An Interesting Jersey Shore Pa. Land Draught

I found an old folded folded letter and plan on picking it up but the dial and corresponding information from the Stampless cover catalog has me a bit perplexed? Perhaps you can help me out some?

This is the sellers image of the front of this poor tattered folded letter.-



Here is the content. It looks to be about a survey or land transaction most likely from the lumbering industry of the period.-



Here is the CDS cropped out and manipulated by me so you can see it good enough.



Here is all I could find about the dial in the Stampless cover catalog but it seems to date from 1814-1844 and in the body of the letter/draught it says 1794 as the latest date?



Now what do think is going on here? Would that dial be period correct to 1794 or is it referring to another agreement?

The content most likely refers to the dates of recording of the land described therein.

The cover is most definitely NOT 1794 for a couple of reasons, namely:

a. Norristown (or earlier variant Norris Town), PA didn't even have an established post office until 1798.

b. More importantly, the addressee, Solomon Bastress (1788-1872), wasn't even born until 1788. If 1794 were the actual date of the cover, he would only have been 6 years old at the time!

c. The rate on the cover (12-1/2 cents) wouldn't have even been in place until 1847.

The cover is consistent with the 1816-45 rate period (12 1/2 cents was the single sheet rate for 80-150 miles); wt1's rate comment in (c) of the prior post is incorrect. There were earlier 12 1/2 cent rates as well.

By general appearance the marking and cover consistent with the early 1840s or late 1830s, and the earlier dates in the content probably stem from the fact that it is a copy of an early land record or other document. Interestingly, either this is a different marking or it reveals a technical mistake in the Stampless Cover Catalog listing; this one has the town name as part of the same line as the state and should be listed as "Norristown. Pa." instead of the slash, which denotes the state name at bottom.

That's actually very good info you've supplied there wt1. I didn't think that the folded letter was from 1790's just the red/orange NORRISTOWN PA. has it listed as known pretty early.

I'm actually still getting it and for that few bucks (literally) I'm saving part of my hometown history. Might be a neat story hidden in there too? So, about what time period would you put it at/near if you had to take an educated guess at it?

As to the date of the cover, an educated guess would be the 1840s. I say this because the addressee was a dyer and weaver by trade and later a surveyor. I would assume that the "Esq." following his name was likely referencing him in such a position, rather than during the time he was working in his initial trade. Of course, "Esq." was used rather loosely in earlier times, so my justification may or may not apply, it's only a guess.

On a side note, here's an excerpt from a 01-26-1965 article appearing in "The Express" of Lock Haven, PA, that outlines some of the history of the addressee:

That's a nice cover, although the name is misspelled. It should read "George and Charles Merriam", as in Merriam-Webster Co., publishers of dictionaries, law books, Bibles, etc.

According to Wiki, the company was established in 1832 in Springfield, Massachusetts, so the cover would obviously be dated after that time.

More here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Merriam

Thank you I was thinking late 1840's - 1850's perhaps?

Also, I found this on Wikipedia I thought you may find interesting- "..in 1826 the original name of Waynesburg was officially abandoned and changed to Jersey Shore."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jersey...Pennsylvania

The April 24th cover was sent between July 1, 1851 when the 3c rate went into effect and January 1, 1856 when postage stamps were made mandatory. Thus either 1852, 1853, 1854, or 1855.

Glenn Estus

I was just headed to your site (I forget things easily) too look for the postal rates and you beat me to it! THANK YOU very kindly! -Jeff

I was asked on a thread related to Jersey shore if I knew when the first Post Office was established and I didn't have the answer....until now that is-

A little more on Solomon Bastress...

He seemingly done a lot in his lifetime!

* served on the Continental Congress,

* was a scrivener

* a Burgess

* associate judge

* Judge

* Surveyor

* Lycoming County Represntitive

* Partners in a smelting mill up Pine Creek

* A Weaver

* Dryer (his earliest trade), Also (sort of redundant)

* an Amanuensis (secretary or copyist)

* Notary & Notary Public {and had a seal listed}

* Bastress St. in Jersey Shore, Pa. was obviously named after him.

Nice finds!

I wonder if the Norris Town was originally a document in a file in 1794. At the later date someone folded it up and sent it.

Would the type of paper give a clue?

Thank you littleriverphil!

@StampCrow- I think that the whole letter was composed in it's entirety in the 1840's based on his lifespan and his job title chronology. Thank you though.