POST OFFICE IN PARADISE - Pre-Postal Mail: Census of Letters to or from Hawaii Before 1830

This page last updated: 6 May 2008

::: PRE-POSTAL MAIL - Census of Letters to or from Hawaii Before 1830 :::

Please E-mail me (scott312@earthlink.net) with information about other pre-1830 covers. Also let me know if you can furnish information about New England or Europe ship arrival dates to 1849.

	Year	Sent: Date/Place	Received: Date/Place	Ship	Notes	Source
	1803
1.		23 Aug Honolulu	? California	Hazard	From Capt. Rowan (written by Francisco de Paula Marin) to Raymundo Carillo at Santa Barbara, Alta California	Marin Correspond-ence^[1], State Archives of Hawaii
	1804
2.		2 Feb Honolulu	? California	Hazard	From Capt. Rowan (written by Francisco de Paula Marin) to Don José Dario Arguëllo at San Francisco, Alta California	Marin Correspondence, State Archives of Hawaii
	1806
3.		2 May California	? Honolulu	?	Inward from Jose de Ortega, Santa Barbara, Alta California, to Francisco de Paula Marin	Marin Correspondence, State Archives of Hawaii
	1810
4.		3 Mar Honolulu	? London	?	From Kamehameha I to King George III	State Archives of Hawaii; Pompey, Sherman Lee, "Transporting the Hawaiian Mails", Weekly Philatelic Gossip, 22 Nov 1952, p. 372
5.		6 Aug Honolulu	? London	?	From Kamehameha I to King George III	State Archives of Hawaii; Pompey, Sherman Lee, "Transporting the Hawaiian Mails", Weekly Philatelic Gossip, 22 Nov 1952, p. 372
	1814
6.		25 May California	? Honolulu	?	Inward from Juan Jose de Ortega at Santa Barbara, Alta California, to Francisco de Paula Marin	Marin Correspondence, State Archives of Hawaii
	1816
7.		12 Dec Canton	? Honolulu	?	Inward from Nathan Winship at Canton to Francisco de Paula Marin	Marin Correspondence, State Archives of Hawaii
	1817
8.		8 Mar Honolulu	? California	?	From Francisco de Paula Marin to Luis Arguëllo at Monterey, Alta California	Marin Correspondence, State Archives of Hawaii
9.		14 Jul Honolulu	? New England	?	From Augustus Norton to Winthrop Norton, South Berwick, District of Maine; no postal markings	R.A. Siegel Auction No. 767, lot 406
	1820
10.		13 May Honolulu	21 Nov 21 New England	British whale ship L'Aigle	From Hiram Bingham to Samuel Worcester, Salem Mass.; entered US mail at New York; NY cds dated 21 Nov., "SHIP" and ms "20½", US zone rate, 151-400 miles; receipt docket "Nov. 21, 1821"; the L'Aigle sailed in May to hunt whales en route to New York	1951 Hawaiian Historical Society Annual Report, p. 17
11.		14 May Honolulu	21 Nov 21 New England	British whale ship L'Aigle	From Maria Loomis to William Williams, Utica, NY; entered US mail at New York with "SHIP" and NY cds dated 21 Nov and ms "20½", US zone rate, 151-400 miles; the L'Aigle sailed in May to hunt whales en route to New York	Covers, Vol IX, No. 6, p. 8; Postal History Journal No. 106, p. 34
12.		27 Jun Honolulu	22 Mar 22 New England	American ship Levant	From Sybil Bingham to Fanny Howell, Canandaigua, NY; entered US mail at Boston, Mass., with red Boston cds dated 22 Mar and ms "18½" US zone rate (omitting the ship fee), 151-400 miles; the Levant sailed 7 Aug via Canton	Harris Sale I (Harmer, Rooke Auction 776), lot 1; Baker Sale (R.A. Siegel Auction 526) lot 217; Ishikawa (Sotheby Parke Bernet Auction S-50), lot 36; Wolffers Auction 104, lot 1439; Meyer/Harris, p. 6; Advertiser Sale (R.A. Siegel Auction 769) lot 2003
