A History of the Maryland Press, 1777-1790

Like her brother, she was an active partisan of the liberty of the press.
On June 3, 1776, the Baltimore County Committee met and in its
proceedings is found an interesting incident in the career of this coura-
geous woman.

"Miss Goddard informed this Committee, by Letter, that on Wednesday last Mr. George Somer-
ville came to her office and abused her with threats and indecent language on account of a late
publication in her paper. The Committee, conceiving it to be their duty to inquire into everything
that has a tendency to restrain the liberty of the Press, Ordered, That a summons be issued for the
said George Somerville, returnable at three o'clock P.M."3

He refused to obey the summons and treated the messenger in an in-
solent manner so Captain Sterett was sent out with a detachment of
the Independent Company and brought him before the Committee
where he was tried for his offense.

"..... by the evidence of Miss Goddard, that his conduct had a direct tendency to influence the free-
dom of the Press, which in every free country should be inviolably maintained, and on account
of his contemptuous treatment of the Committee:

It was Resolved, unanimously, That Mr. Somerville be censured by this Committee; and, as
he now refused to sign the Enrollment or Association Papers when tendered to him, it was deter-
mined that he give bond, with security, for his future good behavior, agreeable to directions of
the Convention."4

MARY KATHERINE GODDARD—DEPUTY POSTMISTRESS OF

BALTIMORE-TOWN

In recognition of his work in founding the Constitutional Post Office,
William Goddard was probably allowed to name the postmaster at Bal-
timore as well as to hold the office of Surveyor of the Post Office. Mary
Katherine Goddard was appointed Postmistress of Baltimore in 1775
and held that position until her removal in November 1789. Notices of
changes in the schedules of the daily and weekly posts, lists of unclaimed
letters and other advertisements relating to the Baltimore Post Office
were printed by her in the Maryland Journal. She rendered the best
service possible under existing conditions. For the convenience of the
public who had been accustomed to call at the Post Office for their let-
ters, she established a delivery service in 1784.

him that England had recently landed troops in Ireland, intimates that the news "..... which comes by a ship from London
to Baltimore, and from thence here ....." could not be relied upon since "..... Baltimore has not been famed for the truth
of its intelligence." Jefferson to Harrison dated Annapolis, December 24, 1783. In E. C. Burnett, ed. Letters of Members of
the Continental Congress. Vol. VII. p. 400.

3 American Archives, Series IV, Vol. VI. 1460-1461.

4 American Archives. Series IV, Vol. VI, 1460-1461.

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