G.b. Pre-Stamp Letter With Markings (Request From Rod)

Ref our old letter, unfortunately all of the 45 letters were without the envelopes so we could do no work on the postal markings !

However, re Rod's request for a letter with other information on it - this is a Scottish one with some very interesting postal markings on it. The address panel is:-
P. Campbell Esqr of Princess Street, Dumfries

Care of Mr Wilson Commercial Inn, and that has been crossed out and the word Cavens written above it and underlined. This re-direction appears to be because of the written instruction on the side of the address panel, 'in absence to be forwarded'.



The postal markings (Fig.1) dumf1.jpg

show the journey of the letter, beginning with:

1) Boxed No.3 from one of the Edinburgh Penny Post receiving offices;

2) Edinburgh circular date stamp for Oct 29th 1831;

3) Additional Halfpenny Figure 18, type IIa, size 18 x 14, recorded in use 10.6.1829 to 11.8.1836;

4) Manuscript charge 8 re-directed. Dumfries is 340 miles from London Edinburgh is 396 from London so the difference would be 56 miles. The rate at that time was 8d for between 50 to 80 miles;

5) Dumfries date stamp 3 line DUMFRIES 30 Oct 1831 and identifying letter M;

6) DUMFRIES PENNY POST two-line unboxed name stamp applied at the delivery office.

Now to the letter which has a lot of interesting snippets of information. The transcription is as the letter is written, with abbreviations and some odd spelling. It was written from Edinburgh, but this is the only word I cannot read in the letter – the name of the street .

(Fig.2 first page of the letter)




2 <Mitrle?> St

Oct 29th Saturday



My dear Brother

I received your letter of the 26th and now have it in my power to inform you respecting Philadelphia's times as she last night had her Father's letter by the 'Anacreon' which had arrived on the 25th. The time of sailing again her Father says will not be more than 15 or 16 days after arrival. She therefore proposes leaving this about the end of next week Friday or Saturday. One of her Aunts would gladly have given her a convoy but it is not quite convenient for either of them. We would be glad she could have a rest at Carlyle as we think it might be too far for her the whole journey at once."

Note: The 'Anacreon' was a vessel which took immigrants to America. There is a listing on the internet of the passengers going to Norfolk and Portsmouth in Virginia, in June 1830. It was a copper-sheathed ship built in New Brunswick, Canada, in 1824 by
Robert Ellis. It was 427 tonnes and in 1830 was owned by Evans Co. The captain is listed as J. Lenox. It left from Liverpool.

So for 'Philly' in this letter to get to Liverpool from Dumfries, she would have had to travel from Dumfries through to Gretna Green then to Carlisle, and then the day long journey to Liverpool. Her aunt is obviously concerned about Philly's journey, and is looking to find fellow travellers for her.

"Mrs Dr. James Wood very kindly proposed applying to Mr Cowans family, the paper manufacturer, if they know of any travellers going that way & now we know the time other friends will be making similar enquiries."

Note: The Cowans family were very well known, and they had contacts in Liverpool. I have a letter concerning them, which will be the subject of a later article.

"I am not yet informed what money may be requisite for Philly's passage which with her journey will be her cheif expense. My brother sent a bill for L100 which becomes due in Dec 18th to it he refers for the supply necessary for her.

If convenient for you I woul'd draw upon you for L100 - Williams say the money from that should be due by this time. If so I wd draw from that source."


Note: That is the financial side of things under control, so she continues with family news.

"My sister and I feel quite as you wish, we have been very happy with the young people so little while together. We desire to commit all our cares to God trusting that all shall be well.

Philadelphia shews a most dutiful resolution & I have no doubt she will find her comforts in the affectionate discharge of her duty to her parent. The three sisters had a most seasonable exchange this morning by a letter from Adam dated 27th May it is written on his passage to Surat & sent from that place - an afternoon in Cumberland Street never produced a finer flow of spirit as well gay as serious. He had recd letters from Edwd by Mr & Mrs Kinsie."


Note: I was surprised that their young relative should have gone to Surat, at this time, but it had been a thriving place in the Gujarat state, west-central India, which became the emporium of India, exporting cloth and gold. Its major industries were textile manufacture and shipbuilding. The British established their first Indian factory (trading post) at Surat in 1612. By the mid-19th century Surat was a stagnant city of 80,000 inhabitants. It prospered again with the opening of India's railways. The ancient art of manufacturing fine muslin was revived, and Surat's cottons, silks, brocades, and objects of gold and silver have become famous.

