Letter dated 1835-09-21 from Hosea Winchester concerning peppers.

Letter

-

Orange County Historical Society - New York

Letter to William Horton from Hosea Winchester dated 1835-09-21: The image displays an old, weathered letter handwritten in ink on yellowed paper, which has been folded multiple times for mailing sans envelope. The correspondence is written in cursive script. The letter is dated at the top right corner with "Boston Sept 21st 1835," and is addressed to "Messrs Seth Low & C" with a formal opening. The writer expresses a desire to conduct business with the addressees, with a request to work with an individual named "Mr. Roggers."
Letter to William Horton from Hosea Winchester dated 1835-09-21

The image displays an old, weathered letter handwritten in ink on yellowed paper, which has been folded multiple times for mailing sans envelope. The correspondence is written in cursive script. The letter is dated at the top right corner with "Boston Sept 21st 1835," and is addressed to "Messrs Seth Low & C" with a formal opening. The writer expresses a desire to conduct business with the addressees, with a request to work with an individual named "Mr. Roggers."

Name/Title

Letter dated 1835-09-21 from Hosea Winchester concerning peppers.

Entry/Object ID

2022.1.5

Description

Hosea Winchester wrote this business inquiry to Seth Low & Co. regarding a consignment of spices. Specifically, he is asking for updates on three things: Cayenne Pepper: He wants to know the sales progress of a batch of cayenne he previously left with them. Order Fulfillment: He asks if they successfully delivered a keg of pepper to a "B. Roggers" based on a prior order. Small Bird Peppers: He notes that "J. & A. & W. Post" delivered a batch of high-quality small bird peppers (likely bird's eye chili) that were owed to him. He wants to confirm Seth Low & Co. received them and requests the exact weight or quantity ("how much of the gr.[grain/gross]"), as he is running low and has a potential buyer lined up for a large order. Notations & Postal Markings Filing Notation: The recipient docketed the letter twice with "H. Winchester / Sep 21st 1835" for record-keeping. Numerical Notations: The numbers 539 1/4 and 2067 0/4 are likely inventory weights, quantities, or financial calculations added by the merchant upon receipt. Historical Context: In 1835, Seth Low (grandfather of the future Mayor of New York and President of Columbia University, also named Seth Low) ran a highly successful drug and import business in New York that specialized in spices, medicines, and goods from China and the East Indies. This letter captures a routine, mid-19th-century merchant trading interaction.

Collection

William Horton Papers

Created By

[email protected]

Create Date

June 10, 2026

Updated By

[email protected]

Update Date

June 17, 2026