IRVING LOWENS

    Eighteenth-Century Massachusetts Songsters

    THE great Oxford English Dictionary defines the word songster as “1. One who sings, a singer; orig., a female singer, a song-stress (c. 1000–1835). . . . 2. A poet; a writer of songs or verse (1585–1872). 3. A bird that sings; a song-bird (1700).” The recent (1969) American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language gives only two meanings for the word: “1. One that sings. 2. A songwriter.” I have no idea why such excellent works fail to document the use of the word in a different sense, since it is a simple matter to trace a connection between song anthologies and songsters back as far as the first half of the eighteenth century,1 but for my purposes, a songster is defined as a collection of three or more secular poems intended to be sung. Such song anthologies constituted a particular publishing genre during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries both in England and the United States. Before 1801, no less than 209 songsters were brought out in what is now the United States, and the number issued on the other side of the Atlantic was much larger.

    The historical record shows that Massachusetts was not the center of American songster publishing activity in the eighteenth century, even though it does include the Athens of America within its boundaries. Three-quarters of all the songsters published came from Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New York, and Massachusetts did not edge New York out of second place until the very last year of the century. Of the 26 songsters published in the colonies before the Declaration of Independence, 12 originated in New York, 7 in Pennsylvania, and 6 in Massachusetts. By 1792, Pennsylvania had overtaken New York in songster production, leading 26 to 24, while Massachusetts lagged behind with only 13 titles. Table iv shows the spread of songster publication during the eighteenth century.

    TABLE IV

    Eighteenth-Century Songster Publication by States

    To 1776 1790 1792 1794 1796 1798 1800

    Pennsylvania

    7

    19

    26

    33

    45

    49

    57

    Massachusetts

    6

    11

    13

    18

    26

    37

    48

    New York

    12

    21

    24

    28

    36

    40

    47

    Maryland

    1

    4

    12

    17

    Connecticut

    2

    2

    2

    2

    8

    11

    New Hampshire

    1

    2

    2

    2

    5

    7

    Vermont

    2

    3

    5

    Virginia

    1

    1

    2

    2

    2

    3

    4

    Rhode Island

    1

    2

    2

    2

    2

    4

    Delaware

    3

    4

    New Jersey

    1

    2

    2

    Unknown

    1

    1

    2

    2

    2

    3

    Songster publication in Massachusetts was surprisingly decentralized, with Boston accounting for only half the titles issued. This contrasts sharply with the situation in Pennsylvania, where 56 of the 57 eighteenth-century songsters first saw the light of day in Philadelphia, and with that in New York, where only 4 of 47 originated outside New York City. Table v shows what the Massachusetts picture looked like, geographically speaking. Thanks in large part to the Worcester activities of Isaiah Thomas, Boston cannot be equated with Massachusetts as Philadelphia can be equated with Pennsylvania and New York City can be equated with New York State, so far as eighteenth-century songster publishing is concerned.

    TABLE V

    Eighteenth-Century Massachusetts Songster Publication by City

    to 1776 1790 1792 1794 1796 1798 1800

    Boston

    6

    6

    7

    10

    15

    21

    24

    Worcester

    5

    6

    8

    10

    12

    16

    Brookfield

    1

    2

    4

    Northampton

    2

    3

    Dedham

    1

    In terms of content, eighteenth-century American songsters can be divided up into seven types: general, Masonic, juvenile, patriotic, theatrical, sea, and miscellaneous songsters. General songsters were designed to appeal to everybody, and thus had a little bit of everything; miscellaneous songsters are those which pop up unexpectedly as part of a letter-writing manual or a collection of dances or an almanac or some such oddity. In terms of frequency of appearance, their breakdown is shown in Table vi. The only sector of the songster publication field in which Massachusetts predominated was in juveniles, and while this was in large part due to Isaiah Thomas’ considerable activity in this field, it is worth noting that he accounted for only 10 of the 19 issued in the state. The others, issued in Boston, were still far greater in number than those brought out in any other city.

    TABLE VI

    Eighteenth-Century American Songster Publication by Type

    Pennsylvania Massachusetts New York Other Totals

    General

    32

    15

    18

    28

    93

    Masonic

    3

    8

    10

    12

    33

    Juvenile

    1

    19

    3

    1

    24

    Patriotic

    3

    1

    6

    7

    17

    Theatrical

    5

    4

    2

    3

    14

    Sea

    1

    5

    1

    7

    Miscellaneous

    12

    1

    3

    5

    21

    totals

    57

    48

    47

    57

    209

    The history of the songster genre in Massachusetts begins with the publication in Boston in 1750 of an edition of The Constitutions of the Free-Masons, supposedly by Fleet. This publication echoes the history of the genre in what is now the United States in the most remarkable manner. The earliest known collection of secular poems intended to be sung which was published in the colonies was a section of five Masonic songs on pages 83 to 94 of Benjamin Franklin’s 1734 reprint of the 1723 London edition of exactly the same Constitutions. Since no copy of the 1750 Fleet edition has been located, whether it contains the same selection of Masonic songs is not known.

    Massachusetts was considerably more active than Pennsylvania in the production of Masonic songsters and, in this regard, it is worth calling special attention to the genre, which was particularly large in eighteenth-century America. The fraternal order began with the formation of the Grand Lodge of England on June 24, 1717, and the earliest of the American lodges, founded by authority of the Grand Lodge, was the First Lodge of Boston, established in 1733. As a result of the patronage of the order by the nobility, the rising mercantile class looked upon Freemasonry as an adjunct to social success, and the order quickly became very popular on both sides of the Atlantic. Masonic lodges were places where songs were sung, and Masonic processions were invariably accompanied by music. Early Masonic records are full of references to music and musical activities, and it is surely time that they were carefully studied with a view to the importance of the order in the early history of American music. From the evidence of eighteenth-century Masonic songster production, it must have been considerable.

    The earliest Massachusetts songster located is W. M’Alpine’s 1768 edition of The Famous Tommy Thumb’s Little Story-Book, which contains at least four juvenile songs. Only a single imperfect copy at Princeton University is known; a later edition without imprint (printed in Boston by John Boyle in 1771, according to d’Alté Welch) is complete and contains nine songs—only one copy of that, in the Boston Public Library, has been found.

