The Early History of the Colonial Post-Office Part 1

The Early History of the Colonial Post-Office.

by Mary E. Woolley.

EARLY HISTORY OF THE COLONIAL POST OFFICE.

A letter written in 1652, by Samuel Symonds of Ipswich, to John Winthrop, Jr., at Pequot, says: "I cannot say but its besides my intentions that I write not more frequently unto you; I can onely plead this for my excuse (soe farr as it will goe) ... and the uncertainty when and how to convey letters."[1]

[1] _Ma.s.s. Historical Collections_, 4th Series, Vol. VII., p. 128.

A glance at the correspondence of that period shows that Mr. Symonds was not the only one inconvenienced by the "uncertainty when and how to convey letters." With no domestic postal service the writers of that day were dependent upon individual bearers and pressed neighbors, relatives, merchants, sea captains, any and every one whom they could reach, into the service. Indians were often used as messengers. Roger Williams writing to John Winthrop, at some time in the '30's, speaks of word "by this bearer Wequash whome (being a Pequt himselfe) I commended for a guide in the Pequt expedition;" again, "I pray let your servant direct the native with this letter;" and at still another time, "From your owne hand (by Robin Causasenamont)."[2]

[2] _Ma.s.s. Historical Collections_, 4th Series, Vol. VI., pp. 242, 256, 276.

John Endicott writes to John Winthrop, April 13, 1638: "Your kinde lines I receaued by Mascanomet;" and a letter from the Isle of Wight (near Long Island), dated "Aprill 27, 1650," says, "I resavid yours by the Indian."[3]

[3] _Ma.s.s. Historical Collections_, 4th Series, Vol. VII.

Until 1639 there is no trace of a postal system, but under the _Ma.s.sachusetts General Court Records_, of that year[4] (Nov. 5th), is the following entry: "For preventing the miscarriage of letters, ... It is ordered that notice bee given, that Richard Fairbanks, his house in Boston, is the place appointed for all letters, which are brought from beyond the Seas, or are to be sent thither; ... are to be brought unto him and he is to take care, that they bee delivered, or sent according to their directions and hee is alowed for every such letter 1d. and must answer all miscarriages through his owne neglect in this kind; provided that no man shall bee compelled to bring his letters thither except hee please."

[4] _Ma.s.s. Colonial Records_, I., p. 281. _Ma.s.s. Historical Collections_, 3d Series, Vol. VII., p. 48.

This action on the part of the Ma.s.sachusetts General Court was, as far as can be discovered, the first effort by the colonies to provide a post office. Eighteen years later, June 12, 1657, an ordinance was pa.s.sed[5]

by the director general and council of the New Netherlands, forbidding the boarding of incoming vessels until visited by the governing officer and the letters delivered, the penalty for evading the law being fixed at thirty guilders.[6]

[5] Laws and Ordinances of New Netherlands.

[6] Laws and Ordinances of New Netherlands, pp. 379, 380.

Since private shippers were in the habit of taking letters from the New Netherlands and Curacoa, without placing them in a sealed bag, the directors of the West India Company, at the chamber in Amsterdam, in 1659 (October 30) adopted a resolution requiring captains of vessels to enter into bond not to carry letters to Holland from New Netherlands or Curacoa, unless received from persons authorized to collect them, under penalty of one hundred Carolus guilders; and on the second of the following June (1660) the director general and council of the colony pa.s.sed an ordinance warning citizens to observe this resolution. A box was placed in New Amsterdam, in the office of the secretary of the province, for the receipt of letters, and for all those capable of registry, three stivers in wampum were to be paid. These movements on the part of Ma.s.sachusetts and New Netherlands concerned foreign letters simply; until 1672 there were apparently no arrangements for the transmission and delivery of domestic letters. In December of that year, there was an effort to start a monthly post between New York and Boston, a project originating with Francis Lovelace, governor of New York. In a letter to John Winthrop, governor of Connecticut, dated December 27, 1672, he says:[7] "I herewith present you with 2 rarities, a pacquett of the latest intelligence I could meet withal, and a post ... by the latter you will meet with a monthly fresh supply; so that if it receive but the same ardent inclinations as first it hath from myself, by our monthly advisers all publique occurences may be transmitted between us, together with severall other great conveniencys of publique importance, consonant to the commands laid upon us by his sacred majestie, who strictly enjoins all his American subjects to enter into a close correspondency with each other ... this person that has undertaken the employment I conceaved most proper, being voted active, stout and indefatigable.... I have affixt an annuall sallery on him, which, together with the advantage of his letters and other small portable packes, may afford him a handsome livelyhood.... The maile has divers baggs, according to the towns the letters are designed to, which are all sealed up 'till their arrivement, with the seal of the secretarie's office, whose care it is on Sat.u.r.day night to seale them up. Only by-letters are in an open bag, to dispense by the wayes.... I shall only beg of you your furtherance to so universall a good work; that is, to afford him directions where, and to whom to make his application to upon his arrival at Boston; as likewise to afford him what letters you can to establish him in that employment there. It would be much advantageous to our designe, if in the intervall you discoursed with some of the most able woodmen, to make out the best and most facile way for a post, which in processe of tyme would be the king's best highway; as likewise pa.s.sages and accommodation at rivers, fords, or other necessary places."

