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99-509: The Gazette was published by James Davis (1721–1785) in New Bern, North Carolina . Based on the earliest still existing copy, it is believed to have first been published on August 9, 1751, styled as the NO Carolina Gazette. Davis came from Virginia in 1749 to start a printing press, as the colonial Assembly could not publish laws without a printer. Previously, the lack of a paper for

198-589: A North Carolina justice of the peace . Davis supported the cause for American independence and to this end was politically active as a printer and politician before and during the American Revolution . Davis was born in Virginia on October 21, 1721, but the specific location is not known. Nothing else is positively known about his early life until 1745, when he was living in Williamsburg, Virginia . He moved to

297-551: A 15-man Court Of Directors to oversee the hospital's operations and admissions. In 1771, contractor Benjamin Powell constructed a two-story building on Francis Street near the college, capable of housing 24 patients. The design included "yards for patients to walk and take the Air in" as well as provisions for a fence to keep the patients out of the town. The Gunpowder Incident began in April 1775 as

396-624: A 301-acre (1.22 km ) Historic Area celebrating the patriots and early history of the colonial-era. As of 2022 , Colonial Williamsburg is Virginia's largest tourist attraction by attendance and the cornerstone of the Historic Triangle , with Jamestown and Yorktown joined by the Colonial Parkway . In the 21st century, Williamsburg has continued to update and refine its attractions. There are more features designed to attract modern children and to offer better and additional interpretation of

495-422: A Norwegian-American who had earlier farmed in the midwestern states, realized that eastern Virginia's gentler climate and depressed post-Civil War land prices would be attractive to his fellow Scandinavians who were farming in other northern parts of the country. He began sending out notices and selling land. Soon there was a substantial concentration of relocated Americans of Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish descent in

594-467: A Presbyterian minister from Pennsylvania, who published Wilmington's Cape Fear Mercury in 1776. In 1764, Davis made another journalistic effort with The North Carolina Magazine , or the Universal Intelligencer . printed on a demy sheet , in quarto pages. The first issue was dated Friday, June 1, to Friday, June 8, 1764. The price per issue was four pence: By the end of that year the size of

693-523: A church, and a magazine for the storage of arms. In 1722, Williamsburg was granted a royal charter as a "city incorporate", which is now believed to be the oldest charter in the United States. Middle Plantation was included in James City Shire when it was established in 1634, as the colony reached a total population of approximately 5,000. (James City and Virginia's other shires changed their names

792-436: A defensive palisade across the peninsula and a settlement named Middle Plantation as a primary guard-station along the palisade. Jamestown, the original capital of Virginia Colony, burned down during the events of Bacon's Rebellion in 1676. Once Governor William Berkeley had regained control, temporary government headquarters were established about 12 miles (19 km) away on the high ground at Middle Plantation, pending

891-470: A dispute between Dunmore and Virginia colonists over gunpowder stored in the Williamsburg magazine. Fearing rebellion, Dunmore ordered royal marines to seize gunpowder from the magazine. Virginia militia led by Patrick Henry responded to the "theft" and marched on Williamsburg. A standoff ensued, with Dunmore threatening to destroy the city if attacked by the militia. The dispute was resolved when payment for

990-634: A dramatic demographic shift in the city, reporting that Williamsburg was 48% White and 37% Black. Census data shows almost all of the Black population growth occurring in Census blocks containing William and Mary dorms, but data from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia shows no growth in the number of Black students in William and Mary dorms during the 2010s. University of Virginia researchers believe that

1089-406: A few years later; James City Shire then became known as James City County ). The middle ground ridge-line was essentially the dividing line with Charles River Shire , which was renamed York County after King Charles I ( r.  1625–1649 ) fell out of favor with the citizens of England. As Middle Plantation (and later Williamsburg) developed, the boundaries were adjusted slightly. For most of

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1188-642: A final iteration of the North Carolina Gazette (or Martin's North Carolina Gazette ) which published from about 1786 to 1798. James Davis (printer) James Davis (October 21, 1721 – 1785) was an early American printer and the first printer and first postmaster of the colony of North Carolina . He was also the founder and printer of the North-Carolina Gazette , North Carolina colony's first newspaper. After working with William Parks in Virginia he removed to New Bern to pursue

1287-521: A member of the county court in 1753 and held that office for twenty-five years. In 1754 he was elected sheriff of Craven County, but after ten months he chose to resign when he was selected as a representative in New ;Bern in the Assembly. He was denied that seat out of the Assembly's concern that his dual office holding as Sheriff would compromise his capacity to function in the Assembly. In 1755, however, he

