The Dubois Collection of Important Prestamp Covers and Postal Markings of British North America, 169 continued...

(Montreal to Edinburgh, Scotland, Jun. 20, 1776). Folded letter from Captain John Wight of the 53rd (Shropshire) Regiment of Foot datelined Montreal 20th June 1776” to his brother Andrew Wight to be left at Forrests Coffee House” in Edinburgh, Scotland, rare and early use of Quebec” double-circle with separate 22/IY” Bishop mark and 5/SE” London transit Bishop mark, rated In all 9” which likely refers to 3p inland rate to London and a further 6p to Edinburgh

VERY FINE. A SUPERB HISTORICAL LETTER FROM A BRITISH CAPTAIN DETAILING THE BATTLE OF TROIS-RIVIERES AGAINST THE CONTINENTAL ARMY DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

Captain Wight’s letter states: On the 8th of June the Rebels came to attack us at a small town called the Three Rivers, a very small part of the Army had only got landed some Companys of Grenadiers & Light Infantry with a few others of different Corps. On the first Alarm we was under arms in a twinkling, marched out of town & mett them in the skirts of a wood where during the course of the action a great many was killed. The numbers could not be ascertained & near three hundred taken prisoners with their General (whose name is Thompson). I had only one man of my Company killed, or rather died of his wounds and not a single officer touched. In short we have now drove them totally out of Canada. I was witness two days ago to St. Johns, as well as all the other forts in this country being in flames which was performed by the Rebels before they evacuated them. I am obliged to write this in a hurry on the top of a casket in the midst of noise and confusion.” He goes on to state that he had written another letter from his journey to Canada but misplaced it in his baggage--the letter was found and included with the letter in the lot 2011.

The Battle of Trois-Rivieres occurred on June 8, 1776, and was the last battle fought on Quebec soil. After their defeat, the Continental Army retreated to Fort St. Jean, burning the fort and any capable boats on June 17. They eventually retreated back to Fort Ticonderoga. (Image)

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Get Market Data for [Canada Montreal to Edinburgh, Sc]

(St. Johns Fort to Edinburgh, Scotland, Jul. 13, 1776). Two letters that were mailed together, the later folded letter (shown above) was used to send the earlier letter, both from Captain John Wight of the 53rd (Shropshire) Regiment of Foot, datelined Camp at St. Johns Fort, 13th July 1776” to his brother Andrew Wight at Forrests Coffee House” in Edinburgh, Scotland, clear Quebec” in double-circle with separate 22/IY” Bishop mark and 5/SE” London transit Bishop mark, rated In all 1N6” and 6”, the other folded letter (enclosed) was written at Sorel on June 10, just two days after the Battle of Trois-Rivieres, but misplaced with Captain Wight’s bags (see lot 2010)

VERY FINE. TWO LETTERS, COMPRISING A WONDERFUL FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF CAPTAIN JOHN WIGHT’S TRAVELS TO CANADA TO FIGHT AGAINST THE REBELS” IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR--CONTAINING REPORTS OF THE BATTLE OF TROIS-RIVIERES, TROOP MOVEMENTS FROM CANADA AND OF GENERAL HOWE IN NEW YORK.

The June 10, 1776, letter, written by Captain Wight at Sorel, gives an account of his voyage from Ireland to Newfoundland and reports, General Fraser..received intelligence very early in the morning of the 8th that the Rebels was in full march not many miles off from my village where they intended to march and burn it if possible. The alarm was no sooner given than all the Troops were under arms in a twinkling...” He continues with more details of the battle and reports capturing Brigadier General Thompson along with 300 prisoners. The July 13 letter mentions that an earlier letter is enclosed, and continues with, Preparations are going on with the utmost expedition in building Battows (ships) to carry the army across Lake Champlain in order to reduce Crown Point which the Rebels have at present in their possession.” Captain Wight goes on to state he expects it to take another few weeks and that he heard General Howe made a successful landing in New York. Complete transcripts of each letter accompany. (Photo Ex) (Image)

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Get Market Data for [Canada St. Johns Fort to Edinbur]

(St. Charles on the Sorel to London, England, Jun. 23, 1776). Folded letter from Charles Terrot datelined St. Charles on the Sorrel, June 23, 1776” and addressed to London, sent via Quebec, Quebec” double-circle with triangle handstamp and 5/JY” Bishop mark (no Canadian postage) and onward privately to London, SHIP-LRE” straightline handstamp (Robertson S-34, the earliest recorded) and 12/AV” Bishop arrival mark, manuscript 7” rate

VERY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE FOLDED LETTER WRITTEN BY A BRITISH SOLDIER IN SOREL DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR, IN PURSUIT OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY.

Charles Terrot (1758-1839) was a British Army officer who fought in Canada during the American Revolutionary War. He later served under Charles Cornwallis in India, eventually reaching the rank of General. A notation in his letter states, Mr. Allsopp Esquire of Capt. Howe, of the artillery at Quebec will know where Capt. Walkers brigade is & to forward letters. Charles Terrot.” At this point in the war, the Continental Army had suffered a major loss at the Battle of Quebec in December 1775, and sought to initiate a siege of Quebec. With limited support, modest reinforcements, the effects of disease and hardships of winter, the Continental Army began to suffer. With intelligence that British reinforcements were awaiting the winter thaw, the Continental Army retreated towards Montreal. This letter was written shortly after the Battle of Trois-Rivieres on June 8, where the Continental Army suffered another disastrous defeat.

