Folded way letter from Boston to Portsmouth with manuscript "dwt 2" Datelined Dec 31, 1770. Addressed to Hugh Henderson.

The British Act of 1765 provided that the single sheet rate for 60 to 100 miles was 6 pence, which was equivalent to 2 dwt. Letters were marked "dwt/2" at Portsmouth. There was a regular postal route with a rider and also a stable coach from Boston through New Bury Port and Cambridge.

The addressee of this letter, Hugh Henderson, was a shipbuilder and prominent merchant based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, around 1770. Known for his contributions to the local maritime industry, Henderson was involved in constructing and outfitting ships that were vital for trade and fishing in the New England region.