Rhode Island Stampless Covers & Letters
1817 Cover from Lloyds of London with Lloyds Seal
To Brown and Ives - Providence, RI - Via the New York Packet

(18 Cent Rate from Port of Entry - New York to Providence, RI)

Letter Affirms Brown and Ives as the agents for Lloyds in Rhode Island
(Scroll Down for Background Information, History and Full Text of Letter)

The letter from Lloyds confirms the appointment of the firm of Brown and Ives as Lloyds' agents in Rhode Island. It was sent via the New York Packet and then overland to Providence, RI. 

A small case was previously sent by Msrs Dickason, the Brown and Ives factor in London, via the ship "Galen," however the documents in the case were incorrectly filled out as stated in this letter.

The history of Lloyd's begins in 1688 when Edward Lloyd ran a coffeehouse on Tower Street in London.  Merchants, bankers, and seafarers assembled in Lloyd's to informally transact business. The coffeehouse became a popular meeting place for underwriters, who would accept insurance on ships for the payment of a premium. Edward Lloyd moved his coffeehouse to Lombard Street in 1691 and for a short period, beginning in 1696, he published Lloyd's News, containing the news of shipping movements and other matters of interest; this was the forerunner of Lloyd's List, first published in 1734.
 

 

Gradually, the underwriters at Lloyd's formed an association and in 1771 the first committee was formed. In 1774 the committee moved their operations to the Royal Exchange

Shortly before this letter was written in 1811, Lloyd's adopted a constitution which regulated admission to Lloyds more strictly.

In 1871 control over the affairs of the association by its committee was consolidated by an act of incorporation (Lloyd's Act, 1871), which gave it the power to make its own bylaws, to acquire real and personal property, and to perform all acts in its corporate name. By the act of 1871 the association was restricted to marine insurance. In 1911 an act was passed that allowed Lloyds to issue insurance of every description.

In 1928 Lloyd's moved to Leadenhall Street and, in 1957 they moved to a new building on Lime Street. In 1986 Lloyd's moved once again  to a new building adjoining Leadenhall Market.

Lloyds 5th September 1817

Gentlemen,

I beg leave to acquaint you that a small case was forwarded to you through your friends Msrs Dickason & Co by the ship Galen, bound to Boston which sailed from Portsmouth a few days ago.

The case was intended to contain your appointment as agents for this house at Rhode Island, with instructions from the Committee, but it has been ascertained that our appointment was sent to the agent at Aldbro??, and I imagine this has been forwarded to you. 

You will , however shortly receive your appointment regularly made out and in the meantime, you will be pleased to act under that which has been sent by the Galen and which you need not return as there will be no difference except the substitution of your names and residences.

  I am Gentlemen
Your Humble Servant
John Bennett Jr
See below links for further information: 
The History of Brown and Ives with Brown family Genealogy 
1789 Brown and Benson Letter from Champion and Dickason - London 
1834 Brown & Ives Letter from Amsterdam Factor
 
1852 Brown & Ives Letter from Baring Brothers - London, England 
Brown and Ives Family of Providence - Covers & Letters 


RI Historical Society
Introduction
Stampless I
Stampless II

Stampless III
Stampless IV
Stampless V
Stampless VI
Brown & Ives Letters
The Hazard Family Letters
Joseph Tillinghast
Free Franked Letters
DeWolf Family Letters

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