Rhode Island Postal History - 1843 New Orleans Cover to Isaac P. Hazard

The Hazard Family Letters 1832-1950
1843 Stampless Cover from H.R. Greene - New Orleans, LA
to Isaac P. Hazard - Peace Dale, Rhode Island

This business letter was sent from New Orleans, Louisiana to Peace Dale, Rhode Island at double the 25 cent rate (50 cents) established by the Act of April 9, 1816 and effective on May 1, 1816 for mail traveling over 400 miles.

According to the letter below there were three (3) bills of exchange enclosed with the letter and if the letter weighed less than 1 ounce, which it must have, as the rate for a letter over 1 ounce was four times the single sheet rate and a additional rate hike for each ^1/4 ounce thereafter. This letter was charged at the double rate rather than four times the 25 cent rate for 4 sheets, (including the 3 bills of exchange). Although the bills of exchange were not included with this cover; I assume that they were of the multi-invoice type (1 sheet), as on several other covers I've acquired, thus the double rate for two sheets. (SEE: 1837 Roland G. Hazard Cover & Invoice.) The cover contains a fairly clear New Orleans CDS (Circular Date Stamp) in blue to the upper left and the 50 cent rate at upper right, also in blue. As the cover is not marked paid, postage was collected from the recipient, Isaac Hazard.

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Letter

The letter and a short biography of Isaac P. Hazard and his brother Roland G. Hazard follows below:

New Orleans Feb 19th 1843

I. P. Hazard Esq.

Dear Sir,

Enclosed I hand you second bills of exchange of ???? W. Church, Josiah Real (two) and Sam Clarke. First of same terms having been already forwarded to the parties for acceptances. The last one I sent to Msrs G. H. Waldo by yesterdays mail to obtain Post and Phillips acceptance and forward to you at Peace Dale.

R. G. H. (This must refer to Roland G. Hazard - Isaac's brother and partner in the Peacedale Mill who evidently had made a trip to Louisiana to check on that end of the business.) went up the river (I assume this means the Mississippi River), yesterday, designing to return again before he goes up Red River. He bade me request you to protect all S. Roberts acceptances falling due in New York and he will remit to you.

Josh P. H. has gone up to Millikens, (See Note) and intends to see O. B. Cobb and others. Your letter or one from Peace Dale for him came to hand yesterday. I forwarded to him at Vicksburg.

Collections are very slow, but hope to be able to remit another bill soon.

Yours Respectfully,

H.R. Greene, Jr.

NOTE: I believe Millikens refers to Milliken's Bend in Madison Parish, Louisiana. Milliken's Bend served as the staging area during General Ulysses S. Grants Siege of Vicksburg. It was also the site of the famous battle involving the 9th (African American troops) Louisiana Infantry in fighting against Confederate Major General John G. Walker's Texas Division at which, although the Black troops lost over 35 percent of their force, they held the line and stopped reinforcements from reaching Vicksburg.

Isaac Peace Hazard, the oldest son of Roland Hazard and Mary Peace Hazard was born in Peace Dale, Rhode Island in 1794. Roland Senior retired in 1819 and Isaac and his brother, Roland G. Hazard took over the operations of the Peace Dale Mill in 1821. The two brothers ran a highly successful business for 45 years before retiring in 1864 and 1866 and handing over the reigns of the company to John N. Hazard and Roland's oldest son, (Another Roland). The operation of the mills continued under Roland's sons until around 1919.

Soon after Isaac and Roland G. took over the mills operations, they began making improvements; increasing the mill's capacities and facilities. They constructed improved spinning equipment, operated by water power and in 1828 they also added power looms. The brothers also built several additional mills in the area including the Carolina Mills in 1841 (See: 1848 Stampless letter to Roland G. Hazard for additional information on the Carolina Mills.) During the pre-Civil War period, the mills produced mostly course goods such as clothing for slaves, however the Peace Dale Mills became noted for their fine quality textile products after the Civil War, including cashmeres and shawls.