In 1987, the author published The Gold Rush Mail Agents to California and Their Postal Markings, 1849-1852.1 This work documented the PAN. & SAN. FRAN. S.S. markings, along with other mail agent and despatch agent markings. It uncovered their origin and the names of the mail agents who struck the markings. This discovery came about in part because of research in the Postmaster Generals’ Order Books, currently located in the National Archives. These manuscript journals record payments made to the California mail agents, including their time in San Francisco and on the Isthmus of Panama. With this information one can determine the steamships on which the mail agents traveled. More importantly, the tables can confirm that a manuscript marking on a cover is indeed a mail agent marking. For a more complete understanding of the mail agents’ activities and the trip tables presented here, readers are referred to The Gold Rush Mail Agents to California and Their Postal Markings, 1849-1852.
The author’s United States Incoming Steamship Mail, 1847-1875, published in 2000, updated the current knowledge on the mail agent and despatch agent markings in Chapter XI.2 It presented several new markings and additional dates of use. However, the lengthy mail agent trip tables were not updated.
The mail agent trip tables in The Gold Rush Mail Agents to California and Their Postal Markings, 1849-1852 ran through March 1853. This date was chosen because it was the end of Volume 29 of the Postmaster Generals’ Order Books and it covered the last known use of the PAN. & SAN. FRAN. S.S. marking in June 1852. However, a manuscript mail agent marking on a cover, dated in October 1856, demonstrates that the mail agents were still operating on this date.3 Earlier speculation was that perhaps the mail agents had been dispensed with in 1855 when the Panama Railroad was completed across the Isthmus of Panama. A recent trip to Washington, D.C., and the National Archives, answered this speculation and made completing the trip tables possible. It turns out the mail agents continued to accompany the mail from New York to San Francisco and back until March 1857, at which time Aaron Brown became Postmaster General.
The following two tables were put together from a number of sources, among them the New York Herald, New York Daily Times, New York Daily Tribune, Panama Star, Panama Echo, Alta California, the diary of J. Goldsborough Bruff, the Chapin correspondence and the Postmaster Generals’ Order Books. While most of the data is well documented, this author assigned a few of the trips without complete confidence. These latter items appear with a question mark after the mail agent’s or the steamship’s name. In all cases, the source for each portion of the trip has been documented. The trips have been separated into their westbound and eastbound portions for clarity.
These detailed tables would not have been possible without the data contained in the Postmaster Generals’ Order Books. The first entry that addressed the traveling mail agents was the appointment of McLean and Seymour on November 10, 1849. Many of these first entries are very minimal, giving only the amount of compensation but not including any dates of transit over the Isthmus. During a good portion of 1850 some mail agents did not travel from New York to San Francisco but rather stayed over on the Isthmus, superintending the mails from Chagres to Panama, and then returned with another mail to New York without having been to San Francisco. By the end of 1850, the entries in the Postmaster Generals’ Order Books became more consistent and usually contained four dates. The wording was usually something like “for expenses on the Isthmus between (date) and (date) going and (date) and (date) returning.” These dates bracketed the period the agent was on the Isthmus, the first date approximated when the when the steamship from New York arrived at Chagres, the second date was when the Pacific steamship cleared Panama for San Francisco, the third date was when the Pacific steamship arrived back at Panama, and the fourth date was when the Atlantic steamship cleared Chagres on the return trip.
Preparing these tables required accurate sailing tables for both the United States Mail Steamship Company (USMSSCo.) and the Pacific Mail Steamship Company (PMSSCo.). For the latter line, the tables were fairly easy to put together; the arrivals and clearances at San Francisco and Panama are the relevant data, although stops were often made at a number of other ports. In comparison, the USMSSCo. sailing tables required many hundreds of hours of labor and are quite complex. While some of the steamships of this company ran directly between New York and Chagres, others ran from New York to New Orleans via Havana with a second connecting steamship from Havana to Chagres. Later a line direct from New Orleans to Chagres was put in place. In addition, the steamships of this line were often shifted to different branch lines. The arrival and clearance dates at Chagres are the most difficult to find and these account for half the dates in the Postmaster Generals’ Order Books. The dates given in the Postmaster Generals’ Order Books fit the steamship clearing and arrival dates quite well, however this data alone would not be conclusive if it were not supported by data from other independent sources. These sources are, for the most part, found in the newspapers of the day, when it was not unusual to include the mail agent’s name and position in the list of arriving passengers, or in the headlined article that announced the arrival or departure of one of the California steamships. The New York Herald has been the most useful in this respect. The Panama Star also often mentioned the mail agents, although not always in glowing terms. The Alta California was another useful source for mail agent information. After using the Postmaster Generals’ Order Books to produce a set of tables for the mail agents’ trips, the supporting evidence from newspapers invariably confirmed the agent’s name and the steamship name.
