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| Nicholas Boone, Bookseller, Boston: |
| Nicholas Boone, son of Nicholas and Elizabeth Linsford Boone was born on 8/10/1669, and died in Boston in the fall or winter of 1738. Church records indicate that he was at least the second child of this couple, with a sister named Elizabeth recorded two years earlier.
Family Life: Nicholas Boone appears to be first married at age 34, in Boston, by the Rev. Ebenezer Pemberton of the Third, or "Old South" Church, on August 26, 1703, to Mary Barns; he married secondly, by the same minister, on April 15, 1714, Hannah Wing, believed to be the daughter of James and Hannah Flood, and the widow of John Wing, a mariner. Hannah Flood was baptized on 7/15/1683 in Boston. Hannah Flood married John Wing on 10/2/1703 in Boston. John Wing, son of Capt. John Wing, was born in 1678, was living on 4/8/1708, but NOT on 5/21/1717, hence Hannah was a widow. "Extensive study causes a belief that John Wing was dead before 4/15/1715, in time for Hannah to have married Nicholas. This belief is based, among other things, on (1) the unusual intimacy over a period of years between our Nicholas and Hannah ?? and Cord Wing, survivng brother of John Wing. (2) A deed dated 1/21/1712-3 from John Wing wherin the use of the words "his death" could have just as well pertained to him as the grantee. (3) The use of four given names among the descendants of Hannah ?? which had not previously been found in that family, but had repeatedly been used in three generations of the FLOOD family." In 1718, daughter Lydia was baptized in Old South Church, while the New Church was being built. She was married in the New Church (5th) in 1742, by Rev Samuel Checkley, the first minister of the Church, ordained on 4/5/1719. Littlefield describes the will: The will of Nicholas Boone is dated 5/20/1730, but not proved until 12/4/1738. Nicholas dies in 1738, leaving his second wife, Hannah and the 5 surviving children that they have had together. He also mentions a son, Nicholas, from his first marriage, who is supposed to be 33 years old. The will indicates that all of his possessions are to be distributed to his 6 children. He specifies, however, that the "land, house, and pew" exclude his son Nicholas, but are to benefit his wife and her children. He left an estate inventoried in 2/27/1738-9 at 1,918 pounds. --- 1400 pounds for house and land in Cornhill, and 350 pounds in sundry books. The will names wife Hannah, and "my beloved friend Cord Wing", who witnessed the document and was named executor. Cord Wing renounced when the will was proved, and Hannah served as executor until her death in 1742. Hannah petitioned to continue the coffee house after Nicholas's death and was approved Children of Nicholas Boone, derived from administrations in 12/2/1742, probably related to the death of his wife Hannah, dividing property among heirs:
Children with second wife, Hannah Flood Wing Boone: The descendants sold the family property to John Comrin of Boston, mariner.
Professional Life: It appears that Nicholas apprenticed as a printer with Duncan Campbell in 1693. This area needs more research, as 27 years old is very late in life to become an apprentice, unless you've been doing something else; the questions would be what else, and where ?? Mr.Campbell was a printer, as well as Post Master in 1693. He established postal service between Boston and Portsmouth, N.H. and James City, Virginia. John Campbell (1653-1728), also a Post Master, was his son. Duncan Campbell's original shop was in the lower floor of the George Tavern, on the south corner of Elm and Union. Campbell moved to new shop on south corner of State and Washington Street in 1697, and Nicholas Boone appears to open his own shop in the space vacated by Campbell. In 1701, Nicholas Boone published the first book by an American author on Military Science, and himself wrote an additional section of the book on the Military Laws of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. Between 1697 and 1738, Nicholas published more than 100 titles, including three volumes of his own works. He published works by Joseph Alliere, Samuel Clough, Benjamin Colman, William Dyer, James Janeway, Cotton Mather, Increase Mather, the Rhode Island Colony, Solomon Stoddard, Samuel Willard, and John Wise. His publishers mark at that time says he is "over against the Old Church, 1701" Duncan Campbell died in 1702. His wife Susannah, petitioned on 7/26/1703, to operate a coffee house on Washington Street, , between Williams Court and Court Avenue, across from the "Blew Anchor Tavern". Campbell's coffeehouse was the shop formerly used by bookseller Benjamin Harris, and by Duncan Campbell, next to Major Davis's Apothecary, which was on the corner of Court Avenue. In 1704, Nicholas Boone moves into that shop. Nicholas Boone, along with Bartholomew Green and John Campbell, began "The