noon each day; no regular trip of, say, merchant or peddler announced that the weekly cycle had again come around. How then did the people, more particularly those who were isolated in scattered country homes, keep a correct reckoning of the passage of time? It must have been difficult; and there is little question that they now and then lost the correct reckoning. Who has' not heard tales of Deacon So-and-So, who once long ago forgot that it was Sunday and plowed the whole day long with his oxen; or of Mrs. Somebody, who brought out her flax wheel and began to spin on a certain Sabbath morning. In the entire absence of an almanac or any substitute

2 94 American Antiquarian Sodety. [April, for one, it will readily be seen that it would be an easy matter to make an error in the reckoning of the days, or to forget the month into which a daily or weekly reckoning had entered. There was no doubt some person in almost every town who was able to do so, and who did purchase an almanac each year. To him reference could be made in case of doubt as to the day of either week or month. The "noon-mark," a line cut in the floor of room or porch on which a shadow fell at noon, was an accompaniment of many houses. This served the fortunate owner of clock or watch, in the absence of an almanac, to regulate his timepiece. But as the sun was almost always "fast" or "slow," this mark was absolutely correct on only a few days of the year. The weekly recurrence of the sabbath day probably served better than anything else, to those without an almanac, in keeping their reckoning correct. On that day all the families would meet together at religious service; and it would be only on infrequent occasions that a household would fail to correctly note the seventh day after such meeting as being the day for again gathering together. But as the months (except February) do not contain an exact number of weeks, the keeping a reckoning of the day of the month, and even of the month itself, must have been a more diflscult matter, and made an almanac almost a necessity for that purpose. For the few who kept a journal the task was easier. Thomas Minor of Stonington, Conn., whose journal extends from 1653 to 1684, made certain of his reckoning by giving at the beginning of each month the number of days in the month and the day of the week on which the first of the month fell. For example, he says: "The sixt month is agust. 31 days tusday the first," and "The first month is march & hath 31 days Tusday the first and is the year 1664 an the first year after the leape yeare." It is to be remembered that until some years after that time the year began, according to ecclesiastical reckoning, on March 25th, and March was considered as the first month.

3 1914.] Connecticut Almanacs, His son Manassah Minor, also of Stonington, possessed a Tulley's Almanac for This was bound in a leather cover with about one hundred blank leaves, being placed midway in the volume. On these leaves he began a diary on January 1, , which he continued until the book was filled in May not this be taken as an indication that he possessed an almanac only on occasional years, and that he made one serve him for perhaps several years in aiding him to keep his reckoning of the days, weeks and months? The writer has seen another almanac of about the samé period, bound up with blank leaves, which belonged to a resident of Wethersfield. This also had written notes and memoranda (not in the nature of a journal) extending over several years. As the years rolled on the number of almanacs increased, and at the same time both the actual and the proportional number of families possessing almanacs also increased. It seems certain that this actual and proportional increase continued and grew throughout the period covered by the accompanying list. Until perhaps by, or soon after, the close of the Civil War, every family, in this part of the country at least, possessed one or more almanacs each year. In recent years the more convenient calendar has caused a marked decrease in the issue and sale of almanacs. And this brings up the query, when did the calendar as we now know it come into use? So far as can be learned by inquiry of elderly people, the calendar has been in use less than half a century. It is not remembered previous to about the year The TuUey almanacs, which were issued in Boston from 1687 to 1702, form the first series whose popularity in Connecticut appears evident. This popularity was perhaps due in part to the fact that Tulley himself was a native and resident of Saybrook, Conn.. It is but natural that a local pride and curiosity should have aided their sale in his own Colony. And Connecticut people may well regret that there was no printing press

4 96 American Antiquarian Society. [April, in the Colony, from which the productions of their first known almanac maker could have been issued. After the death of Tulley, evidence is lacking for a time as to what almanacs were most used in Connecticut. There were issues for several years during the next quarter century printed at or for New London; some of them of Connecticut authorship, and others reprints of Boston issues, or Boston issues bearing an imprint for Connecticut. Rev. Joseph Moss of Derby, Conn., issued an almanac for 1720; and Robert Treat of Müford issued almanacs for several years, as early as 1723 and as late as Daniel Travis' almanacs, printed in Boston for l707 to 1724, formed a well known series. And as they were the ones reissued for a few years for or in Connecticut, it is reasonable to presume that they were the ones most in favor in the Colony. It is probable that from their earliest issue almanacs printed in New York were introduced to some extent into the southwestern part of Connecticut. It has been a matter of comment and inquiry why no almanac, so far as is known, was printed in Connecticut for the years 1728 to 1752, when there was a printing office at New London during the whole period. Perhaps the fact is capable of explanation. Ames' almanac (by Dr. Nathaniel and his son. Dr. Nathaniel Ames) printed in Boston, the earliest issue being for 1726, was for more than a generation after its coinmencement the ahnanac most used in Connecticut. With scarcely an exception all almanacs picked up in old Connecticut families or houses for the years from 1728 to 1770, excepting the few issued by Connecticut authors after 1752, are Ames' almanacs. They are either Boston editions or Connecticut reprints; at New Haven after 1754, at New London after 1760 (or perhaps 1757), or at Hartford after Two Connecticut dealers in old books who have purchased extensively in various parts of the state tell me that they have never found a single ahnanac before 1770 pubhshed out of the State