1386-710: A moderate length are inserted for Three Shillings the first Week, and Two shillings for every week after. And where also Book-Binding is done reasonably. After winning the Seven Years' War with France, England found itself heavily in debt and in 1764 began imposing a series of taxes on the colonies. The first was the American Revenue Act , followed by the Currency Act . Davis reprinted these acts in several issues of his newspaper in August 1764, coverage of which took up most of

1485-590: A month, the defenders withdrew quietly from the Warwick Line (stretching across the Peninsula between Yorktown and Mulberry Island ). As General George McClellan 's Union forces crept up the Peninsula to pursue the retreating Confederate forces, a rear-guard force led by General James Longstreet and supported by General J. E. B. Stuart 's cavalry blocked their westward progression at the Williamsburg Line. This

1584-597: A new major purpose, turning much of it into a massive living museum . In the early 20th century, the Reverend Dr. W. A. R. Goodwin of Williamsburg's Bruton Parish Church championed one of the nation's largest historic restorations. Initially, Goodwin just aimed to save his historic church building. This he had accomplished by 1907, in time for the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Episcopal Church in Virginia. But upon returning to Williamsburg in 1923 after serving

1683-618: A number of years in upstate New York, he realized that many of the other remaining colonial-era buildings were also in deteriorating condition. Goodwin dreamed of a much larger restoration along the lines of what he had accomplished with his church. Of modest means, he sought support and financing from a number of sources before successfully attracting the interest and major financial support of Standard Oil heir and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. and his wife Abby Aldrich Rockefeller . Their combined efforts created Colonial Williamsburg , restoring much of downtown Williamsburg and developing

1782-489: A period of record dating only back to 1951, extreme temperatures range from −7 °F (−22 °C) on January 21, 1985 , to 104 °F (40 °C) on August 22, 1983, and June 26, 1952. During the Revolutionary era , African Americans made up over 50% of Williamsburg's population. Williamsburg was 78% White and 13% Black at the 2000 census, and 71% White and 14% Black at the 2010 census. The 2020 census indicated

1881-497: A printer from him, but any apprenticeship with Parks has not been conclusively established. Upon receiving word that the North Carolina Assembly, seated in New Bern, needed an official printer to publish their laws, legislative journals and other official documents, all of which were hand-written in manuscript form and generally disorganized, Davis moved from Virginia to North Carolina with his printing press. At

1980-482: A printing career upon learning that an official printer was needed in that colony. Soon after his arrival he began to put down roots, married, and became active in local politics, holding several positions in public office, including membership in the North Carolina Assembly and thereafter a county Sheriff. Davis secured the position of the official printer for the colonial government of the North Carolina colony and

2079-474: A prominent New Bern resident. It is unclear if Dew's allegations were an attempt to discredit Davis, who was also the North Carolina justice of the peace , but the allegations could not be substantiated and the long time established reputations of Davis and Coor remained intact. Davis was reappointed public printer in 1774 and continued to serve as Justice of the Peace in New Bern until 1778. Davis became

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2178-584: A respectable man, and was given a commission as a magistrate by North Carolina's governor, William Tryon , governor of North Carolina from 1764 to 1771. While Davis was considered a competent hard working printer there were times where he faced serious difficulties regarding his overall performance. In 1752, he was summoned by the General Assembly and charged with failing to perform his duties by not delivering various official documents printed for officials of North Carolina. In his defense he maintained that on

2277-561: A separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race. As of the 2010 census, there were 14,068 people, 3,619 households, and 1,787 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,404.1 people per square mile (542.1 people/km ). There were 3,880 housing units at an average density of 454.1 per square mile (175.3/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 74.0% White , 14.0% Black or African American , 0.3% Native American , 5.7% Asian , 0.0% Pacific Islander , 2.5% from other races , and 3.5% from two or more races . 6.7% of

2376-597: A site at the Williamsburg Regional Library's Croaker Branch. Other landmarks outside the historic area include Carter's Grove and Gunston Hall . In 1932, a Catholic church was built to minister to students at the College of William & Mary . Old Saint Bede was made a national shrine , dedicated to Our Lady of Walsingham . On October 22, 1976, the third of three debates between Republican President Gerald Ford and Democratic challenger Jimmy Carter in