13.		31 Aug Kailua	21 May 22 -	?	From Lucy Thurston to Persis Parkhurst; no outer lettersheet	Advertiser Sale (R.A. Siegel Auction 769), lot 2004
14.		16 Oct Honolulu	1 Jun New England	American ship Volunteer	From Lucy Thurston to Abner Goodale, Marlborough, Mass.; entered US mail at Boston; red Boston cds dated 1 Jun, "SHIP" and ms "8" US zone rate up to 30 miles; the Volunteer sailed in November via Canton	Advertiser Sale (R.A. Siegel Auction 769), lot 2005
15.		23 Nov Boston	? Honolulu	?	Inward from Josiah Marshall at Boston to Eliab Grimes	California Historical Society Archives
	1821
16.		14 Feb Honolulu	12 May 22 New England	American ship Arab	From H. Bingham to William Jackson, Dorset, Vt. and ms "By Ship Arab"; entered US mail at Boston	Wolffers Auction 132, lot 1172; Postal History Journal No. 106, p. 35
17.		23 Feb Honolulu	11 May 22 New England	American ship Arab	From H. Bingham to Thomas H. Gallaudet, Hartford, Conn. and ms "By Ship Arab/Capt. Lewis/Boston"; entered US mail at Boston; red Boston cds dated 11 May and ms "25" double US zone rate (omitting the ship fee), 81-150 miles	File copy
18.		5 Jul Honolulu	? Boston	American ship Alexander	From Eliab Grimes to Josiah Marshall, Boston; the Alexander sailed 9 Jul via Canton	By Land & By Sea^[2], p. 81
19.		6 Jul Honolulu	? Boston	American ship Alexander	From John C. Jones to Marshall & Wildes, Boston; the Alexander sailed 9 Jul via Canton	By Land & By Sea, p. 82
20.		11 Aug Boston	? Honolulu	?	Inward from Josiah Marshall at Boston to Eliab Grimes	California Historical Society Archives
21.		8 Oct Honolulu	13 Mar 22 New England	American whale ship Moro	From Asa Thurston to Abner Goodale, Marlborough, Mass.; entered US mail at Edgartown, Mass.; ms "Edgartown Ms. 22 Mar Ship 12" postmark and US zone rate, 31-80 miles; the Moro sailed in October	Advertiser Sale (R.A. Siegel Auction 769), lot 2006
22.		5 Oct to 5 Nov Honolulu	? Boston	American brig Pedlar	From John C. Jones to Marshall & Wildes, Boston; the Pedlar sailed 24 Dec via Canton	By Land & By Sea, p. 86-87
23.		24 Nov Honolulu	8 May 22 New England	Globe	From Lucy Thurston to Abner Goodale, Marlborough, Mass.; entered US mail at Edgartown, Mass.; ms "Edgartown Ms May 8 Ship 27" postmark and US double zone rate, 81-150 miles	Advertiser Sale (R.A. Siegel Auction 769), lot 2007
24.		23 Dec Honolulu	? Boston	American brig Pedlar	From John C. Jones to Marshall & Wildes, Boston; the Pedlar sailed 24 Dec via Canton	By Land & By Sea, p. 88
	1822
25.		14 Jan Waimea, Island of Kauai	7 Nov New England	?	From Samuel Whitney to Eli Smith, Northford, Conn.; entered US mail at Salem, Mass.; red Salem cds dated 7 Nov, "SHIP" and ms "14½" US zone rate; probably was carried in the Paragon, sailing 4 Feb via Canton	File copy
26.		22 Jan Honolulu	? Boston	American ship Paragon	From John C. Jones to Marshall & Wildes, Boston; the Paragon sailed 4 Feb via Canton	By Land & By Sea, p. 89
27.		9 Aug Honolulu	17 Feb 23 New England	American ship American	From Lucy Thurston to Abner Goodale, Marlboro, Mass.; entered US mail at New York, red "SHIP" and NY cds, ms "20½" US zone rate, 151-400 miles; the American sailed 10 Aug via Canton	Advertiser Sale (R.A. Siegel Auction 769), lot 2008
28.		10 Aug Honolulu	? Boston	American ship American	From John C. Jones to Marshall & Wildes, Boston; the American sailed 10 Aug via Canton	By Land & By Sea, p. 91
