John Holt

Background

John Holt was born in 1721 in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. He was the son of David Holt и Margaret Dibdall.

Education

Holt received a good education and was trained for a merchant's career. From this brother-in-law Holt probably learned the printing art.

Career

When in 1754 business reverses led Holt to New York City, he carried an introduction to James Parker, a well-known printer and journalist of that place and resident postmaster there. Meanwhile, on the invitation of President Clap of Yale College, Franklin had set up at New Haven, Connecticut, a printing-establishment which he intended to put in charge of his nephew, Benjamin Mecom, but Mecom declined, whereupon Parker acquired the outfit and on April 12, 1755, began the Connecticut Gazette, the first paper printed in Connecticut.

Holt was made a deputy postmaster at New Haven and manager of Parker's New Haven printery. On December 13 the Gazette appeared with the copartnership imprint of James Parker & Company, Holt being the resident partner as well as editor. In the early summer of 1760 he removed from New Haven to New York to manage the Parker business on Burling Slip, and on July 31, 1760, the New-York Gazette and Weekly Post-Boy appeared with the imprint of James Parker & Company, Holt being again a junior partner. Together the partners also controlled the post-riders from New York to Hartford, who met the post-riders from Boston. When the partnership was dissolved on May 6, 1762, Holt became sole publisher, having rented the plant and its accessories from Parker.

In May 1763 he removed to "the lower End of Broad Street, opposite the Exchange. " He continued as lessee of Parker's business until May 1766. On May 29, he issued a newspaper which he called The New-York Journal, or General Advertiser (no. 1) in which he stated his relations with Parker and the prospect of his own new venture, but when he learned that Parker would not then resume the Gazette, or Post-Boy, Holt abandoned the Journal and resumed the old Gazette title, on June 5, continuing it in that form until October 9, 1766. Then, on October 16, he again changed the title to The New-York Journal, or General Advertiser, and on the same date Parker resumed the Gazette. Holt's Journal was continued in New York City till August 29, 1776, and then discontinued on the eve of the occupation of the city by the British troops. He made a hurried exit to New Haven leaving behind property that was a total loss to him; and when he left New Haven with his family in 1777 to become public printer at Kingston, Ulster County, New York, the enemy pillaged or burned his effects at Danbury, Connecticut At Kingston he revived the Journal on July 7, 1777, and continued it till October 13, three days before the British burned the town. He was able to remove only "about a Sixth part" of his effects, including his account books, most of his paper stock, "and the two best Fonts of printing Letter belonging to the State, " which, said he, "I preserved in preferance to my own. "

On May 11, 1778, Holt's Journal was again revived at Poughkeepsie. Here it continued until suspended on November 6, 1780; was resumed on July 30, 1781; suspended again on January 6, 1782; interrupted by the printing of the New York Laws; and resumed finally in New York City at the close of the war, on November 22, 1783, with the title The Independent New-York Gazette. Under this or varying titles it continued, while he lived.

About 1775, Holt founded a printing business at Norfolk, Virginia, which was superintended by his son, John Hunter Holt. There he published The Virginia Gazette, or the Norfolk Intelligencer, under the firm name of John H. Holt & Company. By printing some reflections on the ancestors of Lord Dunmore, the firm involved itself in a quarrel with the royal governor of Virginia, and on September 20, 1775, fifteen royal soldiers "marched up to the printing-office, out of which they took all the types and part of the press, " and carried them on board ship. Public protest was made to Dunmore, who replied with bitterness against the printers.

Holt was deeply interested in postal reforms. He made extensive recommendations to Samuel Adams on January 29, 1776, and seems to have been the first person in New York to suggest a newsdealers' system of delivery of newspapers in place of the hazards of postriders. He was also a bookseller, as well as a printer. Isaiah Thomas described him as "a man of ardent feelings, and a high churchman, but a firm whig, a good writer, and a warm advocate of the cause of his country. " When "he expired, after experiencing with christian fortitude the pains of a lingering illness, " a contemporary obituary deplored his death as an irreparable public loss. He was interred in St. Paul's churchyard, New York City, where his remarkable tombstone is still extant. Cut in letters of printing type, it follows the form of a memorial card which his widow, says Thomas, "dispersed among her friends and acquaintances. "

Achievements

• Holt is best remembered as a prominent publisher and former mayor of colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. His tenacity as a newspaperman furthered the cause of liberty both before and during the American Revolution. He is also remembered as a co-founder of New York Gazette and Post Boy with fellow patriot James Parker, and New York Journal.

Personality

Holt was eulogized as ". .. a high churchman, a good writer, and a warm advocate for the cause of his country. "

Connections

In 1749 Holt married Elizabeth Hunte, the daughter of John Hunter, another merchant of Williamsburg, and sister of William Hunter, public printer at Williamsburg and with Benjamin Franklin joint postmaster-general for America. They had two children. For a while his wife, who had been a good helpmeet to him in his business, continued the newspaper alone or with assistance; then it passed into other hands, and expired on March 8, 1800.

Father:

David Holt

Mother:

Margaret (Dibdall) Holt

Spouse:

Elizabeth (Hunte) Holt

Brother:

David Holt

Brother:

William Holt

Sister:

Ann (Holt) Thompson

Sister:

Mary Holt

Sister:

Sarah (Holt) Truly

Sister:

Jane (Holt) Davies

Sister:

Gazell (Holt) Smith

Daughter:

Elizabeth (Holt) Oswald

Son:

John Hunter Holt

Son:

Dibdal Holt