5 1914.] Connecticut Almanacs, excepting Ames'. The same is true in my own library purchasing experience of more than twenty years. This shows the universahty of the use of Ames' almanac in Connecticut, with the probable exception of some New York issues in the southwestern part of the Colony. The popularity and wide circulation of Ames' almanac in Connecticut was no doubt due in part to the accuracy and reliability of its calculations and to the reasonable price at which it was sold, "Five Coppers single." But perhaps it was due still more to the fact that Timothy Green of New London (father and son) was probably able to secure a quantity of copies of the almanac at the lowest published price; and that his facihties, due to his frequent sending of official prints to all the counties, enabled him to readily distribute the copies to the booksellers throughout the colony. He practically acting as the distributing agent for Connecticut, and making a good profit for himself while so doing. To explain this statement, and also to show why Green began, at least as early as 1761, to reprint Ames' almanac in New London, calls for a somewhat lengthy account of the methods of publishing the Boston issues of Ames. The following is extracted from a broadside address' "To the Pubhck" from "The Booksellers of the Town of Boston," dated Dec. 21, 1759, and "Printed for the Booksellers, of whom any Person may have it gratis": "And surely the Doctor can't but know that Mr. John Draper has acted as a Factor in purchasing his Copy for the Booksellers of Boston, for near Thirty Years past, and that it ever was in Common till the last Year. That Mr. Draper acted in the Capacity as above: We can produce great Numbers of his own Notes to prove, wherein he charges us with our proportionable Part of the Copy. If the Doctor has forgot, we can remind him, that from the Year 1727, till the Year 1759,2 his Akaanacks have been printed for the Booksellers, as the Title > In library of the Massachusetts Historical Society. >But not including A. C. B.

6 98 American Antiquarian Society. [April, Page every Year will prove: And Mr. Draper was so far from thinking the Copy his, that some Years he don't so much as mention the Printer's Name. Let the World then judge, who has encourag'd the Doctor from Year to Year, if it be not the Booksellers. As also let the World judge, who are of a mercenary Disposition, the Booksellers who only desire to have it in Common as it ever has been, or those Printers who have taken Methods to monopolize the Copy to themselves, much at the publick Expense, by demanding an extravagant Price for said Almanacks." The occasion of this controversy was the action of three Boston printers and booksellers Draper, Green & Russell, and Fleet in relation to the publishing of Ames' almanac beginning with the issue for Instead of Draper printing for the other booksellers and charging each his proportional part of the cost of the copy and the expense of printing, as had previously been done, the three named above proceeded to publish the' almanac themselves, for their own benefit. And one of the three sheets composing the almanac was printed by each of the three printers. This action caused bitter feeling in the ranks of the other booksellers, who were thus forced to buy their supply of Ames' almanacs from the three printers. A year later, upon the publication of the almanac for 1760, the Boston booksellers at once reprinted it, correcting some errors of the press that had crept into the authorized edition. This issue they boldly announced as the "lid Edition, Price 2 Pistareens per Dozen, 5 Coppers single. Corrected from the Mistakes and Blunders of those printed by some of the Printers of Boston. " Timothy Green, Jr., was for many years a printer in Boston. In 1727 he entered into partnership there with Samuel Kneeland, in the printing and bookselling business, under the firm name of Kneeland & Green. In this capacity as a Boston bookseller, he would have the right and opportunity to purchase at the original publication price as many copies as he desired of the Ames'

7 1914.] Connecticut Almanacs, almanacs. Besides what were to be retailed by his own firm, there was nothing to prevent his purchasing at the same low price and forwarding to his father, Timothy Green, at New London as many copies as were desired by him to supply the Connecticut trade. This he undoubtedly did; and this would account for no almanac being printed in that colony, and for the almost universal use of the Ames' issues. In 1752 Timothy Green removed from Boston to New London to aid his father in the printing business, and succeeded to the business there in But no doubt his long residence and acquaintance in Boston would enable him to continue to secure the almanacs there at publication price, as if he were still a Boston bookseller. Upon the change above described being made in the manner of publishing Ames' almanacs. Green was, of course, unable to procure them for his Connecticut customers at the same low price as formerly. The 1759 issue he must have purchased of the authorized publishers at the advanced price. The following year he may have purchased of the booksellers, their edition being lower priced than the authorized issue. But the next year, for 1761, the booksellers, who had previously complained about the combination of the authorized printers against them, themselves formed a second combination and printed an edition;' or rather, a part of them did so, probably thus entrenching themselves' as to price against the remaining booksellers in Boston who were not in either combination, and against any out of town booksellers who may previously have been able to secure their copies at the original published price.. The two combinations to hold up the price evidently proved too much for Mr. Green's patience and pocket- The imprinta of the two editions read aa followa: "Boston; Printed by John Draper, in Cornhill; Richard Draper, in Newbury^Street; Green & Rusaell, & Edea & Gili in Queen-Street: and Thomas & John Fleet, at the Heart and Crown in Comhill." "Boaton: Printed by D. and J. Kneeland, for D. Henchman, J. Phillips, J. Edwards, & T. Leverett, in Cornhill; M. Dennis, near Scarlet's Wharfe; J. Winter, in Union- Street; S. Webb, in Ann-Street; J. Perkins, near the Mill-Bridge, and W. McAlpine, in Marlborough-Street

