Charles Cist's Philadelphia Cherry Wood Walking Stick.

The Charles Cist Heirloom: An Unassuming Secret Messenger

In the Cist family, there exists an unassuming heirloom that holds a significant historical narrative. This modest walking stick, standing about four feet tall and crafted from cherry wood, features a silver cap with "Charles Cist" etched into the front. What makes this ordinary-looking cane exceptional is its secret compartment, concealed within the silver cap.

During the Revolutionary War era, this Philadelphia walking stick was ingeniously employed as a clandestine courier for written messages exchanged among patriots. The secret chamber housed within the cane's silver top was used to transport letters to and from the printing shop of Cist and Styner. As the British authorities could stop and search anyone in the streets, patriots carrying these messages would boldly offer, "Go ahead, search me."

Upon initiating the search, the patriot would hand the walking stick to the British soldier while stretching out their arms as a silent gesture of cooperation. Unbeknownst to the British soldiers, they were, at that very moment, holding the key to revolutionary communication—the secret compartment containing the vital message to be printed by Cist and Styner.

Andrew C. Allen   April 16th, 2015

Blog Event in Historic Lebanon, Ohio.

My next blog event will be in Historic Lebanon, Ohio on June 6th, Saturday, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Royce Cafe' & Coffeehouse is located at 30 East Mulberry Street-1st Floor Lebanon, OH  45036.

Come learn how Charles Cist and the new hit TV show TURN on AMC are related. Learn a new added vantage point to Colonial America during the American Revolution.

Look for the 99 cent special printing of historical information on Charles Cist and Cist family matters.

Buy some coffee, read, and enjoy the gem of Historic Lebanon, OH. It really does have much to offer.

See you there.
Andrew C Allen April 10, 2015
513.638.7140
pewabic34@gmail.com

Stephen Daye Press

This blog is about early British North American printing. This was before the birth of Charles Cist, but since Mr. Cist was a European first and then an American, there might be a connection between the two. Most of the Industrial goods came from Europe first. We shall find common connections. I am good at this. I am taking notes on names, places, and events. History repeats itself, therefore we can see a pattern.

Additionally, Scott Stamp Catalog number 857, year 1939, shows a picture of the Stephen Daye Press. This is were I had the idea of making a connection and placing this into the data base of information.

Stephen Daye

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The Whole Booke of Psalmes Faithfully Translated into English Metre, printed by Stephen Daye, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1640. First book printed in British North America

Stephen Daye, Sr. (c.1594 – December 22, 1668) was the first British North American printer.

Life[edit]

Daye was born in Sutton, Surrey London, and emigrated on June 7, 1638 to Cambridge Massachusetts on board the "John of London" with his wife Rebecca (Bordman - from a previous marriage) (died October 17, 1658), sons Stephen, Jr. (died December 1, 1639), Matthew (died May 10, 1649), and stepson William Bordman (died March 25, 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 15. 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.
Andrew C. Allen  April 1, 2015
513.638.7140
pewabic34@gmail.com