The Genius of Liberty was conducted by Robert Mercer and George Carter as a weekly paper until 1798, when it was changed to a semi-weekly, at “twenty shillings per annum, ten shillings to be paid on subscribing and the remainder at the end of the year.” In 1800 the paper was purchased by James Walker, who changed its name to “The Courier.” Mr. Walker was both editor and proprietor, and under his management it was enlarged to “nearly double the size of the Virginia Herald.” We have not been able to learn at what period its publication ceased.
A volume of this publication, from November, 1800, to November, 1801, substantially bound, is now in possession of Mrs. James L. Green, of this place. It is valuable and interesting because of its hoary age and because of the fact it was published in Fredericksburg.
“The Fredericksburg News,” a semi-weekly paper, was published by Robert Baylor Semple for several years. At his death, in 1853, the paper was purchased by A. Alexander Little, who conducted it, except during the War Between the States, to the time of his death in 1877. When its publication was resumed after the war, when old things had passed away and many things had become new, it bore the name of “The Fredericksburg New Era,” but neither the times nor the name suited the editor, so he changed the name back to the News and made the best he could of the times in which he lived.
After Mr. Little’s death the publication of the News was continued for a few years by his sister, Miss Bella Little, who assisted him very much in the editorial management of the paper during his ownership of it, but finding it unremunerative its publication was finally suspended.
Several other publications of a less permanent nature have been started and conducted in Fredericksburg, but they were short lived and but little is known of their history, therefore they can be only mentioned as having existed.
“The Political Arena” was commenced in the year 1830 by Wm. M. Blackford and lived for about fifteen years. In 1845 Mr. Blackford moved to Lynchburg and the publication of the paper was discontinued.
In 1848 Rev. James W. Hunnicutt established the “Christian Banner,” which continued to exist until 1862, when Mr. Hunnicutt, being a Union man and opposed to the Civil war, went North, and it has been stated that the Banner office was destroyed by Southern soldiers. This statement, however, is thought not to be true.
“The Virginia Baptist” made its appearance in Fredericksburg about the year 1857. It was edited and conducted by Rev. W. R. Powell, Rev. John C. Willis and Rev. Joseph A. Billingsly as a temperance advocate. Its publication was suspended in 1860 and never resumed.
“The Democratic Recorder,” established in 1842, was owned by James M. Campbell, but in 1850 he removed to Manchester, N. H., and the office was purchased and the publication of the Recorder was continued by Robert B. Alexander, S. Greenhow Daniel and James B. Sener, in the order named. Its publication was suspended during the Civil war, but upon the return of peace in 1865 it was resumed by James B. Sener, the name being changed to “The Fredericksburg Ledger.” In 1872 Judge Sener was elected to Congress and the publication of the Ledger ceased.
The office and fixtures were sold by Judge Sener in 1873, and for twelve or fifteen years it changed hands often and several publications were started, only to cease after a struggle of a year or two. After the publication of the Ledger was discontinued the first paper sent out from the office was the “Independent,” by Berry & Tierney. One year marked the life of the Independent and then came the “Bulletin,” by Quinn & Tierney; “The True Standard,” by a joint stock company, and “The Recorder,” by the Mander Brothers. None of these publications lived more than two or three years at most.