8 100 American Antiquarian Society. [April, book, and previous to Dec. 12, 1760, he reprinted in New London the authorized edition of Ames' almanac for No copy of this issue has been located; but the advertisement of it states that it is "Just Publish'd And Sold by Timo. Green,... Sold also by" the Boston printers whose names appear upon the authorized edition. Green reprinted the Ames' almanac at New London each year thereafter down to But for the years 1761 (presumably), 1762 and 1763 instead of using his own imprint he copied in full the Boston imprint of the authorized edition. Why this was done I do not hazard a guess. Dr. Ames was also troubled about this time by the. publication outside of Boston of unauthorized issues of his almanac, as witness the following advertisement which appeared over his name in the Boston Gazette of Jan. 14, 1760: In a Connecticut Paper was Advertised Almanacks for 1760, with my Name thereto, to be Sold by some of the Booksellers in Boston; and also some to be sold at New Haven, at the low Price of Two Shillings per Dozen: and having seen some of them in Boston, it appears that said Almanack is a notorious Cheat and Imposition: The Chief Design was (as given out by some who had Honor, Honesty and Ingenuity enough to assist in Counterfeiting) to destroy the Credit my Almanack had gained, and prevent its having such Credit for the future: To which Purpose they have endeavoured to render my Performance as despicable as possible, by omitting the Preface, Ephemeris, Verses, &c. also what is of Service, Interest Tables, Value of Coin, the several Roads and Stages; and further to make me appear still more contemptible omitted AU the Week Days in the whole Year, and above 50 Days in the Months, and fixed in some Places the wrong Dominical Letter : Surely such conduct is to the last Degree, Base! I therefore advertise again; That those Almanacks printed in Boston from my Copy have the Printers name thereto, and none others: And I hope that the Defence of my Reputation, in thus advertising, which at this Time seems necessary, will be a sufficient Apology to my Countrymen, whose Good I seek, and on whose Good-Will I depend. The almanac here referred to is undoubtedly the Ames for 1760 reprinted at New Haven by James Parker and

9 1914.] Connecticut Almanacs, Company. That omits "the Preface," &c., as stated above, which are found in the authorized Boston edition. It also condenses into one column the two columns found at the left of each calendar page in the Boston edition. The first of these columns gives the day of the month by number; the second the day of the week by number from two to seven, with the dominical letter inserted to denote the first day or sabbath. This being a leap year has two dominical letters; the first, F, during January and February, the second, E, during the remainder of the year. In the New Haven issue the one column gives the days of the month by number, but with the dominical letter inserted in place of the nimiber to denote each sabbath. It also makes the error of using E instead of F as the dominical letter during the month of February. So that, as the advertisement states, it omits "All the Week Days in the whole Year [by leaving out the weekly column with its repetition of E, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7], and above 50 Days in the Months [by insertion of the dominical letter to denote each sabbath in place of the number showing the day of the month], and fixed in some Places the wrong Dominical Letter [on the four sabbaths in February]." Surely we cannot blame the author for complaining, not only of the unauthorized reprint, but of "such Conduct" in the issue of it. Apparently he was not aware that his almanac had been reprinted in New Haven for the five years preceding this, and that in the issues of 1758 and 1759 his monthly and weekly columns had been condensed into one as in this instance. Connecticut's most famous almanac author or compiler was Rev. Nehemiah Strong. He was born in 1729, was graduated from Yale College in 1755, was settled minister at Turkey Hills, Conn., from 1761 to 1767, and after 1781 resided at Newtown, New Milford and Bridgeport, supplying various pulpits and teaching up to the time of his death, Aug. 3, In 1770 he became a Professor in Yale, taking the newly established chair of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy. He resigned

10 102 American Antiquarian Society. [April, from this in 1781, owing to a difficulty over the question of salary. He was the author of a treatise on Astronomy which won him more than a passing reputation; and he was the instructor of several younger men who followed in his footsteps as authors of almanacs. His first essay at almanac making was as the anonymous author of "Watson's Register" for 1775, printed at Hartford. This was succeeded in 1778 by "T'he Connecticut Almanack," which was stated to be by "the Professor of Mathematics and natural Philosophy at Yale College." And this in turn by an almanac over his own name in 1782 which, with some changes of title, was issued annually, with the exception of 1805, until after his death. The last issue, that for 1809, being "Mostly calculated by Nehemiah Strong. And the remainder finished by Elijah Middlebrook. " So popular did this series become that some years it was issued at Hartford by three different printers. Strong was also the author of the series issued over the name of "Hosea Stafford," and printed at New Haven for the years 1776 to Likewise he was the author of the "Middlesex Almanack," issued without an author's name, and printed in Middletown for the years 1787 to 1793 and One other series which, he never acknowledged, but of which he was without question the author, is that issued under the name of "Isaac Bickerstaff, " calculated for and printed in Hartford for the years 1785 to The series of Bickerstaff almanacs first published in Connecticut at Norwich in 1775, and continued there until 1798, is believed to be the work of Benjam.in West of Providence, R. I. They were also published in Providence and Boston, and reprinted in Hartford for 1782 and The following appeared in the Connecticut Journal, printed in New Haven, for Oct. 27, 1784: As an opinion has prevailed among some, both within and without the State, that I am the real Author of a certain Almanack, which has for some years past appeared under the