[7] Brodhead, _History of the State of New York_, Vol. II., pp. 196-98.

The first post messenger started from New York, January 22, 1672/3, with sworn instructions to behave civilly, to inquire of Winthrop how to form the best post road, and to mark the trees for the direction of pa.s.sengers.

To quote from the _Memorial History of New York_:[8] "It is recorded as creating great excitement in the little village of Harlem, when that first postman drew up at the tavern door to refresh himself, as he undoubtedly did, with some good home-brewed Harlem beer--his 'port mantles' (port manteaux) crammed with 'letters and small portable goods,' the 'locked box' in the office of the colonial secretary acc.u.mulating the next month's mail, and what he had brought, being carried to the 'coffee house' to be 'well thumbed' until called for."

Notwithstanding this auspicious beginning, the project fell through, probably because of the Dutch and other wars of the time, and was not revived by this colony until 1684, when Thomas Dongan, governor of New York, and Thomas Treat, governor of Connecticut, conferred concerning a post between New York and the British colonies as far as Boston.[9]

[8] _Memorial History of N. Y._, Vol. I., pp. 355-56.

[9] Brodhead, _History of N. Y._, Vol. II., p. 413.

In the meantime Ma.s.sachusetts had taken up the question again,[10] the general court on January 6, 1673/4, ordering that post messengers, who had previously received no stated allowance, should thereafter receive 3d. a mile in money and full satisfaction for the expenses of man and beast.[11]

[10] _Ma.s.s. Historical Collections_, 3d Series, Vol. VII., p. 49.

[11] _Ma.s.s. Historical Collections_, 3d Series, Vol. VII., p. 48.

In 1677 (June 1), further action was taken, the general court, in response to a pet.i.tion of sundry merchants of Boston,[12] appointing John Hayward, scrivener, to "take in and convey letters according to the direction;" evidently there was more than one candidate, and one account poetically says of the court's decision: "It Richard May suggested John Hayward selected." The same year (October 8, 1674), the general court of Connecticut, meeting at Hartford,[13] gave specific instructions regarding the allowance for post riders; from Rye to Hartford, 12s. for the expenses of the horse, and 20s. for those of the man, with the addition of 8d. from the "midle of October to the last of Aprill," and the special injunction that "hyred" horses should not be deprived of their allowance. The number of routes mentioned, twenty-four, shows the extent of the effort made at that time.

[12] _Ma.s.s. Records_, Vol. V., pp. 147, 148.

[13] _Colonial Records of Connecticut_, Vol. II., p. 242.

The next move came from New York, Gov. Dongan's proposition of 1684,[14]

to which reference has already been made, adding to Lovelace's scheme of a post between New York and Boston, the suggestion that post houses be established along the coast from Carolina to Nova Scotia. A letter to him from Sir John Werden (August 27, 1684), whose t.i.tle to the profits from the English post office[15] was held to include the British provinces, approves the project and suggests that the privilege be offered for three or five years by way of form, with a reservation of not less than one-tenth of the profits to the duke. Six months later (February 18, 1684/5), Dongan writes[16] him that he had sent _permission_ to set up a post house but no _power_ to do it, although the neighboring colonies much desired it and in some places had established foot and horse messengers. He adds, "I am going to Connecticut to-morrow, to do all possible to settle a post office to Pemaquid this spring and endeavor settlement of post house at Boston."

[14] Brodhead, Vol. I.

