US Salem MA 17 JUN 1824 to Andover, forwarded to N. Chelmsford MA. 10c + 10c = 20c due. Red Salem JUN 17 MS CDS, red Andover JUN 24 Ms CDS, Missent & forwd. Stampless FL. Essex Agricultural Society circular, John W. Proctor, Rev. Abiel Abbot. Topsfield Fair.

Summary

• Date sent: 17 June 1824 (from the Salem postmark). The circular is dated Danvers, 15 June 1824. It was forwarded from Andover on 24 June 1824.
• Country of origin: United States
• Sent from: Salem, Massachusetts (Essex County). The circular was issued at Danvers, next to Salem.
• Sent to: Andover, Massachusetts, then forwarded to North Chelmsford, Massachusetts (Middlesex County)
• Distance: Salem to Andover is about 15 miles in a straight line. Andover to North Chelmsford is about 12 miles.
• Philatelic details:
  • Red circular datestamp “SALEM JUN 17 MS.”
  • Red circular datestamp “ANDOVER Ms JUN 24,” with the town name abbreviated “ANDR.”
  • Manuscript “Missent & forwd” above the address.
  • “Andover” struck out and “N. Chelmsford Ms” added.
  • Red manuscript “10,” then “10” and “20” below it. This was 10 cents from Salem plus 10 cents for forwarding, 20 cents in all, collected from the recipient. Under the 1816 rate act, 10 cents covered 30–80 miles. The higher rate for these short distances suggests both legs were rated by the post road route, probably through Boston and Lowell, rather than the direct distance. That reading is tentative.
  • Wafer seal impression on the back.
  • Later pencil notes “1824” and “See inside.”
  • Stampless FL.
• Sender: John W. Proctor, Secretary of the Essex Agricultural Society. This was John Waters Proctor (1791–1874), a Danvers lawyer who was later president of the Society and wrote widely on Essex County farming.
• Receiver: Rev. Abiel Abbott (as addressed; printed “Abiel Abbot” in the list), named on the committee as the representative of Andover. Two ministers of this name were active in the area at the time, so his identity is not certain. Because the letter was forwarded to North Chelmsford, the addressee may have been living or preaching there in June 1824.
• Historical interest:
  • The Essex Agricultural Society was founded in 1818, with Timothy Pickering, former U.S. Secretary of State, as its first president. Its yearly cattle show and exhibition grew into the Topsfield Fair, often called the oldest continuously operating agricultural fair in the United States.
  • At its annual meeting at the hotel in Topsfield on 6 October 1823, the Society voted to form a committee of one member from each town in the county to choose a permanent site for its exhibitions. This circular calls that committee to meet at the hotel of Temple Cutler in Hamilton on Monday, 28 June 1824.
  • Agricultural societies were at the centre of the farm improvement movement of the 1810s and 1820s, which promoted better livestock, crops, and farming methods.
• Genealogical interest: The circular lists a leading citizen from each of 26 Essex County towns in 1824, many with titles that show rank in the militia or in public office:
  • Thomas Stephens of Beverly (chairman), Rev. Abiel Abbot of Andover, Col. John Russel of Amesbury, Thomas Perley of Boxford, William Greenough of Bradford, Andrew Nichols of Danvers, George Choate of Essex, Lonson Nash of Gloucester, Azor Brown of Hamilton, and Col. William Bachellor of Haverhill.
  • John Choate of Ipswich, Amariah Childs of Lynn, Asa T. Newhall of Lynnfield, Israel Foster of Manchester, John Trail of Marblehead, Stephen Barker of Methuen, Daniel Fuller of Middleton, and Samuel Newman of Newbury.
  • Wm. B. Banister of Newburyport, Col. Moses Newel of West Newbury, Thomas Gage of Rowley, Dr. Abner Cheever of Saugus, Samuel March of Salisbury, Frederick Howes of Salem, Jacob Towne Jr. of Topsfield, and Col. Paul Porter of Wenham.
  • Temple Cutler, hotel keeper of Hamilton, is also named.

Transcription

Inside (printed circular, signed by hand):

DANVERS, JUNE 15, 1824.

Sir,
At the Annual Meeting of the Essex Agricultural Society, Oct. 6, A.D. 1823, at the Hotel in Topsfield:—
It was voted, “To appoint a Committee, consisting of one member of the society from each town in the county, to determine on a suitable place for the permanent public exhibitions of the society, and to report at the next meeting.”
Also, voted, “That this committee be named by the President; and that the Secretary notify them of the time and place of their first meeting.”
In compliance with these votes of the society, the following gentlemen have been named to constitute this committee, and I have been directed by the President to notify a meeting of the same, at the Hotel of Temple Cutler, Esq. in Hamilton, on Monday the 28th day of June instant, at 10 o’clock, A.M.
At which time and place your attendance is respectfully requested.

Your obedient servant,
John W. Proctor (signed by hand) Sec’y of Ess. Ag. Soc.

Names of the Committee.

Hon. Thomas Stephens, of Beverly, Chairman.	Israel Foster, Esq. of Manchester.
Rev. Abiel Abbot of Andover.	John Trail, Esq. of Marblehead.
Col. John Russel, of Amesbury.	Stephen Barker, Esq. of Methuen.
Thomas Perley, Esq. of Boxford.	Daniel Fuller, Esq. of Middleton.
William Greenough, Esq. of Bradford.	Samuel Newman, Esq. of Newbury.
Andrew Nichols, Esq. of Danvers.	Wm. B. Banister, Esq. of Newburyport.
George Choate, Esq. of Essex.	Col. Moses Newel, of W. Newbury.
Lonson Nash, Esq. of Gloucester.	Thomas Gage, Esq. of Rowley.
Azor Brown, Esq. of Hamilton.	Dr. Abner Cheever, of Saugus.
Col. William Bachellor, of Haverhill.	Samuel March, Esq. of Salisbury.
John Choate, Esq. of Ipswich.	Frederick Howes, Esq. of Salem.
Mr. Amariah Childs, of Lynn.	Jacob Towne, jr. Esq. of Topsfield.
Asa T. Newhall, Esq. of Lynnfield.	Col. Paul Porter, of Wenham.

Address panel:

Missent & forwd
10
10
20
Rev. Abiel Abbott
Andover
N. Chelmsford
Ms

Pencil (later notes):

1824
See inside

Notes on terms:

• “Instant” means “of this month.”
• “Missent” means the letter was sent to the wrong post office and then forwarded to the right one.