"On the Anniversary of the Independence of America" (1787)

For the Northern Centinel, &c.

On the Anniversary of the Independence of America.

NOW freeborn souls assembling through each state,

The Æra of their bliss commemorate;

With generous warmth each patriot bosom glows,

Each cheerful face a hopeful prospect shows.—

While future ages shall with joy and mirth,

Proclaim the morn that gave an empire birth;

Where freedom smiles on earth's extensive round,

There shall the glorious name GEORGE WASHINGTON be found.

        Albany, July 4, 1787.

Northern Centinel and Lansinghborough Advertiser. July 9, 1787.

"The Freedom of the Press" (1787)

THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.

A NEW SONG.

WHERE dwells the man that dare suppress

The noble freedom of the press,

Sure he that would attempt the thing

On Haman's gallows ought to swing.

        The freedom of the press--

        O how shall I express,

        This grand important theme!

        Which unto me doth seem,

        To be of great and mighty weight

        Towards the freedom of the state.

Ye patriot band of friends!

You scarce can guess how much depends;

How much depends ye scarce can guess,

Upon the freedom of the press.

        The freedom of the Press &c.

How pleasing to a freeborn soul,

To speak, to write without controul,

And his internal thoughts express,

Whilst freedom smiles upon the press.

        The freedom of the Press &c.

How galling to the free-born mind,

To be by shackles so confin'd,

That he his mind dare not express,

Because a tyrant rules the press.

        The freedom of the Press &c.

O liberty! thou darling thing!

For thee I'd write from fall to spring;

For thee my warmest thoughts express--

May thou forever rule the press!

        The freedom of the press--

        O how shall I express,

        This grand important theme!

        Which unto me doth seem,

        To be of great and mighty weight

        Towards the freedom of the state.

Northern Centinel and Lansinghborough Advertiser. June 25, 1787.

The poem appeared anonymously and perhaps was reprinted from another newspaper. It was later reprinted in at least one other:

An anonymous poem published in the Freeman's Journal (North American Intelligencer) [Philadelphia, PA] June 27, 1787, reads:

Where dwells the man that dare suppress

The noble freedom of the press?

Sure he that would attempt the thing,

On Haman's gallows ought to swing.

This suggests that freedom of the press was not a new idea invented by the first amendment to the Constitution which provides that "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech or of the press." As a matter of fact that the phrase had been a popular one in the courts since 1732.

Arthur L. Goodhart, Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press, 1964 WASH. U.L.Q. 248 (1964). 259. Available at: http://digitalcommons.law.wustl.edu/lawreview/vol1964/iss3/2

"The Prospect" (1787)

T H E P R O S P E C T.

ONE pleasant morn, as carelessly I strayed,

Through fields and meadows where the lambkins play'd

Each varying scene which usher'd to my sight,

My fancy pleas'd, and gave me new delight;

Whilst sol in shining majesty did rise,

And deck'd with rosy hue the eastern skies,

The birds, new wak'd, made vocal every grove,

And, sweetly warbling, tun'd their throats to love;

The pearly drops my wandering feet bedew'd,

Whilst I well pleas'd the flowery path pursu'd:

At length I cross'd a gentle murmuring rill,

Which willingly supply'd a neighboring mill:

Here rugged cliffs, and rocks on every side,

In awful heighth the fertile plains divide.

Still onwards led by fancy's sovereign will,

I reach'd the summit of a pleasant hill,

Here, lost in rapture, pensively I stood,

Whilst a fair landscape I with pleasure view'd;

Here bounteous nature every prospect fill'd,

With contrasts gay, which grac'd the rural wild;

Whilst fixed thus, with pleasure I survey'd,

The fields and groves and every pleasant shade,

Diversify'd with rivers gliding on,

Whose surface smooth, reflects the rising sun.

The Mohawk falls from this high mount are seen,

Which fiercely roll the loft banks between;

The waters bursting with impetuous force,

O'er rugged cliffs which break their rappid course,

But find at length a channel smooth and plain,

Where they unite, and gently glide again;

The distant hills no longer now appear

So far remote, but seemingly are near.

