|
James Parker
James Parker established the first permanent printing shop in New
Jersey (at Woodbridge), was a major player in early New York journalism and
freedom of the press battles, established the first newspaper in
Connecticut, was a lifelong friend and business partner of Benjamin
Franklin, served as Secretary and Comptroller of the North American colonial
Post Office, served as a Justice on the Middlesex County Court of Common
Pleas, held various minor local posts - and all this with gout!
There was also a rumor at the time that he was murdered. And this is where
you might come in...he had travelled to New Town (now Newtown), PA as part
of his postal duties. On the return trip, he became ill at Bristol. He was
taken across the river to Burlington, NJ where he died. These events were
sometime shortly prior to July 3 when he actually died. A letter from his
wife and another from his son, both to Ben Franklin, identify the cause of
death as "nervous fever", which as far as I have been able to determine,
means typhus. I am now looking into the possibility of any 18th century
poisons which might mimic typhus-like symptoms. It would help if I could get
a firmer idea of what Parker's actual symptoms were. It's a long shot, but I
was wondering if there are any surviving records from any doctors who would
have been in Bristol at that time?
Thank you in advance for any ideas -
Gordon
|
|