US Lowell MA 15 APR 1851 to Lawrence MA. 5c PAID (under 300 miles) + ADV 1. Blue Lowell 15 APR Ms 5 cts integral-rate CDS, blue PAID, red ADV. 1 advertised marking. Stampless Env. Seth A. Heath courtship letter to Mrs. Abigail Hatch. April snowstorm, railroad.

Summary

• Date sent: 15 April 1851 (from the postmark). The letter is dated Sunday, 13 April 1851.
• Country of origin: United States
• Sent from: Lowell, Massachusetts (Middlesex County)
• Sent to: Lawrence, Massachusetts (Essex County)
• Distance: about 10 miles in a straight line, roughly 12 miles by rail
• Philatelic details:
  • Blue circular datestamp “LOWELL 15 APR Ms. 5 cts,” with the rate built into the postmark (an integral-rate CDS).
  • Blue straightline “PAID”: the 5-cent rate for a single letter under 300 miles under the postal act of 1845, prepaid by the sender. It is a late use of the 1845 rates, which were replaced by the 3-cent rate on 1 July 1851.
  • Red handstamp “ADV. 1,” applied at Lawrence. It shows that the letter was not called for, so its name was published in the post office’s list of advertised letters, with a 1-cent charge for advertising.
  • Faint pencil notes “CXS” and a partly erased figure on the back.
  • Stampless Env with the original letter enclosed.
• Sender: Seth A. Heath of Lowell. He had recently visited Mrs. Hatch in Lawrence and returned to Lowell by train.
• Receiver: Mrs. Abigail Hatch of Lawrence. The title “Mrs.” suggests she was a widow.
• Other people named: a Mr. P. (reading uncertain), whom the writer had not seen since returning, and the railroad conductor.
• Historical interest:
  • The letter appears to be a courtship letter. Heath hopes for an answer “in the affirmative,” refers to “proposals” he had made about her coming to stay at Lowell, and promises better accommodations if she wishes.
  • The letter was written during the hard spring of 1851. The trains “came in yesterday glazed with the white coverings of winter,” and the weather was “most severe for spring season.” Days later, the great gale of 16–17 April 1851 destroyed the Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse off Cohasset.
  • Sunday worship was interrupted by a fire alarm.
  • Lowell and Lawrence were the two great textile cities of the Merrimack Valley, linked by railroad. The letter shows how easily people travelled between them by 1851.
  • Because the letter went uncollected and had to be advertised, Mrs. Hatch may have been away from Lawrence, or perhaps slow to answer.
• Genealogical interest: The letter places Seth A. Heath at Lowell and Mrs. Abigail Hatch at Lawrence in April 1851, and suggests a courtship between them.

Transcription

The letter is transcribed with the writer’s original spelling. The hand is careful but irregular, and uncertain readings are marked.

Page 1:

Dear — (name left blank),
having a few moments of leisure I will consume the time vigorously. although whether advantageously or not we can better judge in the future. as for a decision on in the affirmative it would be accepted with the most exquisite pleasure and gratifycation. as for the negative. I will not once permit such feelings to exist unless through compulsion. they shall pass by like the idle wind and heeded not. do not think me striving to inculcate neither admonition. I enjoyed myself very much while at Lawrence passing off the time very agreeably, as I have heretofore when within the presence of your company. although my stay but short parting caused feelings of sadness. but yet reason should govern the mind with brilliancy (reading uncertain), and which I shall adhere to in hope of a more happy interview in the future. which I wish not to make myself believe we cannot have.
A word in regard to what was said concerning your stopping at Lowell I presume you thought it very

Page 2:

strange that I should make such proposals to you as I did. They were not such as I might have made pehaps and probably little or no inducement to you. but will give better accommodations if required by you. but let the case be as it will I shall rest with the expectation of having a pleasant season with you while you sojourn here.
We did not tarry in Lawrence over night but must surely say it was through the kindness of the Conductor that we did not.
The Cars came in yesterday glazed with the white coverings of winter and more or less seen here the weather being most severe for spring season.
I have attended Public Worship to day preaching about as usual though somewhat disturbed by the alarm of fire. have not seen Mr. P. (reading uncertain) since our return.
Please excuse my briefness in writing because of my speediness lest I weary your patience. delay not Abigail.

Yours Most Truly
Seth A. Heath
Lowell Mass
April 13 1851

Front of Env:

PAID
Mrs. Abigail Hatch
Lawrence
Mass
ADV. 1

Pencil (later note on the back):

CXS

Notes on terms:

• “The Cars” means the railroad train.
• “Sojourn” means to stay for a time.
• “Interview” here means a meeting.