How great's my joy, while from this mountain's top,

Around I view the farmer's rising crop;

Then next to see fair LANSINGHBOROUGH raise,

An infant city, which in future days,

Shall be exalted, populous and great,

As any boasted by a sister state.

Ye Gods indulge me with such pleasing views,

And grant the wishes of a friendly muse.

Lansinghborough, June 4, 1784.

Northern Centinel and Lansinghborough Advertiser. 1787.

"An Acrostic" by "A Lady" (1789)

AN ACROSTIC.----BY A LADY.

W HERE is the man whose blooming laurels shine,

A nd form a wreath his temples to entwine?

S teady, yet active, thro' a gallant war,

H e rode victorious in the martial car:

I n council cool, determined, modest, wise;

N o guardless moment took him by surprise;

G reat were his dangers--thorny was his way,

T o reach the goal, where peace and glory lay--

O ppression fled, blest freedom NOW abides,

N or e'er shall roam while WASHINGTON presides

The Federal Herald [Lansingburgh, NY]. August 10, 1789

"A New Song" (1788)

A new S O N G.

TEN years, like Troy, my stubborn heart,

        Withstood th' assault of fond desire;

But now, alas! I feel a smart,

        Poor I, like Troy, am set on fire.

With care we may a pile secure,

        And from all common sparks defend;

But oh! who can a house secure,

        When the celestial flames descend?

Thus was I safe, till from your eyes

        Destructive fires are brightly given;

Ah! who can shun the warm surprise,

        When lo! the lightning comes from heaven.

The Federal Herald. May 26, 1788

The Federal Herald was published in Lansingburgh. Troy, New York, directly south of Lansingburgh, wasn't named "Troy" until about a year after the above poem was published. Whether anyone remembered it at that time, who could say?

"Advertisement" by Gideon Hinman (1787)

Advertisement.

THE subscriber's wak'd up, spur'd by his creditor,

He can't make remittance, his money groes scarcer,

Calls upon debtors to make him remittance,

On paying their accounts he'll give them acquittance.

He's been very patient, on some he's long waited,

For sueing was always a thing that he hated;

And was it possible, he'd wait yet some longer,

Before he wou'd drive them beyond what is honor;

But the longer he waits, the worse they will serve him,

And surely waiting, and waiting, will starve him.

His friends soon to pay him, he therefore advises,

Great is the trouble when a LAW SUIT arises.

An account, when once sued, often costs double,

Pay him some money, and save yourselves trouble;

For surely he's in great need for the want on't,

So doing you'll oblige your most humble servant,

                                        GIDEON HINMAN.

        Lansinghborough, Sept. 3, 1787.

Northern Centinel and Lansinghborough Advertiser. September 3, 1787.

The paper was first published May 21, 1787 and was the first newspaper published in Rensselaer County, making the above perhaps one of the first newspaper ad-poems for the county. The first newspaper published in the state might have been the The Poughkeepsie Journal, established 1785, so Hinman’s poem is could still be among the oldest newspaper ad-poems for even the whole state.

Gideon Hinman (1725-1809)

Lansingburgh Village Cemetery, Troy, NY

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=44869387

"Poem on Easter" by Rev. Susie Pimlott (1926)

        Poem On Easter.

        The following poem, written by the Rev. Susie Pimlott of Round Lake, is of interest:

The Savior sleeps; so pure.

        The Roman guard surround;

Laid in the tomb secure,

        No hope for man is found.

Dark as a pall, the night;

        Gloom and sad, the day,

Sorrowing women at early light,

        Haste, to the tomb away.

With spices sweet and rare,

        Ao anoint they hasten on;

Nor dream of the Angel fair,

        ‘Till they see the shining one.

“Be not afraid,” the Angel plead;

        “The stone is rolled away;

He is risen, as he said,

        Early, at break of day.”

