0543----1847 Henry Duffield original letter describes home - High St Carlisle PA

Description

0543----1847 Henry Duffield original letter describes home - High St Carlisle PA
0543----1847 Henry Duffield original letter describes home - High St Carlisle PA
Description
Amazing original letter from Henry Duffield of Carlisle PA,
to an insurance company in Philadelphia.
Dated April 24, 1847 Duffield gives incredible details of his home on High Street.
in an attempt to acquire an insurance policy.
Duffield states the home is new having lived in it with his family for about 13 months.
The letter is original and consists of 3 handwritten pages.
Addressed to "C.N. Bancker" at the President Franklin Insurance Co in Philadelphia.
A great Carlisle PA cancel with original handwritten filing notes
The first page of the letter is an introduction with basic info of the home.
He has signed at the bottom.
Pages 2 and 3 go into great details of the construction, heating, lightning rods, interior contents, etc.
Duffield was a longtime resident of Carlisle PA, and I am sure
the exact location of the home could be ascertained by local historians.
He does offer clues, stating the house is next to property belonging to Mrs. Mary Ege,
and the heirs of Doctor McCoskrey.
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW IMAGES OF THE LETTER
The letter remains in good readable condition, however I am not afraid to admit
I have repaired the folds carefully with transparent tape.
I acquired the letter in 3 pieces and eventually could have been in several more pieces if I hadn't done the repair.
To the buyer:  this letter must be handled with care.
I will ship the letter flat so as not to perpetuate the folds.
Nevertheless, this letter is an important historical find for the town of Carlisle PA.
I have been able to decipher about 98% of the letter and have transcribed below.
Carlisle Apr 24 1847
C.N. Bancker Esq.
Dear Sir
Writing to insure my house in this place.  I called to Mr. Laymore who was an agent for your company but find he is in Virginia and will not be back for 6 weeks as now.  I therefore address myself directly to you as Predt of Franklin Insurance Co.  My house is entirely new having only been occupied by myself and family about 13 months.  It cost us about 8000? dollars.  The furniture in it cost new 4000 dollars.  I wish to make a perpetual insurance on the house to the amt of 5000 dollars and on the furniture to the amt of 2000 dollars – 7000 dollars on the whole.
As I do not know exactly what description you require of the house I shall proceed to give what I ?? is necessary and of any thing further is required upon apprising me of it shall be attended to.   Mr Isaac B. Parker of Burlington will be shortly in this place on a visit to his son.  I will get him to call and get the policy for me.  He can give you information relative to the property.
In ???? next ???.
Respectfully yours.  Henry Duffield
P.S. Your early attention is requested.
(page 2)
The house stands on a lot in Main on High Street 60 feet front 240 feet deep, on the North side of the street bounded on the West by a house and lot belonging to Mrs Mary Ege, and on the East by house + lot belonging to the Heirs of Doctor McCoskey.  Mrs Ege’s house (a 2 story brick with back building) is built against the west wall of my house.  Between my house and the house belonging to McCoskey there is a space of 25 feet.
The house is 35 feet wide and 42 feet deep – 3 stories high – a piazza of 5 feet connects it with a back building 52 feet long + 16 wide – 39 feet of which is 3 stories high, and 13 feet but 2 stories.  In the main building there is a wall 10 feet wide + 2 parlors on the first floor – on the 2d floor 2 chambers (over the parlors) and a library (over the hall).  The 1
st
+ 2d stories are heated from a chamber in the cellar (built of brick) in which I burn coal in one of Dr. Nole’s stoves carrying the heated air through tin tubes into the parlors and the chambers above. On the 3d story are four rooms with a ?? running across the building.  2 of these rooms are used as chambers and are heated in winter by close stoves.  The garrett is unfinished any further than that part of it is floor.  In the back building on the first floor are a dining room + 2 kitchens (one for summer + the other for winter) with a stairway for the back building.  There are a cooking stove in the kitchen summer + winter.  In the dining room is fireplaces in which we at present ?? wood.  On the 2d floor are 3 rooms – one of which is a bath room on the 2d story of the 2d story
(page 3)
Part of the brick building with a rain water cistern above it under the roof – On the 3d story are 2 chambers for domestics and a small chamber room for guests.  The garrett unfinished partly floored.   The stairway for the main building rises from the hall.
The piazza is 2 stories high.
The house is all covered with slate and is protected by 2 lightning rods – one on the East of the main building and the other on the middle of the back building.  I am preparing another rod to run along the railing on the roof and to rise at the west end of the house.  The lightning rods are put up on the most approved principles under my own discretion.  The whole house was built under my own eye and with a ?? to protection from fire.  All that ?? procedure can do for safety has been done.
At the foot of the lot is a brick stable 17 by 21 – one half story high – but I do not care about having it included in the policy – as it is an old building.
This above is a strict and accurate description of the property.
I forgot to say there is a platform on the roof of the main building 7 feet wide running across the building covered with ??  The whole house Front and back building is built of brick + covered with mastic.  There is also a wash room in the cellar under the summer kitchen partly ?? and partly floored.
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