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Original stampless folded legal letter dated May 25, 1846, written in Mendon, Massachusetts, and addressed to Richard Farwell, Esq., a Harvard-educated attorney and respected civic figure in Marlborough, MA.
The letter is authored and signed by John W. Morse, who writes in a professional, attorney-to-attorney capacity. The content concerns legal coordination and witness preparation in Lancaster, Massachusetts, and includes advisory guidance urging Farwell to delay travel until they meet, indicating active case strategy and counsel.
📜 Transcription
Mendon May 25, 1846
Dear Sir
I received your favor
this day. I will see you Thursday
morning. I have seen the witnesses
in Lancaster (also Esq. came with
me) I think all is right
and will talk it over Thursday.
Yours truly
J. W. Morse
P.S. I think you had better
not go to Lancaster until
I see you. That will be soon.
📮 Postal & Physical Details
Stampless folded letter (pre-adhesive stamp era)
Manuscript address panel to Marlborough, MA
Written on laid paper
Period iron-gall ink
Original folds present
Age-appropriate toning and light foxing
Fully legible; no content loss
👤 Historical Context
Richard Farwell (1789–1853) was a Harvard-educated lawyer with documented involvement in regional legal affairs and infrastructure initiatives in central Massachusetts. The use of “Esq.” on the address panel reflects his professional standing and is period-correct.
This letter is a strong example of antebellum New England legal correspondence, showing how attorneys coordinated witnesses and strategy across nearby county seats prior to rail and telegraph ubiquity.
🎯 Collecting Categories
