Princeton NJ to Chery Valley, NY folded letter
Collection: National Postal Museum
Object type: Covers & Associated Letters
Date: April 27, 1801
Place of Origin: New Jersey
Place of Destination: New York
Medium: paper; ink
Dimensions: Height x Width (folded): 3 × 4 7/8 in. (7.62 × 12.38 cm)
Credit line: Bequest of Joseph J. Geraci
Description: Italy and the Old Italian States are one of the most important specialties in the field of philately, with deep roots in the classic period. International mail systems first emerged in Italy during the late Middle Ages as city-states including Florence, Venice, and Milan established organized postal services to facilitate the exchange of diplomatic and business letters and documents. Italy pioneered the use of postmarks, stamped paper, postal treaties, and the creation of an established itinerary of post offices and post roads. Later, Italy became one of the main theaters of the Napoleonic wars as French, Austrian, and Spanish armies fought for domination of the Italian peninsula. The Italian states began issuing postage stamps in 1850, just ten years after Great Britain and three years after the United States, making it one of the earliest stamp-issuing areas in the world. After unification, Italy became a founding member of the Universal Postal Union. Postal history and stamps from all of these eras are well-represented in the Geraci collection through high quality material.
Mr. Geraci also left substantial collections of archival documents and his research library of books, scholarly journals, and conference proceedings to the Smithsonian. These holdings together make the National Postal Museum an important center for study into philately of the Italian area.
1801
17
The Revd Eli H. Cooley Cherry Valley New York
21/54 after Sampson. V 50 from Mrs Hamilton to her brother.
1.75
175 Miss Estelle Sampson. U.S.O. from Miss Hamilton to her mother.
1801
17
The Revd Eli H. Cooley Cherry Valley New York
177 21/154 after Gampson. UDO
From Mrs Hamilton to her brother.
Providence April 23 rd 1841
Dear Brother
In your last letter to Isaac you complained of my not writing to you, I acknowledge I have been unreglement than I ought to have been in not writing to you but you know I have had many things of late to take up my time and attention, and I don't know why you should be more formal in writing to me than to Isaac, you have written twice to Isaac since you wrote to me and he has not answered either of your letters however, I have heard from you severall time through other means either by Isaac or Mr. Chenche; I was sorry to hear that sister Hannah and little William had been sick I hope they have entirely recovered I feel very anxious to hear from sister severall of her friends have enquired of me often how to know wether she is confined or not but I could give them know satisfaction I hope you will write to me very soon and let me know wether she is or not I heard yesterday of the death of cousin Ally Middleton if she suffered a long and painful illness with a cancer and died on sunday last she has left a distressed family of five children for their father is in such a strange way that he is not able to take care of them, he would neither see his wife after she was dead or go to her funeral on monday last Mrs. Finley mother of Mrs. Lockhart was buried in this place. Last week William came from Baskingridge I do not expect he will return again
The Revd. Eld. E. Cook Chung Oakley New York
2/15th after Januam. 1801 From Mrs. Hamilton to her brother.
Princeton April 23 rd 1801
Dear Brother In your last letter to Isaac you complained of my not writing to you, I acknowledge I have been inconsiderate, than I ought to have been in not writing to you, but you know I have had many things of late to take up my time and attention, and I don't know why you should be more formal in writing to me than to Isaac; you have written twice to Isaac since you wrote to me, and he has not answered either of your letters however, I have heard from you several times through other means either by Isaac or Mr. Chenock; I was sorry to hear that sister Hannah and little William had been sick I hope they have entirely recovered I feel very anxious to hear from sister several of her friends have enquired of me after her to know whether she is confined or not but I could give them no satisfaction I hope you will write to me very soon and let me know whether she is or not I heard yesterday of the death of cousin Hylas Middleton she suffered a long and painful illness with a cancer and died on Sunday last she has left a distressed family of five children for their father is in such a strange way that he is not able to take care of them; he would neither see his wife after she was dead or go to her funeral; on Monday last Mr. Finlay mother of Mrs. Lockhart was buried in this place. Last week William came from Baskingridge. I do not expect he will return again.
as they have got a new teacher their whom he does not like and we have a very good school here taught by Mr. Fisher I expect he will stay and go to him. he is in very good health and wishes you to write to him. our family and I believe our friends in general are well excepting William Pausen he is very ill with the pleurasy I want to see you all very much but when I shall have that pleasure I do not know I wish you could make it convenient to come and see us this spring or summer. do write to me very soon and tell sister she must write to me also remember me to John and kiss my dear little William for me. William joins with me in love to you and my dear sister I remain my dear Brother your ever affectionate friend and sister.
Sarah E. Hamilton