2475-578: A time as quarters for the commanding officer of the Union garrison occupying the town. On September 9, drunken soldiers of the 5th Pennsylvania Cavalry set fire to the College Building, allegedly to prevent Confederate snipers from using it for cover. Williamsburg underwent much damage during the Union occupation, which lasted until September 1865. In 1881, Collis P. Huntington 's Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) built its Peninsula Extension through

2574-602: A time his health was worsening. Davis was forced to retire from his printing in 1782. Davis' son, Thomas, took over his father's printing business, but he died a short time later. Over a thirty-three year period Davis printed and published books and pamphlets mostly of a legal nature. There were, however, a fair variety other topics he published. In 1753 he published a work by English missionary Clement Hall , rector of Saint Paul's Church in Edenton , entitled, A Collection of Many Christian Experiences, and Several Places of Scripture ,

2673-710: A time in 1761, though no copies after 1769 are known to exist. On the May 27, 1768, the Gazette was started up again with its publication continuing until after the commencement of the American Revolutionary War. Its front page inscription read: New Bern: Printed by James Davis, at the Printing office in Front-street; where all persons may be supplied with this paper at Sixteen shillings per Annum: And where Advertisements of

2772-499: Is bordered by James City County on the west and south and York County on the east. English settlers founded Williamsburg in 1632 as Middle Plantation , a fortified settlement on high ground between the James and York rivers, and farther inland than their headquarters at Jamestown . The city functioned as the capital of the Colony and Commonwealth of Virginia from 1699 to 1780 and became

2871-611: Is buried at Christ Episcopal Church, in New Bern, on Pollack Street, the same street where his first printing shop was located. On November 20, 1925 The Richard Dobbs Spaight chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution erected a bronze historical plaque mounted on a block of granite at the site where Davis established the first printing press in North Carolina in New Bern. The plaque commemorates James Davis as

2970-411: Is driven by Colonial Williamsburg , the city's restored Historic Area. Along with nearby Jamestown and Yorktown , Williamsburg forms part of the Historic Triangle , which annually attracts more than four million tourists. Modern Williamsburg is also a college town , inhabited in large part by William & Mary students, faculty and staff. Before English settlers arrived at Jamestown to establish

3069-474: Is in the humid subtropical climate zone, with cool to mild winters, and hot, humid summers. Due to the inland location, winters are slightly cooler and spring days slightly warmer than in Norfolk, though lows average 3.2 °F (1.8 °C) cooler here due to the substantial urban buildup to the southeast. Snowfall averages 4.3 inches (11 cm) per season, and the summer months tend to be slightly wetter. With

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3168-468: Is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km ) (1.8%) is water. Williamsburg stands upon a ridge on the Virginia Peninsula between the James and York Rivers. Queen's Creek and College Creek partly encircle the city. James City County is to the west and south and York County to the north and east. As with all cities in Virginia, Williamsburg is legally independent of both counties. The city

3267-608: Is on the I-64 corridor, 45 miles (72 km) southeast of Richmond and about 37 miles (60 km) northwest of Norfolk . It is in the northwest corner of Hampton Roads , the nation's 37th-largest metropolitan area, with a population of 1,576,370. Within Hampton Roads, Norfolk is recognized as the central business district, while the Virginia Beach seaside resort district and Williamsburg are primarily tourism centers. Williamsburg

3366-567: The Richmond Times-Dispatch published an editorial that dubbed Williamsburg " Lotusburg ," for "Tuesday was election day in Williamsburg but nobody remembered it. The clerk forgot to wake the electoral board, the electoral board could not arouse itself long enough to have the ballots printed, the candidates forgot they were running, the voters forgot they were alive." But even if such complacency existed, one Episcopal priest dreamed of expanding and changing Williamsburg's future to give it

3465-545: The 1976 presidential election was held at Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall at the College of William & Mary , during which both candidates, perhaps in tribute to the historic venue and the United States Bicentennial celebration, spoke of a "new spirit" in America. The 9th G7 summit took place in Williamsburg in 1983. The participants discussed the growing debt-crisis, arms control and greater cooperation between

3564-594: The American Revolutionary War caused further stoppages, and the paper ceased publication altogether in 1778. Davis once again revived the Gazette on August 28, 1783, in conjunction with his son Thomas, and Robert Keith of Pennsylvania. It did not last very long, but published for at least a year. Keith took control of the paper as the elder Davis' health failed, and expanded the paper's name to North Carolina Gazette; or Impartial Intellgencer and Weekly General Advertiser . Francois Xavier Martin published

