Library and Archives Canada- lookup request

[penny1]

Hello,
I wondered if someone may live close to the LAC in Ottawa and be able to do a look up for me? According to the LAC site, they have Mail Service Contract Registers from 1885-1892.  My gg grandfather Silas Gratton was supposed to have a stagecoach and family stories tell he had a mail contract.  I have not done any research there before (I live in another province), but I am hoping someone that has, may be able to assist me.
Thank you kindly
penny

[Jacquie in Canada]

Looks like there is truth to your family story. The Our Roots website has a digital copy of "The history of Stephen Township". There are only a couple of mentions of Silas Gratton that I could find but it did say:

"By 1871, Brewster received mail twice a week and by 1884, three times a week, from Parkhill. Mail couriers between Brewster and Parkhill were: A. Armstrong, S. Gratton, F. Gratton and J. Ravelle. These couriers no doubt serviced the Corbett, Greenwood, Harpley and Grand Bend post offices when they were opened."
Starts on this page: http://www.rootschat.com/links/0xqk/
Ends on this page: http://www.rootschat.com/links/0xqj/

Also the 1891 Canada census does indicate that Silas Gratton's professions were farmer and stage?? (stage is written clearly but the rest isn't).

Jacquie

[thegabriel]

from reading this page:

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/022/022-913.001-e.html
____________________________________________________________________________
"Mail couriers and those who operated rural mail service routes were hired by contract and were not Post Office employees. References to contracts can be found in the annual reports of the Postmaster General, 1851-1917, and the ARCHIVED - Government of Canada Files database. Select Detailed Search.

Keywords: place name
Finding Aid: 3-43

For records from 1839 to 1893, also try searching without a place name, using only the Finding Aid number."
___________________________________________________________________________


I went on to to search and find what are probably the pertinent Microfilms to look up.
They may have to be requested first if they are not on site.
If no one else has yet, when I go to the LAC next, I will look into it.
I say, "look into it" because I don't know how findable one person is in the microfilms.
Also, I don't know when I will go to the LAC, could be days or weeks...?

_______________________________________________________________

(90    Open. Records are available for consultation without restriction. )


6    Reference:    RG3 , Post Office , Series E-2 , Volume 689 , Reel T-2047 , Access code: 90
   File Title:    Mail Service Contracts Registers
   Outside Dates:    1879-1887
   Finding Aid number:     3-43
7    Reference:    RG3 , Post Office , Series E-2 , Volume 690 , Reel T-2047 , Access code: 90
   File Title:    Mail Service Contracts Registers
   Outside Dates:    1882-1888
   Finding Aid number:     3-43
8    Reference:    RG3 , Post Office , Series E-2 , Volume 691 , Reel T-2048 , Access code: 90
   File Title:    Mail Service Contracts Registers
   Outside Dates:    1884-1890
   Finding Aid number:     3-43
9    Reference:    RG3 , Post Office , Series E-2 , Volume 692 , Reel T-2048 , Access code: 90
   File Title:    Mail Service Contracts Registers
   Outside Dates:    1885-1892
   Finding Aid number:     3-43
10    Reference:    RG3 , Post Office , Series E-2 , Volume 693 , Reel T-2048 , Access code: 90
   File Title:    Mail Service Contracts Registers
   Outside Dates:    1887-1893
   Finding Aid number:     3-43

[penny1]

Thank you kindly for the information Jacquie.  I will check out that link!

[penny1]

Thank you very much.  I certainly appreciate the offer.
penny

from reading this page:

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/022/022-913.001-e.html
____________________________________________________________________________
"Mail couriers and those who operated rural mail service routes were hired by contract and were not Post Office employees. References to contracts can be found in the annual reports of the Postmaster General, 1851-1917, and the ARCHIVED - Government of Canada Files database. Select Detailed Search.

Keywords: place name
Finding Aid: 3-43

For records from 1839 to 1893, also try searching without a place name, using only the Finding Aid number."
___________________________________________________________________________


I went on to to search and find what are probably the pertinent Microfilms to look up.
They may have to be requested first if they are not on site.
If no one else has yet, when I go to the LAC next, I will look into it.
I say, "look into it" because I don't know how findable one person is in the microfilms.
Also, I don't know when I will go to the LAC, could be days or weeks...?

_______________________________________________________________

(90    Open. Records are available for consultation without restriction. )


6    Reference:    RG3 , Post Office , Series E-2 , Volume 689 , Reel T-2047 , Access code: 90
   File Title:    Mail Service Contracts Registers
   Outside Dates:    1879-1887
   Finding Aid number:     3-43
7    Reference:    RG3 , Post Office , Series E-2 , Volume 690 , Reel T-2047 , Access code: 90
   File Title:    Mail Service Contracts Registers
   Outside Dates:    1882-1888
   Finding Aid number:     3-43
8    Reference:    RG3 , Post Office , Series E-2 , Volume 691 , Reel T-2048 , Access code: 90
   File Title:    Mail Service Contracts Registers
   Outside Dates:    1884-1890
   Finding Aid number:     3-43
9    Reference:    RG3 , Post Office , Series E-2 , Volume 692 , Reel T-2048 , Access code: 90
   File Title:    Mail Service Contracts Registers
   Outside Dates:    1885-1892
   Finding Aid number:     3-43
10    Reference:    RG3 , Post Office , Series E-2 , Volume 693 , Reel T-2048 , Access code: 90
   File Title:    Mail Service Contracts Registers
   Outside Dates:    1887-1893
   Finding Aid number:     3-43