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 bequeathed to her all of Goddard's property. Early life Mary Katharine Goddard was born in Southern New England in 1738. She was the daughter of Dr. Giles Goddard and Sarah Updike Goddard. Her father was the postmaster of New London, Connecticut. Goddard was taught reading and math by her mother...