1848 Ellicottville NY Stampless Cover Sarah Hotchkiss Cortland NY 5 Rate For Sale

ITEM DESCRIPTION BODYOriginal antique 1848 pre-stampstampless folded letter coversent from Ellicottville, NewYork, to Miss SarahL. Hotchkiss in Cortland,Cortland County, New York.HISTORICAL & POSTAL MARKS:This authentic piece ofearly American postal historyfeatures a clear circulartown postmark from Ellicottvilledated February 8, 1848.It carries a prominentmanuscript ink rate number5 marking the pre-stampdelivery cost.BIOGRAPHY & PROVENANCE:The recipient, Sarah L.Hotchkiss (1821–1911), was thedaughter of Samuel Hotchkiss.She is a directdescendant of the ImmigrantSamuel Hotchkiss, one ofthe original 1638 foundersof the New HavenColony in Connecticut.Fascinatingly, evidence suggests shelater married and separatedfrom Josiah Townsend, ashis 1876 cholera deathnotice explicitly refers tohim as a formerson-in-law of Samuel.This remarkable historical documentcomes directly from theliving estate of anotherverified direct descendant ofImmigrant Samuel Hotchkiss.CONDITION REPORT:The folded letter sheetdisplays expected antique agetoning, light wrinkling, andstructural fold wear commensuratewith its 1848 transit.The address ink andcancellation marks remain beautifullybold and highly legiblethroughout. Excellent New York.postal history piece.HISTORICAL TRANSCRIPT EXCERPTS:* On Passing Time: "Why,it was an age,a lifetime to methen... now each succeedingyear is short."Tragic Town Incidents: "EvanBlackman was kicked bya horse and livedonly two days."Sudden Passing Note: "Mrs.Joseph Robinson died suddenlyand two weeks after,Charley, their oldest child."Local Sewing Societies: "Wehave very pleasant sewingsocieties this winter... paya sixpence each... gettingquite a fund."The Sickness Report: "Janecaught the measles atschool and Abby tookthem from her... verysick... feeble yet."

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