First newspaper in Connecticut…

January 25, 2010 by  
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Tim Hughes, founder

Printing in Connecticut began as early as 1710 by its first printer, Thomas Short. Short became an orphan at a young age and was captured by Indians & carried away to Canada. He was eventually ransomed, likely by his brother-in-law, Bartholomew Green, who taught him the printing trade. The Green family was well known as early printers throughout New England.

Printing in New Haven began when James Parker, of New York, was appointed postmaster by Benjamin Franklin, although there is no evidence he ever spent much time either as postmaster or printer. He employed John Holt, of Williamsburg, Virginia, to manage the printing office. “The Present State of the Colony of Connecticut Considered” from 1755 is the earliest known production by James Parker in New Haven. On April 12, 1755 he brought out the first number of a  newspaper titled the “Connecticut Gazette“, with Holt as editor. It was the very first newspaper printed in Connecticut and continued until Feb. 19, 1768 at which time it ceased publication.

Just a few months later in Hartford, on April 25, 1768, the “Connecticut Courant” began publication and remains in print today as the country’s oldest continually published newspaper.

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Filed under: Common Questions, Noteworthy Issues, The 1500's - 1700's, The 1700's
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Comments

2 Responses to “First newspaper in Connecticut…”

  1. Alec on March 20th, 2011 6:23 pm

    When did James Parker move to Connecticut?

  2. Jim Wheeler on June 24th, 2024 9:36 am

    Correction: I believe that the first issue of the Connecticut Courant was dated October 29, 1764 and it claims to be the longest continued newspaper published in America.

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