3663-544: The Battle of Williamsburg on May 5, 1862, the defenders succeeded in delaying the Union forces long enough for the retreating Confederates to reach the outer defenses of Richmond. A siege of Richmond ensued, culminating in the Seven Days Battles (June to July 1862). McClellan's campaign failed to capture Richmond. Meanwhile, on May 6, 1862, Williamsburg had fallen to the Union. The college's Brafferton building operated for

3762-425: The Colony of North Carolina in New Bern in 1749, and soon married Prudence Hobbs, the widow of Christopher Gregory Hobbs and daughter of William Carruthers. Shortly after Davis married he acquired the property on the southwest corner of Broad and East Front streets in New Bern, where his printing office was located for many years. Their marriage produced four sons and three daughters. The eldest son, James,

3861-534: The Colony of Virginia in 1607, the area that would become Williamsburg formed part of the territory of the Powhatan Confederacy . By the 1630s, English settlements had grown to dominate the lower (eastern) portion of the Virginia Peninsula , and Powhatan tribes had abandoned their nearby villages. Between 1630 and 1633, after the war that followed the Indian Massacre of 1622 , English colonists constructed

3960-494: The Continental Army in 1778. In 1785 Thomas succeeded his father as state printer, acting in this capacity until 1785. North Carolina was the last colony except Georgia to receive a printer and printing press, as it was largely unsettled during the early 18th century. As Davis worked for William Parks who established the first press in Virginia in 1736, it is generally assumed by historians that he obtained his training as

4059-633: The Great Chesapeake Bay Hurricane in September 1769 wrecked his shop and stopped publication for some time. A letter to colonial governor William Tryon about the storm reported the damage: "Mr. Davis’s House [is] a mere Wreck, his printing Office broke to Pieces, his Papers destroyed and Types buried in the Sands." Davis and his family had to forage the beach to recover his type. Paper shortages, and Davis' son Thomas being drafted into army during

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4158-638: The Assembly finally passed a resolution to pay Davis a six-month advance on his salary of £80, and commissioned him to print the bills authorized the year before. Davis did not engrave the copper printing plates but was authorized to account for and handle the actual printing. In 1751 Davis printed an edition of the Laws of North Carolina , containing five hundred and eighty pages. He was paid an annual salary of £160 proclamation money, and given copyrights on all government publications he printed. That year Davis printed Swann's Revisal , so entitled because Samuel Swann

4257-519: The College of William and Mary, although teaching was temporarily suspended for financial reasons from 1882 to 1888. Ewell's efforts to restore the school and its programs during and after Reconstruction became legendary in Williamsburg and at the college, and were ultimately successful, with funding both from the U.S. Congress and from the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 1888, the college secured $ 10,000 from

4356-410: The General Assembly of the Commonwealth and established a normal school to educate teachers; in 1906, the General Assembly modified the college charter, took ownership of the college buildings and grounds, and assumed primary responsibility for funding it. Ewell remained in Williamsburg as President Emeritus of the college until his death in 1894. Beginning in the 1890s, C&O land agent Carl M. Bergh,

4455-613: The North Carolina Assembly appointed him as one of the judges on the Admiralty Court for the port of Beauford. Beginning in 1768 Davis served as Justice of the Peace in New Bern and held that post until 1778. The high point of his political career occurred in 1781 when Davis became a member of the Council of State . Two years after Davis resumed publication of the North Carolina Gazette he fell into ill health and died in February 1785 at

4554-439: The North Carolina Assembly, in 1773, a 575 page work entitled, A complete revisal of all the acts of Assembly, of the province of North-Carolina, now in force and use . It was printed in a variety of type faces and was one of the largest works he ever printed. During the years leading up to the American Revolution, Davis allied himself with the revolutionary cause and printed articles and essays promoting American independence and

4653-491: The North Carolina General Assembly passed an act to have printed £21,350 of currency in various denominations, but no printing was forthcoming until the arrival of James Davis to New Bern. One of his first assignments as public printer was the printing of paper money (promissory notes), for the North Carolina provincial government. On October 17, 1749, several months after Davis' arrival to North Carolina,

4752-412: The Peace, authored and printed by Davis. In 1751 Davis established and began the publication of the North-Carolina Gazette , North Carolina's first newspaper. The earliest known copy is dated November 15, 1751. The Gazette was a journal like newspaper containing essays as well as the news. It was issued weekly on Thursdays and was published for approximately eight years and then discontinued for

