More about Shepard Kollock and his life can be found in the book "Shepard Kollock: Editor for Freedom" written by: John R. Anderson Published by the Chatham Historical Society |
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Shepard Kollock was born in Lewes, Sussex County, Delaware in September of 1750. His exact date of birth is not known. Shepard was the youngest of 7 children born to Shepard Kollock, Sr. and Mary Goddard. Shepard learned the trade of printing under William Goddard, the famous printer from Philiadelphia. Shepard was apprenticed to William Goddard in 1767. In 1770 Shepard fell ill and was sent to the island of Saint Christopher (St. Kitts) in the West Indies. Shepard settled in the town of Basse Terre. While there Shepard got a job as a journeyman printer for a local newspaper. In 1772 a hurricane blasted the islands of the West Indies. Soon after a boy who lived there wrote a story about the great hurricane. He brought his story to the paper for publication. Shepard was so impressed by this young mans work that not only did they publish this work, but Shepard took an interest in the boy and encouraged him to go to the colonies and get an education. Shepard worked with a group of other mentors on the islands who rallied to raise the money to send this boy to the Colonies and get him a proper, fromal education. This boy was none other then Alexander Hamilton. This encounter in the West Indies would pay off immensely for Shepard in years to come. Shepard was still on St. Christopher Island when he learned of the beginning of the American Revolution. Believing in the cause and the fight for freedom he returned immediately to his father's house in Delaware. Once there he was disheartened to learn that his brother Simon was not interested in the Patriot cause for Freedom and believed in staying loyal to England. So the next day Simon left for New York to join the English loyalist forces and Shepard set out to join up with the Patriots. Shepard joined the militia and went to fight for the cause of Independence. He served as a Lieutenant in the NY mililtia in 1776. From 1777-1779 he served as a First Lieutenant in the Second Continental Artillery in the Continental Army. In 1779 General George Washington decided that he wanted his advisors to find him a printer who could write and publish a newspaper that would promote the Patriot cause. General Knox consulted with Alexander Hamilton as to who they could find to carry out this job. Remembering Shepard Kollock from his boyhood days, Alexander Hamilton suggested Kollock for the job. Shepard was given an honorable discharge from the army and was sent to Chatham, NJ where he published the first edition of his Patriot newspaper. It was called the New Jersey Journal and the first edition was printed on February 16, 1779. The papers contents were filled with attacks against the British and the Loyalists. They referred to Shepard as the "Rebel Printer". In Excess of 60,000 papers were circulated weekly as far as New York and Pennsylvania. Shepard Kollock had to be rellocated along with his printing press numerous times as the British came looking for him. He continued printing all through the war and only missed one edition of the paper due to being on the run avoiding capture. After the war Shepard Kollock Continued the New Jersey Journal. In 1785 it was moved to Elizbethtown, NJ where it would remain until Shepard sold the paper in 1818. In 1820 he was appointed Post Master General and served in this position until 1829. During the course of his printing career he also performed other civic duties. He was a Lay Judge in the Court of Common Pleas for Essex County. He also served as an aide to two Governors. There is a park named in his honor in Chatham, NJ. Shepard Kollock died at the age of 88 in Philadelphia at the home of his daughter Henrietta and her husband the Rev. John McDowell. He is buried in the church yard of the First Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth, NJ. To view his headstone click here...FPC Cemetery Photos. |
Shepard Kollock 1750 - 1839 |
This portrait of Shepard Kollock was painted by his granddaughter Mary Kollock. Mary was the daughter of the Rev. Shepard Kosciusko Kollock. Presently, it is said that this portrait hangs in the balcony of the First Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth, N.J. |
The NJ Kollocks are coming soon and will contain Shepard Kollock's family information |
More about Shepard Kollock and his life can be found in the book "Shepard Kollock: Editor for Freedom" written by: John R. Anderson Published by the Chatham Historical Society |
