Postal History of the Pease Family in America
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Postal History of the Pease Family In America This exhibit examines the postal history of the Pease family in the United States. Postal history examples illustrate the growth and range of the Pease family as it expanded from it’s early beginnings. Each item in this exhibit is examined based on it’s relation to the postal rates /regulations of the time, the author’s place in the Pease lineage, and the historical context during which the item was created. In April, 1624 the sailing ship Francis left England for the new world bound for the port of Salem, Massachusetts. On board were the beginnings of the Pease family in America. In 1692, Robert Pease and his wife Sarah would face 18 months in jail during the Salem Witch Trials. In 1797, Levi Pease would hold the first mail contract to deliver mail by stagecoach between Boston and Albany, New York. In 1851, Herman Melville Rockwell Kent would model Captain Whale Stamp Ahab after his real life captain of the Acushent Cpt. Valentine Pease For the next 16 generations the Pease family would flourish in America, follow- ing the westward expansion across the con- tinent. It’s members would spread to every state in the union and become part of the history of the United States. Postal History of the Pease Family In America This exhibit examines the postal history of the Pease family in the United States. Postal his- tory examples illustrate the growth and range of the Pease family as it expanded from it’s early beginnings. Each item in this exhibit is examined based on it’s relation to the postal rates /regulations of the time, the author’s place in the Pease lineage, and the historical con- text during which the item was created. In April, 1624 the sailing ship Francis left England for the new world bound for the port of Salem, Massachusetts. On board were the beginnings of the Pease family in America. In 1692, Robert Pease and his wife Sarah would face 18 months in jail during the Salem Witch Trials. In 1797, Levi Pease would hold the first mail contract to de- liver mail by stage- coach between Bos- ton and Albany, New York. Later he estab- lished a tavern on the same route. For the next 16 generations the Pease family would flourish in America, following the westward expansion across the continent. It’s members would spread to every state in the union and become part of the history of the United States. Early Pease Postal History Six Cent Rate, Collect The period between 1792 and 1855 is called the “Stampless Era” in US Postal History. Postage stamps were not issued by the United States until 1847. Before 1847 postage was charged by the number of sheets or enclosures and the distance traveled. This single letter traveling less than 30 miles from Middletown to New Haven, CT was charged 6 cents, payable by the person picking up the item, Obadiah Pease, in early April 1830. Obadiah H. Pease was born on Dec 1, 1798 and lived until Dec 10, 1877. His first wife was Mary Brew- ster, a direct descendant of William Brewster, who arrived in America on the Mayflower. Together they had two children, Mary and Josephine Pease. Obadiah Pease was a banker in New Haven, CT. Mary and Obadiah were married on April 28, 1830, just weeks after this letter was posted. Ten Cent Rate, Prepaid Town cancel hand stamp struck in blue. Prepaid postage in Lee, Massachusetts is indicated by the additional PAID stamp also struck in blue. Manuscript 10 indi- cates the postal rate for transporting a single letter sheet weighing less than 1/2 ounce for a distance greater than 30 miles but less than 80 miles. Ten Cent Rate, Collect Indistinct (attributed to Westfield, MA) town hand stamp struck in red. Manu- script 10 indicates the postal rate for transporting a single letter sheet weighing less than 1/2 ounce for a distance greater than 30 miles but less than 80 miles. Postage would be paid by person picking up the letter at the post office. Cynthia Pease was born Nov. 22, 1821 in Somers, CT. These two letters, written by her sister Celestia Pease, talk of Cynthia and Celestia both teaching school children. Cynthia would later marry a wheelwright and settle in Iowa. Five Cent Rate, Collect Town cancel hand stamp struck in red from Wilburham, Massachusetts on April 7th, 1847. Manuscript 5 indicates postage to be collected in Springfield when the letter was received. Postal Act of March 3, 1845 established the 5 cent rate for single letter sheets carried under 300 miles. Letter from Olive Pease writing to her older sister Cynthia, now teaching in