11 1914.] Connecticut Almanacs, fictitious name of Bickerstaff; I beg leave by the means of your paper, to take this opportunity fully to disavow, before the public, the authority of any production under that falacious signature; and I am the rather induced to this, at the present juncture, on account of the pompous advertisements, in favour of the Almanacks which have come abroad under the name of this author, with which some papers have been so crouded of late. Who the real author is, I pretend not now to determine, nor am I solicitous to find him out: But I trust it will neither be offensive to the public, nor injurious to any individual, should I assert, that, from ocular denionstration, it plainly appears, that all the calculations, including those of the eclipses, and all others, from the first of January, to the last of April, in an Almanack published at Springfield, for the present year, under the name of Bickerstaff, are identically the same with those in a certain other Almanack publish for this year, at Hartford, under the name of Andrew Beers; and that the whole composition in those calendar pages, excepting the poetry at the head, is verbatim the same: And as to those calculations in the other calendar pages, viz. from the beginning of May to the end of the year they were, evidently, by some filcher, taken from an Almanack published for this year, at Hartford, under my name; the figures being the same. All being without my privity or consent. The public may be assured, that the above is the true character of the so much celebrated Bickerstaff, in the form he has assumed for the present year, at Springfield; whose "Known usefulness and the rapid sale he has met with in years past," are sufficient to set forth his superior excellency, and surpassing merit. Of what plastic materials he is to be shapen the ensuing year I am as yet uncertain. ^To prevent plagiarisms of this kind, however, in future, it may not um-easonably be expected, that an availment may be made of some legal security, that neither the public nor the printers be further imposed on in this way. NEHEMIAH STRONG. October 12, P. S. There is also an advertisement of Bickerstaff's Almanack for the ensuing year, in the Springfield paper. He evidently came to the conclusion, after issuing the above statement, that if a Bickerstaff series was to be printed at Hartford (as had already been done for 1782 and 1783) he might as well be its author as only to have that reputation. And probably also neither he nor his publisher wished to see the Hartford field

12 104 American Antiquarian Sodety. [April, invaded by another author of almanacs. Accordingly we find a Bickerstaff's for 1785 printed in Hartford by Nathaniel Patten, which comparison shows to strongly resemble the issue bearing Strong's name. The same statement is true of the issue for The calendar pages of the 1787 issue are (with the exception of the poetry) line for line reprints of the Strong issue. While in the 1788 and some later issues these pages were printed from the same type forms as those used in Strong's ahnanac this positively showing identity of authorship. The following letters written by Strong in regard to his almanacs are not without interest. NEW MILFORD, Oet' 8th, SIR, By Mr. Egleston in his last Tour, I wrote you a few Scralls in great Haste, acknowledging your Favor of 4th instant &c. and particularly the generous Offer, you made respecting your printing my Almanack for the ensuing Year; which I understand you have received. T'is of considerable consequince to me that it should not fail of being printed; not indeed on Account of its Merit, or the Value of the Performance (tho' I venture to say it is correct, and much more so than any of Beers' which I have ever yet seen) but specially to contravene and frustrate the Intrigues of our Adversaries H. and G. to overset both me and you in the Almanack Line; and to monopolize the whole Business of Almanack making and Almanack Printing to Beers and themselves. This is what I was fully sensible they had in View, when first I received from yoo the Information of their Manoeuvre; and before you suggested the same Idea in your last Letter. They, doubtless, design to print a large Group of Almanacks for the next Year, as they expect to supply their former Customers for Beers' Almanack; and those who were heretofore your Customers for mine. They mean, you may depend, to gain a complete Conquest both over me and you, and a Triumph in Consequence. This is what they have wished for and been seeking for, in a course of years past: And now, I dare say, they exult in the Prospect, thinking they have got us both in a String, which will hold us fast. And now. Sir, I will plainly tell you that the great thing is to convince them of their Mistake, by frustrating their Machinations. And the only way, I conceive, to do this', is, for you to Print my Almanack, and to do

