[New post] George Busteed (1762-1769) and John Busteed (1768-1819), printers, booksellers and newspaper publishers
mairekennedybooks posted: " John Rocque, Map of Cork city, 1759, detail showing Castle Street. George and John Busteed held an important place in Cork business in the 1760s. They supplied books, magazine, stationery and patent medicines to the citizens of Cork. As newspaper "
John Rocque, Map of Cork city, 1759, detail showing Castle Street.
George and John Busteed held an important place in Cork business in the 1760s. They supplied books, magazine, stationery and patent medicines to the citizens of Cork. As newspaper publishers they printed foreign and domestic news, carried notices of shipping and the cost of basic commodities and advertised the services of their fellow tradesmen in the city and in surrounding towns. George Busteed's business life is confined to less than a decade, but John Busteed spent fifty years in the book trade in Cork city, Ennis, County Clare, and Tralee, County Kerry, and his publication of a range of newspapers ensured his place in the histories of these counties. John's early career, spanning a decade, was spent in Cork, where he had his printing office and bookshop in the busy heart of the city. He succeeded George Busteed, probably his brother, as publisher of The Corke Chronicle in 1769. Following a short stay in Ennis, Co Clare, he moved to Tralee in 1780 as postmaster, where he remained for the rest of his life. He was part of an extended family of printers, and his sons established and ran newspaper and printing businesses in several different counties until the middle of the nineteenth century.
George Busteed (1762-1769):
George Busteed was printer, bookseller and newspaper publisher in Cork from at least 1762, at Castle Street from 1764 to 1766, moving to nearby Paul Street from 1766 to 1769. George married Mary Henny at St Finbarr's Cathedral on 10 August 1762 (St Finbarr's Registers; Marriage Licence Bonds, diocese of Cork and Ross, 1762). They had at least four children, Frances (born on 31 May 1763), Elizabeth (died September 1767), Mary (died June 1768), and John (died in May 1770) (St Finbarr's Registers). He ceased trading after 1769, possibly having retired; he was still alive in May 1770 when his son John died. George may have been John's brother, but when John's mother, Frances Busteed, died and was buried at St Finbarr's, Cork, in February 1772 there was no mention of George in the newspaper notice, so if they were brothers he may already have been deceased (St Finbarr's Registers; Hibernian Chronicle, 17 Feb 1772; Finn's Leinster Journal, 19-22 Feb 1772). It is likely that George's daughter was the Frances who married Thomas Saunders Knox, printer in Ennis, proprietor of The Clare Journal, and one-time partner of John Busteed, and was mother of John Busteed Knox. Frances and Thomas Knox lived at Jail Street (now O'Connell Street), Ennis. George's widow, Mary, died at Jail Street, Ennis, in August 1807; this would fit if Frances Knox was her daughter (Clare Journal, 10 Aug 1807; Ennis Chronicle, 12 Aug 1807; Limerick Gazette, 14 Aug 1807). When Thomas Saunders Knox died in 1802 (Clare Journal, 1 Apr 1802; Ennis Chronicle, 29 Mar 1802), Frances became proprietor of The Clare Journal, and when her son John Busteed Knox (born 1792) came of age he became its editor. This business arrangement lasted until 1846 (Slater's Directory 1846) and Frances's death on 29 September of that year (Freeman's Journal, 3 Oct 1846).
John Busteed (1768-1819):
John Busteed's career began in Cork as printer, newspaper publisher and bookseller. He was the son of Richard Busteed and Frances McCormick (Marriage Licence Bonds, diocese of Cork and Ross, March 1738/9). He married Miss Sarah Saunders (or Sanders) at Christ Church, Cork, on 28 October 1770 (Marriage Licence Bonds, diocese of Cork and Ross; 1770; Hibernian Chronicle, 29 Oct 1770; Cork Evening Post, 29 Oct 1770). Sarah may have been a relative of Thomas Saunders Knox, printer and newspaper publisher in Cork, who later became John's business partner. John Busteed remained in Cork for about ten years, before moving to Ennis, County Clare, by 1778. In 1780 he established his printing office in Tralee, County Kerry, where he remained, and for more than half a century he and his sons ran a successful business there. Sarah died in Tralee in January 1782 (Cork Evening Post, 4 Feb 1782). Shortly afterwards John remarried and with his second wife, Catherine Hilliard, had eight children (irishgenealogy.ie online), Richard (born 31 May 1783), William Hilliard (born 5 Dec 1784, died 12 Feb 1824), George Washington (born 1786, died 1859), John (born 11 Jul 1788, died 14 Jul 1863), Morgan O'Connell (born 12 Jan 1790, died 27 Jan 1830), Frances / Francis (born 5 / 6 Jan 1793), Barbara (born 12 Oct 1794), and Thomas Ellis Emmett (born 15 Aug 1797). John junior joined him in business in Tralee about 1809, and by 1813 at least one other son joined the business, which became Busteed and Sons. John senior died on 4 March 1819 (Clare Journal, 8 Mar 1819. Southern Reporter, 13 Mar 1819). His widow, Catherine, lived until 27 February 1830 (Kerry Evening Post, 3 Mar 1830). In 1834 John and Catherine's daughter, Barbara, married her cousin John Busteed Knox, son of Frances and Thomas Saunders Knox (irishgenealogy.ie; Clare Journal, 5 Jun 1834), and they lived in Ennis, where he was publisher and editor of The Clare Journal.
Cork Evening Post, 7 Feb 1782, death notice for Sarah Busteed. Kerry Evening Post, 3 Mar 1830, death notice for Catherine Busteed.