4851-528: The Revolutionary War Davis was forced to suspend publication of the Gazette when his son and assistant, Thomas Davis, was conscripted into joining the Continental Army. One North Carolina historian said that the Gazette earned Davis the title, "The Father of Journalism in North Carolina". Davis was joined by other printers in publishing North Carolina newspapers, including Andrew Steuart Boyd,

4950-756: The Soviet Union and the G7 (subsequently the G8). At the end of the meeting, Secretary of State George P. Shultz read to the press a statement confirming the deployment of American Pershing II-nuclear missiles in West Germany later in 1983. On May 3, 2007, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II visited Jamestown and Williamsburg. She had previously visited Williamsburg in 1957. Many world leaders, including President George W. Bush , visited Jamestown to mark its 400th anniversary. The celebration began in part in 2005 with events leading up to

5049-513: The Times , was humorous text. He also printed and published in 1778 an introduction to Latin grammar, by Thomas Ruddiman , entitled Rudiments of the Latin Tongue , and The Spelling Dictionary , by Thomas Dyche . Davis also published various semi-public works, including his Justice of the Peace , of 1774. It was a 407 page manual and outlined the various duties and responsibilities of a Justice of

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5148-608: The United States, the Public Hospital for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds, was founded in the city. Known in modern times as Eastern State Hospital , it was established by Act of the Virginia colonial legislature on June 4, 1770. The Act to "Make Provision for the Support and Maintenance of Ideots, Lunaticks, and other Persons of unsound Minds" authorized the House of Burgesses to appoint

5247-874: The age of 28, he became the first printer to set up a print shop in that colony in New ;Bern , situated at the mouth of the Neuse River near the coast. One of Davis' first undertakings was to acquire property. When the Governor and Council met in April 1749, and again in autumn, Davis submitted an application to the Council for land. The Council granted him 200 acres in Johnston County and another 200 acres in Craven County . On June 24, 1749, he began setting up his print shop on Pollock Street in New Bern. On April 4, 1748,

5346-645: The age of 64. Davis left a will which was probated in the Craven County court in March 1785, which would support the idea that he very likely died the previous month. Davis died a wealthy man, leaving behind a great deal of property he had acquired over the course of his life. His business partner, Robert Keith, continued publication of the North Carolina Gazette , but changed its name to The Impartial Intelligencer and Weekly General Advertiser . The Intelligencer , however, offered little of state or local news. The last issue

5445-540: The anniversary, and was celebrated statewide throughout 2007, though the official festivities took place during the first week of May. On February 5, 2009, President Barack Obama took his first trip aboard Air Force One to a House Democrats retreat in the city to attend and address their "Issues Conference". According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has an area of 9.1 square miles (23.6 km ), of which 8.9 square miles (23.1 km )

5544-568: The area, eventually establishing six stations in Williamsburg and the surrounding area. The Peninsula Extension was good news for the farmers and merchants of the Virginia Peninsula, and they generally welcomed the railroad, which aided passenger travel and shipping. Williamsburg allowed tracks to be placed down Duke of Gloucester Street and even directly through the ruins of the capitol building. (They were later relocated, and Collis Huntington's real-estate arm, Old Dominion Land Company , donated

5643-461: The area. The location earlier known as Vaiden's Siding on the railroad just west of Williamsburg in James City County was renamed Norge . These citizens and their descendants found the local conditions favorable, and many became leading merchants, tradespersons, and farmers in the community. These transplanted Americans brought some new blood and enthusiasm to the old colonial capital area. In

5742-428: The better climate now also enjoyed use of the college's facilities. The college students made a presentation to the House of Burgesses, and it was agreed in 1699 that the colonial capital would move to Middle Plantation permanently. A village was laid out and Middle Plantation was renamed Williamsburg in honor of King William III of England , befitting the town's newly elevated status. After Williamsburg's designation as

5841-454: The black American experience in the town. A century after Goodwin's work began, Colonial Williamsburg remains a work in progress. In addition to Colonial Williamsburg, the city's railroad station was restored to become an intermodal passenger facility. In nearby James City County, the c. 1908 C&O Railway combination passenger and freight station at Norge was preserved and, with a donation from CSX Transportation , relocated in 2006 to