She then finishes the letter with family health details :

"I am happy to say my sister continues better indeed I may say nearly well. We had a fine walk to buy provisions for Philly - we did send for Mr Ball as soon as the complaint gave alarm and it was by his advice we were directed. Dr. Wood says Philly will not suffer from the voyage she is free from her consumption.

Shall we have the pleasure of seeing you before Philly goes, we can promise you a room & bed commodious & Philly reminds you of a promise or something of the kind to spend a Christmas at Norfolk."

Then written on the side

"My dear Bro excuse the inaccuracies of this & my former letter - all this family join me in affectionate regards to you and David & I am dear Brother your affectionate sister

P Adie."

A letter like this has an appeal for different people. Initially it would be of interest to postal historians, but nowadays there is such an upsurge in family history that genealogists would be interested as well. I am very surprised at the increase in the number of postal history items that are now becoming available on the internet, compared to just 5 years ago. The last time I looked on the e-bay site there were thousands of items for sale, and the prices have risen as a result. This increase in interest (and values!) has to be good for our hobby.

Sources: Immigration Ships Transcription Guild, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Alan Robertson's 'Great Britain Post Roads Post Towns and Postal Rates 1635-1839', Hodgson & Sedgewick Scottish Add ½d Mail Tax.

Hope this was of some interest
Regards
Eunice and Ron.

This has to be a first for SCF Ron (and Eunice)
Bravo!
Hopefully your work shall remain in the public domain
for a long time, and assist other students of pre stamp
postal history.
Fascinating stuff.
Alas, the broadcasting of this stuff, as you say
increases the demand and price, so common collectors
don't have the wherewithall to collect the stuff.
But with afficianados like yourself, it is in good hands.

I have a huge brick of a tome, that requires a fork lift
to lift it, called "Chronical of the 20th Century"
It is great to put occurences in perspective of the
times they occured.
I just wish I had one for the 19th Century.

Surat in 1831, now that would have been something.

BTW: this just shows how radical and exciting
Rowland hill's penny postage must have been in 1840
8d to go 56 miles! in 1831

Eunice and Ron, thanks for posting the scans of the letter and for giving us a peek into life during the early 1800s.

Hi All,
Eunice enjoys researching and writing up these letters and we will probably post one a month or so if there is interest in them.

As Rod avers, broadcasting the information increases awareness and therefore reflects in prices too.
However, this is so for many things and the way the prices of postal history and stamps are going shows that the hobby is alive and well, so that must be a good thing!

It would be nice to have a reference book, as you describe, for the 19th century because we find it is very hard to uncover
details of how the delivery of letters worked. We understand a lot more now but still come up with little nuggets of information
which manage to surprise us. Various routes for mails, the difficulties with coaches and so on lead to some fascinating stories.

Beware though - postal history can be addictive!

Regards to all
Ron and Eunice.

Hello Ron and Eunice,

I think your letter may have been sent from 2 Melville Street, Edinburgh.

Here's an old map showing the street in 1844:

Nigel C = Time Team
marvelous work Nigel
I wonder if Googlemaps shows the building
still standing?

Hello Nigel
Yes, you could well be right - many thanks for that and for the map, much appreciated.
Cheers
Ron and Eunice

P.S.
Are you, like Rod, and us, a Time Team fan?

Hi Ron and Eunice,
absolutely!
The time team dug the Isle of Mull yesterday
and found one of the earliest Monasterys in GB!
Amazing stuff, may have found the grave of a Saint as well.
Brings some history to some of the Jam Jar labels I collect
St Kilda, Iona and the like :)

Very nice letter description Eunice and Ron!

I try to add some additional info.

Nigel, very well spotted about Melville street.

From PO directory of Edinburgh of 1831:


And this an additional view of Melville street on a map of 1831:


About the Commercial Inn, here it is: (Dumfries)


Instead of Princess st, could it be Queen st ?
( or at least Quennsberry st )
( Map of 1819 of Dumfries )

A bit more about he person to whom it is addressed - P. Campbell, Esq. The "Esq." is a title which denotes that P. Campbell is above the rank of "Gentleman" and below the rank of "Knight" in the British nobility ranks. It, along with "Gentleman" are the most modest ranks, but still they are considered to be nobility rather than commoners.

In recent times in the US attorneys have unilaterally appropriated the title "Esquire" to signify they are attorneys, but of course this has nothing to do with people who are truly and historically entitled to the rank of Esquire and the use of Esq. after their names such as Mr. P Campbell, Esq. in this case. FYI, above a knight is a baronet, and above him is a baron and above him is a Viscount and above him is an Earl or Count, and above him is a Marquis, and above him is a Duke, etc. So you get the idea that an Esquire is across the line and into nobility, but at the next to bottom rung.