Cork:
George Busteed printed and published The Corke Chronicle, or Universal Register in Cork from late 1763. Early issues covering the years 1765 to 1769 are held in Cork City Library and issues covering 1770 to 1772 are held in University College Cork. The paper was issued twice weekly at a cost of 6s.6d. to city subscribers and 2d. per issue to non subscribers during the theatrical season (Corke Chronicle, 19 Aug 1765). In 1764 he advertised for a 'sober careful' messenger to deliver the paper to the country (Corke Chronicle, 31 Dec 1764). Subscriptions were taken in surrounding towns by Mr Kennedy Hayes, apothecary and post master in Mallow, Mr Howell Powell, schoolmaster in Bandon, Mrs Fowlue in Kinsale and Edward Crofton, stationer in Kilkenny (Corke Chronicle, 19 Aug 1765). Busteed offered his subscribers an extra news sheet, the Corke Mercury, published on Saturdays when the English mails arrived, and advertisements from the Chronicle were inserted gratis in the Mercury (Corke Chronicle, 24 Jul 1766). By 1767 the cost of the paper had reduced substantially to 5s.5d. per annum and a halfpenny per issue (Corke Chronicle, 26 Mar 1767; 2 Apr 1767). The title of the paper was changed to The Corke Chronicle, or Free Intelligencer in October 1768 (Corke Chronicle, 14 Oct 1768). In February 1767 Busteed established a General Public Register Office at his printing office in Paul Street, for buying and selling goods and services, offering or seeking employment, borrowing or lending money, and buying, selling or letting houses and lands: a first in the city of Cork (Corke Chronicle, 16 Feb 1767). For a small registration fee buyers and sellers could advertise in the office, and for no extra charge advertisements were carried in the Corke Chronicle. This office continued for many years and a full page of the newspaper was given over to Register Office advertisements (Corke Chronicle, 23 Apr 1767; 27 Jul 1769; 25 Jan 1770).
The Corke Chronicle, 31 Dec 1764, masthead
During the theatrical season of 1765 the Chronicle began to publish attacks on the Theatre Royal company in Cork, instigated by local critics of the visiting repertory group from Dublin, led by Spranger Barry (Clarke 1965, pp 89-93). The Cork theatrical season took place from August to October, as troupes of players came to Cork at the close of the Crow Street season in Dublin. Local theatergoers criticised the quality of the productions and the poor performances of the actors. The company was so aggrieved that a law suit was brought against Busteed for 'publishing a false and scandalous paper', which was later dropped. The following year further charges were brought against Busteed, and they contrived his arrest on 5 September 1766, after a day in jail he was released on bail of £2,000 (Clarke 1765, pp 92-93; Corke Chronicle, 28 Aug 1766). The row played out in the columns of the Chronicle for the season under the heading 'Theatrical intelligence' (Corke Chronicle, 21 Jul 1766; 18 Aug 1766; 8 Sep 1766; 20 Oct 1766). In November Busteed advertised a subscription project, Theatrical intelligence: a brief criticism on the merits and demerits of theatrical performers, who have appeared on the Corke stage, in the year 1764, 1765 and 1766, based on letters and essays published in the Chronicle (Corke Chronicle, 30 Oct 1766; 6 Nov 1766; 4 Dec 1766). The publication, 'in a neat pocket volume on a beautiful type and good writing paper', was priced at 2s.8½d., stitched in blue paper (Corke Chronicle, 4 Dec 1766). Clarke considers this a mock advertisement, but the publication of such a pamphlet was quite feasible (Clarke 1965, p. 92). The advertisement itself has every appearance of a genuine proposal to publish, with conditions of sale and noting an introductory preface on the dangers of attacking the liberty of the press. No copies are known to survive (English Short Title Catalogue online), but unbound ephemeral pamphlets have a poor survival rate.
John Rocque, Map of Cork city, 1759, detail showing Castle Street and Paul Street.
In June 1766 following a dispute with his landlord, George Hughes, glazier, George Busteed quit his house in Castle Street (Corke Chronicle, 7 Jul 1766). He announced his move from Castle Street to Paul Street, at the corner of Brown Street, where he hoped to carry on the business in a more extensive manner, having invested in a new printing press (Corke Chronicle, 30 Jun 1766). In March 1768 he moved again to another premises on Paul Street, across the street from his old printing office (Corke Chronicle, 7 Mar 1768). From 1765 to 1768 George received payment from Cork Corporation for printing work (Caulfield 1876, pp 790, 808, 813, 827, 835). It is likely that this was for printing official notices; on 16 December 1768 he was paid for printing the assize of bread for one year. Printing for city and town administrations and official bodies was a lucrative contract, providing a regular income.
