BC
Departed
Rest in Peace
Vancouver, BC Canada
Posts: 836 
What I collect: Worldwide USED up to the 1960's, later years from countries that came into existence after then, like Anguilla, Tuvalu and Transnistria.
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Post by BC on Jan 11, 2014 17:03:12 GMT
I the early colonial days prince Edward Island was divided up into lots, and these were further subdivided for settlers. The lot number was commonly used on mail. This cover I recently acquired is addressed to James Johnston Esq, Lot 56, Grand River Wharf. The "t" is omitted from Johnston's name, but I have seen a later cover addressed to him with the "t".   Prince Edward Island Lots Map: My mother's ancestors settled on lot 26, the Central Bedeque area, in the late 1700's.  Grand River, from an 1880 map of PEI:  James Johnston had a "lobster factory". I assume he made lobster traps.  |
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therealwesty
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Sorting my Small Queens
Posts: 331
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Post by therealwesty on Jan 11, 2014 17:23:43 GMT
Wow great cover, don't think I have ever seen a cover from colonial PEI with a PEI issued stamp! Love the maps too, very interesting look at the little province. I love that the Grand River map actually has the names of the families who own the lots!
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BC
Departed
Rest in Peace
Vancouver, BC Canada
Posts: 836
What I collect: Worldwide USED up to the 1960's, later years from countries that came into existence after then, like Anguilla, Tuvalu and Transnistria.
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Post by BC on Jan 11, 2014 17:38:17 GMT
Here are some of the divisions for lot 26, the Bedeque area near Summerside. My great great grandfather was Stephen Wright. The map is from 1885. No AutoCAD back then   |
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rod222
Member
Posts: 9,907
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Jan 11, 2014 19:12:20 GMT
Enjoyable Post !
"The Stamp Forum" is getting fantastic, quality posts of very interesting material.
I would encourage any onlookers, lurkers, or newbies to be comfortable in posting any common queries or common stamps as well,
It is all part of the fabric of collecting.
Don't be reserved, post away!
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BC
Departed
Rest in Peace
Vancouver, BC Canada
Posts: 836
What I collect: Worldwide USED up to the 1960's, later years from countries that came into existence after then, like Anguilla, Tuvalu and Transnistria.
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Post by BC on Jan 23, 2014 18:35:59 GMT
STUNNING EBAY FIND! A family heirloom! I just got this cover as a Buy It Now on Ebay. An unbelievable find! Major Wright was my great grand Uncle, the brother of my great great grandmother Martha Isabelle Wright Strong, son of Stephen Wright mentioned above. Major was the Bedeque Postmaster for many years in the late 1800's. You can see P.O. Bedeque on the map above. He owned a general store there (the post office was inside) and owned some acreage just south or Bedeque, also shown on the map. Here are the sellers scans, I just can't wait to get the cover!   I do not yet know what the embossed seal on the flap says.
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Zuzu
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Self-Proclaimed Black Belt in Google Fu
Posts: 768 
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Post by Zuzu on Jan 23, 2014 18:47:29 GMT
STUNNING EBAY FIND! A family heirloom! Wow! Congratulations!! |
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Post by stampgeezer on Jan 23, 2014 18:56:07 GMT
BC, that is amazing, I bet you were flabbergasted when you realized what you had!
Theron.
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BC
Departed
Rest in Peace
Vancouver, BC Canada
Posts: 836
What I collect: Worldwide USED up to the 1960's, later years from countries that came into existence after then, like Anguilla, Tuvalu and Transnistria.
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Post by BC on Jan 23, 2014 18:57:18 GMT
Thanks Zuzu, I am still in heaven! This snippet is from a giant 1880 map of PEI I found on this great website called www.islandimagined.ca Back then Bedeque was also known as Centreville Bedeque, or just Centreville. You can see Major Wrights holdings. |
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BC
Departed
Rest in Peace
Vancouver, BC Canada
Posts: 836
What I collect: Worldwide USED up to the 1960's, later years from countries that came into existence after then, like Anguilla, Tuvalu and Transnistria.
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Post by BC on Jan 23, 2014 18:59:01 GMT
I swear Theron, I was STUNNED!
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rod222
Member
Posts: 9,907
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Jan 23, 2014 19:57:52 GMT
Your joy is obvious  Great find Brian, that will be in the family forever now. Beautiful hand script on the cover. |
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BC
Departed
Rest in Peace
Vancouver, BC Canada
Posts: 836
What I collect: Worldwide USED up to the 1960's, later years from countries that came into existence after then, like Anguilla, Tuvalu and Transnistria.
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Post by BC on Jan 23, 2014 21:46:56 GMT
Another Prince Edward Island website, islandregister.com has a database of known island Postmasters. Here is what is listed for Bedeque. If you scroll down, you will see Major Wright was Postmaster from 1865 to 1875. By the way, Major was his given name. It had nothing to do with military ranking. |
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BC
Departed
Rest in Peace
Vancouver, BC Canada
Posts: 836
What I collect: Worldwide USED up to the 1960's, later years from countries that came into existence after then, like Anguilla, Tuvalu and Transnistria.
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Post by BC on Jan 24, 2014 2:57:03 GMT
More updates on Major Wright. He was born in 1830 and died in 1907. According to "Post Offices and Postmasters" in "Library and Archives Canada", he was Postmaster from 1875 to 1906. So he was in charge for 31 years! The information was hard to find because the site has Bedeque spelt with a G instead of a Q in error. Here is his photo, from the book "The Wrights of Bedeque, a Loyalist Family" (1978), my mothers family history.  |
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BC
Departed
Rest in Peace
Vancouver, BC Canada
Posts: 836
What I collect: Worldwide USED up to the 1960's, later years from countries that came into existence after then, like Anguilla, Tuvalu and Transnistria.
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Post by BC on Feb 25, 2014 22:06:15 GMT
Now that I have the cover, here is the embossed flap:  W. E. Bowyer, London, 84, Great Tower St. Research indicates W. E. Bowyer was a tea merchant. Fitting, since Major Wright ran a general store. |
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therealwesty
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Sorting my Small Queens
Posts: 331
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Post by therealwesty on Feb 25, 2014 22:30:44 GMT
That's an amazing piece of family history! It's amazing that now you get to be the curator for such a close and interesting piece.
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Post by nbstamper on May 14, 2020 21:46:49 GMT
 I thought this thread should be bumped up; it's been a long time since anyone posted on it which perhaps reflects the scarcity of pre-Confederation Prince Edward Island covers. Would be nice to see any others from members' collections. I'm always watching for them but rarely are they seen. |
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renden
Member
Posts: 8,711
What I collect: World W collector with ++ interests in BNA (Canada etc) and USA
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Post by renden on May 14, 2020 22:06:20 GMT
Do not have any !!
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WERT
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Posts: 1,062
What I collect: Canada and Provinces
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Post by WERT on May 14, 2020 23:57:07 GMT
I have stamps but no covers, and i lived in Summerside..go figure.
Robert
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