Abbreviations used in these tables are: AC-Alta California; BR-Bruff, Gold Rush, Journals;4 NYDT-New York Daily Times; NYDTr-New York Daily Tribune; NYH-New York Herald; P-prior to the date given; PE-Panama Echo; PMGO-Postmaster Generals’ Order Books; PS-Panama Star; NA-Not Applicable.
A date format such as 12/9*/49 means the clearance or arrival of the steamship has been found reported on December 9, 1849 and the day following. This was sometimes the case when a ship arrived in the roads one day and then came to her wharf the following day. The same situation might occur when a steamship departed.
Dates can also be confusing because onboard ship time and land time differed by 12 hours. When a ship left port its chronometer was carefully set to local time. Later, aboard ship, as the sun reached its maximum height in the sky, which was noon at that location, the time was recorded. The difference between this time and the chronometer’s time at noon gives one the difference in longitude. Every hour in difference meant a 15 degrees difference of longitude. The latitude was simply the pole star Polaris’ angle above the horizon. These two values gave the ship location and the ship’s new day started at this time. For example, if the date normally became July 18 just after midnight, on-board ship time did not record the date as July 18 until noon.
Finally, it may be useful to comment on the relationship between the trip tables and the sailing tables in United States Incoming Steamship Mail, 1847-1875. In general, trips found in those sailing tables that are not included in the mail agent trip tables did not carry a regular mail. Dates found in the mail agent trip tables that are not found in or differ from those in Incoming Steamship Mail’s sailing tables should be considered an update to those sailing tables. The column “PMGO on Isthmus” was specifically added for this purpose. Those dates are as accurate as a reference in a newspaper. They are especially valuable because they are often the most difficult dates to find in contemporary newspapers.
A folded letter inscribed “Pacific S. Ship. Way/San Francisco, Feb 2.” The manuscript marking was written by mail agent James B. Devoe onboard the steamship Panama, which departed San Francisco February 1, 1850 and arrived at Panama on February 23. Devoe boarded the Georgia at Chagres, which cleared February 27 and arrived at New York on March 8. The New York post office applied the straightline STEAM/SHIP and manuscript “40” Pacific Coast rate.
A folded letter inscribed “U S M Stmr California/From San Francisco 1 July”. This is the first in a series of five covers and one cover front, all inscribed by Henry D. Beach on his one trip as a mail agent in 1850. Beach departed San Francisco on July 1, 1850 aboard the California, and arrived at Panama on July 20. He crossed the Isthmus of Panama and boarded the Georgia, which cleared Chagres on July 26 and arrived at New York August 7, where the 40 in circle was applied for the Pacific Coast rate.
A second example of mail agent Henry D. Beach’s inscription “U S M Stmr California/From San Francisco 1 July”. This cover is datelined “City of Los Angeles, June 23rd 1850-” and found its way to San Francisco for the July 1 sailing of the California. At Havana, Beach had this letter transferred to the Ohio for carriage to New Orleans, where it arrived August 7. New Orleans applied its townmark, a straightline STEAM in red, and a manuscript “30” rate. Other covers are known from the Pacific Coast and rated at the 30¢ Panama rate. How these letters were identified for this rate is uncertain.
Inscribed “U. S. M. Stmr California/Mazatlan Mex 9 July”, mail agent Henry D. Beach received this folded letter when the California stopped at Mazatlan. Beach carried this letter aboard the Georgia at Chagres and then had it transferred to the Ohio when he stopped at Havana on August 3. The Ohio then carried it to New Orleans, arriving August 7. The New Orleans post office apparently postmarked this letter only when it was dispatched, in this case on August 11, with its townmark, a straightline STEAM in red, and a manuscript “30” rate.
An enveloped inscribed “U. S. M. Stmr Georgia/Chagres 26 July” by mail agent Henry D. Beach. Beach received this letter at Chagres when he boarded the Georgia. On arrival in New York it was postmarked STEAM/SHIP with a 20 rate. Letters rated 20¢ from Chagres are much scarcer than those posted at Panama and rated 30¢.
A folded letter inscribed “U. S. M. Stmr Georgia/ Havana 3 Aug” by mail agent Henry D. Beach. The letter is datelined “Havana August 2d 1850” and was postmarked with the circular 12½ rate marking at New York for the steamship rate from Havana.
