Hannah Bunce Watson facts for kids

Hannah Bunce Watson Hudson (born December 28, 1749 – died September 27, 1807) was an important newspaper publisher from Connecticut, USA. Her newspapers helped support the American side during the American Revolutionary War. She was the first woman to become a newspaper editor in Connecticut, and one of the first in the entire United States.

A Brave Publisher During Wartime

In December 1777, the American Revolutionary War was still happening. George Washington was not yet president, and Jonathan Trumbull was the Governor of Connecticut. At this time, many newspapers that supported the American Revolution had been shut down by the British. In cities like Boston and New York City, only newspapers that supported the British were being printed.

However, the Connecticut Courant newspaper stayed open. It was the oldest and largest newspaper in the Thirteen Colonies, printing about 8,000 copies.

Taking Over the Newspaper

In December 1777, the owner of the Connecticut Courant, Ebenezer Watson, sadly died from smallpox. His wife, Hannah Bunce Watson, had five young children, all under the age of seven. She also had very little training in printing. Despite these challenges, she bravely decided to take over the newspaper.

Hannah made George Goodwin, who worked for the Courant, her business partner. Together, they used the newspaper to support the American war effort against the British.

Supporting the Revolution

The Connecticut Courant newspaper played a big role in the war. It shared important news like:

• Descriptions of battles from different colonies.
• News and analysis about events happening in America and Britain.
• Strong criticisms of the British Parliament.

During this time, almost everything in the newspaper was about politics and the war. There were very few articles about other topics, except for advertisements and short local news items.

Overcoming Challenges

In January 1778, people who supported the British (called Tories) set fire to the mill that made paper for the Courant. Hannah Watson and George Goodwin thought they might have to close the newspaper.

But the very next day, they printed a "half sheet" edition of the paper. Hannah and Sarah Ledyard, who co-owned the paper mill, asked the Connecticut government for help. They needed a loan to rebuild the mill.

Amazingly, within one day, the Connecticut General Assembly (the state's government) approved a state lottery to raise money for rebuilding the mill. Because of this quick help, the Connecticut Courant was able to keep printing without stopping.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1779, Hannah Watson married Barzillai Hudson. He then took over her part of the printing business. Many years later, in 1837, the Connecticut Courant became a daily newspaper called the Hartford Courant. Today, it is the largest daily newspaper in Connecticut.

Hannah Bunce Watson Hudson was recognized for her important work. In 1994, she was added to the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame.

Personal Life

Hannah Bunce was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on December 28, 1749. Her parents were Aaron and Hannah Bunce.

She became the second wife of Ebenezer Watson in 1771. After he passed away, she married Barzillai Hudson in 1779. Hannah died on September 27, 1807, in Hartford. She is buried there in the Old South Burying Ground.