Description
Rockaway L.I. NY 1872 William / Alice Abrams Promissory Note w/ Payment Notes. In the 1830s, Rockaway was a remote and lightly inhabited area, characterized by sand dunes, salt marshes, and scattered fishing and farming families. 2 fold crease separation tears at the bottom edge. 2 fold crease separation tears at the bottom edge. Elsewhere, no other issues to note. Overall, in good condition. You will receive the exact sheet shown in the photos - please have a good look at the photos to access condition. It measures approx. 3 1/2" x 5 3/4" A best-effort 📜 Transcription: Rockaway January 1st 1872 On demand I promise to pay William Abrams or order the sum of Five Hundred dollars with interest at six per cent per annum for value received Witness — Alice Abrams $500 John Abrams 📜 Reverse / Endorsements Second on the within note your attention Received interest in the year of 1872 Received interest in the year of 1874 Received interest in the year of 1875 Received interest in the year of 1876 Received interest in the year of 1877 Received interest in the year of 1878 Received interest in the year of 1879 Interest paid to Jan 1st 1880 Peasalls March 5th 1880 Pay to the order of Lorenzo Abrams William Abrams interest paid to Jan 1st 1882 Lorenzo Abrams interest paid to Jan 1st 1883 Paid 🧾 Notes & Interpretation Date: January 1, 1872 Maker: John Abrams Payee: William Abrams Amount: $500 Interest: 6% per annum Witness: Alice Abrams 📊 Key Features A substantial family-held promissory note, likely internal to the Abrams family. The reverse shows a clean, sequential record of annual interest payments spanning: 1872 through 1879, then continuing into the early 1880s The note was later: assigned (“Pay to the order of”) to Lorenzo Abrams indicating transfer of the debt/asset within the family Final notation “Paid” confirms eventual settlement. ================================================================ In the 1830s, Rockaway was a remote and lightly inhabited area, characterized by sand dunes, salt marshes, and scattered fishing and farming families. Small communities such as Far Rockaway existed, but access from New York City and Brooklyn was difficult, typically requiring a combination of boat travel and rough wagon roads. The local economy centered on fishing, shellfishing, and limited agriculture. 1850s: Early resort development begins By the 1850s, Rockaway’s long ocean beach began attracting attention as a summer retreat. Entrepreneurs recognized its potential as a seaside resort and began establishing modest boarding houses and hotels. Wealthier New Yorkers started visiting during the summer months, drawn by ocean bathing and the relative coolness of the Atlantic coast. However, growth remained constrained by poor transportation, and the area was still considered somewhat isolated. 1860s–1870s: Railroads transform Rockaway The real turning point came with the expansion of rail service: The Long Island Rail Road and associated lines began extending service toward the peninsula in the 1860s By the 1870s, improved rail connections made Rockaway far more accessible from Brooklyn and New York City This new access triggered rapid development: Large seaside hotels were constructed along the beachfront Bathhouses, pavilions, and entertainment venues appeared Seasonal crowds increased significantly Rockaway became one of the region’s most popular beach destinations, often compared to other emerging seaside resorts of the era. 1870s–1880s: Peak of the early resort era By the late 19th century, Rockaway had fully emerged as a thriving resort district: Grand hotels lined portions of the beach, catering to middle- and upper-class visitors Excursion trains brought day-trippers in large numbers Supporting businesses—restaurants, shops, and amusements—developed alongside the hotels At the same time, permanent residential communities continued to grow inland from the beachfront, creating a mix of seasonal and year-round populations. **Shipped securely in a new poly bag, sandwiched in chipboard, inside a new rigid mailer via USPS Ground Advantage service w/ tracking** Click HERE to see matchbooks I have available. Click HERE to see transit and trade tokens I have available. Click HERE to see billheads I have available. Click HERE to see letterheads I have available. For U.S. based orders, the shipping cost for the first purchase is $4.00 and no extra cost for additional similar items such as billheads, letterheads, tickets, patches, post cards, trade cards, stock certificates that can safely be shipped in the same package. I have over 63,000 unique items here on eBay - Click HERE to visit my store & save with combined shipping for multiple buys. For U.S. orders on a PC, use the "add to cart" feature to select multiple items before paying. If the cart does not combine shipping costs, I will refund excess fees as I pack your order the following morning. I have enjoyed buying and selling vintage collectibles for over 40 years. Unless noted otherwise, all items I offer are original and not reproductions. 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