29.		8 Oct Honolulu	28 Mar 23 New England	American whale ship Spermo	To Chester Loomis, postmaster, Rushville, Ontario County, NY; entered US mail at Edgartown, Mass. with ms "Ship Free" and ms "Edgartown"; the Spermo sailed in October, arrived Nantucket, Mass. 24 Mar 23	Clifford Sale (R.A. Siegel Auction 346) lot 33; R.A. Siegel Auction 397, lot 398; Ishikawa Sale (Sotheby, Parke Bernet S-50), lot 38; Wolffers Auction 104, lot 1441; Advertiser Sale (R.A. Siegel Auction 769) lot 2009
30.		11 Oct Honolulu	? Boston	?	From Martin Brewster to Marshall & Wildes, Boston; the writer states the letter is being sent via Canton	By Land & By Sea, p. 94
31.		16 Nov to 22 Nov Honolulu	? Boston	American whale ship Balaena	From John C. Jones to Marshall & Wildes, Boston; the Balaena sailed in November	By Land & By Sea, p. 94
32.		20 Nov Honolulu	16 Apr 23 New England	American whale ship Balaena	From Lucy Thurston to Abner Goodale, Marlborough, Mass.; entered US mail at New Bedford, Mass.; New Bedford cds dated 16 Apr, "SHIP" and ms "1¾ oz. 89½" sextuple US zone rate, 151-400 miles, and ms "Ship Balaena/Capt. Gardner/Nantucket"; the Balaena sailed in November	File copy
33.		__ Dec New England	? Honolulu	Waverly	Inward from ? to Mrs. Elizabeth Bishop, addressed "Sandwich Isls" with ms "Capt. Rutter/ Waverly"	R.A. Siegel Auction 397, lot 453
34.		12 Dec New England	? Honolulu	?	Inward from ? to Elizabeth Bishop, addressed "Sandwich Isles" with ms "Fav'd by Capt. Fuller"	Wolffers Auction 104, lot 1442
35.		13 Dec New England	? Honolulu	?	Inward from ? to Elizabeth Bishop, addressed "Care of Rev. Mr. Bishop, or Mr. Levi Chamberlain, Sandwich Isls." with ms "Elizabethtown"	Wolffers Auction 53, lot 1175; Kelleher Auction 577, lot 3753
	1823
36.		__ Jan Honolulu	? Boston	?	From John C. Jones to Marshall & Wildes, Boston	By Land & By Sea, p. 96
37.		9 Mar Honolulu	22 Aug Boston	American brig Pearl	From John C. Jones to Marshall & Wildes, Boston; the Pearl sailed in March bound home via Tahiti	By Land & By Sea, p. 97
38.		20 Mar Honolulu	22 Aug New England	American brig Pearl	From Lucy Thurston to Abner Goodale, Marlborough, Mass.; entered US mail at Boston; red Boston cds dated 22 Aug, "SHIP" and ms "8" US zone rate up to 30 miles; ms "Capt. Chandler/Brig Pearl/Boston"; the Pearl sailed in March bound home via Tahiti	Advertiser Sale (R.A. Siegel Auction 769) lot 2012
39.		6 Apr Honolulu	? California	Rover	From Francisco de Paula Marin to Luis Antonio Argüello at Santa Barbara, California	Marin Correspondence, State Archives of Hawaii
40.		31 May Honolulu	? Boston	?	From John C. Jones to Marshall & Wildes, Boston	By Land & By Sea, p. 98
41.		17 Jul California	? Honolulu	?	Inward from Luis Antonio Arguello at Monterey, Alta California, to Francisco de Paula Marin	Marin Correspondence, State Archives of Hawaii
	1824
42.		7 Feb California	? Honolulu	Mexican ship Rover	Inward from Father Vincente Francisco de Serria at Mission San Carlos de Boromea, Carmel, Alta California, to Francisco de Paula Marin	Marin Correspondence, State Archives of Hawaii
43.		13 Aug California	? Honolulu	Eagle	Inward from Jose M. Estadillo at Monterey, Alta California, to Francisco de Paula Marin	Marin Correspondence, State Archives of Hawaii
44.		8 Sep Honolulu	16 Apr 25 New England	American whale ship Balaena	From Lucy Thurston to Abner Goodale, Marlborough, Mass.; entered US mail at New Bedford, Mass.; black New Bedford cds dated 16 Apr, with ms "New Bedford Ms.", ms "1¾" "6 sheets" and "89½" sextuple US zone rate, 151-400 miles	Advertiser Sale (R.A. Siegel Auction 769) lot 2010