Springfiled, MA. Olive Pease was born on Feb. 7, 1828 in Somers, CT. Five Cent Rate, PrePaid The Postal Act of March 3, 1845 established the 5 cent rate for single letter sheets carried under 300 miles. Single line circular Lee, MA hand stamp struck in blue on February 20, 1848. Hand stamped 5 and “PAID” struck in blue indicates postage paid in Lee, MA when the letter was posted. Horace (Harold) Pease writing to sister Cynthia, teaching in Ware Village, MA. Cynthia was the older sister by five years. Horace was born Feb. 10, 1825, just thirteen months after a younger Horace Pease died in infancy at 2 months old. Ten Cent Rate, Collect Additional 5 Cent Forwarding South Mankin, Michigan February 25, 1847 to Ware, Massachusetts Forwarded to Somers, Connecticut Manuscript 10 in blue ink indicates postage due for single letter sheet carried over 300 miles (Michigan to Massachusetts). Town cancel hand stamp struck in red at Ware, MA on March 12, 1847. Hand stamp 5 in red indicates additional 5 cent due for forwarding to Somers, Connecticut. Manuscript “For…” and sum calcu- lation at Somers, CT post office at pickup. F.W. Pease writing to “cousin” Cynthia Pease. “F.W.” is thought to be Flora Pease, her first cousin on her father’s side. Flora and Cynthia were part of the fifth Pease generation in America. Three Cent Single Rate, Prepaid, not over 3000 miles Postal Act of March 3, 1851 Postage stamps were not issued by the United States government until 1847. Using postage stamps on letters did not become mandatory until after 1855 (this letter could have been sent with or without a postage stamp). Faint Somers, Ct. hand stamp struck in red. Red cancel on 3 cent Washington stamp issue of 1851, paying the postage from Somers, Ct. to Concord, Ken- tucky on June 24, 1853. William Strong Pease (younger brother of Cynthia, Olive, and Celestia) was born on Jan. 6, 1832. He would move west at a young age (15 in this letter). William would serve in the Navy during the Civil War and fought on the Mississippi river. After the war he moved to the Chinese Camp in California to try his hand at min- ing. He and his father-in-law bought a claim for $3750, which included a four room house, where his wife Margret could watch the men at work mining gold. Three Cent Prepaid Single Rate, not over 3000 miles Act of March 3, 1855 Mandatory Prepayment, stamps compulsory after January 1, 1856 Faint Wilburham, MA hand stamp struck in black on 3 cent Wash- ington stamp of 1851 prepaying postage from Wilburham, MA to Am- boy, Illinois on April 9, 1856. Amboy, Illinois was laid out by the Illinois Central Railroad in 1854. Settlers gradually moved into the area until in early 1856 the population was just over 2000 people. In 1857 the State of Illinois recognized a charter for Am- boy and declared it a city. Manuscript Somers, Ct. cancel, dated Feb. 11, 1856. Franked with 3 cent Washing- ton stamp of 1851, paying postage from Somers, Ct. to Amboy, Illinois. William Strong Pease moving westward with the expansion of the railways. Willam is part of the fifth Pease generation in America. Three Cent Prepaid Single Rate, not over 3000 miles Act of March 3, 1855 South Glastonbury, CT hand stamp struck in black on 3 cent Washington stamp of 1851 design, posted circa 1858. The original stamp designs started in 1851 were reprinted in 1857-61 by Toppan, Carpenter Co. and released with perforations. Letter to Nancy Pease, daughter of Charles Pease of Glastonbury, Ct. Nancy was a member of the 6th Pease generation in America. Ten Cent Prepaid Single Rate, over 3000 miles Act of March 3, 1855 Mandatory Prepayment, stamps compulsory after January 1, 1856 Somers, Connecticut to Milpatas, California on December 16, 1858. Letter is franked with an early use of the ten cent Type III Washington stamp of 1857-61. William Pease followed the westward expansion of the United States ahead of the transcontinental railway. Per the letter he is “trying is luck” in the gold fields of northern California after crossing overland rather than via the port of San Francisco. In 1859 William would marry Margret Bill- ings, (from Somers, CT) in Toolomene, CA. ● Milpitas Ten Cent Prepaid Single Rate, over 3000 miles Act of March 3, 1855 Somers, Connecticut to Coluso, California, March 30, 1858 Letter is franked with the ten cent Type III Washington stamp of 1855 (without perforations). “The hordes attracted by the discovery of gold bypassed this area. As the work of mining gold increased, disgruntled miners sought other means of support. Some came to old Colusi and took up land along the River or in the foothills of the Coast Range Mountains.