    At this point, it might be well to emphasize the comparative scarcity of surviving eighteenth-century American songsters. Of the 209 published, copies of 143 have been located, and many of those are unique. It may seem that the disappearance of one title out of every three indicates a high rate of mortality, but this is not very difficult to explain, all things considered. Songsters were not usually deluxe productions handed down from generation to generation—they were ephemeral and expendable. Many were chapbooks sold by itinerant peddlers for a few pennies each, and if they did not disintegrate with heavy use (and there is plain evidence of such heavy use in the relatively few copies that have survived until today), ultimately they were discarded as worthless. Many dealt with topical matters, soon forgotten as fashions and mores changed. It is this very fact that makes them especially valuable to today’s social historian.

    All but 9 of the 48 Massachusetts eighteenth-century songsters have been located, but 16 of the located titles exist only in single, sometimes imperfect copies, and 9 others exist only in two copies. A total of 173 exemplars of the 39 located items has been turned up after a diligent, nationwide search, but 4 items account for 93 exemplars (more than half the total number). Since the titles of many are similar, the actual title page of the songster is reproduced in facsimile in the checklist that follows rather than a transcription—this should make for ease of identification, and serves to distinguish unlocated titles from located titles immediately. It is my hope that this checklist will unlock the door to a hitherto neglected source of information about musical life in eighteenth-century Massachusetts.

    A CHECKLIST OF TITLES

    Key to Library Symbols and Census of Copies

    An italicized figure indicates the only copy known.

    california

    • CL Rufus B. von KleinSmid Central Library, Los Angeles: 29
    • CLU University of California at Los Angeles: 9
    • CSmH Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino: 9, 12, 17, 29 (imperfect)

    connecticut

    • CtHi Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford: 10, 26, 46 (imperfect)
    • CtHT-W Watkinson Library, Trinity College, Hartford: 29
    • CtY Yale University, New Haven: 6, 9 (2 copies), 14, 29, 38 (imperfect), 48 (2 copies, 1 imperfect)

    district of columbia

    • DLC U.S. Library of Congress: 6, 9, 12, 14, 23, 29 (2 copies), 30
    • DSC Scottish Rite Supreme Council Library: 6 (imperfect), 33

    delaware

    • DeWint Henry Francis Dupont Winter-thur Museum, Winterthur: 29

    illinois

    • ICN Newberry Library, Chicago: 29
    • ICU University of Chicago, Chicago: 9, 29
    • IEN Northwestern University, Evanston: 29
    • IU University of Illinois, Urbana: 14, 29

    iowa

    • IaCrM Iowa Masonic Library, Cedar Rapids: 6

    massachusetts

    • MB Boston Public Library: 4, 6, 9, 10, 14, 23, 27 (imperfect), 29, 35 (imperfect), 43, 47
    • MBAt Boston Athenaeum, Boston: 12, 14, 29
    • MBFM Massachusetts Grand Lodge, F.&A.M., Boston: 6, 12, 30, 33
    • MH Harvard University, Cambridge: 9, 16 (imperfect), 20 (imperfect), 28, 29, 32, 43, 46 (imperfect)
    • MHi Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston: 6, 12, 29, 33
    • MNF Forbes Library, Northampton: 29
    • MU University of Massachusetts, Amherst: 29
    • MWA American Antiquarian Society, Worcester: 6, 7 (imperfect), 8, 9 (2 copies), 10 (imperfect), 11 (2 copies), 12 (2 copies, 1 imperfect), 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22, 23, 27, 29, 30, 31, 34, 38, 40 (imperfect), 41, 42, 45 (imperfect), 47, 48
    • MWH College of the Holy Cross, Worcester: 29
    • MWHi Worcester Historical Society: 9

    michigan

    • MiU-C William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor: 14, 20, 29

    new york

    • N New York State Library, Albany: 6, 14, 29
    • NBuG Grosvenor Reference Division, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, Buffalo: 23 (imperfect), 29
    • NHi New-York Historical Society, New York: 14, 29, 32 (imperfect)
    • NHpR Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park: 29
    • NN New York Public Library: 6, 9 (2 copies), 10, 14, 22, 29 (2 copies), 33, 42
    • NNC Columbia University, New York: 29
    • NNFM Grand Lodge of New York, F.&A.M. Library and Museum, New York: 6
    • NNUT Union Theological Seminary, New York: 29
    • NPV Vassar College, Poughkeepsie: 37 (imperfect)
    • NRU-Mus Sibley Music Library, Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, Rochester: 29 (2 copies)

    new jersey

    • NjP Princeton University, Princeton: 2 (imperfect), 9, 14, 17 (imperfect), 29
    • NjPT Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton: 29

    ohio

    • OC Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County: 29
    • OCl Cleveland Public Library: 29
    • OFH Rutherford B. Hayes Library, Fremont: 29

    pennsylvania

    • PP Free Library of Philadelphia: 9, 17, 29, 41
    • PPL Library Company of Philadelphia: ii (imperfect), 23, 30
    • PU University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia: 29

    rhode island

    • RPB Brown University, Providence: 14 (2 copies, 1 imperfect), 25 (imperfect), 27, 29, 31 (imperfect), 44
    • RPJCB John Carter Brown Library, Providence: 6, 9, 10, 12, 14, 23, 29

    vermont

    • VtMiM (Flanders) Middlebury College, Middlebury: 29

    wisconsin

    • WU University of Wisconsin, Madison: 29

    washington

    • WaU University of Washington, Seattle: 29

    private libraries

    • Finney Theodore Finney, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: 29 (2 copies)
    • Fuld James Fuld, New York, New York: 29
    • Levy Lester Levy, Pikesville, Maryland: 29
    • Lowens Irving Lowens, Baltimore, Maryland: 23 (imperfect), 29

    foreign libraries

    • Glasgow Euing: 29
    • Glasgow Mitchell: 29
    • London British Library: 11, 14, 29
    • Oxford Bodleian: 29

    Bibliographies Cited

    Ault Ault, Norman. “Poetical Miscellanies, Song Books, and Verse Collections of Multiple Authorship,” in The Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature, ed. F. W. Bateson (New York, 1941), ii, 173–260.

