STAMPLESS 1793 Letter/Document-ENGLAND>Delaware AMER (03/01/2011)...

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STAMPLESS 1793 Letter/Document-ENGLAND>Delaware AMERICA

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Sold Date: 03/01/2011
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Stamps

1793 Letter/Document

Written During Washington's Second Term!

Cheadle, England to Wilmington, Delaware

Letter Written One Week Before Washington Starts 2nd Term!

Rupert Leigh Writes American Canal Engineer James Brindley

Squaring Away Father's Estate -- Bankers in London Helping

-- -- NO RESERVE -- --

James Brindley (1745-1820) was born in England , and his father Joseph was the brother of the celebrated English canal engineer, James Brindley (1716-1772) . He was the first of six children: James , Matthew, Elizabeth, Susannah, Sarah , and Mary.

After apparently apprenticing under his famous uncle -- known today in Great Britain as the " Father of English Canals " -- young James sailed to colonial America , settling in Wilmington, Delaware , where he would eventually build, advise or consult on the following canal projects: Maryland's Potomac Canal , Virginia's James River Project , Little Falls and Great Falls canals, Pennsylvania's Conewago, Tulpehocken (Swatara Route) , and Swatara canals, South Carolina's Santee Canal , and the Susquehanna Canal in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Brindley knew and associated with future U.S. President George Washington (who worked as a surveyor and engineer), and Washington mentions Brindley by name in a letter. Washington wrote "... Mr. James Brindley , nephew of the celebrated person of the same name...possesses I presume, more practical knowledge of Cuts & Locks for the improvement of inland navigation, than any man amongst us..."

According to Delaware historical account, Washington even spent the night in Brindley's mansion during the Revolutionary War . Historical records detail Brindley's sympathy with the colonists , and in 1778 he took the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity , and eventually became a Second Lieutenant in Capt. John Garrett's Militia.

Brindley became a wealthy and prominent citizen of Delaware and was actively working right up until his death in 1820 at age 75. Although he never achieved the international celebrity of his more famous English uncle, his valuable contributions to early American transportation helped to build America and improve early American commerce in the first decades of its existence.

Rupert Leigh -- little is historically available on the life of Rupert Leigh. It appears he was the treasurer of the Cheadle Brass Wire Company , and apprently handled estate and private matters on the side, as evidenced by this letter.

Item Description -- Please Read CAREFULLY!

This is an original 1793 handwritten letter/document sent from Cheadle, England to Wilmington, Delaware . Cheadle is about 50 miles east of Liverpool, and just south of Manchester. It is written to American canal builder James Brindley (1745-1820) and is written by Rupert Leigh , a treasurer/accountant still living in England. It discusses Brindley Family money matters.

On the page that's addressed is a small brown "Cheadle" postmark, and then a second, fainter red ink stamp that is difficult to read, but you can see " 93 ." Some ink notes a tear on one border from red wax seal being broken, and also a nickel-size remnant of the original red wax seal.

The letter is addressed:

"Mr. James Brindley, Wilmington in the State of Delaware, North America."

The letter/document begin on the first (cover) page . The top half of the page is an account of expenditures from Brindley's account which is being overseen by Rupert Leigh. There are various notations for fees paid and interest earned. I will not attempt to transcribe this section here; you can see it above in the graphics.

The lower half of this page contains Rupert's message:

"Cheadle, Feb. 28th, 1793

"Sir-- Above is the statement of the money I have received on your account & you may rest satisfied that your Father's affair are justly & fairly settled. The Bal 239 (pounds) you may draw for at your pleasure & address your debt on Bills (?) on me ...