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WEST INDIES MARITIME MAIL
SHIP LETTERS

A letter written in Port Royal, Jamaica on 20th May 1792 from Colonel H.H. Gardner of the
20th Light Dragoons to Lieutenant Lee, the great, great grandfather of Robson Lowe. At the time he
was in 1611’ or Queen s Dragoons based in London. There are no markings of any kind until it was put
in the post at Westminster, struck with a “W” in a circle and charged 2d for the local delivery.
It must have been put in the military bag and as a private letter carried illegally, or given to a friend
and carried privately, which was not illegal, but not declaring it at the first port of call and paying
either ship or packet charges plus the inland to London was completely illegal.

An entire from London sent unpaid to Jamaica by the Falmouth packet “Duke of York” via
Halifax and Bermuda. It was struck with an “A” in a circle which is believed to have been used
in the West India Room on 2nd November 1831 to redirect letters to the North American packet,
and is very scarce. It was rated 2/2d which in Jamaica was changed to 3/9 currency. This is not
understood as the inland rate to Vere at the time was only 4d sterling. Ex Malcolm Montgomery.