    Bristol-Evans Bristol, Roger P. Supplement to Charles Evans’ American Bibliography. Charlottesville, 1970.

    Evans Evans, Charles. American Bibliography. 14 vols. Chicago, 1903–1934; Worcester, 1956–1959.

    Lewis Lewis, Arthur Ansel. “American Songsters 1800–1805.” Brown University, unpublished Master’s diss., 1937.

    Sabin Sabin, Joseph. Bibliotheca Americana. 29 vols. New York, 1868–1936.

    Shipton-Mooney Shipton, Clifford K., and James E. Mooney. National Index of American Imprints through 1800: The Short-Title Evans. 2 vols. Worcester, 1969.

    Sonneck Sonneck, Oscar G. T. Bibliography of Early Secular American Music. Washington, 1905.

    Sonneck-Upton Sonneck, Oscar G. T. Bibliography of Early Secular American Music (18th Century). Rev. & enl. by William Treat Upton. Washington, 1945; reprinted New York, 1964.

    Thorpe Thorpe, Alice Louise. “American Songsters of the 18th Century.” Brown University, Master’s diss., 1935.

    Welch Welch, d’Alté A. A Bibliography of American Children’s Books Printed Prior to 1821. Worcester, 1972.

    Eighteenth-Century Massachusetts Songsters

    1750

    1. 1. The Constitutions of the Free-Masons.

      Boston: Fleet, 1750.

      Evans 6454; no copy located. Advertised February 5, 1750, in the Boston Evening-Post “to be sold by the publisher of this paper.” Contains 94 pp., according to Evans.

    Fig. 294. Songster title page, 1768.

    1768

    1. Fig. 294
    2. 2. [The Famous Tommy Thumb’s Little Story-Book. Boston: W. M’Alpine, 1768. Title-page facsimile, NjP copy.]

      32 pp. [1:] blank; [2:] frontispiece; [3:] title page; 4–32: text. Bristol-Evans B2872, Shipton-Mooney 41890, Welch 1320.1. Contains at least 4 juvenile songs. The only known copy lacks pp. 23–26, 31–32. Later editions: 3, 4.

      NjP (imperfect).

    1768

    1. 3. The Famous Tommy Thumb’s Little Story-Book: containing his life and surprising adventures; to which are added his fables, morals, pretty stories, and songs. Adorned with very curious plates. Price two coppers. Boston: Mein & Fleeming, 1768.

      Welch 13 20.2; no copy located. Advertised August 29, 1768, in the Boston Chronicle by John Mein; also advertised in The Renowned History of Giles Gingerbread (Shipton-Mooney 418 70) “to be had of John Mein at the London Book-Store.”

    Fig. 295. Songster title page, [1771].

    1771

    1. Fig. 295
    2. 4. [The Famous Tommy Thumb’s Little Story-Book. Printed and sold at the printing-office. Title-page facsimile, MB copy.]

      32 pp. [1:] blank; [2:] frontispiece; [3:] title page; 4–32: text. Evans 12040, Welch 1320.3. Contains 9 juvenile songs.

      According to Welch, the book was printed in Boston by John Boyle, Marlborough Street, in 1771.

      MB.

    1771

    1. 5. The New Song Book, being Miss Ashmore’s favourite collection of songs as sung in the theatres and public gardens in London and Dublin. To which are prefix’d the songs of The Padlock, Lionel and Clarissa, and many other opera songs, never before published. Containing in the whole, near three hundred: in which are many originals, and a variety of other songs, by different composers, which upon comparing, will be justly allowed (by every person) to be the best of the kind yet published, and may well be termed “the beauties of all the songs selected.” Boston: reprinted and sold by William M’Alpine, in Marlborough-Street, 1771.

      Evans 11969, Sonneck pp. 101–102, Sonneck-Upton p. 263; no copy located. Evans states that the book is a 24mo and contains a portrait. Advertised November 25, 1771, in the Boston Evening-Post as “just published and to be sold by William M’Alpine, in Marlborough Street”; also advertised December 5, 1771, in the Boston Massachusetts Gazette, with the statement that “the above mentioned book makes a neat small pocket volume, adorn’d with an elegant frontispiece of Miss Ashmore, and will be sold by the publisher at the same price they are sold for in Britain or Ireland.” The title is given as “The new song book: being Miss Ashmore’s favourite collection of songs, as sung. . . .” A sketch of Miss Ashmore (who was better known as Mrs. Sparks) appears in Robert Hitchcock, An Historical View of the Irish Stage, 2 vols. (Dublin, 1788–1794), ii, 144–145, 168, 207–208. Miss Frances Ashmore became Mrs. Richard Sparks in the spring of 1772. No English or Irish editions of this work are known, but another American edition was supposedly published in New York by William Bailey in 1774 (Evans 13124). No copy of the New York edition has been located.

    Fig. 296. Songster title page, 1772.

    1772

    1. Fig. 296
    2. 6. [A Candid Disquisition of the principles and practices of the most antient [sic] and honourable society of Free and Accepted Masons. By Wellins Calcott. London, printed; reprinted and sold by William M’Alpine, Boston, 1772. Title-page facsimile, MB copy.]

      2 p.l., xiv, [2], 256 pp. [i:] title page; [ii:] blank; [iii]–[iv:] dedication; [v]–xiii: list of subscribers; [xiv:] additional subscribers; [xv]–[xvi:] lodges held in the town of Boston; [1]–13: introduction; [14:] blank; [15]-219: text; [220]–227: Solomon’s temple: an oratorio; [228]–255: some of the usual Free-Masons’ songs; 256: a translation of the Latin. Evans 12345. Contains 19 Masonic songs. The MB copy is especially interesting, as it contains two additional Masonic songs by Epes Sargent, Jr., in his holograph dated 1772.

      CtY, DLC, DSC (imperfect), IaCrM, MB, MBFM, MHi, MWA, N, NN, NNFM, RPJCB.

    1785

    1. 7. Mother Goose’s Melody; or Sonnets for the cradle. In two parts. Part 1st. contains the most celebrated songs and lullabies of the old British nurses, calculated to amuse children and to excite them to sleep. Part 2d, those of that sweet songster and nurse of wit and humour, Master William Shakespeare. Embellished with cuts, and illustrated with notes and maxims, historical, philosophical, and critical. The first Worcester edition. Worcester (Massachusetts) printed by Isaiah Thomas, and sold at his bookstore. mdcclxxxv.

