Folded letter to the General Post Office from R.M.C., January 1808
Collection: National Postal Museum
Object type: Covers & Associated Letters
Date: January 28, 1808
Place: United States of America
Medium: paper; ink / handwritten
Dimensions: Height x Width (unfolded): 13 1/8 × 16 1/8 in. (33.34 × 40.96 cm) Height x Width (folded): 13 1/8 × 8 1/8 in. (33.34 × 20.64 cm)
Topics: American Expansion (1800-1860)
Description: This is a three-page folio ALS to the General Post Office in Washington, D.C. regarding the continuation of the postal route in case of war at a future period. Written from Coopers Ferry, Gloucester County, New Jersey, on 28 January 1808, this is "a copy of a letter sent to General Post Office, Washington City." Signed "R. M. C.," likely Robert M. Cooper who replaced Postmaster Charles Cooper (1806-1810) at Cooper's Ferry in 1810. The Post Office name at Cooper's Ferry changed to Camden, NJ, on June 22, 1829.
"Respected Friend
I received thine of the 14 Inst and note the [?]
As there has been some change in the post office in one of the Eggharbor Townships, [?] dropping the post office at Baegain[?] Town and establishing one at Abssom, at the latter place there has yet been but little business done. The mail carrier informs me that there is scarcely a letter mailed there or one left for delivery but little as it is, it was the duty of the P.M. to have forwarded his accounts, etc. Joseph Sharp Esq. is the post master at that office but the business is done by a Deputy.
William Erwin is the post master at Weymouth Post Office which is on the route, a person fully competent for the office and I apprehend has forwarded his accounts before this will reach Washington.
John Donalds of Longacoming I heard was appointed P.Master at that place some time since, but I have understood he declines accepting the appointment and the letter directed for Look-a-coming[?] are taken out of the mail at the post office at Haddorfield; of course it is considered that there is no post office at Lonacoming[?].
I cannot account for the reason that Joseph Reynolds P.M. at Haddorfield[?] has not forwarded his account for I believe he is at home and in health.
There is I apprehend some misconception in regard to the information obtained respecting there being no return receive[?] at Washington from the Post Office at Coopers Ferry [begin page 2] at the date of my letter. The accounts current and account of mails received at and sent from that office were forwarded by mail the 5th Inst for the quarter ending 31st ultimo and at the same time a request was made for a supply of Blank Way Bill and other Blank, which have in consequence been received from Washington at the Post Office at Coopers Ferry some days before the receipt of thy favour, so that there can be no doubt of the receipt of the account, etc. from this place at Washington some time before the 14th Inst. the date of thy letter and there is receipts now in the office for every quarter preceding the last, since the establishment of the office at this place. In respect to information with regard to the route of the mail from this place to the Egghorbour Townships I apprehend it will not shortly be a profitable one for the United States, as the daily and almost hourly private conveyances which offer from Philadelphia to those townships and which affords so many opportunities to convey letters without charge, and the scattered situation of the inhabitants, all combine to make private conveyance of letters more common than by mail.
The Stage Driver who is the mail carrier, although he has the hundred dollar more for carrying the mail, to those townships than is paid for carrying the Tuckulos[?] mail, which is about the same distance from this place, informed me he finds it but a poor business on account of the frequent intercourse by private waggons, which carry packages at a fare very much under his price [begin page 3] which deprives him very considerably of one of the [?] of making it worth his while to continue the business after the expiration of his contract. I think this will continue to be the case while the inhabitants of that quarter follow their present pursuits of taking fish, [?], etc. for the Philadelphia market which continually keeps their wagon passing and repassing on the same route as the mail. Nevertheless as there is a port of entry at Townes[?] Point in Egghorbour Township, it will perhaps be to the interest of the United States to continue the route, more especially in case of a rupture with any naval power what ever, as it is in the recollection of many persons, that during the last war, Eggharbour was the way by which considerable quantities of merchandize were brought to Philadelphia by land, which no doubt will be the case again if a war should take place at a future period.
I am respectfully
Thy Friend
R. M. C[?]
P. S. Since closing the above I have seen J. Donalds from Longacoming who informed me that if no other person was appointed PM at that place before next spring he would then accept of the appointment but could not at this time take it on acount of his frequent absence from home.
R M Ce
Cooper Ferry Janu. 28. 1808
Respected Friend
I received thine of the 14 Inst and note the contents. As there has been some change in the post office in the one of Egg Harbor Townships, vizt dropping the post office at Bargain Town and establishing one at Absccon, at the latter place there has yet been but little business done. The mail carrier informs me that there is scarcely a letter mailed there or one left for delivery, but little as it is, it was the duty of the P.M. to have forwarded his accounts &c. Joseph Sharp Esq. is the post Master at that office, but the business is done by a Deputy.
William Erwin is the post Master at Weymouth, Post office which is on the route, a person fully competent for the office, and I apprehend has forwarded his accounts before they will reach Washington.
John Donald of Longacoming, I heard was appointed P. Master at that place some time since, but I have understood he declines accepting the appointment and the letters directed for Longacoming are taken out of the mail at the post office at Haddonfield, of course it is considered that there is no post office at Longacoming.
I cannot account for the reason that Joseph Reynolds P.M. at Haddonfield has not forwarded his account, for I believe he is at home and in health.
There is I apprehend some misconception in regard to the information obtained respecting their being no return received at Washington from the Post office at Cooper Ferry.
at the date of my Letter. The accounts Current and account of Mails rec d at and sent from that office were forwarded by Mail the 5 th Inst, for the quarter ending 31 October and at the same time a request was made for a supply of Blank Wray Bill and other Blank, which have in consequence been received from Washington at the Post office at Cooper Ferry. Some days before the receipt of thy favour. So that there can be no doubt of the receipt of the account &c from this place at Washington Some time before the 14 th Inst. the date of thy Letter, and there is receipt now in the office for every quarter proceeding the last, since the establish- ment of the office at this place. Information with regard to the Road of the Mail from this place to the Egg Harbor Township I apprehend it will not shortly be a profitable one for the United States, as the daily and almost hourly private conveyances which offer from Philad a to those townships and which affords so many opportunities to convey letters without charge, and the scattered situation of the Inhabit- ants, all combine to make private conveyances of Letter more common than by Mail —
The Stage Driver who is the Mail Carrier, although he has one hundred Dollars more for carrying the mail, between townships than is paid for carrying the Puckahontas Mail, which is about the same distance from this place, informs me he finds it but a poor business on account of the frequent intercourse by private waggon, which carries passengers at a fare very much under his price.
which deprives him very considerably of one of the means of making it worth his while to continue the business after the expiration of his contract — I think this will continue to be the case while the Inhabitants of that quarter follow their pursuits of taking Fish, Oysters &c for the Philadelphia Market which continually keep them engaged in passing and re-passing the same Road as the Mail Ninety miles as there is a post of 6 miles at Yorres Point in Egg Harbor Township, it will perhaps be to the Interest of the United States to continue the Road, more especially in case of a rupture with any naval Power what- ever, as it is in the recollection of many persons, that during the last war, Egg Harbor was the way by which considerable quantities of Merchandise were brought to Philadelphia by Land, which now doubt will be the case again if a war should take place at a future period.
I am respectfully Thy Friend R M Coe
P.S. Since closing the above I have seen I Donald from Longacoming who informed me that if no other person was ap d P.M. at that place before next spring he would then accept of the ap d but costs not at this time take it on account of his frequent absence from home
R Mc
A Copy of A letter Sent to General Post Office Washington City