Mary Katharine Goddard

Mary Katharine Goddard (June 16, 1738 – August 12, 1816) was an early American publisher, and the postmaster of the Baltimore Post Office from 1775 to 1789. She was the older sister of William Goddard, also a publisher and printer. She was the second printer to print the Declaration of Independence. Her copy, the Goddard Broadside, was commissioned by Congress in 1777, and was the first to include the names of the signatories. In 1998, Goddard was inducted into the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame. Goddard owned a slave named Belinda Starling. Upon her death in 1816, Goddard's will posthumously freed Starling and left all of her property to her. Her brother, William Goddard (1740–1817), was a few years younger and served an apprenticeship in the printing trade.

Printing career The Goddard family (Sarah, William and Mary) set up a printing business and were the first to publish a newspaper, The Providence Gazette, in Providence, Rhode Island.

William was the publisher and printer of a revolutionary publication, the Maryland Journal; however, William then left Rhode Island to start a newspaper in Philadelphia. Mary took over control of the journal in 1774, while her brother was traveling to promote his Constitutional Post, and she continued to publish it throughout the American Revolutionary War until 1784, when her brother forced her to give up the newspaper.

In 1775, Mary became postmaster of the Baltimore post office. She also ran a book store and published an almanac in offices located around 250 Market Street (now East Baltimore Street, near South Street).

After taking over the Maryland Journal, Mary was very active in the American Revolution, on the side of the colonial revolutionaries, via her publications. She reprinted Thomas Paine's Common Sense in her publication, and wrote and printed editorials speaking out against British brutality. Additionally, Mary released publications about the Battle of Bunker Hill and Congress's call to arms.

When, on January 18, 1777, the Second Continental Congress moved that the Declaration of Independence be widely distributed, Goddard was one of the first to offer the use of her press. This was in spite of the risks of being associated with what was considered a treasonous document by the British. Her copy, the Goddard Broadside, was the second to be printed, and the first to contain the typeset names of the signatories, including John Hancock. About 2 years earlier, she had started printing her name on the bottom of her newspaper. However, those she signed with “Published by M.K. Goddard" instead of her full name. On November 12, 1789, over 230 citizens of Baltimore, including more than 200 leading businessmen, presented a petition demanding her reinstatement, but this was unsuccessful.

Later life Goddard remained in Baltimore after her dismissal as Postmaster. She continued to run, until 1809 or 1810, a bookshop that had previously been an adjunct to her printing business, and sold books, stationery, and dry goods.

She posthumously freed her slave, Belinda Starling, in her will, wherein she wrote that she, "give and grant to my female slave, Belinda Starling, aged about 26 years, her Freedom at my death; and I also give and bequeath unto said Belinda Starling all the property of which I may did possessed; all which I do to recompense the faithful performance of duties to me."