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US Methuen MA 27 JAN 1840 to Boston MA. 6c due (under 30 miles). Green Methuen JAN 27 Ms CDS, green PAID crossed out, manuscript 6, wax seal. Stampless FL. John Tenney dunning letter to Seth Dewing. Debt of failed firm A. Durant & Co., post-1837 panic.
Summary
- Date sent: 27 January 1840 (from the postmark; the letter is dated 25 January 1840)
- Country of origin: United States
- Sent from: Methuen, Massachusetts (Essex County)
- Sent to: Boston, Massachusetts
- Distance: about 25 miles in a straight line, roughly 28 miles by road
- Philatelic details:
- Green circular datestamp “METHUEN JAN 27 Ms.”
- Green straightline “PAID,” crossed out by hand.
- Manuscript “6,” the 6-cent rate for a single letter under 30 miles under the 1825 rate act. Because the PAID was cancelled, the 6 cents was collected from the recipient.
- Red wax seal remnant with a seal tear.
- Recipient’s docket “John Tenney Jany 25. 1840 Feby 4. 1840,” probably recording the date of the letter and the date it was answered or settled.
- Pencil “Feb 4” on the letter, and pencil calculations on the back.
- Stampless FL.
- Sender: John Tenney of Methuen. The Tenney family was prominent in Methuen, and he may have been John Tenney, a Methuen lawyer, though the letter alone does not confirm this.
- Receiver: Mr. Seth Dewing of Boston, apparently a former partner in A. Durant & Co.
- Other people named: A. Durant, of the late firm of A. Durant & Co., and Mr. Foster, apparently another partner.
- Historical interest:
- The letter asks for payment of a bill of $38.50, including interest, owed by “the late firm of A. Durant & Co.” It appeals to the honour and good faith of Dewing and Foster rather than threatening legal action.
- Many firms failed in the depression that followed the Panic of 1837, which lasted into the early 1840s, and creditors often had to pursue the former partners personally, as here.
- The docket suggests that the matter was dealt with on 4 February 1840, about ten days after the letter was written.
- A PAID marking crossed out and replaced by an unpaid rating is an interesting postal error. Most likely the clerk struck PAID by mistake and then corrected it.
- Genealogical interest: The letter places John Tenney at Methuen and Seth Dewing at Boston in January 1840, and names A. Durant and Mr. Foster as partners in a failed firm.
Transcription Inside letter:
Methuen Jany 25th 1840
Mr Seth Dewing
Dear Sir.
I write for the purpose of reminding you that my bill against the late firm of A. Durant & Co. amounting with interest to $38.50 remains unpaid. I think mine is a bill which you ought in honor and good faith to pay and I am somewhat at a loss to imagine the reason why you have not done it before this time, but I cannot but think, knowing you and Mr Foster to be honest & honorable men that you will speedily settle this bill.
Yours respectfully
John Tenney
Pencil on the letter (later note):
Feb 4
Address panel:
PAID 6
Mr Seth Dewing,
Boston.
Mass.
Docketing (written by the recipient):
John Tenney
Jany 25. 1840
Feby 4. 1840 |