Post riders facts for kids

Post riders were people who delivered mail using a horse. This system of delivering mail existed at different times and in different places throughout history. These riders were part of a network that had regular schedules and was often managed by the government or a company with special permission from the government.

These networks used special routes called post roads. These roads had markers to show distances and important stops. Unlike other people who delivered messages on horseback, post riders collected and delivered mail along their route. They would meet other riders at certain times and places to exchange mail that needed to go further. This way, letters could travel reliably from one rider to another. This helped mail cover long distances quickly and at a lower cost.

While post riders sometimes worked with local mail services in big cities, they were usually a separate system. They had their own management and pricing rules.

History of Mail Delivery

For a long time, people have used riders on horses to send messages. Ancient empires had networks of relay riders. But these were mostly for the government or military. They usually did not carry mail for regular people. What made post riders different was that their service was open to everyone. It was created to make life easier for the public. Another key difference was that post riders followed a strict schedule.

Early Public Mail Services

The idea of a royal messenger becoming a public mail carrier changed over time. But there are some important early examples.

The Hanseatic League's Riders

The Hanseatic League was a group of trading cities in Europe. They had a regular mounted mail service as early as 1274. This service connected their main towns and the castles that protected their merchants. They handled both business and diplomatic messages. This system was well-organized. It had its own horses used only for mail. At each stop, the time the mailbag was received and sent was written on each letter.

The Holy Roman Empire's Network

The Habsburg dynasty ruled a large area called The Holy Roman Empire. To connect their lands, Franz von Taxis set up a courier network. By the mid-1500s, this network covered most of Western Europe. Permanent post stations were built about a day's journey apart. Over time, these stations became important places. They were meeting spots, inns, public rooms, trade centers, and places to keep horses. Post stations helped many villages and cities grow. While the service was not just for government use, private people needed a special permission from the government to use it.

Post Riders in England

In England, during the time of Queen Elizabeth I, post riders truly began to serve everyone. This happened even though the government officially tried to limit public use. Merchants, farmers, police officers, innkeepers, soldiers, and sailors all used the postal system. This shows that many ordinary people could read and write.

Many horses were needed for this system. Each part of the journey was only about 10 miles. After that, a fresh horse was used. Most of the horses were kept at inns or hotels. For the first time, there was also a system of post roads. At first, this term meant the fixed routes of the service, not just the roads themselves.

Mail in the American Colonies

In the American Colonies, mail routes were given to contractors. These contractors promised to deliver mail in a certain area for a set time. When mail first arrived in a town, people would go to a central place, usually the general store, to pick it up. It was in the New World that post riders provided the longest and most complete service. Eventually, other ways of transport replaced them.

In 1780, the mail system in the United States was small. It had a Postmaster General (the head of the mail system), a Secretary, three surveyors, and an Inspector of Dead Letters. It also had 26 post riders, 75 post offices, and about 2,000 miles of post roads. Postmasters and post riders did not have to serve in the military. This was to make sure mail service was not stopped. These post riders had the special right to carry letters, papers, and packages on their routes. Anyone who broke this rule had to pay a fine. The post riders had to make good time, as clearly stated. Milestones became very important to measure their progress.

An important law in 1838 changed things for post riders. The United States Congress said that all railroads in the United States were post roads. This meant two things. First, railroads were used more to carry mail. Second, post riders were mostly used only in areas that did not have railway routes. In places without railroads, contractors still carried mail. This type of mail transport, not by water or railroad, was called a "star route service."

How Post Riders Worked

Post riders followed strict schedules to make sure mail arrived on time. They would travel between towns, meeting other riders to exchange mail. This allowed letters to travel long distances by being passed from one rider to the next.

For example, a schedule from 1766 in Virginia showed how it worked:

• The Hampton rider would arrive in Williamsburg every Tuesday and Saturday at noon. They would go through York town and return to Hampton the same evening.
• The Hanover rider would leave Hanover town early every Monday and Friday. They would meet the Hampton rider in Williamsburg every Tuesday and Saturday at noon. Then they would return to Hanover town on Wednesday and Sunday nights.
• Other riders connected different towns like Richmond, Petersburg, Fredericksburg, and Urbanna, all following specific days and times for their routes and mail exchanges.

See also

• Boston Post Road
• Bicycle messenger
• Mail delivery by animal
• Pony Express
• Portmanteau (mail)

Images for kids

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  Cabbies in Bucharest, around 1868.