Antique STAMPLESS FAMILY LETTER, Peekskill, NY

Pricing & History

Sold for
Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
Sold Date
Source eBay

This auction is for an antique (c. 1850) STAMPLESS FOLDED LETTER , written in part (2 pages) by Anne Mitchell and in another part (1 ½ pages) by her daughter Martha Mitchell Depew, both of Peekskill, NY. The letter was sent to Mrs. Dr. William Govan (Lucia) of North Haverstraw, NY. Ann Mitchell was the maternal grandmother of U.S. Senator and railroad executive, CHAUNCEY DEPEW ; Martha Depew was Chauncey's mother. Lucia Govan was Ann's daughter and Martha's sister. Lucia lived just across the Hudson River from Peekskill, but t was no bridge at the time and letters were the only way of communicating during the winter months when boats couldn't safely make the crossing. Indeed, Martha Depew's witty letter laments about not being able to visit her sister more often and wishes for some other way to cross the river: "I verily hope the aerial cure may be in successful experiment before my dotage, how I would laugh at row boats, steamboat & all that craft and on the "Ether Bend" pursued my peregrination according to my dearest wishes, without job or fatigue, only now and then a gentle undulation..." She writes about dreading spring housecleaning, Horace Greeley delivering a lecture on temperance at the Methodist church and Chauncey writing a speech for an Exhibition on "Love of Country". Of Chauncey she notes: "He is a perfect slave to read more

Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.

Flag item for content or copyright

If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review.

If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.