45.		10 Sep Honolulu	21 Mar 25 New England	Am. whale ship Russell	From James Hill to Capt. Hugh Hill, Beverly, Mass.; entered US mail at New Bedford, Mass.; the Russell sailed 18 Sep for New Bedford and arrived 19 Mar 25	File notes
46.		1 Nov Mexico	1 Dec Honolulu	American ship Mentor	Inward from Fletes at Mazatlan, Mexico, to Francisco de Paula Marin; the Mentor arrived 30 Nov	Marin Correspondence, State Archives of Hawaii
47.		7 Nov Honolulu	? California	Hawaiian brig Tamaahmaah	From Francisco de Paula Marin to Don José Antonio de la Guerra y Noriega at Santa Barbara, Alta California	Marin Correspondence, State Archives of Hawaii
	1825
48.		22 Oct Honolulu	29 Apr 26 New England	American ship Rob Roy	From John W. Spurr to Gen'l. George DeWolf and John Smith, Bristol, RI; entered US mail at Boston; red Boston cds and "SHIP" and ms "12" US zone rate, 31-80 miles; dateline "Woahoo Oct. 22, 1825" and ms "Fav'd by Capt. Blanchard"; the Rob Roy sailed 12 Dec for Boston	Advertiser Sale (R.A. Siegel Auction 769) lot 2013
49.		26 Oct Mexico	? Honolulu	?	Inward from Mateo Uruchurtur at Guaymas, Mexico, to Francisco de Paula Marin	Marin Correspondence, State Archives of Hawaii
50.		10 Dec Honolulu	30 Apr 26 New England	American ship Rob Roy	From Rev. Bingham to Gallander, Hartford, Conn., forwarded to Guilford, Conn.; entered US mail at Boston; Boston cds dated 29 Apr"; Hartford cds dated 30 Apr; the Rob Roy sailed 12 Dec for Boston	Harris Sale I (Harmer, Rooke Auction 776) lot 2
	1826
51.		19 Jan California	? Honolulu	American schooner Rover	Inward from Ignacio Martinez at Monterey, Alta California, to Francisco de Paula Marin	Marin Correspondence, State Archives of Hawaii
52.		20 Jan California	? Honolulu	American schooner Rover	Inward from Marcelino Escobar at Monterey, Alta California, to Francisco de Paula Marin	Marin Correspondence, State Archives of Hawaii
53.		26 Jan California	? Honolulu	American schooner Washington	Inward from José S. Estudillo at Monterey, Alta California, to Francisco de Paula Marin; the Washington arrived 17 May from an unreported origin	Marin Correspondence, State Archives of Hawaii
54.		? Kailua	9 Dec New England	American whale ship Frederick Augustus	From Artemas Bishop to Jeremiah Evarts at Boston, Mass.; entered US mail at Newport, RI; red oval Newport date stamp dated 9 Dec, "SHIP" and ms "2¾ oz." and "112", eleven times US zone rate, 31-80 miles; the Frederick Augusta sailed in the Spring	Houghton Library, Harvard University; The Collectors Club Philatelist, Vol 44, p. 43
55.		19 Sep Honolulu	7 Mar 27 Edgartown	American whale ship Ploughboy	From John Coffin Jones to Josiah Marshall, Boston; entered US mail at Edgartown, Mass.; Edgartown date stamp dated 7 Mar and ms "Ship 14½" US zone rate, 81-150 miles	Kelleher #597, lot 2151
56.		21 Sep Honolulu	16 Mar 27 Boston	American whale ship Ontario	From John Coffin Jones to Josiah Marshall, Boston; entered US mail at Nantucket, Mass.; Nantucket date stamp dated 16 Mar and ms "Ship 14½", US zone rate, 81-150 miles; the Ontario sailed 25 Sep	Kelleher #597, lot 2151
	1827
57.		19 Feb Honolulu	? New England	?	From Levi Chamberlain to Miss Sarah ...; entered US mail at Boston	Frajola Auction 9 Jan 1995, lot 72 (partial photo)
58.		16 Apr Honolulu	9 Dec New England	?	From Silvanus Harlow, Jr. to Silvanus Harlow, Halifax, Mass.; entered US mail at New Bedford, Mass.; New Bedford cds dtd 9 Dec; writer was attached to the Ship Martha	File notes