His bookshop in Paul Street carried a range of London and Dublin publications, patent medicines and snuff. He stocked religious books such as A golden treasury for the children of God (London, 1762, part two 1764) and a subscription edition of a proselytising pamphlet An essay for the conversion of the Irish by Sir Richard Cox, a small duodecimo volume selling for 1s.7½d. sewed in blue paper. Agents for the Corke Chronicle also acted as subscription agents for the pamphlet: Edward Crofton, stationer in Kilkenny, Howell Powell, schoolmaster in Bandon, the Widow Fowlue in Kinsale, and John Clark in Youghal. Those subscribers who wished to distribute the tract to the poor could purchase six copies and get the seventh free (Corke Chronicle, 6 Mar 1766). He was subscription agent for a number of substantial works, including a Dublin edition printed by Ann Leathley of An ecclesiastical history by John Lawrence Mosheim, in four volumes octavo for £1.1s.8d. to subscribers and £1.4s. to non subscribers, neatly bound and lettered (Dublin, 1767), and the London edition of The complete dictionary of arts and sciences (Corke Chronicle, 16 Dec 1765). The Dictionary was illustrated with 150 copper plates, and selling in 50 weekly parts for a British sixpence (6½d. Irish) per number, the completed work would come to three large folio volumes (London, 1764, 1765, 1766). Busteed required a minimum of 50 subscribers for the Dictionary, and the parts would be imported once a month and delivered to subscribers' houses in town or sent by messenger along with their newspapers to Kinsale, Bandon, Mallow and other towns (Corke Chronicle, 16 Dec 1765). He advertised a list of new books from London that were published in parts, all selling for 6½d. per number. They included Mortimer's History of England in 92 parts, with plates, portraits and maps, coming to two volumes folio when completed (London, 1764-1766), A new system of geography by Daniel Fenning and Joseph Collier in 75 parts, coming to two volumes folio, with plates, portraits and maps (London 1764, 1765), Cunningham's Law dictionary in 76 parts, Lloyd's History of England in 50 parts, to be completed in five volumes octavo with plates (London, 1764), Rider's Family bible in 143 numbers, complete in three volumes folio with plates and maps (London, 1763-1767), and the Grand imperial bible in 58 parts (London, 1764-1766) (Corke Chronicle, 6 Mar 1766).
Corke Chronicle, 27 Jul 1769, masthead
George continued as printer of The Corke Chronicle until early 1769 (Corke Chronicle, 20 April 1769), when it was taken over by John Busteed (Corke Chronicle, 27 Jul 1769). The change of proprietorship occurred under something of a cloud. In his notice to the public John Busteed noted 'He cannot harbour the least imagination, that any gentleman of humanity, will withdraw his beneficent countenance, from a disconsolate family, by reason of the misconduct of an individual' (Corke Chronicle, 27 Jul 1769). It is not clear what misconduct was involved, whether it was a financial issue, or something else. No issues of the Corke Chronicle survive between 20 April 1769, when George is proprietor, and 27 July 1769, when John has taken over. A notice carried in The Cork Evening Post (1 Jun 1769) reproduces an apology from Mr Busteed published in the Corke Chronicle of 27 instant (May) 'the printer is concerned to find that a letter which was unguardedly inserted in his paper of the 25th instant, hath given great offence to several gentlemen of weight and consequence ... [he] voluntarily begs pardon for printing so scurrilous and so infamous a letter calculated (as he has since discovered) to prejudice the reputation of a gentleman of eminence and character in this city, and for whom he has a particular respect'. Whether the offence caused to an important individual was enough to put him out of business is unclear.
John Rocque, Map of Cork city, 1759, detail showing North Main Street and Flag Lane
John Busteed began his business in Cork about 1768, first at Paul Street, moving to Flack's (Flag) Lane, opposite St Peter's church in North Main Street by 1771, and then by at least 1775 to Castle Street, near the Exchange. From the start he was involved with the publication of newspapers. He was probably the brother of George Busteed, who had his business in Paul Street until 1769. George printed and published The Corke Chronicle from 1764 to 1769, and John's first venture was publication of the same newspaper from 1769 to 1772. When he took over publication of the paper in July 1769 he stated his intention to remain in the shop in Paul Street 'till such time as a convenient shop can be procured, in which he proposes carrying on the bookselling business, in as extensive a manner as the city and county of Cork will encourage'(Corke Chronicle, 27 Jul 1769). In 1770 John advertised for an apprentice 'a Protestant lad, of reputable parents' ((Corke Chronicle, 11 Jan 1770). In January 1771 he set up his printing office in Flack's Lane where he shared the premises with the silk weaving and embroidery business run by the Saunders family (Corke Chronicle, 31 Jan 1771; 21 Nov 1771), the same family name as his wife, Sarah. His name was 'in large characters, upon a plate, over the door' (Corke Chronicle, 21 Nov 1771). As well as printing the twice weekly issues of the paper, Busteed offered printing services to merchants and shopkeepers, for handbills and 'all other kinds of printing' at the most reasonable rates (Corke Chronicle, 1 Jan 1770; 21 Nov 1771; 2 Jan 1772).
The Corke Chronicle was published twice a week, on Monday and Thursday, at a subscription rate of a half guinea (10s.6d.) per annum covered and eight English shillings (8s.8d. Irish) loose for delivery to Youghal, Middleton, Mallow, Kinsale and Bandon, with agents John Clarke in Youghal, Kennedy Hayes in Mallow and James Hawes in Bandon delivering them to subscribers locally (Corke Chronicle, 9 Oct 1769). The cost was 7s.7d. per annum for city subscribers in 1772 (Corke Chronicle, 2 Jan 1772). A proposal to publish the newspaper three times a week was issued in early 1770, city subscribers would pay a half guinea (10s.6d.) per annum, while country subscribers would pay 13s. per annum for loose papers, or 17s.4d. for covered papers (Corke Chronicle, 1 Feb 1770). A total of 600 subscribers were required by April 1770 before the new publication schedule would come into effect. However, as no issue of the Saturday paper has survived, and the original subscription rate still pertained two years later, it is likely that sufficient subscribers were not signed up. The distribution of the paper covered a wide range of towns in the county, as well as city subscribers, newspapers were delivered by messengers to Mallow, Doneraile, Kanturk, Newmarket, Youghal, Middleton, Castlemartyr, Kinsale and Bandon (Corke Chronicle, 28 May 1770). No copies of the newspaper after survived after 2 January 1772.
