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Post by jamesw on May 7, 2017 23:27:37 GMT
I posted this newly acquired letter on my Niagara letters thread, but thought it interesting enough for it's own page. The letter turned out to be too large and frail for me to scan on my little Canon scanner, but I found some images of the insides online, posted by the seller (not on eBay, but on a linked site. Thanks in advance to Carl for letting me appropriate them.) The show the inside pages, while the cover image is my own scan.      I've made an attempt to transcribe the contents for your reading pleasure. I was mistaken in my original post of this, in that I wrote it was from a father. In fact it is from a mother, Elizabeth Neil of Thorold U.C. to her son James Neil who had moved to Iowa Territory in the US. There seemed to be no punctuation, so I've marked the ends of sentences where it seemed natural. Where I could not make out a word or words I put in asterisks (****). And some surnames were guessed at and I've sic'd incorrect spelling. I find the last paragraph confusing - did Mrs Neil write this or did someone else write it for her? And there seems a section on the flap, left of the cover written by someone else. The hand writing is cruder and it seems to be signed by someone else. Possibly Jane? Any, see what you think. |
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Post by jamesw on May 7, 2017 23:28:21 GMT
Thorold August 2 1846
My Dear Son
We received your welcome letter safely but not till it had been a good while delayed on the way. We had a letter from Mary telling us she had heard from you before we got yours, we were very glade (sic) to hear that you got in safely to Long Grove and likewise in good health. May you still be enjoying the same blessing. I am sorry to hear that you are disapointed (sic) in your expectations of the place. I hope however that you like it better by this time and that your next letter will bring me better encouragement to come and join you for I am determined to come this fall whether Robert does or not. So it will be better for you to make some preparations for us soon as you can find it possible. You say your (sic) not homesick but I am homesick for you and I cannot stay here away from you and Mary so you must get a house up that you think will be large enough for ourselves and if Robert does come then we can put safe within it till he can have a better built. I am anxious to come as soon as possible. I cannot go down to Robert’s. The passage will be quite enough for me to come to Iowa Territory. Besides it is no use to go to any more expenses than can be helped and you know you did not leave me any money. Now I will depend on you doing all you can for us and then if Robert does not come also this fall there will be no disapointments and if he does come I am sure he will be satisfied with what ever you may have done.
Isobel is quite well now and is looking a great deal better than when you saw her and better than she did when she was over at the **** last summer and is often talking about you and wondering how you are getting along. She always calls you poor little Jim, the baby is (a) fine fellow. He is so good and he is almost as heavy as James. They call him Joel after William’s father. Mother told them to name him so for I thought it was right and William is also. James gets along pretty well but not so well as the baby. He says Uncle James gone gone in the schooner. William’s health is very good and he is getting on the pretty well. You must write to himself and bid him send you the news and what he thinks about going west. He does not think he will go this fall but is not sure when he may goor whither he will go or not. He has not had a horse of his own since we came **** now and now he may be able to get along better. Mrs Stone’s (?) youngest child is very ill and they have gone to the mountain to see it as it is not expected to live and so I thought I would rather stay at home and write this letter from Mother to you as I never have any time to write unless on Sunday and now I am writing to you first chance. I hope you will get it in good time and that you will write me a letter even me myself O (?) my Brother and then I will write you one from myself. I stayed with Isobel till she was smart again and tehn I hired out but I can hardly say I like very well after being my own mistress so long. I have plenty to do and I have four cows to milk and I am going on the second month here. I wish sometimes I was back in Guernsey but I suppose I must have patience a while longer for Watson will not get his discharge till October as he had sixty two days time to make up and his relations are anxious for him to come down to see them before coming here. He says it will be just as I like but I think it would be too bad not to let him go and I will send him that word and I think also that it would be better for him to wait till January before he has his discharge and then by the time he paid his friends a visit it would just be nice in the spring when he would get here for I am afraid the winter might discourage him at first. But I am saying too much about him and you will laugh and say shaw. Jonny is going to school and is reading in the third reader. I think it a pretty it is good scool (sic) and he wants to begin to write. He bids tell you he does his best and that he is not afraid of cows nor horses now. I will not say how far it is true. When Mary wrote Mrs Thasson’s (?) family were all well. Mrs Thasson, Clarinda and Mary were gone on a visit for a few days. When I wrote Mary I sent Clarinda a few lines also and I expect an answer soon. Dear James I hope you did not forget her when you wrote for you know you said you would send something for her in Mary(’s) letter and I sent **** word it is quite true she likes you. I am sure of it and if you do not like her as well you must not give her any encouragement to hope you do for I think too much of her for you to allow her to encourage hopes that may never be realised yet. If your reguard (sic) is sincere may you never have cause to rue the day you first saw her. I should very well as some future day to call that dear girl sister. She has called me that already and I supose (sic) it was on your account. You see I am not afraid to put her name on paper and if she is dear to you do it to(o) and send a letter by post **** *** **** **** you can begin a corrispondence (sic) with her in friendship and you need not be afr aid of the consequences. She must be wooed if you would win her. She has too much spirit to throw herself at you or any one else. That is at least for this May a year to come. I will send Robert the word you spoke of. I have never wrote him yet but I will next Sunday. I have sent you a paper along with this letter. It will give you a little news perhaps. Watson gets them from home and I believe he sent the Reformer for you. I would like to say plenty more but I have no more room and my is also short and so I must close this letter now. Remember I have written this for mother. That is the reason it is in the imperitive mood. Now you must write soon very soon a long letter to me and send me a full true and particular account all about yourself and the place and the people and every thing you think worth while and to **** together and it will all come very acceptable to your sister Jane. Tell me how often you look at your Bible. I do hope it will not be hard for you to be a Christian. Isobel William Jane and the rest join in sending their love to you. May God bless you James is wish of you **** relations.