      94, [2] pp. [i:] blank; [ii:] frontispiece; [iii:] title page; [iv:] blank; [v]–x: preface; [11]–73: Mother Goose’s melody; [74:] blank; [75:] half title: Mother Goose’s melody. / Part ii. / Containing the / lullabies of Shakespear [sic]; 76–94: Shakespeare’s songs; [95]–[96:] advertisement for Isaiah Thomas. Evans 19105, Sonneck-Upton p. 269, Welch 905.1. The only known copy is badly mutilated, lacking all before p. 13 and after p. 86; all the remaining leaves are partly lacking. The title page is a reconstruction by Welch based on the title page of 17 and a 1786 advertisement for the book in The Wisdom of Crop the Conjuror (Evans 20153). Contains 68 songs, all juvenile except for 16 by Shakespeare. Later editions: 17, 40, 46.

      MWA (imperfect).

    Fig. 297. Songster title page, 1786.

    1786

    1. A Collection of Songs, designed for entertainment and edification. Boston: printed and sold by E. Russell, next Dr. Haskins, near Liberty-Pole. m,dcc,lxxxvi.

      32 pp. Not a songster but a collection of 11 sacred songs.

      MB.

    1786

    1. Fig. 297
    2. 8. [Little Robin Red Breast. First Worcester edition. Worcester: Isaiah Thomas, 1786. Title-page facsimile, MWA copy.]

      1 p.l., 120 pp. [i:] title page; [ii:] blank; [1]–109: songs; [110]–120: directions for all good boys and girls to follow. Welch 782. Contains 35 juvenile songs. Later edition: 39.

      MWA.

    1787

    1. Fig. 298
    2. 9. [A Little Pretty Pocket-Book. First Worcester edition. Worcester: Isaiah Thomas, 1787. Title-page facsimile, MB copy.]

      122, [4] pp. [1:] blank; [2:] frontispiece; [3:] title page; [4:] blank; [5:] dedication; [6:] blank; [7]–23: text; 24–65: songs; 66–122: text continued; [123]–[126:] advertisement for Isaiah Thomas. Evans 20459, Welch 778.2. Contains 42 juvenile songs. Earlier editions were supposedly printed in 1762 by Hugh Gaine in New York (Evans 9159) and in 1786 by W. Spotswood in Philadelphia (Evans 19759); no copies of either edition have been located.

      CLU, CSmH, CtY (2), DLC, ICU, MB, MH, MWA (2), MWHi, NjP, NN (2), PP, RPJCB.

    1787

    1. Little Robin Red Breast; a collection of pretty songs, for children, entirely new. Printed at Worcester, Massachusetts, by Isaiah Thomas, mdcclxxxvii.

      Evans 20461, Sonneck-Upton p. 233. A ghost title for 8 (q.v.) based on an unlocated 1787 newspaper advertisement.

    Fig. 298. Songster frontispiece and title page, 1787.

    Fig. 299. Songster title page, 1788.

    1788

    1. Fig. 299
    2. 10. [A Poetical Description of Song Birds. First Worcester edition. Worcester: Isaiah Thomas, 1788. Title-page facsimile, MB copy.]

      88 pp. [1:] blank; [2:] frontispiece; [3:] title page; [4:] blank; 5–6: index; 7–9: introduction; [10:] blank; [11]–88: text and songs. Evans 21399, Welch 1037. Contains 22 juvenile songs.

      CtHi, MB, MWA (imperfect), NN, RPJCB.

    Fig. 300. Songster frontispiece and title page, 1788.

    1788

    1. Fig. 300
    2. 11. [Tommy Thumb’s Song Book. First Worcester edition. Worcester: Isaiah Thomas, 1788. Title-page facsimile, MWA copy.]

      59, [4] pp. [1:] blank; [2:] frontispiece; [3:] title page; [4]–6: to Nurse Lovechild; 7: half title: Artificial memory / for / infants; / whereby / they may acquire / the / knowledge of animals, / and / some of their sounds, / before / they can go or speak. / [catchword:] although; 8–19: text; 20–59: songs; [60]–[63:] advertisement for Isaiah Thomas. Evans 21089, Sabin 96146, Sonneck-Upton p. 436, Welch 802.2. Contains 33 juvenile songs. Musical directions at foot of many pages: Affetuoso (21), Encore (22), Encore ventesimo (23), Acuto (24), Allegro (25), Pronto (31), Recitative (32), Timoroso (40), Giga (41), Lamentatione (42), Encore (43), Languido (45), Almain (46), Vivace (54), Adagio (57), Alto, Concertante (59). An earlier edition was advertised in 1786 by Hugh Gaine of New York in his printing of Mathurin Cordier’s Corderii Colloquorum (25th edition), but no copy has been located. Later editions: 18, 24.

    MWA (2), PPL (imperfect); London (British Library).

    Fig. 301. Songster frontispiece and title page, 1792.

    1792

    1. Fig. 301
    2. 12. [The Constitutions of the ancient and honourable fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons. Worcester: Isaiah Thomas, 1792. Title-page facsimile, MWA copy.]

      1 p.l., 288 pp. [i:] blank; [ii:] frontispiece; [i:] title page; [ii:] blank; [iii:] endorsement, signed John Warren, chairman, and dated Boston, May 1, 1792; [iv:] blank; [v]–vi: sanction; [vii:] dedication to George Washington; [viii:] blank; ix–x: preface; xi–xvi: contents; [17]–19: preliminary illustrations and remarks; [20:] blank; [21]–215: text; [216]–286: oratorio, odes, anthems, prologues, and songs; 286–288: toasts. Evans 24052, Sabin 25798. Contains 47 Masonic songs. Later edition: 30.

      CSmH, DLC, MBAt, MBFM, MHi, MWA (2 copies, 1 imperfect), RPJCB.

    1792

    1. 13. Monstrous Good Songs for 1792. Boston, 1792.

