July 12, 1776

The ongoing war with Great Britain created difficult situations for printers who had to manage shortages of supplies as well as manpower. Henry Miller was in his seventies and relied on younger workers in his Philadelphia printing office. In this notice, he sought any man between the ages of 20 and 40 who could read and write English and German well but was otherwise unfit for military service and therefore available to work in the printing business. Specifically, Miller needed someone who could help keep the books for him, and for this job, he wanted references who could attest to the person’s loyalty and integrity. Miller also wanted a younger worker, a boy about fourteen years of age, who could read and write and, importantly, who came from respectable and honest parents. Clearly, Miller was not willing to hire just anyone, even during wartime.

Pennsylvanischer Staatsbote
Printed by Henry Miller

Wenn zu dieser Zeit, da der Krieg das Hauptgeschäft ist, ein dazu untauglicher Mensch von 20 bis 40 Jahren, der gut Englisch und Deutsch Lesen und Schreiben, auch so viel Rechnen kan, daß er im Stande ist ein ganz gemein Buch zu halten, in solchem Geschäft Unterhalt verlangt, der beliebe sich bey dem Herausgeber dieser Zeitung zu melden. Er muß aber unzweifelbare Zeugnisse seiner Treue und Redlichkeit haben.

Es wird auch ein Knabe von etwan 14 Jahren verlangt, von hübschen ehrlichen Eltern, der schreiben und lesen kan.