13 1914.] Connecticut Almanacs, it as speedily as possibly you can, tho' to do it you rise early and set up late. You tell me. Sir, that, "You expect to loose Money by it" and that, "if you print it, you shall do it on no other Principle, than, to let the Public know that I am yet alive, and have not ceased to be useful." This must be acknowledged to be a Mark of great Liberality in you; and which in Duty I am constrained to acknowledge with Gratitude. You tell me also, that, "If I will Send the Copy you will pay me 5 Dollars, whether you print it or not. " This offer I also acknowledge to be a generous one, meriting from me a proper Reciprocation; I therefore now tell you. Sir, that if you will Send me the 5 Dollars, I shall (considering all Things) ask you no more, even if you should print it; My Price therefore, even if you Print the Copy, I have lately sent you, shall be but 5 Dollars, which as you know. Sir, is but half the usual Price. This Abatement I make to encourage you to attempt a Defeat of the Adversaries, by printing the Copy which they have been devising to prevent. Should you find. Sir, that you cant possibly make out to print it within your self, perhaps, you may find a hand to help you, by applying to mr Green at N. Haven, to send you one to work, upon hire or upon shares or some other Way. I only suggest the Thing. My Almanacks are in good demand in these Parts, and you would doubtless find your Account in loading our Merchants' Shelves with them, should you do it before Pedlers from other Printers, intercept. I will thank you to send me one or two, soon after they shall be struck off; Or if you send me a Dozen or two and Charge them, I will Account for them. I shall According to your Proposal, Life and Health permitting, furnish you with a Copy for A. D. 1804, and shall endeavour to have it in Readiness by sometime in June or July that you may take your Time for Printing it, and to have it ready for Sale before H. and G. will have theirs in Readiness. Nothing farther Occurs worthy of communication, but that I am, sir, with Respect, yours &c. NEHEMIAH STRONG. P. S. Perhaps it may be best not to let H and G know any Thing that you intend to print mine. MAJ' ELISHA BABCOCK. BRIDGEPORT, May 6, SIR: Agreeable to what you proposed in one of your Letters last Fall I have calculated the Copy of an Almanack for A. D.

14 106 American Antiquarian Society. [April, I have prepared it.thus Early that you may take early Opportunities to fix the Types, that you may have it printed betimes, so as to be afore hand of any Copy that may be published by Hudson and Goodwin, who, I believe take all possible pains to interupt me and you in that Line of Business, I am very glad that you, by printing my Copy defeated their Machinations last Year, I hope you will do it as fully for the Year insuing. I know not how Soon after writing this Letter I shall have Opportunity to send you this Copy but shall take the first safe Opportunity. Or if you shall have an Opportunity by some trusty person that may be journeying this way, perhaps, to New York, you perhaps may do well to send for it by him, you writing me an order by him; the Copy will be ready at any Hour. I must moreover let you know that I believe this must be the last Calculation of this Kind that I shall make, I am pretty well Tired of the Business. For 29 years past I have Successively furnished one or more Copies for Printers; generally two sometimes three in a year. And I think I have done my Part. Tis an Elaborate fatiguing Business, and requires the closest care and Attention to do the Business with proper accuracy, and takes a large Portion of my Time. And to tell the Truth, the largest Sum I have ever received for my Pains has not been more than a Quarter part adequate to the Pains and Trouble I have been at. I have no fault, Sir, to find with yourself in that behalf, you have done according to Stipulation, and have accordingly paid me well. Besides, there has been so much Bickering and wrangling among some of the Printers about Almanacks that I choose to be out of the Noise. Should be happy. Sir, to Oblige you and other Customers if I could do it consistently with my Purposes, but on the whole must bid you Farewel as to that Business, But as you have for several years favored me with your Custom, I would do all in my Power to aid you Still in the Almanack Line, which I know not how to do better than by recommending to you a meet Person for the Business. The Same is David Sanford of Newtown Son. to John Sanford Esq' he is now a Member of Yale College, a likely Youth; before he went to College, he had been under my Instruction and made good Proficiency, he left me forward in the Science of Astronomy and has, for two or three Years Past published an Accurate Almanack under a fictitious Name; and I believe he would be glad to oblige you in that Business and would do it to your Satisfaction; and if you Should imploy him, I should be willing, to give him a prefatory Recommendation in the Almanack he Should publish; I believe he would well answer your Purpose, should you apply to him in Season. I prefer

15 1914.] Connecticut Almanacs, his astronomical knowledge far beyond that of Beers'. I have no Opinion of Beers. And if you are disposed to Oblige me you will never imploy him in the Almanack Way; He and Hudson and Goodwin have by their Intrigues done enough to bring you and me into Contempt, they have Treated us with Abuse. I am, Sir, with due Respect, yours &c NEHEMIAH STRONG. P. S. I will thank you, Sir, to make it convenient Soon as may be to send me 5 Dollars, the Price of my last Copy. Major ELISHA BABCOCK. A class of almanacs of which no record is found in Connecticut previous to 1787, are those issued in the form of a broadside sheet, which were known and described as "Sheet Almanacks," in distinction from the ordinary or "Book Almanacks." Examples of the sheet almanacs, especially of eighteenth century issues, are very rarely found. They were intended, as one advertisement of them states, "to be put up in stores, offices and counting houses." Here they were doubtless fastened upon the wall in a convenient location for reference, and replaced annually by the sheet almanac for the succeeding year. Their use and location in the office rather than the home and their ephemeral nature, consisting as they did of but a single broadside sheet, doubtless account for the loss or destruction of most copies and their present rarity. How long the sheet almanacs continued.to be issued is not known. The latest one noted by me is for They were probably the forerunner of the modern calendar, and they may have been issued until calendars came into vogue. The monthly calendar pages in some of the sheet almanacs, and probably in all until a comparatively late date, were printed from the same type forms as the corresponding pages in the book almanacs. The type, as set up for the different monthly calendar pages, was taken out of the sheet forms in which these pages had been arranged for printing the book almanac. The same page forms were then rearranged into one large sheet form, containing all the twelve calendar pages;