      Evans 24551, Sonneck-Upton p. 267; no copy located. The Evans entry was constructed from a listing in a bookseller’s catalogue, according to the annotated copy of Evans at MWA. The title was in common use in England; see Ault pp. 248, 249, 250, 251, 253, and 254 for yearly issues, all in Oxford (Bodleian).

    Fig. 302. Songster title page, 1793.

    1793

    1. Fig. 302
    2. 14. [The Declaration of Independence; a poem. By a citizen of Boston. Boston, 1793. Title-page facsimile, MB copy.]

      24 pp. [1:] title page; [2:] blank; [3:] dedication to John Hancock; [4:] preface, signed Boston, July 1, 1793; [5]–19: text; [20:] anthem composed for Thursday morning, July 4, 1793; [21]–24: odes and songs. Evans 26084, Sonneck-Upton p. 104. Contains 5 songs. The “citizen of Boston” was George Richards; the printers were Thomas and Andrews. This item was reprinted in 1870 in New York in an edition of 50 copies.

      CtY, DLC, IU, MB, MBAt, MWA, MiU-C, N, NHi, NN, NjP, RPB (2 copies, one imperfect), RPJCB; London (British Library).

    Fig. 303. Songster title page, 1794.

    1794

    1. Fig. 303
    2. 15. [The History of a Little Child. Boston: N. Coverly, 1794. Title-page facsimile, MWA copy.]

      16 pp. [1:] titlepage; [2]–12: text; 13–16: songs. Evans 47085, Welch 676. Contains 6 juvenile songs. Later edition: 26.

      MWA.

    Fig. 304. Songster title page, 1794.

    1794

    1. Fig. 304
    2. 16. [Jachin and Boaz; or, An authentic key to the door of Free-Masonry. Boston: J. Bumstead for E. Larkin, 1794. Title-page facsimile, MH copy.] 1 p.l., 62 plus pp. [i:] blank; [ii:] frontispiece; [1:] title page; [2:] blank; [3]–[4:] preface; [4:] advertisement; [5]–[6:] description of the frontispiece; [7]–43: text; 43–60: odes, anthems, and songs; 60–62 plus: toasts and sentiments. Bristol-Evans b8704, Shipton-Mooney 47088. Contains 23 Masonic songs. The only located copy of the edition lacks the frontispiece and all after p. 62; it would appear that the imprint should contain 64 pp. as 33, q.v. An earlier edition printed in 1793 by Berry, Rogers & Berry of New York has been reported in the library of the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island by several bibliographers, but I have been unable to find it there. Editions without songs were issued in 1799, 1801, 1808, 1817, 1822 (in Spanish), and 1825. Later edition: 33.

      MH (imperfect).

    Fig. 305. Songster frontispiece and title page, 1794.

    1794

    1. Fig. 305
    2. 17. [Mother Goose’s Melody. Second Worcester edition. Worcester: Isaiah Thomas, 1794. Title-page facsimile, MWA copy.]

      94, [2] pp. [i:] blank; [ii:] frontispiece; [iii:] titlepage; [iv:] blank; [v]–x: preface, including one page of typeset music on p. vi; [11]–73: Mother Goose’s melody; [74:] blank; [75:] half title: Mother Goose’s / melody. / Part ii. / Containing the / lullabies of Shakespear [sic]; 76–94: Shakespeare’s songs; [95]–[96:] advertisement for Isaiah Thomas. Evans 29122, Sonneck-Upton p. 269, Welch 905.2. Contains 68 songs, all juvenile except for 16 by Shakespeare.

      CSmH, MWA, NjP (imperfect), PP.

    1794

    1. The New Ladies Memorandum-Book, for the year m.dcc.xciv. Containing, Extract from “Paul & Mary” Economical tables for marketing, servants [sic] wages, expences [sic], &c. Country dances for 1794 New and full moons Perpetual diary Vauxhall songs for 1793 Songs by Dibdin Miscellaneous songs Select poetry Watermen’s and coach fares Chronological notes for 1794 Birthdays of the royal family Ditto of the sovereigns of Europe Holidays in 1794 And much other pleasing and useful information London: printed for James Evans. North America: Boston, sold by Messrs. Thomas and Andrews, Ebenezer Larkin, Jun. and David West; in Worcester, by Mr. Isaiah Thomas; and in Providence, Rhode Island, by Messrs. Carter and Wilkinson.

      2 p.l., 156 pp. An English imprint containing 24 songs and probably the prototype for a popular Philadelphia series of annuals which began in 1797.

      DLC (2), MWA (imperfect).

    Fig. 306. Songster frontispiece and title page, 1794.

    1794

    1. Fig. 306
    2. 18. [Tommy Thumb’s Song Book. Second Worcester edition. Worcester: Isaiah Thomas, 1794. Title-page facsimile, MWA copy.]

      59, [4] pp. [1:] blank; [2:] frontispiece; [3:] title page; [4]–6: to Nurse Lovechild; 7: half title: Artificial memory / for / infants; / whereby / they may acquire / the / knowledge of animals, / and / some of their sounds, / before / they can go or speak. / [catchword:] although; 8–19: text; 20–59: songs; [60]–[63:] advertisement for Isaiah Thomas. Bristol-Evans b8897, Sabin 96146, Shipton-Mooney 47241, Welch 802.3. Contains 33 juvenile songs as ii, q.v.

      MWA.

    1795

    1. 19. American Songster; being a select collection of the most celebrated American, English, Scotch, and Irish songs. Boston: sold by William Spotswood, No. 55, Marlborough-Street. 1795.

      Evans 28182, Sonneck-Upton p. 21; no copy located. Perhaps based on a 1795 Boston newspaper advertisement which the writer has been unable to find.

    1795

    1. A Choice Collection of above one hundred and twenty love songs, merry catches and jovial healths being the newest now extant. Worcester, 1795.

      See 22.

    Fig. 307. Songster title page, 1795.

    1795

    1. Fig. 307
    2. 20. [The Columbian Songster. Brookfield: Thomas and Waldo, 1795. Title-page facsimile, MWA copy.]

      36pp. [1:] titlepage; [2:] blank; [3]–36: songs. Evans 28457, Sonneck-Upton p. 79; indexed in Thorpe. Contains 35 songs.