“Come see the empty place,

        The tomb where Jesus lay;”

The Angel said, with radiant face,

        The women gladly obey.

Hallelujah, He is risen;

        The message to womankind;

He rose from his rocky prison,

        To liberate all mankind.

The grave is robbed of her prey;

        Joy sings in every heart.

This glad new Easter day,

        In mine shall have a part.

Saratogian. April 9, 1926: 6 col 5.

“[Rev. John R. Pimlott (1845-1920)] was married February 15, 1868, to Susie Bailey, a native of Troy, N. Y., and a daughter of Henry and Sarah (Jones) Bailey. They were the parents of one child, which died in infancy. Mrs. Pimlott is a valuable assistant to her husband in his revival meetings.”

http://files.usgwarchives.net/mo/franklin/bios/p5430006.txt

"1920 The Methodist Episcopal Church grants women the right to be licensed as local preachers.”

“Timeline of Women in Methodism.” United Methodist Church. http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=5765535&ct=8116849

"Levings has given preachers to the church. William H. Smith, Samuel A. Kirkbride, William Dunning and Thomas M. Bishop came from Levings Church. John R. Pimlott lived here after he returned from the active ministry, and was a member of the quarterly conference. In this list should also be named Mrs. Pimlott, who joined Levings Church earlier than anyone else now living, and who is to this day energetic and actively interested in the work of God. Mrs. Pimlott was granted a local preacher’s license in 1921 by Levings quarterly conference.”

“Pageant Opens Centennial of Levings Church; ‘Historic Levings’ To Be Presented as First Program of Celebration This Evening.” Times Record [Troy, NY]. September 21, 1938: 3 cols 2-4.

“ROUND LAKE, March 16.—Mrs. Susie Pimlott, widow of Rev. John R. Pimlott, died Monday at the Hodgeman home at Fort Edward of a heart attack. She was over 80. She is survived by a brother, Frank W. Bailey of Albany, and a sister, Mrs. Hattie Thompson of Troy.

“Mrs. Pimlott in May closed her home here, where she moved in 1926, six years after the death of her husband. They had both been active in establishing missions and doing evangelistic work.”

“Mrs. Pimlott Succumbs At Fort Edward Home.” Schenectady Gazette. March 17, 1939: 12.

“A song composed by Mrs. Susie Pimliott will be sung by the members.”

“Round Lake.” Troy Times. July 2, 1926: 13 col 3.

“Mrs. Susie Pimliott gave an interesting poem and each member was called to give a short story or recite.”

“Round Lake News.” Ballston Spa Daily Journal. June 11, 1928: 2 col 1.

“Mrs. Susie Pimliott read a poem and each member gave a short recitation or story.”

“Interesting Program.” Saratogian. June 13, 1928: 7 col 1.

“Mrs. Susie Pimliott read Abraham Lincoln’s favorite poem, ‘Oh, Why Should the Spirit of Mortal Be Proud.' Mrs. Woodruff favored with two poems appropriate for the occasion, ‘My Love Ship,’ and ‘What I Live For.’”

“Sunday School Class Surprise for Member, 90.” Saratogian. February 13, 1934: 8 col 5.

“Mrs. Tabor also read a poem on Florida written by Mrs. Susie Pimliott of Round Lake, which was published in the St. Petersburg Independent, in April, 1935. Mrs. Mitchell read an original poem entitled ‘My Florida.’”

“Florida Party Given in Honor of Mrs. Mitchell.” Saratogian. August 26, 1935: 6 col 4.

“Mrs. Tabor also read a poem on Florida written by Mrs. Susie Pimliott and published in the St. Petersburg ‘Independent’ of April, 1935.”

Ballston Spa Daily Journal. August 26, 1935: 3 col 4.

“Mrs. Tabor also read a poem on Florida, written by Mrs. Susie Pimliott of Round Lake. Mrs. Mitchell read an original poem.”

“Hold Florida Party at Round Lake House.” Schenectady Gazette. August 27, 1935: 10 col 8.