16 108 American Antiquarian Society. [April, and these, with the addition of a title heading (perhaps containing the author's name), and in occasional instances, at least, some further data, were printed in one large form as a sheet almanac. It seems probable that during the period when they were most in use, almost every printer of an almanac issued it in both book and sheet forms. The sheet almanac would naturally sell for a less price than the book almanac, and would yield the printer a less profit. Probably for this reason its sale was not pushed, and it was seldom advertised until near the close of the year in which it was printed, and frequently not until early in the year for which it was published. Record has been found of 70 issues of sheet almanacs in Connecticut. But only three copies in all have come to my notice; one each in the libraries of the American Antiquarian Society (1839), the Connecticut Historical Society (1831), and Yale University (1802). The publishers of an almanac, in the last quarter of the eighteenth and first decade of the nineteenth century, would frequently advertise copies of it for sale "by the thousand, gross, dozen or single," and occasionally "ten thousand "'are offered. And there is no reason to suppose that they did not mean precisely what they advertised; except in the case of one publisher who facetiously offered them "by the cart load." Yet of the thousands printed and sold, but a few copies of any almanac now remain. Within the period we are now considering, perhaps twenty-five copies would be a maximum number that could be found of one imprint of any Connecticut almanac for one year. From that, the number would range down to those of which no copy can be found, and which are known to have existed only through some advertisement or other chance reference. For example, the "Astronomical Diary" for 1775 by Stephen Row Bradley, printed at Hartford by Ebenezer Watson, was issued in an edition of two thousand copies;* but only one copy, and that imperfect, can now be found.»dexter's Yale Annals.

17 1914.] Connecticut Almanacs, Of course these statements do not of necessity mean that no more copies exist; for there are, doubtless, copies of some of them stowed away in private libraries and in old chests, closets and attics that will sometime again see the light of day. But will they see that light when they have found a permanent resting place in the custody of this or some similar society; or will they see it when on their way to the rubbish heap, or to the annual spring bonfire which marks the period of New England house cleaning? This compilation does not assmne to be a complete and final bibliography; but rather a check list with sufficient bibliographical detail to record and identify the various issues. The titles of issues of which no copy has been seen by or for me are inclosed in brackets, with a note giving the authority or evidence for such issue. In most instances the wording of such titles is conjectural. A few issues are given the publication of which seems to me very doubtful. But as they had been previously listed by some bibliographer, I did not feel justified in omitting them. It has been the intention in making this compilation to omit no almanac which had previously been listed, unless there was undoubted evidence that no such had been published. A few have been omitted where it seemed evident that a previous bibliographer had confused them with other titles which are found in this list. Unquestionably, there were many issues of which no record now exists, and no doubt some will be brought to light that are not found in this list. This check-list is arranged chronologically; and under each year the arrangement is alphabetical by author, or by title when the author's name does not appear. Following the check-list is a summarized list arranged alphabetically by author or title, with cross reference from the author of anonymous and pseudonymous issues when known, showing the places of publication and years of issues of each series. A number in parentheses before each series in this summary shows the chronological

18 lio American Antiquarian Society. [April, sequence of the first issue of the different series, Travis' almanac being (1) and Pocket Memorandum being (96). The aim has been to note the location of two copies of each almanac, wherever copies were to be found in two different public libraries. Where a copy or copies has been located in only one public library and other copies located in private collections, only the location of the copy in the public library is noted. In case a copy is found only in a private collection the fact of it being in such a collection is noted; but in no case is the name of a private collector given. Preference in locating copies has been given to the two public libraries containing the largest collections of Connecticut ahnanacs, those of the American Antiquarian Society and the Connecticut Historical Society. The period covered by this check-list includes 107 years in which almanacs were printed in or for Connecticut, for two of the years the printing being done outside of the Colony. The whole number of issues listed is 873, of which 356 were published for the 57 years of the eighteenth century. Copies of 437 of these are in the library of the American Antiquarian Society, 116 of them being published to the year 1800; and copies of 491 are in the library of the Connecticut Historical Society, 195 of them being published to the year 1800.

19 1914.] List of Connecticut Almanacs, Ill KEY TO LOCATION OF COPIES. A. A. S. =Ainerican Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass. B. P. L. =Boston Public Library, Boston, Mass. C. H. S. = Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford, Conn. EVANS = American Bibliography. By Charles Evans. K. L. =Kent Library, Suffield, Conn. L.C.= Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. M. H. S. = Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, Mass. N. L. H. =New London County Historical Society, New London, Conn. N. Y. H. =New York Historical Society, New York, N. Y. N. Y. P. =New York Public Library, New Y'ork, N. Y. P. L. =Pequot Library, Southport, Conn. PKIVATB COL. = Private collection. TRDMBDLL. =List of Books Printed in Connecticut, By J. Hammond Trumbull. W. L. =Watkinson Library of Reference, Hartford, Conn. W. R. H. =Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, O. W. U. =Wesleyan University Library, Middletown, Conn. Y. U. =Yale University Library, New Haven, Conn. CHECK LIST [MDCCIX. An Almanack, of Cœlestial Motions and Aspects for the (Dionysion) Year of the Christian ^ra, By Daniel Travis. America Printed, and sold at New-London, 1709.] No copy located. Record of the issue appears in Haven's list printed in Thomas' History 0} Printing. As there was no printer in New London until the spring of 1709, this issue must have been printed elsewhere, and probably made for sale at New London. It was doubtless from the same forms, with change of imprint only, as the edition for sale in Boston, the imprint of which is: "America Printed, and sold by N. Boon at the Sign of the Bible in Comhill, Boston, 1709." The imprint given above for the New London edition is assumed, and the title given is that of the Boston edition. It seems not improbable that almanacs of which we now have no record were printed at Boston, with an imprint showing that they were for sale in Connecticut, for many of the early years of the eighteenth century MDCcxvi. An almanack of the Cœlestial Motions & Aspects, For the Year of the Christian iera, Calculated for the Meridian of Boston N. E. By Daniel Travis. Printed for and Sold by Timothy Green, at New-London,: Also Sold in the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, Boston L.C., M.H.S.

