American Revolution
Scarce Document and War of 1812 Postal Rate Cover
May 22, 1815-Dated, BOSTON, MA. War of 1812 Era, Stampless Postal Cover with integral folded Partially-Printed Letter To CASTINE ME., regarding Ownership of a Ship being Signed, "H(enry) A.S. Dearborn" as Port Collector, Fine.
May 22, 1815 Stampless Postal Cover with integral folded letter with a Red circular stamped BOSTON/MS, and Red "PAID" handstamp with manuscript "15" postage rate, Fine. This Letter is addressed to William T. Salter, at Portsmouth, NH. Cover has a scarce WAR Postal Rate being 10 cent standard postage from Boston to Portsmouth, plus a 50% War rate surcharge of 5c totalling 15c Cents.
The 1 page Document is dated at Boston, May 22, 1815, in which Joseph Haven of Boston, swears that the Ship "Mechanic" of Portsmouth, NH, was built in Barnstable, Mass. in 1811, that he is a citizen of the United States, and that he and Jane Salter, Administrator of the Estate of John Salter & Joseph M. Salter of Portsmouth, NH are the sole owners of the ship, and swear that: "there is no subject or citizen of any foreign Prince or State... interested therein, or the profits and issues thereof; and that the present master or commander of the said is also a citizen of the United States.
The letter sheet has wear and roughness with paper losses along the far right margin edge where the red wax seal was torn open. Signed by Joseph Haven, and also by HENRY A.S. DEARBORN, (1783-1851), as Collector of the Port of Boston. He was the son of Major General and Secretary of War Henry Dearborn, and he replaced his father as Collector of Boston in 1813, serving until 1829. A scarce document and War of 1812 postal cover.
.