Boston News-Letter" , April 17,1704. This was the first successful newspaper in Boston, and the only one regularly published there until 1719. John Campbell, son of Duncan Campbell, bookseller, and Postmaster of Boston, founded the newspaper; Bartholomew Green printed it; an Nicholas Boone sold it in hs book shop(s) -- there may have been more than one. Bartholomew Green took over ownership of the newspaper in 1722, and it passed to his son-in-law, John Draper, when Green died in 1723. The newspaper was published by Draper, until he died, and by his widow until 1776, when she, a Loyalist, returned to England. On 10/26/1704 Nicholas petitioned the Governor. The petition indicates that he lived next door to the Post Office, in which home the widow Susannah Campbell kept a coffee house, and had a license to sell coffee, tea, chocolate, beer, ale, mead, etc. The license has expired and he petitions "Your Excellency" to renew the license for the rest of the year. It is renewed, and Boone kept the coffee house, in addition to his book business, for the next 25 years. On 05/03/1707 Nicholas Boone receives a Commission as a Bombardier in the 2nd Regiment, and sails from Boston on 5/13/1707 against Port Royal, Nova Scotia. By 1708, he has adopted the signature advertising phrase of former bookseller Benjamin Harris, " At the sign of the Bible, in Cornhill ". The whole block of shops burned in 1711, in an accidental fire. Boone and others petitioned the government to build temporary wooden buildings so that they could quickly rebuild their businesses, but the petition was denied. In Sewall's Diary, there is a story about Nicholas Boone. It seems that Governor Shute criticized the province for not protecting the forests better, as a valuable naval store for the King. The Massachusetts House of Representatives responded to the Governor's statements, saying that the Governor was wrong, and that the surveyor, on whose data the criticism was based, was wrong. Nicholas Boone published the Representatives' response to the Governor, without specific permission of the Governor, or the House, on 12/14/1719. The House was so impressed that Boone was the official publisher for them until 1722. The Governor considered his options, discussing them with Sewall, but chose not to punish Boone. Joseph Wheeler was also a printer and publisher in Boston at this time. Joseph was son of Thomas Wheeler and Rebecca. Joseph was born 5/5/1640 and died before 12/16/1717, when his will was probated. His will was written 11/21/1710, and left stuff to wife Mary, daughter Susannah (born 12/26/1665) and to his 4 sons; William, Joseph, Jonathan, and Thomas. Thomas Wheeler, father of the printer Joseph, died 5/16/1654, and his will indicates that there was a wife, Rebecca, a son, Joseph, and a daughter, Rebecca, who married John Curtis on 12/26/1661. The family appears to be members of "old south" church, and Wheeler's shop is across the street from Duncan Campbell, on Dock Square, south of Elm. The Wheeler family was friends with Judge Sewall's Family. Samuel Sewall, Jr was the son of Judge Samuel Sewall. Son born 6/11/1678; died 1/27/1751 James Franklin, brother of Benjamin Franklin, was also a printer in Boston. James opened a shop on Queen Street in 1717. In 1724, he moved to Union Street, and in 1726, he moved to Newport, Rhode Island. Benjamin Franklin, an apprentice, ran away to Philadelphia in 1723. When James died in 1735, his wife Ann and son James, Jr. continued in Rhode Island. Peter Zenger and Nicholas Boone are noted as ornamenting their books, as did James Franklin.
Civic and Social Activities: Nicholas Boone was one of 14 subscribers who undertook the construction of the "new" North Church, also known as the fifth church of Boston, in 1714, at Summer Street and Bedford Street. The subscribers included Samuel Adams, father of the man who signed the Declaration of Independence. This church was an outgrowth of the "old" North Church which had been formed in 1649 on North Square, Freeman Place, also known as the second church of Boston (** and different entirely from the "North Church" of Paul Revere fame, that didn't exist at all until 1724 !) The church was to be located on Church Green, on Summer Street, and was dedicated 1/18/1717. In published records that I've found, NO Boone is mentioned in the lists of births, deaths, etc. for that church. Nicholas appears to have been involved in the local government, as he appears in the committees of the Town Meeting from 1706 until 1728. He is listed as a "Tithingman" on 3/10/1706/07; as a "Clerk of the Market" on 8/25/1707; as a "Constable" on 3/15/1708/09; as a "Scavenger" on 3/9/1723/24; as a "Tithingman" on 3/4/1724/25 and on each annual election through 3/12/1727/28. A Thomas Boone is also listed in the Town Meeting records, but only once; as a "Watchman", on 1/30/1720/21. |
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