Simon Willard's letter to Captain Edmund Bartlet, Newburyport, MA, dated September 7, 1827, hand script, dated, folded to become an envelope, red residue from the seal.

Both Simon Willard and Simon Willard Jr. were alive in 1827, so it is unknown who the author of the letter is. Simon was 74 years old. He made clocks until he was 89, so it is probable that Simon Sr. was the author based on comparison with a receipt written to Mr. Phillip Beamis. At that time, Simon Jr. was studying chronometer-making in New York as an apprentice to Dominick Eggert. He returned to Boston in 1928 and set up his shop in Boston on 9 Congress St.

The letter seems to be a second communication to Capt. Bartlet, whereby Simon is asking him when he will be able or willing to let Simon "put" the clock up for him. It appears the clock was so much in the way of his workplace that Simon packed it up and sent it into Boston to the place where he "took it from". The owners of that establishment, in turn, put it on board a packet (ship) perhaps bound for Newburyport.

The recipient paid the postage. The fingerprint on the top might be Simon's.

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Ht. 12 3/4” 2005.001