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Papers from the Historical Seminary of Brown University

Edited by J. FRANKLIN JAMESON, Ph. D., Professor of History

THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE COLONIAL POST-OFFICE

by MARY E. WOOLLEY

Reprinted from the Publications of the Rhode Island Historical Society

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 ... and the uncertainty when and how to convey letters."

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 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 ."

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

This action on the part of the Massachusetts 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 passed 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.

Laws and Ordinances of New Netherlands.

Laws and Ordinances of New Netherlands, pp. 379, 380.

Since private shippers were in the habit of taking letters from the New Netherlands and Cura?oa, without placing them in a sealed bag, the directors of the West India Company, at the chamber in Amsterdam, in 1659 adopted a resolution requiring captains of vessels to enter into bond not to carry letters to Holland from New Netherlands or Cura?oa, unless received from persons authorized to collect them, under penalty of one hundred Carolus guilders; and on the second of the following June the director general and council of the colony passed 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 Massachusetts 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: "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 Saturday 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 passages and accommodation at rivers, fords, or other necessary places."

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 passengers.

In the meantime Massachusetts had taken up the question again, 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.

In 1677 , further action was taken, the general court, in response to a petition of sundry merchants of Boston, 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 , the general court of Connecticut, meeting at Hartford, 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.

On his return from Connecticut , the governor ordained in the New York council, "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."

A letter 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 to Samuel Mather, at Windsor, Connecticut, as early as March 6, 1685/6, 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 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.

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

June 11th, 1689, the Massachusetts general court appointed Richard Wilkins, postmaster, to receive all letters and deliver them out at 1d. each.

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 to "Thomas Neale, Esq., his executors, administrators and assignes, 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."

To govern and manage the general post office, Neale appointed Andrew Hamilton, an Edinburgh merchant, who in 1685 had emigrated to New Jersey, and become special agent of the proprietors.

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 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.

He first presented the subject to Governor Fletcher and the New York legislature. The council, meeting at Fort Wm. Henry, October 29, 1692, after reading his proposition, and also a letter from the queen to the governor, urging him to assist Hamilton in settling the office, appointed Colonels Courtlandt and Bayard a committee to deliver the proposition to the house of representatives, and in November the bill was passed by both houses and signed by the governor. The chief provisions of the bill are as follows: 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.

Copied from the original MS. at Albany.

All postmasters were freed from excise and all public services, with the exception of the postmaster of the city of New York, who was exempt only from public services. Any persons or "body politick or corporate others than the P. M. Gen. aforesaid" presuming to "carry, recarry or deliver letters for hire, other than as before excepted, or to set up or imploy any foot-post, horse-post or pacquet boat whatsoever" for the carrying of letters or pacquets, or providing "horses and furniture for the horses of any through posts, or persons riding post with a guide and horn," should forfeit ?100 current money, one-half going to the governor and the other half to the postmaster-general. All letters and pacquets brought by ship or vessel were to be delivered to the postmaster of New York or to his servants, provided "that no letters going up or coming down Hudson's river and going to or from Long Island shall be carried to the post-office, everything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding," this clause, together with that regarding exemption from public service and excise, being amendments by the council to the bill as presented by the house.

The act was in force for three years, and in 1695 a bill was passed for continuing the act three years longer, "every article, rule and clause therein mentioned to remain in full force and effect."

In 1699 the act was again continued, this time for two years, the new bill stating that "the advantage which the inhabitants of this province daily have, the mutual correspondence which they have with their neighboring collonies and plantations and for the promoting of trade and wealth of each other, encourage to the continuance of the same." In 1702 the act coming again before the Assembly and Council was continued for four and one-half years from 1700; and in 1705 it was re-continued for three years from October, 1704.

Concerning the passage of this act Lord Cornbury wrote to the Lords of Trade that it was absolutely necessary; otherwise the post to Boston and Philadelphia would be lost.