      MH (imperfect), MWA, MiU-C.

    1795

    1. 21. The Columbian Songster, containing a great variety of melodious and entertaining songs. Boston: printed by E. Russell, and sold near Liberty-Pole. 1795.

      Evans 28457, Sonneck-Upton p. 79; no copy located. Evans apparently took his information from a broadside at MSaE, The virtuous, faithful and loving wife’s garland (Evans 29819), which contains the following in colophon: “[Boston: printed by E. Russell, and] sold near Liberty-Pole; 1795.—(Price four cents.)—Where shopkeepers, travelling traders, &c. may be supplied with The Columbian songster, (pr. 16 cents single) containing a great variety of melodious and entertaining songs, and several other new pieces; very cheaply by the grose [sic] or dozen.” It is possible that the songster here referred to may be 20, but this appears unlikely.

    1795

    1. Mirth and Music; or, a collection of the newest and choicest songs, sung at all seasons. Containing love songs, merry catches and jovial healths. Worcester, 1795.

      See 22.

    Fig. 308. Songster frontispiece and title page, 1795.

    1795

    1. Fig. 308
    2. 22. [A New Academy of Compliments: or, The lover’s secretary. Worcester, 1795. Title-page facsimile, MWA copy.]

      144 pp. [1:] blank; [2:] frontispiece; [3:] title page; [4:] blank; [5]–[6:] preface; [7]–[8:] contents; [9]–93: Wit’s improvement, or, A new academy of compliments; [94]–139: Mirth and music; or, a collection of the newest and choicest songs, sung at all seasons. Containing love songs, merry catches and jovial healths; [140]–[144:] The modish dancing master. Or Brief and plain instructions for dancing country dances. Evans 29145. Contains only 51 songs, despite the claim on the title page of “above 120 . . . songs.”

      MWA, NN.

    Fig. 309. Songster title page, 1795.

    1795

    1. Fig. 309
    2. 23. [The Sky Lark: or Gentlemen and ladies’ complete songster. Worcester: Isaiah Thomas, Jun., 1795. Title-page facsimile, MB copy.]

      228 pp. [i:] titlepage; [ii:] blank; [iii]–x: index; [11]–228: songs. Evans 29517, Sabin 81667, Sonneck p. 137, Sonneck-Upton p. 386; indexed in Thorpe. Contains 174 songs (only 171 indexed). Later edition: 27.

      DLC, Lowens (imperfect), MB, MWA, NBuG (imperfect), PPL, RPJCB.

    1795

    1. 24. Tom Thumb’s Song Book, for all little masters and misses, to be sung to them by their nurses. By Nurse Lovechild. To which is added a letter from a lady, on nursing. Boston: printed and sold by Samuel Hall, No. 53, Cornhill. 1795.

      Evans 28987, Sonneck-Upton p. 436, Welch 802.4; no copy located. Evans says the item is a 48mo; Welch notes advertisements for a Hall edition in 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794, and 1796.

    Fig. 310. Songster title page, 1795.

    1795

    1. Fig. 310
    2. 25. [The Winter Evenings [sic] Amusement, or, Jovial companion. Boston: J. White and W. T. Clap, 1795. Title-page facsimile, RPB copy.]

      24 pp. [1:] titlepage; [2:] index; [3]–24: songs. Bristol-Evans b9432, Shipton-Mooney 47690, Sonneck-Upton p. 473. Contains 18 songs. The only copy known lacks pp. 11–12 and the title page is mutilated. White brought out a later edition in 1801.

      RPB (imperfect).

    Fig. 311. Songster title page, [1796].

    1796

    1. Fig. 311
    2. 26. [The History of a Little Boy found under a haycock. Boston: J. White and C. Cambridge. Title-page facsimile, CtHi copy.]

      30 pp. [1:] blank; [2:] frontispiece; [3:] title page; [4:] blank; [5]–26: text; [27]–30: songs. Evans 21889, Welch 675.3. Contains 5 juvenile songs.

      CtHi.

    Fig. 312. Songster title page, 1797.

    1797

    1. Fig. 312
    2. 27. [The Sky Lark: or Gentlemen & ladies’ complete songster. Second edition. Worcester: Isaiah Thomas, 1797. Title-page facsimile, MB copy.]

      310, [2] pp. [i:] title page; [ii:] blank; [iii:] preface, signed Isaiah Thomas, Jun., and dated Worcester, October 1797; [iv:]blank; [v]–xii: index; 13–282: songs; [283]–300: appendix containing a number of celebrated Masonic songs; [301]–310: a collection of the newest cotillions and country dances; [311]–[312:] advertisement for Isaiah Thomas. Evans 32839, Sabin 81667, Sonneck p. 137, Sonneck-Upton p. 386. Contains 290 songs (293 indexed). In the preface, Thomas “dedicates the tribute of gratitude to Mr. Williamson, late of the Haymarket Theatre, Boston, for the friendly and interested part he has taken, in order to render the work of the greatest merit of any extant.

      MB (imperfect), MWA, RPB.

    Fig. 313. Songster title page, 1797.

    1797

    1. Fig. 313
    2. 28. [The Theatrical Songster: or Amusing companion. Boston: J. White, 1797. Title-page facsimile, MH copy.]

      24 pp. [1:] titlepage; [2:] index; [3]–24: songs. Sabin 95293, Sonneck-Upton p. 426. Contains 15 songs. The report in Sabin that this copy is “missing” is erroneous.

      MH.

    Fig. 314. Songster title page, 1798.

    1798

    1. Fig. 314
    2. 29. [The American Musical Miscellany. Northampton: Andrew Wright, 1798. Title-page facsimile, MB copy.]

      300 pp. [i:] title page; [ii:] blank; [iii:] dedication: to all true lovers of song, in the United States of Columbia; [iv:] blank; [v]–vi: preface; [vii]–xii: index; [13]–300: songs. Evans 33294, Sabin 1163, Sonneck pp. 7–10, Sonneck-Upton pp. 16–20; indexed in Thorpe. Contains 111 songs with musical notation or reference to musical notation.