20 112 American Antiquarian Society. [April, Printed for Timothy Green of New London by his brother Bartholomew Green of Boston from the same type forms, with change of imprint only, as his Boston edition; the imprint of which is: "Boston: Printed by Bartholomew Green: Sold at the Booksellers Shops " The M. H. S. copy has manuscript notes by Samuel Sewell on its pages and interleaves MDCCxx. An almanack for Calculated to the Meridian of Yale College in New-Haven. By Joseph Moss. Imprimatur, G. Saltonstall. N. London: Sold by T. Green PRIVATE COL. The first almanac by a Connecticut author printed in Connecticut, as well as the earliest known to have been printed in the Colony MDCcxxii. An Almanack of Ccelestial Motions and Aspects, for the (Dionisian) Year of the Christian. Era, Calculated for the meridian of Boston. By Daniel Travis. New-London: Printed and Sold by T. Green, U. L.C.. Reprinted from the Boston edition MDCCXXiii. An Almanack of the Coelestial Motions, Aspects, Eclipses, etc. For the Year Of the Christian ^ra Calculated for the Meridian of Yale College at New-Haven. By Robert Treat, M. A. Licensed by his Honour the Governour. New-London, Printed and Sold by T. Green, Lx [An Almanack of the Coelestial Motions &c. for By Robert Treat. New-London: Timothy Green.] No copy located. EVANS MDCcxxv. An Almanack of the Ccelestial Motions, Aspects, Eclipses, &c. For the Year. Of the Christian.íEra, Calculated for the Meridian of Yale College, at New-Haven. By Robert Treat, M. A. New-London, Printed & Sold by T. Green: M.H.S. Contains the peculiar type characters for Jupiter and other planetary signs that appear in all of the early New London almanacs. See note under Written on the title page is, "For the Honourable.Judge Sewall."

21 1914.] List of Connecticut Almanacs, [An Almanack of the Ccelestial Motions &c. for By Robert Treat. New-London: Timothy Green.] No copy located. EVANS An Almanack of the Cœlestial Motions, Aspects, Eclipses, etc. For the Year Of the Christian ^ra, Calculated for the Meridian of Yale College, at New-Haven. By Robert Treat, M. A. N London, Printed & Sold by T. Green, A.A.8., M.H.8. The copy in the Massachusetts Historical Society is uncut and unopened. Contains the peculiar type characters for Jupiter and other planetary signs that appear in all of the early New London almanacs which the compiler has had opportunity to examine. Thomas in his History of Printing says of Timothy Green of New London: "As early as 1727, he printed Robert Treat's Almanack, the celestial signs for which were rudely cut on em quadrates, and raised to the height of the letter." 1753 An Astronomical Diary, or, an Almanack for By Roger Sherman. New-London: T. Green A.A.S., C.H An Astronomical Diary, or, an Almanack for By Roger Sherman. N. London: T. Green C.H.S. (impf.), M.H.S An Astronomical Diary: or, an Almanack for By Nathaniel Ames. New-Haven: Reprinted by J. Parker C.H.S An Astronomical Diary: or, an Almanack for By James Davis. New London: T. & J. Green. PRIVATE COL. "This is the first Off-Spring of a Young Parent." As this almanac is calculated for the meridian of New London, it is to be presumed that it is not a reprint. An almanac for 1757 by an author of the same name, calculated for the meridian of Boston, was printed in Boston [An Astronomical diary, or, an almanack for By Roger Sherman. New London: T. Green.] EVANS. No copy located. This issue is not mentioned by Victor Hugo Paltsits in his article on Sherman's Almanacs in PBOCEEDINQS, new series, vol. 18, page 213.

