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library. e remainder of his possessions were believed to have been carried off by Loyalists or destroyed by fire. Leading members of the Patriot resistance aided in his move to Worcester, providing temporary shelter for both omas and his press. As early as May 3, he began publishing eyewitness accounts of the war – the first printing in any inland town in New England, serving as possibly the country's first war Revolutionary War printer Isaiah omas was threatened with tarring, burned in effigy, nearly precuted for malicious libel more than once and was considered a wanted man by British Loyalists and militia. correspondent. His commentary is credited with convincing many Loyalists to join the Patriot cause. Both sides in the conflict were thought to have used propaganda, skewing facts such as the precise numbers of men fighting, weapons available, and even the specific outcomes of battles — attributing victories to their own sides. In July 1776, omas reportedly published an early account of the Declaration of Independence and was believed to be the first person in Massachusetts to publicly read it. Aer the war, he diversified operations, publishing the New England Almanac, authoring e History of Printing in America, and printing and selling thousands of books. He built a paper mill and bindery and even served as postmaster. He printed the first American dictionary and the third English Bible, first in large-folio format with engravings by American artists, and e Power of Sympathy, possibly the first American novel, authored by a first-time author, Native American William Hill Brown. In 1786, he became the first U.S. printer to use the premier font of music type procured from Europe. In a turnaround from perilous and incendiary war times, omas founded what would become the American Antiquarian Society, bequeathing many of his personal papers there and ensuring that Revolutionary-era news, books, pamphlets, and letters were preserved. — Susan Gonsalves (Above) A front page of the Massachusetts Spy; its motto: "A Weekly, Political and Com- mercial PAPER; open to ALL Parties, but influenced by None." (Left) Isaiah omas Worcester County communities incorporated before 1822 Lancaster ..........................1653 Mendon............................1667 Leicester ...........................1713 Oxford ..............................1713 Sutton ...............................1714 Westborough ....................1717 Brookfield .........................1718 Rutland ............................1722 Worcester ........................1722 Shrewsbury .......................1727 Southborough ..................1727 Uxbridge ...........................1727 Lunenberg ........................1728 Dudley .............................1732 Harvard ............................1732 Grafton ............................1735 Upton ...............................1735 Bolton ..............................1738 Hardwick .........................1739 Leominster .......................1740 Holden .............................1741 Warren .............................1742 Douglas ............................1746 New Braintree ..................1751 Petersham .........................1754 Athol ................................1762 Oakham ...........................1762 Templeton ........................1762 Fitchburg..........................1764 Winchendon ....................1764 Ashburnham ....................1765 Paxton ..............................1765 Royalston..........................1765 Northborough ..................1766 Hubbardston ....................1767 Westminster .....................1770 Princeton ..........................1771 Northbridge .....................1772 Barre .................................1774 Charlton ...........................1775 Auburn .............................1778 Milford .............................1780 Boylston ...........................1785 Gardner ............................1785 Phillipston ........................1786 West Boylston ..................1808 Berlin................................1812 North Brookfield ..............1812 Millbury ...........................1813 Southbridge ......................1816 Sources: Each community, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth W o r c e s t e r 3 0 0 : C i t y o f I n n o v a t o r s 11 1722-1821