1778 Revolutionary War Ship Letter.

1778 SFL dateline “Londre le 11th Avril 1778” to Montreal. The letter was likely carried during a convoy under British Royal Navy protection to Quebec where it was marked “Ship 11 1/2” being 2d Stg (2 1/2d Cy) incoming ship letter fee plus 9d postage to Montreal. Although the 1778 Lloyd’s of London sailings are not available online (they are missing), this letter likely travelled in the convoy. This ship letter marking predates the tiny “fhip” marking used at Quebec from 1779-1780, of which there are two recorded, and priced at $10,000 each in the very old (1992) Canada Specialized catalogue.

This is the only Revolutionary War incoming ship letter with a manuscript ship marking that I have recorded. Stienhart owned three incoming Revolutionary War letters, none of which had a ship marking. (R)

Some interesting fact about the two people involved.
In 1759 Thomas Pecholier, the writer was naturalized by an Act recorded in the Journal of the House of Lords, Vol 29, p. 457. In 1770, Pecholier and others, petition the government for fishing rights on the Labrador coast.

In the Papers of Robert Morris, Cazeau is referred to as a Canadian refugee at the end of the Revolutionary War and Congress is involved in his claim for moneys for good collected for the US and destroyed by the enemy. This includes orders of wheat to US General Benedict Arnold, ships of rum for General Burgoyne for over $22,000.