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Rhode Island Stampless
Covers & Letters |
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This is the Yet another
Stampless Folded Letter
(SFL)
in the collection that has what
appears like the 181/2
cent rate established by Act of Congress
on April 9, 1816, (effective
May 1, 1816) for mail traveling between 150 and
400 miles. The Postal Act of March 3, 1825,
(effective May 1, 1825)
increased the zone rate for 150 to 400 miles to
183/4 cents. Judging from the handwriting
of the script 183/4
on this cover; it appears that the same postal clerk applied all
of these markings. As stated in the cases of the previously
discussed covers, it is felt that the clerk knew what the
correct rate was in 1835, (10
years after the 1825 rate change)
and was simply lazy in his application of the mark.
(The actual road distance between
Providence and Rhode Island is approximately 174 miles which
puts it in the 183/4 rate zone.) See: January 1, 1835 SFL from New York to Providence |
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The letter was sent from New York by Reverend William Clark on May 6, 1835 to his brother Reverend John A. Clark - Rector of Grace Church in Providence. The letter was sent in reply to a letter from John, in which he evidently had told brother William that he was traveling to New York and was looking for a hotel or place to stay. This letter was written in May, which was shortly before Reverend Clark departed Grace Church to assume the position of Rector at Saint Andrews Church in Philadelphia. John Alonzo Clark was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1801. He graduated from Union College near Albany, New York in 1823 and after some additional training was confirmed as a Minister in the Episcopal Church on April 12, 1826. The Reverend Clark was an evangelical preacher and his fiery sermons placed special emphasis on the inherent sinfulness of man and the necessity of conversion through faith and personal acceptance. Clark traveled extensively in his first years; preaching throughout New York, Pennsylvania and New England. He also took part in missionary work in western New York State. He quickly gained a reputation as a powerful and eloquent speaker and in 1829, he was asked to assume the position of Assistant Rector at Christ Church in New York City. Reverend Clark moved to Providence, Rhode Island in 1832 to become the Rector at Grace Church and in 1835 he left Providence to become Rector of Saint Andrew's Church in Philadelphia. He also joined the American Tract Society in that same year. During the mid-1830s, John's health had begun to fail. He took a European Sabbatical from 1837 to 1838 in hopes of recovering his health, but to no avail and he was forced to resign from Saint Andrews in 1843. Reverend Clark died on November 27, 1843. During his lifetime, he was also the author of several noted works including; "The Pastor's Testimony" in 1835 and "Glimpses of the Old World" in 1838. NOTE: A return address including the notation Reverend William A. Clark indicates that the writer; John's brother was also a church Pastor, but doesn't indicate which Church.
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RI Historical
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Introduction
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Brown & Ives Letters
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