22 114 American Antiquarian Sodety. [April, 1756 An Astronomical Diary or, an Almanack for By Nathaniel Ames. New-Haven: Reprinted by J. Parker and Company N.T.P., Y.u. (impf.) "N. B. In this impression the sun's and moon's rising and sitting, and time of high-water, are calculated for New-Haven." 1756 [An Astronomical diary or, an almanack for By James Davis. New London: Timothy Green.] EVANS. No copy located The Connecticut Diary: or. Almanack for By Roger Sherman. New Haven: J. Parker C.H.S., N.T.H An Astronomical Diary: or, an Almanack, for By Nathaniel Ames. New-Haven: Re-printed by James Parker, and Company C.H.S., T.U [An Astronomical diary: or, an almanack for By James Davis. New London: Timothy Green (?)] EVANS. No copy located The Connecticut Diary: or. Almanack, for By Roger Sherman. New-Haven: James Parker, and Company. 8 U. W.R.H An Astronomical Diary: or, an Almanack for By Nathaniel Ames. New-Haven: Re-printed by J. Parker and Compaiiy C.H.B., Y.u. (impf.) 1758 [An Astronomical Diary: Or, Almanack, for By Nathaniel Ames. Reprinted, New-London: T. Green.] TRXJMBULL. No copy located, and it seems doubtful if such an one was issued An Astronomical Diary; or an Almanack, for By Roger Sherman. New-Haven: James Parker, and Company. 8 U. C.H An Astronomical Diary: or, an Almanack for By Nathaniel Ames. New-Haven: Re-printed by J. Parker, and Company C.H.B., L.c.

23 1914.] List of Connecticut Almanacs, [An Astronomical Diary: Or, Almanack, for By Nathaniel Ames. New-London: T. Green.] TRXJMBTJLL. No copy located. If issued it was reprinted from the Boston edition. The New London Summary of Dec. 29, 1758, advertises "Ames's Almanacks, Sold at the Printing-Office in New- London." But is it not probable that it was the Boston edition that was advertised? 1759 The American Ephemeris; or, an Almanack for By J. Parsons. New Haven: J. Parker & Company Y.u. Probably by Jesse Parsons who was the author of "The New Jersey Ephemeris or an Almanack for the year Adopted to the latitude of Perth-Amboy, " which was printed in New York by J. Parker and W. Weyman. No almanac for 1759 of which this could be a reprint is known. Yet it was advertised in the Connecticut Gazette, New Haven, of Dec. 9, 1758, "may be had at the Printing-Office"; but in the issue of Deo. 23 as "Just Published and to be Sold at the Printing-Office." It is "Fitted to the Lat. of 41 North, and a Meridian of about 5 Hours West from London. " 1759 [An Astronomical Diary, or, an Almanack for By Roger Sherman. New Haven: James Parker and Company.] Although no evidence has been found that an almanac was issued this year by Sherman, yet Mr. Victor Hugo Paltsits thinks "it not unlikely that one was printed by James Parker and Company, at New Haven. " See PROCEEDINGS, new ser., vol. 18, page An Astronomical Diary, or, an Almanack for By Nathaniel Ames. New-Haven: Re-printed by James Parker, and Company c.h.s.(impf.), T.u [An Astronomical Diary: Or, Almanack, for By Nathaniel Ames. New-London: T. Green.]' TRTJMBULL. No copy located. If issued it was reprinted from the Boston edition An Astronomical Diary; or, an Almanack for By Joseph Prindle. New Haven: J. Parker, and Company ' C.H.S. (impf.)

24 116 American Antiquarian Society. [April, The author's address to the reader indicates that this is his first almanac. An advertisement in the Connecticut Gazette, New Haven, of Dec. 1, 1759, says: "This.Almanack is in the Method used by Mr. Sherman, and the Author is by him well recommended." 1761 Ames An Astronomical Diary; or an Almanack for By Nathaniel Ames. Sold at the Printing-Office in New-Haven C.H.B., T.TJ. That this was actually printed at New Haven is indicated by its containing an advertisement of "An Almanack for the Year 1761." "By a Student at Yale College." "Just publish'd, and to be sold at the Printing-Office in N. Haven." It is advertised in the Connecticut Gazette, New Haven, of Dec. 13, 1760, thus: "Next Monday, will be ready for Sale, Ames's Almanack, for the Year 1761." Reprinted from the Boston edition [An Astronomical Diary, or an Almanack For the Year of our Lord Christ, By Nathaniel Ames. Boston: Printed by John Draper, in Cornhill; Richard Draper in Newbury-Street; Green & Russell, & Edes & Gill in Queen-Street: and Thomas & John Fleet, at the Heart and Crown in Cornhill.] No copy of an Ames almanac for 1761 printed in New London has been located. TrumbuU perhaps erred in giving the imprint of such an one as "New London: T. Green." The New- London Summary of Nov. 28,1760, contains the advertisement: "Ames's Almanack For the Year 1761, of the true Boston Impression, are to be Sold by the Printer hereof." The satne paper of Dec. 12, 1760, contains the following advertisement: "Just Publish'd And Sold by Timo. Green, (Consisting of One Sheet and an HaK stitched) Ames's Ahnanack, For the Year of our Lord Christ, Sold also by J. Draper in Comhill; R. Draper in Newbxiry-street; Green & Russell and Edes & Gill in Queen-street, and Thomas and John Fleet at the Heart & Crown in Cornhill, Boston." This is followed by a description and list of contents of the almanac filling more than half a column. The wording of this advertisement, together with the fact that Timothy Green of New London reprinted Ames' ahnanac for 1762 and 1763 using the original Boston imprint instead of his own, leaves but one reasonable conclusion. That he between Nov. 28 and Dec. 12, 1760, reprinted the Ames almanac for 1761 using the original Boston imprint and not the imprint given by Trumbull.