5940-542: The business activity involved in government, the College of William and Mary continued and expanded, as did the Public Hospital for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds. The latter became known as Eastern State Hospital . At the outset of the American Civil War (1861–1865), enlistments in the Confederate Army depleted the College of William and Mary's student body and on May 10, 1861, the faculty voted to close

6039-424: The center of political events in Virginia leading to the American Revolution . The College of William & Mary , established in 1693, is the second-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and the only one of the nine colonial colleges in the South . Its alumni include three U.S. presidents as well as many other important figures in the nation's early history. The city's tourism-based economy

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6138-416: The college for the duration of the war. The College Building served as a Confederate barracks and later as a hospital before being burned by Union forces in 1862. The Williamsburg area saw combat in the spring of 1862 during the Peninsula Campaign , a Union effort to take Richmond from the east from a base at Fort Monroe . Throughout late 1861 and early 1862, the small contingent of Confederate defenders

6237-413: The colonial period, the border between the two counties ran down the center of Duke of Gloucester Street. For almost a century after the 1776 formation both of the Commonwealth of Virginia and of the United States, despite practical complications, the town remained divided between the two counties. Williamsburg was the site of the first attempted canal in the United States. In 1771, Lord Dunmore , who

6336-437: The colony meant residents had to rely on the Virginia Gazette (founded 1736) for news and advertising. It is believed likely that Davis trained under William Parks , who published the Virginia Gazette , but it is not certain. The Gazette ran mostly international news, and little local news. It was intended to be a weekly but its publication is believed to have been less regular, with occasional gaps in publishing, until

6435-557: The colony's capital, immediate provision was made for construction of a capitol building and for platting the city according to Theodorick Bland 's survey. His design utilized the college's extant sites and the almost new Bruton Parish Church as focal points, and placed the new Capitol building opposite the college, with Duke of Gloucester Street connecting them. Alexander Spotswood , who arrived in Virginia as lieutenant governor in 1710, had several ravines filled and streets leveled, and assisted in erecting additional college buildings,

6534-413: The degree of Jamestown. Another factor was travel. In the 18th and early 19th-century, transportation in the colony was largely by canals and navigable rivers . As it had been built on "high ground", Williamsburg was not sited on a major water-route, unlike many early U.S. communities. The railroads that began to be built in the 1830s also did not yet come through the city. Despite Williamsburg's loss of

6633-407: The developed part of the colony had left it vulnerable to attack. In the 1690s, the colonists again tried to establish a school. They commissioned Reverend James Blair , who spent several years in England lobbying, and finally obtained a royal charter for the desired new school. It was to be named the College of William & Mary in honor of the monarchs of the time. When Blair returned to Virginia,

6732-421: The difficulties the General Assembly was facing, and feeling a patriotic duty to his country in its time of need, Davis offered to take up the state's printing once again, and was willing to accept payment whenever it was possible. Because of mounting war time debts, however, Davis did not receive payment for most of the work he performed in the following few years. Once again he had to deal financial stress, and at

6831-423: The early 20th century, Williamsburg remained a sleepy small town. Some newer structures were interspersed with colonial-era buildings, but the town was much less progressive than Virginia's other, busier communities of similar size. Some local lore indicates that the residents liked it that way, as described in longtime Virginia Peninsula journalist, author and historian Parke S. Rouse Jr. 's work. On June 26, 1912,

6930-428: The evening". During the war, Virginia's capital was moved again, in 1780, this time to Richmond at the urging of then- Governor Thomas Jefferson , who feared Williamsburg's location made it vulnerable to a British attack. Williamsburg remained a venue for many important conventions during the war. Williamsburg ceased to be the capital of the new Commonwealth of Virginia in 1780 and went into decline, although not to

7029-423: The first non-legal book printed in North Carolina. According to Benjamin Franklin's account books, Davis, late in 1752 and in 1753, purchased from him paper for printing, pasteboard, and parchment. North Carolina historian William S. Powell maintains that it is quite likely that Hall's work was printed with materials purchased from Franklin. Another printing by Davis, The First Book of the American Chronicles of

7128-449: The first printer of North Carolina and the first to establish a newspaper in that state, among other such notable accomplishments. Colonial North Carolina historian, Samuel Ashe, said of Davis, that he was "practically the history of the North Carolina press for the first generation of its existence". During the course of his printing career, Davis had printed more than one hundred pamphlets, books, and newspaper broadsides, most of them at