At the meeting of the first session of the eleventh Assembly at Fort Anne, August 20, 1708, Governor Cornbury in his opening speech said: "I can't omit putting you in mind that Act for encouraging a Post Office is expired; that it is of so general Advantage that I hope you will revive it." The next month the act was considered and passed. At a meeting of the council in New York, June 21, 1709, one of the members was ordered to go to the assembly and "desire them to provide for and settle a Post from Albany to Westfield for holding a Correspondence Between Boston and Albany for the service of the present Expedition the Province of Massachusetts Bay having already settled a Post from Boston to Westfield;" but action was not taken before 1715.

The letters of this period throw light upon the condition of the post with regard to regularity and frequency.

The Earl of Bellomont writing from New York to Secretary Popple in London, May 25, 1698, says: "The sure way of conveying letters to me is by way of Boston, whence the post comes every week to this place;" and Lord Cornbury writes to the Lords of Trade, December 12, 1702: "But I entreat your Lords to consider that but few ships goe directly from this port to England, So that I must depend upon the Boston and Philadelphia posts for conveying my letters to such ships as may be going to England; and sometimes both these Conveyances faile;" and again in a letter to the Lords of Trade, June 30, 1704: "I beg your Lords to consider likewise the difficulty I lye under, with respect to opportunity's of writing into England, which is thus--The post that goes through this place goes Eastward as far as Boston, but Westward he goes no further than Philadelphia and there is no other post upon all this Continent, so that I have any letters to send to Virginia or to Maryland I must either send an Express who is often retarded for want of boats to cross those great rivers they must go over or else for want of horses, or else I must send them by some passengers who are going thither. The least I have known any Express take to go from hence to Virginia, has been three weeks, so that very often, before I can hear from Coll: Nicholson what time the fleet will sail and send my packets, the fleet is sailed. I hope we shall find a way to remedy that shortly, for Coll: Nicholson and Coll: Seymour have wrote me word that they will be here in September, and I do then intend to propose to them the settling of a Post, to go through to Virginia.... I must further acquaint Your Lords that our letters do not come safe by the way of Boston, I have had several letters by that way which have been broken open."

Cornbury's scheme, as he tells us in another letter to the Lords of Trade, written November 6, 1704, was to lay a tax in each province by act of assembly, for defraying the charges of the post, which might then have gone from Boston to North Carolina, but his failure to meet the men with whom he proposed to discuss it, thwarted the plan.

June 9, 1693, Massachusetts passed in council an act for encouraging the post office, selecting Boston as the place for the general letter office, the master to be appointed by Hamilton. Rates to Europe or to any place beyond the seas, were fixed at 2d., to different places within the colonies, they varied according to distance; from Boston to Rhode Island they were 6d., to the Connecticut colonies 9d., to New York 12d., to Eastern Pennsylvania or to Western Jersey 15d., and to Maryland or to Virginia 2s. A fine of 40s. in the current money of the colony, was imposed upon those who carried or delivered letters without authority, one-half the fine recurring to their majesties for the support of the government of the province, and one-half to the postmaster-general for suing and prosecuting for same. Non-delivery or neglect of maintaining a constant post was fined 5s., one-half going to their majesties and one-half to the party aggrieved; the ferryman "neglecting, refusing or delaying conveyance," also forfeited 5s. The postmaster was to pay the shipmaster one-half penny for each letter or pacquet brought, but all letters of public concern for their majesties' service were to be free of charge.

That the first few years of the post in Massachusetts were not very lucrative, is shown by the numerous complaints of grievances and petitions of Duncan Campbell, appointed by Hamilton deputy postmaster. The charges are thrice the income, he complains, and begs that a salary be given, urging the example of the governor and assembly of New York in voting ?50 per annum for the support of the office in that province. This petition meeting with no response, he asked for freedom from public rates, taxes and excise for retailing strong drink, and in 1694 obtained a grant of ?25 per annum from the public treasury of the province for two years. In 1696 he petitioned for a renewal of the act encouraging a post office and also for a continuation of the postmaster's salary. The salary was voted , but no steps taken toward reviving the Post Office Act, for in 1703 John Campbell renewed the petition to the general court stating that the act had not been in force after 1696, and praying that since Hamilton was out of purse to the extent of ?1,400 restitution might be made by a continuance of the privilege to his heirs. The same petition was presented to Governor Joseph Dudley and to the council and representatives in General Assembly two months later , but with no result as far as renewal was concerned. Five years later , a committee was appointed to inquire what allowance should be made for encouraging the post office, but up to the time of Queen Anne's Act in 1710 no decision had been reached.