From your loving mother Elizabeth Neil.
I suppose Mary has told you this rock news Mrs Waggoner has got a baby at last. Meracle of meracles (sic). Anne ***** has got a baby. Harriet **** is married to Nick and plenty more I cannot tell you. I will not forget you message to Mary Kasson Boyles family all well. I like Sarah S**** and her husband first rate. I will say ***** at for sent you.  ?
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Post by jamesw on May 7, 2017 23:30:30 GMT
Hmmm. It doesn't seem to like one of the ladies names. It is being censored. I-s-o-b-e-l. Not so bad.
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tomiseksj
Moderator 
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,265 
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on May 8, 2017 12:48:37 GMT
Hmmm. It doesn't seem to like one of the ladies names. It is being censored. I-s-o-b-e-l. Not so bad. Sorry about that, James. When the list of censored words was entered, the "exact word" block adjacent to "s o b" hadn't been checked so any instance of those three letters appearing in succession resulted in the word being censored. I've made the adjustment and Isobel can now take her rightful place in history. |
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Anping
Departed
Rest in Peace
Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on May 8, 2017 21:46:34 GMT
I posted this newly acquired letter on my Niagara letters thread, but thought it interesting enough for it's own page. ... Are you able to explain what the markings ' Paid'; ' 10' and 4½ represent? |
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Post by jamesw on May 9, 2017 2:47:35 GMT
Absolutely Anping. I had mentioned this in the original posting of this letter on my Niagara thread... thestampforum.boards.net/thread/3181/early-niagara-covers?page=2...4 1/2 d cy (pence Canadian currency) is the rate from Thorold to the border at Queenston (which isn't really very far, in fact, because the letter had to go to St. Catharines (Catherines on the post mark) it took a rather round about route, but that's beside the point). Once over the Niagara River into Lewiston the US postal system took over and a rate of 10¢ US (for a distance of over 300 miles) was added to be collected by the recipient. PAID was crossed out because it referred to the Canadian postage, so by eliminating it, the US postage would not have assumed to have been paid. Make sense? |
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Anping
Departed
Rest in Peace
Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on May 9, 2017 9:20:57 GMT
I'm sorry I caused you to repeat yourself. Anyway, thanks for the reply. Another question I have; was it not possible to 'pay to destination' - or was there no convention in place?
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Post by jamesw on May 10, 2017 3:13:31 GMT
Please don't apologize Anping. If you don't ask, then anyone who didn't see the other post, such as yourself, wouldn't know.
There had been a postal convention between the two countries since 1792. At that time the Canadian Post office could act as an agent for the US Post Office, but not the other way around. The Canadian PO could collect postage due on letters from the US, and they even made a commission. Very profitable.
Eventually other agreements came and went and the relationship between two post offices grew.
An Act of Congress in 1845 reduced postal rates and established the rates mentioned above. In Canada, postage to the lines (the border) had to be prepaid, while the the US postage could be prepaid or not, as the sender wished. That covers the period of this letter.
In 1847 the first adhesive postage stamps were issued in the US, and eventually it was realized that it was no advantage to have Canada act as an agent for the US Post Office, so the Canadian Post Master General sent out a circular telling his postmasters that US postage was no longer to be collected. US stamps had to be affixed to mail and the US postage had to be prepaid. By 1849 a ratification of a convention between the US, Britain and British North American colonies called for postage to be combined into one rate.
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Anping
Departed
Rest in Peace
Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on May 11, 2017 2:03:14 GMT
Thank you for the explanation. I have always thought it strange that in many instances the receiver of mail had to either pay the full postage fee, or part thereof. This if course was widespread. But this must have been a severe burden on the poor.
I have read that prior to 1840 in the UK, in instances where no pre-payment of letter post was made (the onus was on the recipient to pay), an elaborate code was devised between regular co-respondents, to avoid payment of unaffordable carriage fees. Notations were made on the letter, which relayed a simple message. The carrier, or postman, then attempted to obtain the fee from the recipient after handing over the letter. The recipient would see the coded message and refuse the letter. The carrier was then left with an undeliverable letter with no payment for the service.
This I understand was one of the factors that influenced the introduction of the uniform penny post.
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