      CL, CSmH (imperfect), CtHT-W, CtY, DeWint, DLC (2), Finney (2), Fuld, ICN, ICU, IEN, IU, Levy, Lowens, MB, MBAt, MH, MHi, MNF, MU, MWA, MWH, MiU-C, NjP, NjPT, N, NBuG, NHi, NHpR, NN (2), NNC, NNUT, NRU-Mus (2), OC, OCl, OFH, PP, PU, RPB, RPJCB, VtMiM (Flanders), WU, WaU; Glasgow (Euing), Glasgow (Mitchell), London (British Library), Oxford (Bodleian).

    Fig. 315. Songster frontispiece and title page, 1798.

    1798

    1. Fig. 315
    2. 30. [Constitutions of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons. Compiled by the Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris. Worcester: Isaiah Thomas, 1798. Title-page facsimile, MWA copy.]

      1 p.l., [viii], 288 pp. [i:] blank; [ii:] frontispiece; [i:] titlepage; [ii:] blank; [iii:] endorsement, dated Boston, June 25, 1798; [iv:] blank; [v]–[vi:] sanction; [vii]–[viii:] preface, signed T. M. Harris, and dated Worcester, July 7, 1798; 1–6: contents; [7]–264: text; [265:] half title: Part v. / Select anthems and songs / for / special occasions; [266:] blank; 267–284: anthems and songs; 285–288: toasts. Evans 33303. Contains 14 Masonic songs.

      DLC, MBFM, MWA, PPL.

    Fig. 316. Songster title page, [1798].

    1798

    1. Fig. 316
    2. 31. [The Echo: or, Federal songster. Brookfield: E. Merriam & Co. Title-page facsimile, MWA copy.]

      248 pp. [1:] title page; [2:] blank; [3:] advertisement; [4:] blank; [5]–192: songs; [193]–230: appendix, containing a variety of Masonic songs; [231]–236: a collection of the most celebrated cotillions and country dances; [237]–243: index; [244:] blank; [245]–248: toasts and sentiments. Evans 33663, Sabin 21779, Sonneck-Upton p. 118; indexed in Thorpe. Contains 170 songs (171 indexed). Advertised November 5, 1798, in the Walpole, New Hampshire, Farmer’s Weekly Museum as “this day published”; also advertised November 13, 1798, in the Brookfield, Massachusetts, Political Observer. Later edition: 43.

      MWA, RPB (imperfect).

    Fig. 317. Songster frontispiece and title page, 1798.

    1798

    1. Fig. 317
    2. 32. [The Humming Bird; or, New American songster. Boston: Spotswood and Etheridge, 1798. Title-page facsimile, MH copy.]

      1 p.l., 278, x pp. [i:] blank; [ii:] frontispiece; [1:] title page; [2:] blank; [3]–240: songs; [241]–266: appendix containing the most celebrated Masonic songs; [267]–276: toasts and sentiments; [277]–278: Masonic toasts; [i]–x: index. Evans 33913, Sonneck p. 70, Sonneck-Upton pp. 194–195. Contains 236 songs.

      MH, NHi (imperfect).

    Fig. 318. Songster frontispiece and title page, 1798.

    1798

    1. Fig. 318
    2. 33. [Jachin and Boaz; or, An authentic key to the door of Free-Masonry. Boston: J. Bumstead, for E. Larkin, 1798. Title-page facsimile, MHi copy.]

      1 p.l., 64 pp. [i:] blank; [ii:] frontispiece; [1:] titlepage; [2:] blank; [3]–[4:] preface; [4:] advertisement; [5]–[6:] description of the frontispiece; [7]–43: text; 43–60: odes, anthems, and songs; 60–64: toasts and sentiments. Evans 34506. Contains 23 Masonic songs, as 16.

      DSC, MBFM, MH, MHi, NN.

    Fig. 319. Songster title page, [1798].

    1798

    1. Fig. 319
    2. 34. [The Lark. Northampton. Title-page facsimile, MWA copy.]

      24 pp. [1:] titlepage; [2:] blank; [3]–24: songs. Contains 15 songs.

      MWA.

    Fig. 320. Songster title page, 1798.

    1798

    1. Fig. 320
    2. 35. [The Merry Companion. Boston: J. White, 1798. Title-page facsimile, MB copy.]

      24 pp. [1:] titlepage; [2:] index; [3]–24: songs. Evans 34100, Sonneck-Upton p. 259. Contains 26 songs. The only known copy lacks pp. 9–12. For a related songster, see 44.

      MB (imperfect).

    1798

    1. 36. New Federal Songster. Boston: John W. Folsom, 1798.

      Welch 929; no copy located. Advertised 1798 by Folsom in The foundling; or The history of Lucius Stanhope (Evans 33750), “price twenty-five cents.”

    Fig. 321. Songster title page, 1798.

    1798

    1. Fig. 321
    2. 37. [The New Holy day Present; or, The child’s plaything. Boston: John W. Folsom, 1798. Title-page facsimile, NPVcopy.]

      30 pp. [1:] blank; [2:] frontispiece; [3:] title page; 4–23: text; 24–30: songs. Evans 34198, Welch 936.1. Contains 9 juvenile songs. The only known copy lacks the frontispiece.

      NPV (imperfect).

    1798

    1. Select Anthems and Songs for Special Occasions. Worcester, 1798.

      See 30.

    1798

    1. The Whim of the Day. Boston, 1798.

      See 35.

    Fig. 322. Songster frontispiece and title page, 1799.

    1799

    1. Fig. 322
    2. 38. [Jackey Dandy’s Delight, or The history of birds and beasts. Nathaniel Coverly, 1799. Title-page facsimile, MWA copy.]

      1 p.l., 15 [i.e., 17] pp. [i:] blank; [ii:] frontispiece; [1:] title page; [2]–12: text; 13–15 [i.e., 17]: songs. Evans 35659, Welch 605.9. Contains 8 juvenile songs.

      CtHi (imperfect), MWA.

    1799

    1. 39. Little Robin Redbreast; a collection of pretty songs, for children, entirely new. Printed at Worcester, Massachusetts, by Isaiah Thomas, Jun. 1799.

      Evans 35735; no copy located. See 8 for an earlier edition.

    Fig. 323. Songster title page, 1799.

