THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, September 20, 2024 Page 3 ~ 375th Anniversary of Malden’s Incorporation as a Town ~ Joseph Hills, lawmaker of the Mass. Bay Colony and “godfather” of Malden, Part 2 By Inna Babitskaya J oseph Hills compiled the colonial laws, including 86 clauses from Nathaniel Ward’s “The Body of Liberties,” into “The Book of the General Lauues and Libertyes Concerning the Inhabitants of the Massachusetts.” As Deloraine Corey, noted Malden historian and Hills’ descendant, wrote about him in “The History of Malden, Massachusetts,” “if he was not a lawyer by profession, he was so by his tendencies and habits and perhaps by education.” However, Hills’ activities were not limited to writing this book. As an energetic and active person, Hills prepared the copy for the printer and supervised the printing process, which would not have been possible without the other immigrant’s input. The prominent Rev. Jose Glover (1595/98-1638) from Surrey, England, decided to immigrate to the Massachusetts Bay Colony, fl eeing from Archbishop Laud’s persecution of Puritans. As a widely educated person, he understood the power of the printed word, and therefore, with the help of his friends, he bought a printing press for his new homeland. In 1638, Glover with his family, servants and printing equipment sailed aboard John of London to the colony. He was accompanied by a locksmith, Stephen Daye (1594-1668), whom he hired to work with the printing press (the contract for two years included payment of 100 pounds). Glover also paid for the transportation of Daye, his family and his servants. Unfortunately, during the passage, Rev. Glover became sick, died and was buried in the Atlantic Ocean. Daye’s contract with the reverend passed to his widow, Elizabeth Glover (1602-1643), who inherited a press. Elizabeth not only wanted to fulfi ll her husband’s ideas, but being the daughter of Reverend Nathaniel Harris – prominent in university and ecclesiastical circles – she also valued books. After landing in Boston, she decided to settle near the college to be closer to her printing business and bought the house of former Governor Haynes. The process of establishing the new business involved getting approval from the local magistrates and elders and finding a location to set it up. So, she purchased a house on Holyoke Street for Daye’s family. The printing press The 17th century printing shop Joseph Hills’ note Title page of the “Bay Psalm Book” (1640) that brought the fi rst colonists to New England and a friend of Governors Bradford, Winslow and Winthrop. In 1640, the “Bay Psalm Book” was printed. It was translated into meter by three ministers – Richard Mather of The first printing press in British America (1639) was put on the fi rst fl oor there. Daye began to work as a printing manager, together with his 18-year-old son, Matthew, an apprentice printer. In 1638, they printed “The Freeman’s Oath,” which was written by Governor John Winthrop in 1631. At that time, in order to become a freeman and a legal citizen, every man who was over the age of 20 and lived in a colony for at least six months had to take it. In 1639, Daye published “An Almanac for New England for the Year 1639” of the famous Capt. William Pierce (15901641), master of three ships Dorchester, John Eliot (the “Indian Apostle”) and Thomas Welde of Roxbury – and became very popular in the colony during the 17th century. Three years later, MALDEN| SEE PAGE 11 DENT A L 373 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 (617) 898 3384 ranashahidental@gmail.com Dental Restorations Crowns Sealants Fluoride Treatments Bonding GRAND Title page of “The Book of the General Lauues and Libertyes Concerning the Inhabitants of the Massachusetts” (1648) OPENING Gar ima Rana, D.M.D Yen Vo, D.M.D Extractions Invisalign Cleanings Root Canals Emergency Care
4 Publizr Home