Docketing by the addressee in a different handwriting from either of the two on the face, indicating the inscription on the front was written by mail agent Henry D. Beach and not the addressee.
A cover front inscribed “U. S. M. Stmr Georgia/ Havana 3 Aug” by mail agent Henry D. Beach. This was a double rate letter from Havana. On arrival at New York it was postmarked with the straightline STEAM/SHIP and manuscript “25” rate.
The unique N. YORK & CHAGRES S.S. marking dated JUL 23 (1850) on a cover rated with a manuscript “40”. This marking was struck by mail agent Bannister Midget while aboard the steamship Georgia on its way to Chagres. The Georgia cleared New York on July 13 and arrived at Chagres on July 24. Bannister took the steamship California from Panama on Aug 3 and arrived at San Francisco on August 23. The San Francisco post office applied the manuscript “40” for the Pacific Coast rate.
The earliest known cover bearing the red Type I Pan. & San. Fran. S.S. This marking was struck by mail agent Gouveneur A. Ferris while aboard the steamship Georgia as it approached Charleston, South Carolina. Ferris had sailed on the Georgia, clearing New York November 11 and arriving Chagres November 24. Ferris continued on to San Francisco aboard the Panama, clearing Panama on December 4 and arriving on January 2, 1851. A line in this letter reads “I write in a hurry so as to be able to put this into the Charleston mails. which close at 3 this evening”.
The entry for Gouveneur Ferris and family in the United States Census for 1850. His occupation is listed as “U.S. Mail Agent”.
A folded letter dated September 17, 1850, at San Francisco, with an inscribed “p Isthmus” and with a bold manuscript “60” applied at New York for double the 30 cent rate from Panama. The Isthmus cleared San Francisco on September 17, 1850 and arrived at Panama on October 10. The Isthmus was owned by George Law’s Pacific Line and was not a contract steamship. Carried as loose mail and delivered to Panama, this letter was taken by mail agent William Whitney to Chagres where he boarded the Falcon to New York. The Falcon cleared Chagres on October 12 or shortly thereafter, arrived at Havana on October 17, cleared Havana on October 20 and arrived at New York on October 27. At Havana, Whitney applied his mail agent marking in manuscript on the reverse reading “Havana 20th Oct 1850”. Evidently Whitney first dated it 20th Nov, and then changed it to October.
A bold strike of the black Type II PAN. & SAN. FRAN. S.S. marking, dated DEC 23. This marking was struck by Bannister Midget, who cleared San Francisco on December 15, 1850, aboard the California, and arrived at Panama on January 3, 1851. Midget cleared Chagres on January 12 aboard the Falcon, and arrived at New York on January 24 where the 40 in circle was applied for the Pacific Coast rate.
A way bill addressed to “Post Master New Orleans” from “A. W. Griswold / U.S. Mail Agent”. This printed form was made out by Jacob B. Moore, the postmaster at San Francisco on May 31, 1851 and accompanied three bags of letters and four bags of newspapers destined for New Orleans. New Orleans postmaster Michel Musson signed the way bill on July 6, 1851. Mail agent Griswold added a personal message as well as adding “1 Pkg. Letters from San Francisco.” It was this package of letters that Griswold had collected along the route from San Francisco that became steamship mail. Griswold cleared San Francisco on May 31, 1851 aboard the Tennessee, which arrived at Panama June 19. He cleared Chagres June 26 board the Empire City, arriving New York on July 6. Griswold did not go to New Orleans, but rather saw that the mail bound for New Orleans was placed aboard the Falcon, which also cleared Chagres June 26 and arrived at Havana on July 1. At Havana the New Orleans mail was transferred to the Cherokee, which cleared Havana about July 2 and arrived at New Orleans on July 6. This route was necessary because steamships from Chagres to New York stopped regularly at Kingston, and not Havana during the period May to October, 1851.
A folded letter datelined “San Francisco Sept 15, 1851.” and inscribed “U. S. M. S. Panama Sept. 17” along with a manuscript “10”. This letter was inscribed by mail agent John Chapin, who cleared San Francisco on September 15, 1851 aboard the Panama and arrived at Panama on October 3. After crossing the Isthmus of Panama he boarded the Illinois on October 8 and arrived at New York on October 18. The New York post office applied its circular STEAMSHIP/10, most likely because Chapin had rated it in manuscript at 10¢. The rate for steamship letters carried over 2,000 miles was 20¢ at this time.