In September 1771, with William Sargent, he opened a bookshop in Paul Street, opposite St Paul's church. His advertisement, dated 26 September, offered a large variety of stationery, Irish and imported paper and 'all the new publications' (Corke Chronicle, 7 Nov 1771). Busteed and Sargent were regularly supplied with monthly issues of The Lady's Magazine from London and The Hibernian Magazine from Dublin (Corke Chronicle, 2 Jan 1772). The currency of new works advertised is striking, many published within the year, most are likely to have been Dublin reprints of London originals, where the Dublin editions were often in smaller format or otherwise cheaper productions. They were selling William Guthrie's A new geographical, historical and commercial grammar, illustrated with maps, published in octavo format in 1771 in London and reprinted in Dublin, bound and lettered for 6s.6d. (Corke Chronicle, 18 Nov 1771). Two titles were offered in December 1771, Anecdotes of a convent in two volumes for 5s.5d. and Oliver Goldsmith's History of England in four volumes for 10s.10d. (Corke Chronicle, 23 Dec 1771). Anecdotes was the Dublin edition of 1771 in two volumes duodecimo, reprinted from the London three volume octavo edition of 1771. Goldsmith's History was also likely to be the Dublin edition of 1771, based on the cost, the London edition was in the larger octavo format, with illustrations and portraits, while the Dublin edition was in duodecimo. They were selling two titles by Arthur Young, The farmer's guide in hiring and stocking farms, illustrated with copper plates and bound in two volumes octavo for 8s.8d., and A six month's tour through the North of England, available in three volumes octavo for 19s.6d. (Corke Chronicle, 18 Nov 1771; 21 Nov 1771). There were London and Dublin editions of both titles, A six month's tour was the Dublin edition containing engraved plates, published by a group of booksellers in 1770, reprinted from the four volume London edition. For Christmas 1771 Busteed and Sargeant targeted the 'ladies of Corke, Mallow, Bandon, Kinsale, Youghall' and 'all the fair readers of this paper' with notice of The Lady's Magazine for October for 6½d., and The ladies pocket book for 1772 (Corke Chronicle, 23 Dec 1771), both published in London. These publications were aimed specifically at women readers, as well as a range of literary and topical articles and poetry, they included copper plate portraits, engraved sheet plates for sewing and embroidery, music and songs. The pocket book was designed as a gift for Christmas or new year in a range of bindings: 'neatly bound in red, with pockets for letters 2s.4d., with gilt covers 1s.7½d., with gilt leaves 2s.2d., elegantly bound in Turkey leather 5s.5d.' (Corke Chronicle, [9 Dec 1771]; 23 Dec 1771).
From about 1771 to 1776, in partnership with William Sargent, John published a new newspaper, The Hibernian Morning Post or Literary Chronicle (Hibernian Journal, 19 Apr 1773). The earliest surviving issue is from February 1775, which is volume IV, indicating a start date of 1771 (Hibernian Morning Post, 20-23 Feb 1775). This twice weekly newspaper, published on Mondays and Thursdays, cost 2d. per issue. During its lifetime news from America was at a premium, Cork was a major port of call for transatlantic vessels, and Cork newspapers often had first news from America. In July 1775 Busteed announced the arrival of three ships from America carrying newspapers from Philadelphia and Baltimore, and in August another from New York (Hibernian Morning Post, 24-27 Jul 1775; 17-21 Aug 1775). Continental news from Holland, France and Flanders came on British packets (Hibernian Morning Post, 17-21 Aug 1775). Sargent's death in June 1776 may have ended the venture (Finn's Leinster Journal, 26-29 Jun 1776), the last surviving issue is from 25-29 April 1776. In August 1775 John Busteed was Cork agent for a new newspaper published in Tralee, County Kerry, The Kerry Journal, published twice a week, and costing three crowns (15s.) a year to subscribers (Hibernian Morning Post, 31 Aug–4 Sep 1775).
From his earliest advertising John Busteed announced his printing services. In addition to newspaper production much of his printing work would have involved jobbing printing, executing official notices, and printed items for commerce, such as advertising hand bills, printed labels, bill heads and trade cards (Corke Chronicle, 2 Jan 1772). Like George, who had printed for Cork Corporation from 1765 to 1768, John continued with this work from 5 November 1768 to 1776, printing the assize of bread and other notices and supplying newspapers (Caulfield 1876, pp 846; 883; 891; 896). However, in July 1776 the Council ordered 'that John Busteed be no longer imployed for printing and the taking his newspapers be discontinued' (Caulfield 1876, p. 909). He did not undertake major book publication at any time in his career. While working in Cork in 1775 he printed a work of religious controversy, Some strictures on the Scotch doctor's supplement to his curious apology for the Venerable Servetus (Author of The Querist 1775). This 40 page pamphlet was addressed to the Scotch doctor (Patrick Blair, M.D., of Cork) and 'humbly inscribed to the good people of Cork'. It was published in response to Blair's Thoughts on nature and religion, printed in Cork the previous year (Blair 1774; Richards 1774). Associated with this publication, Busteed penned his own 15 page pamphlet, A letter from Mr John Busteed, to P.B. [Patrick Blair], Esq. M.D., printed in small format 24mo by his business partner, William Sargent, it is undated, but 1775 is the likely date.
