Rhode Island Stampless Covers & Letters
1825 Stampless Folded Letter from H. Shoemaker - Newport, RI
To S. & F (Frank) Shoemaker at Philadelphia, PA
With May 5,  1825 Olive, Old English - Newport Oval
(Scroll Down for Background History and Text of Letter)

This stampless folded letter was sent at the 18^3/4 cent rate set by the Postal Act of March 3, 1825, effective May 1, 1825 for mail traveling a distance between 150 and 400 miles, (Newport to Philadelphia). It was mailed from Newport, Rhode Island on May 5, 1825, (only 4 days after the new rate took effect). This zone rate remained in effect until July 1, 1845. Previously the zone rate set in 1816 was 18^1/2 cents. The CDS is the Olive Green Old English Oval type with Outline Text used in Newport from 1824 to 1825. The American Stampless Cover Catalog adds $125 to the value of the cover for this CDS.

NOTE: The reason for the rate change was that during the early 19th century the Spanish Real was still in wide usage. The Real was equivalent to $1.00 in U.S. currency and could be divided into 8 bits, (pieces of eight). One (1) bit was equal to 12^1/2 cents and 18^3/4 cents was the equivalent of 1^1/2 bits.
(This is also the origin for the term 2 bits equaling a quarter.)

This letter presents a bit of a mystery, as Iron ore was mined in the vicinity of Cranston, Rhode Island beginning around 1766, but this supply was soon exhausted. I did find that a recent geological survey in Rhode Island had found massive amounts of Pyrite, (an Iron Sulfide) in the area around Johnston. Another possibility is Cumberlandite. The largest deposit known is located on 3.7 acres on a farm in Cumberland. (The area is known as Iron Mine Hill.) It is the world's only known site of Cumberlandite and was estimated to contain over 3,000,000 tons of ore and 1,000,000 tons of Titanium. A third possibility is that the land in question was "SALTED" by the "Capt." or someone else and the Shoemaker brothers were being taken in an elaborate scam, as I can find no further reference to any Shoemakers engaged in iron ore production in Rhode Island. In addition, other than the two above mentioned locations, Rhode Island is poor in minerals and besides granite and limestone, very little ore has been quarried  from the state. Cumberlandite is the Official State Rock of Rhode Island.

I couldn't narrow down which of the many Pennsylvania Shoemakers were involved in this business transaction, however, I did find that the family was originally from Germany and that the original spelling of the name was Schumacher. 

The Mr. Townsend referred to in the letter is most likely John F. Townsend a prominent Newport merchant who was born in 1778. The Governor that H. Shoemaker was introduced to would have been James Fenner, a three time governor of the state, (1807-1811, 1824-1831 and 1843-1845). James' father; Arthur Fenner Jr. was the first governor of Rhode Island after statehood (1789-1805).

SEE: 1751 Stampless Folded letter to Arthur Fenner Sr., (the grandfather of James). for further information on the Fenner Family.

The Complete Text of Letter Follows Below: