American Revolutionary War paintings of Isaiah thomas in the Union Oyster House, Boston

Art and paintings of the
American Revolutionary War
by D. W. Roth

as Found in the Restaurant and Historical Landmark in Boston, Ye Olde Union Oyster House (Americas oldest restaurant)
View a copy of an article with these paintings from CNN.com

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Isaiah Thomas
Revolutionary War Printer and Publisher -
Prints of this painting are available for purchase.
This print is only available here and is signed by the artist D. W. Roth.

Isaiah Thomas

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A collectable set of prints of these paintings, signed by the artist are now available for purchase.

Scenes and Paintings of the American Revolutionary War
Isaiah Thomas - Revolutionary Publisher and Printer

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Who was Isaiah Thomas?

What was the
"Sedition Foundry"

Israel Bissell

Who was Israel Bissell?

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Union St., Boston, 1771-1775
It is an unfortunate fact that we have never heard of, or have all but forgotten, the name of Isaiah Thomas.
It was partially through his newspaper, 'The Massachusetts Spy', and a host of his other publications that many of the colonists in New England learned the facts of the oppressive conditions imposed upon them by the ruling British authorities.
More than once, Thomas risked his life to inspire these notions to his fellow patriots through his printing. Because of the numerous gatherings of founding patriots and writings that were bold challenges to the British ruling authority, this print shop earned a deserved reputation as "The Sedition Foundry."
It is time we discover Thomas's heroic story and finally appreciate and honor the significant contribution he made--" lighting the fuse of the American Revolution. "

D. W. Roth

D. W. Roth created these paintings as part of a set of commissioned works by the Union Oyster House, in Boston. The paintings depict nearly forgotten events that took place in the printing workshop of the printer and publisher, Isaiah Thomas as well as various events that led up to the American Revolutionary War.

The original paintings are on permanent exhibition in the Heritage Room.

Who were they?

ISAIAH THOMAS.

A nearly forgotten newspaper printer and publisher who printed the revolutionary newspaper The Massachusetts Spy from this site in 1770 to 1775 and later became one of the most prominent publishers of his time. He made many contributions to writings on human rights and individual freedom. His printed criticism of the ruling British authority had many times endangered his life. He is today all but completely forgotten, yet his newspaper and his patriotic efforts could be considered to have in some ways lit the fuse of the American Revolutionary War. Included will be examples from his newspapers and writings which will allow the public to appreciate his achievements and contributions which led to American freedom and independence.

ISRAEL BISSELL

Was a major hero in the series of events which led up to the American Revolution.

He was the forgotten rider who rode from Watertown, Ma. to Philadelphia, in less than five days, to sound the alarm of the British attack. Learn More.

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The Sedition Foundry

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Between 1771 and 1775, when Isaiah Thomas operated his press from his home and office on Union Street in Boston, many radical revolutionaries met secretly within the walls of his printing office to draft their plans for liberty. Portrayed from left to right are Paul Revere, James Otis, John Hancock and various apprentices and assistants as they proofread the daring November 14, 1771 issue.

Isaiah Thomas' "Old No. 1 Press"

(Photo Copyright D. W. Roth)

22-year-old Isaiah Thomas at his Old No. 1 Press

Isaiah Thomas (above center) was born youngest of three into a poor Boston family on January 19, 1749. From the ages of six through sixteen, Isaiah was indentured as an apprentice to a Boston printer, Zachariah Fowle, where he learned his trade.

In 1767, Thomas lived in Halifax. He worked on the Halifax Gazette against the Stamp Act, a British Parliamentary tax law of 1765 and took such a strong stand against this measure, that he was fired. In 1767 at 18, Thomas settled for two years in Charleston, South Carolina, and worked as a journeyman printer.

On Christmas day of 1769, he married Mary Dill, and moved to Boston in the spring of 1770 where he began a partnership with his former master, Fowle. The first samples of The Massachusetts Spy were issued on July 17, 1770. By October 23, 1770 , Fowle sold his interest to Thomas.

At the end of October 1771, Isaiah Thomas moved his print shop to a wooden house on the "south corner of Marshall Lane, leading from Mill bridge into Union Street," the exact location where the left half of Ye Olde Union Oyster House stands today.