[15] _Colonial Doc.u.ments of N. Y._, Vol. III., pp. 349-350.

[16] _Colonial Doc.u.ments of N. Y._, Vol. III., p. 355.

On his return from Connecticut (March 2, 1684/5), the governor ordained in the New York council,[17] "That for the better correspondence between the colonies of America, a post office be established; and that the rates for riding post be per mile three pence; for every single letter, not above one hundred miles, three pence; if more, proportionably."

[17] _Colonial Doc.u.ments of N. Y._, Vol. III.

A letter[18] from Sir Edmund Andros to John Allyn, dated November 23, 1687, speaks of a contemplated post from Boston to the farthest settlements of Connecticut, John Perry to go between Hartford, Fairfield and Stamford once a month in the winter, and every three weeks during the summer, as Allyn suggests in his answer. A letter from Samuel Sewall[19] to Samuel Mather, at Windsor, Connecticut, as early as March 6, 1685/6[20], mentions John Perry as bearer and a postage of 3d. That this project was carried out is evident from the complaint brought before the council of New York[21] by John Perry, that on his way to Boston he was laid hold on by warrant from the usurper Leysler, brought to New York and his letters opened, the apparent object being to destroy commerce and trade.

[18] _Connecticut Records_, Vol. III., pp. 392, 393, 398.

[19] _Letter Book of Sam. Sewall_, Vol. I., p. 25.

[20] The discrepancy in dates leads to the supposition that John Perry served as bearer before his actual appointment.

[21] _Colonial Doc.u.ments of N. Y._, Vol. III., p. 682.

June 11th, 1689, the Ma.s.sachusetts general court[22] appointed Richard Wilkins, postmaster, to receive all letters and deliver them out at 1d.

each.

[22] _Ma.s.s. Provincial Records._

In 1691/2, a new era opened for the colonial post office. On February 7th, of that year, William and Mary, by letters patent, granted[23] to "Thomas Neale, Esq., his executors, administrators and a.s.signes, full power and authority to erect, settle and establish within the chief parts of their majesties' colonies and plantations in America, an office or offices for the receiving and dispatching letters and pacquets, and to receive, send and deliver the same under such rates and sums of money as the planters shall agree to give, and to hold and enjoy the same for the terme of twenty-one years."

[23] _Ma.s.s. Historical Collections_, 3d series, Vol VII., pp. 50-51.

To govern and manage the general post office,[24] Neale appointed (April 4th, 1692) Andrew Hamilton, an Edinburgh merchant, who in 1685 had emigrated to New Jersey, and become special agent of the proprietors.

[24] _Ma.s.s. Historical Collections_, 3d series, Vol. VII., p. 51, also Palfrey's _History of New England_.

On the deposition of Andros in 1689, Hamilton embarked for England to consult with the proprietors; on the voyage was taken prisoner by the French, but soon released, and in 1692 was made governor of New Jersey.

Hamilton's application to the colonial legislatures[25] to "ascertain and establish such rates and terms as should tend to quicker maintenance of mutual correspondence among all neighboring colonies and plantations and that trade and commerce might be better preserved," met with a favorable response from the colonial governments.

[25] Palfrey, IV., p. 329.

He first presented the subject to Governor Fletcher and the New York legislature.[26] The council, meeting at Fort Wm. Henry, October 29, 1692,[27] after reading his proposition, and also a letter from the queen to the governor, urging him to a.s.sist Hamilton in settling the office, appointed Colonels Courtlandt and Bayard a committee[28] to deliver the proposition to the house of representatives, and in November (1692) the bill was pa.s.sed by both houses and signed by the governor.

The chief provisions of the bill are as follows:[29] A general letter office was to be "erected and established in some convenient place within the city of New York," one master of the general office to be appointed from time to time by Hamilton, who with his servant or agent should have the "receiving, taking up, ordering, dispatching, sending post or with speed and delivery of all letters and pacquets whatsoever, which shall from time to time be sent to and from all and every of the adjacent collonies and plantations on the main land and continent of America or any other of their majesties kingdoms and dominions beyond the Seas." The postmaster was to "prepare and provide horses and furniture unto all through posts and persons riding in post." Rates for single letters to or from Europe, the West Indies or elsewhere to and from beyond the seas, were 9d., and the same from Boston or Maryland to New York; from Virginia, 12d., and to or from any place not exceeding eighty miles from New York, four pence half penny.