His extensive stock of plays and farces, selling at 6½d. each, were advertised to coincide with the season at the Theatre Royal in July and August 1775 (Hibernian Morning Post, 21-24 Aug 1775). Most of the plays were current, having been performed in Cork in the previous two or three years (Clark 1965). He had business connections with booksellers in Dublin and Limerick for the sale of books and magazines. He regularly advertised the monthly issues of The Hibernian Magazine, published in Dublin, first by James Potts, and later by Thomas Walker. He acted as subscription agent for several works. In 1775 he was agent for The memoirs and adventures of Robert Kirk, late of the Royal Highland Regiment, published in Limerick by John Ferrar (Hibernian Morning Post, 20-23 Feb 1775). At the time of publication Kirk was serving with the 45th regiment in Limerick. Cheaply produced in the diminutive sextodecimo format, the 128 page volume was priced at a British shilling (1s.1d. Irish) 'neatly printed in a pocket volume, sewed in blue paper'. This was a local publication, with a small print run, probably 200 or less. It attracted just 123 subscribers for 158 copies of the book, the majority of purchasers were the author's colleagues in the 45th and other regiments. The book deals with the American War of Independence, in which Kirk was a participant, with descriptions of the peoples, customs, commerce and landscape of North America.
Hibernian Journal, 28 Apr-1 May 1775, advertisement for The exemplary life of the pious Lady Guion. Hibernian Magazine, Jan 1777, cover, advertisement for The memoirs and adventures of Robert Kirk
Busteed acted as subscription agent for the London published work by John Wesley, A concise history of England (Hibernian Morning Post, 11-15 May 1775). The subscription was advertised in May 1775, stating that it would go to press when 300 names were pledged. It consisted of four volumes duodecimo and cost a half guinea (10s.6d.), half to be paid in advance, and the remainder when it was delivered. The four volumes were completed by 1776, only volume four has a date on its imprint (Wesley 1776). It was sold stitched, so purchasers could get it bound according to their taste or pocket afterwards. He was agent for Henry Whitestone's Dublin edition of The communicant's spiritual companion, or an evangelical preparation for the Lord's Supper, by Thomas Haweis, selling for 2s.2d. bound (Hibernian Morning Post, 17-21 Aug 1775). This was a standard religious text which went into several editions in London from about 1750. He was subscription agent for The exemplary life of the pious Lady Guion, translated from the original French by Thomas Digby Brooke (Guyon 1775). It was issued in ten individual numbers at 6½d. each, making one volume octavo of just over 500 pages printed 'on fine paper and in a neat type' (Hibernian Journal, 28 Apr–1 May 1775; Hibernian Morning Post, 23-26 Oct 1775). Madame Jeanne Marie Bouvier de La Motte Guyon (1648-1717) was an influential French mystic, she was a Catholic but her spiritual works transcended the religious divides. This edition was published in Dublin by William Kidd. A subscription list of 126 names included a large number of subscribers in the Irish midlands centred around the town of Athlone, probably indicating the influence of the translator and his circle. (See 'Spreading the word in the Irish midlands', mairekennedybooks.wordpress.com). Subscribers were usually required to pay half the cost in advance to help finance the publication. Publishing books in parts allowed purchasers to spread the cost of a volume over time, and brought a trickle of finance in to the printer as the work progressed. Printing in parts was usually employed for expensive works, often with the additional cost of illustrations. In 1776 Busteed advertised The whole trials of Robert Perreau, Daniel Perreau and Mrs Carolina Rudd, price a British shilling (1s.1d. Irish) (Hibernian Morning Post, 25-29 Apr 1776). This is the Dublin edition printed by Thomas Walker in 1776 of the famous forgery trials. Several accounts were published in London the previous year, but this edition claimed to report the true story, containing all the facts revised and corrected by Serjeant Glynn, Recorder of London.
Newspaper advertisements show the diverse range of John's book trade activities. Advertising from the Corke Chronicle and Hibernian Morning Post points to a vibrant business carried out by Busteed in Paul Street and Castle Street, 'where advertisements, subscriptions, essays &c. are taken in for this paper, and printing work done in the neatest manner' (Hibernian Morning Post, 20-23 Feb 1775). As well as newspaper production and printing, he sold books, magazines and stationery, acted as subscription agent for books and newspapers, sold patent medicines and lottery tickets, and advertised houses to let. A list of books and patent medicines is carried in February 1775, with the assurance that 'Busteed is constantly supplied with the newest publications, Dutch and Irish writing paper, sealing wax, wafers, &c.' (Hibernian Morning Post, 20-23 Feb 1775). Busteed's printing and bookselling business included the lucrative sale of patent medicines and lottery tickets. The sale of medicines was a regular component of a bookseller's stock. Luxury items, they were distributed through the book trade network from agents in Dublin and London. Busteed advertised such potions as Tincture of the sun, or heavenly eye water, Friar's balsam, Purging sugar cakes, Daffy's original elixir, Pectoral lozenges of Tolu, Turlington's balsam of life, Dr Anderson's Scotch pills, Imperial essence of peppermint, Dr Stoughton's grand stomach elixir, Paris eau de Luce, Dr Radcliff's restorative drops, as well as balsamic tobacco and snuff (Corke Chronicle, 1 Jan 1770; 18 Nov 1771; 21 Nov 1771; Hibernian Morning Post, 20-23 Feb 1775; Clare Journal, 15 Jun 1778; 5 Apr 1779)). Lottery schemes were advertised by dedicated agents and by booksellers in Dublin and the larger towns. Busteed advertised sales of lottery tickets for the state lottery and for the Cork to Blackrock circular road scheme in 1775 (Hibernian Morning Post, 23-26 Oct 1775; 9-13 Nov 1775). After his move to Ennis he continued to sell lottery tickets for the state lottery and also for the Tralee lottery, which benefited the two charitable institutions of County Kerry (Clare Journal, 12 Nov 1778).
