Extended date for SO 693 "SOMER / TON"

The Free Front below extends the known dates for the "SOMER / TON" handstamp (27x13 mm, SO 693) by two years to 1743-1784, the previously latest known date of usage being 1782.

Boxed Mileage Marks - "WIVELSCOMBE / 175" & "YEOVIL / 123"

The last two boxed mileage marks ...  note the spelling of "WIVELSCOMBE", no "I" in the middle (this is how it is pronounced).

“WIVELSCOMBE / 175” 1805-1829

“YEOVIL / 123” 1801-1811

Boxed Mileage Marks - "WELLINGTON / 168", "WELLS - S / 129" (& "WELLS N / 122")

WELLINGTON / 168” 1804-1829

“WELLS – S / 129” 1802-1808

Norfolk: “WELLS N / 122” 1804-1820

From Bill Barrell's website, a wrapper used in 1811.

The “other” Wells boxed mileage mark !

Boxed Mileage Marks - "TAUNTON / 161"

“TAUNTON / 161” 1802-1814

The Taunton Fifth Clause Post (later the Penny Post) did not commence until 1808 so it is likely that this letter from Crowcombe was brought into Taunton by private messenger or by a passing carrier.

Boxed Mileage Marks - "SHEPTON-MALLET / 135" & "SOMERTON / 135"

A couple more ...

“SHEPTON-MALLET / 135” 1801-1810

“SOMERTON / 135” 1804-1811

Boxed Mileage Marks - "MINEHEAD / 185"

“MINEHEAD / 185” 1801-1807

The overall postal charge of 1/7^d does not tie up with the published rates/distances. 10^d is the rate to London, 1/2^d is the overall rate onwards to Edinburgh (for 600-700 miles). The published mileage from Edinbugh to Kirkwall is 325¾ miles, so at an additional 1^d for each 100 miles, that should only be an additional 4^d (or 1/6^d in total), not the 1/7^d charged. Was this just an error by the postal clerk or was there an additional charge, 1^d for the ferry to Kirkwall perhaps ?

Boxed Mileage Marks - "MILVERTON / 169" & "MILVERTON / 172"

“MILVERTON / 169” 1801

Discovered at the Spring Stampex 1990 and described in an article in the October 1990 S&DPHG Journal (Vol.3-2), the handstamp was illustrated but unfortunately not the complete cover.

The handstamp was used in 1801. As described in an article in the September 1994 S&DPHG Journal (Vol.3-10), at that time Milverton did not have an official office and mail from Wiveliscombe and Milverton would be brought into Wellington by one messenger. The Milverton mileage mark was to indicate to the Wellington postmaster how to apportion the fees between Milverton and Wiveliscombe (so there may be a missing “WIVELISCOMBE / 169” to find). The '169' mileage in the Milverton handstamp would be the mileage for Wellington, though when the Wellington mileage mark was issued it was for '168' miles.

“MILVERTON / 172” 1805-1833

This second handstamp dates from after an official Receiving House was set up in Milverton, and the mileage from Wellington was 'calculated into the entire distance each letter will be conveyed' [Freeling Reports 25 July 1804].

Boxed Mileage Marks - "ILMINSTER / 143" & "LANGPORT / 140"

Two more of the boxed mileage marks.

“ILMINSTER / 143” 1801-1821

“LANGPORT / 140” 1805-1846