By: Americana Stamps
lot # 2029 - U.S. Stampless U.S. 18th Century
1785 Stampless Folded Letter, Hartford to New York City, Carried by Stage, "By Mr. Brown of the Stage" Letter from Colonel Thomas Seymour, First Mayor of Hartford
Stampless folded letter datelined Hartford, October 10, 1785, addressed to Mr. Henry Seymour, New York with manuscript "Mr. Brown of the Stage" at bottom left. Jacob Brown was the stage driver on the Hartford to New York route.
The letter is signed "T. Seymour" and is from Colonel Thomas Seymour (1735 to 1829), first mayor of Hartford, to his son Henry. The writer acknowledges receipt of his son's letter advising of a journey to Kinderhook, New York, suggests the trip will merit additional compensation, recommends that brother Edward accompany him "if it was only to wean him from home," reports that brother William ("Billy") has written separately concerning Stephens, acknowledges receipt of tea, and instructs Henry to relay a message to Aunt Bitsey concerning a £90 note. The recipient, Major Henry Seymour (1764 to 1846), began his mercantile career in Philadelphia in 1780 and was the father of Thomas Henry Seymour (1807 to 1868), governor of Connecticut from 1850 to 1853 and United States minister to Russia from 1853 to 1858.