Ennis, County Clare:
After ten years spent in Cork, John Busteed moved his printing and bookselling business to County Clare, where he worked with George Trinder for two years as Busteed and Trinder. George Trinder, printer, was married in St Finbarr's Cathedral, Cork, on 31 August 1768 (St Finbarr's Registers), suggesting that they already knew one another in Cork before setting up in business. They established a printing office in Church Street (now Abbey Street), in the county town of Ennis (Clare Journal, 8 Jun 1778). Here they began publication of The Clare Journal, a twice weekly newspaper. Up to this time Ennis did not have its own printing business, news and books were distributed from Limerick, the nearest centre of publication, and from Dublin. Newspaper distributors such as Thomas Stamer in Ennis and John Pearse in Six-Mile-Bridge were agents for The Limerick Chronicle (Limerick Chronicle, 13 Mar 1769). Regional and national newspapers would have been distributed in the county from the early decades of the eighteenth century, but the establishment of a local newspaper, such as The Clare Journal, and from 1783 The Ennis Chronicle (published by Foster Parsons), brought a sense of cohesion and separate identity to the county which had been long under the influence of Limerick, and facilitated a wider participation in politics at local and national level. Griffin discusses the role of The Clare Journal and other local newspapers in promoting political consciousness, and extending English language use in County Clare (Griffin 2012, pp 11-13). By 1821 both titles had a circulation of 10,400 each (Newspaper (Ireland) 1826), and the annual revenue for official government notices and proclamations carried in the papers was £164.7s.4d. for The Ennis Chronicle and £146.8s.6d. for The Clare Journal (Newspapers and proclamations 1826).
John Senex, A new map of Ireland, 1720, detail showing County Clare. Daniel Augustus Beaufort, A new map of Ireland, 1797, detail showing County Clare (Courtesy Dublin City Library & Archive). The Clare Journal, 15 Jun 1778, masthead.
Following two years of planning, the first issue of The Clare Journal was published on Monday 25 May 1778, the earliest surviving issue is that of Monday 8 June (volume 1, no. 5). In their notice to the public Busteed and Trinder sought the support of the nobility and gentry of the county, country gentlemen, traders and farmers (Clare Journal, 8 Jun 1778). Established 'without any encouragement', they hoped to gain the support of 'every gentleman of worth and consequence, in this respectable county'. They pointed to the advantage of having their own newspaper circulating throughout the county, carrying advertising for goods and lands, and current news 'the certainty of being rightly informed respecting any occurrence in the county'. A regular section of the paper listed the prices of basic commodities in Cork and Limerick (Clare Journal, 8 Jul 1779). Resolutions and notices relating to the Ennis Volunteers were inserted in the Journal from 1778 to 1782 (Ennis Volunteers, Minute book). The cost of the Journal was 1½d. per issue, and subscription rates were very favourable at twelve English shillings (13s. Irish) per annum, less than either of the Limerick papers, which cost three crowns (15s.) a year. Distribution within the county was by courier, while subscribers in town were supplied from the printing office, saving them two English shillings (2s.2d. Irish) in delivery charges. Busteed and Trinder also carried out general printing and in the colophon, they advertised 'all manner of printing work done'. Early on they advertised for an apprentice to the printing business, 'a young lad, of respectable parents, and a tolerable share of education' (Clare Journal, 15 Jun 1778).
John Lloyd, A short tour of the county of Clare, titlepage and list of sellers.
From the printing office in Ennis, Busteed and Trinder issued A short tour; or, an impartial and accurate description of the county of Clare by John Lloyd (Lloyd 1780; Dix 1912). Lloyd (1741-1786) was a school teacher and Irish language poet, originally from Limerick, who made his home in Clare (Griffin 2012). The 60 page Tour in octavo format was selling for one British shilling (1s.1d. Irish). It was a detailed physical description of the county, with historical notes. The text was completed in May 1779 and by the time it was published in 1780 John had already moved to Tralee. Dix suggests that there may have two issues of the work, one in 1779 and the second in 1780 (Dix 1912, p.17). The book trade networks were underdeveloped in Clare at this time, and the printers may not have built up their own trade contacts. No booksellers are named as selling agents, the range of individuals listed for the sale of the book are the author in Tureen, fellow teachers in Limerick and Ennis, and merchants in Limerick and Kilrush, County Clare.
In conjunction with the printing office in Ennis Busteed and Trinder opened a book and stationery shop, selling 'Dutch post paper, gilt or plain', and other writing papers, ink, sealing wax and wafers, as well as a large range of patent medicines. Some bookselling activity can be seen in the county before Busteed and Trinder set up their business, but these businesses were not dedicated booksellers or printers. John Hickie in Six-Mile-Bridge was agent for Itinerarium Anglicarum in 1736 (Faulkner's Dublin Journal, 7-10 Sep 1736). In 1768 James Stuart in Ennis acted as subscription agent for a Cork publication, John Swiney's A new history of Englandfor schools (Finn's Leinster Journal, 16-19 Nov 1768). Three subscription agents were listed in Ennis in 1778 for Bowen's Spelling book published in Limerick by John Ferrar in 1774, Thomas Hallinan, grocer, hardware seller and haberdasher in High Street, Michael Hickie, grocer and draper in Church Street, and Richard Sears (Limerick Chronicle, 5 Sep 1774; 5 Jan 1778).
