The History of the Catnach Press / at Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Alnwick and Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, in Northumberland, and Seven Dials, London - Charles Hindley

In addition to the full title of our work—“The History of the Catnach Press”—the two Catnachs—John and James—father and son, we deem it necessary to incidentally introduce into our pages some notice of Alnwick, an ancient borough, market-town and parish of Northumberland, also a few passing remarks on the life and doings of Mr. William Davison, who, in conjunction with the elder Catnach as a business partner and subsequent successor, employed Thomas Bewick—an English artist, who imparted the first impulse to the art of wood-engraving—for many of their publications.

Of the early life of John Catnach, (Kat-nak), the father, we have little information. He was born in 1769, at Burntisland, a royal burgh and parish of Fifeshire, Scotland, where his father was possessed of some powder-mills. The family afterwards removed to Edinburgh, when their son John was bound apprentice to his uncle, Sandy Robinson, the printer. After having duly served out his indentures, he worked for some short time in Edinburgh, as a journeyman, then started in a small business of his own in Berwick-upon-Tweed, where he married Mary Hutchinson, who was a native of Dundee, a seaport-town in Scotland. While at Berwick a son and heir, John, was born. In 1790 they removed their business to Alnwick, and during their residence there seven children were born to them and from the Register of Baptisms in St. Michael’s Church we glean that four of them were baptised at one time, viz., September 24, 1797, and there described as “of John Catnach, printer, and Mary his wife: Dissenter.”[?] John Catnach had been brought up in the Roman Catholic faith, and his wife as a Presbyterian. The following is taken verbatim from the Parish Register:—

Sep^t. 24, 1797.

Margaret, Daug^r. of John Catnach, printer, and Mary his Wife. Born Dec^r. 26^th, 1790. Dissenter.

James, son of John Catnach, printer, and Mary his Wife. Born August 18^th, 1792. Dissenter.

Mary, Daug^r. of John Catnach, printer, and Mary his Wife. Born February 26^th, 1794. Dissenter.

Nancy, Daug^r. of John Catnach, printer, and Mary his Wife. Born Sep^r. 2^nd, 1795. Dissenter.

May 23, 1798.

Elizabeth Catnach. Born March 21, 1797, 4^th Daughter of John Catnach, printer, native of Burnt Island, Shire of Fife, by his wife Mary Hutchinson, Native of Dundee, Angus Shire, Scotland.