Ex Steinhart (Image)

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Get Market Data for [Canada St. Charles on the Sorel]

(Longueuil, Quebec to Edinburgh, Scotland, Jun. 1, 1777). Folded letter from a British soldier datelined Longueuil, June 1st 1777” to Edinburgh, Scotland, bold strike of MONTREAL.PAID.” boxed handstamp and manuscript Pd. 9” at top left, Quebec double-circle with separate 7/IV” Bishop mark handstamp, DOVER/SHIP LRE” and London Bishop mark in transit, rated In all 10” which corresponds to 1p captain’s fee, 3p Dover to London and 6p to Edinburgh, few hinge reinforcements along folds

VERY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY KNOWN USE OF THIS RARE MONTREAL HANDSTAMP TO AN OVERSEAS DESTINATION--THE LETTER WAS WRITTEN BY A BRITISH SOLDIER DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

The Montreal handstamp is known used only in 1777, and all but this example are domestic letters. Ex Glassco and Montgomery (Image)

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Get Market Data for [Canada Longueuil, Quebec to Edin]

(Montreal to London, England, Oct. 22, 1785). Well-struck Montreal/Oct,r 22” two-line datestamp on folded letter datelined in Montreal and addressed to London, neat PAID*” with star and 9, Quebec” double-circle with 25/OC” Bishop mark datestamp on bottom flap, SHIP-LRE” handstamp applied upon arrival with manuscript 9” rate (double 4p inland postage plus 1p ship fee) and 30/NO” Bishop mark, cover with endorsement removed at bottom right (likely contemporary), Very Fine and rare combination of these scarce markings, ex Montgomery (Image)

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Get Market Data for [Canada Montreal to London, Engla]

(Niagara to Dunfermline, Scotland, Mar. 1, 1792). Clearly struck Niagara 1 Mar” straightline datestamp over backflap of 1792 folded cover to Dunfermline, Scotland, neat red manuscript American Inland Post 5N6” and PAID” handstamp, well-struck Halifax, N. Scotia MAY 15 92” split-circle datestamp (Jephcott 10, MacDonald 4b), red London transit and arrival Bishop marks, rated 2/-” for double packet rate and 3/2” further adding the double inland rate, few minor sealed tears and aesthetic repair around wax seal, Very Fine and scarce combination of markings, ex Montgomery (Image)

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Get Market Data for [Canada Niagara to Dumfermline, S]

(Quebec to London, England, Apr. 25, 1795). Folded cover to London with Apr. 25, 1795 docketing, clearly struck Quebec, Canada” split-circle datestamp with separate 25/AP” Bishop mark, manuscript via Halifax” directive, London Bishop arrival mark, rated To pay 2N” then crossed out with 4/-”, Very Fine and scarce marking, ex Montgomery (Image)

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Get Market Data for [Canada Quebec to London, England]

(Quebec to London, England, Nov. 18, 1799). Bold QUEBEC/DEC 13 99” two-line datestamp on bottom flap of folded letter to London, manuscript via Halifax” directive, London arrival backstamp, rated 1N8”, Very Fine and intriguing postmark on this packet letter, a similar marking was used in Montreal, but this is the only example from Quebec that we have encountered, a similar Quebec marking was introduced the following year with a date/month/4-digit year format, ex Montgomery (Image)

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Get Market Data for [Canada Quebec to London, England]

(River Ouelle to Greenock, Scotland, Oct. 23, 1801). Folded letter from Liveright Piuze datelined River Ouelle, Oct. 23, 1801” and addressed to Greenock, carried privately (no Canadian postage) but with Ship Letter Quebec” crown oval handstamp, similar red Ship Letter Greenock” crown oval handstamp and rated 4” upon arrival, endorsed per Juno”, small edge tear at top, otherwise Very Fine strikes, the sender, Liveright Piuze (1754-1813), emigrated from Poland and worked as a surgeon and apothecary, he served as a surgeon in the American Revolutionary War, having been captured by Indians and traded to the British who imprisoned him at Fort Chambly until his release in 1780, he then worked on British naval ships and later settled at Rivier-Ouelle, ex Steinhart (Image)

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Get Market Data for [Canada River Ouelle to Greenock]

(Quebec to Greenock, Scotland, Nov. 24-26, 1801). Folded letter datelined three times from Nov. 24-26, 1801 and addressed to Greenock, Scotland, presumably carried privately to New York (no postal markings) with manuscript Recd. & Forw. by your Ob. Servt. J.J. Astor, N. York Dec. 16, 1801”, red London Jan. 17, 1802 arrival marking (S” for Sunday mail), rated 1/10” and again 2/2”, Very Fine and interestingly routed cover, ex Montgomery (Image)

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Get Market Data for [Canada Quebec to Greenock, Scotl]

(Quebec to London England, Oct. 25, 1803). Clearly struck Ship Lre Montreal” crown oval handstamp applied in transit on folded letter datelined Quebec on Oct. 25, 1803 and addressed to London, sender’s ship-name directive p. the Ewretta, Capt. Paterson”, lightly struck Ship Lre Falmouth” crown oval handstamp, rated 1/2”, red London Dec. 12, 1803 arrival backstamps confirm year of mailing, bottom flap slightly reduced

FINE STRIKE OF THE RARE MONTREAL SHIP LRE” CROWN OVAL. ONLY FIVE EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED--THIS 1803 COVER PREDATES THE OTHER KNOWN EXAMPLES BY MORE THAN 14 YEARS.

This is the only Canadian marking with the abbreviated LRE” for Letter”. It is rare, and usually comes lightly struck and/or blurred. Ex Montgomery. (Image)

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Get Market Data for [Canada Quebec to London England]