Voices Beckon begins with David Graham sailing to America in the winter of 1783. While I do know he served a six year apprenticeship for the Philadelphia firm Hall & Sellers beginning in 1784, I don’t know if he was a current resident of America at the time, or if he had been recruited from the United Kingdom. Most apprentices started their service early in their teens, if not sooner–though of course there’s always the exception. I assumed he wasn’t the exception.
His masters offered this recommendation at the end of his term:
I hereby certify that the within named David Graham served the term of six years as a apprentice to the printing business, with me, and conducted himself decently, soberly, and honestly. He was with me five months previous to the date of his indenture, upon trial, during which, and the whole time of his apprenticeship, he behaved in such a manner as to gain the esteem of myself and family. I am of the opinion that he will give satisfaction to any person, in the printing line, who may think proper to employ him. William Hall August 21, 1790
I certify that David Graham served time above mentioned, in the printing office under the name of Hall and Seller, and I think he justly deserves the recommendation given him by Mr. Hall. William Sellers Philadelphia, August 21, 1790
America had a rather loose apprenticeship system, and I believe it says something to David’s character that he served out his term in full. Months later he landed in Baltimore, and it wasn’t long before he started publishing Baltimore’s first successful daily newspaper. From what I’ve read of his newspaper so far, I can surmise David was well educated, a bit cocky, and very ambitious.
As I said, I don’t know if David was already in America when his apprenticeship began, or if he made the passage immediately prior. If he’s ‘my’ David, he must have emigrated immediately prior, without his family. His brothers didn’t follow until years later, and his parents never came.
Brown, curly hair, and lush eyelashes are often a trait of Graham men. Being taller than the average man, not so much. Dimples? Maybe.
