This FL has a blue Taunton CDS with “5 cts” built into the postmark, a matching blue PAID, and the manuscript “No. 41 paid 5.” The letter gives detailed travel directions for a trip from Newark to Taunton in 1848. Miss Harriet Dean is told to take the 2 o’clock train from Newark and board the steamboat “Empire State” at Pier No. 3 in New York for Fall River. From there she is to take the slower “accommodation” train to Myricks and change to the cars for Taunton. It also explains how to check baggage at each change. The Empire State was a new boat that year on what became the famous Fall River Line, so the letter is a first-hand account of how its steamboat-and-rail service worked. That should appeal to transportation collectors as well as postal historians.

Taunton MA 24 JUL 1848 Newark NJ 5cts PAID Blue CDS Stampless FL Steamboat Rail

Label Text (about 265 characters)

US Taunton MA 24 JUL 1848 to Newark NJ. 5c PAID (under 300 miles). Blue Taunton JUL 24 Mass 5 cts integral-rate CDS, blue PAID, manuscript No. 41 paid 5. Stampless FL. Tho. Dean to Miss Harriet Dean. Steamer Empire State, Fall River Line, Myricks, baggage.

Summary

• Date sent: 24 July 1848 (from the postmark). The letter is dated Sunday, 23 July 1848.
• Country of origin: United States
• Sent from: Taunton, Massachusetts (Bristol County)
• Sent to: Newark, New Jersey
• Distance: about 190 miles in a straight line, roughly 220 miles by steamboat and rail
• Philatelic details:
  • Blue circular datestamp “TAUNTON JUL 24 MASS. 5 CTS,” with the rate built into the postmark (an integral-rate CDS).
  • Blue straightline “PAID.”
  • Manuscript “No. 41 paid 5” at the upper left (reading tentative), probably a post office account or box note. The 5 cents was the rate for a single letter under 300 miles under the postal act of 1845, prepaid by the sender.
  • Wax seal remnant, with a tear at the seal that takes out a word or two.
  • Later pencil notes “7.23.48” and “1848.”
  • Stampless FL.
• Sender: Tho. Dean (Thomas Dean) of Taunton. The letter reads like it was written by a father or brother.
• Receiver: Miss Harriet Dean of Newark, New Jersey. She is addressed as “H.” in the letter.
• Other people named:
  • Nat, who sent an enclosed letter, perhaps from his wife or from “Eliab” (reading tentative)
  • Thad (reading tentative), who was expected home
  • Old Doc Weston
• Historical interest:
  • The Bay State Steamboat Company began running steamboats between New York and Fall River in 1847. Its boats connected with trains of the Fall River Railroad to Boston. This was the start of the Fall River Line, which became the best-known overnight steamboat service in America and ran until 1937. The Empire State, named in the letter, was new in 1848.
  • The letter explains how to travel the route. The fast “steamboat train” for Boston left as soon as the boat docked, but Harriet was to wait for the slower 6 o’clock “accommodation” train. She would ride it to Myricks, a rail junction in Berkley, and change there to the New Bedford and Taunton Railroad.
  • It also shows how baggage checking worked. The baggage was checked in New York, then re-checked at Fall River for Taunton. The postscript warns that the boat had no baggage crate for Taunton, because the regular Taunton route went by Stonington. “Crate” was then the term for a baggage car or compartment.
  • Railroad and steamboat connections had cut the journey between New York and southeastern Massachusetts to a single night by 1848.
• Genealogical interest:
  • The letter places Thomas Dean at Taunton and Miss Harriet Dean at Newark, New Jersey, in July 1848.
  • It also names Nat, Thad, Eliab, and Doc Weston.
  • The Dean family was one of the oldest families of Taunton.

Transcription

The letter is transcribed with the writer’s original spelling. Abbreviations are written out, and uncertain readings are marked.

Inside letter:

Sunday 23 July 1848

H.
I hand you a Letter which came enclosed from Nat yesterday — s’pose ’tis from his wife or Eliab’s (reading tentative) — We hear nothing from Thad (reading tentative) yet — Old Doc Weston was here t’other day and said Thad would start 10 July but Doc is a bear & it is doubtful whether he will come this month, if at all —
I shall probably go to New York Wednesday night, but may not — If you do not see me you had better leave Newark by the 2 o’clock train Friday P.M. & take the “Empire State” at Pier No. 3 for Fall River — On your arrival at Fall River the steamboat train for Boston will leave immediately, but you will wait for the accommodation which leaves at about 6 o’clock, go up to Myricks & then take the cars for Taunton.
When you go on board the Boat at New York tell them where your Baggage is going & get checks for it — Take care & see a half hour before leaving Fall River that it is put in for Taunton & get checks again, giving up those you took in New York — All well —

Tho. Dean

P.S. Be particular & follow directions with your Baggage — There is no Baggage crate for Taunton in the Boat or Agent — They go via Stonington. But I think you had better come via F. R. —

Address panel:

No. 41
paid 5 (reading tentative)
PAID
Miss Harriet Dean
Newark
New Jersey

Pencil (later notes):

7.23.48
1848

Notes on terms:

• “The cars” means the railroad train.
• “Accommodation” was a slower train that stopped at every station.
• “Checks” were numbered baggage tokens.
• “F. R.” means Fall River.
• “Doc is a bear” may mean Doc Weston was gloomy or not to be trusted. The reading is tentative.