South of Broad in Charleston in Charleston County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Lewis Timothy Print Shop

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 2, 2019

1. Lewis Timothy Print Shop Marker

Inscription.
In 1734, Benjamin Franklin sent his new partner, Lewis Timothy, to Charleston to publish The South Carolina Gazette. Two other associates Dr. Franklin sent to Charleston had died in succession. In the fall of 1736 and spring of 1737, John Wesley, the founder of world Methodism, then a young Anglican clergyman serving at Savannah, visited Timothy very near this site to complete publication of A Collection of Psalms and Hymns, the first hymnal of the Methodist movement.

Lewis Timothy died in 1738, but his widow Elizabeth, followed by their son Peter, then his widow Ann Donavan Timothy, and then their son Benjamin Franklin Timothy, maintained the Timothy Print Shop in various locations until 1802.

In addition to The South Carolina Gazette, the shop printed essays, sermons, almanacs, treatises on topics of interest and government documents, including The Laws of the Province of South Carolina in 1736. The Timothy Print Shop was the appointed printer of government documents until the General Assembly moved to Columbia.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Communications

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• Industry & Commerce • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the United Methodist Church Historic Sites series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1734.

Location. 32° 46.529′ N, 79° 55.964′ W. Marker is in Charleston, South Carolina, in Charleston County. It is in South of Broad. It is on King Street just south of Broad Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is mounted at eye-level on a brick fence post on the east side of the site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 97 King Street, Charleston SC 29401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Historic Charleston

and in the Lowcountry.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 2, 2019

2. Lewis Timothy Print Shop Marker

8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Societé Française (a few steps from this marker); William Elliott House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Major Peter Bocquet's House (about 300 feet away); Home of Doctor John Lining (about 300 feet away); William Harvey House (about 300 feet away); The Samuel Wainwright House (about 400 feet away); Laurens - Rutledge House (about 400 feet away); Dewar-Lee-Pringle House (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charleston.

Regarding Lewis Timothy Print Shop. United Methodist Historic Site No. 409.

Also see . . .
1. Lewis Timothy (South Carolina Public Radio podcast).

(By By Walter Edgar) Excerpt: Timothy was born Louis Timothée, the son of a Huguenot who took refuge in Holland. With his Dutch-born wife and children he sailed for Philadelphia in 1731. He anglicized his name to Lewis Timothy and found work in the printing business. He worked for Benjamin Franklin on the Pennsylvania Gazette and was the first librarian of the Library Company of Philadelphia. In 1733, in a joint venture with Franklin, Timothy agreed
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 2, 2019

3. United Methodist Historic Site No. 409
This plaque is mounted just above the historical marker.
to publish the South-Carolina Gazette and sailed for Charleston. In addition to publishing the weekly newspaper, he became the official colonial printer. Timothy was a founding member and officer of the South Carolina Society, a social and charitable organization comprised of Huguenots.

(Submitted on January 28, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Lewis Timothy (South Carolina Encyclopedia).

(By Martha J. King) Excerpt: In 1731 Franklin had sent Thomas Whitmarsh to South Carolina to establish a newspaper for the colony. When Whitmarsh died in September 1733, Timothy was invited to succeed him. On November 26, 1733, Timothy entered a six-year publishing agreement with Franklin whereby he would maintain a two-thirds interest as the new printer of the South-Carolina Gazette. The Timothy family moved to Charleston, where Lewis maintained a print shop on Church Street. The South-Carolina Gazette resumed weekly publication under Timothy’s name on February 2, 1734.
The Timothy family achieved prominence in South Carolina society. Lewis became the official colonial printer. He and his family were members of St. Philip’s Church in Charleston. Lewis became a founder and officer of the South Carolina Society, a social and charitable organization made up of Huguenots. By 1736 he obtained land grants totaling six hundred acres and a town lot in Charleston.

(Submitted on January 28, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Lewis Timothy Print Shop Site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 2, 2019

4. Lewis Timothy Print Shop Site

Looking west from King Street.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 26, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 443 times since then and 135 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 28, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.