The Post Office in Toronto 1830 to 1898
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The Post Office in Toronto to 1901 Prepared for PHILATELIC SPECIALISTS SOCIETY OF CANADA September 18, 2019 © Garfield Portch FRPSC 2019 The Post Office in York Significant Dates • 1793, May 31: Simcoe arrived at the Harbour of Toronto • 1793, Aug 26: town renamed York • 1797: Population of York was 241 (115 male, 97 female, 29 single male) • 1797 York became the Capital of Upper Canada • 1797 William Willcocks became the first postmaster in York • 1799: Postal service requested between York and Niagara • 1800, March 6: Land service between Montreal and York announced • 1801, Dec 19: Wm. Willcocks resigned in favour of William Allen • 1806 Donald McLean became postmaster • 1808 William Allen re-appointed postmaster William Willcocks, York’s First Postmaster • WILLCOCKS, WILLIAM, colonizer, merchant, judge, and office holder; b. January 1735/36, probably in Cork (Republic of Ireland), son of Charles Willcocks and Margaret Russell; m. c. 1760 Phoebe Jackson of Birr (County Offaly), and they had eight children; d. 7 Jan. 1813 in York (Toronto), Upper Canada. • Resigned 1801 • http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/willcocks_w illiam_5E.html 1798 February 11 York, U.C. to London, England prior to establishment of a post office at York. Carried outside the mails to England carried as a ship letter a Bristol and rated 1/3 (stg) collect. The letter is from John White, Attorney General of Upper Canada who was the first man killed in a duel in York in 1800. Provenance: Gems of Canadian Philately, Capex 96 – Allan Steinhart William Allen, York’s 2nd Postmaster • 1801 succeeded Wm. Willcocks as postmaster at York • Part of group founding Bank of Upper Canada • Chairman of Canada Company • Closely associated with the Family Compact • Portrait from Toronto Public Library 1803 March 20 (Kimmo Salonen collection) York’s First Post Office • Opened in 1815 by William Allen • East side of Frederick Street between King and Front Streets • Building demolished Brockville to York • Posted at Brockville October 8, 1823 • To the Receiver General at York • Rated 10d (stg) or 11d (cy) for a single page travelling 201 to 300 miles James Scott Howard: York’s 4th Postmaster • Born in Ireland September 2, 1798 • Emigrated to Fredericton in 1819 • Moved to York in 1819 assisting William Allen, Postmaster, Customs collector and Treasurer • July 1828 became Postmaster of York Illustration from Town of York Historical Society website York’s Second Post Office • 1828 to 1830 • South side of Adelaide Street between Jarvis and George Streets • Building demolished 1828 Nov 3 Straight Line Early Mail to Lieutenant Governor • Posted at London, England November 11, 1828 • To Major General Sir John Colborne (Lieutenant Governor, Upper Canada, appointed in August 1828) • Rated 2/2 (sterling) London to Halifax via Falmouth Packet equal to 2/5 (currency) plus 1/8 (cy) Halifax to Quebec plus 1/6 (cy) Quebec to York. Total 5/7 (cy) to be paid. York’s Third Post Office • 1830 to 1833 • West side of George Street south of Adelaide Street East • Building demolished Domestic Mail from York • Posted at York, July 10, 1830 • To London, Ontario • Rated 9d currency for a single letter travelling 101 to 200 miles • This is the earliest recorded use of this hammer Expanding Needs of the Post Office • 1833 population of York was 9,000 • The postmaster was responsible for premises, hiring and paying clerks, and purchasing supplies • Howard needed new premises • March 1833 Howard entered negotiations with the Bank of Upper Canada (William Allen, President) for wooded property on Duke Street immediately east of the bank • Bank of Upper Canada York’s Fourth Post Office • Property purchased by James Scott Howard from the Bank of Upper Canada • Private family residence on upper floor and east end • Post Office at the west end on the main floor • The new Post Office included a reading room, fireplace, tables, chairs and writing supplies. • Open 8 a.m.to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and one hour Sunday morning for church goers Franking Privilege for Postmasters • Posted at York December 5, 1833, December 5 • Single folded letter • Handstamped FREE as the addressee, F.S. Walsh, was Postmaster at Vittoria March 6, 1834 Toronto incorporated as CITY OF TORONTO York’s 4th post office becomes Toronto’s first post office The Post Office in Toronto James Scott Howard, Postmaster 1834 - 1837 1834 Postal Service • Toronto population 9256 • Mail service between Kingston and Toronto was twice per week with 22 stops en route. • By 1837 mail was arriving and leaving Toronto 6 days per week. • Expensive to mail a single sheet letter: 4½ pence for a single letter up to 60 miles, 7 pence for 60 to 100 miles and 9 pence for 100 to 200 miles • Comparison: milk 3½ pence per quart and eggs 3 pence per dozen Late Use of YORK Hand Stamp • Posted at Toronto May 10, 1834 • Single letter with FREE franking to F.S. Walsh • The YORK handstamp continued in use as the TORONTO handstamps were not yet available 1834 Drop Letter • Posted at Toronto July 4, 1834 • Continued late use of the YORK handstamp • This is the latest use I have observed • Rated 1 penny as a drop letter, carried by favour from Niagara • from the collection of Kimmo Salonen CITY of TORONTO / U.C. Handstamp • Posted at Toronto November 13, 1834 • Early use of TORONTO handstamp (ERD Sep 5/34) • Impression continues in red • Rated FREE as the addressee was the postmaster at Queenston Adolphus Egerton Ryerson • Methodist minister, educator and publisher • Advocate of good schooling for all • Ally of MacKenzie for political reform • Appointed Chief Superintendant for Education in Upper Canada in 1844 Illustration from Wikipedia Letter to Egerton Ryerson 1835, January 13 London, England to Toronto 1835: Continuing Expansion • 1835 Howard moved his family to ‘Olive Grove’ (near the present Yonge & St. Clair • Additional space at Duke Street became available for expanded postal operations • Post Office staff of six. • Howard offered position of Post Office Surveyor of Upper Canada. • He declined and the position was given to Charles Albert Berczy (postmaster at Amherstburg since 1829) CITY of TORONTO / U.C. Toronto Type 1 • May 27, 1836 • Impression continues in red • TOO LATE is Jarrett type 762 William Lyon MacKenzie • Born March 12, 1795 • Owner of The Colonial Advocate • Agitator for political reform • First mayor of Toronto • Opposed Family Compact • Opposed Lt. Gov. Bond Head • Led rebellion in December 1837 Illustration from Wikipedia Sir Francis Bond Head • Accidental Lt. Governor of Upper Canada • Opposed W.L. MacKenzie • Quietly opposed James Scott Howard • Appointed Charles Berczy as Post Office Surveyor (to spy on Howard) Illustration from John Ross Robertson Library CITY of TORONTO / U.C. 1837, December 20 PAID 7 to the border then 10¢ collect US postage (Kimmo Salonen collection) 1837: Rebellion in Upper Canada • Wm. Lyon Mackenzie led the rebels against The Family Compact • Compact led by Archbishop John Strachan supported by Lt.- Governor Sir Francis Bond Head and the families running the Bank of Upper Canada • Howard and the post office remained absolutely neutral • Berczy posted to Toronto Post Office as a spy • Berczy opened mail and accused Howard of being part of the rebellion • 1837, December 13: Howard dismissed as postmaster and began a lawsuit to prove his innocence (that is another story) • 1838, April: Berczy appointed Toronto postmaster Family Compact Elite Members 1838: News of Rebels • Toronto was the capital of Upper Canada • MPP John Fowler writing to the Editor of the Bytown Gazette • Mackenzie in prison is U.S.A.; rebels scattered from Navy Island; Bond Head to be replaced Historical Content of Letter • Mackenzie in jail in Buffalo • Rebels have scattered • Navy Island no longer occupied by rebels • Samuel Lount arrested and held in Toronto • Bond Head to be replaced as Lt-Governor • Replacement to be Sir George Arthur Historical Footnotes • December 1837 Howard launched an appeal to reverse his dismissal. • When the appeal was denied, Berczy relocated the post office to Yonge and Front Streets. • Howard rented the vacant post office premises to Dominique Checkini and his wife who were ballet dancers who used the premises for dance instruction studios. • In 1841 Howard sold the building to hardware merchant Thomas Harris for a private residence. 1838, March 22 • Late use of red Toronto handstamp • Permission for use of red expired with Howard’s dismissal TFPO has been restored to an operating post office and historical site The Post Office in Toronto Charles Albert Berczy, Postmaster 1838 - 1853 Charles Albert Berczy • Replaced Howard as postmaster of Toronto in April 1838 • Continued to spy and run a series of 13 secret agents • Director of the Bank of Upper Canada, 1840 – 43 • President of Consumers’ Gas Light & Water Company (1846- 56) • W.H. Griffin report “never Photo from John Ross Robertson Library distinguished himself” • Suicide in 1858 2nd Toronto Post Office, 1839 to 1845 Front St. west of Yonge (facing Yonge) (John Ross Robertson Library) General Changes in 1840s • By the end of the 1840s Toronto population was 21,000+ • 3 clerks on duty • 1 letter carrier, John McClosky • Prepaid charges marked in red • Unpaid letters marked in black Handstamp in Black • October 18, 1839 • Toronto to Kingston • Receiving mark reverts to black as permission for red was not extended to Berczy • My earliest example of black marking for the John S. Cartwright represented Lennox & Addington in receiver and “TOO the 13th Parliament of Upper Canada and again in the 1st Parliament of the Province of Canada. LATE” Steamboat Mail • June 5, 1841: Posted at Niagara on board a cross-lake steamer (likely The Transit) • Received at Toronto the same day • Rated 4½ pence (unpaid) for single letter less than 60 miles • If by land the rate would have been 7 pence Money Letter • 1841, June 5 • “Cash” – forerunner of Registered Mail • Contained a cheque as noted on the reverse • Rated 1/6 which is double the 9d rate for a single letter travelling 100 – 300 miles • Note italic “TOO LATE” Late Mailing • December 18, 1841 • TOO LATE in black • manuscript marking indicates mail held until Dec.