4G The Dumfries Post Office, 1642-1910. 



always in the pay of the Post Office or under its control, and it 

 is of interest to obtain records of appreciation in respect of these 

 " Council Posts " as they were then designated. In the Burgess 

 Roll of Dumfries Town Council under date 1st December, 1684, 

 we find the following entry : " Johne Fisher post ffor his bvgone 

 service as post to the brugh is admitted burgess and freeman 

 . given gratis." On later dates, March 26, 1689, and 

 3rd July, 1689, we find the names of Wm. Irving and Wm. 

 M'Goune as posts to the burgh. ^ 



As safeguarding the public property and interests, and 

 possibly also with a view to imparting'dignity to the position of 

 Council Post, a badge of office was provided. 



Under date 14 Feb., 1676, ^ "The Counsall ordeans Wm. 

 ffingass to caus mak tua badges for the tounes posts qlk they will 

 ordean to be payit by the ther upon ane accompt." 



This instruction was duly carried out, and under date 10 

 March, 1676, it is recorded, " The qlk day the Councill appoynts 

 the toun thesi" to receave from Balive Bishop two Silver Badges 

 for ther two posts and to deliver the samyn to Wm. ffingas Post- 

 master qo is to be furth command to the toun for them qn they 

 sail be callit for and ordeans the thesi" to pay to Balive Bishop 

 twentie leb Scotts qch he had peyit out for the Silver and work- 

 manship therof." 



Again under date 2 Dec, 1700, we read: — " The sd day the 

 clerk produced to the counsell the touns post badge or Blazone 

 which he got from the late post for whom he was catione and in 



8. Eumfries Burgh Records. 



9. Ill an old Post Office notice, dated June 15tli, 1728, in the 

 possession of W. V. Morten, Esq., Manager, P.O. Telephones, Leeds, 

 we read that, . . . " It is ordered by the Postmaster Generall 

 that every letter carrier whose walk is within London, Westminster, 

 or Southwark, shall, as a badge of his employment, wear a brass 

 ticket upon some (the most visible) part of his clothing, with the 

 King's Arms upon it, which ticket he is always to wear whilst he is 

 upon duty. And all persons who shall discover any Letter Carrier, 

 Porter, or other person whatsoever, delivering letters which should 

 have passed through the General Post OfiBce, without such Badge 

 or Ticket uj^on the most visible part of their clothing are desired to 

 give information thereof to the Postmaster General, that the 

 offenders may be prosecuted according to Law, and for such infor- 

 mation they shall meet with all fitting encouragement. 



Joseph Godman, Secretary." 