Busteed and Trinder carried the Dublin-printed monthly periodicals, Walker's Hibernian Magazine and Exshaw's Gentleman's and London Magazine, and The Monthly Review from London (Clare Journal, 11 Jun 1778; 15 Jun 1778; 25 Mar 1779). Their book stock included The medical and philosophical commentaries, printed in Edinburgh and selling for 1s.7½d., a two volume novel, The suspicious lovers, for 4s.4d. sewed, and the first volume of The history of Sir Charles Grandison, by Samuel Richardson, sewed for 2s.8½d. (Clare Journal, 4 Oct 1779). This was the sixth edition of the novel, published in seven monthly volumes by Thomas Walker in Dame Street, Dublin, and completed in 1780. They also advertised an extensive list of children's books, many for younger readers illustrated with woodcuts, published in London by the firm of Newbury, and ranging in cost from 2d. to 1s.1d. (Clare Journal, 4 Oct 1779). They stocked such well known titles for young children as The renowned history of Giles Gingerbread (2d.), Tom Thumb's folio (2d.), Nurse Truelove's Christmas box (2d.), Entertaining fables (2d.), The new year's gift (3d.), The renowned history of little Goody Two-Shoes (6d.), and for older children Clarissa, or the history of a young lady (Samuel Richardson), The history of Pamela (Samuel Richardson), The history of Tom Jones (Henry Fielding), The history of Joseph Andrews (Henry Fielding), and The history of Charles Grandison (Samuel Richardson), all neatly bound and gilt for 1s.1d.
Finn's Leinster Journal, 8-12 May 1779; 12-15 May 1779 advertisements.
In 1779 John Busteed, in partnership with Thomas Saunders Knox, opened a printing office and bookshop in High Street, Kilkenny (Finn's Leinster Journal, 8-12 May 1779). They made an unsuccessful attempt to start a new newspaper, but competition from the well established Finn's Leinster Journal, run by Catharine Finn, must have made the project unviable ('Edmund and Catharine Finn: enterprising booksellers in Kilkenny (1766-1801)', mairekennedybooks.wordpress.com). Busteed remained in Ennis until his move to Tralee, County Kerry, in 1780. George Trinder, his partner in Ennis, died on 28 December 1781 (Hibernian Chronicle, 10 Jan 1782), and printing of The Clare Journal was taken over by Thomas Saunders Knox at the Church Street address. Thomas Knox's printing office was listed at Jail (Gaol) Street in 1788 (Lucas 1788, ii, p.194). Thomas died in March 1802, leaving a young family; his son, John Busteed Knox, was only ten years old. His widow, Frances Knox, inserted a notice in The Clare Journal indicating her intention to continue the printing business 'with qualified assistance' (Clare Journal, 1 Apr 1802). In 1804 she moved to the corner of Arthur Row, next to Swyny's Hotel in Jail Street, and offered the shop in Church Street to be let (Clare Journal, 17 May 1804). The premises on Jail Street remained the address of The Clare Journal under the proprietorship of the Knox family until 1917 when it ceased production. Frances continued as proprietor of the Journal until her death in 1846 while her son, John Busteed Knox, was its editor (Slater's Directory 1846). In October and November 1833 Frances, as proprietor, wrote to Under Secretary, Sir William Gosset, at Dublin Castle, requesting payment of outstanding accounts for government notices printed in the Journal (National Archives of Ireland: CSO/RP/1833/5062). Frances lived to an advanced age, she died on 29 September 1846 in Ennis (Freeman's Journal, 3 Oct 1846). John Busteed Knox, her son and business partner, died on 18 June 1864 and his obituary appeared in the newly founded Irish Times (Irish Times, 22 Jun 1864).
Tralee, County Kerry:
John Busteed's move to Tralee, County Kerry, saw him establish his business and, with his sons, run it successfully for nearly fifty years ( 'The book trade in eighteenth-century County Kerry', mairekennedybooks.wordpress.com). Busteed and his sons are mainly associated with the publication of The Kerry Evening Post, which commenced about 1788. Cusack wrote that John arrived in Tralee in 1780 as Postmaster of Kerry, and bought up the proprietorship of The Kerry Journal from James Graves (Cusack 1871, p. 422). No copies of The Kerry Journal have survived, John had acted as its Cork agent when it was launched in 1775, but it is not known if he had any further involvement with it when he arrived in Tralee. The earliest surviving issue of The Kerry Evening Post is volume V from 1793, indicating a start date of 1788 (Kerry Evening Post, 20 Mar 1793). It was published twice a week, carried the usual mix of foreign and domestic news, parliamentary proceedings from London, official and local business advertisements, and notices of births, marriages and deaths. John was joined in business by his son, John, about 1809. John junior continued as proprietor until 1829, when the proprietorship of the Evening Post was transferred to John and Charles Eagar (Kerry Evening Post, 3 Jun 1829), and the title continued to be published until 1917. John junior was employed as Postmaster of Tralee (Tralee Mercury, 24 Feb 1830; Pettigrew & Oulton Directory 1835). He later moved to Dublin and died at his home, Hilton Villa, Rathmines, on 14 July 1863 (Kerry Evening Post, 15 Jul 1863; 5 Aug 1863; Southern Reporter, 21 Jul 1863).
The poor survival of Tralee newspapers means that Busteed's newspaper advertising is lost for this period. When he worked in Cork he had a substantial bookshop selling a large variety of books, magazines and patent medicines which he advertised in The Corke Chronicle and The Hibernian Morning Post. His advertisement for the new business in Kilkenny listed books, stationery, perfumes and stamped articles for sale (Finn's Leinster Journal, 8-12 May 1779). The printing office in Tralee is likely to have had a bookshop, or at least a public office attached where books and magazines could be ordered and purchased. Glimpses of his trade in books can be found in subscription lists. In 1800 John subscribed to three copies of the Catholic work The philosophical catechism by Rev. F. X. de Feller, translated from French by Rev. J. P. Mulcaile (De Feller 1800). In 1809 Busteed and Son were selling agents for Sir James Ware's Ancient Irish histories published in Dublin (Ware 1809). His role as Postmaster of Tralee afforded him status in the town and contributed to his business interests (National Archives of Ireland: CSO/RP.1827/578). By 1824 the address of the printing office was Day Place, Tralee (Pigot 1824). Day Place is a fine terrace of three storey over basement houses built around 1800, and was home to Tralee's most prosperous citizens. John Busteed junior was still living at 8 Day Place in 1846 (Slater's Directory 1846).