Campbell's memorandum of 1703 is interesting as showing the cost of maintaining the office between Philadelphia and Piscataqua. The annual outlay was ?680, and the receipts little more than ?400, leaving a deficit of ?275.

The Campbells had other grievances. In a petition to the governor, the council and the assembly, soon after the act of 1693, Duncan begged that a fine be imposed for failure to deliver letters from ships to the postmaster. In 1694 the request was repeated, and in answer to this petition a bill was presented ordering all persons not bringing letters which ought to be delivered into the post office, to pay four times as much as was due on the letters, damages to be made good to the party injured. The house voted in the affirmative May 8, 1694/5, but the council seems to have taken no action in the matter. In 1696 Campbell sent a similar petition, asking also that the rates on foreign letters might be advanced from two to three pence, and the payment to masters of ships from an half penny to 1d., "which," he adds, "will be a great encouragement to masters not to deliver news to other persons."

In 1703, John Campbell offered a memorial to the general court, complaining "that every body carrying of letters to and from towns where post offices are settled, is a very great hindrance and discouragement to said office," letters from Connecticut colony being carried to Piscataqua, and after lying in the office there some weeks and months, at last come to Boston, the office being blamed for the delay without a cause, and that one-half the letters from Europe and West Indies and other places by sea, were not brought to the office at all. The ferrymen also came in for their share of blame, as being very backward in carrying those employed in the post office, sometimes even demanding money for ferriage. The petition was granted , and ?20 for the year past and ?40 for the one ensuing allowed to Campbell. Again in 1706 ?50 was granted to him. In 1709 he wrote to the Governor that six months after his appointment by Hamilton in 1701, he had represented to the General Assembly that he could not serve, since the salary was so small, and two members of the upper house had then suggested a salary of ?40, which, reduced by the vote of the lower house to ?20, had been paid until within three years. He recalled the fact that the post office saved the country above ?150 per annum, which it would be obliged to pay for express, if there were no office. The public letters, passed free, had cost more than the postmaster's allowance, besides the charge of sending the governor's letters weekly to Roxbury "in times of snow or rain." The queen, unwilling to augment the charge of the office to what it was in Hamilton's time, was then at above ?200 sterling charges yearly, to support it between New Hampshire and Pennsylvania, and if the several offices had half salary allowed them, it would cost her majesty ?100 sterling more. Accordingly he thought it but just that public letters for the time past should be paid for, the postmaster recompensed for sending the governor's letters to Roxbury, and some provision made for conveying them in the future. Otherwise, he would be obliged to represent the case to the postmaster-general of Great Britain, which he had foreborne to do, hoping that the general court would prevent it.

The council took no cognizance of the petition, as we learn from its renewal in 1711.

The action of New Hampshire relative to a post, occurred at about the same time as that of Massachusetts. John Usher, writing to the New Hampshire council, from Boston, March 25, 1693, said that the postmaster-general in Boston was desirous of knowing what salary would be allowed or how much a letter for a post from Piscataqua to Boston, adding that it might be an advantage to gain news from England and the West Indies, and that they would like a post weekly or once in two weeks. The council was of the opinion that a post was necessary, and that there should be an allowance per letter, according to other places in like circumstances, proportionate to the distance from Boston, "Every one to pay for his own Lett." A record in the "Journal of the Council and Assembly" of July 29, 1693, says: "Maj. Vaughan and Mr. Waldron were appointed to prepare and drawe up a Bill for settling a Post Office in this Province," and on the fourth of August the council concurred with the bill which had been passed by the lower house.