The red Type II PAN. & SAN. FRAN. S.S. marking, dated OCT 22, on an envelope rated with a manuscript “10”. Mail agent Bannister Midgett struck this marking, most likely in 1851. Midgett cleared San Francisco on October 15, 1851, aboard the California, and arrived at Panama November 2. At Chagres he boarded the Illinois about November 9. The Illinois had an accident to her machinery and was met at Havana by the Georgia, which took her passengers and mails to New York, arriving November 19. The Illinois later arrived at New York on November 23.
The only known cover bearing adhesives of the 1851 issue and postmarked with the red PAN. & SAN. FRAN. S.S. marking, dated JUN 29. This letter is inscribed on its face “Off San Diego/ June 14/52”. Mail agent Bannister Midget cleared San Francisco aboard the California June 18, 1852 and arrived at Panama on July 4. This cover is a bit of an enigma. It was most likely collected by the steamship Columbus at San Diego on June 14, The Columbus was an extra steamer, placed on the route from Panama to San Francisco by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company on a trip not required by the mail contract. The Columbus arrived at San Francisco on the evening of June 17 and somehow this letter was handed to Bannister Midget who departed at 7 a.m. the following morning, June 18. Midget postmarked his loose letters a few days before arriving in Panama. Midget may have seen the letter got aboard the California that cleared Panama on July 11 and arrived at San Francisco on July 28, but this is uncertain. The one certainty here is that Midget postmarked this letter while aboard the California on its trip down to Panama.
This single sheet, dated 1852, was found in the National Archives in Washington D.C. and provides some insight into the operating procedures of the mail agents.
A manuscript mail agent marking reading “San Diego. / Oct 3- 1852” on a cover addressed to New York and bearing a circular STEAMSHIP/10 of New York. This manuscript mail agent marking was written by George Howe, who cleared San Francisco on October 1, 1852 aboard the Tennessee and arrived at Panama on October 16. After crossing the Isthmus of Panama, Howe transferred to the Georgia, which cleared Aspinwall on October 20, and arrived at New York on the evening of October 29. Why this steamship letter was rated only 10¢ is a mystery, as it clearly should have been 20¢ for distances over 2,500 miles.
Mail agent John C. Babcock cleared San Francisco April 17, 1854 aboard the Northerner and arrived at Panama on May 3. After crossing the Isthmus of Panama Babcock cleared Aspinwall aboard the Illinois on May 5 and arrived in New York on the evening of May 14. Babcock received this letter from Alpheus Felch, whose term in the United States Senate ended in March 1853. President Pierce appointed Felch to be one of the commissioners to settle the Spanish and Mexican land claims in California, as provided under the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. He was on his way to California at this time. Mail Agent Babcock inscribed the letter “Aspinwall N. G. May 6 / S.S. Illinois”. Although Felch added his free frank to this letter, it was not recognized by the New York post office since his term as senator had expired. The New York post office added a manuscript “20” steamship rate. Included in the Illinois‘ passenger list in the New York Herald is “J C Babcock (mail agent).”
A manuscript “U.S.M.S. Illinois Oct 24/56 10 cts” mail agent marking on an envelope addressed to Michigan and bearing a circular STEAMSHIP/10 of New York. Mail agent William P. Pepper cleared San Francisco aboard the Golden Gate on October 6, 1856 and arrived at Panama on October 20. At Aspinwall he boarded the Illinois on October 21 and arrived at New York on October 28. Based on the October 24 date, this mail agent marking was applied aboard the Illinois between Aspinwall and New York. It does not appear that the Illinois stopped at Havana on this trip. Therefore, this letter was most likely received somewhere on the Isthmus of Panama. Both the New York Herald and the New York Tribune contain the name “W P Pepper (Mail Agent)” in the passenger list of the Illinois.
A copy of the entry in the Postmaster General’s Order Book for November 3, 1856. This order was for the payment of the expenses of William P. Pepper, for his trip as mail agent from New York to San Francisco and returning in 1856.
2 Wierenga, Theron J., United States Incoming Steamship Mail, 1847-1875, Second Edition (Austin, Texas: The U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, Inc., 2000), pp. 231-58.
3 Ibid., pg. 242-43 (Figure 349).
4 Read, Georgia Willis and Gaines, Ruth (Ed.), Gold Rush, The Journals, Drawings and Other Papers of J. Goldborough Bruff, April 2, 1849-July 20, 1851 (New York: Columbia University Press, 1949), pg. 504.