Branching out, John Busteed's sons became involved with newspaper publication enterprises in different counties. William Hilliard Busteed was proprietor of The Mayo Constitution, with his printing office in Castlebar, until his death on 5 February 1824 (Southern Reporter, 12 Feb 1824). In 1824 Pigot's Directory lists three of his sons publishing newspapers. John Busteed was proprietor of The Kerry Evening Post in Tralee, George W. Busteed was listed as proprietor of the weekly Cavan Herald and Armagh Volunteer newspaper in Farnham Street, Cavan town, and Richard Busteed was printer of the twice weekly Galway Chronicle in William Street, Galway.
Conclusion:
George Busteed's career ended prematurely for reasons not entirely clear, but his business was successfully carried on by John Busteed, probably his brother. His likely daughter, Frances, carried on the family tradition, and after the death of her husband, Thomas Saunders Knox, took over the newspaper and printing business in Ennis and steered it successfully for over forty years. John Busteed had a successful career in the book trade, particularly as a newspaper publisher. Starting in the busy centre of Cork city where competition among printers and booksellers was strong, he brought his business to new territories, first to Ennis, County Clare, and then most successfully to Tralee, the county town of County Kerry. Busteed and his business partner George Trinder, established the first printing office to Ennis, and brought the first newspaper to the county. Tralee, however, became his home and here he raised his family and carried on his newspaper publishing and bookselling business for the rest of his career.
Acknowledgements:
I would like to give special thanks to Mary Horgan in Cork City Library Local Studies and Garret Cahill of Special Collections at University College Cork for their help in providing access to issues of The Corke Chronicle.
References:
Author of The Querist, 1775. Some strictures on the Scotch doctor's supplement to his curious Apology for the Venerable Servetus, by the author of the Querist (Cork, printed by John Busteed, 1775).
Blair, Patrick, 1774. Thoughts on nature and religion. Or, an apology for the right of private judgment, maintained by Michael Servetus, M.D. In his answer to John Calvin (Cork, printed by Phineas Bagnell and Company, 1774).
Caulfield, Richard, ed., 1876. The council book of the corporation of the city of Cork (Guildford, Surrey, J. Billing and Sons, 1876).
Clarke, William Smith, 1965. The Irish stage in the country towns 1720-1800 (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1965).
Cusack, M. F., 1871. A history of the kingdom of Kerry (London, Longmans, Green, & Co., 1871).
De Feller, Rev., 1800. The philosophical catechism (Dublin, H. Fitzpatrick, 1800).
Dix, E. R. McClintock, 1912. 'A list of books, newspapers and pamphlets printed in Ennis, Co. Clare in the eighteenth century' (Dublin, Cuala Press, 1912).
Ennis Volunteers, Minute book. 'The Ennis Volunteers records and accounts, 1778-1792'. 'Extracts from the minute book of the Ennis Volunteers, 1778', transcribed by Miss Katherine Dillon from the original in the National Library and edited by Robert Herbert', North Munster Antiquarian Journal, volume 6, no. 4 (1952), pp 143-151.
Griffin, Michael, ed., 2012. Thomas Dermody, Selected writings (Dublin, Field Day Publications, 2012).
Guyon, Jeanne Marie Bouvier de La Motte, 1775. The exemplary life of the pious Lady Guion, translated from her own account in the original French ... by Thomas Digby Brooke (Dublin, printed by William Kidd, No. 29, Skinner Row, 1775).
Lloyd, John, 1780. A short tour; or, an impartial and accurate description of the county of Clare by (Ennis, printed by John Busteed and George Trinder, 1780).
Lucas, Richard, 1788. A general directory of the kingdom of Ireland, 2 volumes (Dublin, printed for the author, by B. Dugdale, 1788).
Madden, Richard Robert, 1867. The history of Irish periodical literature, 2 volumes (London, T. C. Newby, 1867).
Munter, Robert, 1988. A dictionary of the print trade in Ireland 1550-1775 (New York, Fordham University Press, 1988).
Newspaper (Ireland), 1826. An account of the number of stamps issued to each newspaper in Ireland, in each year for the last five years ending 5 January 1826 (Parliament of the United Kingdom, House of Commons Accounts and Papers, XXIII, No. 235, 1826).
Newspapers and Proclamations, 1826. An account of the amount paid for newspapers and proclamations for the last five years ending 5 January 1826 from the money voted by Parliament for proclamations (Parliament of the United Kingdom, House of Commons Accounts and Papers, XXIII, No. 178, 1826).
Ó Murchadha, Ciarán, 2016. Figures in a famine landscape (London, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2016).
Richards, Walter, 1774. Observations on a late book, entitled Thoughts on nature and religion (Cork, printed by Dennis Donnoghue, Broad Lane, 1774).
St Finbarr's Registers. St Leger, Alicia ed., Register of the Cathedral of St Fin Barre's, Cork, 1753-1804 (Dublin, Representative Church Body Library, 2008).
Wesley, John, 1776. A concise history of England. From the earliest times, to the death of George II. By John Wesley, A.M. In four volumes (London, printed by Robert Hawes, the corner of Dorset Street, Crispin Street, Spitalfields. And sold at the Foundry, Moorfields, [1776]).
Wheeler, W. G., 1978-80. 'The spread of provincial printing in Ireland up to 1850', Irish Booklore, 4, no. 1 (1978-80), pp 7-18.
WordPress.com
No comments:
Post a Comment