7227-503: The high Black population figure was not due to an actual demographic shift but instead due to "the Bureau ’s decision to swap some census respondents’ identities with other respondents for privacy protection", a phenomenon known as differential privacy . Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to

7326-410: The laws cost him to print, and he was forced to resign as official printer to remain solvent. After Davis had resigned, the General Assembly hired a replacement printer, but he died just a few weeks after his arrival. The Assembly searched earnestly for another replacement, but were unable to find a qualified printer who would perform his duties for the amount of money they were offering. Upon learning of

7425-418: The median income for a family was $ 52,358. Males had a median income of $ 28,625 versus $ 26,840 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 18,483. 18.3% of the population and 9.3% of families were below the poverty line . Out of the total population, 29.7% of those under the age of 18 and 5.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. A high proportion of Williamsburg residents derive

7524-508: The new school was founded in a safe place, Middle Plantation, in 1693. Classes began in temporary quarters in 1694, and construction soon started on the College Building, a precursor to the Wren Building . Four years later, in 1698, the rebuilt Statehouse in Jamestown burned down again, this time accidentally. The government again "temporarily" relocated to Middle Plantation, and in addition to

7623-659: The paper was reduced by about a half, but its price remained the same. Its news was dated and mostly that of England and Europe and often contained extracts from theological publications taken from various English works and magazines. It is not known how long exactly the Magazine remained in publication but evidently this publication, as it were, was not nearly as successful as the first, for on May 27, 1768, Davis revived The North Carolina Gazette . No issues of The North-Carolina Magazine are known to have survived after January 18, 1765. The numerous laws against counterfeiting during

7722-433: The population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. There were 3,619 households, out of which 16.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.6% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

7821-514: The powder was arranged. This was an important precursor in the run-up to the American Revolution . Following the Declaration of Independence from Britain, the American Revolutionary War broke out in 1776. On July 25, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed at Williamsburg and received with "applause under discharge of cannon and firing of small arms with illuminations [fireworks] in

7920-584: The printing space in an issue. In the August 17 issue of the Gazette he also printed a petition, which was sent to King George III , protesting England's failure to enforce an indemnity from France rather than seeking revenues from the colonists. Davis also reprinted letters that appeared in The Boston Gazette and the New Hampshire Gazette denouncing the Sugar Act and Revenue Act. In 1778 during

8019-506: The rebuilding of the Statehouse at Jamestown. The members of the House of Burgesses discovered that the "temporary" location was both safer and more pleasant than Jamestown, which was humid and plagued with mosquitoes. A school of higher education had long been an aspiration of the colonists. An early attempt at Henricus failed after the Indian Massacre of 1622 ; the location at the outskirts of

8118-492: The request of the North Carolina government. Historian and archivist Robert Connor referred to Davis as "the father of journalism in North Carolina". Williamsburg, Virginia Williamsburg is an independent city in Virginia , United States. As of the 2020 census , it had a population of 15,425. Located on the Virginia Peninsula , Williamsburg is in the northern part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. It

8217-573: The revolution. He also became involved with the Council of Safety of New Bern and became a member when that council was founded and began representing New Bern in the Provincial Congress . Davis performed many patriotic duties, including his signing of the Craven County Address on Liberty , in 1774, and became a committee member which served in the arming and supplying of ships for war, among other such war-time efforts. In 1777,

8316-496: The salary the General Assembly was paying him he could not afford the expenses needed for the time and traveling required to deliver the documents. The General Assembly, however, disagreed with his reasoning and he was subsequently fined. Just before and during the American Revolution , paper became scarce and hence expensive, and delivery costs also rose sharply. Davis appealed to the General Assembly for more money to print North Carolina's laws but they could not pay Davis as much as

8415-466: The same type Davis had used in 1768, Davis and the two men who had assisted him in the printing, James Mansfield and Samuel Robert Hall, were interrogated by the North Carolina colonial authorities. The counterfeit notes were so well printed that it was assumed by some that the notes were printed either in Williamsburg, Virginia, or in Davis' own printing shop in New Bern. Davis pointed out that when his shop

8514-552: The site to the forerunner of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities .) The railroad's main purpose was shipping eastbound West Virginia bituminous coal to Newport News . Using the new coal piers , coal was loaded aboard large colliers in the harbor of Hampton Roads for shipment to New England and to export destinations worldwide. Due in no small part to President Ewell's efforts, education continued at

