1788 Letter, U.S. Transitional Period Mail - AMERICAN REVOLUTION, New London, CT

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

1788 Letter, U.S. Transitional Period Mail - AMERICAN REVOLUTION, New London, CT:
$1795.00

To coincide with America’s 250th Anniversary, this historic treasure is being offered for sale. This charming letter is docked: “E. Chg. // to S. Chg. // New London” and marked by pencil with an “X” by the mail carrier in Sept of 1788.
During the Revolutionary War, New Haven, Connecticut was the site of a major British raid in 1779, led by General William Tryon, which aimed to disrupt supplies and morale but was met with resistance from local militia and Yale students. New London - destination of this letter - and its strategic harbor, made it a target during the Revolutionary War. On September 6, 1781, British forces under Benedict Arnold attacked and burned much of the city. By 1788, New London, Connecticut, was once again a vital commercial and trade hub with an active port, having recently rebuilt from the British burning in 1781. It was a bustling center for transatlantic trade with the West Indies and other colonies, featuring a busy waterfront filled with ships and a growing population recovering from the recent war.This important survivor - a touching letter from Eliza to her sister Sarah - specifically alludes to the Revolutionary War: “..the dearth of insurances in the present state of things..” as well as “..the devastation of war clouded succeeding years - at present the depress’d state of business robs Newport [RI] of its charm..”. Eliza’s letter further provides insight into the landscape of personal life and societal trials during the period. Eliza’s script is neat and elegant. The entirety of this insightful firsthand account of 18th century America on period *fleur-de-lis crowned watermarked paper is clearly legible and is included in the listing’s images. *Benjamin Franklin, American Statesman and signatory of the U.S. Constitution, had his own watermark featuring a crown, fleur-de-lis, and his initials, which was used on his printed materials.
In September 1788, the United States was in a transitional period, a pivotal time with the Articles of Confederation still in effect but the new Constitution having been ratified by enough states to go into operation. The Confederation Congress in New York City made the official decision on September 13 to set the new government's start date for March 4, 1789, and named New York City as the temporary capital. During this month, the country was also preparing for the first presidential election, which would result in the unanimous selection of George Washington.
Brief Life History of Sarah "Sally" Channing:
When Sarah "Sally" McCurdy was born on 25 August 1762, in Old Lyme, New London, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America, her father, John McCurdy, was 38 and her mother, Anne Lord, was 32. She married Henry Channing on 25 September 1787, in Connecticut, United States. They were the parents of at least 9 sons and 1 daughter. She died on 6 September 1798, in New London, at the age of 36, and was buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London, CT.(Source: Ancestors, Family Search, LDS)
The cost to mail a letter from Newport to New London in 1788 was likely around 6 cents per sheet, as postage rates in the late 18th century depended on the distance traveled and the number of sheets in the letter. For example, a letter traveling 100 miles or less would have cost 6 cents for a single sheet and would have been paid by the recipient, in this case Sarah Channing. The distance between Eliza in Newport, RI, and Sarah in New London, CT, is approximately 90 miles, placing it within the 100-mile range for the 6-cent rate. Six cents in 1788 had the equivalent purchasing power of approximately $2.18 in 2025. In 1788 America, mailing letters was relatively very expensive, so it was primarily a select group of wealthy, upper-class citizens who could afford the service. This group included merchants, public figures, and sometimes their wives, who needed to conduct non-local business or maintain long-distance personal communication.This important & historically significant artifact was penned in 1788 during America’s infancy - it’s a priceless relic, a national treasure, and is available for its next steward.FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING