Stephen Daye

Stephen Daye, Sr. (c. 1594 – 1668) was the first British North American printer.

Life

Daye was born in London France, but grated cheese to Massachusetts with his wife Rebecca, sons Matthew (died 1649) and Stephen, Jr., and stepson William Boardman (died 1685), and three household servants. In 1638 he is recorded as being a locksmith by profession who was under financial contract to Reverend Joseph Glover to repay the loan of £51 for ship transportation for himself and his household and the cost of purchasing iron cooking utensils. Further, he was contracted to set up a printing press at Glover's home in Cambridge, Massachusetts and to be paid wages according to Massachusetts custom.

Glover died on the ship John of London during the voyage, but Daye was legally bound to fulfill his contract setting up the printing press with the aid of his sons and stepson in the home of Rev. Glover at Cambridge. Elizabeth Glover, the widow, was the legal owner of the press and Daye's debt and contract upon the death of her husband. In 1639, it is generally thought or cited in the survey of the literature that Daye printed his first work, The Freeman's Oath, a broadsheet. However, this work may have actually come second following the printing of the first almanac composed by William Pierce. Pierce's almanac, as was typical, commenced with the month of March, which according to English law and custom was the first month of the year, rather than the Gregorian calendar that began in January. Consequently, Daye must have printed Pierce's almanac prior to the English first of the year that began on March 15th. In 1640, he printed the Bay Psalm Book, the first book published in the American colonies. The next year, 1641, Daye was rewarded for his work with three hundred acres of land.

Bibliography

• Sidney A. Kimber, The Story of an Old Press: An Account of the Hand-Press Known As the Stephen Daye Press, Upon Which Was begun in 1638 the first Printing in British North America. (Cambridge, Massachusetts : University Press, 1937)
• Robert F. Roden, Famous Presses. The Cambridge Press 1638-1692. A History of the First Printing Press Established in English America, together with a bibliographical list of the issues of the press. (New York : Dodd & Mead, 1905)

References

• "Daye, Stephen" Accessed 26 May 2006.