8613-477: The venture folded around 1759, or perhaps until 1761. The end date is not certain, as a very limited number of issues of the newspaper have been preserved. The latest issue that is still extant dates from October 18, 1759. After working on publishing a newspaper for four years under another name in the 1760s, The North Carolina Magazine; Or Universal Intelligencer , Davis restarted the North Carolina Gazette on May 27, 1768, restarting at "volume 1". However,

8712-451: The years leading up to the American Revolution indicates that this activity occurred often enough in the colonies to warrant their numbers. Several colonies, including Virginia and North Carolina, regarded counterfeiting as an act of treason, where the penalty of death was provided. In 1768 Davis was again commissioned by the North Carolina General Assembly to print £20,000 in paper notes. When counterfeit notes turned up in 1770, printed with

8811-410: Was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.66. The age distribution was: 9.6% under the age of 18, 46.0% from 18 to 24, 17.7% from 25 to 44, 15.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 37,093, and

8910-663: Was Virginia's last Royal Governor , announced plans to connect Archer's Creek , which leads to the James River , with Queen's Creek , leading to the York River . It would have formed a water route across the Virginia Peninsula , but was not completed. Remains of this canal are visible at the rear of the grounds behind the Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg . In the 1770s, the first purpose-built psychiatric hospital in

9009-463: Was a merchant in New Bern. The second son, John, became a ship captain, but died during the American Revolutionary War while held prisoner aboard a British ship anchored in the Charleston, South Carolina harbor. Davis' youngest son, Thomas, who was an apprentice to his father and the only son known to have followed in his father's footsteps, assisting him in his print shop until he was drafted into

9108-540: Was a series of 14 redoubts east of town, with earthen Fort Magruder (also known as Redoubt # 6) at the crucial junction of the two major roads leading to Williamsburg from the east. College of William and Mary President Benjamin S. Ewell oversaw the design and construction. He owned a farm in James City County, and had been commissioned as an officer in the Confederate Army after the college closed in 1861. At

9207-415: Was chairman of the commission which prepared it. It became popularly known as "The Yellow Jacket" for the yellowish hue of the parchment it was printed on. This was the first book published in North Carolina. In 1752 he relocated his shop to the corner of Front and Broad Streets. His first commission was the printing of The Journal of the House of Burgesses , September 26, 1749. Davis was considered to be

9306-502: Was destroyed in the hurricane of 1769 he had lost sufficient type for someone to reproduce the notes. The investigation, however, failed to establish any culpability involving Davis and his printing shop. Davis soon faced another challenge to his reputation in 1773. Spencer Dew, convicted of a litany of counterfeiting and thievery crimes, and facing execution, accused Davis of printing and giving him £1,000 in counterfeit notes, and that Davis had also given £2,000 in bogus notes to James Coor,

9405-595: Was elected to the North Carolina Assembly, representing Craven County, where he served until 1760. In 1755 Benjamin Franklin , the Postmaster-General for the American colonies, appointed Davis as the first postmaster of North Carolina at New Bern . In October of that year the North Carolina Assembly awarded him the contract to carry the mail between Wilmington, North Carolina and Suffolk, Virginia . While Davis

9504-417: Was first to print its laws and paper currency. As an accomplished and official printer, Davis was later suspected by some of counterfeiting monetary notes, but the allegations were made by a career criminal, himself convicted of multiple counts of counterfeiting and thievery, while facing execution, and the allegations were never substantiated. Thereafter he went on serving as the colony's official printer and as

9603-502: Was known as the Army of the Peninsula, led by General John B. Magruder . He successfully created ruses to fool the invaders as to the size and strength of his forces, and deterred their attack. The subsequent slow Union movement up the peninsula gained valuable time for defenses to be constructed at the Confederate capital at Richmond. In early May 1862, after holding off Union troops for over

9702-440: Was mostly committed to public service he still pursued some private interests. In 1764 he established and owned a sawmill on Slocumb's Creek, and posted advertisements for a manager who could operate it while he was committed to his public service involvements. He also advertised for a millwright who could manage the building and operation of another such mill which included a dam used to power the mill. Davis once again printed for

9801-553: Was published on September 2, 1784. Although Davis' North Carolina Gazette only lasted for a relatively short period the newspaper served as a catalyst for the establishment of other newspapers in North Carolina. His service as public printer lasted more than thirty years. Davis's greatest legacy was that he was North Carolina's first printer and publisher of over one hundred titles. By the late-eighteenth century, newspapers were appearing in Raleigh, Hillsborough, and Salisbury. James Davis

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