    1799

    1. Fig. 323
    2. 40. [Mother Goose’s Melody: or Sonnets for the cradle. Third Worcester edition. Worcester: Isaiah Thomas, 1799. Title-page facsimile, MWA copy.]

      91, [1] pp. [i:] blank; [ii:] frontispiece; [iii:] title page; [iv:] blank; [v]–ix: preface; [10]–72: Mother Goose’s melody; [73:] half title: Mother Goose’s / melody. / Part ii. / Containing the / lullabies of Shakespear [sic]; 74–91: Shakespeare’s songs; [92:] illustration. Evans 35847, Sonneck p. 91, Sonneck-Upton p. 269, Welch 905.3. Contains 68 songs, all juvenile except for 16 by Shakespeare. The only known copy (a reconstruction from two imperfect ones) lacks pp. [i]–[ii], 81–82. See 7 for a list of editions.

      MWA (imperfect).

    Fig. 324. Songster frontispiece and title page, 1799.

    1799

    1. Fig. 324
    2. 41. [Songs and Lullabies of the good old nurses. First Worcester edition. Worcester: Isaiah Thomas, 1799. Title-page facsimile, MWA copy.]

      29, [2] pp. [1:] blank; [2:] frontispiece; [3:] title page; [4:] illustration; [5]–29: songs and lullabies; [30]–[31:] illustrations. Evans 36335, Welch 1236. Contains 20 juvenile songs. According to Welch the text “is a reprint from standing pages of type” used for 40, “with only the page numbers and the running caption changed from Mother Goose’s Melody to Songs and Lullabies.”

      MWA, PP.

    Fig. 325. Songster title page, 1800.

    1800

    1. Fig. 325
    2. 42. [A Collection of the Newest Cotillions and country dances. Worcester, 1800. Title-page facsimile, MWA copy.]

      36pp. [1:] titlepage; [2:] blank; [3]–19: a collection of cotillions and country dances; [20]–28: songs; [29]–34: rules for conversation; 34–36: instances of ill manners. Evans 37202, Sonneck-Upton p. 76. Contains 7 songs. The probable compiler was John Griffiths; 1788 (Northampton) and 1794 (Greenfield) editions cited in Sonneck-Upton p. 76 do not contain songs.

      MWA, NN.

    Fig. 326. Songster title page, [1800].

    1800

    1. Fig. 326
    2. 43. [The Echo: or, Columbian songster. Brookfield: E. Merriam. Title-page facsimile, MB copy.]

      215 pp. [1:] titlepage; [2:] blank; [3:] advertisement; [4:] blank; [5]–168: songs; [169]–202: appendix containing a variety of Masonic songs; [203]–208: collection of the most celebrated cotillions and country dances; [209]–215: index. Evans 37344, Sonneck-Upton p. 118. Contains 188 songs. A much altered version of 31, q.v.

      MB, MH.

    Fig. 327. Songster title page, 1800.

    1800

    1. Fig. 327
    2. 44. [Horrid Tortures; or, The unparalleled sufferings of John Coustos. Brookfield: E. Merriam & Co., 1800. Title-page facsimile, RPB copy.]

      83 pp. [i:] titlepage; [ii:] blank; [iii]–iv: preface to a late New-York edition of this work; [5]–73: text; [74:] blank; [75]–83: songs. Contains 7 Masonic songs. The New York edition referred to was printed in 1797 by Jacob S. Mott for Charles Smith (Evans 31999).

      RPB.

    Fig. 328. Songster frontispiece and title page, 1800.

    1800

    1. Fig. 328
    2. 45. [The Jovial Songster. Boston: J. White, 1800. Title-page facsimile, MWA copy.]

      34 pp. [1:] blank; [2:] frontispiece; [3:] titlepage; [4:] index; [5]–34: songs. Evans 38110, Sonneck-Upton pp. 219, 296; indexed in Lewis. Contains 26 songs. The only known copy is mutilated, lacking portions of pp. 27–30. Essentially a new edition of 35, q.v.

      MWA (imperfect).

    Fig. 329. Songster frontispiece and title page, 1800.

    1800

    1. Fig. 329
    2. 46. [Mother Goose’s Melody; or Sonnets for the cradle. Boston: S. Hall, 1800. Title-page facsimile, CtHi copy.]

      1 p.l., 95 pp. [i:] blank; [ii:] frontispiece; [i:] titlepage; [ii:] blank; [iii]-10: preface; [11]–73: Mother Goose’s melody, Part i; [74:] blank; [75]–92: Mother Goose’s melody, Part ii; 93–95: introduction to spelling. Bristol-Evans b11091, Shipton-Mooney 49118, Welch 905.4. Contains 68 songs, all juvenile except for 16 by Shakespeare. The CtHi copy lacks pp. iv–5 and 75–76; the MH copy lacks pp. [i]–16 and 81–95, and pp. 17–18 are mutilated. This edition is based on 17; see 7 for a list of other editions.

      CtHi (imperfect), MH (imperfect).

    Fig. 330. Songster title page, 1800.

    1800

    1. Fig. 330
    2. 47. [The Nightingale; or Rural songster. Dedham: H. Mann, 1800. Title-page facsimile, MB copy.]

      125, [3] pp. [1:] titlepage; [2:] preface; [3]–125: songs; 125–[128:] index. Bristol-Evans b11095, Shipton-Mooney 49123. Contains 94 songs.

      MB, MWA.

    1800

    1. Newest Fashion. The jovial songster. Boston: J. White, 1800.

      See 45.

    Fig. 331. Songster title page, [1800].

    1800

    1. Fig. 331
    2. 48. [Spicers Pocket Companion; or, The young Mason’s monitor. Part second. Northampton: Andrew Wright. Title-page facsimile, MWA copy.]

      31, [1] pp. [1:] title page; [2:] lines written by Brother Stewart, N.Y.; [3]–9: text; [10]–31: songs; [32:] tosts [sic] and sentiments. Bristol-Evans b11125, Sabin 89428. Contains 18 songs, all with musical notation or reference to musical notation. The compiler was probably Ishmael Spicer, who collaborated with Andrew Adgate in putting out The Philadelphia Harmony (Philadelphia: J. M’Culloch, 1789; many later editions). No “Part first” is known.

      CtY (2 copies, 1 imperfect), MWA.