Help Sought For American Postmarks.

Philb, I consider mentioning Ogdensburg, NY but I thought that Brockville, ON was larger & closer and would be easier to find for the "Penguins" aka Ron and Eunice.

Ryan, Great pic!

Quote Can we read the missive anywhere Ron? Unquote

Herewith transcript....

To Robert Long in Morris Town

From brother James Purves in Scotland see map ref Lc Lasswade Loanhead

Lasswade Loanhead June 27th 1828

Dear Robert

I received a line from a person in Edinburgh named Enticol (?) informing me
of your being well and mentioning that Teachers were engaged by the month. I
do not understand what is meant by engaging Teachers. It is however little
information concerning the Profession of a Teacher. I hope to hear more from
yourself soon - The circumstances I have to communicate are many and
different. The first I will take notice of is of most importance in my
view - it is the state of your sister - you know I believe that I (J?) Hall
went to Buenos Ayres in Sept 1825 to work at a Senate House that was to be
built there.

He promised to remit money for the support of his wife and family - owing to
circumstances that I do not know he has not fulfilled his promise and no
word (except one) has come from him - you are well aware that she cannot
provide for 4 children and herself she lived in Edin the first year I was
here to see how I succeeded and as I have done so beyond expectations I have
brought them all here together - the year she was in Edin I think out of my
small income I gave her ten pounds now my school being much better than it
was I ventured to save a house rent - I kept myself and gave her all that I
saved last year. I do not think I can keep myself in the way I am obliged
to go - and do everything for her family almost - Suppose her husband has
not acted as he ought to have done she is not to be left abandoned on the
world's wide stage and doomed in scanty poverty to roam by us who are the
only persons she can look to in so adverse a time as this - if it was in my
power and I hope the time is coming when it will to be able to do
everything for her and her 4 fine little ones. I have given you a true and
correct statement (unknown to Janny for she would not like you to know)

As far as I myself know of her case and you ought to take consideration upon
her case and act as you think to be your duty to her between God and your
own conscience - and I hope the result will be good - she has a child been
long unwell who to all appearances is going the way of all the earth, the
rest are well - I myself am seldom well my leg has not got better yet - but
as long as I am able to go about I must do the best I can and we all ought
to be very thankful that though I want the leg I am able to provide for
myself and have something to give to her and them who need it - all your
relatives for few now you have are well - while I am writing Janny is
sitting in the room she has her best respects to your wife and you and your
daughter - give my most kind love to your wife and Ann yr daugt and to
yourself . I have many things to say but must stop

I am

Dear Robert

Your aff Brother

James Purves

unquote

On the left hand side of the address panel this paragraph

The other day B Newspapers came from Queenstown,

"The Colonial Advocate" is the name of it for the man putting in

6½ each and the person paying here 4 each -

If your place not be in S of New York send a few by the way of Quebeck

(This seems to be saying that the postage was 6½ for the person sending the
Colonial Advocate, and 4 for the person receiving it?)

Then on the other side of the address panel is another paragraph

Expecting word immediately - send word whether your place be in the

United States state of New York, or in British America

If it be in B. Am I will send you some papers to see our news

J.P

Thanks Ron,
what a story! that poor lass.
Illustrates how important the posts were in those days,
and the respect to which it was held.
Her husband may have died, the mail stolen, and goodness
knows what else.

Robert Long and his brother James Purves

Hi,

the 2/5 postage rate was calculated as:

+ 1/3 inland Edinburgh - Falmouth
+ 1/3 packet letter rate (January 1819)
- 1d inland reduction for letters via Falmouth (January 1819)

and this is LoanHead and Lasswade from a map of 1828: