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Recently, it was suggested to me that philatelists (stamp collectors and postal historians) around the world had a number of early P.E.I. folded, stamped letters in their collections. These contain a wealth of information, and in many cases haven't been seen on this side of the Atlantic for a century or more. Mike Salmon, of Lancashire, U.K. has offered to help us gather the text of some of these wonderful letters, and to put them here, available for P.E.I. researchers. He has placed notices in several philatelic magazines to let collectors around the world know about this project, and submissions from collectors have begun.

If you have letters to share from your collection, or from your family, either mail me a photocopy, or transcribe them into your Word Processor, and attach the resulting file to an email to Dave Hunter - [email protected], so that it may be shared with others. Please mention all pertinant detail such as postmarks, type of stamp, etc. if possible. Each and every letter, no matter what the content, can provide interesting clues to understanding P.E.I. history.

This listing will include letters both to, and from P.E.I. It is my sincere hope that we will be able to find copies of letters written by P.E.I. settlers to their families back home in the U.K., in addition to those written to them.

• Letters to/from Prince Edward Island:
  • Letter to Capt. Thomas DesBrisay, P.E.I. from Theophilus DesBrisay, Dublin, Ire., May, 1769.

  • Phillip Livingston, London to father, Peter Can Brugh Livingston, April 26, 1770

  • Letter to Walter Patterson, Gov. P.E.I. from Unk., Nov 09, 1784.

  • Alexander Acheson, Surgeon's certificate regarding Phillips Callbeck, 1784

  • Letter from Peter McMahon to Dr. Charles Cready, Nov 24, 1784.

  • Letter from Walter Patterson, Gov. P.E.I. to the Commi�sioners For American Claims, 25 January 1786.

  • Letter from Robert Gray to Capt. Gideon White, Aug 10, 1787.

  • Mr. Patterson, to Mr. Hooper, Bedec, 1790

  • Letter from Rory Steel to Colin MacDonald Esqr of Boisdale, Oct 22, 1791

  • 1^st Letter from John Douglas, Scotland to his brother James, Comptroller of Customs, St. John's Isl., Jan 29 1794.

  • 2^nd Letter from John Douglas, Scotland to his brother James, Comptroller of Customs, St. John's Isl., Mar 08 1797.

  • 3^rd Letter from John Douglas, Scotland to his brother James, Comptroller of Customs, St. John's Isl., Sep 28 1798.

  • 4^th Letter from John Douglas, Scotland to his brother James, May 15 1802.

  • Dembo Suckils to Lieut. General Fanning, Jan 19, 1803

  • Letter from Alexander Stewart, Charlottetown to his parents, Isle of Skye, October 12, 1805.

  • W.M. Baker, Princetown to Ralph Brecken, Charlottetown, Jul 15 1808

  • John Cambridge, to Parker Knight & Bulley , England?, November, 1809

  • William Roubel to Editor of the Weekly Recorder, June 8, 1811

  • Paul Mabey to Alexander Howe, Sep 9th 1811

  • James Bardin Palmer, to Earl Bathurst, February 9 � March 22, 1813

  • James Bardin Palmer, to Earl Bathurst, August 27th 1813

  • Francis Garobbo, Market Clerk to Atty. Gen. Wm. Johnston, Esq., Charlottetown, Jan 12, 1814

  • Fade Goff, Ch'town to Messrs. Birnie & Son, Great St. Helen St., London, Mar 27 1815.

  • Thomas Wilson, Charlottetown to James Wilson, Fife Shire, July 9 1818.

  • Mrs. M. Palmer To James Bardin Palmer visiting London, June 20 1817.

  • James Bardin Palmer, visiting London To Wm. Le Page, Brig John, June 22 1817.

  • Neill Ramsay Lot 13, to Matilda Brecken, Chtn, Apr. 04, 1818

  • James Bardin Palmer To William Roubel Charlotte T., May 2nd, 1819.

  • John Cody of Rathangan, Co. Wexford, Ireland To Patrick Cody, Prince Edward Island - Sept 26, 1821

  • J. D. Haszard, R.I. to his brother George, P.E.I., July 26, 1822

  • J. D. Haszard, R.I. to his brother George, P.E.I., Nov 09, 1822

  • John Sutton, Ch'tn to John Young, Esq., Secretary of the Farming Society, Halifax, Feb 3 1823.

  • Letter from Margaret A. Stevenson to Robert Stevenson, N.B. about son, John, P.E.I., Mar 10 1823.

  • Letter from Matthew Thomas Reep, Quebec to George Mabey, Charlotte Town Oct 31, 1827

  • Letter from Matthew Thomas Reep, Quebec to Mr. George Mabey, Charlottetown, May 15 1828

  • J.M. Clark, Cape Traverse to Mr. Willard Broad, Miramachi New Castle 21 Jul 1830.

  • Samuel Green, P.E. Island to Mr. Willard Broad, Merchant, Newcastle Mirimachi 11 Aug 1830.

  • Charles Craswell for T. Hill P.E. Island to Mr. Broad, Merchant, Mirimachi, Jul 07 1831.

  • Brander Family Letters written 1831, 1838, and 1843, Third Pond, P.E.I.

  • Campbell & Cousins, New London, to Messrs Broad & Fowler, Newcastle, Mirimachi, 20 Dec 1831.

  • Alex Mc Donald, East Point to Messrs Broad and Fowler, Merchants, New Castle Mirimachi May 14 1832.

  • Geo. Thomson, Darnley Basin to Messrs. Broad & Fowler, Newcastle Mirimachi 20 Jul 1832.

  • John Lord Jr. to J. P. Collins, Colonial Sec'y, Charlottetown, 1832

  • James Thomson, Tryon River to his brother David, Dublin, Ireland - November 23, 1833

  • James Thomson, Tryon River to his brother David, Dublin, Ireland - March 02, 1833

  • Eliza Thomson, Scotland to her brother David John Thomson, Dublin, Ireland - February 27, 1834

  • Daniel A. Learned, Scotts Valley, Cal., to John W. Cooper, May 16, 1853

  • John Duncan, Rustico to his brother James Duncan in Scotland, Apr 01, 1836

  • Unknown to Mr. Samuel Mowets, Wortwell Near Thurleston, Norfolk, England, 25 Jul 1836.

  • Jarvis Family Papers - (3 letters) 1836-1842

  • Henry Shearman, PEI to his sister Marian Reynolds, England (7 letters) 1836-1843, and including one 1835 letter while planning his emigration

  • Thomas Burnard Chanter [1797-1874], Bideford, Devon to William Ellis, Lot 13, PEI

  • Edward James Jarvis, Charlottetown, to Robert Leonard Hazen, Fredericton, March 27 1837

  • Archibald Taylor, Mirimachi to his brother, Donald, August 28, 1837

  • James Thomson, Tryon River to his brother, David John Thomson, Nov. 13 1837

  • William Cooper, Dec 05, 1837

  • W. Underhay, Feb 10, 1838

  • Letter from G. Thornton, P.E.I. to William Wilson & Son, Tartan Manufacturers, Bannockburn, North Britain, Jan 03 1839.

  • David Haystead, to William Douse, October 09 1840

  • Duncan McLeod, Skye to Mrs. Malcom Ferguson, Lot 48 - Mar. 23 1841.

  • John MacIsaac, Ardnamonie to Archie McIsaac, East Point, 30th June 1841

  • Ellen (Coster) Robb, Fredericton, N.B. to Jane Robb describing a P.E.I. Visit, Sep. 11, 1841

  • Elizabeth Purvis, Dublin, Ireland to Ann Paterson Thomson, North Tryon, 30 Jan 1842.

  • Letter from Edward James Jarvis, Charlottetown to Mrs. Wm. Jarvis, of St. John, New Brunswick, November 22 1842

  • Letters to Ann Paterson Thomson, Bedeque Road, Tryon, Prince Edward Island, Sep 17, 1845

  • Letter from British & Foreign Bible Soc. to Henry Stamper, Charlottetown, Apr 17 1846.

  • Letter from John W. Cooper, Grand River Mills, to William Cooper, London, Eng., Feb 19 1847.

  • John W. Cooper to William Cooper, Feb 10, 1848

  • Peter J. Poole to the Examiner, 21 Sep., 1849

  • George T. Haszard to Mr. C. D. Strong, Boston, Jan. 08, 1850/1

  • Letter from Samuel Batt, P.E.I. to Mr. Dunavin, Esq., Arichat, Jan. 11, 1850.

  • Letter from Collin? Potts, P.E.I. to Mr. Marjoriebanks, Dumphries, Scotland, May 09 1850.

  • Letter from Alexander Beazeley, P.E.I. to Miss Nicholson, Thornton Pk., England, Nov 23 1850.

  • Letter from George Beazeley, P.E.I. to Robert Wornum Esq., London, England, Mar 24 1851.

  • Letter from Alexander Beazeley, to Miss Nicholson, Thornton Park, Near Berwick on Tweed, England, Jul 4, 1851

  • Second letter from George Beazeley, P.E.I. to Robert Wornum Esq., London, England, Sep 10 1851.

  • Letter from Geo. Lowden, Charlottetown to John W. Lowden, New York, Feb 27 1851.

  • Letter from Arch. MacNeill, Mount Vernon to William Sanderson, Georgetown, 25 December 1851

  • Letter from Malcolm Shaw to his wife Jean Auld Shaw, P.E.I., Dec __ 1851.

  • Letter from James Bowls and Son., Halifax to Henry Stamper, Charlottetown, Feb 23 1852.

  • Letter from H. A. Johnson, to W. E. Allison Esq., Solocitor, Louth, Lincolnshire, England Sep 14 1852.

  • Letter from George Beazeley, to Ralph Wornum Esq., Bedford Place, Hampstead Road, London Nov 22 1852

  • T. H. Haviland, London to Charles Stewart, Charlottetown, April 14, 1853

  • Daniel A. Learned, Scotts Valley, Cal., to John W. Cooper, Jun 08, 1853

  • Letter from William Black Wellner to George W Howlan. July 30, 1853

  • Letter from George Van Iderstine, Vernon River PEI to his brother John B. Van Iderstine in Tabusintac, New Brunswick Nov 10th 1853.

  • Letter from George Van Iderstine, Vernon River PEI to his brother William Van Iderstine of Tabusintac, New Brunswick, November 10 1853.

  • Letter from Daniel Flynn to John W. Cooper, California, Dec 05, 1853

  • William Black Wellner to George W. Howlan, May 04, 1854

  • Letter from William Black Wellner to George W Howlan. July 01, 1854

  • Letter from Patrick Gormley to the Chief Justice, July 03 1854

  • Letter from P.E.I. John Ings to Mary Jane Yeo, Jan 24, 1855

  • Letter from Alexander Van Iderstine, Murray Harbour PEI to his brother John Van Iderstine of Tabusintac, New Brunswick, 1853/1854.

  • William Black Wellner to George W. Howlan, Apr 14, 1855

  • Letter from Frederick Richard Goodman, Sept 15, 1855

  • George Wood, Dover, N.B. to sister Bethia Wood, Charlottetown, Oct 07 1855.

  • Peter McGowan, Lt. Col. And Staff Adjutant to Lt. Colonel Ramsay, & c, & c, & c, Dec 05 1855.

  • Letter from John M. Johnston, Cumberland Hill to Hugh Miller, Cromarty, Scotland, Jun 1 1856.

  • William Black Wellner to George W. Howlan, Aug 09, 1856

  • Letter from George Van Iderstine, Vernon River PEI to his brother John B. Van Iderstine of Tabusintac, New Brunswick, January 13 1857.

  • Letter from George Van Iderstine, Vernon River PEI to his brother John B. Van Iderstine of Tabusintac, New Brunswick, Sep 15 1857.

  • Letter from George Thresher to Eliza Brooks Thresher, October 17th 1857

  • Letter from Joseph and Margaret Hastings, to James Hamill, Montrose, PEI, Feb 04 1858

  • Ronald MacCormack to son John Archibald MacCormack, May 8, 1858

  • Letter from Bell Owen, Simonstown, Cape of Good Hope to Margaret Haszard (nee Owen), P.E.I., March 8, 1859

  • Letter from Bell Owen, Auckland, N.Z., to Margaret Haszard (nee Owen), P.E.I., June 24, 1859

  • Letter from George Owen, Auckland, N.Z. to Thomas Owen, P.E.I., July 13 1859

  • Elizabeth Ann (Cantelo) Binns to Bethia (Wood) Tweedy, Aug 06 1859

  • Elizabeth Macgowan (1798-1880) to Elizabeth Wood (1816-1860) 12 Apr 1860

  • Ronald MacCormack to son John Archibald MacCormack, June 22 1860

  • Letter from Rachel Arbing to Benjamin Brockhurst, 7 Elder Place, Brighton, May 2nd, 1861

  • Charles Clay to Hon. E. Palmer, 23 Nov. 1861

  • Civil War Letters:
    • Charles Elisha Braddock, Camp Bean, MD. to his Aunt in P.E.I., Oct. 4, 1861

    • John J. MacDonald and the 28th Regiment Mass. Vols. - Letters from the Civil War!

    
    

  • Letter from James S. Arbing to Benjamin Brockhurst, 7 Elder Place, Brighton, Nov 23, 1862.

  • Letter from Charles Palmer, Charlottetown to Hon. D. Beaton, Souris, Aug 24 1863.

  • Sarah BAGNALL, nee WALLACE Pakeha, off Cape Town to Mrs. Donald CRAWFORD, New Glasgow, March 18, 1864

  • Lemuel Bagnall en route to New Zealand to John C. Clarke, Cavendish, March 19th, 1864

  • Paper written by Margaret Bagnall regarding the Bagnalls resettling to New Zealand in 1864

  • Paper Regarding Islanders Resettling to New Zealand in 1858

  • John Knight, Souris to James Anderson, Esq., Union Bank, PEI, Char Town, Aug 16 1864.

  • James Symons (Fermoy, Malpeque] to his children in the U.S.A., 10 July, 1865

  • Robert Harris, to his brother, Tom Harris, Aug 20 1865

  • Virginie (Ledret) Littaye (1842-1918) of the Island of St. Pierre to her relative Charles Binns (1811-1890), 14 Dec 1865

  • Letter from P. W. Hyndman to Messrs. McAuley and Johnstone, Grand River, Apr 26 1866.

  • Edward J. Hodgson, Charlottetown to William Sanderson, Georgetown, Jan 3rd 1867

  • Henry Jones Cundall, Charlottetown to Captain John Orlebar, July 30, 1867.

  • Henry Jones Cundall, Charlottetown to Robert Harris, July 30, 1867.

  • Letter from Joseph Hensley, Attorney Gen'l, to William Sanderson, Esq., Georgetown, P. E. I., Jan 11 1869

  • Letter from "Civis" re: Dowey Memorial, to the Editor of the Examiner, May 03 1869

  • Robert Irving Price 1834-1919 to his uncle, Dec 03 1870

  • Vickerson Family Letters - A series of 13; 1861 - 1875.

  • Letters written by Malcolm Blue to his daughters in N.B. ca 1867 to 1871.

  • Taylor Letters, 1870's

  • A. Mitchell to Hon. Edward Palmer, March 28, 1872

  • Samuel Symmons born 1840 Cornwall, Great Britain - to his nephew in Great Britain, Febr 14th 1876

  • Rev. Alec Munro, to Malcolm MacLeod, Omaha, Neb., March 20, 1876.

  • J. McLeod, Washington to John L. Mackinnon, Alberton, July 18, 1876.

  • Isabella (Moffat) Nisbet, to Jeanette (Laird) Nisbet, Mass., September 12 1876.

  • Advertising Envelope from the collection of Mike Salmon.

  • Robert Hamilton McDonald - Letters to the Editor!, 1880's!

  • William Creamer, Bathurst, NB to Brother Barnard Creamer, PEI - Jan 9th 1881

  • Elizabeth Ann Gooldrup, in Bathurst, NB to John Milton Gooldrup, Gloucester, MA., Nov 18 1881.

  • Charles Binns, Charlottetown, 1886 to James Cantelo, Cedar Rapids, IA., 1886.

  • Henry Edward McKay, Darnley PEI to Priscilla McKay, April 20th (1886)

  • John & Mary Mooney, P.E.I. to their son, Henry J. Mooney, Mass., Mar 18, 1887

  • John Mooney, P.E.I. to his son, Henry J. Mooney, Mass., Apr 6, 1888.

  • Richard Sloggett, Bath England to Lemuel Cambridge Owen, Mar 31, 1889

  • William Ayers, Japan to his sister Emily Ayers, P.E.I., August 20, 1890

  • Sarah Bell Dollar to Margaret Jane Taudvin, Prescott, Ontario, July 27 1892

  • Ronald McLean, Harmony Junction to son Pius McLean, Aug 04, 1894

  • Saville's Letter to the Examiner, April 13, 1895.

  • Herbert A. Ling to Mr & Mrs John William Coles, March 20, 1899

  • Benjamin Daniel Simmons Oct. 18th, 1900

  • Letters to Woodwards, 1900-1906

  • Jennie McLaren Foster, Boston to "Mrs. Smith", Dec 28, 1902

  • Jennie McLaren Foster, Boston to William Ackland, February 26, 1903

  • John T. Weeks, Alberton, PEI to brother, William L. Weeks, North Dakota, Nov 6, 1903

  • Cuthbert Cooper to "A Dear Old Chap", Apr 20, 1904

  • Ephraim McNeill to family, 1906.

  • Mrs. F.... to John S. Cantelo, Nov 30, 1906.

  • Harry Hyde to Raymond Clare Archibald, 1906/1908 - 2 letters of a series.

  • Percy Pope to Raymond Clare Archibald, 1906/1908 - 2 letters of a series.

  • Letter from Ellen Bowman, Charlottetown to Amiee Irene Hubbard, Auburn, Cal., Jan 05, 1913

  • James Graham Farrow's last letter from Dunkirk to his son Welton in Portland, Me., Feb 19 1916

  • Michael J. Murphy, Charlottetown, PEI Affadavit to the Supreme Court Apr. 10, 1916

  • Letters from Michael Broderick, (1916-) to his Children, 1916, 1917.

  • Letter from Angus Stewart, Mangawai, N.Z. to his sister on P.E.I., Sep. 17, 1918.

  • Letter from Angus Stewart, Mangawai, N.Z. to his sister on P.E.I., Sep. ??, 1921.

  • Letter fom Angus Stewart, Mangawai, N.Z. to Unknown on P.E.I., Unknown Date.

  • Angus Stewart, Mangawai, N.Z. to his sister on P.E.I., May 12, 1914.

  • Private John MacLaren to his sister Katie McLaren Aug 1st 1915 and letters from his Chaplain regarding his death, 1916

  • Ada Ramsay McLeod of Summerside, to son, William McLeod, Sask., 1928 - a serieswritten on a trip to Ypres

  • Mrs. D. C. Morson, Cardigan, to Miss Jean Morson, Oregon, 1928

  • F. L.Haszard , Charlottetown, PEI to Mr. Arthur E. King of Toronto, Jan. 9, 1928

  • LaBert St.Clair to home, Nov 30 1929

  • Series of Letters written investigating the family/loyalist history of the Haszard family

  • "Ye Olden Days", Letter to the Editor re: Watson duChemin, Inventor, The Guardian, March 2, 1932.

  • Rev. A.B. Macdonald, St. Mary�s, Calgary, to Belle MacPhee, Nov 10 1943.

  • Fred Clark, Cavendish, P.E.I., to Mattie and Willie Elton Robertson, Jan 30, 1950.

  • Letters between Mooneys of Peakes, PEI and Mooneys of Inverness, QU., 1950

  • Gwendolyn Howatt Clay, N.S. to Grace Lydia (Reid) Clay, N.S., Nov 8, 1951

  • Joseph Howe, to his wife, Undated.

  • Congratulatory Letter on First Commercial Flight to P.E.I. - Undated.

  • Cairns MacCallum - Letter written to W. A. Miller from Cairns MacCallum, 10 Aug 1965

• Useful Postal Related Information:
  • Internal Mail of Prince Edward Island - a PDF file with an article by Mike Salmon

  • P.E.I. Folded Letter and Cover Database - Database of P.E.I. Folded Letters and Covers in Collections Around the World

  • P.E.I. Searchable Postmaster Database - Postmaster's and Post Offices to 1875. Was your ancestor a Postmaster?

  • P. E. I. Rural Placename, Rural Route, and Postal Code Database - Searchable!

  • Postal Rates and Routes !

  • A Charlottetown Stamp Dealer, A. A. Bartlett !

  • Report of the Auditor General for the Year Ended June 30, 1903 - P.E.I. Post Office

  • P.E.I.'s Early Stamps - Scans of PEI's Early Stamp Issues!

  • P.E.I. Place Names - A cross index to Alan Rayburn's "Geographic Names of Prince Edward Island". Use to find obscure P.E.I. place names mentioned in letters!

  • Railway and Postal Map - Published as Sheet 2 of the Dominion of Canada map in 1878!

  • P.E.I.'s Ice Boats - Winter Mail Service before the Ferries and Bridge

  • Canadian Postal Archives - Joint Project of the National Archives and Canada Post!

  • PEI Post Office Database - on Archivia Net of the National Archives.

  • Archivia Net Search Page - Search for other Province's Post Office and Postmaster Information.