It was enacted that "a Poste Office and officers be henceforth appointed and settled in some Convenient place within the Towne of Portsmouth for Receiveing & dispatching awaye according to direction all letters and packetts that shall be brought thereinto & no Person or Persons whatsoever shall presume to Carry or recarry any letter or letters for hire but only such as belongs to the Poste Office dureing their power and authority from the aforesaid Thos. Nele Except such letters of Merchants and Masters which shall be sent by any Master of any Ship Boat or other vessel of Merchandise or by any other Person employed by them for the carrying of such letters aforesaid According to the Respective Direction And also Except letters to be sent by any private friend or friends in their way of Journey or Travill or by any Messenger or Messengers sent on purpose for or concerning the private affaires of any Person or Persons." Whoever offended against this Act should "forfeit the sum of ten pounds one halfe to their Majesties Towards the support of the Governor of this province The other halfe to the Postmaster Genrl." All "Letters & Packetts" were to be delivered by the importer at the post house or to the post officer, receiving in return a half-penny for each, the person to whom directed paying two pence for each letter, and for a "Packett no lesse than 3 letters besides Bills Loading Invoyces Gazette etc four pence. And for each letter brought from Boston in to this Province not exceeding five pence and Doble for a Packett and so proportionately for Letters on this sid Boston shall be paid with the customary allowance in the Government from whense they come." Neglect of duty in keeping constant post or in delivering letters was punishable by a fine of ?5, "The one halfe to their Majesties the other halfe to the party agreved." All letters concerning their majesties' service were to be received and dispatched with all possible speed free from charge. It was "further enacted and ordained that the officer of the Post House haveing Licence granted to Retaile Beer Sider & Ale within Doors according to Law shall have his Excise free and no officer of the Excise shall demand anything of him for the same and his Person to be excused from watching and warding." The foregoing Act was to continue in force for three years from the publication, but in 1694 , an additional act for the encouragement of the post office was passed, since "notwithstanding a late act for the Setling a Poste Office within this Province Sundrie Letters are brought by ships and other vessell a longe shore to the Prejudice of those who are at the charge of keeping a poste goeing once a week by land." It was "Enacted by the Liet. Governor Counsill & Representatives convened in Genl. Assembly" that thereafter all masters of sloops or other vessels arriving within the Province should deliver all letters brought in by them, except such as concerned the loading of their vessels, to the collector or other post officer to be carried "with all convenient speed" to the post house.

The next year , a petition from Campbell for encouraging the post office, was answered by a bill settling a salary of ?12 for the ensuing year. In 1698 another petition from Campbell for continuing the support of the post office was read in the council and sent to the assembly, but returned without their allowing anything. July 2d, 1703, a committee of both houses was appointed to consider the petition of John Campbell, Duncan's successor, and in February , 1703/4, ?21 4s. was voted.

A year later the council and General Assembly voted to pay ?6 out of the next provincial rate, to Campbell for his "extraordinary Service in forwarding his Excellency's and Government letters for her Majesty's service relating to this province;" again in 1707 he was granted ?6 out of the treasury, and in 1708 another ?6 for "diligent care of expresses and letters."

The first entry in the Colonial Records of Rhode Island regarding a post is in 1774.

Connecticut's earliest efforts toward the establishment of a post have already been mentioned in connection with New York and Massachusetts. On May 10th, 1694, the court of election at Hartford passed the following Act for the encouragement of a post office.

"Whereas their most excelent Ma King W and Queen Mary by their letters pattents have granted a Post Office to be set up in these partes of N. E. for the receiving and disspatching of letters and pacquetts from one place to another for their Ma speciall service and the benefit of theire Ma good Subjects in these parts. This court being willing to encourage so good a worke, doe order and enact that all such persons as shall be imployed by the Post Master Gen. in the severall stages within this Colony of Connecticut shall and may pass and repasse all and every ferry within this Colony, from the day of the date hereof for and during this courts pleasure, without payeing any rate or sume of money either for his own or horses passage."

May, 1698, in response to a complaint that posts and other travellers met with great difficulty in journeying through the colony, especially in the township of Stonington, the court ordered the selectmen to lay out convenient highways, kept cleared and open, unless they passed through ancient common fields, or the general or county court ordered otherwise, and "made good with sufficient causeis and bridges as need shall require," failure to observe these instructions to be punished by a fine of ?10 into the public treasury, and for a continuance of the offence by an annual fine of ?10 to be levied upon the selectment or inhabitants.

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