Wade to Wilkins & Kendall

Letter concerning inheritance
from Baldock to Moreton in the Marsh, 1834.

Eunice Shanahan

The letter is addressed to Messrs Wilkins & Kendal Solrs. Moreton in the Marsh, Moreton in the Water, Warwickshire

There are two postal markings on the front which are the charge marks and the alteration from 7d to 10d: this is explained by the two on the back which are a horseshoe shaped undated name stamp for the town of posting BALDOCK, and that has been overstamped with a London general post evening duty date stamp of 15 Oct 1834. At this time there was not a cross post from Hertfordshire to Warwickshire and the mail would have travelled from Baldock, into London, probably via Letchworth the nearest larger town, and then out again on a different road to Moreton in the Marsh. Baldock was 37 miles from London and Moreton in March was 82 miles so together that would be 119 miles. This should have been 9d as that was the rate for 80 to 120 miles and then 120 to 170 miles the rate is 10d. But the mileage varies slightly over time due to different road conditions.It looks like the original charge would have been applied as 7d for the first part to London which covers a distance between 30 and 50 miles.

The letter is very easy to read, and concerns finance, Bonds and purchases.

Baldock
14th Oct 1834
Gentm
Wade to Smith
Thursday the 23rd will be quite as convenient to me to meet you at Stow as the day I had named & I will therefore do so.
I will be prepared with the Bond but it cannot be signed but by myself only by Thursday will my Bond be sufficient. Your mode of remitting the conveyance duty will do very well.
That part of the purchase money which is in London can be paid me by a cheque & if the other could be so arranged it would be preferable.
The second page which is not shown, continues
& most secure. Whose Bank is it in. I send you list of instruments to be handed over to you
Gentm
Your most obedt Serv
G.E. Wade.
On the second inside page of the letter is the list referred to in the first part of the letter.

Declaration that the articles dated 7 June 1740 are not in the vendors possession
Copy of the Inclosure act
Certificate of the marriage of Edd Saunders
Extract as to his burial
Certificate of the baptisms of Ed Saunders & Mrs Wade
Copies of the certificates of the burial of Ed Saunders Junr and of the marriage of Mr & Mrs Wade
Plain copy affidavit ward in Chancery by Mrs Wade that Ed Saunders Junr died Mrs Turveys declaration
Office copy of the certificate signed by the Commissioner as to the taking of the Wade’s acknowledgment.

There is a note on the outside written by the office of the receiving solicitor
Ansd 17 Oct
This detailed list shows how even at that time, anything concerning the law required a large amount of paperwork to show entitlement etc.

Reference: Great Britain Post Roads, Post Towns and Postal Rates 1635-1839 by Alan W Robertson

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