59.		8 Aug California	25 Aug Honolulu	Hawaiian brig Tamaahmaah	Inward from José M. Estudillo at San Diego, Alta California, to Francisco de Paula Marin; the Tamaahmaah arrived 25 Aug from San Diego, fourteen days in transit	Marin Correspondence, State Archives of Hawaii
60.		14 Sep Honolulu	31 Jul 28 Malta	American whale ship Persia	From Rev. Samuel Whitney to Rev. Eli Smith, Malta, "Med. Sea", in care of J. Evarts, Missionary Rooms, Boston; entered US mail at New Bedford, Mass. with red cds dated 21 Apr, SHIP and "12" ms US zone rate, 31-80 miles; docket receipt at Malta, 31 Jul 28; the Persia sailed 19 Sep to New Bedford, arrived 7 Mar 28; privately carried to Malta	File copy
	1828
61.		26 Aug California	12 Sep Honolulu	French ship Heros	Inward from José M. Estudillo at San Diego, Alta California, to Francisco de Paula Marin; the Heros arrived 12 Sep from San Diego, seventeen days in transit	Marin Correspondence, State Archives of Hawaii
62.		25 Oct Mexico	1 Dec Honolulu	Brig Gen. Sucre	Inward from Felipe Lastra at Guaymas, Mexico, to Francisco de Paula Marin; the brig Gen. Sucre arrived 1 Dec from the Gulf of California	Marin Correspondence, State Archives of Hawaii
63.		25 Oct Mexico	1 Dec Honolulu	Brig Gen. Sucre	Inward from Felipe Lastra at Guaymas, Mexico, to Francisco de Paula Marin (apparently a different letter than the above); the brig Gen. Sucre arrived 1 Dec from the Gulf of California	Marin Correspondence, State Archives of Hawaii
64.		27 Nov New England	? Kailua	?	Inward from ? to Delia Stone "Missionary at the Sandwich Islands" addressed "To be left at the office of the N.Y. Courier to the care of Rev. Charles L. Stewart, New York"; mailed at Rochester, NY, 27 Nov with red oval Rochester date stamp, boxed PAID and ms "18¾" US zone rate, 151-400 miles (ship fee omitted)	Wolffers Auction 56, lot 1888; Ishikawa Sale (Sotheby, Parke, Benet Auction S-50), lot 40
	1829
65.		17 Oct Mexico	? Honolulu	?	Inward from Felipe Lastra at Guaymas, Mexico, to Francisco de Paula Marin	Marin Correspondence, State Archives of Hawaii
66.		24 Oct Manoa	19 Apr 30 New England	Sarah	From Mary Ward to Henry Stockton, Boston, Mass. with ms "By Capt. Arthur, ship Sarah"; entered US mail at Nantucket, Mass.; red oval Nantucket date stamp dated 2 Apr, "SHIP" and ms "14½" US zone rate, 81-150 miles	Bartlett Auction 8, lot 1704 (no photo); Aall Sale (R.A. Siegel Auction 805), lot 8
67.		1 Nov Lahaina	10 Jun 30 New England	?	From Spencer Hamilton (whale ship Cortes) to Henry Hamilton, Schoharie County Court House, Schoharie County, NY; red Boston cds and ms "75" quadruple US zone rate, 150-400 miles (ship fee omitted); enclosed a letter written 31 Aug 28 from the Coast of Peru	File copy
68.		24 Nov Honolulu	21 May 30 New England	Frend	To James Watson Webb, NYCity; entered US mail at New London, Conn. with ms "The Frend/Capt. Chester" and ms "14½" US zone rate, 81-150 miles	PF58042; Hollowbush Sale IV (John A. Fox Auction 323), lot 390

^[1] The Marin Correspondence is found at Don Francisco de Paula Marin, A Biography, by Ross H. Gast, published together with The Letters and Journal of Francisco de Paula Marin, edited by Agnes C. Conrad, The University Press of Hawaii, 1973.

^[2] By Land & By Sea references Morison, Samuel Eliot, By Land & By Sea, 1954, Alfred Knopf, New York.

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